No Fun

Today marks one month of having a cold and I am SO over it!  It has been bad off an on but since Saturday it has been nearly unbearable.  I can't breath and trying to accomplish anything is impossible due to no sleep during the night. 

The good news is that I am 37 weeks and the doctor says if I am progressing he will induce at 39 weeks!  I will find out what is going on down there on Thursday!  That is what I need to focus on...NOT that I want to be shot and put out of my misery.  Michael gave me a blessing last night so I hope that will help.

I can't believe I am going to have another little baby in our home in a couple weeks!!!!!

Bunnies and Basment, 4-H and More!

 We love visitors!  My grandparents came with Harley again for a weekend and we had lots of fun.  Swimming, playing at McDonald's, running around the house, and lots of dress up was the action for the weekend. 

 They even stayed and went to church with us!  It is always so fun having them come and visit for awhile.

 Here is our 1st 4-H project of the year.  We made some ceramic cups.  The boys enjoyed it and I think we will have to do it again from start to finish now that we know what to expect.

 Here are the cups they made before they are glazed. I was hoping to have an after shot but they are not finished yet...I think we messed up a step.  I want to take Mike back there and us do this together one weekend. 

 On to Valentines day,(I feel like I am all over with these posts but between having a head cold for almost a month now and having just a few more weeks left with this pregnancy I am totally scattered) I was not full of energy like I wanted so I just made a few little craft things that I stole from other amazing sites and put together these for the kids and Mike.  It was really fun putting them together and the coupon books is where it is at.  Mike got coupons ranging from dinner to massages.  And the boys got coupons to redeem to, when they are being good, such as ice cream, a trip to the dollar store...just things like that.

 I have not yet posted on our basement progress!!! So a little history on this is in order.  When we moved in the basement was partial...meaning we only had access to 900 square feet.  The other 1100 is dug out but you have to go through a little trap door and you can't stand up all the way, its filled with dirt, needless to say, that project will come way down the road.  For now we are finishing the 900 part.

 The first year we moved in we had it framed and most of the electric put in and that is where it as stalled ever since.  Well when I went away to Idaho for the weekend Mike and the kids got to work and got all the way up to this point done!! 

 It will give us another family playroom and a office, which if needed, can be converted into a room.  We have two really good sized storage's down there too.  As of today we are painting and hoping that it can be done before the baby comes.  I am just so excited I can't stand it. 

 On to the rabbits.  This is what Mike surprised me and the kids with on Valentines day.  Some women want jewelry or flowers, I want the simple pleasures in life like rabbits for their poop. 

Yes, people this is what I want from these cute little guys......their poop!   It fits right in with our preparedness goals.  If you want to have a sustainable garden you need to have a good fertilizer and you don't get better than this...(Okay maybe bat or worms but this seems easier). 

I feel so blessed to have so much going on but also a little stressed with all the balls I feel we have in the air.  We have to make a pig structure because we are getting pigs in three weeks but also we could be having a baby in three weeks, we need to start some seeds indoors, I need to get the baby's room ready, and I need to clean up my house!!!!Ahhhhhh.  at least I can say I am caught up with this right?! 

My Glorious Getaway

 So once again I packed up only my belongings and took off for my annual "mommy only" vacation at my mommy's house.  I was really excited for this one.  I was 32 weeks along at this point and dieing for a little relaxation time, a time out, a tiny little break from my wonderful family.

I planned only a couple things, and of course, my mom and I did a little project while I was there.  Besides that I read and relaxed,and did only what I was in the mood for.  It was INCREDIBLE! 


 Here is my beautiful mom hard at work,  helping me out with my project.  I must say she was on her best behavior...not once did I have to say "give me back my project"! 

 Here is the final result.  I made 6 place mats that had inspiring sayings on them with a few little hot pads with the left over material.  This was such a fun project!  Thank you mom. 

 Of course with all that hard work going on we had to goof off a little with the camera.  (Don't be mad mom that I posted these...you look great, even with your mean face closing in on me!  What were you thinking by the way?) 

 I had better not post any more!  Needless to say, we got a little weird.  But I LOVE it because we laugh so hard.  I love you mom. 

 I hate how I look in the last few months but here I am.  If I just wouldn't swell in the face I would be okay, but o-well it is totally worth transforming a bit to get a beautiful baby at the end.  Woot! Woot!

 I was able to spend a great evening with Shana.  Thank you Shana Jean....love ya!

Here is my adorable little nephew .   He stays the weekends with my parents so I was able to get a little hang out time with him while I was there.  Cute little stinker.  He usually doesn't care whether I am around or not but this time he kinda liked me...it was cute. 

I was also able to have breakfast with my Grandparents and Harlee while there.  It was such a great trip.  Made something with my mom, hung out with family, read a book, ate well...it was great. 

It was also great coming home!  As much as I look forward to leaving for a trip by myself when its time to come home I get so excited.  I was ready to hug Mike and the kids again and by the reception I received when I got home I think they missed me too. 

Michael surprised me with getting a lot done in the basement that week.  Not only was he able to keep the kids alive, he cleaned the house, worked in the basement and made dinner for me.  He truly is a superman to me. 

Inspired for 2012

 I always get so inspired and motivated with a new year.  I just want to attack all my bad habits and just become the person I want to be RIGHT then!  I know this is very unrealistic and the becoming is in the process, not the destination.  With that said, that is why I am approaching things differently this year.....Baby Steps is my new motto.. not burn out!!!

I am not going to throw myself into a thousand different things and hit burn out in three months.  I am going to eat an elephant (as the saying goes) one bite at a time.  My focus areas: routines- morning and evenings, not only mine but the kids too, organizing and beautifying, spirituality, time for me, and time for family fun.  And of course budgeting! 

