If you would like to order any of these photos, please contact me for ordering information. (Please do not print them on your own because the photographer gave me permission to use them on my blog only.) Also, have a look at the photographer’s website.

The project began the way it should have with drop cloths, paint rollers, brushes, and pans. Then the problems began. The paint was rolled on with a roller, which we have since learned you cannot do with oil paint. Yikes. It looked funny, so it was decided a regular brush would do the job better. We quickly discovered the error of using the roller. There are little fuzzies all over the door. We decided to take a “wait and see” approach to the problem. Then an unfortunate series of events happened that took the door from a fuzzy blue door to something really, really bad.

1. A child shut the door, and it sealed shut. It took David’s strength to open it and it ruined the edge of the door. No problem. Touch-up the fuzzy and edgy door.

2. The same child pressed her fingertips (all 5) into the paint to see if it was dry. Oops. Definitely not dry. Touch-up the fuzzy, edgy, and fingerprinted door.

3. Different child found the paint brush and decided to paint it, which created a swirly pattern in the middle of the door. Yuck. Touch-up fuzzy, edgy, finger-printed, and swirly door.

4. Whilst my dear hubby was fixing the paint job of the younger Roach, I held the door to steady it. Genius! Touch-up fuzzy, edgy, fingerprinted, swirly, and smudged door.

5. After taking more the 24 hours to dry, we discovered that we can’t put oil-based paint on our door (only latex). Tomorrow – strip and re-paint fuzzy, edgy, finger-printed, swirly, and smudged door.

Poor door.

Thirteen things that happen when taking a child to the emergency room in the middle of the night.

1. You will not be able to think clearly in the middle of the night, and you can be assured that nothing you need will be readily available.

2. Your house may be “child” proof, but it is not “accident” proof. It is definitely not “freak-accident” proof.

3. Upon the moment of being injured, your son will hide under a blanket and will not let you know what is wrong leading you to believe he was traumatized by a bad dream. Little do you know that you will be the one traumatized when you stumble across something lodged in his foot 20+ minutes later.

4. If you are the mom, you will freakout and guilt will ensue the moment of the discovery.

5. If you are the dad, you will suggest using tools found in the garage to “fix” the injury.

6. After waking up your oldest child, she will gladly get up and get dressed quickly ready for adventure leading you to wonder if you should get her up every morning at 3:00 a.m. so she’ll be dressed before noon.

7. Even though you have an educated mind, making a decision about whether to go to the ER or not makes you feel like a chimpanzee. Thus, you will still be debating the decision with your fellow chimp until you walk into the doors of the hospital.

8. Upon entering the hospital, the mom will tear up and begin to cry, and the dad will wonder how much this will cost compared to staying at home and using the pliers.

9. After the object is removed, the injured child will immediately need to use the bathroom, but will freak out when he discovers it is equipped with the dreaded “automatic” flusher. (The bane of my son’s existence.)

10. The mother will still be panicked even after arriving at home and will insist that the pharmacist needs to be called to verify that the right prescription was dispensed. (Leading all to wonder about her sanity, which is debatable most days.)

11. You will all cuddle together in your bed ready to go back to sleep, and feel immensely grateful that nothing worse happened.

12. Everyone will “baby” the hurt child the next day (especially if he’s the baby in the family). There will be kisses, hugs, and sugar treats for all.

13. Looking back on the event, you will realize that everyone’s true personality will shine through. Dad = miserly and cavalier, Mom = the emotional maniac, Sister = spirited and caring (who will someday be like the Mom), Son = passive and independent (who will morph into the Dad.)

Read other “Thirteens” here.

It has been a very busy couple of weeks. We celebrated my dad’s 60th birthday. All of us gathered at my parents’ house and showered him with love and gifts. It was a great day. My mom bought fun party favors for all of her grandchildren. I worked on a book for my dad filled with letters from and photos of each of us. He loved it. Yesterday Elisa had a dance recital, and she did a great job. David is still working on the video quality. You can see some raw video of it on his channel, dewroach, on Youtube.

The Line-up

On my nightstand: still reading the same books (CM homeschool book and Gifts from the Sea)
In the garden: Two sick tomato plants. Planting 1 new tomato and 1 new pepper.
With friends: Seeing a friend I haven’t seen in ages on Tuesday.
On the calendar: Baby shower at my house on Saturday.
With family: David will start teaching again, so our summer break was a little short this time.
On the homefront: Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning for the shower.
In the craft room: Finished one scrapbook and working on 2 baby books for friends.

Have a great week. More pictures later.

1. Shasta daisies and bluebonnets

2. This video:

3. Swinging in the rope swing in our front yard.

4. Watching my kids play outside together.

5. Delicious breezes and open windows.

6. Memories of my childhood in Michigan:

cir 1977

For more Thursday Thirteens, click here.