Now I'm just bragging

Can I brag about my husband for a minute?  Ok, good.

He is good at many things.  He won't tell you that, but I will.  Without him I would be technologically illiterate instead of just mildly dumbfounded.  If he wasn't around I'd never know where my keys, phone, slippers, camera, sanity or children* are.  Not to mention his ability to make me smile even when I just. don't. want. to.

Before we married I knew he was handy.  He could rip down walls and ceilings (without my knowledge) and change furnace filters without searching for where it goes for 15 minutes first and he knew the difference between a reciprocating and circular saw.  (I do now too but I wouldn't if it wasn't for him.)

Our previous house was so small that we just didn't need a ton of furniture and what he and I had before we moved in together filled most of the house.  The one room, a family room in the basement, that we finished/redecorated we purchased inexpensive matching furniture for.

Now that we are in larger home and we intend to stay in for a much (if not indefinite) longer time we want to furnish rooms the way we want them instead of (what Kevin lovingly refers to our former style) dorm-room-shabby-chic.

The budget hasn't changed though.

In the last year, however, he has really impressed me with his woodworking. First there was the frame for our bed.

And now I give you, Madeline's book shelf.




Isn't it lovely?



Ooo, even better with her books on it, ey?




The bead board backing was my only contribution to this piece.  I thought it would add some interest in dimension.  I love the clean lines, the solid frame and he was able to build it so that even her tallest book, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans would fit without a fuss.



See it there on the bottom left?  A perfect fit.

It is solid as a rock.  Painted beautifuly AND it cost us less than half of what an almost identical book shelf at a upscale retailer would have charged.

So yeah.  I'm bragging.

__________
*Just kidding about that children part.

Madeline is 4, part 1

So over a month ago Madeline turned four. Yeah, I'm behind. Like very very very behind. Don't remind me.

So although I never intended it this way it seems we have a tradition of going to the zoo to celebrate Madeline's birthday! This is the third year in a row we've spend her birthday at the zoo with friends. (Read about her second and third birthdays by clicking on the links.)

We started the day on the carousel. I should have cropped these photos better than I did, but click on it to see her HUGE smile a little better.

And did you see Lydia's terrified expression? I'll wait while you go back to look.

Totally worth a second look huh? Comedy gold I tell ya!

And because I am posting this way after the fact but just a few days after father's day I wanted to post this photo because if that expression isn't the look of love I don't know what is.

Good God I love that man!

Back to the zoo....

As soon as I snapped this photo I remembered a similar photo I took almost three years earlier. This girl needs to stop growing up so fast. Stop it I tell ya!

Although Madeline loved the zoo animals there was one person who really made her day:

This is Scott, Kevin's best friend and Madeline's birthday buddy. He and his wife and brand new baby girl (eep!) just happen to be in town for Madeline's birthday (which also happens to be Scott's birthday). This might just be one of my favorite photos of Madeline ever. She and Scott have a very special bond and the love and admiration is mutual.

A huge thank you to Anna, Madeline and Cullen and Scott, Becky and Eliza for joining us in celebration of Madeline's 4th birthday! It was a great day and I am so glad she got to share part of it with you!

Sickapaloosa 2011

I started this blog what seems like ages ago and barely blogged. Then we had Madeline and I began my life as a stay at home mom. I blogged a lot. (Well a lot more than I did in the beginning.) Then Lydia was born and life kind of got in the way of me blogging. I try, but I just don't know where my time goes most days.

Back when I was a mother of one and a much more frequent blogger I used this space as a journal of our life. Our life as we know it. Right here. Right now. These days will fly by faster than I can remember them and I want to remember them. The good, the bad, the sick, the healthy, all of it.

I want to get back to that. I feel like I need to get back to that. I make no promises, other than the promise to my self to try to do a better job of recording our lives. Because some day I will want to remember this.

Even this,


We are all still sick. Monday will mark two full weeks of illness in our house and if the girls' colds last as long as mine and Kevin's we are in it for a while longer.

After my Tuesday Ten post Lydia's rash got worse and the next morning I took her into the doctor where they confirmed the rash was probably an allergic reaction the antibiotic she'd been taking since the previous Monday. She hadn't yet developed hives so the nurse practitioner suggested I continue giving her the medication.

I refused.

I am so glad that I did.

Later Wednesday and all day Thursday my baby was miserable because the "benign" rash turned into full out hives. What if I had continued the medicine? How much worse could it have gotten? Parenting is full of really hard choices and I am so very glad to have listened to my instincts and to have guidance from some really awesome friends (wink, wink) and an amazing husband to stand beside me.

As of yesterday I thought we were, again, on the mend. So, being awesome I sent the girlies to spend the night at my parents. Sorry Granny and Poppy. I hope you sleep better tonight! :)

When I collected them today, Lydia, who had been ok according to Granny and Poppy was a clingy, crying, miserable mess. See the above photo for proof. She stayed that way until bedtime.

Madeline, well it seems that this cold virus has finally caught up to my high spirited big girl. When I got to my parents Madeline was taking a nap. Yep, a nap. As in the first nap that girl has willingly taken since July 2009. And get this, she ASKED to go back to bed. HUGE RED FLAG that my home girl is S.I.C.K.

