Wednesday, September 27, 2006

THE shelf suspended


Several of you have asked for pictures. I think the kids even used a small level during the project. I am impressed with the ingenuity. Who would have thought that a small stepstool could be modified to be used as a floating shelf?

The question still remains: Who wanted a floating shelf?

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Martial Arts Ambition

Mr. Rellim bought the kids pocket knives without my knowledge and they have been working on 1/4 inch dowel rods, whittling them into small spears. I haven't asked the purpose of their project, but am happy that the long dowel rod is history.

Why?

Because last week, the boy was walking around the block brandishing the rod and practicing "cool moves" such as whipping the dowel loudly from side to side while shouting, "Yah! Yah! Yah!" and spinning randomly from left to right as his casted arm flung about.

I wonder what our neighbors think of us . . .

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Suspended

What were the kids supposed to be doing? Picking up toys, making beds and staying out of trouble.

What did they do instead?

Dismantle a small stepstool and suspend it in the middle of the boy's bedroom using kite string, 2 nails and a mangled hanger.

Is this how MacGuyver got started?

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Homework?!


"No, Mom, I didn't have time to do my homework tonight."

Why?

"Well, I had to make some ear warmers and a cape for Bambi. You know, it's getting cold at night and I don't want my rabbit to get too cold."

She fit her rabbit with winter wear instead of doing her homework. Do you think she could get some credit in her art class?

One More Week

The cast comes off in one week. Tonight Quinn was complaining because his arm was itching. "Man! I wish I hadn't put all that extra cotton in there!"

"What extra cotton?" said I.

"You know all the cotton that used to be in my cast around my fingers?"

("Uh, the cotton in your cast that's there to keep your fingers from getting sores?" thought I.)

"Well, I picked it all out and shoved it into the top of my cast and now my arm is itching!"

COMMENTARY: Hmm. I wonder what else he's shoved into his cast. It will be like the Giraldo Rivera show when he opened the supposed Al Capone treasure vault. Could be gold or dirt.

(Short Break)

I just answered my cell phone. It was Quinn calling me from his bedroom on his new Bart Simpson telephone (thanks, Great-Grandma M.). He wanted to remind me that his arm still itches and that he's hungry - so hungry, in fact that he's planning a sleeping strike unless he is fed.

COMMENTARY: What messed-up family has a Bart Simpson telephone? And what kind of world are we living in when an eight year old chooses to contact his mother by cell phone instead of hollering down the hallway to her?

Must go feed the child. I'm thinking graham ers, but will monitor for possible crumb cast-shoving.

Monday, September 18, 2006

and Smart

She chose her hairdo and lipgloss and t-shirt for her 5th grade pictures. It says, "Blonde and Smart." You gotta love her positive attitude!

Saturday, September 16, 2006

4 pictures, 3 babies, 2 cousins, 1 new mother

New Mama Rellim with one of her three new babies.
One of the Rellim s holding a Rellim boy.
A close-up of the youngest Miss Rellim.
The young Mr. Rellim with the youngest Miss Rellim.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Relaxation at Last (To the tune of "Taps)

Day is done.
Hole is dug.
Pipe is laid.
Sod replaced.
Grass seed splayed.

"Come, rain, come!"
We will say
With no fear.
French Drain.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Howdy!

She really wants to be a farmer - when she's not busy painting her fingernails or salvaging trash to create artistic masterpieces or designing clothing from scrap material.

She especially wants to be anything that does not involve cleaning or organizing her bedroom.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Friends

Guess which one of us has a California tan? The same one who is becoming extremely busy at her new job. Say hello to Ahhnold for me!!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Thanks, PaPa Wayne!


The flooring looks great! We appreciate all the sweat equity and love you very much!

A Few Projects


After we got the bathtub tile taken care of, I talked Mr. Rellim into digging this trench. If we don't finish soon, I'm afraid we will have to have a moat instead of a french drain.

Monday, September 04, 2006

What's That Smell?!

Now the smell is fresh paint, wood flooring, ceramic adhesive and bathtub caulk.

The indoor projects are complete - until I can think up another one. The young Mr. Rellim has hardwood laminate flooring and new paint. The hallway has ZERO fingerprints. The bathroom has a new tub/shower fixture and ceramic tile. And the hall closet adjacent to the bath/shower no longer has THAT smell (of leaking water and rotting drywall).

Tonight we dug a trench along the west side of the house to place a french drainage system. I'll post pictures soon.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Triplets are Born

There were one and two boys added to the extended Rellim family last night and each weighed over five pounds. AMAZING! Everyone is reportedly doing well, but the babies will be staying for a few days until breathing and feeding skills normalize.

Way to go, new mom!!

We're praying for you!

Sunday, August 27, 2006

God Knows EVERYTHING

At 6:00 am Wednesday morning I woke up, still thinking about bills from the night before. Cleverly, I decided that in order to make ends meet, we would not tithe to our church on Sunday. Yeah! That was just the solution. "What's God need money for anyway?! Can't he just create some for himself?" (Rellim, Boy. May 2006)

At 8:00 am Wednesday morning I logged into my email and received a message from our preacher. He asked if I would consider praying Sunday before the offering.

Talk about the Spirit nudging. . . So I prayed on Sunday AND we tithed.

State Fair Time

Here is a picture of our neices at the State Fair. I usually make a run for the corn dog stand during the washing of the pigs.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Helpful Hint

If ever you are sitting in your home thinking, "What smells like wet crawl space?" - Guess what?

It's a wet crawl space.

You might have to replace a few pipes in your plumbing, have some trap thingy installed in your washing machine water drain and repair the condensate drain on your AC so that it will stop pouring water under your house. While you're at it, you might consider replacing the 45 year old water heater and a couple floor joists with water damage.

Oh! Wait a minute. The floor joists sustained damage from termite damage, not water damage. That headline might read, "Not All Free Mulch is Free."

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Happy Birthday, Owen!


If I were three years old today I know what I'd ask for -

100 doughnuts

Not even a hesitation

Yesterday was my first full day back at work. That evening I had a chance to visit with my best friend and asked my children if they would mind me leaving them again in the same day.

"Will you feel abandoned?" I asked.

"No, I'd feel like there is some peace and quiet in the house," was the boy's response.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Great Grandkids

More Great-Grandparents with Great-Grandchildren. And a fun time was had by all.