It's Gone!

Last weekend Kevin and I tackled a project we'd been thinking about for quite some time. But it involved wallpaper removal - lots of it. And if that isnt enough to stop you dead in your tracks I don't know what is. Last time we did this was in 2004 when we moved into the house - so alas we had been dragging our feet A LONG TIME.

Anyway, the impetus for any change in the kitchen was this:

Notice the countertop split in front of the sink.

These counters (even though they're laminate) were brand spankin new when we moved in. Apparently the sink wasn't sealed properly though, so fun times all around.

I guess I'm not complaining though... we thought we'd just replace the counters with postform laminate to cut down on cost, but when running the numbers, granite wasn't a ton more (provided we do a little legwork ahead of time).

Jackpot!

That part should be done in a month or so - I just wanted to show you the beginning stages of our project.

BEFORE:

Can you believe I'm showing you how messy my kitchen is? I really can't either.

But it really was pretty clean in comparison to how it looked once the wallpaper started coming down.

DURING:

Be forewarned: Wallpaper removal is a messy job. You will find little pieces of glue backed paper for WEEKS.

So, we really could use some feedback though on the wall color. We are not redoing the floors, so we matched the gray/blue floor to a medium gray counter. Should we follow the gray theme and do a light gray wall (as seen in the middle swatch of wall color? Or do I try to tie in some of the yellow undertones of the cabinets? I was originally thinking white walls but they're pretty white now and the trim and the walls just kind of blend into each other. Obviously I dont want it to be too dark, though. I was also debating a chalkboard paint on the wall with the two closets (by the kitchen table) although I'm not sure how chalkboard paint "wears". Does it erase well? Can you paint over it easily? Advice please!!!

Carnival of '11

When they're in their 80's, they'll be looking back and telling their grandkids about how when THEY were little, they used to ride on metal carnival equipment that was probably 30 years old and there were REAL germs on all of the rides. And that you'd get whiplash from the roller coasters - the kind that knocks your head around a metal seat like a ping pong ball.

They'd mention how the safety harnesses were easily slipped out of and there were high voltage wires between all the rides that you could trip on. And that all the carnies looked like they had worn the same filthy shirt since last year and maybe belonged on America's Most Wanted.

And then their grandkids would wonder if their parents had been crazy taking them to such an establishment.

And I think the answer might be yes.

But hey, it was fun!

Homemade Tortillas

I was catching up on all the blogs I follow the other day and stumbled across this recipe.  When I was in high school I was a hostess at a mexican restaurant in Springfield, MO.

"How much authentic mexican food is there in Springfield, MO", you ask.

Not much.

But we DID have a really cool tortilla maker in the lobby of the restaurant and would make tortillas for the restaurant and for the waiting patrons, topping them with salsa, whipped cream, honey or butter and cinnamon and sugar.

So this reminded me of that.

Turns out making tortillas is SUPER easy.  So Sunday morning we whipped up about 12 of these and went to town making homemade breakfast burritos (fried egg, onion, tomato, cilantro, cheese....mmmmm)

Let me just say we may never buy store bought tortillas again.

There is no contest.

Feelin' Crafty

Last week I was in an organizing frenzy.  This week, you might not know it because I have junk piled up all over my house, but it really is in an effort to purge and declutter. 

You may see it as messy, I see it as progress!

Anyway, my jewelry was in dire need of reorganizing and purging.  I spent about 3 hours cleaning off the top of my dresser (it has so much bare space now!), purging my jewelry I never wear and cleaning the silver I have.  I was all ready to shove all of my dangly earrings back into my small jewelry caddy when I remembered a really pretty storage solution I'd seen at a friends house.  A little googling, 45 minutes with the staple gun and I arrived at this!

Isn't it pretty?  I was so proud of myself!

Introspection

Life has been hectic (as I've said before here, here, here and here).  Obviously with two little ones at home, a household to take care of and 30 hours of work a week, things get crazy. 

I've been underwater recently - as I'm sure you've seen in my blog.  And I've found myself to be irritable, longing for something different and just generally unhappy. 

What?!?!