When we got home she had a low fever and spent most of the day sacked out or playing quietly. Totally, not herself. At bed time she had an even lower fever and was starting to get some of her normal spunk back, but she also didn't fight the bedtime routine at all (not normal) and fell asleep quickly.

So we will see how my squirrels are doing in the morning. Kevin is still hacking up a lung, but feels better. I am coughing but not with the intensity or frequency of my husband. I have my fingers crossed that if the girls really do get this funk that it is quick and less severe than Kevin and I had it.

Will you cross your finger's too?

I'd like to leave my house for something other than doctors visits, medicine and popsicles. Please?

The Tuesday Ten, vol. XII

Week of sickness edition

-1-
Last Monday Lydia was seen by the doctor and started on a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection.

-2-
Tuesday I was ready to say we are all better. The sky was rosy. All was well.

-3-
Wednesday I ended the day with a sore throat but blamed it on the fact that I taught my first class since before Christmas and talked almost non-stop for four hours. I was wrong.

-4-
Thursday I feel pretty crappy. It was St. Patrick's day and I wanted to head to the parade but decided to go for a walk and then rest in the afternoon hoping my throat would feel better. Then when I picked Madeline up from school I noticed she had junk in her eye and it was red.

-5-
Back to the Dr for the second time that week to have her diagnosed with... pink eye. When I asked if this was the same eye problem Lydia had the Dr explained that it was, to which I told him that I was seriously upset that he wasn't clear about this earlier in the week because who knows who we may have exposed that too... ugh.

-6-
Have you ever tried to put eye drops in a 3 1/2 year old's eyes? My 3 1/2 year old makes noises that might lead you to believe she was being tortured. I guess you could argue that it was torture. I know she would.

-7-
Friday, I am still feeling cruddy, but I decide I don't feel bad enough to go to the doctor. I'll just ride it out. Famous last words. I end up at a Walgreen's Clinic Saturday morning because I feel like heck. My diagnosis, a virus that will run its course in 7-10 days.

-8-
I feel worse every hour for the next two days only made worse by a stomach bug that is seriously unpleasant. Oh, and Kevin starts with a sore throat on Saturday. Sunday night the girlies spent the night at my in-laws. I slept horribly and didn't even get out of bed until 10am. Madeline and Lydia came home happy and super tired. By bedtime Madeline had a little cough and Lydia was running a fever and had broken out in a rash and low and behold... her pink eye is back.

-9-
Do you know what is worse than giving eye drops to a 3 1/2 year old? Giving eye drops to a 1 1/2 year old.

-10-
Today, Madeline is doing fine. Lydia's fever is hanging tough but she seems mostly unaffected by it. I am feeling better, not awesome, but better. And Kevin, well he's in it for the long haul.

My words of wisdom for the week: don't visit without a face mask and hand sanitizer. Deep cleaning will commence as soon as possible.

How Valentines Day Beat Me Into Submission (by the numbers)

Number Valentine's day related crafts done in the last five days: 4
1- foam valentine hearts with heart stickers
2- marble painting
3- Madeline's school valentines
4- roses for Madeline's hair (assembled at 6:15 AM because I woke up thinking about crafting and couldn't go back to sleep until those damn roses were made and OUT OF MY EVER LOVING CRAZY MIND!!!!)

Number of photos taken to get valentines for the girlies: 78

Number of photos used: 2




Number of items cooked, from scratch, in the last five days for Valentine's Day: 6
1- Cupid crunch
2- banana nutella crepes
3- heart shaped quesadillas
4- soft pretzel bites with sharp cheddar dipping sauce
5- bacon wrapped meatloaf and
6- creamy mashed potatoes

Number of those items cooked JUST TODAY: 5 (numbers 2-6)

Number of hugs and kisses and I love yous and Happy Valentines days exchanged by our family of four: too many to count :)

Although the crazy of Valentines Day totally sucked me in and spit me out I think I still win.

Proof that I reign supreme:

After lunch Madeline gave me a conversation heart that said 'real love'. And said "Mom, this is for you because I love you sooooo much!" Followed by a HUGE hug. Totally worth it.

Now I'm off to ice my back and have my valentine rub my feet.

Happy Valentines Day!

tap tap tap.... is this thing on?

I had one guess. One. (and thank you Michelle for that one guess)

I give up.

Are you even out there people. Jeez.

I'm done pouting because I am over joyed to tell you that this:


Became this:


Is it not beautiful?

And guess what else?!?!



My husband MADE IT. I know I am crafty, but the sheer amount of math that it took to determine what wood to purchase had my head reeling. (Math and I, are. not. friends.)


We recently bought a new mattress and up graded from a double (yeah, yeah, yeah, I heard you gasp and ask out loud 'what were they thinking'?!?) to a king (and we will never look back). Our previous head board was only as big as a queen, so we had to come up with another solution.



And what a stunning solution it is.

