Treading Water

Have you ever felt like your life is moving in slow motion and all life around you is moving in hyper-speed? That is what life has felt like for me lately. As Ben continues to job hunt, we are trying to get some projects done around the house. For example, what was once Zack's room, but that became Ben's office, is now being prepped for transition to become Mylie's room. We (meaning Ben) are sanding walls, priming walls, and eventually we will hit the painting of walls phase.

Ben was working on priming one of the walls when his cell phone rang and it was a prospective employer calling to give him a first interview over the phone. I was putting laundry away and was unaware of the fact that while Ben was walking into our room so he could avoid the noise of the kids to take his interview call, Zack was seizing the opportunity to play with paint.

I am no longer surprised to walk into the hallways or rooms of my home to be greeted by curiosity gone awry. This time I followed white primer specks and drips on the carpet, the walls, the wood floor, pieces of furniture here and there, until I found Zachary hiding under a primer covered kitchen table. He had primer all over his face, arms, and legs. "Don't come near me, I am a Paint Monster!!!" he warned me. My camera battery was dead, so there are no pictures to document the Paint Monster's reign of terror.

Interestingly enough, the primer came off far more easily from the carpet, walls, and wood floor than it did from Zachary himself. He spent thirty minutes in the tub soaking and having me scrub him with a wash cloth and it still isn't all off of him.

Yesterday, Andrew, Zack, and Mylie were all throwing up. I would rather be cleaning today's paint/primer fiasco than deal with the cleaning I got to do yesterday.

Zachary was sent to me to teach me patience. I don't know if I am getting any more patient as I raise him, but I have gained a greater understanding of cause and effect. For example, if you leave a can of Fresca in the same room as your laptop, then Zack will give your laptop a drink. If you leave kitchen chairs in the kitchen, then Zack will use them to gain access to the fridge and drop multiple cartons of eggs onto the floor. If he has poured 98% of the contents of a gallon of milk onto the floor and you are laying across the floor to absorb it before it seeps under your cabinets, he will realize you can't move and pour out the last 2% of the 2%. If you abandon the primer to take a job interview phone call, you will be greeted by the Paint Monster. I have also learned that if you tell Zack you love him, he will give you a big hug and kiss.

Our Christmas card pictures were a bust this year. Thus, we aren't going to be sending a card out this year. Do stay tuned for a Christmas post that is filled with 100% Christmas card picture rejects. What can I say, we tried!

Oh what the heck, here is a quick preview...