I'm sure many of you are wondering how that could possibly happen.  How could a girl with two healthy kids, a PART-TIME job and a generally great life be unhappy?  The 2005 me would have DIED to have been in these shoes right now.  But alas... Here I am.  And I find myself wanting something different.  Something freer.  Because this stage of life can feel like monotony.  The kind of monotony that has you waking up at 40 and wondering what happened to your 30's.

It feels like I come home from work to someone whining and pulling on my legs and then I make dinner, clean up, feel guilty about using TV as a babysitter, put the kids to bed and rejoice that I have a few hours to spend the way I want to spend them.  Then I waste the time I have to myself, stay up too late and get up at the absolute last minute the next morning dog tired and wonder when I'll ever get the motivation to wake up early and exercise.  Sometimes I do, but its rare.

Do I sound like I'm complaining? 

Well it sure isn't great.

Is this honest? 

Yeah. 

Does this make me a bad person. 

I dunno. 

I have friends that are endless fountains of patience and so attentive with their children.  I read blogs written by women with large families that home school and have spotless houses because they follow a detailed household playbook.  I read other blogs written by women that save thousands of dollars on groceries because they feed their families using coupons.  I'm finding that I do a lot of things, wear a lot of hats, but that I am mediocre at them all.  Scraping by for appearances sake, but not happy with where I'm at.

I admitted this to an older friend in my Bible study earlier this week and she had a lot of wisdom to share.  She encouraged me that thinking of myself first sometimes was not all that bad. 

Okay, I've heard this one.  But what does that really mean?

Well for the night owl in me, it means that I need some "me time" at the beginning of my day and it's going to involve getting up early - before the kids get up.  I needed the "one up" on them, not to be simply reacting to them as soon as my feet hit the ground.  I needed to be planned, put together, in control. 

This also involves my time with the Lord.   I've always gotten to reading the Bible "when I had time" (which didn't happen very often at all).  I'd shove it til the kids took naps or right before bed because that was the only time I had to myself.  But inevitably laundry, hanging out with Kevin or just general "downtime" would take precedence and I'd find myself in a state of the "ought to's" that quickly turned to guilt. 

Not the sort of Christian life I wanted to live or model for my kids.  Where's the joy in that?

Then my friend made a statement that really hit me.  She said she didn't NEED God to move her right before she went to bed because it wouldn't impact her as much come morning time.  She NEEDED Him first thing in the morning so that she'd be impacted when she interacted with her husband, her kids and people at her job.

I'd never thought about it this way.  I had always heard morning devotions were better, but I didn't really realize why.  It may seem like a "duh" thing to the rest of you, but for me, it was revolutionary.  A completely new way of thinking.

Since we've met I've had a new energy that's not forced, canned or guilt-based.  Amazingly, I've actually gotten up at 5:45 and run, had devotions and planned my day prior to the kids getting up - all with the desire to do so.  It's incredible to see what change has been affected in only 4 days time.  I've been more patient with my kids, intentional in the time I spend with them, on projects around the house and with friends.  And generally, I've been a lot happier and a lot less stressed out.  I think I finally feel like I'm headed in a direction I want to go and I'm excited to see what God's going to do with that.

I also started reading Andy Stanley's Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.  The idea is that you ARE headed in a direction.  The question is: is it where you want to go? It has me looking at my life from an aerial view as opposed to seeing it as a collection of individual, unrelated decisions.  I've yet to figure out exactly where God wants to take me, but I think I might be one step closer to finding out!

Disclaimer: Yeah I know there were no pictures of my kids in this post or funny anecdotes.  To be honest, I haven't taken any pictures.  Poor parenting, I know.  =)  I'll fix that this weekend.  Just wanted to share what's been on my heart of late.

May, So Far

I thought I wouldn't say it, but I flew with the kids again, and it wasn't that bad!  I think I had convinced enough people to pray for us this time under the pretenses we may actually get booted off the plane midway to Kansas City.  Based on the flight I had with them in August, this could have been a very real possibility.

This time, though, was MUCH better - largely due to the love for television that we've worked on instilling in our 1.5 year old.  (The former me just died I think)  I have a huge love/hate relationship with the TV.  I really hate the fact that my kids are in front of it at all.  But I've come to learn that my sanity is on the line and if it keeps me from blowing a gasket or allows me to get dinner made without stabbing myself in the eyeballs then it's probably worth it.  How DID those pioneer women do it?