If you are looking for me I think you know where you'll find me. Curled up in our giant bed with the sheets pulled up over my head (so the girlies can't find me) and probably thanking my lucky stars that I found a man who is so much better at math than I am.

Hallelujah!


and good night.

Ya know?

So Kevin has been busy in the last three or so weeks.

I'll give you a hint:


That is a bunch of 2x4s, a couple of 2x12s, some 2x10s and a smathering of other pieces of solid pine (and please, ignore the mess that is the rest of our basement).

Any guesses as to what this is in its rawest form? (and if you know you don't get to guess...)

Any guesses on how many band aids Kev's gone through in three weeks? (I kid, he is super safe and wouldn't need band aids, ever... no really.)

I'll give you a hint. It is wicked heavy. Wicked I tell you.

Gene Simmons has nothing on this girl

In honor of G. G.'s birthday I wanted to make sure we took a family photo. I knew the party on her actual birthday would be too hectic so I brought my camera (with a remote shutter) to my in-laws for Sunday dinner. When Kevin's family gets in front of a camera least one of us has their eyes closed or looks like they are about to sneeze but on Sunday I took what I consider to be the best family photo to date. Everyone is happy and smiling, even 15 month old Lydia.


But wait, did you see Madeline? Let me zoom in for you...










Oh wait, that is Gene Simmons from KISS. My mistake.

Here...


Yep, that's my sweet heart all right.

Of my two children common sense tells me that it would be harder to get a 15 month old to smile for a camera. Especially an un-manned camera as we used a remote shutter control so NO ONE was standing on the opposite side of the room. Essentially my 15 month old is smiling at nothing and I get this...


Oh where did I go wrong?

And does it end there? Of course not. There are quite a few photos where Madeline looks like this...


and Lydia looks like this...


There is only ONE photo where Lydia isn't looking at the camera with the big cheesy grin on her face...


And did you notice Madeline?

There's my angel.

Any one know how to photo shop this...


Into this...


Good grief.

Happy Birthday G.G.

Friday was a huge day in our family. Kevin's grandmother celebrated a very special birthday. If I told you how old she is I'd be in a lot of trouble. She really doesn't want people to know even though I want to shout it from the rooftops if/when I reach that age.

Don't think you can twist my arm. I'm not telling. Instead I am going to give you some interesting facts that a close family friend shared with us to celebrate her birthday. (Thank you Deb!)

In 1911* there were only 144 miles of paved roads and gasoline was sold in cans at the grocery store. And speaking of cans, canned beer had not yet been invented but you could walk to your corner druggist and buy marijuana, morphine and heroin over the counter without a prescription. Wild!

To celebrate G.G.'s birthday we all had dinner at her apartment building and celebrated with cake for all the residents.

Madeline snarfed down her roll.

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that my girls are getting to know their great grandmother's. (My maternal grandma is still around too...) The bond that Madeline, in particular, has with G. G. is something to see. We are so very lucky to have such a strong role model for our girls.

Happy very special Birthday G.G!










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*Shhh.... let's keep that our little secret now won't we. You can read Grandma's 99th birthday post (and the story of how Lydia got her name) here.

The Tuesday Ten, vol. II

The Tuesday Ten-1.11.11 edition!

-1-
It snowed today. We played outside. Madeline and Kevin went sledding. I made chocolate chip brownie bars. Not one cup of hot chocolate was consumed. I think we need a do over.

-2-
We had a new bed delivered today. It is huge. I may never leave it. If you don't hear from me ever again you know where to find me.

-3-
Scott and Becky arrived back in STL today. We've decided we need to tell Madeline that Scott and Becky are arriving one day later than reality to avoid the constant stream of "are they here yet? is that their plane? are they coming here now? is it time yet? when are they getting here?"s spewing from her mouth.

-4-
Madeline played independently for almost 30 minutes yesterday. That is HUGE! I am half way to an episode of Oprah. (I'm (half) kidding!)

-5-
It is 10:15pm and Lydia is currently screaming from her room. I don't know why. I kinda hate this part of motherhood. (The not knowing why your baby (or 14 month old) is screaming therefore not being able to fix it.) (edit: it is now 10:27 pm and she isn't crying, fingers crossed...)

-6-
Kevin has to go back to work tomorrow after being off for three days in a row. I like having him around. I know he likes being had.

-7-
I am currently obsessed with potato soup. Snow is perfect soup weather. I think I may have to cook up a pot tomorrow. That would make five pots in four weeks. I tell you, this stuff is guh to the ood!

-8-
Or maybe I'll try a butternut squash recipe I was introduced to last week. It's pretty much potato soup - potatos + butternut squash. I bet it is just as yummy. I'll let you know.

-9-
Today I got a comment on this post from a blogger I L.O.V.E. Do you read Are We There Yet? You should. (but then again don't because you might like her more than me and then this here bligity-blog will seem even lamer... so never mind, forget I said anything.)

-10-
We had dinner out tonight. With other adults. It was ten kinds of awesome. (Thanks again Mr. H!)

I made it through another Tuesday Ten! Now it's your turn. Post as many as you'd like in the comments or post your own on your blog then leave a comment so I can read yours too!