Monday, January 18, 2010

10 honest things


I was "tagged" to do this and I usually just decline, but as I am having trouble consolidating my thoughts into a post...here we go... 

1. I like to mow grass. I suppose Lake City might not be the place for this. I only mow 5 or 6 times a year. I didn't mow too much growing up because my mom also likes to mow grass and is rather picky about it. I have one of those reel mowers (in Alabama we'd say "old timey spin mower") now so the entire experience is quiet and sweet smelling. 

2. I'm a bit green. I recycle, compost, have a reel mower. I never drive unless it is over 2 miles. I heat with wood, use cloth diapers. Heck, Christian has recently become the chair of the Green Commission Advisory Board in Lake City and wants to buy a diesel truck and run it on veg oil from the local fried chicken place. 

3. I have a sauna in my front yard (see photo). It is beautiful. I sweat once a week. However, Christian didn't build it for us. It is for sale. Parting with it will be such sweet sorrow. I'll be glad to have the money, but sad to give up my weekly sauna. We heat it to between 200 and 210 and I like to think of what we could be cooking as we sit there....ribs or pecan cookies? There are two of these beautiful saunas let me know if you'd like to buy one or both.

4. I like that leggings are in style right now. Not because I want to wear sacky sweaters that barely cover my rear in neon colors with big tacky buttons...but because I'm so tall that tights don't always stay up....leggings are thicker and I have greatly expanded my winter options by wearing skirts, leggings, and my shearling boots.

5. If I could re-do my education, I would take my father's advise and "study something useful". I enjoyed studying literature, but think now that I would have loved being a nurse.

6. I wish I could attend one to two births a month. I have had all my children at home and have assisted with other home-births and I love both the relational/emotional and the technical/medical sides of the process. There is a midwife who would like me to regularly assist once Levi is weaned and I am excited about that prospect.

7. I do not own a TV. We watch about one or two movies a month on our IMAC and I have no idea how people, especially moms, watch more than that and still manage their families and homes. 

8. Having written #7, I will say that while Christian was in Minnesota over New Years, I went on a total BBC drama binge. The Elizabeth Gaskill series is wonderful. North and South is every bit as good as Pride and Prejudice. 

9. I have recently become an early bird. I've been waking up at 5 or 5:30AM to exercise with some friends. I have also loved having time to study scripture and pray in actual factual quiet. I feel stronger and find myself actually looking forward to push-ups again.

10. I have been pregnant and/or nursing a baby for almost five years. Which means that the last time I slept through the night was sometime back in February of '05. 

oh and a bonus one...

11. I am the very proud owner of a Magic Bullet. I use it about 2 times a day. Baby food, salsa, hummus, smoothies, grinding coffee, whipping cream....Our local youth group was playing a game called "Bigger and Better" where they knocked on doors and traded items with folks. We gave them a rug and got the full set MB stuff....

Ok, that wasn't so bad. I'm not going to tag anyone else, but I hope this made Emily happy.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The messes we make




Silas and Priya have been playing so well together lately. A while ago, my father-in-law said, "It is better if they're getting in trouble with one another than against one another." Well, lately they are more partners in crime than enemies, which is actually good. However, I have walked in on several big messes. Priya eating flour; Vaseline smeared on the couch an in P's hair; all, I mean ALL, of the toys dumped on the floor; it goes on and on. BUT, they're having fun. I'm learning to relax a little about having a neat house.

In related news, I've finally found a big enough laundry basket.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Where are them fangs?




You wouldn't know from these happy pictures, but Levi has been (I hope) cutting a first tooth. The rest of us are riding out the end of a cold this week, which means no voice for me. We're hoping for snow so we can ski this weekend.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Hartman Family Christmas







We had a wonderful Christmas, though not as white as we would have liked. The ski hill wasn't even open yet. I thought I would post some shots of the chaos. My hairy brothers-in-law, my beautiful sisters-in-law, and all my fun nephews are pictured here. Featured in several of the pictures is my nephew, River, who turned out to be the life of the party. What a riot that kid is turning out to be! 

We enjoyed being able to communicate the real reason for celebration....and that Jesus, himself, is the true gift of the season. Of course, we also discovered lots of fun things under our tree. Flashlights, silly string, books, and a stroller for Priya's baby were among the favorites.

2010 will bring teething, bike riding, reading, skiiing, sledding, growing, and much more...Happy New Years to you all.