For lack of time, I am only showing my small successes with the organizing part.  I can't express how gratifying it is to make something more functional.  My "zone" this week is the kitchen.  So I sat down and thought what gives me the biggest headache about kitchen stuff and it was my pots and pans mess.  I hate bending and digging and shoving and cussing. So I got online and looked at what options were out there and found this!

 These were from Home Depot and cost $20 each. I love them so far!  I don't have to dig around anymore and I feel so organized and I think it looks organized too!

My cabinets present some challenges.  First, they are super small and second there is a gas line that goes down the middle.   This shelving was cheap compared to what is offered online but I would rather start out cheap and see if this set up will work and then once they wear out get good ones instead of drop the cash and realize I don't like the system.

 By doing this small thing I freed up TWO drawers!  Instant gratification. 

 I felt so good I kept going and did this little drawer.  I got the idea off a site and really thought it was clever.  I have never grouped such items together before but to me makes perfect sense.

This horror is next in line.  I hope I can make some sense of these.  If nothing else knowing I posted these pictures online and need to show that I did remedy this dilemma will be just the motivation I need to finally tackle this pantry job!

Here are the books that I am consuming slowly.  I have already read "Sink Reflections" and can not say enough about this lady.  I am very inspired by her and she is the one that taught me about home zones!  I'm reading a few of the others now and am loving them! 

Thank goodness for smart, inspired, creative, wonderful and caring people who write and share so I can benefit and improve! 

2012 is going to be great!

Carson

 My handsome second born is now six years old!  Carson is really starting to phase into another stage.  He is acting way more independent and wants to do things himself and will get very vocal if you try and do other wise with him. 

His special birthday dinner that he requested was spaghetti's, green beans and applesauce with apple juice to drink.  I did not particularly care for this dinner but he seemed to enjoy it. 

 I really do think that this is the first birthday cake I have ever attempted to make and unfortunately it looks like it too.  He was so sweet because I was telling him I would do better next time and he said it was great and he loved it.....that's all that matters then, right? 

I can't help feeling a little guilty that he gets robbed a bit for his birthday celebration.  I am kinda burned out on the whole "celebrating" when his birthday roles around.  I think we will have to have a special party for him when the weather gets nicer. 

A few tidbits on Carson
Carson is into playing the x-box a little more now.  He is kind of a tough kid to shop for because he doesn't play too much with toys and the ones that he does say he wants don't keep his attention for long.  He loves to boss Morgan around and have her play his games the way he makes the rules.  Its funny how he has had to put up with Cole bossing him around for so long now that he can finally exercise that dominion over someone else now, (Morgan) he is taking full opportunity of it. 

He is super easy to have get ready for school.  His schedule is every day from 12 to 3:30 but on every other Wednesdays he goes from 8-1:30 and on the other Wednesdays he doesn't go at all.  Confusing...yes I know. He looks forward to going all day...I hope that sticks. 

His favorite color is blue, his favorite toy right now is his MP3 player, and his favorite cartoon is Cars 2.  What makes him the most mad is when Cole messes with him but he loves to play with Cole even though it always ends in fights.  The love/hate relationship of brothers.

Carson is a lot like his daddy.  He will only take so much picking on before he really looses it.  When the boys get to wrestling and Cole finally pushes him hard enough Carson will whip out his "fists of fury" we call them.  It is just as it sounds, he will come at you with all that he has and his little fists are going crazy....they may be little but don't get in the way!

This little boy can have some really good melt downs, which typically occur when asked to clean a really dirty room.  He is the type that will tell you he will do it and then not, but when asked he will say he has.  When caught he will smile and come up with some bizarre off the wall thing what happened. 

One of the many great things about Carson is how considerate he is.  He notices the small and compliments.  He is easy to read when he is pleased and his smile will light the whole room.  I love him more than I could ever say.  He brings so much light, love and great insight into my life.  I love my little carsonator! 

Family New Year's Eve Party

 I thought it would be fun to do snack foods for bringing in the New Year.  Lay them all out and we could just pick throughout the night.  I really should do this more often because I didn't hear one dinner complaint or "I'm still hungry", it was great!  A little meat, crackers, cheese, veggies, and fruit.  Topped off with a little homemade sheet cake. 

I try to do stuff we normally don't do to set special nights apart, so I suggested to eat in the living room on a blanket.  Not the best idea, but we persevered and attempted to talk to the kids about goals and why we make them. 

I think after Carson kept doing summer salts on the blanket and Morgan was flipping her hair into every one's dinner plate I kind of started loosing my patience.  Then add a heavy dose of Cole's stunts into the mix and I ended up with a full scale, mini, melt down. 

Carson had just got into trouble by dad, and I was threatening everyone within an inch of their life to leave their party hats on and just look at the camera.   (I had another picture that would really convey what was actually going on but I want to look back and remember the "happy" times.)


We all had a brief time out and came back together to eat some cake.  Cole had gone to his room to whip up this quick apology note, which won me over very quickly!

Carson soon recovered from his crying fit and was happy again.

And Morgan totally enjoyed the cake and then decided to jump onto the "I'm sorry bandwagon" too. 

It was a good night.  We made it through and it was still fun.  The kids made it to 11:30, but I was out by 11. 

Pampered

 This is what happened when Morgan went to go run errands with dad. 

 This little girl LOVES her nails done, loves to dress up, loves all the super girly stuff!  So I thought this was so special for Mike to go and spoil her like this.  She is a total daddy's girl and it made me almost want to cry when I saw that he had gone and done this for her..totally out of the blue.

Here is the finished product.  She was more than happy to show them off to everyone too!