A correction, an update, and a birthday

First the correction: I got a call from my dad the other day.  He called to comment on my recent post about our food issues.  He wanted to let me know that it was him and not my mom who thought of the list idea.  So, I now stand corrected.

 

However, unlike my mom or dad, I had the foresight to write the list down.  So, unlike my brothers and I, my children cannot claim different items on their list depending on what is being offered at meal times.

 

This leads me into my update:  I had told my children that every three months we would update our list.  So, we updated yesterday.  Here are their new lists.  As you can see, Charlie finally realized I was not going to force him to drink sweet tea and added actual food items on to his list.

Yes, I also think it's totally bizarre that he does not like French Fries.

 

And, finally, we had a birthday in the family!  Last Thursday, this handsome guy...

 

 

turned 5!!

 

 

 

A birthday party post will come soon, with lots and lots of pictures, but for now, this is all you get.

 

It's Monday, yo.



Extreme Closet Makeover

Anyone who knows me, knows I can be a little obsessive when it comes to cleanliness and organizing.  (Alright, Lauren, I see you rolling your eyes. Ok, fine. A lot obsessive.)

Lately, I've been having issues with my boys' closets staying organized and just all around neat looking.

So, I decided to do a closet makeover...

Both their closets have sliding doors and essentially take up a whole wall in their not-too-large-rooms.

Here is a "before" shot of Charlie's closet.  Clothes, toys, random stuff up on the shelves, etc.

I decided to remove the doors and utilize the closet space as a play/reading area.  It worked great and added substancial space to their bedrooms.

This is what Charlie's room looked like after I took the doors off (which was surprisingly easy) and took everything out of the closet.

The "after" shot:

It's a little hard to tell, but I painted both closets the same color as the walls.  Both boys have a light blue in their room (SW Icicle).  With the doors removed, there's not only space to play in the closet, but all the space the open doors used to take up.

I used canvas bins on the top self to hold out-of-season or not-yet-grown-into clothes and any other miscellaneous items.

Charlie's room theme is airplanes.  I decided the carry a "sky" theme into the closet and got some glow-in-the-dark space wallies to compliment the airplane theme.  (You can see them if you look closely.)  Charlie LOVED how his room "glowed" last night when he went to bed.

Jacks' room is pretty much the same layout as Charlie's room.  I was too lazy to walk downstairs to get my camera to take a "before" shot.

In Jack's room, I used half the closet to hold his dresser and hang his clothes. The other half, I designed as a reading nook (his bookcase is right outside the closet).  Jack asked for Transformer (his latest obsession) wallies and decorated the inside of the closet himself.

I am so happy I did this! I think it turned out great.  The boys have more room in their bedrooms now and I feel like their closets are better organized and have more functionality.  All in all it was an easy and super-cheap project.  It only took a few hours (including drying time between coats) to paint.  Since I painted the closet the same color as their rooms, I used paint I already had.  So, the only expense I really incurred was the storage bins.

I did initially consider painting the closets a different shade of blue or another color all together.  However, since one of my goals was to make the room seem larger, I opted to streamline and use the same color.  Since this color is so light to, needing to repaint in the event of a move, etc, there's really no need to repaint.

And, yes, now Melody wants her closet done as well.  Of course.  Her room is quite large and so is her closet, so I think that's going to have to wait for now!

The post where I brag on my husband

I need to spend a little time doing something I don't do enough of; bragging on my husband.

Plus, he's been waiting for me to post about this.

In the past, we've never really celebrated Valentine's Day.  We usually get a little treat for the kids and that's about it.  It's a cheesy, commercialized holiday and seems just unnecessary.

Sorry, ladies. Please don't throw things.

However, as I was spending some time reflecting on things I dislike about winter (it's freakin' freezing, it's long, it's boring, etc) I realized that a celebration is just what I needed to get me out of this funk.

So, I called up my hubs, told him about this revelation and pretty much ended the conversation with, "I know you are just going to knock my socks off with what you plan for us!"

And boy did he come through!!

He booked us a couples massage

(Not us...just some randoms that showed up on Google images.)

and got me an ipad!!

