Crazy time is on it's way!

I wonder if life has any plans to slow down a bit?   Probably not... especially with the holidays on the way.  I am exhausted.  Who wants to clean my house?!  It's a mess.  I need a bowl of gluten free chex and almond milk before I do anything.  Inlaws visiting, Nolan breaking out in hives, Link pooping on the carpet, Taylor getting a new TV, dishes, cooking, parties, work, kids, cleaning, kids, errands, kids, baseball, did I say kids?  I would really like a day where my kids are not here so I can clean the house, go on a run, shower and sleep until I wake up... without someone peeing on me or screaming "MOM!".  I am tired.  Nolan just sneezed ALL OVER MY ARM!  I... I don't even know what to say. 

Super Pee Man Strikes Again

I have all 3 boys enjoying a fabulous lunch of organic gluten free noodles, organic marinara pasta and a slice of my mom's homemade gluten free zuchini bread.  They are being so good.  Then I look up and Lincoln is gone.  Where did he go so darn fast?  Ohhh there he is under the table near Nolan's feet.  Then Nolan yells "LINCOLN!  What the heck are you doing?!" and in the dark I see Lincoln on his knees a trail of urine strategically aimed to drench Nolan's socks (and my zebra Pottery Barn rug).  I hear Lincoln cracking up and within 2 seconds I have one kid on time out and another freaking out that he just got peed on.  My life people... welcome to it.

Runnin4Nana

I did it!  I ran my first 5K.  What all started with signing up to motivate me to run and get healthy turned into something much bigger!  After signing up to run for The National Parkinson Foundation and creating team Runnin4Nana (that consisted of just me to begin with) ended up in an amazing turn out and an very FUN, successful morning!  Turns out EVERYONE loves Nana Margaret and wanted to run for her too!  :)  It couldn't have turned out better!  I am so happy to have been a part of it and can't wait to do another 5k!  My time was 30:23 (darn those 23 seconds!) 

Me and my cousin Vanessa showing off our bling.





Team Runnin4Nana October 9th 2011 LB ICB 5K



My Inspiration... or should I say

OUR ENTIRE TEAMS INSPIRATION

Nana Margaret hanging out with baby Dylan



remote

What is it about little kids and the backs of remote controls?!  They disappear within a few days.  How are the batteries supposed to stay in?! 

Life behind bars...

Watching Scared Straight with Nolan. (A tv show where they help troubled teens see the reality of jail) And Nolan says "I don't want to go there!" I told him "Nolie, I know you will never go to jail. You are too great of a kid." and Nolan looks at me and says "Well what about Lincoln? He is pretty bad." :/ Ummm... I have no come back for that. Writing on walls, and running around naked are illegal when I think about it. Goodness.

Toy Story

I am so used to my husband asking me "did you really spend that much money?" in his mean, annoyed voice that tonight it caused a funny misunderstanding.  My son is very into Toy Story right now.  Our cable allows us to purchase movies and it stores inside the cable box memory under "purchases" allowing it to be viewed unlimited amount of times.  It was 11.99 and we watch it about 5 times a day.  My husband restarted the movie and looked at me and said "Toy Story was 19.95?!"  I was quick to defend myself.  "IT WAS NOT!  IT WAS 11.99.  I wasn't lying to you!  It really was 11.99!"  and he just looks at me (with the usual "you are an idiot" look... and I realize he is saying that Toy Story came out in the year 1995... and he is right!  It did.  Phew... thought I was in trouble!

My husband has conversations with himself.

"I can never find the house phone. Ya know it's never where it's supposed to be.  Oh, here it is.  Is this thing that dead?  Must be.  It's not even charging?!  WOW!" 

That will make a HUGE mess!

Last night I cleaned bacon grease off the wall, the stove, my picture above the stove, the microwave, the counter, the floor, a pan, the sink, a plate... Thanks to my husband who likes to cook and doesn't EVER clean after himself (but he swears he does).  Since I stopped cooking for him (or should I say that he hates my hippie, healthy food so he won't eat what I make him) he has started cooking for himself.  This consists of scrambled eggs and bacon.  No joke.  I swear that is all he eats.  Oh and these nasty skillet things that are frozen from TGIFridays.  ANYWAY... I went to get my juicer out and he said "ARE you KIDDING ME?!  That thing will make a HUGE MESS!"  Maybe he thinks the cleaning fairy cleans his bacon grease... I dunno.  Sometimes I just can't help but stare at him when he talks... there are no words.  Sigh...

