on the road again...

The Man and I have owned 6 houses. In fact, we moved into the sixth house before our 9 year anniversary. We were known by friends as "serial movers". I liked to say that we were beautifying Norman, one house at a time.

Every time we moved we had a good reason. It was always a remodel here, a new build there. More square footage, downsizing so I wouldn't have to work. Upsizing because we couldn't stand how close the walls felt when we had less room. Always a good and perfectly reasonable excuse.

And then we landed here. At little ol' 1725. It was a downsize in the scheme of things. It was the house where we landed when my husband lost his job. It was the house that sustained us when he spent a year looking for a new one. It was the little house that built us. For 7 LONG years.

For 7 years we have laid down roots. We've settled in, built dust bunnies (this doesn't happen when you move once a year, by the way), and watched our kids grow. And yet the whole time we've lived here, we've been dreaming. Itching and dreaming for seven long years. I have pinterest boards that have thousands of pins. And we've waited.

courtesy of the amazing Lindsi Niebur

Last week we saw a "fixer upper" online. It was so bad, it didn't even have pictures. So we went to see it and lo and behold, there it was! The house we could finally see ourselves buying.

We are never afraid of a good remodel. But every house we had seen in the last 7 years had contained a "fatal flaw" as we like to call it. Maybe it was an amazing house, but out in the boonies. Or maybe it had the master on the top floor (The Man's hangup). Or perhaps it just required SO much remodeling that it was not cost effective. But this one? Nothing. No fatal flaw. No sick stomach as I stood inside. Just a house that needs a good coat of paint, some new granite, and some elbow grease!

So here we go! Come along for the ride. It's going to be fun!

Here are some inspirations from my pinterest board....

courtesy of lovewhereyouliveblog.com

from visualcomfortblog.com

courtesy of thisphotographerslife.com

the circle of life

My son got grounded on Friday. We're having trouble with him listening, so when he skipped the shower in favor of a 30 minute ESPN show, I took the itouch away.

This morning he was whining about not having his itouch. WHINING. Like, sitting at the table with me, head down on his arm, pretending to cry.

I'm not sure if he thought, the more I whine, the more likely I am to get my itouch back in a hurry, OR WHAT. But good grief, these kind of moments with my children show me something very important about life.

It's called THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.

Don't we all swear we will NEVER say things to our kids that our parents said to us? Yah, when that first comment comes out of our mouths, we realize WE ARE NOT IMMUNE. So here's what I actually said to my son just now... (very calmly, I might add)

"Son, stop crying. You're in 5th grade. If you can't stop crying about an itouch, then I will spank you and you'll really have something to cry about."

WOW. I AM my dad. And before you tell me I'm a bad parent for spanking a 5th grader, don't worry, he hasn't had a spanking in YEARS.

In conclusion, I'd like to defend parents everywhere. It's not our fault. Some of those lines really were good.

back to school!

Today was our first day back to school. I thoroughly enjoyed myself because..... well..... I got to spend time with my 13 little muses. And they did not disappoint in giving me blog material. OH NO.... THEY DID NOT.

We use a spelling curriculum that has sentences for each word. Many of these sentences have biblical references. And some use language that is from another century.

Like today.

Here's the sentence I read aloud for the spelling word sir:

Sir, a title of honor, was given to loin of beef by an English king in a fit of good humor.

((DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS))

And then this quip from a sweetie in the front row: A FIT OF GOOD HUMOR??? WHO EVEN COMES UP WITH THESE SENTENCES????

Cue ME, laughing a "head back, holding my tummy, belly laugh" that may or may not have echoed through the halls of our great establishment. It was surprisingly quiet in my little classroom. So much so that when I sat back up to catch a deep breath and opened my eyes, the whole class was staring at me. And maybe even at each other, wondering if their teacher had just lost it....

I obviously HADN'T lost it. But I might have peed my pants a little.

office supplies

My son has the flu.

Have you ever used Tamiflu? Because I am here to tell you that it is a WONDER DRUG. I could not be more thankful for the makers of that awesome drug. Because my puny boy went from laying in bed ALL DAY on New Years Eve (cancelled plans, anyone?) to bouncing around my house like a whirling dervish in just two doses.

Amen! Thank you Jesus! Except could you make him slow down a little now?? Haha, I kid. Mostly.

Anyway, today, I was desperate for a new planner. I like to get my ducks in a row and I like to get them there early. I'm probably a little compulsive about my planning. But I like to think it makes for a better Kim.

So Mr. Mister took me to the Office supply store. He has known me for 16 years (plus) but I'm not sure he REALLY knew that when he took me in there with no price cap, I would be a kid in a candy store! He bought me a new set of Bic Flair pens (you'll thank me later), and some new folders (to keep all the crap together, of course!), along with the ALL IMPORTANT planner refill.

