The "Afters"

As promised, here are a few shots of the way our house now looks thanks to the very hard and perfectionist work of Adam. It still amazes me how great the house looks. When we bought the house, one thing I wanted to change almost immediately was the color of the front door. I hated the royal blue color the sun had faded it to. I wanted to paint the door black, but knew that the HOA would have an absolute fit and wouldn't let me do it. Now, it is a really dark navy blue. In fact, it is so dark that from the street, it looks black! Yipppeee! I finally have my "black" door.

You be the judge though....what color does it look to you?

Show Stopper

Adam mentioned to me a few weeks ago a car show that he wanted to take Owen to. When he reminded me about this car show, I thought it sounded cool and, therefore, wanted to go myself. With the weather as gorgeous as it's been lately, that's exactly what we all did. We all piled into the van this morning and went to the show. I'm glad we went early, because by the time we left I was spent; my feet hurt and the kids were ready to go themselves. We didn't spend a whole lot of time, but we saw ALL the cars and motorcycles - and even a few weird things people were wearing and weird people.

We saw a really clean and super pretty '66 shortbed, white Chevy pick-up - exactly what Adam's truck aspires to be. One day.....many, many, many moons from now. It was really fun and we'll have to do it again next year...with 3 kids. Yikes!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Photo Contest

I never ever do this, so why I've chosen to do it now, I don't know. I entered this pic of Caroline in a photo contest:



I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I did. So, now I need your help to follow this link and vote for Caroline's picture to win the contest. Her chubby cheeks and the expression on her face are just priceless. A true "Gerber baby." No, I'm not expecting her to win, but it would surely be nice if she did. GO VOTE NOW!!!!!!

ROAD TRIP!!!!

Part of the agreement Adam and I had when it came to painting the house (see previous post) was I would take the kids to my parents' house while he painted. (Can you imagine a 3 and 2 year old getting into everything all the while trying to paint the house. No thanks!) Of course, I was more than happy to oblige my dear, sweet hubby and off to California I went! My ever responsible and cautious mother did not like the idea of me driving across the desert with 2 small children and being prego. What's a mom (grandma) to do, you ask. She flew over early in the morning, I picked her up at the airport and then we were on our way back to the house. She made an 800 mile circle in one day. (Truly wasn't necessary Mom, but glad you insisted and did it anyway!)

I didn't do much while at my parents' house. I attempted to make homemade bread while I was there, but killed the yeast with milk that was too hot. (At least I know what I did wrong.) I guess I'll have to make it here and send it over.

One thing we did do was to take the kids to the park (Bonneli - I think that's how you spell it) and feed the ducks. My s-i-l and her son took us. The kids had a great time feeding the ducks, despite Caroline wanting to eat most of the "duck food". How can you blame her when I took the jumbo Rice Krispies cereal and bread. I guess she was really hungry. After feeding the ducks, we went over to the park area and let the kiddos run, slide, and run some more.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Saturday, I went and had a "Mommy time out" and got myself a pedicure. Oh what a luxury of not only having my toes done, but have an hour to myself. Can't wait to have that done again....just before the baby comes is when - if not sooner!!!

I drove back on Sunday and, yes, my mom drove back with me and then flew home from here. She did the opposite route of the time before, but still did an 800 mile circle in one day. Again, not necessary, but oh so glad she did it! When I turned the corner to our house, I was stunned to see the house. I couldn't believe how good it looked. I knew it would look good. After all, there isn't a project Adam takes on without doing it correctly and/or having it turn our great. Did I mention he's amazing and so great with handyman-type projects?!?! Seriously though, the house looked brilliantly superb and beyond my expectations.

It was a short trip to see my parents, but so worth it. The kids were fabulous in the car on both the outbound and return legs. I just wish I lived closer to them and that I didn't have to travel 6 hours to see them.

Painter Man

Almost all subdivisions where we live are "governed" by an HOA (Home Owner's Association). These organizations have their benefits but, in my opinion, they are just a Nazi-like organization that wants to control even more of my life. In short, I HATE HOA's. In typical fashion, our HOA sent out some "you must or get fined" letters to various homeowners. One such letter was you must paint your house in 90 days or get fined. We never received such letter, but didn't ever want to get one either. In our view, the less contact we have with the HOA, the happier we are. the HOA is just another form of a government trying to interfere in our lives. But I digress. So, we decided that we were going to paint our house ("we" = Adam). Adam and I had talked about hiring someone to do it. Then, the economy took over and Adam decided to do it himself and save a little bit of money.