Liam (quite on his own) has developed a love for all things Dora.  I've never been a fan of the triangle headed kid, who, my friend Beth pointed out, does not have a shirt that covers her stomach.  But, I've welcomed her warmly into my home because for some reason or other Liam adores the ground she walks on, along with Map, Backpack, Boots and the rest of the gang.  I know the songs, I've read the predictable books and have purchased the gear that goes along with being a Dora fan just for Liam because I figure it makes him so darned happy.  It IS cute. I also was figuring it would help make the plane ride a more pleasant experience.  And I was right!

Getting out to KC was perfect.  I had an extra seat next to me so we could all have our own (Liam was a lap child).  Coming back, however, we sat in the very last row next to the bathrooms and I was sandwiched between Natalie's carseat and a broad shouldered guy with Liam on my lap.  I swear the last row has even LESS leg room than the rest of the seats on the plane.  Lets just say I was thankful for deodorant and the lollipops I'd brought to bribe my children that day.

We stayed a week in Kansas City this time and it was lovely.  I got LOTS of time to myself, to shop, to hang out with my sister, to see my grandparents and long lost relatives and to just relax.  I was so bummed to come home to a house where no one does my laundry (my mom rocks at laundry) and I had to go back to work.  =(  I guess it wasnt only the grandkids who got spoiled at Nana and Papas house!

My freshman roommate, Beth, came for a playdate with her daughter Mylie.  Natalie had fun bossing her around.  Heck, she has fun when she can boss anyone around!

Poppo, Cousin Steven and Uncle Mike

SO thankful that they made the trip to come see us!

My cousin Steven is graduating from medical school this coming weekend and starting his residency in OB/GYN.  We got a chance to go out and I got to pick his brain about all of his crazy stories thus far involving women, babies, etc.  He's got a real passion for medicine and a heart for womens health.  I'm excited for him and what he's accomplished so far.  I know he'll make a terrific doctor.

My Great Aunt Hazel.  She looks exactly the same as I always remembered her growing up (maybe just a bit shorter).  Such a bright spirit and positive person.  I love her!

Left: Liam wearing Nana's "dress up" beads, 2011.

Right: Natalie wearing Nana's "dress up" beads, 2008. 

Aunt Lib reading to Natalie.  I love the expression on Natalie's face.  This book was particularly long and had lots of nonsensical words.  I think its ironic that even at 3 1/2 she's like "seriously???".

A sweet picture of Mommo reading to Natalie.

Liam giving hugs to Poppo.  I love that they get a chance to see each other, even if it is much too infrequent.

Dinner with the family

When we got back into town we found a tricycle that fits Liam perfectly.  Craigslist, of course!

We did lots of shopping in Kansas City.  It was nice to buy clothing in stores other than Target and Costco (the main stores I frequent at home with the kids).  This little number is from the Osh Kosh outlet.  I do think the bunny slippers were a nice addition.

Liam started talking up a storm after we got back from Kansas City: "egg", "Natalie", "Banana", "balloon", "heart", "shoes", "up we go"...  And the list goes on.  Next it will be "pink purse".

In other news, we also got rid of the pacifier, Liam had his first dentist appointment and Natalie told me that we were going to be "friends forever".  Gosh, I hope so.

Oh Right... The Blog.

When things get crazy around here, the blog is (unfortunately) one of the first things to slip.  And apparently it's been mighty crazy around this joint for the last month and a half.  Here's a quick catchup for April....

• 4/17  Liam started saying "No".  It was cute for a week.  Now he's screaming it.  That became not so cute real fast.
• 4/22 Natalie brought me flowers (i.e. dandelions) from a walk with Grandma.  She ran into my office and gave them to me and said "These are for you, Mom.  I love you mom."  Okay... you live for these moments as a parent.

We finally decided to dedicate Liam at a mass dedication service at our church. Funny, we had Natalie dedicated at 3 months. For Liam we waited until 20 months. Oh well, we actually had brain cells back then. Life with one three month old? A piece of cake! We could actually go out to eat when she was that age. We'd just put the whole carseat under the table at the restaurant and let her sleep away. These days? They pay us NOT to come to restaurants.

