Bathroom Demo...

I had a minor breakdown about our blue bathroom last night. It's been in need of major help ever since we moved in. We did some work at the beginning...but didn't come close to finishing it. It's always been on my list of "kind of embarrassing things" about the house because it's the bathroom people use when they come over. I always feel like it has an odd smell....we can't figure out why, the bad paint job (my fault), and all of the things that aren't finished about it. So, today Mike is doing something about it!! He knocked down the wall to open it up. Looks WAY better already. He's going to finish all the demo parts (obviously), put new baseboards down, trim around the mirror, fix my crappy paint job around the ceiling and put a cabinet above the toilet. Hooray!! All in 3 weeks....done in time for Sophia's birthday party. I'm going to be one happy woman!!!

BEFORE


AFTER DEMO TODAY

Strong work ethic...

We try to instill a strong work ethic in our children. We've started Joshua a little earlier than the other 2. He was doing his morning chore this morning and I caught him on tape. Notice the attention to detail!!!

Decent progress....

I joined a Facebook group with some friends for motivation to lose weight and shape up. We did our measurements and took a swimsuit picture (scary!!) about a month ago, so today I redid them. I'm down 4" total. Not bad...thought it would be more. But, it's a good start. Sadly, the picture seemed the same to me.

January in South Texas...

Jake has been working to earn cards at school for "handling his disappointment appropriately" (as his teacher puts it!!). Basically keeping his anger in check...which he's done a lot better at...until this morning when I took him and he was a puddle of tears and screaming on the hallway floor.

Anyhow...he gets a reward at 10 and something a little bigger at 15. Yesterday he made it to 10, so I brought out this snowman cupcake kit that I had found at Penney's for $2. The kids were thrilled. They look like snowmen...right??? I thought so!

And...as you can see...perfect snowman making weather! Got to love Texas winters!

Thoughts for the day...

I was watching Oprah from a couple days ago and she made the comment "Be cute for yourself."
Hmmm...good point. It was part of a conversation about stay at home moms getting up, dressed and looking 1/2 way (or even 1/4 way) put together. Good point Oprah!!

And...if you're in need of prayer ideas, I'll share Sophia's from last night (all on her own):

Dear God,
Thank you for a nice day. Help my cough to feel better. Please help Jake use his manners.
Amen

Toddler Gone Wild...

Joshua has been fussy lately....and by that...I mean TERRIBLE!!!!! He's been so hard to deal with. I think it's a combination of teeth and possible ears. I keep thinking I might take him in, but decide to wait one more day.

Yesterday afternoon was no exception. He threw fit after fit about cereal in a bowl. So, being the good mom that I am, instead of trying to intervene and calm him down...I grab the video camera.

This is about 4 different little clips of the tantrum all put together. While you watch...don't feel sorry for the little guy. Sophia was fairly justified in her reaction!! And notice how she says "madness!!!" Hmmm....wonder where she got that from??? The last part is when I put him in his crib. Figured at least I could contain the madness to one room then!!

Kitchen decor...

I saw this idea on this blog: http://www.joyshope.com/

So I tried it today. Super cheap decoration. I used scraps that I already had. The canvas board was $5 at JoAnn's. I was trying to think of a word to use...and since we say this to the kids about 100 times a day...I figured it was a good one to use!!!

I think it turned out pretty cute. Needs a little tweaking for next time. The

fabric gets a little pulled when you stitch around it. And then it's hard to get it "just right" when you staple it onto the board. But, I think it has great potential for kids rooms, gifts....etc!

What I've Been Working On..

I've been doing some sewing....and got it finished today. A birthday and Valentine outfit for Sophia. A Valentine outfit for a friends' little girl. And a birthday shirt for Grant. Sorry Mary...I just didn't know how to "cute it up" more. The 4 on Sophia's shirt is hard to see.

All 3 girl shirts were on sale at Target for $3.50 each. All 3 leggings were brand new that I had bought for Sophia and she didn't like (shocking!!!). So...some very inexpensive outfits!!!! I realize they'll probably only be worn a couple times...so it's a good thing they're cheap!!

I'll be taking orders for outfits now. How much are you willing to pay???

Conversations that make you go "hmmm...."

