Time Change

It's been one week since the clock sprung forward. I love that the days are longer, the days and nights are warmer...but I feel like I'm running and I can't catch up. I'm usually adjusted after a couple of weeks.

For my sacrifice for Lent, I have given up beer. Last night was probably the night that I have missed it so far. Friday is my favorite day of the week, and for some reason I couldn't shake the thought of having a cold beer to start my weekend. It was a struggle. I called mom and said that maybe we should be quitters. It would be OK if she ate bread and sweets and I would have a beer. Hearing her "gasp" over the phone, I felt embarrassed. I made it another day and it's already the 3rd week of Lent. I can do it. I am proud of myself. Papa told me today that after Lent is over, I will notice that I won't be drinking as much beer. I laughed.

Tuesday Sissy, Valentina, Asa and I met our friend Laurie at the library for story time and lunch after. Laurie's son Brody and Asa are the same age, and played great together. After Asa knew that we were going to be going to the library, he asked if he could get his own library card. I told him that I didn't think so, but we would check when we got to the library. After finding some great books, Asa reminded me to ask the librarian to see if he could get a library card. I found a nice looking librarian and asked "Is my son old enough to get a library card?" She looked down at Asa and asked him very serious "will you be able to be responsible for your card and your books?" Asa nodded yes. Then she smiled and said yes he could have his own card. She got him all set up and he even had to sign his card at the counter. Asa thinks he pretty hot stuff with his own card and it's different than mine is, so that makes it that much cooler. That was a really fun day. Thank you Laurie and Brody.

Friday was the day that we always dread. The children's professional photo shoot. It was Valentina's best shoot and she had so many great pictures. We thought we were going to lose her there for a while as she started whining "hold me mama, hold me". My eyes got big and I felt a bit of panic. Sissy and I made eye contact and we knew that Sissy was going to have to get out of the room. After Sissy vanished, Valentina was fine. I had to stand behind the photographer, jump up and then fall down, and that made Valentina laugh. After that, she did great and warmed up to the photographer. I was able to bribe Asa into wearing a collared polo shirt with a chocolate milkshake, so after pictures, we headed to Sonic Burger. I wish he wasn't afraid of buttons.

Checking on the laundry this morning, I saw that the water wouldn't drain from the washer. I tried different things to try to get it to drain, but nothing worked and then my heart sank. I had to wait until Joshua woke up in the afternoon to see if he could do something about it. On my way out the door (to go to church) I woke Joshua up and told him about the machine. My thought was that the pump was out and we would need a repair man or a new machine and how would that fit in the budget. At church, I prayed and prayed about the washing machine. I prayed about other things too, that are much more important, but the washing machine really had me stressed out. While getting into the car after church, Josh called. He had fixed the lid switch as it had broken, and the washer worked fine. I squealed, I was so happy. Joshua thinks that church is silly, but he said "see sweetie? you went to church and I figured out how to fix the machine!".

Asa is soccer obsessed and soccer season hasn't even started yet. Papa and I have played with him the most. It's not the funnest thing to do with him, because he changes the rules when it may suit him better. I don't want to say he cheats, but he turns things around to make sure that he is doing a better job than his opponent. We have been watching Italian soccer this week, and when Asa is playing soccer he says things in Italian with an Italian accent. He insists on wearing soccer jerseys and soccer shorts and changes his jersey often, because he wants to represent another team often. This morning we had planned to go to the book store for story time, but I told him he couldn't wear soccer garb .(I would have, but it was freezing and raining and he wouldn't wear a sweatshirt because "soccer players don't wear sweatshirts Mum") We didn't go. Instead we went to Mom's and visited with her and Papa while she cooked us some yummy Mexican fare. It was delicious and fun to boot.

Valentina can go up and down the slide at our house, all by herself. I taught her:) It took a couple of days, but she is a pro. I love that little girl. When Mom and Papa pulled up this afternoon, to take us to church, I got in the car and saw that Valentina was along. I looked at her and immediately said out loud "OH NO". Church...with Valentina. Not a good combo. She looked back at me with black piercing eye and furrowed eyebrows.I looked away. When she has those eyebrows, I know NOT to make eye contact with her. The look is usually followed by a "NO!!!!!!" and I didn't want to disturb her. Mom said she had just waken from a nap. One never knows if that a good thing or not. After a couple of minutes I glanced at her. She glanced back, I was a little wary, but kept looking at her and then she smiled. YAY! There was my girl. LOL, as we were walking into church, I said a little prayer that she would behave and not be noisy. She couldn't' have been better. She didn't have any candy or toys, she just listened and entertained the people sitting behind us. I was so proud of her. I couldn't take my eyes off of her, she is just gorgeous and my heart just melts when she smiles at me. When church was over, she just marched on out, waved good bye to all that we passed by and looked like she owned the place. She is so much fun.

I'm hoping that tomorrow I can complete a task that is on my list. It's nice to cross a task off every so often. Asa and I are going to plant seeds in little planters so they will be big enough to plant in the garden this spring. I say every year we are going to make a raised garden and never do, but this year is different. I am doing much more cooking with fresh food and having a garden that Asa can help with will be good for us. Every time I bring up planting a garden, Mom kind of sighs, knowing that she may be helping with the garden. Then she brings up The Little Red hen. We all will be enjoying the veges of our labor:)

Tuesday is St.Patricks day and Sissy is having a festive dinner for us and then Wednesday, Asa and I will be going to Goldendale with Mama and Papa for a night or two. We are so blessed and lucky to be together, happy and healthy.