Starting Again

I feel like there is a lot of times where my attention span is on a permanent vacation.  I have to admit that I was totally sucked in to Pinterest so that my blog writing and hopping have totally taken a stand still.  Why is it so hard to commit?  Probably because I have so much going on.  I am in the process of trying to sort out priorities. 
It's kind of like my pantry.  I clean it up.  It looks awesome and I stay on top of it.  Then, I get complacent or lazy.  And then my pantry explodes.  Then I have to pick up the pieces and when it finally gets to the point where I may slightly fear for my life, I clean it up again.  So, here I am, trying to reorganize my life.  Again.
I know that it is not something that I will wake up one day and have down pat.  I will constantly be changing and rearranging how I do things.  That is something that I am finally okay with.  Took me a while, but some times I am slow.  So, I am going to try and get myself on this a lot more often.  At least that way, someone will know I am alive.

I love Quotes and the great reminders they invoke.  Sometimes I find myself so engrossed in the problems of my life and the sad/distressing things of the world, that I forget the important things.  It's not hard to get caught up the sad things, the conspiracies and the things we can't explain or control.  Magazines that tell us how to look/act.  Hollywood that can't hold on to anything.  Entertainment industries that live on the moment.  I know, I'm having a moment. 
I also love this picture because I have a friend with a little guy in a wheelchair.  But, I also have a girl and 3 boys that will need this reminder a lot, I'm afraid.  But, on a more positive note, please check out this video.
It's a quick way to help out Evan and Kira get a hold of Josh Groban and his help with SMA awareness.  Not sure what I'm talking about?  Didn't click the word video?  Click here.

Renovations... of the Cleaning/Furniture Kind

I know that this is an ongoing project for most people, but I've actually managed to make a little bit of headway.  We finally had a little bit of extra money come (bonus style) and I took a portion and put it towards making the house work just a little bit better.  We have at least another year or two here and it's the perfect time to not only sort through my stuff, but to get furniture for the next house. Can't do that as easily when the house costs more then next time around, right?  I wandered over to Ikea, which I know isn't high end, but a budget is a budget.  And really, I think their stuff can look pretty nice.  And a big thanks to my friend Amy who sacrificed her time and willingness to help me paint walls and build furniture while Clark was out of town.  Here's the pieces up and running... what do you think?

I found these on Clearance!!  Hooray!  That never really happens to me.  Any way, I have been looking for this style of "wardrobe" for a while now.  I didn't need more hanging space, just wanted something upright.  So, one for me, one for the hubby.  I think what I am going to do though, it change out  the white background for a gray brick vinyl.  That is, if I can find it.  Just to give it a more urban feel.



Now, look past the current mess.  Just added the two shelves on each ends, so now I need to clean up the current shelves.  That will be a day in and of itself.



Now, I know the instructions say otherwise, but I put this together myself with some little hands helping here and there.  Our dressers went out of my room and one per kid room, which you can see just on the left.  Amy and I also managed to piece together the bunk bed I dismantled and spray painted.





I saw on a blog how to add some luxury to your bed with function in mind.  How's the for a pretty way of saying, the hubby thinks decorative pillows are silly?  I bought the fabric and king size pillows a while ago and my mom volunteered to build the pillow cases for me.  I didn't say no....  Aren't they pretty?  I think I'm pulling a color from them to  paint the walls.  How simply decorative of me!


And since I love random things, here are 2 pictures.  First one, the boys tied themselves to the chair.  Not me.  Promise.  The one on the right has a thing for string/rope/yarn/dental floss and does this sort of thing every time he gets his hands on them.  Usually I have to clean it up with scissors.





And, the fun part about being on the older end of cousins.... babies!  Whenever I think the kids would like another sibling, I smile cause I know we can visit a cousin for them to hold/mother/fuss over.

Did any one else participate in the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon?  Normally I wouldn't have even know/given a second thought to something like this, but when a friend gave us our elf, I knew that I had to try and make an effort with him.  Thank goodness for a little bit of creativity and a healthy access to Pinterest.

Our first task was to name him.  That proved to be a fatal error on my part.  So, our elf very nicely told us his name after the first night.  So, this is Charlie and it was very fun to have him in our house.  Charlie was a pretty tame elf compared to some of the others that I saw, but I'm sure he'll pull some pranks next year.



When Charlie had managed to get used to the house, and its surroundings, he did manage to find a dragon, a sword and what is missing is actually the dragon book he was reading when the kids found him the next day.




Charlie was kind enough to help me decorate the tree, leaving enough for the kids to do, of course. He was also smart enough to make sure all of my nice decorations were the ones he put up.  He's very considerate that way.






