one million tidbits all rolled into one

Ever make a list of things to post and realize each one is probably the most mindless post idea ever? well. enjoy the following.

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Sarah Beth went to her very first NASCAR event this weekend. She came home tired, sunburned, and wearing a Dale Jr. shirt. Need I say more?

Landon is wearing his Citadel onesie today (thank you Uncle Brandon). The one that when we opened it at Christmas, I was sure he would never ever wear because he would never ever be that big. Turns out, if you feed em', they grow. Amazing.

My hours at work were cut to only four days a week. It's a love / hate relationship, that place.

I am working at a Children's Consignment Sale this week. Pray that I don't kill anyone. Especially since it's at a church. Landon needs a high chair. And Mama needs a new pair of shoes.

My little cousin, Summer, calls her Daddy "Mama." There is nothing funnier on the face of the planet.

Jenn, Jackson's Mama, is having a baby girl in a couple of months. I think that makes just enough cousins to open up a daycare. Good Lord. She even had to go out and get a red minivan. Which made me realize that minivans aren't so bad afterall. No. I really didn't just say that.

I made some yummy UNfried Chicken with a recipe from my new cookbook, Family Dinners. I offered to get Jenn a copy, but then realized that since she is a self proclaimed "I don't USE measuring cups" kinda girl, realized what a ridiculous offer I had made. WHAT? A COOKBOOK? Magic like the kind in Jenn's kitchen apparently just... HAPPENS.

Yesterday in an argument with Sarah Beth, she told me I have anger issues. Which is ironic, because, I was really perfectly calm. So I said, "I am not even raising my voice at you." To which she replied, "I didn't say RIGHT NOW, I just said YOU HAVE THEM." Then I told her that she smelled. "BUT I JUST TOOK A SHOWER!" she said. "WELL. I DIDN'T SAY RIGHT NOW. BUT SOMETIMES YOU DO." I think that kind of logic works.

The Farmhouse Interviews / February / Sarah Beth

I recently took a minute and wrote down a few questions for my children to answer for you, adoring public. I thought this was creative and effective use of our time together... and yes, I did threaten them not to use any one word answers in their responses. Or the words "I don't know." This, as you can imagine, went over much like a ton of bricks would have.

My apologies in advance. Thank you so much, dear Internet, for humoring me for a second.

With any luck, for you of course, these will get more interesting over time. Otherwise, you are more than welcome to skip these posts entirely. Too bad I can't record the whining and moaning when I asked them to be CREATIVE with their answers... because, honestly, who has time for CREATIVITY when Spongebob is on television? WHO?!?

In any case, since she's the oldest and all, Sarah Beth's interview is first. Enjoy.

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Q. What is your full name?
A. Sarah Elisabeth Thackston (you are my mom you should know this answer)

Q. Your mom, who is awesome, almost named you "Zoe." Do you like "Sarah" or "Zoe" better?
A. yes, like Sarah Beth better.

Q. What is the best part of living next door to your grandparents?
A. Don't know... when I get mad I can go over there.

Q. The worst part?
A. I think that losing things. You have to walk back and forth until you find what you're looking for.

Q. What do you shove all your dirty (and CLEAN) clothes under your bed? WHY?!?
A. Because I don't want to do laundry; I can call it clean a month later; I'm lazy

Q. What is your favorite thing about your new brother?
A. He's cute, smiles... um, and some other stuff.

Q. Which animal is your favorite (of all our pets)?
A. All of them thank you very much I don't single them out

Q. If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
A. To have all the wishes, To have a jillion dollars, to have one more wish

Q. Is your locker clean or messy?
A. MESSY. :-)

Q. Do you love your mom?
A. YES

Q. PInk or Blue?
A. Blue. Just because I did eenie meenie miney moe.

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in my circle.

...in a rare moment of complete loveliness.

This needs to go in my dining room, dontcha think?

This print will soon be hanging in my house....



Like, where was this sign in my life when I NEEDED it? That and one of these, please....



I think that should do it.

Christmas 2008 - A Review

Here we are on the third day of the New Year - and I am sitting in my living room still contemplating how in the world Christmas managed to explode so heinously in my living room. And why is it that the mess only somehow looks worse when you start to clean it up? When do the elves come and put away my tree? WHEN??