We walked out the back door this morning to go to school, and the neighbors have a new dog (NOT good news) and it had one of those satellite dish things on (so they won't scratch).

Me: "Hmm..wonder what that dog is wearing."
Sophia: "a tutu"
Me: "Why would a dog wear a tutu?"
Sophia" "Well, he wanted to look pretty."

Yes...of course...why didn't I think of that?

Then...walking over to school, she found a pine cone. It's her show and tell day and she had taken a plastic ring. But, I told her she should show this pine cone instead. She said (very excited) "Yeah, this is WAY better than the ring!" Too cute!

First taste of batter...

Joshua had his first real chance to lick batter the other day. He wasn't quite sure about it at first. The really funny thing is that the next day, he saw this red spatula as I was unloading the dishwasher. You should have seen him go crazy trying to get it. Little did he realize...it was clean...nothing good on it that time!

It starts early....

This is how I found the kids this morning. The love of TV starts early!

First turkey...

While we were at the ranch over New Year's, Mike and Jake were driving down to the river. They came across a bunch of turkeys. So, "they" shot one. To hear Jake tell the story is pretty cute. He was so excited and wants the feathers mounted to hang in his room. Not sure about that though.

When they brought it up to the house, we had to take a picture of the hunters. I think it's such a sweet picture!! It makes me so happy to see Jake and Sophia having so much fun at the ranch and getting to do new things. And, I think it's wonderful that Jake and Mike are having fun doing "guy things".

Roasting marshmallows....Texas style....

It's darn cold here right now. Mike has spent most of the day chopping down trees because next week is brush pick-up. So...in order to use up some of the wood (and occupy time) he busted out the fire pit and helped the kids roast marshmallows.

Sophia's outfit cracks me up. Really....let's hope her fashion sense goes up a few notches soon. Super cute in whatever she wears though!!

Teeny tiny kitchen....

I've tried the "cook for a day, eat for a month" idea once before. I think it was in the old house. No wonder...cooking in this little kitchen is fine most days. But, when you're making more than 20 dinners at a time...it's hard. Doesn't this look like fun??

Total counter space...maybe 2 sq. feet. Total floor space...about the same.

But, I did manage to get 23 dinners in the freezer, some french toast sticks and a bunch of muffins. So now we have 2 very organized freezers, plus a month full of dinners ready to go. No excuses for ordering pizza!!!

I got the idea and website from Kelly. Thanks!! Part of being a "fru-gal". Check it out. http://onceamonthmom.com/

At a party and didn't know it....

The kids in Sophia's class are starting to turn 4. The first one was today. The little girls mom is pregnant and has been really sick. So, I guess in order to "celebrate" at school, she gave the teachers some money and asked them to get pizza for today. Sophia has been talking about going to this little girls house for the party for a couple days now. I kept trying to explain...it was today...you had pizza...you ate with your friends...etc. It wasn't going well. There was no cake...so it wasn't a party (in her mind). Finally I told her "the party was today at school. That's it. You were there." And she said "OH...I was at the party...I just didn't know it!!"


Classic thought from a 3 year old!!!

Happy New Year!

Wow---2010!! Where did time go?? We rung in the new year at the ranch. We were up there for 5 nights...which is a very long time! The kids had a great time, as usual. Jake "shot" his first turkey...which means he was with Mike when it went down. They were riding down the river and came across a bunch of them. It's pretty funny to hear Jake tell the story. He wants the mounted feathers in his room. Not sure if I'm okay with that or not. He also spent one night at the river with Mike and Tim. A squirrel was shot...and eaten. Again...not sure if I'm okay with that. But, Mike had a point. Can't teach him it's okay to shoot something and then leave it under a bush. Got to start responsible hunting habits early. But...really....a squirrel??

Jake and Sophia helping Gramma bake a pie. We have a similar picture of me and Mary helping MeeMaw cook. Love this picture. Brad, Mary and I took the kids on an "adventure." This was taken in one of the caves down at the river. We were walking by this HUGE tree that had fallen down. These are the roots. In typical boy fashion, Grant, Jake and Joshua started hitting it and playing around. Sophia walked off towards the truck. Bike races on the driveway. The driveway is so perfect for lots of bike riding, skating and running!!!