And it totally worked! I was able to break out of my mid-winter funk.  Although the fact that the next week, the temps rose to the mid 60s and have (mostly) stayed there may have had something to do with it too.

Valentine's Day may be my new favorite holiday.  I can't wait to see what he comes up with for next year.  (hint, hint, Honey.)

Beans, beans...

They're good for your heart...

Well, you know the rest.  That was the song Jack was singing while we were playing with (what else?) beans!

I've had a big container of dried beans ever since I stole this idea and realized that the fun wasn't worth the clean up.

I don't know why it took me over a year to realize I should just put them outside!

They've been having a blast for the last week.  And, bonus, beans in the sand table means they aren't tracking in sand!

I think I'm finally onto something here...

PSF and How to Catch Ants

One of the things I love about my six year old (and six year olds in general) is the big ideas they come up with.

Jack came home very excited from school one day last week. He and a friend had hatched a genius plan to catch ants.

In preparation of this venture, they wrote step by step instructions, complete with illustrations, in this handy notebook.

I am now passing this knowledge on to you.

You're welcome.

1. Drag your foot across the ground.

2. An ant will walk out.

3. Drop rock on ant.

4. Dig a deep hole.

5. Ant will fall in the hole.

6. Ant trap.

See, simple. Yep, it's nice having a genius as my son.


Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

PSF and an orange and blue Halloween

Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays. Don't get me wrong. I'm all about the candy. (Like I would ever turn down chocolate!) And scary movies. Yeah, I like those. Seeing little kids run around in cute costumes is pretty fun too. Ok, I guess I do like Halloween. I'm not a big pumpkin carver though. And since I'm not the craftiest person, my kids are usually dressed in a hand-me-down costume or something that was really, really easy to make.

Last Halloween, however, was one of my more creative ones. I figured this would be my one shot at coordinating all three of them. (I was right, Melody and Jack were pretty clear about their costume preferences this year.)

Ok, maybe Jack and Melody's costumes aren't the most original, but I get originality points for Charlie's costume for sure.




Can you tell what my little 5 week old baby is?

Here's the quarterback and head cheerleader

Go Tigers!

This is one of my favorite shots. I didn't even take it...I was holding her hand. That sucker was the first piece of candy she got and she tore right into it. It was all she cared about all night. And yes, when she was done with it, she was one sticky (but sweet!) mess.

As for this year?

Check back here tomorrow night...but for now, just a little tease...

Hosted by Cecily and Carissa

True Story Tuesday and how to fool your husband

My husband was thrilled when we bought a house with a finished basement and immediately dubbed it the Man-Cave.

Over our past 2+ years in this house the Man-Cave has slowly morphed into the Dog-Cave/Man-Hole.

Alex didn't want a place to burp and scratch in peace relaxing, testosterone filled room as much as he wanted a place to dump all his junk and keep his dog. Anyone who knows me in real life, knows that's just not gonna fly. Over the past two years the Man-Cave has simply become unlivable. It's just a mess and more of a junk room than a Man-Cave. It reeks of dog and, in the past few months, the dog has succeeded in destroying the carpet in his quest for a perfect bed.

Here is the carpet in the back corner of the Man-Cave.

We have been talking about making some changes to the Man-Cave and have finally started this weekend.

The two main changes we are immediately making is new paint and a new floor.

We recently had our family room painted a light pale yellow color (Lantern from Sherwin Williams to be precise). I told Alex that I wanted the basement painted the same color. I like rooms to flow well and it's a cheery, light color which will certainly lighten up a dark a basement.

His immediate response to this was, "Yellow is not a manly color and certainly not appropriate in a Man Room."

I told him to think of a few manly colors he would like and he said he would get back to me.

I spent the next day thinking about how I could trick my husband lovingly convince my husband that my way was better.

*lightbulb*

I took the swatch of color and a pair of scissors and cut the color name off the top.

Later that night, as we are sitting in the family room chatting, I casually say, "I think I found the perfect, manly color for the Man-Cave."

Alex looks at me with a skeptical expression.

I hand him the swatch.

His skeptical expression does not change.

