Last night Kembia came into the bedroom with donut all over her face. I got halfway down the hall to get a washcloth when I realized that I was dreaming. Good grief. Talk about tired. So I used it as an excuse to go and cover up Truitt who was sleeping in the living room since we are trying to get Moyz to stay in his bed at night. He usually comes out at least twice, comes over to my side of the bed and stares at me. If anyone has any tips that would be so awesome I would love you forever. He has done it every night since he could walk, so it will be one year this coming November where we get up multiple times a night.
Still need a little bit more time on the projects I have going around the house. Yesterday I spent around 3 hours lovingly fixing up a lamp that I have and then when it was all finished, it didn't work. Should have checked that first. I was not a happy camper. Hopefully I will get the slipcover finished this weekend and then get the how-to posted for you next Tuesday probably with the holiday.
Enjoy your labor day!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Too Tired to Clean
The last week has been exhausting for me. Hubby repeatedly asks if I am okay and if I need to go and talk to someone. Not a good sign.
And then yesterday, two men from the local energy company show up at my door to tell me that our gas meter has to be changed out. They do it once every 20 years. I happened to be asleep on the couch with Owen when they knocked. What are the odds that someone would show up at the door and need to work on our house on the one day in the last 4 months I get to nap? At least they didn't hit the doorbell and wake the other kids up.
So then I tried to go back to sleep, but I had to pee and I had to forget about napping anymore. And then 5 minutes later they knock again. This time they have to come in the house to restart the pilot light in our water heater. I think I almost panicked. I was in a white t-shirt, no bra and blue bermuda shorts. My house was seriously the worst it has ever been in probably months. There are toys spread all over the floor, and an empty beer can on one of the coffee tables in the living room. I have three babies in diapers and a kid passed out on the living room couch. You couldn't see the kitchen counters because they were filled with all sorts of crap, the table was covered in filth, and the floor had huge marks all over it from dirty kids with bare feet. Plus there was some smell coming from the sink area that I hadn't been able to identify or find yet.
And bonus, he actually had to go downstairs to the hoarder basement as well. Now I was feeling a little bit better because I had worked on cleaning it but then I remembered that there was dirty underwear and dishrags that I had just tossed down the steps that I was going to "deal with later" and no lying, about 12 loads of laundry piled up right next to where he needed to go.
I seriously called Chris the instant they left and explained the entire scenario. To which he responded that I will probably never see them again and not to think about it. Meanwhile, I am praying with all my might that they don't call social services to come out and check on us.
WARNING! Swearing in the below picture. But I had to post it because sometimes I feel like this is my life.
And then yesterday, two men from the local energy company show up at my door to tell me that our gas meter has to be changed out. They do it once every 20 years. I happened to be asleep on the couch with Owen when they knocked. What are the odds that someone would show up at the door and need to work on our house on the one day in the last 4 months I get to nap? At least they didn't hit the doorbell and wake the other kids up.
So then I tried to go back to sleep, but I had to pee and I had to forget about napping anymore. And then 5 minutes later they knock again. This time they have to come in the house to restart the pilot light in our water heater. I think I almost panicked. I was in a white t-shirt, no bra and blue bermuda shorts. My house was seriously the worst it has ever been in probably months. There are toys spread all over the floor, and an empty beer can on one of the coffee tables in the living room. I have three babies in diapers and a kid passed out on the living room couch. You couldn't see the kitchen counters because they were filled with all sorts of crap, the table was covered in filth, and the floor had huge marks all over it from dirty kids with bare feet. Plus there was some smell coming from the sink area that I hadn't been able to identify or find yet.
And bonus, he actually had to go downstairs to the hoarder basement as well. Now I was feeling a little bit better because I had worked on cleaning it but then I remembered that there was dirty underwear and dishrags that I had just tossed down the steps that I was going to "deal with later" and no lying, about 12 loads of laundry piled up right next to where he needed to go.
I seriously called Chris the instant they left and explained the entire scenario. To which he responded that I will probably never see them again and not to think about it. Meanwhile, I am praying with all my might that they don't call social services to come out and check on us.
