Navajo Tacos Anyone?

As we finish up a weekend of complete and total organized chaos I have a few observations.

• two or three working cars would be nice
• it is wonderful when family listen and then pitch in to assist
  
• I allegedly use positive reinforcement when I talk to my family
• it is possible to do the splits and not be on the floor
• it is possible to chop lots and lots of onions and not shed a tear
• it pays to look at receipts/register tapes
• it is possible to use only elbows and feet to open and close refrigerators
  
• it is fantastic to have left overs so you don't have to "cook" the next day
• and it is fantastic to have a family who is supportive, patient, understanding and willing to do much, much more than asked.

Thank you family for all of your help. You enabled me to focus on my church responsibilities and didn't make me feel bad for missing things I didn't really want to miss.
And just a question, are you sure you want to do this as a family next year?

Why would we have Seven Children?

That is a very good question.
The quick answer for today is...
so Mitch and I wouldn't need to spend a year installing a fence for Grandmama.
Saturday, 7 AM,
we gathered at Grandmama's home and put up her new, vinyl fence.
Brino had gone over a few weeks earlier and dug out the old, rotted, nasty (yucky face here) railroad ties and then dug around all of the various "utility" stuff to get the post holes ready. (why would there be a waterline going under her house?)
Then, the fencing was decided upon and ordered.
A mass text went out Friday reminding everyone about 7 a.m. Saturday.
Every family was there one way of another except for Marlo and Cliff (they had a last minute trip come up) and Hoperdoo, she was at a camp meeting and Tink brought a friend, (Yeah, more muscles).
It was quite fantastic watching the family work together for a few hours.
My contribution was minimal...I asked a lot of questions to which I usually received this answer
"We are getting there, it isn't important yet!" or the answer I really like,
"Geez Mom, give us a minute"
and the especially loved,
"How come you're so picky?"
or perhaps,
"Why didn't you say something sooner?"
Enough about my contribution...
It truly was rewarding watching the family work together on the project. For the first 30 minutes or so everyone was rather clumped together and it looked as if this was a small state job in process. One person doing something, everyone else supervising...then as the morning progressed, everyone spread out and started working jointly on the fence, but with different aspects. It was great. By the end of the process, everyone had a "job".
Ticklebug worked with Tink's friend and Tink and assembled main fencing parts, Rosco designed a "cutting" area to work in and made cut after cut after cut...he was always looking ahead to what was going to be needed next, Brino supervised, helped everywhere and ran back and forth to the fence store to pick up things that were needed, Chaser worked with Hubby installing the top rails and lattice, Branson was in charge of the tape measure, and Briceman played with Bear, the dog. The boys also found some fantastic dirt to drive their cars in. They were great to go around the string line and did an awesome job handing fence parts as needed.
Grandmama made sure everyone was hydrated and had a yummy treat or a piece of fruit for quick energy.
One of the coolest things (to me) was after the fence was "up" the mess was cleaned up. Trash gathered, disturbed dirt raked back into place, and the fence was washed down and wiped dry (couldn't be dirty with Hubby around).
All in all, was a great morning project for the family...what a great service they provided. And, we had a great time with everyone.

(After I figure out how to download pix from my phone to the computer I will post some pix here of the fence family project).

Best Birthday Ever!!!

How can anyone begin to describe the best birthday ever?
I can.
I can begin by saying,
"my children listened to what I said!"
this is wonderful and fantastic...makes me happy...
Someday, I may become perfect, but right now...I am sadly lacking.
My focus is rarely on my home...
meaning the things in it, not the people.
I am most always focused on "the people of my home".
When asked,
"what do you want for your birthday?"
I responded (as I have in years past)
"My house clean and tidy".
Usually, my family doesn't listen very well.
This year they did!
Gives me big, big smiles...
I made cheesecakes in the morning with Marlo's help,
then Mom and I went to George for some Mom/Daughter time. I had a bunch of fun. We went to Ross, the dollar store, and Costco (we were going to go to a very nice lunch, but we ran out of time). Whoop, Whoop. Ross, looking for what I wanted to look for...
Smiles again.
I came home wiped out and exhausted and HOT. The very first thing I noticed was the dratted flower bed had been weeded and raked and the Mother's Day Zinnias had been planted in it and
I know that took many hours (Hope has the burn to prove it, I haven't seen Air to see how she is).
And the front porch looked as if someone actually liked to be there.
Into the kitchen for a drink of water and every single counter was cleaned and scrubbed, smiles again, all of the dishes were put away.
When I reached into the freezer for a chunk of ice, there was all of this room in it...someone had cleaned it out and washed the shelves and organized and thrown out all of the gross nasty stuff that likes to hide in there, Thanks Kater, (yes, I noticed).
I slipped off my shoes, (they were new, thanks to my Hubby), and the floor was smooth, no crumblies on it anywhere.
I think Tink was responsible for the smooth, freshly mopped floors.
A sigh of pleasure at the cleaned and vacuumed and straightened front room. Into the bathroom 'cause when you gotta go you gotta go,
for the moment while I was there...obviously Marlo had been to work.
Scrubbed out and polished shower, stain free toilet, and gleaming sink. A smooth floor and a sparkling mirror. She does bathroom really, really well.
Upstairs and Downstairs tidied and vacuumed. Oh what a heavenly sight, the vacuumer had taken the time to use the "sword" and get around all of the edges. I could actually see where the laundry room is supposed to be and there was a huge pile of folded towels just finished from the dryer.
Someone was even brave enough to attempt to vacuum the "vintage" mustard green shag carpet in my room.
The trash had been taken out.
And, I am still discovering things my children did for me yesterday.
I also know an attempt was made to repair the cooler so I could have a cool home when I came home, but parts can be difficult to find.
Thanks for a wonderful surprise.
Making this one of the "best Birthdays ever" I have experienced.
A few minutes to cool down and relax and off to dinner with my Hubby and
a show I have very much been anticipating watching.
Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Oh, how much I love and appreciate my family and all they do for me.
Thank you so very much for a wonderful day.