It was a nice dedication service, albeit a little long. Granted, we DID arrive much too early and the kids were fit to be tied even before the service started. The professional pictures taken there were hilarious. I did NOT order one. Let's just say that I was reminded why I get my kid's pictures done only once a year and with a great amount of planning, toys, bribery and assistance.

A sweet moment with Grandma.

Thank you, God, for pacifiers!

Easter came and went and we spent it with our good friends the Lewis' and their family.  What a nice time!  You'll identify our kids by the rather disheveled hair and Larry the Cable Guy man tank.  Boy we sure know how to dress our kids up for a nice time!

Sequoia, Helga (er... Natalie), Cheyenne and Bubba (er... Liam)

Liam's first egg hunt (where he actually participated). I didnt have a basket for him so guess who got to use the pink bag? He's so metro!

Liam hadn't had candy before this day. I had to do some clever slight of hand to make a good portion of his jellybeans disappear because he was shoving them hand over fist into his mouth. Something tells me he's got his Nana's sweet tooth.

Note the lack of candy here in his Easter basket. I know... we're such Easter Scrooge's. But, I mean, who needs candy when you can have a Dora & Diego toothbrush??? =P

Natalie got a "reading is fun" Easter basket.  Did I mention we're a little dorky around here?

The result of allowing your already hyper 3.5 year old to eat Easter candy. 

All right, all right... It IS a cute smile. =)

Grocery Budget Update

Drum roll please....

For March my grocery spending (including diapers and household products) was 498.36. 

I have enough left over for a pack of gum!!!!

Granted we DID spend exceed our eating out budget that month.... but BABY STEPS, people, BABY STEPS!

Things are looking up!

Cosmetology In Her Future?

Last week, Natalie cut Liam's hair. 

And I had just been thinking that we should let it grow a little.  /cry!

I was not home to witness the event, but Kevin swears it all happened in the span of 5 minutes as the kids played upstairs.  I guess my makeup bag was the draw as there was makeup littering the floor as and the tiny (very POINTY) eyebrow scissors were missing.  Thank GOODNESS there was no major harm in the making of this haircut.  And to her credit, she did try to do an even job!  Unfortunately the millimeter long hair on top and back of his head will just have to grow out to match the rest of his hair. 



She desperately wanted a haircut herself, so I just decided to get them both taken care of when we went in to get Liam's head fixed in case she got any more wild ideas!

Could It Be...

that my 20 month old is going to potty train early? 

Or was that just a one time teaser? 
One can only hope!

Intervention Update

So about a month ago I came clean about my love affair with grocery shopping and the exhorbitant amount of money I spent on consumable goods. 

During the month of February I realized that I'd already spent $661 at grocery stores, Costco and Target by the 21st and was determined not to do anymore shopping until March.  However, I found myself needing to stock up on meats and produce before month's end as my husband decided to join me on the Atkins diet.  The total for the month?  $961. 

/fail

I knew I could do better.

This month isnt over yet, but I'm on target to do MUCH better.  My mantra this month is "only the essentials".  I'm not stocking up on anything (since I have such a stockpile anyway) and I'm barely looking at the grocery ads.  For a long time I'd tried to do the "extreme couponing" that you read about on so many "mommy blogs".  People can really cut their expenditures in HALF by playing the coupon games at local grocery stores and places like CVS and Rite Aid.  However, I found that I was spending MORE money by attempting to do that.  I would get a good deal, but then I might buy too much of something and then not plan a meal utilizing it.  It ends up sitting on my shelf not getting used and then just adding to the food budget for the month.  So my new approach is just STAY AWAY FROM THE GROCERY STORE.

It's working pretty well.  Currently I've spent about $450 on groceries for the month. Can you believe it?!?!  I think I deserve a gold star or a smiley face by my name or SOMETHING!

Lauren =)

So I'm definitely improving.  The only temptation could be the fact that I would like to make a trip to Costco before the end of the month and I rarely get out of there for less than $100.  But I'm determined to be able to go with a SHORT list and get out unscathed.  I think I can, I think I can....

So stay tuned and keep the encouragement coming my way!