So, this past week, Adam took on the project and painted the entire exterior of our house!!! I honestly think sometimes that there is nothing my husband can't do. He amazes me with his capabilities and desires to improve our home, himself and our life as a family. He took some before pictures, and hasn't had the chance to take some after. I'll post the befores and then update this post with the afters. Suffice it to say, the house looks remarkable!

Before:
repair work needed to be done on the back patio drywall. Yep, Adam did that too! I tell you he's amazing!



No, it didn't look that bad but the endless summer heat here tends to take its toll on everything, including houses and the paint. Just wait 'til you see the afters and then you'll realize the difference! Stay tuned.....

Valentine's Day

I decided this year instead of wrapping several small things for the kids for Valentine's Day, that I was going to do one big box, bag, or some sort of container for their little Valentines. I went to Target, got a simple red bag, some Valentine tissue paper, and heart shaped balloons. I got just silly little things for the kids, but things I knew they would LOVE.

For instance, cheap sunglasses, coloring books, board books (for Caroline), opposites flashcards, pencils, workbooks, rubber duck with the conversation hearts attached, bag of Hershey Bliss chocolates (okay so those are for me - hehehehehe!) stickers, and a card for each of them. We blew up the balloons and left them scattered in the family room for the kids to find in the morning. I'm planning on making them waffles for breakfast with my heart shaped waffle iron that was given to us for a wedding gift. I hope it turns out to be a good day and that the kids enjoy the day.



I made a "funfetti" Valentine Cake and a mini chocolate pound cake for Adam that he seemed to enjoy. Then again, when doesn't he enjoy desserts?! For his Valentine gift, I got us 4 tickets to the Angels v. Giants game on March 6th. Ever since we took Owen when he was a little, tiny guy, we've wanted to go back. This year, I decided it was going to happen and now it is! I also got him the customary chocolates and peeps (man I hate those things!). Happy Valentine's Day, My Love. I love you always!



What child can resist putting stickers all over their face. Mine certainly can't. They had fun and that's what matters.

Baking With Mom

Our Ward's Relief Society activity is tonight and it is revolving around chocolate! I definitely signed up to go to this one and I volunteered to bring a recipe. I decided I was going to make chocolate pound cake. It is a recipe I got from my m-i-l and one Adam goes crazy for whenever I make it. I don't make it very often, but this was a perfect excuse to do so. The recipe makes 2 huge loaves; or, one huge loaf, one regular size loaf and one mini loaf, which is what I did.

As per usual, I had my little "helpers" in the kitchen with me. They wanted to lick the beaters every time I turned off the mixer. Much to their chagrin, I still needed them. When all was said and done and I didn't need to do any more mixing, they each got their own beater and I got the bowl - fair trade! Both Owen and Caroline love, love, love to "help" or "watch" me while I'm doing something in the kitchen. I'm glad they enjoy this - it's fun to watch their faces and each step is done.



The last time I made these loaves I did it around the Holidays for neighbor gifts. Adam was quite upset that they were getting passed out and he didn't get a loaf. Yes, I did save a couple of mini loaves for him and he ate them all by himself. So, knowing how much he loaves this recipe (he says it's better the next day rather than the same day it's made), I decided to make the one huge loaf, regular loaf, and mini loaf. Now, he can eat his mini loaf tomorrow night and won't feel left out. (Always thinking of you Love!)

6 For 6

I expect that when there are little kiddos in a household to get a cold, flu, sinus infection, whatever, periodically, like maybe once every 3 months. Oh no! It has been just my luck this winter with being pregnant and all that I am now 6 for 6. I am 6 months pregnant and have had a cold or sinus infection every single friggin month that I've been pregnant. It usually happens about every 10 days to 3 weeks here comes another one! It's totally inexplicable to me why. I'm taking my prenatal vitamins; washing my hands or sanitizing them CONSTANTLY, yet I still seem to get sick. Even my OB is baffled by it. Yes, the kids have had colds, but this is getting ridiculous. There's only one thing more miserable than having a cold - having a cold while pregnant!!! I honestly don't think I've been sick this often in my whole life. A cold every now and again, sure. But definitely not this often.