"That color is called Beer Foam," I say.

"Now that's more like it!" Alex responded.

And that, my friends, is how true compromise works.

the camera and the sprayground

If you have kept up with my blog for the past few weeks, you'll know that I have been looking for a new camera.

After much looking and much debating and much list-making, we have decided to get two cameras.

I really want a DSLR (yes, I know I'm no photographer, but I can learn!). Alex just likes the convenience of a small, compact point and shoot.

Like any smart, married couple; we compromised! We agreed that we would get a small, inexpensive point and shoot now and then a higher-end camera around Christmas. Now, Alex does not want to take a higher-end P&S out of the running, but I'm pretty much married to the idea of a DSLR. And let's be honest; I'm going to get one. Hubs knows how it works: a happy wife equals a happy life!

After a little looking we ended up getting a Nikon Coolpix for our compact P&S model. I was actually surprised at all the features it has and the quality of pictures.

I got the chance to really test it out when we went to the new spraygound in Roswell with our friends Amy, Kate, and Baby Brendyn. And let me just say; the sprayground is an awesome idea. Seriously, why did it take people so long to think of it and why do we only have two (that I know of) in the entire Atlanta Metro area?!

Charlie mostly hung out by this one little spout and just had a blast.



And grabbed a drink when he needed it.

Melody splashed

got rained on


and jumped to her hearts content.

What a great day with friends!

beans

It was a rainy after noon. At our house that means bored and stir crazy kids.
I wracked my brain trying to come up with an stolen original idea to keep them entertained while I sat around eating bonbons did housework. Then I remembered this post.
Thanks Lauren, for sharing your fun idea! It provided quite a bit of entertainment for these two.

The clean up, however...well let's just say you've been warned!

I just can't let it go

Ok, I'm sorry, but I just can't let it go. I have to vent talk about the Bachelorette!

Warning: spoiler ahead! If you watch Bachelorette but haven't seen last night's episode, skip the next paragraph.

Ok, so, I am so beyond ticked off that Jillian kicked off Jake! I mean, come on! Does it sound like a good idea to anyone to kick off a guy who Jillian said herself is "perfect"? Jake has integrity, is industrious, compassionate, a good listener, and HOT beyond belief. Um, hello! I totally am Team Jake for the next Bachelor.

This season is just a train wreck. Ok, in all honesty they all have been train wrecks with the exception of Ryan and Trista. Which brings me to my idea...

The Bachelors and Bachelorettes have obviously been making poor decisions and choices. Out of however many seasons only one has been able to make the relationship last more than a few months.

In watching this season and last season with Jason, I have realized that they are focused on the wrong issues and ask the wrong questions. For example, Jillian is all concerned about someone being "adventurous" and "spontaneous". Yet, she wants a family and children soon. Sadly, those things don't mix. There's really nothing adventurous about changing diapers. And it's hard to be spontaneous when your baby needs to eat every three hours. She needs to be focused on what type of career her potential spouse has and how he feels about his career. She also needs to ask about his family values, religious beliefs, and parenting thoughts.

And while on the surface she seems to be concerned about compatibility, when push comes to shove, she's all about "the spark" Last night she even said to Reid, "I am concerned that we don't have that much in common but I can't deny there's a spark". Um, again, HELLO! That "spark" is not going to be there forever, Jillian. And when it's gone you're going to be left with a guy who has a completely different lifestyle from you. Then what? Splitsville.

So, that's the problem with the show. What can we do to fix it?

Simple; bring in a marriage counselor. I haven't thought as far as to how it would affect each episode, but the basic premise is that on every one on one date, a counselor would be there for part of it. Their job would be to guide the questions to be applicable to real life and help them focus on the issues that truly affect relationships/marriage. I also think that the Bachelorette or Bachelor needs to have one on one sessions with the counselor to help them sort out their feelings. I mean, how many times have we heard Jillian say, "I'm just so confused right now." Or, "I didn't realize this would be so hard." I don't think her little chats with Chris are cuttin' it.

Whew! It feels good to get that off my chest.

Don't even get me started on Jon and Kate.