Gymnastics

I wish Natalie had gymnastics every day.  I'm not sure how a person so petite (who isnt allowed any sugar on a normal day) and who also doesnt nap can have SO much energy.  The childs feet barely touch the ground during the waking hours for all the hopping, dancing, jumping, running and diverolling off of the furniture she does.

Kevin and I got to attend the last session of her winter gymnastics class and see her in action. 

her class 

Natalie doing a flip.

Natalie and Dad

Note: This is what happens when you tell her to laugh so she'll give a genuine smile.  I'll just say she takes after her mother.

Nat and Mom

Yeah for gymnastics!  I just hope she'll be able to keep it up next year with the addition of preschool to the mix. (more on that to come)

19.5 Months

So I'm a little behind on updates.  But who has time for that between all the chaos of two kids, work, housework and life in general?  How do those Duggars do it?

Anyway, Liam is getting big.  He understands EVERYTHING, has slendered out and very tall for his age.  He doesnt say a lot, but here's what he does say:

• Ma! (It means "Map" or "Dora") Go ahead and yell that one to get an idea of what it sounds like and  then imagine it like 50 times a day.  He loves Dora, but especially the Map, and will stand 10 inches from the TV and not move for 30 minutes if Dora is on.
• "Ah Dah!" (all done)  Also yell this very loudly, waiting two seconds between each word, right after rubbing spaghetti sauce in your hair and throwing any remaining food from your plate on the floor
• kitakitakita (kitty cat).  He's very affectionate toward her.
• Yeah! Again, yelling at the top of your lungs, throw your hands up in the air in touchdown mode as a response to "Do you want to eat?"  "Do you want your pacifier?" "Do you want to go outside?"  Conversely if there's something you don't want to do, fall on the floor and writhe around like you're favorite dog just died.
• Mama Um... yes, he's a mama's boy.
• Da-dee (Daddy)  Its a recent progression from Dada to Daddy.  Super cute.
• Raaaar (Roar) This is what a lion says (as well as what a bird, cat, dog and hyena say, according to Liam).
• Uh oh  Usually something to worry about and means you've got Cheerios/Vinegar/Peppercorns/etc spilled all over the floor.
• Ta Too (Thank you)  He says this without being prompted - something I attribute to our nanny, Jody.  She's so on the ball with teaching manners to the kids.  It's wonderful!
• Woo Woo Woo (Siren or "Mom... you're getting pulled over")

He also does sign language for milk, more, please, help and wash hands.  He doesnt try to say any of these words since he can sign them, but he'll be happy to throw his cup on the floor (or his entire tray of food, for that matter) to get your attention so you can serve his signed requests.

And just the other day he walked over to the diaper bag, pulled out a diaper and a wipe and laid down and began mock wiping his bottom.  Turns out his diaper was, indeed, dirty.  All right kid... if you can tell me it's dirty then you can surely tell me you need to use the potty!

He's a fun kid who makes us laugh every day.  We're all looking forward to seeing how his personality develops and hoping he figures out that there's no need to talk at 500 decibels for the rest of his life. =)

Happy Half Birthday!

We introduced Natalie to the concept of half birthday's this year.  It's a tradition that my family practiced when I was growing up because a whole year is an awful long time to wait when you're a kid.  We celebrated with a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich (I called it an ice cream cake...) and a new Play-doh set.  And now she proudly announces that she's 3 and a HALF. 

Such a fun tradition to re-live with them as I've stopped really celebrating my own half birthdays!  Something about 31 and a half just doesn't seem quite as special. 

Free Shipping?

How much do you think it would cost to send them to Nana and Papa's house?

Someone's Gotta Take One for the Team

It's a little hard to see but this is salmon topped with crab dip.  It's on the Atkins diet and oooooh-so-yummy.  Hey, without the carbs to keep her company, a girl's gotta have SOME little luxuries!  So far I've been low-carb for 3 weeks now and have lost 4-5lbs.  Definitely not what I THOUGHT I would lose and I've seen no progress over the last week.  I'm giving it another week to see if my body is just being stubborn at a set point and then I might re-evaluate my plan.  There's only SO much passing up cereal, pizza and potatoes that a girl can do.