Only on Covewood

Hey guys! I am, yet again, ashamed of my apparant lack of blogging skills. I think tonight's post will more than make up for the weeks that have gone by.

Today was going pretty well, all things considered. Merle went in to work at one, so we had most of the morning to spend together. We did come to the exciting decision that we are going to re-carpet the house. I love the carpet that is in here now, and it's only five years old. However, the acquisition of a certain canine named Coco has changed the current look and smell of the carpet. You know our track record with trying to do updates to the house, so don't get excited until it's actually done.

Anyway, enough about that. I was able to meet a friend from years past for lunch, and that was fun catching up on what's been going on with each other. I went to Wal-Mart (without kids, I might add!) and got to just look around. That's a big deal for me! Then it was time to pick up the kiddos. So we got home and everyone got snacks and a drink, and it was time to just hang out. So I put the chicken for dinner on to boil, and we went out in the backyard. Have you ever put chicken on to boil and forgotten about it? I should have just called it quits then, but I trudged on. See, the stove I cook on is the ORIGINAL stove that came in the house. It's from 1979, has burners and is mustard yellow in color. It cooks great, but looks like a beast! So the chicken boils over and goes all up under the burner. It pools up and starts stinking under the burner. Okay, enough about that. You feel my pain.

So my brother, Matt, and his wife, Valerie, come to eat dinner with us. The kids love having them come over. The boys were in the backyard playing and we were inside talking. It registered in the back of my mind that Collin kept coming in and out of the house, but that is nothing out of the ordinary, so I didn't really pay any attention. The next thing I know, Collin is screaming, "There's a fire! There's a fire!" I will never forget how my heart stopped in that instant and I pictured the worst. I run out to the backyard, and there is a nice grass fire burning away.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? CAN YOU JUST SEE THIS???

Here's what happened. Collin has discovered the Bic lighters that I use to light candles around the house. He took one, unbeknownst to me, out to the backyard and proceeded to set a leaf on fire. He says hedropped the leaf and it caught the brown winter grass on fire, and quickly spread. The trips inside and out were an attempt to put out the fire with cups of water. I just started screaming for Matt to help--I truly was so panicked that I didn't know what to do. Valerie quickly got the hose hooked up, and we got the fire out. It was so scary because all I could think about was what if Collin had been in the house with the lighter and set a piece of paper on fire? It could have been so much worse, but it was very scary as it was. Of course I disciplined him, and it didn't take much because he was really scared when he saw how bad the fire was. I made him call Merle and tell him what he did, and that was hard on him also.

So the drama from the fire is over, and we all troop back inside after surveying the damage one last time. Valerie says, "What is that rattling noise?" We go in the kitchen to investigate (I was ready to blame the dryer for the sound!) and lo and behold!!! Coco is on the stove, finishing off the dish of poppy seed chicken that was left over for Merle to eat when he gets off work!!!! This evening, nothing went right. Everything that could go wrong, did. And all I can sit here and do is thank God for the patience and the grace that he gave me to deal with this crazy night. Isn't He amazing?

Enough for now...you know that if it takes me a long time to post again that when I do, it will be well worth the story!!!

He picked what??!!!

First of all, let me say a big hello to Paige! Of course I remember you, and I can't believe I have four readers now! Oh, the joy! I forgot to tell you cats this story. So we take the boys to McDonald's for lunch about a week ago, and of course they had to stand of front of the toy display for five full minutes discussing which toy they hoped was in their glorious Happy Meal.

Before we go any further, I need to comment on the value of a Happy Meal to a child. When my thirteen-month younger brother, Matt, and I were growing up, getting a Happy Meal was the equivalent of waking up to see what Santa left on Christmas morning. My mother always said they were too expensive and we couldn't really afford them. So the one time of year we actually got a Happy Meal was for us the best day of the year!

Now back to the present. They are finally done looking, and we go to the counter to order. And guess what Carter decides he wants? Rather than hoping for a really cool Transformer, he opted for a purple My Little Pony and the special brush that came with it. Can you picture the look on Merle's face? It was classic, and he still can't believe one of his boys has a My Little Pony! And wonder of all wonders, we haven't lost it yet. Carter likes it so well that he hasn't lost it and he protects it from the evil CoCo!

Wow, I hope you are thoroughly entertained. I'm kind of still giggling about the incident myself. Thinking back on how happy Matt and I were to get a Happy Meal, as long as the pony makes Carter baby happy, that's all that matters, right?!!!

Bloggin' Block...

