Weekend Projects

So, Chris and I got several items checked off the old honey-do list this weekend. Our list of things to do on the house keeps growing. We want to do some many things to make it our own, that we are quickly becoming a little overwhelmed. But this weekend, we decided to knock out a few. Here are the end results of just a few hours of work, thanks to our awesome helpers!

My new green dining room with a beautiful wrought iron chandelier.

No more NASTY white sink. WOOHOOO!! That old thing was so gross. We were hoping to wait and replace the sink, when we did the rest of our planned kitchen remodel, but I couldn't wait any longer. The disposal was hardly working and the pipes underneath were getting clogged. After I had to plunge the darn thing for the 4th time last week, I gave up! Now I have a beautiful, deep sink and a brand new disposal! I can't wait to do dishes now (well, I can wait, but maybe I won't grumble as much!). Ain't she a beauty?

We are still trying to decide what color to paint our family room. I think the paint department at Lowe's is getting a little sick of me. I have been in there so many times for samples, it is ridiculous. Our fireplace is starting to look like a calico cat. It is really a hard decision because the room is so big and I only want to have to do it (or at least pay someone) once. Any suggestions??

Just because, she's cute!

Somewhat Wordless Wednesday

This could be why I spend all my time cleaning Gracie off...

A Day in the Life...

Lately, I have felt that I haven't been getting very much accomplished during the day. Maybe it is the fact that the dishwasher is always full, or the huge pile of clean laundry that never makes it into our drawers, or the baby presents that I still haven't mailed to friends. I am not sure. I just feel that at the end of the day, I am tired, but not a whole lot has been done.

So, to combat the feeling (or just make it worse), I decided to write down all that I did today. Here it is in its entirety. I am not sure what to make of it...what about you?

6:30 am - Alarm went off. Snooze....

6:55am - Lucy came in proclaiming that she needed to go potty and that she had slept the WHOLE night in her own bed. She then rummaged through aforementioned pile of laundry for a specific pink skirt and tank top. Skirt, check... Tank top... dirty. I convinced her to get in bed with me and watch a few cartoons (possibly a little more dozing on my part).

7:15 - I roll my lazy body out of bed for a shower. Lucy follows and begs (whines) to shower with me. I spent MY shower with her washing my legs and feet. I get out of the shower and leave her highness to finish her shower alone. (First, Mom sacrifice of the day)

7:30 - I iron clothes for myself. We are going to Bible study today, so my usual wrinkled shirt and shorts don't make the cut.

8:00am - The little princess wakes up. (Side note: This is huge. For the last week, Gracie has been getting up with the roosters, ie 5:00am. Finally, I had the doctor confirm my suspicions that she had an ear infection. One day on antibiotics, and she is a new little woman.)

8:05am - Breakfast is served. Frozen waffles ARE good for you. I check my email while the kids are eating.

8:15 - I clean up from breakfast and start new a load of laundry. I pick up Gracie's refrigerator magnets. I finish getting dressed, brush my teeth, put on a little makeup...It must be a special day.

8:30 -9am - I get a squealing, sticky Gracie out of her high chair. She gets cleaned up and dressed. I finish Lucy's braids and convince her to change into a different tank top, that kinda matches the pink skirt. I pick up the refrigerator magnets.

9:00 - We are out the door (in the rain) to go to Bible Study.

9:05 - We stop at the ATM for cash.

9:10-9:20 - We drive into town for Bible Study. I continually convince Lucy that she WILL have fun, and that I WILL come back to get her, and that Grace WILL be fine without her, and that my class is not nearly as much fun as hers. I pull out all the stops and use bribery to get my point made. (Are you starting to see a pattern here? I seem to have spent the first 2 hours of my day, convincing my 4 year old to do what I want.)

9:30 - We arrive at Bible Study and I drop off the girls to their respective rooms. There were no tears this morning, so we are making progress:)!

10am - I meet my Bible Study group at Buffalo Grille for breakfast. This was a huge treat for me. Yummy food and NO sippy cups! I actually got to eat my breakfast, drink TWO cups of coffee and have wonderful adult conversations. This is a special day!

11:00 - Back to the church I go, to pick up the girls from their classes. Lucy is coloring and talking to the teachers (imagine that!) and Gracie is in Mini Gym. Her teacher informs me she has a boyfriend (Lord, help me!).

11:05- 11:30 - We drive back toward home. I make several phone calls to friends. This is usually the only time I get to talk on the phone. I know it isn't safe, but at least the kids are strapped in and somewhat quiet.

11:30-12:30pm - Remember the bribery from earlier... McDonald's here we come (Mom sacrifice number two). Two happy meals and a diet coke later, we are all fed and ready for nap time.

12:45 - Gracie goes down for a nap. WOOHOO!! Once again, I convince Lucy that if she will stay in her room for one whole hour, she can color her big fairy coloring book afterwards.

12:47 - 1:43pm - The race is on. I check my email again and a couple new blogs I found. I fold that huge pile of clean laundry while I watch a DVRed episode of Army Wives from last week. I transfer earlier laundry to dryer and start another one. I make our bed.

1:43pm - Lucy's freaky internal clock goes off and she is out of her room and wanting to color. We get out the coloring book and pack of 200 markers and she goes to work.

1:50 - 2:45 I put away laundry downstairs (this is a miracle in itself!), clean our bathroom, and put away the ironing board. Plus check out Lucy's coloring progress, no less than 5 times per her requests.

