Some Thoughts on Spanking

I'm a long-time beleiver in not hitting your kids (though I'm the first to admit that I have hit my kids in times of anger and weakness, after which I always feel extremely guilty for not living my own convictions).
I found an article discussing scientific evidence that shows why we shouldn't hit our kids. Whether or not you beleive in using corporal punishment, check it out. It may just make you think twice the next time you raise your hand to your child (I know it's strengthened my resolve to not hit my kids, no matter what they do).
What do you think?

Packing... again!

As excited as I am about moving back to my beautiful hometown, I have to say that I do not like packing. I got an early start, so maybe it won't be too bad. I've already done the easy stuff (bookshelves, blankets that have been sitting in closets the entire time we've lived here, the boys' toy net, food storage), but now I'm getting to the harder stuff. I was going to pack a lot today, and guess how many boxes I packed . . . ONE! I'm not sure where to go from here. I feel like everything else is stuff we still need (food, clothes, the computer, toiletries). Maybe I should just pretend we're going on a week long trip (we move one week from tomorrow), and pack a bag with all our essentials, and then put everything but that into boxes. Any suggestions on packing would be great. Though I've done it twice in the past year and a half, I'm still not very good at it. Wish me luck!

And there was much rejoicing

I found us a house to rent! I signed the lease and paid our first month's rent and our deposit today. I'm so glad we found something. It is a three bedroom house with a fenced backyard and a garden plot. It is an older home, but has brand-new carpet and tile. Hooray!

A massacre

My bangs were getting too long for my liking, and I couldn't bring myself to pay ten bucks just to get my bangs cut, so I decided to do it myself. Not a good idea. I cut them wet, and though I took into account the fact that they would shrink up when dry, I didn't realize how much they would shrink up! Needless to say, they are way too short. I look like a little school girl, and not in a good way. I take solace in the fact that they will grow, and in the meantime, I'm pulling them back with a hairband every day.

"Movin' to the country . . .

. . . gonna eat me a lotta peaches."

Plums, actually. We found a cute little house that we love in a small town about 20 miles from where my husband got a job. It is a 1952 country cottage on more than a third of an acre. It has plum trees, a nice lawn, a huge area for a garden, and we love it!
We just got the inspection report back, and there are a few issues of concern. We will have to do some research before we decide for sure if we still want it. It all depends on how much it will cost to do some remedial work (maybe we could get the sellers to get it done).
In the meantime, I've been browsing paint colors. We are going to paint and carpet it before we move in. I'm thinking olive green and cream in the kitchen, light yellow in the nursery with Noah's Ark stick-ups, and sky blue in my three-year-old's room - complete with airplane and helicopter stick-ups, of course!
I look forward to owning our own home. Here is a photo:
Isn't it cute?!