No Way to Catch Up

Joel's sweatshirt from 6th grade. It's been nice to have him around so much.

It's been very difficult to get anything done in the last 6 weeks. We have a couch in the great room that is piled high with 5 loads of clean laundry, waiting to be folded and put away. When we need to find something to wear, we go to the foot of the mountain and conduct a search for something that matches. It somehow doesn't seem justifiable that I post on our blog while the mountain grows. I have to wonder, too, if that mountain isn't really a volcano that erupts when no one is looking. Sometimes I come downstairs and find that there are clothes on the floor, the table, and the stairs. I know I didn't leave them anywhere but on the couch. 

Despite neglecting other huge household tasks, here's a Fank. Family update:

Joel's had a "normal" schedule this month. He works from 8-5 (most days. Some days it's 8:30-3:30) and has weekends off. This week, he's been especially focused on killing flies. Now that the mice are gone, the flies have come in force. At first we though  maybe we had flies because it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to clean the kitchen after each meal. But now we know it's actually because we have a bajillion flies outside and they like to come in when Silas opens the door to "let Lewis out" or "Let Sabrina in" or "Just let Micah out because he wants to play outside." Joel has also been working very hard at managing a decent fantasy baseball team. I also ought to mention the incredible load of parenting and household management Joel has graciously picked up without being asked. He's wiped noses countless times in the morning and changed many diapers so I wouldn't have to throw up. He continues to put my needs and the boys' needs before his own and I don't think I've ever felt more loved.

Silas  has made the transition to the big bed for the 4th time. He's doing better than he's ever done, despite being sick with a cold, cough and pink eye. Against my better judgement, he especially likes to jump off the bed/couch/hearth/coffee table/deck bench. Most of the time, he clears Micah who watches in quiet wonder. Silas continues to be a good big brother to Micah. He is the first to offer Micah his toys when Micah is crying. Definitely the first to pick up Micah's milk when Micah throws it on the floor time after time after time, saying "Micah, we don't drop milk on the floor!"

We've been spending a lot of time outside recently. Silas and Micah's favorite activity is to play in the sandbox, then sit in the swimming pool, then sit in the sandbox and play some more.

Micah is now 16 months old. He's the same age that Silas was when Micah was born. This seems strange to me because Micah seems so much younger than Silas was at the same age. Micah is loving his new ability to walk fast and climb down from things instead of falling off. While has hasn't fallen down the stairs yet, he has managed to bust his lip and bruise and bloody his nose on separate occasions climbing up the stairs. He now has 7 teeth and is, bless his  heart, about to have 3 new molars at once. Micah has such a lovable and quirky personality. He really wants to please but has his own opinions on how toys should be played with, what food should taste like, and how much sleep he needs. I love how much he wants to be with his brother. The amount of time they spend playing well together versus how much time they spend fighting/hitting/biting/kicking each other makes me really glad we had 2 so close together.

 If you know anyone in the market for a home in LR with an apple tree in the back, you should have them call me. Other important Alice updates: well, there aren't any except that I'm now over 12 weeks along with the new baby and throwing up fewer than 4 times/week. But that isn't really an Alice update, is it? Oh here's one: I made an angel food cake last night and found the game "Tri-Bond" at GoodWill for a dollar.

I'm currently the real estate agent for this lovely 1961 house.

Joel and I had a garage sale last weekend. After we got some doughnuts for breakfast, and Arby's for lunch, we made about $37. But, the best part of the garage sale was getting rid of a huge box of worthless baseball cards, some baby clothes that I didn't feel good about donating, a recliner no one has room for, and some of the leftovers from the big garage sale in Texarkana last weekend. 

Someone bought this Santa teapot for $.25. I think the old saying should go,

 "One man's trash is another man's trash that somebody else wants to take home with him."