Today marks a milestone

Tonight, Elaina was complaining about her feet.  They are peeling from all the swimming she has been doing.  I got her some water shoes today to help her not be as bothered.  :)  She put on my sandals and the were a little big on her.  Not a big deal.  They are a bit big on me because Emma wore them and stretched them out.  Then she compared her foot to mine.  That's when I noticed.  Today is my milestone.  Elaina and I wear the same size shoes.  Yes.  My 8 year old (yes, she turns 9 in OCTOBER...  too far to count for now)  and I wear the same shoe size.  I always thought I would be like my mom and sisters.  They shared shoes growing up.  I was always so jealous because they could share with each other when my sisters were in High School.  I thought it was just because I was still in Jr. High that my feet weren't fitting their shoes.  Then once in High School, I was proud of my small feet.  I didn't have to share shoes with anyone, but that also meant I couldn't share shoes with anyone!  :)   I hoped that I would get to share shoes with my girls.  Emma blew that one out of the water once she was 8.   She went from a size smaller than me to 2 sizes larger within a month!   Plus, it's just not fashionable for a 30 year old to share shoes with an 8 year old.  Ya know what I mean?  ;)  I held a glimmer of hope that Elaina would have my small feet gene.  That hope is gone.  As she was running around the living room boasting about how she can now wear my "high heels " (I'm wondering where I hide these high heels she is talking about) I was secretly crying inside.  Then the boys chirped in.  Oh how they love to let me know I'm shorter than they are.  Once they heard Elaina and I share shoes, it was a free for all.  Don't feel too bad for me, though.  I still hold a lot of power.  I get the pleasure of driving them around if and when I want.  They know to stop and be nice to me once I give them "the look".  haha

What I'm good at

I have found over the years that I am good at cutting things.   Maybe "things" is a bit too broad.  I try to cut fresh bread and it looks like I have attempted to make a pyramid.  I cut vegetables and they are all different shapes and sizes.  Kind of like if you drop a piece of glass and it shatters.  Lots of different sizes.  Yep.  That's what my veggies look like.  Mike, on the other hand, is a master at slicing bread and chopping vegetables.  He makes it look easy.  Everything perfect and professional looking.  Anyway, I have found that I have a talent for cutting myself.  I don't even require anything major to help me with this.  I have cut myself with steak knives, butcher knives, butter knives, and forks.  Yes.  You read that right.  Forks!  I know.  It's a talent.  Go ahead.  Take a moment to be jealous.  :)  My latest scar to be is from washing a butcher knife.  I usually don't use this knife because, well, it's sharp.  I don't have much feeling in my hands and that with my knack for slicing skin is not a good combination. Therefore, I don't use this particular knife very often.   I was trying to be nice though.  The boys (and Mike) were getting home from high adventure for scouts and I wanted them to have a special treat.  How was I to know it wouldn't work out so well.  haha

 

It doesn't look like much, but it is a very nice slice along the meaty part of my fourth finger.  Don't worry.  I didn't cut the whole thing off.  There is still skin keeping it attached like a bad hair toupee.   haha  Now if I were only as good at healing as I am at slicing! 

Our new kitchen furniture

With my friend Denise leaving, we were able to get a new table, chairs, china cabinet, a mirror, and two buffets.

Here is the table (with the leaf in it).  For our family, we put the leaf away and it still fits the whole family. 

Here is the china cabinet.  It fits a WHOLE lot of stuff! That makes me happy.   :)

Here is what the buffet tables look like.  We put one in the kitchen and one in the entryway with the mirror.  This is the one in the kitchen.

Here is the buffet in the entryway.  No.  We haven't attached the mirror yet.  It's only been a week. I wouldn't expect it to get hung until sometime next week.  haha  I did try to do it, and the mirror is heavy and it requires me to line up the nails and put in anchors so it doesn't fall down.  In other words, I'm waiting until Mike is available to help.  That hasn't happened yet.  That poor man works non-stop.  The mirror isn't life or death for me.

I'm actually more concerned about getting the old chairs and shelves out of the living room first.  ;)   

My favorite faces...