Die to Self

Timeless battle, Endless siege
Flesh and Spirit collide in me
Lift me high
Don't let me be
Another casualty

--Freddy Hinojosa

This house is clean...

Let's face it--even though I don't work, it's HARD to keep up with all the housework that 6 of us create. I can never ever get on top of it and had resigned myself to the fact that my house will not be clean until our 4th child moves out. That is, until my brother-in-law took charge. He has a cleaning lady come to his house every week...and now he's paying her to come to ours once a week!!! Can you believe it?!? And, no, she doesn't look like this. Sorry, Freddy ;)! She does our living room, kitchen, and bathrooms from floor to ceiling. You should come over and run your fingers across our mini blinds--NOT A SPECK OF DUST!!!--I didn't want her to do bedrooms. I feel like the kids need to be responsible for their spaces. I don't want them thinking 'the maid'll do it'.

Thank you, Billy, for being so giving and gracious to us. What a tremendous help Millie has been to me.


***LICE REPORT***
2 days after the boys were infected Holly got it, too. So far, Melanie has escaped. They even closed the school down yesterday and today to treat the building. They were sending kids and teachers home left and right!!! How could they let it get out of hand like that? I'm a tad pissed. Frankly, I don't want to send them back at all and just homeschool them the rest of the year. They're going to a different school next year anyway. grrr.

buzz heads

OK. So some of you know that there was a lice outbreak at the kids' school and both boys were infected. That's how we spent our weekend--dealing with everything that goes along with that. Anyway, both boys decided it would be easier to buzz their heads than to go thru the tedious combing that you have to do after you use the treatment. Now you have to understand that my boys had BEAUTIFUL longish hair. They were both in tears and DID NOT want to cut it but felt it would be best. That brings me to Freddy. What an awesome man he is--and has an awesome head of hair himself. Beautiful salt and pepper--more salt than pepper ;)--edgy haircut, too. Well, this precious man I'm married to decided to support the team and buzz HIS hair to make the boys feel better. I actually wanted to buzz mine, too. How cool and easy would that be?!? Freddy told me to be quiet and never mention that again. Oh well. I think all my boys look pretty darn good!

more pretty pinkness

Here's some pretty springy flowers I put by our front door. I don't usually buy fresh flowers, but it's been so cold outside that I needed something to remind me that warm weather will be here soon.

finally...

I bought this Christmas Cactus in November '05 after my sister died. It was beautiful and covered in blooms. Well, Christmas came and went this year with nothing from Mr. Cactus and now he's finally deciding to bloom.

Maybe he's a Valentine Cactus...

birthday boy

Happy 8th birthday, sweet fella. I love you.

nail biter

Benjamin starts driver's ed this week. I know he'll be 17 in March, but there was always a matter of $$, timing, etc. He's so excited. I guess I kinda am, too. I'm ready to have another driver in the house.

lunch box blues

I think if I have to make 1 more sandwich I am going to SCREAM...and I'm pretty sure my kids feel the same way about eating them. Do any of y'all have any yummy suggestions for my kids' lunches? What do you send your kids for lunch?