Lactation Cookies

That's right people... Cookies that will get your milk a flowin' just like a dairy heifer.  And if they don't work at least they taste good.  I had to alter the recipe to make it "safe" for our households allergens... But this is the original recipe-

Major Milk Makin' CookiesRecipe by Kathleen MajorDetailed recipe with photos found here

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 3/4 c. oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 c. almond butter or peanut butter
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. flax
3 T brewer's yeast
1/3 c. water
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
2 c. (12oz) chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
In a large bowl, beat almond butter, butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, brewer's yeast, flax and water until creamy.
Mix in eggs.
Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Mix in nuts and chocolate chips.
Add oats slowly, mixing along the way.

Place balls of dough onto greased baking sheets or baking stones.

Press down each ball lightly with a fork.
Bake 12 minutes.

click here for more...
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/08/lactation-cookies-recipe-increasing.html

Ohhh and don't worry if your husband or kids eat them on accident.  My husband didn't start lactating... that I know of. :)

Kombucha Bucha Bucha!!!!!!!

Makin the tea!



The SCOBY/ Kombucha Mushroom



My Komucha doing it's thang in my cupboard.

 So, what do ya think?  Would you drink it?  It's not too shabby and full of great benefits.  I think it's interesting that people won't drink fermented tea but they will drink many other things without questioning the contents because it claims to make you skinnier, have more energy (what is in 5 hour energy anyway??), yadda yadda yadda.  This is the real deal.  I saw them drinking Kombucha on The Ultimate Fighter (UFC TV show) and I am sure they can beat up most people that don't drink Kombucha.  So if you are sick and tired of being sick and tired... try something different.  My kids even like it if it's mixed with grape juice it's fizzy and tastes a bit like grape soda.  So have at it... call me if you want to start your own batch and I will give a funky looking glob of Kombucha Mushroom.

Here is why it's good for you.
*Probiotics – healthy bacteria
*Alkalize the body – balances internal pH
*Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood
*Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine
*Improve digestion – keep your system moving
*Rebuild connective tissue – helps with arthritis, gout, asthma, rheumatism
*Cancer prevention
*Alleviate constipation
*Boost energy – helps with chronic fatigue
*Reduce blood pressure
*Relieve headaches & migraines
*Reduce kidney stones
*High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer
*High in polyphenols
*Improve eyesight
*Heal excema – can be applied topically to soften the skin
*Prevent artheriosclerosis
*Speed healing of ulcers – kills h.pylori on contact
*Help clear up candida & yeast infections
*Aid healthy cell regeneration
*Reduce gray hair
*Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating
-Kombuchakamp.com

But don't take my word for it (or the UFC fighters)... Try it OR just keep on drinking soda and all the other "good stuff" that is horrible for ya and let me know how that works out for ya! :)  Or better yet if this stuff freaks you out make it simple.  Drink water.

Here is the Kombucha recipe from Nourishing Traditions that we have been using for the past year. Like the other recipes I've shared from this cookbook, it involves little effort and mostly time to do the work for you.

Kombucha
(makes about 2 quarts)

 

3 quarts filtered water

 

1 cup sugar

 

4 tea bags or 4 Tsp of organic black tea

 

1/2 cup kombucha from a previous batch

 

1 kombucha mushroom

 

Boil 3 quarts water. Stir in sugar until it dissolves. Remove from heat, add tea and steep until cool. Remove tea bags, pour into a gallon glass jar and add 1/2 cup kombucha. Gently float "mushroom" on top of liquid. Cover top of jar with a cloth and secure with a rubber band. Place in a warm dark place for 7-10 days and voila! Tasty kombucha.-http://mountainhearth.blogspot.com/ 

 A friend sent me to this blog.  There is info on Kombucha there.

The madness that happens when I am behind the wheel.

Go ahead and click the link above.  It will set the mood for this post.

Today was a special day for my uncle.  He got a promotion.  I THINK he is now a Lieutenant Colonel.  I say I think because I really have no idea.  Here is what I do know... My aunt got to sock him in the arm on the stage and once upon a time I lost some points on family game night for not knowing what "Colonel" meant... It went something like this...
Taylor-WHY did you skip this card!  We could have guessed Colonel!  You should have given us clues.  We would have gotten this card and gotten points!"
Me- I have no idea what call-a-nall is so how would I have given you clues?!
Taylor (ripping the card out of my hand) YOU ARE &^%$ing STUPID.  IT SAYS Colonel (Ker-nal)!

