Today my husband will be having surgery for a vasectomy reversal. The original vasectomy was back in 2003 just before our daughter was born. The window for a reversal leading to a successful pregnancy is closing, so whether or not we have more right away is still undecided.

While we have had a few well wishers for our new endeavor to have more children, the overall response has been rather negative. I’m not sure if it is just all of the non child friendly Seattlelites or if we are indeed such horrible people and parents that people think we shouldn’t reproduce anymore.

From just plain laughter, to asking and telling us not to, the response to this new supposed to be exciting chapter in our lives has been dismal. I’m starting to wish that I hadn’t told anyone at all.

I’ve always wondered why my friends have children when they move away from Washington, now I think I know why…

My husband and I bought a house. The first free standing home we ever owned. We planned for years to move to this exact neighborhood so that our children could go to great schools for their entire primary education.

This house is was a fixer. I naively thought that the work would begin and that it would eventually end with a completed house. I see now that isn’t possible.

I imagine a home is a sanctuary, a place to find rejuvation, a place to find rest. I don’t know how to  create a home and therefore I have none of these.

I worked a little bit with a professional organizer and a little bit with a life coach to try and get my home in order. I have a lot more work to do. I am starting with our spare bedroom because it is finished. I took before photos which I’ll post when I have some after photos.

I don’t know how long it is supposed to take to create a home, or part of a home in one room. Wish me luck!

I have been a PTA member every year that my children have been in school. Some years I am more active than others. This year I am on a couple sub committees, one for our International Festival.

When I joined, I stated that I didn’t want to be in charge of anything and that I would just wanted to be a body there to help in whatever way I could. Some how I ended up agreeing to be one of the stage managers for the evening’s performances.

At some point I must have given off the impression that I wanted to be the head stage manager, which isn’t what I wanted at all but somehow that was the message that was passed around via email that I would be in charge. Aghh!

Doesn’t work really when I’m saying hey, I can’t even be back stage because of my poor dark time eye sight.

Fast forward to the night of the event, I show up way after everyone else (committee) – freaking everyone out about whether or not I was even showing up. Aghh!!

Then I sweat it out in the green room, filled with performers where I can’t even get everyone’s attention because I’m loosing my voice due to my cold / flu.

The event went well and everyone is happy but lesson learned, be really clear about what it is you want to do when volunteering and give people your cell phone number so they can text you when they are worried about where you are.

The over sized brown couches and ottomans that fill our living and play rooms, take a beating from our children. Pillows and cushions are regularly strewn about. Toys and crumbs litter the crevices.

The piece that has taken the biggest beating is our large square cocktail ottoman. About the size of small dining room table, this ottoman has begun to loose pieces of thread, a problem only made worse by little hands that pull and tug on the fabric and thread.

A large seam finally gave way and left a large hole to the in the thick fabric. Last week before Madison’s princess birthday party, I decided I would remedy this situation. So I got out my little pink sewing box, my funny needle holder, and some dark brown thread that I hoped would blend in.

Chris did the first two thirds of the seam, carefully sewing in evenly spaced stitches. When it was my turn to take over, I thought I could simply follow his lead. I was wrong.

My stitches were not evenly spaced, they were criss crossed back and forth over each other and I didn’t even tie it off properly because I forgot to end before my thread got too short!.  So I just made as many crosses and knots as I could. Hopefully they will hold for awhile.

My patience for this kind of handmade detail is nearly nonexistent. I guess my future in furniture re-upholstery and repair isn’t looking too bright.

February 19th 2003 – the day I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl Madison.

This year for her birthday we threw a princess themed party. All the girls showed up in their princess gear.  Ooo note to self, send out thank you cards.

Anyway the house was clean, we had streamers, balloons, and even huge scene setter wall coverings  to make it look like a ballroom when you walked into the house.

The girls decorated little fabric tote bags, played pin the crown on the princess, beat the candy out of castle shaped pinãta, and even danced in conga line.

We were pooped when the day was done but the cake and food was good and fun was had by all. Yay me!