Blogging, it’s better than therapy
June 22, 2006
Today is the two year anniversary of me writing this blog, and what do you know it is raining today just like it was then. The only difference is that I don’t have a pool leaking water all over my already flooded yard.
But I do have a huge pile of dirt turned mud, that was once where my new patio is located. Did you know dirt is expensive? It is. Ridiculously so, in fact. And that is why the landscape contractors left the HUGE dirt pile behind. Rob told them we could use it somewhere else in the yard.
Or we could just let the rain rush down the pile and carry the dirt away in mud rivers all over the lawn. Or let the children grind it into every fiber of their clothing and have it wash down the drain in the washing machine. Any of those would be better than letting the expensive dirt go to WASTE!
This experience of writing and putting myself out here every day has been overwhelmingly positive. I have met people through this blog that I consider friends. I have even talked to some of them on the TELEPHONE. I know, how quaint! And talking to them has effectively cured my phone phobia. I realized that I don’t hate the phone per se, I was just talking to the wrong people on the phone.
Many of these people I will get to meet next month at Blogher, others I am forcing to come and visit me at my house, whether they really want to or not. Honestly, you’ll hardly notice the seven children at all, once you have had a few drinks, that is. And then there are others I will probably never meet in person, but I cherish your virtual friendships nonetheless.
To paraphrase one of my friends, this blog is less about me, than it is about all of you who take time to visit, read what I have to say, leave comments, and incredibly, come back again and again.
At the risk of sounding like a bad greeting card, I love you all. Yes, even you in the back over there.
Many thanks to mary for pointing out my blogiversary to me last night.
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Your blog gives me a lift every day. Thanks for loving us all out here!
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:42 amCongratulations, Chris! The love you have for your family always shines through, in spite of what can be everyday frustrations. Your transparency and honest are what draw us to you. Thanks so much for sharing yourself and your delightful family with us!
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:44 amHappy Anniversary to your blog, Chris - I too, love coming here daily - you make me laugh and cry. Have a great day!
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:49 amCongratulations, Chris! Love coming here and reading up. Thanks for sharing–I truly appreciate it!
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:51 amAw, we love YOU, Chris! Keep up the good work. You’re one of my favorites!
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:09 amRight back atcha! Happy blogaversary!
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:12 amI remember your first post and have been hooked ever since!
Congrats on two years!
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:12 amHappy blogiversary. The image of a huge pile of dirt and 7 kids…oh my. I hope you don’t have light-colored carpets.
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:16 amHappy Blogaversary! I love your blog. Thanks for each and every post.
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:43 amHappy Bloggiversary! You have the best stories!
What pile of dirt? Ooooh. That one. Yeah, I’ll get to it…
Is that how the conversation went?
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:57 amI stumbled onto this beautiful blog about a month (?) ago and I am compelled to visit you everyday. You say outloud what needs to be said and I always feel normal after visiting you. Happy Blogiversary!
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:00 amCongratulations on your blogiversary!!! and I wish you many many more. I love what you have to say and I love the way you say it. You always put a smile on my face and that is something that I cherish deeply. We will never meet in person (although I don’t like to use the word ‘never’ by principle) as I am leaving the U.S. for good; I’m going back to my country in a month. I’ll keep visiting your blog of course, that is the magic of internet.
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:11 amHappy Blogiversary, Chris. Thank you for sharing your everyday with us. Yours is the first site I go to when I log on. You make me laugh or cry or sometimes both at the same time. The other day my hubby asked where I was. Then he said “are you in the big yellow house again?” I said “you know it!”
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:11 amTwo Years! Happy Blogaversary (I wonder if Hallmark is lerking…now here’s a new line of cards in the making). I, too, look forward every day to your “words of wisdom” and your incredible humor. Thanks, and we’ll give a toast to you and the Notes from the Trenches at happy hour tonight!
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:18 amfurst time commenter, but I’ve read a number of times. I’ve always enjoyed your site.
