The Way Kids Think...

This morning, Carl and I were chatting in the car. I was telling him how excited and privileged I feel for being invited to attend the birth of a good friend of mine. We turned the conversation to the "husband" roll in the birth, and to home-birth.

Our entire family was a part of Canyon's birth. Rory and Carl both had "jobs" and Arden was there to experience it too. Rory chose to tell us what the gender of the baby was, and he chose to "help" mom cut the cord.

Rory was a part of Canyon's home-birth. He was a participant in bringing his brother into the world, and he (unlike Arden) is old enough to remember this, and to see it as the "norm" and natural. To me it really makes me smile to know that when he grows up, that he will encourage his partner to have a home birth and maybe even advocate for the natural birth process.

While we were talking about this, I turned to Rory in the back seat and asked him, "Rory, when you grow up and get married, will you have your babies at home?"

His reply was fast and sure... "NO!"

I asked "Where are you going to have the baby? At the hospital?"

And in typical 4YO fashion, he taught me something about semantics... "But mom... I am a BOY, I can't have babies!"

Amazing how the mind of a child works isn't it?

3 Months and Growing Strong...

Carl went to Charlotte today, and after I ran the morning chores, I decided to take a few 3-month photos of Canyon...






I can't believe my baby is 3 months old already... it is going by too fast.

The "Wettest Drought I Have Ever Seen"

Water has been a concern here in WNC for 2 years now. We haven't seen a drop of water at our house in almost a month. Our garden is not producing anything. We have gotten about 10-20 beans total, and nothing else has yielded any produce.

When we started to have issues with our well, I decided to google around and see if other folks were experiencing water shortages. I found a lot of interesting things while doing my research.

*If Western NC doesn't get 13 WEEKS of straight rain above our average, we will be out of water in a year. Our water sheds will be completely dry. Sounds unbelievable doesn't it?

*One of Marshal's 3 wells has gone dry and they expect the other three to follow suit in a few weeks.

*The French Broad River is at its lowest levels since river levels and weather records were started in the 1800's.

*Combined with last year we are almost 30 inches below our average rainfall since January 2007.

But there was one thing that I found that just completely blew my mind. I came across an online chat discussing the weather and drought conditions here in WNC. A lady was posting how she didn't believe there is a drought. That she is getting rain every day, and the rivers and streams have plenty of water. She called it "The wettest drought I have ever seen".

I am appalled and amazed at both her ignorance and her lack of common sense when people tried to tell her about the issues with rain and water sources.

What really got me thinking about this today was that we decided to go to the "Ledges Park" on the French Broad. As I posted before, the water is the lowest it has ever been. Literally, there are no records showing it at these levels. As I drove down to the park I gasped. I hadn't been down in a month or so (you can find my last post from it) and when I saw the lack of water and the yellowing grass and trees, I was dismayed.


The boys and I waded in the shallow pools while Carl and Rhett paddled down stream for what may be the last time this summer, or even longer.



The water level is dropping so quickly that soon he won't be able to get down the river, today was close.


While Carl and I were talking about the amazing sight of the river and rocks, he really put it in perspective for me. We are looking at rocks and fossils that no one who is alive has ever seen.


No one has ever seen these rocks that are jetting out of the water and mud.


No one has ever seen the pot-holes that have been caused by millions of years of water rushing over a loose stone.



No one has walked on these cobblestones.


But then again, we are in the wettest drought I have ever seen.

Life back to "normal"

Today, life is back to normal (or something that resembles it) for us. We have water, although tonight the color is so bad that it looks like sweet tea, we are overcoming the nasties we have had, and we fixed the tires on the mower.

I was able to do wash:


The boys played in the sandbox:


Under the sprinkler:


On the swing set:


And rested in the yard:


All while dad mowed the yard:


Then Dad convinced everyone it was fun to weed the garden:


Which someone thought meant pick mom's tea roses by hand:


Last week we were lucky enough to watch a HUGE poplar tree be taken down by Timber Tiger Tree Service. They ARE licensed and insured. These guys showed up on time this morning at 9am (I was waiting for them for my neighbor).


They were very sweet and kind. We had asked if they would please leave us some trunk sections for "seats" at our fire ring, they went a step ahead and made me CHAIRS!!!! With backs! When I offered to tip them (actually was handing them a $20bill), they declined the money.



They joked, were funny, and entertained my kids well!

Now... I also wanted to add... they aren't bad to look at :D The two boys that came out were super cute! LOL! I most definitely enjoyed watching my neighbor's tree being removed ;o)

Anyhow, if you need tree services, they do rock, and are reasonably priced and insured.

Something to Laugh About...

I just wanted to have some photos of the day for you guys, I will blog on the day later.

Enjoy the laughs and funny faces. Click the pics for the enlargements.


Arden can't squeeze the trigger on his own...

