Kashann and Clan

Becoming a two car family in Our town with Our driveway is a major winter headache. From November 1 through April 1 no cars are allowed on our street over night. So we have had to find somewhere to hide our car between the hours of 11 p.m. -6 a.m. Our front lawn, the auto body shop down the street, or sometimes a neighbor a couple blocks away who also stored our boat.

We just couldn't stand facing the hassel again all winter. Plus, won't digging the front lawn help us sell the place in a few months? I don't know.

Last Saturday Brent took action and 1/2 the front lawn disappeared into our backyard. By 6 p.m. he was worn out but ready to rent a cement mixer and get on with it. I was not excited about a long date night in the front yard.

Turns out I only had to stay up till 1o with him holding onto my side of the board while we screeted. But with the screeting done it we were down to a man one troweling job so I was off the hook. He went to bed with me but set the alarm to wake him up every hour for work. He finally crawled into bed for good at 2:30 a.m., so we sorta broke the sabbath but the ox was in the mire.

And this is the result.
I am not sure about the strip of grass he chose to leave. He never consults me much when he starts in on something and I forget to take a look first. Should this be a flower bed instead? Leave a comment, please.

Now when I park the van I have to back up, window down, watching the left tire. I have been instructed to 1)keep it right along the edge of the neighbor's lawn and leave the Buick plenty of space and then 2) only open my door just a crack when I get out. I remembered the part about the tire but forgot the latter instruction. The first time, the second time. . . and well tonight I hope I get it right or we are going to have some major damage to the drivers door.

While Brent dug up grass I duped up the kids on ibuprofen and had them help me with the mountain of leaves in the backyard. Our big old tree supplies plenty of leaves for lots of fun for us. . .
and all of our neighbors backyards too.Marcus wanted to come but I wouldn't let him out since he was not doing too well still. He loves to be outside, but if he's locked in he usually bides his time like this. He also runs his CD's all day long. Whenever a favorite one comes to an end he runs out hollering,"Momma, E I E I E O done!" no matter if he is listening to Old McDonald or I am a child of God. That is the code word for, "Get in there and start'er up, mom".

He is going be as smart as his sisters if Savannah has anything to do with it. She pumps him full of info constantly and has taught him hundreds of songs. The jury is still out though on his athletic ability and interests. Brent is convinced his boy is just fine but I can't help but notice he prefers singing and reading to a game of catch.

This documents the never ending season of swine flu at our house The three older girls got it the very worst and hardly left this couch for two weeks. Of the five of them Marcus had the easiest time. He was only sick for a week and never slowed him down though, he did get real confused when his temperature would rise. He never stopped running but he would cry out, " Momma, I cold!"

This was the fastest year on record getting ready for trick or treating. At the last minute Kennon and Marcus came along. Marcus only came along for a couple houses just because we couldn't bear to leave him home now he was big enough to say,"Trick or Treat, please".

Someone had just given me this Eyore costume. After examining it, I decided it wasn't dignified enough for Marcus and threw it in the salvation army box by the back door. Kennon found it though and had it on him and out the door before I could protest. It was warm anyway. Brent ran out Halloween morning and got a little drill so he could stay home with us and do lab work for now on. He sat here and had his meals served from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. making a patient's denture while the kids carved pumpkins and coughed around him. It was pretty interesting to see him make the teeth that someone will have to wear in their mouth. He was quite slow. . . or I guess you could say meticulous.

My house was really trashed for a long time with kids stuff everywhere. I am working hard getting it back into shape. I lay down to take a nap the other afternoon but made the mistake of choosing, "Home Makeovers That Sell" as my reading material.

I had only started the first chapter but I just couldn't stand it any longer. I was reading the kitchen section and it mentioned putting a bunch of stuff in storage to avoid the look of a crowded kitchen and definitely not storing anything on top of your cupboards! My cupboard tops are my favorite shelf ever, completely stacked with appliances, large bowels, cereal boxes etc. I hopped right out bed and cleaned out my kitchen and by the time I was done I had a large load for the salvation army.

Any thing that I haven't used since moving in had to go. I also dropped off four dining chairs from our basement that Brent recovered 3 years ago. I saw them yesterday during my weekly shopping trip to the thrift store. They were selling them for $40. I wonder if that money could've been mine? I am not much of a Craigslist girl. When I decide something is out, it is out. Immediately.

Marcus helped collect seeds for roasting.

Kennon must've not had her dose of ibuprofen and missed out on the carving fun.

Check out the hair on top! Since he grew some, his sister Savannah taught him about mohawks and he asks for one constantly.