WARNING! Swearing in the below picture. But I had to post it because sometimes I feel like this is my life.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Turn Me On Tuesday
This weeks list is kind of a bizarre mish-mash of stuff that isn't connected at all. Sounds like it sums up my life!
1. Generic Zyrtec
Okay, this may not be a "turn me on" type item, but without this item I would be a major pain in the neck person due to severe fall allergies that I have had only the second time in my life. To everyone. Think of the most famous person you would ever want to meet and then imagine telling that person to go jump off a roof. That's how miserable I would feel without this. Also, I don't have an image for the generic version, just ask your pharmacist and he'll hook you up. He will also take all your info. and enter it into the database to try and prevent over-buying so you can't make illegal drugs. I seriously didn't know they did this.
2. Clinical Strength Deodorant
Also another non-glamorous item for Tuesday, but I love this stuff. I sweat. A lot. Like a pig. And usually (TMI warning) I don't shave my armpits. I like to pretend I am French. I swear to you that by not shaving I sweat a lot less. But it grosses my hubby out in the summer because I wear a lot of tank tops. Plus then I feel bad about all the other people who have to see my 2 inch length armpit hair. So in the summer I shave on a sort of regular basis. And regular deodorants don't cut it. But this one does. Just make sure to put it on before you sweat even one tiny iota or it won't work. It also suggests putting it on at night, which I have never done, but would probably help even more. It's expensive, about $8 and you get much less than a regular deodorant, but it's probably worth it.
3. Crayola Watercolor Pencils
I saw these like 6 months ago on a blog. Crayola had sent them to the lady to play with and rank how it went and I became immediately infatuated with them. But then couldn't find them in stores. Then last week I got the last school item I needed and there they were. I have only had a little bit of time to play with them but it is so much fun. Draw your item and then get it wet and it makes it look like a watercolor painting. I have no idea how it works but oh my goodness am I going to have fun with this. $3 for 12 pencils. Don't know the price for the above 24
4. Rachel Ray September issue magazine
My Rachel Ray magazine has been expired for a long time, but then the fam and I were in Mills Fleet Farm and I was getting bored so I bought this magazine and some chocolate covered peanuts and Truitt and I headed back to the car while the rest finished their shopping. Normally I don't buy magazines individually because it is so much cheaper to just get the subscription, but this one is devoted to Italian food- my absolute favorite. Plus it had a cheap subscription rate in it so I am going to renew now as well. I think I want to make just about every recipe in the September 2012 issue.
5. Justin Bieber's "As long as you love me"
Okay, I am hanging my head in shame here. I admit to loving a Justin Bieber song. The crush for all girls 15 and under. But I l.o.v.e. this song. So much so that I made Chris listen to it and then I told him it was our theme song. Pathetic I know. But the lyrics, oh the lyrics. Example:
But the grass ain't always greener on the other side,
It's green where you water it
So I know we got issues baby true true true
But I'd rather work on this with you
Than to go ahead and start with someone new
Okay, I absolutely love that line "It's green where you water it", doesn't that sum up marriage so well? Marriage is hard people, and sometimes it sucks, and sometimes you don't water it and it turns yellow and starts to die, but then, amazingly, just a little bit of water and it greens back up. Just like marriages. Or at least just like my marriage. It's amazing what a little bit of effort can do.
5. Justin Bieber's "As long as you love me"
But the grass ain't always greener on the other side,
It's green where you water it
So I know we got issues baby true true true
But I'd rather work on this with you
Than to go ahead and start with someone new
Okay, I absolutely love that line "It's green where you water it", doesn't that sum up marriage so well? Marriage is hard people, and sometimes it sucks, and sometimes you don't water it and it turns yellow and starts to die, but then, amazingly, just a little bit of water and it greens back up. Just like marriages. Or at least just like my marriage. It's amazing what a little bit of effort can do.
Here is a link to the song: As Long As You Love Me And if you are ever listening to Justin Bieber songs on youtube I suggest you just listen to one that is lyrics only and not his music videos which are lame, and not all that kid appropriate, at least not for my kids.