But what happened while we were standing there in the planner aisle, him OH SO PATIENTLY, and me, touching, looking, scheming, and salivating, was the BEST part of the trip. And there's not much that makes me more giddy than a trip to the office supply store.

It was this set of texts that came in from my children. First was THIS.

OH SNAP. Don't bother the beast, son. And DON'T, WHATEVER YOU DO, SEND HER THE TEXT YOU MEANT FOR ME.

I was standing there with my husband LAUGHING (head tilted back, belly laugh exploding), and I got THIS, from the cranky girl herself.

WOW. He was no joke! She really is cranky. And crazy. Did she really think I wanted to wear her JANDALS when I could be wearing my Ugg boots in this freezing cold weather???

WOW.

he's got gas

I had duty yesterday. (I know, I said duty.) (and just so you know, this post is filled with words that have a double meaning relating to bowels)

My job was to pick up both second grade classes from PE and walk them back to our classrooms.

As we were walking back, an unnamed boy who frequently speaks with no brain filter (I can totally relate to this, by the way) says to me:

"Most of my gas is almost out."

8I (thank you?)

me: Um, excuse me?

boy: I said most of my gas is almost out.

me: oooooookay! I'm not sure what you mean by that, but I'm okay with you not explaining it.

friday funny

I'm sitting at lunch with one of my cutie patooties yesterday when I ask my table of kids, "Has anyone brought any canned goods yet to our our canned food drive?" I get deer in the headlight looks and one who says, "My mom is saving money so we can buy some cans of food soon."

8I

Do you see that? That look? If not, turn your computer sideways. That's MY deer in the headlights look.

So I reply, "No big deal! Just bring some when you think of it soon." adding a smile.

The cutie to my right is sitting there, not speaking. After a pause in conversation, she looks at me and slits her eyes. And then telling a story as only she can, with her sweet little lisp, she says.....

"We actually made friends with a vagabond named Chris? (pause pause pause) (eyes still slitted) And heeeeeee's in jail now. In California. He was CAUGHT selling drugs."

OK. Now I ask you. Where do I begin? A VAGABOND? How many 2nd graders do you know who use the word vagabond in normal conversation?!?!

And what the what? I don't even need to know.

So I did what I always do when my littles tell me hysterical things. I reached for my phone to write it down word for word so I wouldn't forget later (for you, dear reader). And I began my deep breathing technique. The one that I use to keep from laughing outloud. Which is really hard for me.

school, at home

Overwhelmed.

That's a good word to describe a new homeschooling mama. And that's me. So far, as soon as I feel like I've caught a break, I realize it's because I've forgotten something. Too many plates in the air. Too many books and workbooks on the table. Too much. Too much.

Pray for me, just like I'm praying for the mama of the son who will marry my daughter one day. And the mom of the little girl who will walk down the aisle looking at my baby, her new husband. I'm praying those mamas are not as overwhelmed as me. That they are well rested, and able to pour into their children's hearts the way I am trying to pour into mine.

Life is hard. But I'm blessed. Thank God it's Fall Break!

Here's what homeschooling looked like in my house yesterday.

Because life is better with a friend by your side.

granny knows latin

When I was in high school, my mom made me take Latin. She told me I had to take two years of Latin and two years of French. After one year of pure hell and an expensive tutor, I BEGGED my mom to let me quit. I finally convinced her that I would take three years of French to make up for the one less year of Latin. I couldn't get out fast enough.

This year my son is taking Latin.

In fifth grade.

LET THAT SINK IN, PEOPLE.

I'm all about homeschooling, but I AM NOT QUALIFIED to teach or tutor him in this subject.

So, this weekend, I brought in the big guns. Granny. The Latin Lady, herself.

Oh, what sweet revenge. I've got her helping my son with his Latin today. HAHA.

But the best part of this story, people, is what Gavin whispered to me when she stepped out of the room.

"Mom! Granny is DRIVING ME UP THE WALL!! I thought maybe this would be a bonding thing for us. But instead? No."

I'm sitting behind my computer, snapping pictures and hiding. This is the most amusing thing I've seen in a long time.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

bribery. yo.

If you think I'm above bribing my homeschooler, you are sorely mistaken. He gets two sour gummy worms for every subject he finishes before 1 p.m. today.

Behold. The face of homeschooling in the Frakes home.

my own little cutie

Um, today I was reminded how much time my son spends with me.

We were at school and G was sitting at his lunch table. We sit with "houses" so there are kids who are pre-k, 1st grade, 3rd grade, and 5th grade in his lunch. As I approach my son at his table, he turns to me and leans in, excitedly.

"Mom! Oh. my. gosh. Do you see this little boy on the other side of *my friend*? HE IS THE STINKIN' CUTEST KID IN THIS WHOLE ROOM! (spoken in a loud whisper) I COULD EAT HIS FACE WITH A SPOON!"

Can you say mini-me? #guiltyofusingthosephrasesallthetime