Now in his defense he doesn't usually talk to me like that and we both knew he was saying it ummm... lovingly.  Yeah that's it.  :P

But really who is the stupid one???  Who is the idiot that made a word like that??  What ever happened to sounding words out?  I am going to start making up my own words and just expect people to know how to pronounce them.  Let's start.  Here is your word "Allison".  Oh you THOUGHT it says "Al-is-son" but really it's pronounced "Aww-some".  Anyway... that has nothing to do with my driving story.  The madness started while I was on the 215 freeway.  My kids are screaming in the back seat.  So of course, I turn on the radio.  Static... static... static...  SELENA!  Heck yes.  I start singing.  The babies start crying... I start singing LOUDER.  The babies are still screaming... and now I am starting to sweat.  But it isn't because I am getting my Jennifer Lopez/Selena action on... nope.  It's something else... and then I realize... DUN DUN DUN... my AC has blown out.  Somehow between my (horrific) singing and the babies screaming my AC has crapped out.  It is sprinkling outside but my thermometer on the car is telling me that it is over 80.  Muggy, hot rain.  Great, where am I again?  Cause I thought I lived in California.  I don't do muggy rain and I don't do words that don't make sense... to me anyway.  :)  Other than that it has been a great day!

Some of our family on Uncle Greg's Promotion Day

No shots No school

I deleted this..  I deleted it because I was afraid to start contoversy... I deleted it never realizing I had a comment on it... Here is the comment... "I love this, Allie. I feel the same way...if only I had researched, would my son still be alive? I remember all the times I took both of my kids to the doctor and they were stuck with a needle in their little chubby legs 6 TIMES!!! And I held them down and watched, doing nothing. Never again, if I get that chance. The vaccines should not be one-size fits all, are any of us like that? No. Good post, great post. Love all your posts. :)" 

Thank you Baily's Mommy.  :)  You are an inspiration and I think of you and Baily often even though I only know you in this virtual world! :)

I just realized I should never feel badly for how I feel.  I should never be afraid to put something down in words because I am afraid to upset someone.  I won't delete anything ever again.  And prayers must work somehow because I just begged and pleaded to have the "back" button go back enough so that I can copy and paste the original post!  :)
MY ORIGINAL POST...

**Part of me doesn't want to post this because I am afraid of what people will think.  The other part of me knows that it takes courage to go against the grain when you know something is wrong.  Land of the FREE home of the BRAVE but I am being made to feel like I am not free to choose.  I feel "they" are trying to scare the shit out of anyone who dares be brave enough to make a choice regarding thier children's health.  So here you have it... if you don't like it I am sorry (kinda).  But if you chose to bring this up with me I will no longer back down and I am ready to tell people that I don't want my kids having shots.  I don't want your advice and I don't want you to try to make me feel bad.  I have the US Government to do that for you.**

I am a little confused.  I thought we lived here because we were FREE to do what we want and now laws are being passed that saying that children need to be vaccinated in order to legally attend school?  Casey Anthony gets off FOR MURDERING her daughter and I choose not to vaccinate and am looked at by some as if I am neglecting my children?  So, you guys think it is in my children's best interest to make sure they don't get an education?  Are you punishing them or are you trying to scare me?  Sure seems that if you don't give a crap about my kids education... I can pretty much assume you don't care about my kids at all.  Could this be about something much larger perhaps.  I think so.  I know so.
  With my first son I did no research.  I trusted the health care system.  Nolan has had so many vaccines I lost count.  Is he fine?  Yes.  Did I get lucky.  I believe I did.  Do we know how those immunizations will effect him 50 years from now.  No.  That bothers me.  It wasn't until I found the internet and devoured every book and study I could find digging for information on vaccines.  Only then had made an informed decision NOT to give my children shots.  I felt strongly about this but very alone in my decision.  After being pressured by a friend and my children's old pediatrition... I gave in and got my 2 youngest their first set of immunizations.  I wanted to throw up after.  I felt horrible and I sat in the car thinking I failed them.  I was mad at myself and sad that I felt so pressured to do it and PISSED that I gave in.  I held my newborn down for them to put liquid in his mouth and stab him in the legs.  I let a nurse stick my 2 year old THREE TIMES who had a broken arm and a fever just the day before.  I helped them hold him down.  I will never forget the look on his face or the way he cried.  I will never forget how he didn't use his legs for the next 24 hours because it was too tender for him to walk.  He just sat there with his arm splinted, legs sore, begging me to hold him.  I watched them both sleep night after night to make sure that they were breathing.  I had read too many stories of parents sharing their story of SIDS to be able to sleep.  How if they knew the dangers they would have done things different.  SIDS is my worst nightmare.  This is just the begining of issues immunizations are responsible for.  I trust Dr's..  I just trust myself more.  I cried for about a day and then promised I would forgive myself.  The guilt was heavy.  Never again will I do something a Dr. says if I feel it is not in my kids best interest.  I don't mind having conversations about shots.  I don't mind if you give your kids shots IF you have researched the hell out of it and sat for hours reading and searching for information... then I would assume that you know every risk and you have decided that for you it's worth it.  Go for it... but don't tell me that my kids need shots and they are a threat to the rest of you vaccinated people.  You have your immunizations so why are you so afraid?  You are safe, right?