Charlie took a try at being a lion tamer.  They all responded very well, don't you think?

Charlie's last night (which actually made Caleb extremly sad and mopy for a good part of the day.  He took a lot of pictures of Charlie so he could remember him.  It was really cute.)  Charlie decided to have a snow ball fight - with cotton balls.  He even recruited some toys to fight for him....

... and against him.  If you look closely enough, some of them have actually been knocked down by the 'snowballs.'

We put the kids in one room so that Charlie wasn't playing favorite.  He also managed to paint their noses red, just like Rudolph.

Christmas 2011

I have been a bit awol this last month.  Sorry about that, things have been crazy around our house.  Nothing really major, just a lot going on.  I have been in the kid's classroom a lot, helping out there and working a little bit more then I thought I would have been.

I hope that this finds you happy, healthy and ready to go into 2012!  Our computer promptly died, just as I was going to sit down and get the above card made and ready to print.  It took us about 2 weeks to get a new one, thereby making it impossible to get myself organized enough to get it printed.  So may you all have a Merry Christmas, and Exciting New Year and an Amazing  2012.  I am looking forward to a new year, starting up somethings that have fallen by the wayside and working on new things as well.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Last night was the premier of Breaking Dawn.  So a few of us (13) got together to go and see it.  We were able to secure tickets to the "midnight" showing at 10:30 last night.  But, any good opening deserves a good party.  So, the lovely Janae very happily hosted a Pre-Movie party for everyone who was able to come.  It was really well done, lots of black, white and red.  I have to say, she went all out and did an amazing job.  After the party it was off to the movie.  Of course, we had to have our moment with the 3-D movie "poster".  Lots of girls sporting something twilightish, I wore my fangs and eyes and all in all we had a great time.  Thanks to Kira and Janae for an awesome evening, can we do this again, say in 8 months?

This is me all Vamp-ed up!










Blushing Bellas... very yummy and red!

The books, the actors... a reason to show up

Love this display of veggies by Dorienne.  Veggie dish in honor of the "vegetarian" vampires.

 Mushroom Ravioli.  For the uninitiated, this was the first meal Bella had with Edward on their I-Just-Saved-You-And-Would-Like-To-Spend-More-Time-With-You date.

 Kiss-ey picture and lovely gifts decorating the room.










Jacob had to be at the party as well.  Kira even made some "Puppy Chow" in his honor and to recognize the team Jacob crew.










Love the dolls and that Janae borrowed them from some family members.









Why are you covered in feathers Erin?  Looking hot, as usual.

 Amy went a little more subtle on the twilight representation.  I'll let you figure it out.  (She had to tell me, but it's awesome).

Bree's fascinator for Kira.  Loooove it!

Who just eats normal cupcakes at a party?  Ours bleed when you bite into them.  Awesome job, as always Erin.  Love Pintrest!



 Kim, you're awesome!  And Edward's shiny!  I'd kiss him too.

 This is the only picture I had with Janae.  Her shirt says Edward's bride.  Loved the whole get-up

Managed to get a smile out of Andrea, who is one of the team Jacob crowd.  Thanks for representing the other side of the coin!









So glad that Simone was able to get work sorted out so she could come!  It's so fun to see you!  And I'd consider biting you....

I wasn't sure how much sugar Erin was on, but she was craaaazy.  In a good way.  This is why you go to the movie with fanatics.  Their energy and excitement is contagious.  You can't help but be excited WITH them.

Oh Amy, so sultry.  Steve's a lucky guy.

 I'll kiss you Edward.

Craaazy.











Seriously, besides the heckling guy that decided to join a theatre mostly packed with women on opening night, the movie was awesome.  It was also awesome when Janea yelled back to him, "Go home!"  He was an idiot, trying to ruin the nice wedding scene at the beginning.  I feared if the heckling continued, he may not have made it out alive.  Justin Bieber may have purple ninjas, but the Twi-Hards have vampires and werewolves.... yeah. 
Now I have Kira trying to get me to read the Hunger Games before the movie comes out.  I may try again just to get it over with, cause I know that she isn't going to give up on me in that regard.  Thanks again ladies and to my dear hubby who was willing to let me go out several nights this week in preparation of last night!

Ozzie comes to our House

Kyrie was able to bring home the class mascot, Ozzie the Dragon for the weekend.  Ozzie is supposed to do some activities with your family for the weekend, take pictures and then record what we did.  At first I was worried that we really didn't have anything fun to do with Ozzie, it was a pretty tame weekend.  But we made it work.  And on a side note, I love Instagram.  It's an app from the iTunes store with all sorts of great filters.  I'm hooked. 
Anyway, here is our little "write up" that Kyrie shared with the class.