That's it for this week. (Again with blogger crazily whiting stuff I write, I swear I don't know how this happens, it's not like I wanted to extra highlight my pathetic love of this song!)
Monday, August 27, 2012
Weekend Wrap Up
So today isn't going to happen as far as posting my living room. We had a crazy, busy weekend and I just got the second coat of paint on my dressers yesterday so I have to put the polyacrylic on today and then wait a day or two, so I am hoping for Wednesday or Thursday to have everything in place.
Not only did we have a crazy weekend but I developed a raging case of fall allergies for only the second time ever in my life. I literally want to claw my eyes off my face. I have been taking generic Claritin, but even that doesn't take away everything. I have been watching Moyz closely because the derm. told me that with eczema kids often have allergies and asthma, but I haven't seen any signs of that at all. Hopefully it continues that way.
And then there was the dentist appointments this weekend. We drive 40 miles to see the dentist because it's where Chris works and they do Saturday appts. for kids which is a huge bonus for us because I am not taking 5 kids to the dentist by myself. I know I have blogged about how my kids may not be the best toothbrushers ever, but they came back from the dentist with glowing reports. Which is great, but I was sort of hoping they would tell my kids that they need to brush more often, but now my kids are going to be all like "the dentist says I have some of the best brush teethed ever".
And while they were there, Kembia and I "quick" ran to a meet and greet that an animal shelter was doing and I fell in love with a half American Bulldog, half Boxer puppy named, of all things, Barney. Chris still is not completely on board and is trying to very mechanical engineer of him, make a list of the positives vs. the negatives of dog ownership. As of last night he is "not sure the benefits outweigh the negatives". Poop.
Plus Kembia learned the word "stupid" this weekend after hearing her big brother Owen saying it. We discourage the word stupid mostly because I hate to hear kids say that they are stupid, but Owen used it like "that is so stupid" and then Kembia repeated it again and again. But we put the kabosh on that really quick. However, we do allow our kids to say the world suck (I know, I think I can hear some of you guys going what? you allow them to say suck but not stupid?) Mostly we let them do it because Chris and I use it a fair amount, and how can we use it and then not let them? Although I have been trying to use it less because when I say it less so do they. And just so I am clear on how it is used, I use it when something goes bad. Like "that really sucks, the dishwasher just overflowed and now I have to clean it up."
Okay, that's the Nelson weekend wrap up. Hope yours was more exciting than mine.
Not only did we have a crazy weekend but I developed a raging case of fall allergies for only the second time ever in my life. I literally want to claw my eyes off my face. I have been taking generic Claritin, but even that doesn't take away everything. I have been watching Moyz closely because the derm. told me that with eczema kids often have allergies and asthma, but I haven't seen any signs of that at all. Hopefully it continues that way.
And then there was the dentist appointments this weekend. We drive 40 miles to see the dentist because it's where Chris works and they do Saturday appts. for kids which is a huge bonus for us because I am not taking 5 kids to the dentist by myself. I know I have blogged about how my kids may not be the best toothbrushers ever, but they came back from the dentist with glowing reports. Which is great, but I was sort of hoping they would tell my kids that they need to brush more often, but now my kids are going to be all like "the dentist says I have some of the best brush teethed ever".
And while they were there, Kembia and I "quick" ran to a meet and greet that an animal shelter was doing and I fell in love with a half American Bulldog, half Boxer puppy named, of all things, Barney. Chris still is not completely on board and is trying to very mechanical engineer of him, make a list of the positives vs. the negatives of dog ownership. As of last night he is "not sure the benefits outweigh the negatives". Poop.
Plus Kembia learned the word "stupid" this weekend after hearing her big brother Owen saying it. We discourage the word stupid mostly because I hate to hear kids say that they are stupid, but Owen used it like "that is so stupid" and then Kembia repeated it again and again. But we put the kabosh on that really quick. However, we do allow our kids to say the world suck (I know, I think I can hear some of you guys going what? you allow them to say suck but not stupid?) Mostly we let them do it because Chris and I use it a fair amount, and how can we use it and then not let them? Although I have been trying to use it less because when I say it less so do they. And just so I am clear on how it is used, I use it when something goes bad. Like "that really sucks, the dishwasher just overflowed and now I have to clean it up."