Carpet

I hate my carpet. 

PLAYROOM BEFORE AND AFTER! so far...

before

AFTER

Cousin for Hire.

My little cousin conned me into making some posters for her 4th grade election.  She is running for VP.  With posters like this... this kids are on crack if they don't vote for her.  Hope she wins!!!

Kids Toy Area



Before

 


 


Almost finished...



 thinking of hanging a rack with some buckets underneath the 2 white frames... not sure what to do with that space just yet. 

Eventually I would like to trade out the baskets with wicker/more natural material or some sort of wooden drawers... Sometime when I can find them on sale!

So here we have what is left of the toys in the toy room.  EVERYTHING else has either been moved into the gargage (ride on toys, basket ball hoop, balls, mini pool table, ect,)

My neighbor... Chuck.



 This is chuck.  He lives by my garage door.  I finally had my camera with my and was able to get this shot of him saying "What up Neighbor?  Do you think you can tell your kids to keep it down?"  Well he didn't really say that but I know he was thinking it.  Don't be jealous of my photography skills... no really... I got lucky.  :)

Cause ya gotta have friends... and couches



We got this couch on sale at Ashley Furnitures Outlet Center for $280!  :)  I was so happy.  I have always wanted a cream couch but with the boys I couldn't bring myself to pay full price. 

Dylan modeling our new couch cushions.  While our friend Sarah babysits



The boys bringin' in the couch.  Taylor and Tony... the moving men.

Playroom to Living Room makeover continues!

Just a little sneak peak on what is going on in the Old Playroom.  :)  It's coming together.  Taylor is still annoyed that his TV isn't purchased or mounted on the wall but we are getting there. :)

12 bucks at Ross

Target prints.  (my husband likes to help decorate... I will make them work.) :D

curtains!

This is hard work... taking a nap on the floor with Dylan

The Target lamps that almost cost me my marriage.

That's what I'm talkin' bout!



Burlap lamp shades for 3.74?!  I will take 2!



Here is a reminder of what the room used to be! 

Target Medallion rug we scored for 50 bucks!  It was one of the first things purchased when we decided to redo the room.

Alligator table. 50 dolla make you holla

Okay so I will have to find a better photo but this was a Craigslist find for $50 bucks.  The top was covered in alligator vinyl.  I heart it.

Crazy things are happening on our first level!

Lots of redecorating!  And I guess you can say the craziness is gone since I went down there and got rid of a puzzle that was possessed.  It would randomly go off and say a letter of the alphabet.  Taylor is convinced that one night when he was locking up and turning off the lights that the puzzle told him "K is for KILL YOU!"  He was a little freaked out.  :)  Any way... Lets see if I can find some pictures of our progress. :)

PHAT=Pretty Hot And Temping. Not Fat... anymore.

   

Lovely and Large Days before I had my 3rd baby





After "going hippy" and eating well.  This is for you Alexis.  I know you wanted a before and after.  :)

So there you have it.  That was me weighing in at about 205 and then the photo below it is me at about 127.  On a good day it's 124 on a bad day... I don't weigh myself.  LOL  I have much more energy.  I can keep up with my kids easier.  I don't get stomach aches anymore and I don't have sinus problems since giving up dairy.  Yet I still have the same problem as before... nothing in my closet fits.  Only this time it's because everything is too big!  :)  I want to give a shout out to Nolan who said "Fine I will take a picture but only one.  I am hungry."

Here's to eating well... I haven't weighed this much since high school.  I exercise sometimes but it is seriously amazing what good food (and trying to keep up with 3 little boys) can do!

Bacon

Anyone ever watched your husband cook bacon without a shirt on.  It's quite funny.  Taylor keeps yelling "OWW!"  as the bacon pops and hot oil splashes onto his skin.  What. A. Dork.