I've heard it gets worse when kids get to school and go all day. Then again, I've heard just the opposite that it gets a whole lot better. Which is it? Will this ever end?

"F" Words

Fun. Food. Fantastic. Fork. Freckle. Family. Each of these words can be difficult to learn to say, especially for a child who has had a speech delay. Owen was one such child.

A little background for you. When Owen was 2 he only had about 24 words total in his vocabulary. He qualified for the Early Intervention Program here. In a short amount of time, 9 months is all, he completely caught up to where he should be with his speech and even excelled in some of the categories measured. His speech problem was not that he doesn't understand or can't hear. It was a matter of being insecure and not sure on how EXACTLY to say a word. Most children mimmick what they hear other people say. Owen didn't do a whole lot of that, because he wasn't sure how that word would come out of his mouth. If he didn't think he could say a word, he wouldn't even attempt to say it. Some say he's a stubborn child - I prefer to think of it as a perfectionist. Wonder where he gets each trait from?

Last summer, Owen realized he had one little freckle on his left bicep. When we would ask him where his freckle is, he would point to it without hesitation. Today, being warm where we live, he was wearing a short sleeved shirt. Owen seemed to rediscover this freckle. Owen pointed to it and asked me, "Mom wat's dat?" I replied, "It's your freckle." To which I got this in return, "Ohhhhh. My f*&@%er." I was quick to reemphasize the proper pronunciation of the word freckle. But, I think it all went out the window when I died with laughter.

I must admit, I did call my mom and have him tell her what it was too. She also died with laughter. Adam thought it was funny too, but couldn't believe how hard I was laughing. Owen, you made my day!!!!!!

Precious Moments

I asked Owen if he wanted to help me make cookies Sunday night. He, of course, was excited to help. I bribed him and said, "If you come give me a hug, then we'll go make cookies." He walked right over to me and gave me a huge hug. Then he says to me, "I love you Mom." I'll admit it, I got really teary eyed and a few tears even rolled down my cheeks. I told him to go tell Adam and he said to him, "I love you, Daddy."

Usually when I say "I love you", he'll reply back by yelling, or saying, "You!" With all of his speech issues and insecurities he has regarding the pronunciation of words and sounds, I have been waiting for this day. Granted, he hasn't said it since and I'll have to wait a whole lot longer, I'm sure, to hear it again. So, I'll settle for hearing the "you" when he's running off to bed, or I'm closing the door for him to go to sleep. I know, Adam knows and, most importantly, Owen knows what he's saying.

A Flasher In Our Midst

Caroline has a really cute, purple, velour, one-piece suit that she loves and is, I'm sure, extremely comfortable. It snaps all the way around the legs and up the middle. You know the kind, right? Anywho. I let her outside so she could go play with Owen. When I went to check on them, this is what I found:



She didn't like the fact that I told her we needed to button up her clothes. She got very unhappy about that and cried and cried and cried some more. Needless to say, when I went to check on the 2 of them again, Her suit was unsnapped again. After about the third or fourth time of me snapping, and resnapping the suit, I gave up and just let her roam around outside with it like it was in the picture. Owen thought it was funny and decided he wanted to have his picture taken with his "funny sister."

I particularly like the picture of the two of them squatting together. It's as if Owen is telling Caroline that we need to keep our clothes on outside and she is actually listening to him. These two are just funny, funny, funny kids. I love them to pieces, regardless of how much they can drive me CRAZY!

Facebooking

My s-i-l and my good friend, Kelly, have been trying to get me to join Facebook for a while now. I wasn't crazy about the idea of joining but, like a cat, curiosity got the best of me. I joined this afternoon and I honestly can't believe how many people are out there on Facebook. People that I haven't seen in literally 20 years and, viola! There they are. It's crazy what a small world we live in, especially with today's technology. I'm going to be really anxious to see who else is on there and who I can find. So, if my blogging doesn't get done for a little while, just know that I am out there facebooking!