2:45 - Gracie wakes up from her nap. She has a nice package waiting for me, so we change that and head downstairs for a snack (peanut butter and crackers). I clean up Gracie and her tray. Then we head back upstairs to put away the rest of the laundry.

3:30 - I start the chili for supper... Cheese enchiladas, corn and chili.

4:00 - I check my email again. Feed Wyatt. I pick up the refrigerator magnets and make another snack (cheese sticks). I start a princess movie for Lucy (Thanks, Missy).

4:30 - I get out rubbermaid and wooden spoons to distract Grace while I finish rolling the cheese enchiladas for supper.

5:00 - 5:20 - Lucy and Gracie convince me they need another snack (yogurt). They look so cute sitting in the chair together, I just have to get my camera. Snap, snap, giggle, smile! We have to hose Gracie down again!

5:30 - I put the enchiladas in to cook. Chris should be home soon, so we do a quick sweep. I pick up refrigerator magnets, again (These really need to go in the trash). I pick up random toys, wrappers, rubbermaid, and shoes that have spread themselves out over the house in the last few hours.

5: 45 - I unload the dishwasher and reload.

6:00 - I decide to feed the kids supper because they can't wait any longer, melt downs are approaching. Chris comes home as they are sitting down, so we get to have a family meal after all. Lucy informs me these are the bestest she has ever had...

6:30 - I clean up dishes and wipe down counters AND Grace.

6:50 - Sara calls to say she is ready for our trip to Hobby Lobby. I pick up the refrigerator magnets one more time.

7:10 - I am out the door (without the kids... YEAH, Chris!!!) to pick up Sara and spend a few minutes at Hobby Lobby.

8:25 - I am back home! Chris and the girls cleaned the playroom (YEAH, Chris, again!) while I was gone (Now, I can remove that from tomorrow's list.).

8:30pm - It is now thirty minutes past bedtime. Gracie has been saving me another stinky package, so I change that. Then it is jammies, teeth, books, and bed for both the girls.

9:00pm - Both the kids are in bed and I am summing up my day for all of you!

I am sure I have left out alot, but I can't do go on any longer. I can't decide if this was a good idea or not. I can definitely see a few patterns. I spend a lot of time convincing Lucy to do things. I spend a lot of time cleaning Grace after meals. I spend a lot of time picking up d*&m refrigerator magnets.

I think I am worse now than before. I better go to bed now, before I depress myself any further. Tomorrow is a new day! Maybe, I will be productive then.... But first those magnets need to be picked up one more time!

A merry Christmas in August

Every year, it is getting harder and harder to spend the holidays with my extended family. We all grew up together, but with most of us married and some of us with little ones it is always hectic around Christmas. Last year, we decided to try a summer weekend reunion before the rush of the holidays, so that we could enjoy a relaxing and fun time together.

We rented a house in Gruene, right on the river and spent two days floating, eating, playing games, laughing until we cried, telling stories, and just being together.

Lucy and Grace loved all the attention from their extra uncles and aunts (actually cousins, but try explaining that to a 4 year-old). Lucy was just like a little fish in the water. We couldn't keep her in her tube. She wasn't afraid at all, until someone mentioned minnows. It took a lot of convincing, but she finally got back in. Gracie even got to do a little floating with me. She loved pouring water on me. She thought it was too funny!

The whole weekend was a blast. I feel like we really reconnected and know each other better for it. I can hardly wait until next year.

Road Trip

The girls and I left last Wednesday for a road trip to San Antonio to stay with one of my best friends, Missy. We have been friends since elementary school. We invaded her very clean and orderly house for three and a half days. The girls had a blast and I enjoyed getting to visit with such a great friend. We went shopping, out to eat, cooked dinner, played in the sprinkler, and watched movies. It was great. The only real sign of our advancing age is that we got drunk on three bottles of wine while we watched chick flicks in our jammies after the little girls went to bed. In the old days, we would have at least gotten dressed up and went out on the town. Oh well!

We were even lucky enough to visit with some other friends while Missy was at work. We spent Wednesday afternoon with my college roommate, Melisa and her girls. We haven't seen each other in eight years, but we have gotten back in touch lately through our blogs. Lucy and Madison had fun playing while the little girls took naps.

We also went swimming on Thursday with my two high school friends, Kristen and Jenny. Kristen has too little girls just like me. Lucy and Sarah were such buddies right from the start. They were so cute playing together. Jenny's little one, Luke, was the only boy. When he gets older he will understand that the odds were totally in his favor surrounded by 4 beautiful women at the pool!

On Saturday, we left Missy's to meet Chris and the family at the river in Gruene for a reunion. Stay tuned, I am still working on my pictures from our awesome river weekend....

Eduoard Who?

Chris is out of town for work, so I was all prepared to weather this "BIG" storm. I was up multiple times in the night to check on the progress, because at one time it was headed right for us. This morning Ed decided to go north sooner and basically spared our area anything, but some rain. It is a blessing to not get a direct hit, but I have to admit to hoping for a big storm? I was actually kinda excited... I know, be careful what you wish for!!

Kurt did get the day off to hang with us girls at home, so that has been fun! And I have been able to get caught up on a little bloggin!

Girl's Night Out

I took Lucy to a children's production of Cinderella on Friday night. We got all dressed up like princesses and off we went. The play was done by children ages 6-14 and was pretty entertaining. Lucy was totally mesmerized by the whole thing. She was so excited at intermission to get to go on stage and show off her princess outfit. She even got Cinderella's autograph after the show.

She told Gracie the next day that she could go next time, because it was so cool!