Saturday Morning

It wasn't the first time I have been stranded, with 3 children. Far from it. I've sat on the highway between Heber and Show Low (Heber and Snowflake, Heber and Holbrook, Heber and Mesa, ect.) multiply times.

I did not even cuss when the '78 Ford that we just lovingly dumped $1,500.00 into decided to take a break on the side of the road.

I wasn't even missing our 4-wheeler. The one Jace traded for this new yellow beast of ours. The 4-wheeler that never wanted to take a break, especially when I was towing all 3 of my children. The 4-wheeler that was probably speeding thru the forest on that very morning, carrying the new owner - laughing all the way. I didn't even think bad thoughts about him.

We just patiently waited for our rescue party from Show Low to retrieve us.

We tried not to make eye contact with passing motorists. We did not want to give the impression that this was a road side emergency. Nah, this is just how the Baum's roll.

Our only mechanic in the car couldn't read english, so we patiently waited some more.

Grandma Mikey and the Flake girls laughed at the sight of us, then loaded us into the truck headed for home.

Jace called me after work to let me know he found the abandoned Ford on the side of the road. He also let me know that when the key was put back into the ignition and then turned, the engined hummed to life and then purred like a kitten all the way back to Heber.

I might have said a cuss word then.

P.S. Don't be cussing when the Baum's abandon you on the side of the road called Privacy Lane. Leave me your email address. This is one high fashion ride you may not want to miss.

When we grow up.

A treasure was rediscovered this week.

(When you move every 6 weeks like we do, treasures are sometimes forgotten about, packed, misplaced and then found again. It's almost like Christmas every 6 weeks. Almost.)

The treasure was promptly taped onto the boy's bedroom wall.

Did you know that Macy wants to be a Mom when she grows up?

Twins please. One boy. One girl.

Did you know Noah dreams of being an astronaut? Who knew, right?

Ezra liked the looks of this one. Perhaps he is missing the liberating days of diapers and being able to eat his toes.

And surprise! Jace wants to be a farmer when he grows up.

I dreamed my whole life of this job here. And it is the life.

I used to do this. Happy days.

I spend an awful lot of my grown up life here, at this job. My mac isn't nearly as cute as that green, vintage typewritter and I would bet she has her heels on, with apron tied around her waist, and that she just put her 1st batch of bread in the oven.

Remember when you thought that was what grown up life was going to be like?

Macy started gymnastics.

The coach told her wearing a leotard was optional. Optional? Right. You try telling the 7 year old girl that she does not need to wear her pink leotard every single week. I watched her prance/shimi into class today in her pink leotard.

Remember when you used to feel beautiful in only a pink leotard? Remember when you used to walk with your hands out at your hips as you pranced into a room?

Those were the days.

Then we all grow up.

MY PRIVACY CLAUSE: I love to talk to people. I love to drill them about their lives. So, I assume that you want to talk and question me in return, so instead of waiting for you to do so, I go ahead and spill my beans. All my beans. All the time. And lately, just every once in awhile, I'll be spilling about my life to a relative, friend of a friend, stranger, ect. and soon their head is nodding, they are smiling and I have this feeling like - crap! I already told them this story. I hate when I do that. But then the person will just say - "I read it on your blog." Oh. So technically, I am that person that repeats the same stories over and over. Crap. Are you tired of hearing my stories over and over? Are you politely nodding and waiting for this story to be over right now? Crap. We are going private. But you like the taste of my beans? And you have not left your email address for me here? Leave me a comment. Leave me your email address. Leave both if you like. Just don't say I didn't invite you to partake of our beans - our left over - repeated beans.

I went private for 11 days.

Don't feel bad if you didn't get an invite.

No one did.

Except for 5 sisters and 1 Mother of mine.

2 or 3 of them still haven't even accepted the invitation yet.

I love you too guys.

Are you wondering what you missed while we were away?

Weelll, the highlights are as follows......

I finished a book. Titled, The Poisonwood Bible. Read it. Then I want to talk about it.

I had 14 house guests. I'm not even making up that number. I loved every single one of them. Come again. And again.

House guest number 13 and 14.

Jace worked a lot. I'm slowly losing my mind about it.

This is Jace not at work. Just in case you forgot what that looked like.

I asked Ezra 4,671 times if he needed to go potty. I might be making up that number. Ezra did beautifully. My plan of us becoming best friends this year is slowly going down the toilet. The child needs some discipline. But in his defense, he lost his playmates, his diapers, and was assigned a big boy bed--one that doesn't include Noah--all in one week.

E for Ezra. Shorter bed for the shorter brother.

I participated in the 117th school fundraiser since the beginning of school.

I made Jace come to a ballroom dancing lesson. It was a flop. Awkward. Stinky. And awkward.

I vacuumed.

Just some of the dirt I vacuumed up.

