this is what happens when...

This is what happens when you get all dressed up for a party and then can't find it so you come home and take pictures in the back yard and celebrate by watching the (lame) chipmunk movie with some angel food cake and strawberries....

This is what happens when you let all of your kids take a turn with the camera...

betcha 10 dollars

This meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith & Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. It’s a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were, “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.”

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it to your blog including a visual illustration if you would like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blog sphere.
4. Tag 5 more blogs with links.
5. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

Danielle, witty? I wish... I can only do so much!

My six word memoir:

False rebellion lead to true rebellion.

I made the kids do this too and it's pretty dang cute (good idea, Danielle). Here's there answers (spelling not spell checked) -

Mr. P - I Luv the holy handsum God.

Miss F - My life's cool becasuse God helps us.

Miss Z - I love the hole big universe (love has a heart shaped O).

Miss B - I love my holle faimly forever.

Big P- The God that help people Love.

Little O - The bom.

As for tagging:

Lisa, Miss Brasil, and Verity

..can you say that..?

We have an additional kid who mostly lives here. We love her - she's a neighborhood kid with a really good heart. She (and sometimes her siblings) eat lunch and dinner here and then head home whenever I make my kids get ready for bed. She fits right in with the girls and keeps them busy goofing around outside. For some reason, the kids are WAY more interested in playing outside when someone from outside of the family is over... Anyway...

The other evening, as they were saying goodnight, she was in her yard standing at the fence (aka the secret spot; it's hidden by some trees and the shed) and two of my girls were on this side of the fence. One of my girls threw grass in the neighbors girls' hair. The next day her mom wouldn't let her come over because my kid threw grass in her hair (?). When I heard this news, everything in me went into MEGA high defense mode.

What about how earlier that day she was throwing mud balls at my boys?
Betcha she didn't tell her mom that.
Or how about the 80 million other days that she hasn't gotten grass in her hair?
Those don't count against this one time?
Is it really that freakin' big of a deal anyway?
You can just shake the grass out...
Why all the bitterness when we've so easily folded your daughter in with our own?

And then I realized that I was being every bit as ridiculous as the situation. I was getting all into a tizzy... why? Over some grass?
Deep breath.
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:5
Taking thought.
Walking it out.
Handing it over.
Leaving it behind.

Because the truth is, anyone can assume whatever they want about us. We cannot change anyone's opinions. We cannot prove to them our devotion, our love, our loyalty... and fra-eeking out about such silliness is a total waste of time. Every part of us that they saw... negated over some grass?

I wish that I could open myself up totally so that her momma could see my heart. But I can't. And if I did, would she see what was in front of her anyway? So I, that day, decided that enough was enough. Words are just words at some point. The actions, I hoped, would speak louder. And so I said nada.

The neighbor girl called a few times that day to talk to the girls - she missed them! They have been almost living together for a while now. The next morning, she was waiting at 'the secret place.'
Her mom said it was okay to come over.

underdog

I've got a soft spot for the underdog.

A really big one. (have you noticed?)

Yesterday a woman was picking up some meth from up the road and her driver waited for her return on our private little road. I went and scouted out the driver, to make sure that they wouldn't do anything crazy to all my kids outside (About a month ago a man tried to snag up Mr. O by tempting him with french fries. Big P, who had been riding his bike on the road, dropped his bike and ran over to slap the fries outta his hand and carried Mr O up to the house. I was sweeping the kitchen with the door open and didn't hear a thing. I'm a little more touchy since this incident.) I glanced at the driver and my heart totally sank.

There was an infant in the car.

Everything in me SCREAMED to offer to take that baby while she ran off and got high. My blood pressure rose as I debated the awkward situation. It's one thing to be irresponsible when you're only responsible for yourself. It's a whole 'nother can of worms when kids are involved. I stood there, in the driveway hidden from the drivers view by some bushes. The woman who walked to get the meth returned while I stood there motionless... wishing that there was an answer to problems such as these. Wishing that I could swoop up that baby and make everything okay.

I watched them drive away and walked back towards the house where Miss Brasil stood.
Nothing.
I did nothing.

At least - day four

We've (alright... mostly Husband) been hacking away at trees, bushes, and the like this weekend and on into this week (that's the sad part of the story). A couple of extremely LARGE piles have grown into perfect kid mountains and now I have 6 kids that are covered in sap that won't freakin' come off.

At least we're almost finished?

But they're having a better time than I am. I often look up from the work to take in how different that the yard looks or how much that we've accomplished so far - it keeps me motivated. The kids, on the other hand, are having sword fights with the sticks, building very itchy houses with the evergreen limbs, and having as much fun as they possibly can amidst the dragging of trees from one spot to another.
I gotta tell you that watching their attitudes unfold throughout the day is crazy fun for me. Even cleaning their rooms comes with some singing! It's official. I am in love. I wonder if this feeling will last throughout summer break!?!

At least - day three

At least they're going to clean their room?
(I asked them to make 'oh-my-gosh-this-is-dirty-faces...)

UPDATE:
This morning, as I sipped my coffee while reading some blogs, the kids started shouting that the police were here. I didn't beleive them until they started arguing about whether or not they should let a policeman in because mom says not to open the door for anyone. I got up and, sure enough, there were two officers at the back (?) door. They asked me about the drug dealers across the way and would I please make 911 calls every time that they deal on our side street. I, of course, agreed. I have to admit that I'm happy that someone is finally taking an interest in the drug houses that appear to be supporting all of the drug habits in king county.

At least - day two

At least it's half way on?
(and gets a good laugh from the rest of the kids)

*UPDATE
Do you remember this story? Not sure why but the garbage-can-walker-lady got arrested this morning. Took three cop cars to get it done? She was wondering around the neighborhood and it looked like they found her in someone else's backyard... She looked quite happy about the whole thing. I'm still voting crack.

At least...

At least they'll eat it when they're done??