Dangerous Moving Parts

I learned a very valuable lesson the other day. My dryer was being uncooperative. It was not doing it's job, and my clothes were not getting dry. I started the dryer yet again, for the third time. I had no choice but to set out on a journey to see what the problem was. I figured that the lint was backed up and if I could just reach up and grab it out, all my problems would be solved. I went outside where the vent is and was able to do just that, grab out a bunch of lint. It felt like the tubing was out of place and blocking the exit, so the lint and hot air could not properly escape. No problem, I could fix that. . . or so I thought. I reached up and stuck my arm in as far as it could go. If I could just go a bit further. That's when it occurred, the life lesson that I had to learn the hard way. There was a rotating fan-like thing that was going at a very rapid pace. I reached that bit further and thump, thu thump, thump, thump. My finger hit the fan. I quickly retreated my arm and looked at my finger, half expecting to see it fall right off. Luckily it was still intact with only a small bruise under the fingernail. My dryer is working fine now, but the fear has been put in me. The lesson I learned was to never work on a machine while it is running. This is one to put in the books.

Brinlee's Birthday

Brinlee didn't quit understand what all the fuss was about. We would sing "Happy Birthday" to her and she'd smile, get all excited, then run away. We had a little party out in the yard with Grandma Steff, Grandpa Randy, Marcus, Jason, Steve, Alisha, Mitchell, and of course Ryan, Myself, and the rest of my kids. Shelby couldn't make it because she had to work. . . we missed you Shelby! We had some take and bake pizza, birthday cake, and ice cream. Yeah, I felt sick afterward! The best part was when she opened her presents. She'd open one, then want to play with it and not open the next gift. I forgot to mention that she had a bazillion gifts. Grandma finally came up with the brilliant idea to put her in the high chair so she couldn't go anywhere. Grandma always comes up with great ideas. She got bored after the first 3-4 gifts and the other kids had to help her open the rest. She got a whole new summer wardrobe, lots of toys, and a kid size Dirt Devil vacuum so she can help Mom with the house work. I wonder who gave her that gift. :O) She had a great second birthday.

Shopping

Taylee and Kylee wanted to buy Brinlee a gift for her birthday. . . .with their own money. After much careful consideration they picked out what they thought she'd like, and what they could afford. We got to the register and Kylee only had a 20, she was so worried that she didn't have the right amount of money. The cashier assured her that she would give her some change. Upon receiving the change, she carelessly put it in her wallet and snapped it shut. The coins were falling out everywhere and I said,"Kylee, you can't just throw it in there, you've got to organize it so it won't fall out." That's when she said so matter of factly, "Mom, do I look like an adult or a kid? Geez, I haven't learned that yet!" Sometimes I just need a little reality check. :o)

Family Photos

We had our family photos taken on Tuesday night. Can say, "ARGHHHHH!"? So that's why we only do that once every few years. Getting four girls, myself, and a husband (almost as bad as the girls) ready, is hard enough; then you have to keep them looking nice until you get the photos successfully completed. Taylee wasn't too bad, except I feel like I am talking to a brick wall. She doesn't listen and when she does listen, she gets so distracted that whatever I told her to do is completely forgotten. I curled her hair in big ringlets that looked very pretty, but by the time we got there, most of the curl had fallen out. Kylee was probably the easiest to get ready. She's very good at doing what I ask and does it in a timely manner. Her problem was she couldn't find her sandals. We looked, and looked, and looked some more. We tried a pair of Taylee's old sandals on her, but she was not having it. There's one thing Kylee is famous for. . . her stubbornness. She was NOT going to wear Taylee's shoes, she wanted hers. She finally found an old pair of hers, but they needed to be polished. That's when I realized that all of their sandals needed some attention. TIME, I needed more TIME!!! Marlee was still in the bathtub and it was just about time to go. Luckily Grandma came in and saved the day. She fixed Marlee's hair and polished all the sandals. Thank goodness for Grandmas!!! I had this brilliant idea that I would paint all of the girls fingernails and toenails to match their dresses. Why do I do this to myself? Tay and Ky got theirs done, but Marlee only got her toes done. I told her that we didn't have time to do her fingers, but she wasn't having that. You see, Marlee is also very stubborn. I did not have time to fight with her, so I just quickly did her fingernails, knowing now that we were definitely going to be late. Brinlee was the easiest until we got to the actual taking of the photos. I was worried that she was going to be grumpy and crying, but she was actually happy. What a relief. She was so happy in fact that she thought it was hilarious to pull Marlee's hair in front of her, grab Ryan's face behind her, and reach out to me next to her. It was very difficult to get her to hold still. When she did hold still Marlee was looking off in a different direction. UGH! Our poor photographer. While she was taking pictures of the other girls, Brinlee was busy picking all the flowers. I just kept thinking, "I hope they don't have surveillance cameras." I am still waiting for someone to show up on my doorstep to collect money for all the damage done to the landscaping. Kylee has this fake smile that I didn't notice until we were done with the family part, and had moved on to the individual ones of the girls. She tucks her upper lip under so all you can see is her gums, but no upper lip. Kylee has a beautiful smile, but for some reason she uses this fake one in every formal picture that is taken of her. Ryan has a fake smile too and does this weird little head tilt. Who knows what strange little quirks I have. Brinlee had a big bruise right on the middle of her head and I had a bunch of zits on my chin from last weeks breakout. I guess there is no such thing as perfect, right? I just wanted it to be perfect so badly. We should get the proofs back next week, so that will be the moment of truth. I will be sure to post these pics when I get them. . . if they turn out, that is.

Ants

While riding her little bike around in the driveway, Brinlee discovered a huge pack of ants. You'd think this was the most amazing thing she has ever seen. He smile was from ear to ear and she couldn't help but laugh as she pointed them out to me. She squatted down and was trying to build up the courage to touch them and I'd shout, "ewww! Yuck!" She'd scream with excitement and laugh, and laugh, and laugh. It was so cute! Then Taylee and Kylee came around and the little stinkers started stomping on them. This was an opportunity to teach. I explained to them that they are creatures of our Heavenly Father's. I asked them how that would make Him feel. They are killing some one's children, or moms and dads. I asked them how that made the poor ants feel that just lost their family members. They got bored and went and jumped on the tramp. Later I found Brinlee over there stomping on the ants and smashing them with her fingers. Oh dear! (sigh) I can see that there are going to be many more opportunities to teach, but for the time being those ants sure provided some great entertainment for my little Brinlee.

Knives

Brinlee's lastest stunt is pushing a chair over and climbing up onto the counter. Once she has successfully manuevered that she proceeds to take the knives out of the knife block, one by one, and set them on the counter. Thank heavens I have been lucky enough to catch her in the act every time she's done this trick. I am extremely fearful of what she would've done with them once she got them all out. Oooh, I can't think about it, it makes me sick!!! I was telling Marcus (my brother) about it, complaining that she'd done it 4 or 5 times, when he suggested, "Well, why don't you put them up where she can't reach them." Duh! Why didn't I think of that? I'm supposed to be the smart one in the family. I am sorry Shepherd family, I have let you all down. If I'm the smart one in the family I am worried about the rest of your fates.