An Iowa Mom

It's done. After 7 months of constant asking, begging ... okay, down right badgering ... AnIowaDad has broken down and painted the girl's room. Hard to take photos with a room that small, but you get the general idea.

To Paint ... Or Not To Paint!

I wake earlier than normal this morning, feeling somewhat refreshed, though I know temperatures are rapidly rising outside and will top record highs by the day's end! Before even rolling over to my "wake up" position, my mind starts whirling and twirling trying to make mental notes about everything I want to accomplish today. An Iowa Dad will be home all day, I can utilize him to get some things done around our house, or to watch kids while I tackle my own "To Do List". I'd have to feel him out and see which way I lean, subliminally preparing him for my ideas and plans while making him think they are his own. A self learned talent I have been mastering over the past almost 9 years of our marriage.

As if he knows I'm laying there awake and planning his own day for him, he rolls to face me. "Feel like painting the girl's room?" I blurt, with a giggle so if he completely spats at my idea I can say I was just joking anyway.

"Not a chance," he growls "It's gonna be like 100 freakin' degrees today!"

"I was just kidding!" I try to sound convincing, as I roll out of bed to brush my teeth. Deciding to drop the "plan making" for today for a few minutes I can't help but wish he'd wanted to paint. We moved into our house almost 7 months ago and the girl's room is still the same as it was when moved in. It's not all that bad ... but it's a bland yellow and there is nothing hanging on the walls (I'm waiting until it's painted).

As I sulk in my own defeat, An Iowa Dad makes his way into the bathroom. "Painting might not be such a bad idea," he starts, "What color were you thinking."

We spent the better portion of the day searching for a border that we both agree on. I saw one at Wally World (7 months ago) and didn't think it was all that bad. Of course, I could find MANY that are cuter, but would have to be ordered. If I have An Iowa Dad ready to paint, we are doing it TODAY! We dragged all 4 kids looking for a border, in the heat I should mention, to Lowes, Home Depot, Target, Menards, Sherman Williams, Bed Bath and Beyond, (a stop off at the new Ruby Tuesday's in Cedar Rapids), and then finally to Wal-mart to purchase the border I saw 7 MONTHS AGO! Then, back to Menards for the paint ... An Iowa Dad is VERY choosey about his paint and will only purchase it there.

He is painting! I am waiting. Princess and Smilee are so excited. Here are the before photos:

I'll post photos of the finished prodcut tomorrow!

An Iowa Dad

I thought because the blog is new, I would give you all a little insight on how An Iowa Family even came about. When An Iowa Mom and An Iowa Dad fell in love and knew they could not live without one another. The moment they knew they'd spend the rest of their days as one.

January 18, 1997 - Indianapolis, Indiana - An Iowa Mom woke up to her phone ringing. It was a friend, who we'll refer to as "Party Boy", explaining he had a migraine headache (aka a bad hangover) and wouldn't be meeting his Chicago-based friend in West Lafayette, Indiana for the annual Purdue vs. Indiana basketball game, that the two of them always attended. More curious than interested, An Iowa Mom asked if his friend was upset or disappointed that their weekend wouldn't pan out as planned. Party Boy replied, "I don't know, I tried calling him to let him know I wouldn't be making it, but he must have already left."

"Who else is going?" I ask, more intrigued than I should have been.

"No one," he replies nonchalantly "Just me."

Being a woman, An Iowa Mom was shocked and instantly worried about this "friend" that would be arriving in a city 3 hours from his home, only to find he would be alone, ticketless, and wondering what in the hell happened to Party Boy. She could not knowingly let this happen. Informing Party Boy that she would pick him up and drive him to the place he attended college, Purdue University. They would meet his friend there, as to not leave him hanging. She then hung up the phone and packed a few things.

As An Iowa Mom drove, and Party Boy slept, she wondered what the hell she was getting herself into. She knew now, that she herself was going to be stuck there all weekend, possible having to share a hotel room with Party Boy and some guy she didn't even know. She didn't even have a ticket to the stinking game they would be going to. Being somewhat adventurous, but not down right stupid, she panicked. Oh well, she thought, nothing a few beers can't fix.