I guess I have the day off. :(

Took me almost 2 hours to get ready for work today.  Shower, make sure Dylan has a good feeding and gathering my supplies.  Heading out the door 15 minutes early.  Can't find my keys. "Lincoln where are mommy's keys?" He laughs and says "I hab yoo keys mommy." "Lincoln did you take mommy's keys?" "Yep, I took yoo keys."  "Are you copying me or did you really hide them?"  "Ummm... I dunnoo Mommy."  I look all over the place.  Toy box, under the couch, upstairs, the garage, the shoe rack, the pantry... you name it.  I ransacked the house COPS style.  Finally after 25 minutes I give up.  It will take me 20 minutes to get to work.  My client will be there in 5.  My house smells like boy, dirty diaper and the sink is overflowing with dishes.  I want... no... I NEED to leave.  I need to get out of here.  Dylan is crying and chasing me around crawling as fast as he can while Lincoln chants "Find yoo keys Mom.  Find yooooo keys!"  I run past Nolan who is double checking the garage for me but he is playing with pool balls and I catch him.  "WHAT are you doing?!  Help me find my keys!"  "Oh" He says "I think I got a splinter. That is why I am not looking for them."  I yell upstairs to Taylor "WHY does this stuff happen when I NEED to leave!" and he tells me "Well maybe you should always put your keys in the same spot."  Does he really think I want to hear that right now?  HE knows that even if I taped them to the cieling our children would find a way to get them down and do something fun with them... like flush them down the toilet or some other creative game.  So I canceled my client.  She was so sweet.  She wrote me back saying that she understands, that she will reschedule and that she will pray that I find my keys and have a stressfree day.  <3  That made me feel so much better.  NOW WHERE ARE MY KEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????

Let there be light

I must finish off my blogging day by letting the world know that I spent a good portion of my night cleaning up poop out of my downstairs room.  If I did not hunt for lamps tonight I would have been cleaning it in the dark.  Again... everything happens for a reason and thank you Lincoln... please use the toilet and stop using your poo as paint.

The craziest things happen at Target.

Let me see if I can make a long story short.  (I don't know if I am capable of that)  Anyway... We go to Target (#1) and I fall in love with a lamp that is on sale.  Compared to the $50 lamps that I have been falling in love with this one has a perfect price tag.  Ringing in at about $8 bucks... I needed it.  The only problem was that there was only one of it's kind at this Target and I need 2.  Of course there was a similar one but it was square and I wanted the round one.  We put the round one in the cart and head for the checkout counter where Lincoln decides to start yelling

"I POOP IN MY PANTS!  MOM... I POOP IN MY PANTS!"

 and starts walking like he is bow legged.  Everyone is starting to stare. FML Seriously!?!  NOW???  Okay so I grab him and take him to the bathroom while Taylor checks out and I meet him at the car.  Time to go to Target (#2) because I am sure that they will have a match for my round lamp and I will be very happy to get 2 perfect lamps for my side tables that so badly need some decoration.  We get there... Target (#2) and realize that they do not have a round match to my perfect lamp but they do have a square one just like at the last Target we were at minutes before.  For the price... I say forget the round one that has no mate. I will buy the square one and go back to Target (#1) and buy the matching square one I decided wasn't good enough but it now makes the cut since it's my only option. We buy the square one. Only now I really, really want it's match.  I must go back to Target (#1) NOW before someone else gets it.  I must make my husband & tired, hungry and poopy pants children go back to Target (#1) and return the round lamp and purchase the square one so I will have a set of 2.  At this point I have in my possession 2 clearance Target lamps that do me no good because they are not the same.  As we pull into the parking lot (right next to where we were parked not 30 minutes before.  I search for my wallet (since I know Target will need my ID to make an exchange)  I can't find it.  I try to think about where I put it when I realize I never unloaded the cart.  My husband did.  I was dealing with Poop Pants Lincoln and I met him in the parking lot.  He was ready to go with the car running when I headed out to the parking lot.  My wallet is not in my purse and it is not in the car and then I look up... across the parking lot and tucked into a cart folded up into the part a baby would sit in... is my Volcom wallet.  My poor wallet was sitting all alone for about 45 minutes in a dark parking lot and I ended up finding it by accident...
me-"I think that is my wallet!"
"WHERE?" says Taylor impatiently. 
me-"RIGHT THERE!  Across the parking lot!  In that cart!"
 I run and grab it.  For the first time I am happy that Taylor was lazy and didn't return the cart to the "Put the carts back here or you won't go to heaven" section.  We exchange "Did that really just happen" glances.  I grab the round lamp to return and leave it at the customer service desk while I jog into the store to find the square lamp.  IT'S GONE.  I look all over.  I am starting to panic.  I call Taylor.
me- "DID YOU MOVE THE LAMP?"
Taylor- "Why would I... no... I didn't touch the stupid lamp.  I never even picked the thing up!" 
me-"YOU LIE!  YOU MOVED IT.  I Can't find it anywhere."
 and then I see my square lamp.  It is being held by a beautiful, big busted blonde in a dress and heels.  You have GOT to be kidding me.  I whisper into the phone "I see my lamp and there is a lady holding it."  I hang up without saying goodbye.  I follow her down an aisle.  I follow her down another aisle.  I am praying she decides that a square lamp that was 39.99 now marked down to $8 bucks is a rip off and that she sets it down somewhere... anywhere.  But I think she realizes I am following her.  So when she turns around to give me a "stop following me you crazy stalker look" I ask "Are you going to buy that?" and she holds up the lamp "This? Oh yes."  I have decided I hate this woman.  "Are you sure you want THAT lamp because I just drove from another Target for THAT lamp and I... " She interrupts me "Yes. I am going to buy it."  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Whatever... I walk away.  I should have grabbed it and ran but I didn't.  I walk up to the service desk and grab my stupid round lamp that has no match walk to the car and toss it in the back with the other stupid square lamp that has no match.  I tell my car full of annoyed boys.  "Put your seatbelts on.  WE ARE GOING TO ANOTHER TARGET."  My husband says "No way" and makes me take him home.  Fine.  I am however NOT giving up.  I drop the husband off at home and head to Target (#3) with all my kids in tow and guess what... They have the round lamp that I originally wanted.  So now I have 2 perfect round lamps and one square one.  All that I can hope is that the perfect, blond lady wanted a mate for her lamp and tough luck.  It's in my trunk.  :P