I told you they were highlights.

You want some more?

Leave me you email address and consider yourself invited to the Baum Squad's newly privatized life.

If you thought your life was better before you knew everything about us...

No worries. Sometimes I like my unwritten life better too.

See you on the other side.

When He is gone

I wear my stretchy pants he hates. I eat frozen pizza for dinner. I lay awake all night in my lonely, big bed thinking, plotting, and listening for the next intruder. I cry when my sister emails me youtube videos about funny, happy people in love. I study my ginormous mirror, like she did, and contemplate about all the tlc I'm giving and missing.

I contemplate my wants, wishes, heartaches and things I know. One thing I know for sure. I want to be a good mother. I want to be a good wife. But I've decided I can't be.




Not without him.

When He is gone I miss him.

Lake Powell 2009

I have been in mourning since our return home from Lake Powell. We had a ball. It was a full week of sun, sand, water, sisters, parents, cousins, wind, rain, and tragedies. We started and ended the week with accidents. He was driving both times and witnessed both. I, the passenger, was never aware anything had happened until He had slammed on the brakes, pulled off the freeway, or until he jumped off the jet ski into the water.

Last Sunday on the 202 freeway, while leaving town, He saw a car airborne and turning in the air. He said the car completed about 8 rotations--Transformer style--landed and slid off the freeway into an electric pole. He ran across the freeway, knowing the all passengers in the car would be dead, but instead found 1 driver alive. He helped the man climb out of the broken windshield, then proceeded to clean up bumpers and car debris off the freeway. We were amazed at this man's luck and talked about His brother, Chad, and his unluck. We both had never seen such a horrible accident. For the second time this year my cell phone dialed 911.

This photo is not at all related to the above & below mentioned accidents but an accident indeed. Just because He knows how to live in a 5th wheel trailer, does not mean he knows how to pull one behind his truck in the sand at Lone Rock. Note the busted out back window.

Then on Friday, our last day at the Lake and on our last boat ride, I heard a loud bang. SMACK. The sound didn't register, until I saw He jumping off the jet ski and my Dad, and Kirsten and Dan all in the water and swimming towards a body in a red life jacket. A 14 year girl had ran her jet ski right into my Dad's boat. She never saw my Dad and my Dad didn't see her--until the very end. He cut the boat hard to the right and in turn saved her life. Her jet ski hit the front of the boat that was carrying 10 people, including my Macy. It was amazing that no one was thrown from the boat. There was a smashed finger, a bloody nose, a banged up lip, and lots of tears. We were lucky Dan was there. He immediately knew how to help this girl. I wishing I had my cell phone with me in the water to call 911 for a 3rd time this year, and a 2nd time that week. My parents got a phone call later that night, that the girl was going to be ok. She was in fact going back to join her family on their houseboat after her trip to the hospital. It was amazing. Those 1st couple moments after the accident were very scary for this girl and all of us watching. Her injuries initially looked horrible and probably should have been. Of all our years and trips to the lake, we had never witnessed or experienced anything like it. Heavenly Father was truly looking out for us all and a lucky 14 year old girl. The accident put a damper on what had been such a fun week. We all still think about the accident often and are reminded of how unexpected life can be. Are you ready for it?

Ezra.

Noah.

Macy.

All of them.

Have I mentioned the Flakes are back? We couldn't be more thrilled.

Papa and Sailor. She lived up to her name. She was a doll.

Max. Oh Max.

Who is in for next year? I can hardly wait.

I had chocolate cake for lunch. Followed by 3 Advil.

If there was ever a day chocolate cake and Advil should be on the lunch menu--today was that day. For a couple reasons.

1. I turned 28 on Saturday. 28 feels an awful lot like 27. We were traveling home from this vacation HERE. Therefore, no one made me any birthday cake. Except for the chef at Chili's in Payson but that doesn't really count because he didn't know me. It was still a really good day. He said I could pick out any piano I wanted on craigslist. He is the best husband. The kids and I made official birthday cake after church yesterday. The large leftover piece has been calling my name since I woke this morning.

28 years old.

2. Noah started kindergarten this morning. I have had empty pit in my stomach for weeks about it. When we pulled into the parking lot this morning, he sat in the car. I told him to get out. He told me he wasn't old enough to go to Macy's school. I think he thought all this back to school talk meant he was to return to Mrs. Lisa's preschool. He did eventually get out of the car and walked, hand in mine, to meet his new teacher and class.

My mom said on a scale of 1 to 10, the Batman and High School Musical backpacks aren't really important. I shouldn't fight it--just buy them.

3. Macy became a 2nd grader this morning. I know she will keep an eye on Noah for me this year. She nervously waved across the room at another little girl, when I was introducing ourselves to her new teacher. I presume the little girl across the room was a familiar face from her 1st grade class and a face Macy was relieved and thrilled to see this morning
Macy and Mrs. Proulx--rhymes with blue. Doesn't that sound like a really nice 2nd grade teacher?