Okay, that's the Nelson weekend wrap up. Hope yours was more exciting than mine.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Working On The Living Room
Did you know that if you hit an acrylic nail with a hammer it will break? And I just got them filled, there's $18 down the drain.
So I decided to make some living room changes. For the longest time, like the first 9 years of our marriage we had my parents old couch that they graciously gave to us. And then we had some friends who were getting new ones and offered us their old ones. Both of which happened to be pull-out beds. Major score. Seeing as we don't have a guest bedroom and we knew we were going from 2 to 5 kids pretty much overnight, we snapped those babies up. And they look like this:
So I decided to make some living room changes. For the longest time, like the first 9 years of our marriage we had my parents old couch that they graciously gave to us. And then we had some friends who were getting new ones and offered us their old ones. Both of which happened to be pull-out beds. Major score. Seeing as we don't have a guest bedroom and we knew we were going from 2 to 5 kids pretty much overnight, we snapped those babies up. And they look like this:
It's kind of hard to tell with the lighting but they are an ugly forest green. Not a problem. I can cover them up with a slipcover, which I did. And by the way, they are not cheap. I found a stretchy two piece for both the loveseat above and the couch.
But now some time has passed and all of our new children have left their "mark" (read nasty diaper stains) on the slipcover and it was never really the color I wanted, so I decided to make my own. And at the same time decided to make some changes.
Here is a picture of the couch area with the new slipcover I made as it is currently:
Not terrible, but the pillars with the breakable vases are a major issue in our house right now, Truitt has almost pulled them over several times. I am surprised that didn't happen with Kembia and Moyz. I originally put them up because I needed to fill the space on the sides of the couch and I had them from our wedding and thought I may as well do something with them, plus it was a free change to the house. But now they must go because they are a safety hazard and I am just tired of looking at them. And I will have a slipcover tutorial for the loveseat once I get it done, I was just too impatient to do it with the sofa.
Here is a sneak peek at what is happening, and keep in mind that it's not finished, and will involve an IKEA rast hack. Which was probably the easiest IKEA piece I have ever put together, and that is saying a lot because they are notoriously a ginormous pain in the butt to put anything they make together.
Now that my kitchen is black, the living room was mostly brown as accents and the two just didn't flow right together. My house hasn't felt exactly cohesive, and even though I loved both sides separately, I need for them to fit as one because my house has been giving me anxiety ever since I re-did the kitchen. I know, I should probably just get over it, but I can't. There may be something to that whole fung shuei thing. (Totally don't know how to spell that!)
Hopefully Monday I will have finished pictures up of what it all looks like, although we have a super busy weekend coming up so no promises. And actually, it will only be pictures of the couch area because I don't even have the fabric for the loveseat yet, so I will have to wait to show the entire living room until I get that done.
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Looking For A Dog (Kind of, well one of us is...)
The kids have been begging, literally for as long as I can remember now, to get a dog. The fish got rid of them asking for awhile, but they realize that as a pet, fish kind of suck.
So, I decided to spend sometime with Petfinder. My suggestion to you is not to do this unless you want to see cute, helpless animals that need to find a home. They will call out your name and you will dream about them. Unless you are mean and the type of person who kicks puppies for sport.
I happen to like the type of dog that looks "mean". Rottweiler, Doberman, Pit Bull. I love the way they look. And it is so unfair the rap that they get because of stupid owners and what the dogs were used for 100 year ago. However, our homeowners insurance has stipulations against them, and any knowing mix, so sadly I cannot look at the dogs with that breed.
Chris is not on board with this. Sometimes I think I may be able to convince him and then it all just goes away. I thought I could help with that by not getting a puppy, but a younger dog who is already house trained and doesn't want to chew on everything in sight, but no go. We'll see. I am crossing my fingers and so are the kids who are near tears now that they have seen a bunch on petfinder but daddy is still saying no.
