The things Husbands should NOT ask of their wives!

I have been told I need to write these stories down, so here goes...

I know you all agree with me that here are just some things that men naturally do better than women and vice versa. Our amazing God knew what he was doing. But it amazes me how many times we forget that and we ask of our spouses things we shouldn't. Like sending your wife to Home Depot to get items you need for the project you are working on. 

 BAD idea and yet it happens over and over again.

There should be a sign at Home Depot that reads. "Wives walk away now." The reason we are asked to go is because for us we live 1/2 hour away and a trip to the store will take 1.5 hours at least. So you think it is saving him time. But here is where the problem is... 1) Item Name -- husband calls it one thing, then there is a builder name for it and then you get there and it has a completely different name. 2) Item location -- husbands tell you where they are located, you go to that isle to look and finally get help and they are in a completely different part of the store.

So the trip goes like this... you walk to the area he told you  "it" would be and you search and search because you know what "it" looks like but you can't find it. Then you seek out help which is NO WHERE to be found. So you take 10 minutes seeking out help and finally do and you spend another 5 minutes explaining what it is that you are there for. 1) calling it by the name husband calls it... after the stone blank stare comes you offer 2) telling them what isle husband sent you to. So for 5 minutes you follow this assistant down several isles searching for said item explaining again what it is that you need (based on description from husband) and finally you find it only to come to realize they are called something completely different and they come in about 6 different sizes and made from 2 different materials. What to get??? So now a phone call is made to reach the husband who does not answer because he is working on project and you are left seeking advice and ultimately having to just choose what you think is best. Only to get home to find you have chosen WRONG and have to start all over.

Did you know there are different kinds of rock? Of course you do.... Sandstone, river rock, limestone, slate...etc. No I am talking about gravel...GRAVEL and more specifically what I call driveway gravel. Do you? Well, I do NOW. But this is yet another thing wives should NOT be sent to do.

I was sent to get gravel for the driveway...a no brainer right? WRONG! I show up in our truck and walk up to the man at the counter and say I need a yard of gravel and he looks at me and says what kind? I blankly stare at him not having any idea what to say... but I was prepared!! Thankyouverymuch!

 I brought a handful of the kind I needed from our driveway. Good idea right? I stretched out my hand and said this kind. He actually looked at me and said, "What is that." Now, I am dumbfounded. He is supposed to be the gravel man, right? I mean that is why I went to him, right? I mean come on... really - he is asking me, What it is...

I stretch my hand out again confused and said sheepishly, "Rocks". ? then he goes on to say "Crushed or something (I forget), fines and no fines and what size." Oh, dear Lord, NO! This is Home Depot all over again. 

Horrified I look at him and then the handful of ROCKS and then back at him... can't I just look at the pile of rocks and compare this to find it? NO, because of the fines and something about something and it washing away. AARGGH!! So, another phone call to husband to ask because of course 1) item name is called something else 2) now requires husband to talk to gravel man and FINALLY a decision is made. PHEW! I pay, get loaded up, drive home and unload gravel on driveway and guess what...IT'S NOT THE SAME!!!

Touch Tank Fun!!!

Today was a cold and fun day. Had no specific plans - just decided to leave and go wherever we wanted. After getting some doughnuts the touch tank was on our minds... the girls were excited! They loved picking up the colorful starfish and the slimy sea anemones. ME TOO!!! It was really hard not to touch the big ones in the big tank that is open to view but your not to touch. There was this huge octopus and scallops swimming around... thought for a minute the octopus was going to have lunch but he let the little guy go.

After awhile we headed out with cold hands and warm hearts. We decided to take a peak at the local pet store. Once we had our fill of little critters... we finally headed for Tino's for dinner and then home. A good family day!!

Autumn in full glory

I love autumn and all it's amazing colors.  Even though the weather is cooler and often here rainy  - the amazing colors warm me and leave me in awe as I drive by them. 

I am reminded of a story a few years ago.

Part of the highway I often take runs thru a very mountainy area. Lots of rolling hills and rocks edges. 1000s of pine trees intermingled with many kinds of maples, oaks and other leafy trees. Trees that burst into to color this time of year.

About 2.5 - 3 years ago when my kids were 3 and 4 we were driving this stretch of the highway and it was a pretty morning. 

As we were driving thru the colors were amazing, there was mist, or fog or low hanging clouds (whatever you call it, is it all the same thing? If not, how do yo know which one it is?) creeping thru the hillside. 

Sporadically thru the mist and blanket of green you would catch an amazing patch of colors, red, orange, yellow...It was beautiful! 

It was then that my children looked out and saw this amazing sight and said in awe, " Mom, LOOK, FIRE! The mountain is on fire!" I thought it was so cute, I looked at it with that thought and it was amazing how right they were. The mist looked just like smoke only not gray - it was very pretty. And the bursts of color - fire!! The hillside looked like it was on fire. It was awesome!

Rain got the best of us

So we decided to make a family work project out of it. Our mail has gotten wet for about a year and finally the mail lady said that the mail would not survive if she took it... so we decided to make  a house for our mail box and it turned out pretty cute.

Here is Lindsey waiting patiently to help. She busied herself playing with left over blocks.

Stud man Andy putting his handy skills to use and building our house.
This was fun - there isn't too many projects that we do together. It was fun holding wood for him and being entertained by the girls as they chased each other around and waited to nail something.
The girls and I painting it ... ok I know I did a bad job but my girl just can't seem to keep her clothes on and she is getting too big for the naked look to be cute anymore... hence the painted on tank.

and viola... rain I dare you to get my mail wet now!!! We even painted it to match our house.

Pretty cute huh?

CLUELESS

I am amazed to say that I have tried for days to come up with something to say and be funny and make it worth the time that you may all put in to check on me. But I am in awe that I have nothin'. Absolutely nothin'.

Maybe it is the fact that the sickies have been going thru my home or maybe because of that we have been watching more TV and my brain is oozing out. On a normal day TV is not a big part of day but we tend to watch more when we don't feel well.

So anyway, I have nothing for you except a warm hello and hope for a great day for you!!!