Well, in case you haven't noticed, I've kind of given up the whole bloggin' thing. I think it's for the birds. But, at Becke's encouragement, I'll try to stick with it just a little longer. I don't know what to blog about!! Forget, the the fact that I have Collin, Carter and CoCo Chanel the dog. You'd think there would be stories just gushing forth from my blog...but no!
Crazy things really do happen over here that I could tell you about. Did I tell you about when three weeks ago I spent 300 something dollars having the carpets cleaned? Oh yeah, I did tell you about it because I remember griping about the dog peeing on it the next day. This tale gets better. A few days later, mom was over here helping me put the final decorative touches on the newly remodeled bathroom. In my state of bliss over being done with the remodel, I move the paint cans from the bathroom closet right outside the door into the hallway. Carter was jacking around, you know, acting his usual wild self. And he's moving and stacking these paint cans. It took about 25 seconds for me to register what he was doing, and then in slow motion I see him pick up the fullest, heaviest can of paint and drop it!! The lid hadn't been put properly back on (not my fault, I swear!!) and when the can of paint fell, off pops the lid and a half gallon of vanilla brandy colored paint spills in the middle of the newly cleaned hallway carpet. Thanks to the Boys in Blue from Little Rock!!! They were here in 45 minutes and spent a good 20 minutes trying to remove what they could of the paint. He said, "Mam, (what's that about, I'm only 32 I'm thinking!) I've gotten up what I could. I know it probably looks like I've gotten all of it, but I can tell you now that it is going to come back up. It has definitely gotten in the carpet pad." I am still upset about the unfortunate incident, but more upset that it ruined my favorite pair of jeans to wear with flats and my favorite tennis shoes.
What about this one...you're gonna love it (all three of you that read my blog!). So last Sunday morning we're trying to get ready for church. Merle was in the living room with mis hijos playing xbox. (Whoever invented that is not my favorite person.) I'm in the shower. Carter comes into the bathroom and tells me to get out of the shower, and I told him to go on back to daddy. I, again, in a state of blissful ignorance, just know that him being the sweet little 2 1/2 year old boy that he is will do exactly as he was told. So I do a little more singin' and dancin' and decide I'm done in the shower and get out. My eyes behold the most incredible sight I'd seen in quite a while! Carter had NOT left the bathroom as instructed, and decided to get into my makeup. My $40 bottle of Merle Norman foundation was on his face like war paint, rubbed onto the wallpaper, rubbed onto the cabinet fronts and poured in various spots on the carpet. Then, more upsetting than that was the defiling of my Voluminous mascara. Like Anna, I've used it forever, and there is something beautiful about a new tube, which was what I had. Carter had made circles around his eyes with it and then brushed it over the foundation on the cabinet fronts. Needless to say, Merle took full responsibility for the disaster (I'm sure he did because he didn't want to incur the wrath of Jennifer). We didn't get the foundation out of the carpet, but that's okay because now I have an excuse to want to pull up that carpet and remodel our bathroom! Sorry about your luck, Merle! You just think you're ready for the holidays to be over, but you just don't know what's in your future!!! Hee-hee!
Okay, I promise I'll try to tell you these things at least on the same day they happen. You can all share in my misery!
And thanks, girls, for letting me tag along last night for the girl's night out--all well worth it!!

Wasn't Thanksgiving great this year? It sure was for our family. We gave lots of thanks for Merle's new job. By the way, he had to be at the store at 2 am on Black Friday, and he worked until 6 pm that evening. I can't even count how many hours that was!!
You will be so glad to know that we are almost done with the remodel, and I can't wait for yall to see it. It's going to be the nicest room in the house--do you see the irony in that? It doesn't seem right that the nicest room be the bathroom! I was so surprised that dad and my bro Matt came over today to help finish up. Dad painted the second coat and bro did all of the caulking and taped everything off so that I could do the trim. I honestly had never painted until today, and it is my new favorite hobby! I carried my big ole' gallon of paint into the kitchen and painted the windowsills. I promise they needed it; I wasn't really just looking for something else to make look new! I think mom and I found all the decorative stuff we need to complete the look, so the finishing touches should be done by tomorrow. Let me know when you're coming over to check it out!!
Well, I need to go start another load of laundry, so I'll catch you cats later!!

The Big Announcement!

Okay, so you know I'm not preggo. And I guess the three people that read my blog already know that our family has received it's biggest blessing ever--Merle got the job that we have been praying for for 11 years. I can't belive that for the first time ever Merle is going to actually work in the same town we live in!!! All glory to God for this!

And, I need to let you know that the remodel is still NOT done. We are close, but not there yet. We still have one more coat of paint and we need to seal the grout in the shower and on the floor. I found a gorgeous mirror for 79.99 at TJ Maxx. Don't you love that store?!!! And the mirror is huge. I will have fun shopping for some prints for the wall, maybe even a piece of metal work would be pretty.

I have a funny Cocolicious Chanel story. So we spent $300 yesterday cleaning the carpet from where she's ruined it by peeing on it. I kept her out all day yesterday and all last night. I let her in this morning (because you know it was freezing in the garage!) and she hadn't been in the house 15 minutes and peed on the carpet. What do you do??? I really want to get rid of her but Merle says it will break the kids hearts. I think they could care less. Carter likes to DDT her (for those of you wrestling fans you'll see the humor in this!) and Collin likes to put the beat on her when the mood strikes him.

I saw my buddy Alison today. She and her hubby came to Dazzle Daze. How fun!! And Becke kept the kids today for me--thanks girl!!! I'll bring you payment on Sunday--is cash acceptable?!!! And Atrain--where are you??? Are you out there?!!! If I know you, you are in the process of redecorating something or moving pictures around...maybe even cooking some kind of delicious meal. Save me some!

Getting closer...

I have to give a great big thanks to my girlfriend Becke for coming to the casa today and whipping me and the house into shape. The thick layer of fine white sheetrock dust is finally gone! Now maybe the kids and dog will stop sneezing! Hee-hee!
Seriously Beck, thanks for the much needed help. Even Merlot was impressed!
I have an announcement to make on Wednesday. I know you can't wait to hear some exciting news. And, no, it's not that I'll be setting the dog free!

what were we thinking?

There are two things I wish I would have been warned NOT to do. The first was to get a dog. What was I thinking? I swear, one day I'm going to slip her collar off and set her free in the neighborhood. The second thing someone should have told me not to do was REMODEL a bathroom. What I was optimistically hoping was a seven-day affair will easily be a two week job. Oh well, once it's over the party's at my house!