And then there is this:
So, I decided to spend sometime with Petfinder. My suggestion to you is not to do this unless you want to see cute, helpless animals that need to find a home. They will call out your name and you will dream about them. Unless you are mean and the type of person who kicks puppies for sport.
I happen to like the type of dog that looks "mean". Rottweiler, Doberman, Pit Bull. I love the way they look. And it is so unfair the rap that they get because of stupid owners and what the dogs were used for 100 year ago. However, our homeowners insurance has stipulations against them, and any knowing mix, so sadly I cannot look at the dogs with that breed.
Chris is not on board with this. Sometimes I think I may be able to convince him and then it all just goes away. I thought I could help with that by not getting a puppy, but a younger dog who is already house trained and doesn't want to chew on everything in sight, but no go. We'll see. I am crossing my fingers and so are the kids who are near tears now that they have seen a bunch on petfinder but daddy is still saying no.
And then there is this:
This cute little thing is a St. Bernard/ Chihuahua mix. For real. Could you even imagine? Actually, probably you shouldn't. The mom is a 180 pound St. Bernard and the dad a 3 pound Chihuahua. Chris' response when I told him about this was that the Chihuahua should feel very proud of himself. I seriously would not have thought this possible. However, this cutie isn't in the running because even with a teeny dad I have a feeling she is going to be humongous. And small house, 5 kids and humongous dog don't mix well.
By default though we would have to get a medium to large dog, otherwise I think Kembia and Moyz and Truitt might excessively pound on the poor thing and we need a dog who can take a litte rough housing.
I'll keep you updated if this goes anywhere.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Favorite Blogs
All right, since I've got nothing for a Turn Me On Tuesday, I thought I would share these fun blogs, and sorry, some of then are repeats but that just means they are worth reading!
1. House Tweaking Decorating blog by a hip young mom of 3, their last baby just born a surprise, while remodeling a new-old home.
2. Sawdust and Embryos Okay, so I know the name is a little strange, but they're a couple who have a fun blog for DIY, and had their twins through IVF.
2. Young House Love The "It" couple of DIY home stuff. Love them and they post twice a day!
3. Capitol Hill Style Fashion blog by woman who works on Capitol Hill, super snarky, I love it.
4. A Little Glass Box Lots of fun DIY projects, her son is adorable.
5. Michaela Noelle Designs Sweet, young designer with one year left of college.
6. Life in the Fun Lane Canadian decorating blog by a young mom.
7. Stuff Christians Like Hilarious stuff. Trust me, you will want to read it.
Hope you enjoy some of these, and if you know of any good ones that I should be checking out, please leave them in the comments!
PS- I think my kids are going stir crazy because Owen is playing "chrysallis", where he wraps himself up in a blanket and pretends that he is a butterfly coming out of his cocoon. I think school is going to be very good for him! Two weeks until school starts, I have officially started my countdown!
1. House Tweaking Decorating blog by a hip young mom of 3, their last baby just born a surprise, while remodeling a new-old home.
2. Sawdust and Embryos Okay, so I know the name is a little strange, but they're a couple who have a fun blog for DIY, and had their twins through IVF.
2. Young House Love The "It" couple of DIY home stuff. Love them and they post twice a day!
3. Capitol Hill Style Fashion blog by woman who works on Capitol Hill, super snarky, I love it.
4. A Little Glass Box Lots of fun DIY projects, her son is adorable.
5. Michaela Noelle Designs Sweet, young designer with one year left of college.
6. Life in the Fun Lane Canadian decorating blog by a young mom.
7. Stuff Christians Like Hilarious stuff. Trust me, you will want to read it.
Hope you enjoy some of these, and if you know of any good ones that I should be checking out, please leave them in the comments!
PS- I think my kids are going stir crazy because Owen is playing "chrysallis", where he wraps himself up in a blanket and pretends that he is a butterfly coming out of his cocoon. I think school is going to be very good for him! Two weeks until school starts, I have officially started my countdown!
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