Arriving at Harry's Chocolate Shop, the bar which would be their meeting place, Party Boy reluctant to get out of the car, insisting he is too ill to walk. Being the middle of January, An Iowa Mom refused to sit in the vehicle, though was somewhat reluctant to enter a bar at noon to meet some guy that had no idea she was coming.

Entering the establishment, she scanned the room, having no idea at all who she was looking for. Somewhat relieved there were only 3 patrons, she was confident she could narrow it down to Party Boy's friend, judging them by looks alone. The first gentleman was sporting a flat top, wearing a leather jacket, reading a newspaper while sipping a beer ... looking somewhat serial killer-ish, she felt confident ruling him out. The other guy had a pencil protector stuffed into his shirt pocket, intently reading a text book. VERY confident that was not Party Boy's chum, her eyes rolled to the last of the 3 customers ... a woman! As An Iowa Mom was processing that she would be spending the weekend with either a geek or an ax murderer, Party Boy surfaced from the frigid outdoors ... calling to his friend. The slay master responded to his callings ... An Iowa Mom felt all the blood drain from her face. She would have to make the best of it ... how bad could it be? Hopefully he'd make it quick, knock her off with a single bullet, maybe a few quick stabbings while she slept ...

Just a few minutes later, as the 3 of them began eating the lunch they'd ordered, the serial killer looked at An Iowa Mom, "Excuse me!", he said, gesturing to his own face to the right of his nose, "You have a piece of hamburger on your face!".

More humiliated that one could imagine, An Iowa Mom realized he was referring to the mole (or beauty mark as some people like to call it) she had on her face. She was more self conscious about that mole than than anything else on her imperfect body ... not knowing whether to crawl under the table from total embarrassment or to smack him upside the head from sheer anger ... she just managed a smile.

Love At First (and wouldn't be the last) Smart Ass Wise Crack?? Yeah ... whatever ... the BIG JERK!

And I introduce to you ... An Iowa Dad ...

An Iowa Family

Hi! I'm AnIowaMom and I'm a WAHM with 4 kids who I'll introduce to you in a minute.

I am very happily married to AnIowaDad and we moved to Iowa 8 years ago from Chicago. We both agreed that though we loved living in the big city, that maybe a smaller one would be better for us to raise a family. Not saying that Chicago (or any big city) isn't a wonderful place to raise children, as it is, but for US, a smaller city seemed more do-able.

The 4 kiddo's --

Sporty (age 8)
Peenee (age 5)
Princess (age 2)
Smilee (age 1)

The oldest IowaSon, Sporty, is 8 years old. He is a great kid, though has had his troubles. He was diagnosed 2 years ago with ADHD, which has been quite a challenge for us as a family. We have adjusted to his needs and developed a parenting style to compliment him and have to say that now it's not as big of an issue in our family as it was. Sporty LOVES sports. He plays any sport, any chance he gets, even if he's never played it before. His favorites are football and baseball. Reading and coloring are favorite indoor pastimes, not to mention video games.

Peenee, who is 5, came along 2 and a half years later. He the most loving child, always wanting hugs and kisses ... and Peanut Butter Sandwiches. LOL! He is his Sporty's shadow and they actually get along very well together. Peenee started kindergarten last year and now thinks he is "hot stuff" going into the 1st grade. The outdoors is the only place Peenee ever wants to be and when he's not playing baseball or football with Sporty and his IowaFriends, you'll find him swimming or riding his bike endlessly.

Princess, age 2, became a member of our growing family 3 years after Peenee did. She was the center of attention at all times being the baby and the only girl ... I must say, she pretty much demands the center of attention still today and "tries" to have everything HER way all the time. A little snotty at age 2, I'm hoping it's just a stage and not permanent behavior. Princess loves to ride her new Dora bike, swim in her pool, color, and watch "her shows" (Sprout Channel) on TV.

Smilee, the baby at 1 year old, has fit in seemlessly. She is walking all over and getting into EVERYTHING imaginable. She is the sweetest little girl and has only 2 downfalls. The first being she is a skreecher with a scream so high pitched I swear it shatters windows on the other side of the neighborhood and the other is she is a "diaper digger" when she has poop. She not only makes a mess, but also totally grosses her AnIowaMom out!

AnIowaMom started IowaMoms.com several years ago and never really did much with it. She is excited now to finally get the site going and hope you all will enjoy it and find it a fun place to visit and make new online friends in Iowa.