I’m here through Mary, but the wish is just as sincere…. happy Blogiversary!
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:19 amoh jeez.. I pop my commenting cherry with a typo.
that would be FIRST (not fUrst) time commenter… though now I suppose it’s second.
oh well.. 2 years for you, 2 comments from me. I’d say we’re square.
congrats and keep up the good writes!
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:22 amI am glad I found your blog, I wish I had found it 2 yrs ago, ( I’ll have to go back and read the archives.
your posts make me laugh and I have shared your blog with my sisters who love it as well.
Congrats on 2 yrs
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:44 amChris,
Thank you for writing your blog. I truly love it and I’m hoping to start my own soon…
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:49 amI, too, come to your site first as soon as I turn on my computer each morning. You are my inspiration!! I’m sure that I am one of the many who keep telling themselves that if you can do it with 7, I should stop complaining!
Happy Blogiversary! I want you to know someone recommended this site to me after I complained about the chaos of having my 3 closespaced kids, and I have been a faithful visitor ever since. Thanks for reminding me on some pretty tough days that amongst the tears, laundry, and sleeplessness, there is mostly lots of laughs and blessed moments. Cheers to you, Chris!
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:04 amCongrats on 2 years! You make me laugh and cry- and not feel so alone in this world we live in. While I “only” have 5 very opinionated, lively, “never a dull day”-makers it’s comforting to be able to laugh at someone else’s journey because it’s not always easy to laugh at my own! Thanks for making me feel “normal” and not like “the lady with all the kids”!
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:08 amCongratulations Chris! I love YOU! I can’t wait to come visit and meet your whole troop. Maybe in July?
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:14 amWe (in the back) love you too!
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:18 amBon Blogiversaire.
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:20 amChris, you are terrific! I too check your blog every, single day. The only other writing mom that makes me laugh as much as you is Anne Lamott. Which reminds me, please put your blog in a book! (I know that sounds pushy and bossy, but hey! I’m a mom!) I certainly would buy it. You are funny and insightful - thanks for your writing.
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:23 amCONGRATS ON THE BLOGIVERSARY! YOU ROCK. I HAVEN’T BEEN COMING HERE ALL THAT LONG BUT I TELL YOU IT JUST GIVES ME GIGGLES MOST OF THE TIME. YOU ARE ONE OF MY DAILY READS. (HUGS), AND BELIEVE ME THESE WILL BE CHERISHED TO READ YEARS AFTER THE KIDS ARE GROWN AND MOVED ON. IT’S ALL WORTH IT.
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:31 amAs a ’sometime’ and ‘not often enough’ childless, no less (LOL) visitor, I love you too. Thanks for the joy and laughs you’ve given me.
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:44 amDelurking to say, “Happy Blogaversary!” I don’t have any children but adore coming here and reading about yours. I often re-tell your stories about them and receive hearty belly laughs!
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:51 amThanks for the shout-out to those of us hanging out in the back. My day’s just not complete until I check in. I love to re-tell your stories to my husband - he’ll sometimes ask late at night, “Well, what happened in the Big Yellow House today?” He’s hooked too. Congratulations!
June 22nd, 2006 at 11:49 amHappy Blogaversary!
A road trip to Texas should be in your future some day! We’ll hit the beach, drink some Margaritas and try and keep 11 kids from drowning or being eaten by sharks. Port A is calling you!
June 22nd, 2006 at 12:31 pmChris,
You are amaizing and funny!
June 22nd, 2006 at 12:32 pmThank you so much for your blog! I have been reading it for about a month now
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
I’ve only been reading for a couple months, but I’m so hooked. Congrats on your blogaversary! My 21mo girl would say “Happy to you!”
June 22nd, 2006 at 12:32 pmMary knows what’s good. Your fine notes provide your readers with hilarious, heartwarming therapy every day, Chris!