4. Ezra and I entered the new and lonely land of "just the 2 of us-- all day." He is a sweet kid. He does not expect me to entertain him but all entertaining done by himself is done on my lap or in the near vicinity. I look forward to our alone time this year. We also started the potty training chapter today. He has already called 2 times this morning, checking on our progress. He loves nothing more than a potty trained kid.

Ezra thought he too was going to school. He was proud as punch walking the halls this morning with his new Mario backpack.

Can you see why I deserve the chocolate cake today?


When Ezra and I were making our lonely exit from the elementary school to the parking lot I managed to pull a muscle, pinch a nerve, or probably both. I was stepping one foot in front of the other, like always, and BAM. I was then hobbling through the parking lot. I need a chiropractor. I'm walking like a full term pregnant lady that just had her right leg amputated. Summer is officially over. I'm old enough to have 2 children in school all day and old enough to have 3 children that know how to use the toilet. And I think my body realized it today.


And that is where the 3 Advil made their way to my lunch table.

The big reveal. Before and after.

Jace says he had to talk me into it. He says I failed to see the potential

for the first couple of days and weeks.

I had seen prettier barn-turned-home(s) in my day.

The block walls were wavy. The siding rotted. The balcony - dangerous.

The windows would have to be replaced. Along with the doors. And the trusses. And the rest of the house.

But the lot was great. I knew an acre of irrigated green grass and trees in the middle of the desert was priceless. The neighborhood looked and felt a lot like Taylor, Arizona.

Home.

So although it was not love at first sight. I knew. Jace was capable. I had a vision. That proved to be enough.

Three months,

One 5th wheel trailer home,

Buckets of sweat and tears,

A million cuss words later,

(and not to mention a couple of these - $)

She is all spiffed up.

We broke up the tall rectangular shape with bat and board on top and stone on the bottom.

The barren, gray trees that we purchased last February are now full of life and green.

The front porch posts are just a few of the things we left original to the house. They are now stained and embellished.

Our back porch. Metal rusted beams are original. The white siding around front and back doors is where the original barn doors existed.

Before picture of front room, dining room, and kitchen. The tall sheet-rocked pillar at the end of the kitchen island was framed around an original barn beam. One was also hiding in the gray wall across the hall. The house has 3 sets of these beams holding up a metal, iron eye beam that runs the length of the house, in between the 1st and 2nd stories. Anther reason we felt good about our purchase. The house and foundation are rock solid.

After picture of old dining room and kitchen. We turned the old dining room space into a Mormon size pantry. The concrete floors are original - flawed - newly stained- and AWESOME.

The once concealed barn beams are now center stage and framed in. Should I paint them? Stain them? The new dining room and office that sits just behind it used to be a large bedroom.

The office is small. Centrally located. With a closet.

The previous owners loved to experiment with paint colors. Jace just thinks they were blind. At the top of these stairs was an old kitchen. The original owners built an apartment on top of the original barn and lived in it. While living in it, they converted the downstairs barn into a house. The result was 2 kitchens, 2 master bedrooms, 2 family rooms, ect.

After picture of the old upstairs kitchen. Now a wet bar for the large family room.

After picture of the once gray and fluorescent orange stair walls.

Before picture of the upstairs master bathroom.

After picture. The once pink bathroom is now the boys bathroom.

Tub turned boy's shower.

Before picture of upstairs master bedroom. Before we rolled the new trusses, the upstairs ceiling were just 7 feet tall. A little low for my tall Jace and for re-sale. All the bedrooms have walk-in closets.

After picture. The blue diamond walls are now white (surprised?), lined with the boy's toys and beds. The entire upstairs ceiling is now raised and vaulted.

Before picture of another darkly painted upstairs bedroom.

After. Macy was worried it would never look like a girl's room.

Macy's bathroom before.

And after. I was feeling the color white thru out the entire house. Jace quit asking about color, cabinet, and fixture choices. He knew the answer would be white. I wanted everything clean, open and bright.

Before picture of downstairs bathroom/laundry room.

After picture. We split the above pictured room into a laundry/powder bath and master bathroom.

After picture of master bathroom. Jace picked out all plumbing fixtures. On his own.

Our new master shower.

We call it our baptismal font.


I can now check this post off my to-do list. Our hard work is now documented.

Our house is feeling more and more like home everyday. We are so grateful for this house and the opportunity we have here. While the major construction has come to an end, we have lists and lists of non-major things to construct.....but who doesn't? That is part of the beauty of home ownership (and life). Construct. Tear down. Rebuild. Add on. Improve.

We are now taking your bets.

How long will Jace let me live in this one?