Carl runs through the sprinkler while mowing

Rory licks the mud/water running down his face


Canyon has something hanging... do you see it?

Geeze, they should all be super models. HAHAHAHAHA

Baby MoHawk...

So for almost 2.5 years now, Rory has had a MoHawk by choice.

Just recently (like in the last 2-3 days) we have begun to see a new family member with a mohawk... and no, it isn't the A-man...





It seems that Canyon has officially began to get rid of his baby hair. Carl went to CO last week and the baby had a full head, he got back home on Monday night to a balding little boy...

Boy are they growing up fast.

The conclusion to the water saga and the nasties... we hope.

We broke down and went to the doctor yesterday. The baby started running a fever, and wouldn't stop crying, Arden sounds like a motor is running in his chest, Rory is snotty, and I feel like I have been hit by a truck. I have NEVER had a headache like this one! I'm sure that a hot shower would help us feel better, but no such luck without water.

Canyon has an ear infection. And my Ped, who is not pro-meds, put him on antibiotics :( So I am taking a ton of probiotics and garlic to counter the bad parts of the antibiotics. The other boys are just sick, Arden has the starting of an ear infection, but it isn't bad yet.

After a week of no water, I was beginning to really get upset with our current situation. The baby (since he is in disposables during our water saga) is "blowing out" of diaper after diaper. I went through all of the sets of bed sheets we have here at our house, and we are almost our of clothes. This topped with being sick was just horrible.

This morning we were finally able to get someone out to check out our well.


Fergusons Well Drilling came out and decided we needed to pull the pump, it looked like the pump was pumping but not working, and like there is water in the well.After pulling out about 30ft or so, they found the problem. The wires in the well had kinked and broken, causing the short in the pump and stopping the pump.

$130 later, our well is working, nothing needs replaced, and the best part is... WE HAVE WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all for the prayers and support!

The Water Saga, Air Planes and the Nasties...

The water saga continues... We still have no water. We get a little here and there, but not much at all.

On Thursday, Mike, our oldest dog was limping and Cosmo wasn't letting him be, so I let Mike come into the house for a few days (he is 13 so I figured it might be nice for his hip).

Here is Mike:

Here is Cosmo:

This is Charc, she was innocent this time:Well Saturday morning (after 2 days of no water) I wake up to Rory asking why Arden is allowed to play in chili in the floor... I slowly realize we haven't had chili in days and that there are no bowls of it laying around... As I jump up and run into the dining room and play areas, I see it. Dog poo... everywhere... not just dog poo, but bloody diarrhea.

Well after an emergency visit to the vet, we are thinking it is just a virus and treating it with some doggie meds.

The boys' car track rug didn't make it, and neither did a few toy cars.

Thank God for our neighbor Deb! I would not be sane right now if it hadn't been for her. She helped me clean up, bathed my poop covered children, and kept them while I took the dog to the vet.

So, that is not the only nasties we have in the house this week, I can only assume that while we were at the doctor's office for the bump on Canyon's head, that we all caught something... something nasty. All 4 of us (Carl has thus far been spared) have the nasties. Nose, throat, chest, and headaches.

So, Sunday Carl is supposed to fly home from CO to our local airport and then turn around and drive to Society Hill, SC for an 8am meeting. Because of delays at the rental car drop-off he misses his 6 am flight. Delta gives him a later flight, it looked like he was going to be home by 8. 9pm he calls and there are more delays.

We decide that he needs to rent a car in Atlanta and drive to his appointment b/c if he comes here, he will never make it. One little SNAFU though, his SpecAn was in his bag and the airport won't give him his baggage... so I need to go to the airport to meet the flight he isn't on, and get his bag.

At 10:30 I call, check the flight, and head to the airport. My phone is almost dead... I call for an update, now it is going to be 12, so we go to sleep in the Target parking lot.

Needless to say, the plane came in at 2:45 and the kids and I got almost no sleep and this compounded with the nasties we have, is horrid.

But we are making it.

Carl got 55 gallons of water in a barrel tonight for us to use for the potty and washing dishes... Thanks to the Connely's

Pray for rain, please.

How to use a "Tie Nappie" or "Tie Diaper"

Ok, there are a lot of people who use cloth diapers that don't know how to use tie nappies. They are simple, fit ALL sizes of children, and cute! I love ours.

Here is how to use them:

1.) Lay the diaper out flat.

2.) Fold the diaper in half at the straps

3.) If needed, fold the back of the diaper down to adjust (and add an insert between the layers where needed).

4.) Place the baby on the nappie where the straps/strings will come between their legs to the belly.

5.) Fold the nappie between the legs and then tuck the back wings under the front.

6.)Wrap the straps behind the baby and cross them.

7.) Bring straps back to the front and tie the nappie.

There you have it :) Easy as pie.





































































































These diapers will fit almost any child. Here are Arden and Canyon wearing the same diaper...