There is, at some point every year, a ridiculous splurge purchase of something so tacky Christmas that it can't be avoided. This year's purchase was a mini - pre-lit flocked PINK tree. It was toootally on clearance... and, well... it spoke to me. It matches nothing in my house - and i have no need for another tree - however, I felt the Farmhouse was really where the little pink guy needed to be. We found a perfect home on the front porch. And then I went really crazy and made a garland out of big puffy pom-poms. Well, mostly I slaved the children into making the garland - because my ADD doesn't really allow for sitting still long enough to complete anything of that nature.

The garland turned out precious, and we hung our "special" ornaments out there.

Every year we spent a vast amount of time arguing over which set of ornaments to use on the tree. Yes. You heard me correctly... which "set." We're nerdy that way about Christmas around here... we have "the blue set" , 'the silver set" and ... the "colorful" set. If we were going with public opinion, every year we'd do the "colorful" set - as this tree is commonly referred to by all who vist... "Rachael's Big Colorful Tree." However, in lieu of seemingly our last year as the Girly Girl House - we vamped out this year's tree with as much silver and glitz and glamour possible. Of course, in honor of Landon, we threw in the token blue.

We spent our holiday surrounded by the people that matter the most... it was full of cookies (ok, maybe a few too many cookies) and love and ... well, complete chaos. What would a holiday be without complete chaos? Every year that passes is another reminder of how fleeting precious moments are... this year, for the first time, we had to reconfigure Mimi's Christmas Village to accommodate the girls growing... can't really fit it into the floor anymore... so we upgraded the real estate and gave The Village the dining room table. Since the configuration of The Village requires an entire day or two spent in pajamas in the dining , it will probably stay up through January. OR until the train starts to drive us to drink.

The girls are finally home from a week long visit with their dad and his family... complete with lots of good food and time spent playing the ever-popular Wii. Such luxuries do not exist at The Farm - however - blissfully, since they've been back - they are spending time together peacefully. What more can the New Year bring?

Catching UP.

Oh. Hi!

In case you might be wondering what's been going on at The Farm... in case you might be wondering... the answer is - too much. Too many diapers, too many errands, too many dance rehearsals lasting until too late at night. Too many. But. We're here. Heads above water. Trying our very best to put the brakes on and enjoy the holidays. That screeching sound you hear? Yes. That would be the brakes.

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Let's start with Jordin. Remember her MRI? We had it. In the very clean and perfectly wonderful Childrens Hospital. They had to do the @(#)@( thing twice, since JLo kept moving her head around. Yay. I managed a nice nap, however, without interruption. THAT made it all worthwhile. In any case, the MRI came back clear - prayers answered.

There hasn't been a "scientific" explanation yet for her headaches, however, Mimi packs her a protein-snack everyday (you know, cheese, etc) and this seems to help. It's been weeks since we've had a headache. (insert applause here)

Of course, I think that possibly these have something to do with it.



Ahem. Perhaps if she spent more time right side up.

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Sarah Beth? Who? We lost her to text messaging a while ago. In a world where everything is abbreviated and spelled in such a way that would make Emily Post roll over four times in her grave. FOUR.

We recently got into "hair" and "makeup" and other miscellaneous girlish activities. Sheesh. I think I was happier with dirty fingernails and no shower for two days in a row. Because now, it's all "is my mascara smeared?" And dear God, do not ask her about "the boy" she likes. If you do, you might get to see her break out in a sweat, turn red, and demand to know if it was ME who TOLD YOU. The audacity.



They are two of the best sisters a boy could ask for. And, two of the best daughters a mom could ask for. Just the other day, in the middle of my tears because hello - who has the time and money to make this "motherhood" thing work - Sarah Beth looked at me and told me to "dry it up, mom - you're a single mom and this is just what you do... and you're doing a good job." I love that kid. We've even been hugging, like, everyday. Shh. She wouldn't want anyone to know.

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As for me, I am ... here. The past eleven or so months have been quite the emotional roller coaster... and the ride doesn't appear to be over yet. I am reminded by some very important people the three most important words in my heart and mind... Love. Pray. Forgive. Things we too often take for granted. I am taking small steps to repair a very broken friendship. Small steps. Sleep is a rarity I am learning an all new appreciation for and EATING? Seriously, who has time for that??



What? Landon who? Oh. The Baby. The Boy. The Grandson. Yes. Indeed. More on him tomorrow.

Think. Merry. Thoughts.

Hi everyone.

Yes. It moved. Again.

But here's the deal. Blogger? It's free. And $8.95 a month is ... well, half a manicure. And manicures are important business in the life of a very over-emotional, stressed-for-time-and-money mommy.

So. Back to the business of The Farmhouse....