Here is what I learned from this... If I had gotten what I wanted at that second Target I would have lost my wallet.  I didn't get what I had hoped for and therefore I had to go back to where I had left it.  I was upset I had to go back but what a bummer if I had lost it.  I would have never realized that my husband had accidentally left it behind in the cart.  Also... If that lady hadn't "stolen" my lamp.  I never would have ended up at Target (#3) and found the lamps I wanted in the first place.  So it wasn't a fun trip and it took waaaaaaaaaaay longer than it should have but it all worked out.  Moral of this lame story?  There will always be obstacles large and small.  They come in the form of blonde lamp thieves, kids who crap their pants and lost wallets.  It all worked out.  I guess everything does happen for a reason.

What the in cable did you do Lincoln???

So after having 2 Verizon techs come to our house and tell us there was no possible way to run a cable from our 3rd level to our first level without making a mess of it.  We simply could not have cable TV dowstairs.  "There is no clean way to do it.  You needed to run the cable before the walls where done."  Well Thanks but that doesn't help me any.  So we went over a year without cable TV in our playroom.  Well here we are all this time later and Taylor and I decided there has GOT to be a way to run that dang cable into the bottom level.  SOOOO... We did a few days worth of measuring.  Then we prayed we didn't drill into anything important that would shock and kill us or flood the place.  We  drilled holes into the 3rd level floor and our 1st level closet cieling hoping that it was hollow space.  And it was... sorta.  From upstairs we had to blindly thread the cable into a hole that was about 15 inches under the floor to allow it to pass through and make it's way down into the closet.  Talk about threading a thread through a needle.  I had to get it just right for the cable to fit through that tiny slot and after about an hour Taylor screams "YOU DID IT!  YOU GOT IT THROUGH!"  woooo hooo!  I ran downstairs and he ran upstairs and "Yahhoooos", "We did it!" and high 5's were exchanged.  We did the "impossible".  It was late and we decided to clean up the mess later and turn in for the night.  The next morning Taylor goes to work and I am with Lincoln while Dylan naps.  I go to check in on Dylan and head back to the bedroom where Lincoln has decided to HELP me by pulling the entire 10 plus feet of perfectly run cable out of the floor.  I didn't even know what to say... so I started laughing.  "Ohhh Lincoln!  WHY?!  Why did you do that?  Mommy worked so hard on that" and he says with a big smile.  "Ohh, I hewping you Mommy!  Yook!  I got it!".  "Oh yes... you did get it.  Lets go downstairs and get a treat because you are such a good helper!"  I had to get away from the sight of that cable before I lost my mind.  Crazy Lincoln strikes again.

laundry

I decide today to tackle laundry mountain.  So while I am trying to fold and I realize that from where I am standing I can see Lincoln filling up a small cup in the bathroom.  Perfect.  I can see him.  So our water bill will be high that's okay because while he is doing that I can fold the 15 loads clean laundry that have been sitting so long they can probably be washed again.  I fold about 10 things at a time looking up to make sure he is still happily filling and dumping his little blue cup.  Fold, Fold, Fold ohh this is totally working!  Maybe if I go faster I can actually get this done!  So not as hard as I thought... then realize I hear water dripping.  I look up into the bathroom and see Lincoln SITTING in the sink that he has filled to the top and water is now pouring over the sides and onto the floor soaking the bathroom.  As I run to go shut the water off and get him out of the watering hole he has created for himself Dylan goes to chase after me... of course he bumps his little head on the egde of the metal bedframe and starts screaming.  Sooo... I am really wondering if I should really fold all of this laundry today because I am 2 seconds from bagging it all up and dumping it off at Goodwill.  All that I do know for sure is that I now have to wash the towels I used to soak up his mess and figure out how to dry the bathmats that are now soaked.  He is such a stinker!