June 22nd, 2006 at 12:47 pmI think your blog has been therapy for many a bloggers out here as well! Happy anniversery and ditto on all of what you said! Especially remembering me in the back over here! Ha!
June 22nd, 2006 at 1:20 pmYou are such a talented writer, Chris. You make me laugh every day. As a new mom with hopes for a big family, I love being a fly on the wall in the Big Yellow House. Thanks for putting yourself out there.
June 22nd, 2006 at 1:20 pmoooooh she loves me… she really reall loves me…..
June 22nd, 2006 at 1:21 pmMary’s right on about you - you are a FABULOUS writer! I’m enjoying getting “caught up” here!
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:35 pmWhenever I am having a shitty day trying to raise my 4 children solo, I dive into your archives. You always make me laugh! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping it real. Happy Blogaversary, Chris. Keep it coming…please.
June 22nd, 2006 at 3:21 pmRight back at ya — from me — over here in the back!
June 22nd, 2006 at 3:45 pmHello Chris,
June 22nd, 2006 at 4:09 pmI’ve been a lurker, enjoying your blog for a while…Happy Blogaversary. I always look forward to checking in on your posts. As a mom of only 3, I can relate and always get a chuckle and a lift. Thanks!
Congrats on your blogiversary! I’ve always enjoyed reading here.
June 22nd, 2006 at 4:23 pmHappy, happy Blogaversary! Or Blogthday! How awesome that you started your blog on my birthday, too!
Anyway. I forgot to call you back, because I, too, am El Voicemail Retardo.
June 22nd, 2006 at 5:53 pmCongratulations Chris! It has been so awesome getting to know you through this blog. I hope we get to meet some day!
June 22nd, 2006 at 6:15 pmThanks for your awesome writing and sharing your life with all of us, all over the world, literally. I am one who visits you everyday.:) Wishing you many more blogging years to come!
June 22nd, 2006 at 6:42 pmWell fiddlesticks! Bloglines isn’t picking up your posts. I wondered why you hadn’t posted in a week! I love the new look, and congratulations on your 2 years of blogging. Now if you’ll excuse me I have some reading to do.
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:03 pmWow - 2 years of entries!!! From a woman who just had her first child last November and can barely keep up with bi-monthly updates to family and friends: you are my hero!!! (both a mom-hero and a writer-hero…)
I always look forward to some down-time with a cup of tea after the baby is in bed so I can read your blog
Keep up the great work!
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:41 pmCongratulations! You have a great blog. I love hearing about your family. I love your pictures. I love how you turn everything into a funny story.
Dirt is expensive. We’ve had to get some before to fill in the yard. You wouldn’t think it would cost so much.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:16 am[...] keeping on blogging like Chris [...]
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:30 amWow, this is really inspiring.
I’ve just written about ‘What todo this summer?’ in my blog and if that’s ok with you, I’ve linked you up.
It’s great to blog in the nice summer breeze, isn’t it?
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:35 am******Happy blogiversary*******
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:29 amCongratulations! I join the chorus of readers who love your site!
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:24 amHappy Blogaversary!
June 23rd, 2006 at 6:18 amHappy Blog Anniversary! Here’s to another great year!
June 23rd, 2006 at 6:52 amCongratulations!!! I can’t wait to read the next two years.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:01 amCongrats! I wish I’d been here for all two years, but I’m glad I’m here now.
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:24 pmHappy belated vlogverasirey how the hell do you spell that???
Any way, happy day past the day of the day, but you already knew that. You’ve saved my children’s lives more times than you know and have cheered me more than you know.
I love reading about you and your family.
June 23rd, 2006 at 7:21 pmHere’s to two more years of blogging! I think this is the dishwasher blogiversary, at least that’s what you need to tell your hubby.
June 24th, 2006 at 11:17 amI know I’m way late on this one, but - much family drama and I’ve been in and out of therapy, lately - Happy Blogiversary, Sweetie.
I’m so glad to read you ;o)
June 29th, 2006 at 11:30 pm