Lavender

So as I am writing my last post about pillow fluff Lincoln got ahold of a bottle of Lavender essential oil and he dumped half of the bottle all over the house.  It smells like a flea collar in here.  I have never smelled lavender so strong that it smells overwhelmingly bad.  It is so strong that I am pretty sure I won't need any air freshener until 2012.  Good thing if he pees in anything else... it will just smell like Lavender.  I think I should stop blogging for the day or else he may burn the house down or something...

PEE!

Lincoln has decided to pee in everything he can.  Inside toy boxes.  Inside my rice cooker bowl and inside a plastic storage drawer.  And when you ask him "Lincoln, did you pee inside this container?"  He will say in the cutest voice you have ever heard "Ohhh Mom!  Yook!  Dis hah pee pee inside dat!"  WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO DO WITH THIS CHILD!?

sh!tastrophy.

So I am trying to have some privacy in the bathroom when in walks Nolan AND Lincoln.  Nolan is telling me all about the coolest skater brands and Lincoln has somehow lost all of his clothing and he is dancing around naked in the bathroom entrance singing "Black and Yellow".  I finally raise my voice and tell them "GET OUT!  I am trying to go to the bathroom and I don't want you guys in here!"  So of course... Nolan says "Fine." and purposely shuts off the light and slams the door.  Here I am sitting on the toilet in the dark and it is the most relaxing 10 seconds I have had in a long time.  That is until Taylor runs upstairs "Where is Mom?!"  Nolan tells him I am in the bathroom and he bursts the door open.  He too is naked and covered in green slime.  "I went to tackle Dylan and his diaper leaked all over me!  I need your help!"  I don't know where his clothes are... I don't know where the baby is... all I know is that despite all the shit that goes down around here there is NEVER a dull moment.  Or even a clean one.  (sighhh)

no me gusta futball americano

Sort of afraid today is going to pass without anything productive happening.  :)  Football is on.  That means Taylor will sit in his pajamas all day watching the computer and the TV at the same time making sure his Fantasy Football team is winning.  Ughhh.

Taylor and Nolan like to argue

Taylor "Put the trashcan liner in the trashcan NOW!"
Nolan "Geez dad you don't have to be so grumpy."
Taylor "DO IT!"
Nolan "You are just in a bad mood cause you spent 38 dollars on a guy that is horrible and can't pitch.  Now you fantasy baseball team STINKS!"
Taylor "IT WAS 31 dollars!"

Today's quote!

If something is really important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will just find an excuse.

Sad day... but HAPPY!

I just sold a bunch of stuff from the boys JUNGLE ROOM.  SAD DAY!  BUT... I made enough to buy some hungry little caterpillar sheets from pottery barn!  Wooo hooo!

Alligator coffee table



new coffee table catching a ride to its new home!

Pretty much the coolest table ever and now it belongs to me!  It was a DIY job by another family that has to move into a 2 bedroom apartment and couldn't take it along.  It's a very sturdy wood table originally from Wick's and when the table top needed to be refinished they decided to put faux alligator vinyl held stretched over the top and held down with upholstery nails.  There are 2 very large drawers for storage on each side.  Perfect for holding toys, blankets or whatever out of sight!  I LOVE furniture that has more than one use!  Storage is so important with all the toys and stuff we have around here!  So again... Craigslist- I love you.  I would NEVER have had the money to furnish our downstairs if it wasn't for you.  By the time I am done... I will have decorated the entire room for the cost of a full price couch.  Ohhh besides the TV.  Ughh I don't even want to count that into the cost of the room but we did find a floor model on MASSIVE clearance and it looks like we will be running all of our cables ourselves.  :)  Hopefully I can get some items sold on Craigslist so I can make a bit of money to buy lamps!  :)

WINDOWS!

patching up holes and touch up paint!

Fixing the window that was FULL of cat claw marks

ironing out the kinks in the new curtains!

Stupid things are too short the blue is overwhelming!  :(  This is when I taped up one side and decided to try my hand at sewing... which I suck at)

And so... The before and after of the windows soon to come!

Some fun little clues as to what is happening in the old playroom soon to be TV/living room/playroom

Couch pillows!  We got the sofa for $280 at Ashley's Furniture Warehouse

Open Item Target rug 5x8 that we got for $50 bucks!

this is the actual craigslist photo of our new side tables. Asking $95 but we got the pair for $60!

LOVE TJ Maxx!  We got 4 blackout curtains for $60

I do believe Target jacked West Elm's style with this curtain rod!  We got it full price (which I hate doing but had to have it) for $30.00

So there you have it!  A little sneak peek at what is happening at the George Casa!

Boys have a penis... girls have a...

 Last night before bed.  My son (who is 2) and I went to go "potty".  "Mommy will go potty and then you will go potty...."  So I sit down to go and right before I am finishing up he is saying "YA! Mommy you pee in toy-yet! Mommy now I..."  He stops mid sentence with the most serious, shocked look on his face.  He crouches down with his hands on his knees trying to peek at my who-ha while I am quickly trying to wipe and pull my pants up (tmi sorry).  In a very concerned voice he says "Ohhh Mommy whe is you pee pee?  Mom iss gone?  Mom is you pee pee gone? MOM?!"  I could not stop laughing.  This kid thinks I lost my penis.  My house is a pretty naked house we don't make it a big deal my kids have seen me in the shower and I openly nurse the baby but I am the only girl in the house and I guess he just never noticed that I am the only one without a weiner.  LOL  I love this kid.  He is the funniest little person.

Bu-bye play. :(

all primered and ready for paint

I always get a little sad when I cover up something I hand painted but I will get over it.  I never finished this "PLAY" anyway.  Sorta happy to see it go!  Lincoln decided it would be fun to put his hands in the primer and make white handprints all over the wall.  Note to self... paint during naptime. :)

The curtain dilemma

The window in question

So here we have the window that needs some attention.  I was thinking I would get resourceful and resuse some old curtains but I decided that they all suck and we need new ones.  The only way to do this would be to sell all the old ones on Craigslist so I can justify the cost of brand new ones.  

Trying every pair of curtains I own

 Out with the old

I want these!

In with the NEW!  I am digging these blue panels.  The room so far is pretty plain.  Lots of cream and tan.  It's in need of some color.  And I found these curtains at TJ Maxx.  Target has one panel for about the same price you can get TWO panels at TJ Maxx.  I think I might just have to load up the boys and go purchase them.  I am finding lately I am shopping and coming home with nothing but ideas.  It really has made me realize that the things I want are worth going back for!  Also I have been doing all my home decorating shopping with my camera in hand so I can come home and look through it.  It's amazing how some things that LOOKED like a great idea wouldn't actually work if I would have purchased it.

Living room make over RUG or um... wrestling mat

Target Medallion Rug

Here is our new rug!  Retails for about 200.00 bucks at Target.  The rugs near by where marked down to 69.99.  BUT... this one had no tags at all,, just held together by a few pieces of clear plastic wrap and a little dirty on the bottom (nothing that couldn't be cleaned with little effort).  Taylor called a manager over and she gave it to us for 50 BUCKS! I couldn't have purchased it fast enough!  I LOVE this rug.  Love the pattern, the super thick cozy feel and THE PRICE!  For the first few days the rug has been used as a gymnastic/wresting mat.  I keep peeking into the room just to see this rug and do a happy dance when I think of the GREAT deal we got.  :) 

Callapillahs!

From Pottery Barn Kids

Currently I am obsessed with Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the babies room.  It's SO CUTE!  I love how I can make art just by cutting apart a book and what could be better to fit our lifestyle currently then pieces of CUTE FRUIT!?  Although the greedy little caterpillar does eat through a bunch of junk but he gets a stomach ache from it anyway.  I love the idea.  I just don't love the price.  I have GOT to figure out a way to do something like this on a budget.  I can't even look at it.  Just makes me want to order fabric and learn to sew.  Maybe order a piece at a time?!  I want it all... I want it now!

Bye Bye PLAYROOM!!!!!!!

What do you do when all your kids are healthy and you are bored and have a little spending money!?  DIY Decor of course!  Why not redo a room!  My husband has been against the "playroom" since the second I started decorating it.  He wants a TV and I don't want any.  Well acually.  He wants TWO Tv's.  So I figure what the heck... You want ANOTHER TV room fine but I get to decorate it.  :)

playroom before

playroom before

So begins the fun that I was TRYING to do before my kids got sick and that took over my life.  Now that I have finally gotten them well it's time to start getting this place back in order!  I am sure it will be  A TON of DIY projects and Eco friendly (if I get my way) 


OPERATION TURN PLAYROOM INTO A LIVING ROOM starts... NOW!