Dear Kaleb,

Today was a rough one.
Especially the part where we were driving in the car & I threatened you with your life and then you called me on it yelling,

“You can’t do anything to me. We’re driving!”

You’re a smart one, you are.
And cute-- which is a great survival tactic. Heavenly Father sure knew what he was doing when he made you.

‘You might want to wrap me up in duct tape,
but I’m so cute the only thing you’ll manage to do is kiss and hug me to death’

You continue to teach me patience.
You continue to teach me unconditional love.
You continue to teach me to speak soft.
You continue to teach me how much better of a person/Mom I need to be.

And all this time I thought I was the one that was supposed to be doing the teaching.

Before & After :: Mi Casa

Dear Internet,

Let me welcome you into my home.

If I knew you were coming I would have cleaned up a bit, maybe even done a couple of dishes and then spray my house with Lysol so you would think I just cleaned... but I didn't' have time to do all that and I'm way beyond trying to make a good impression.

So here is my kitchen, well, at least part of it. Wet wipes... legos anyone?

One of the first home projects I so lovingly added to Nate's honey-do list was our bar. The bar just happens to be one of the main focal points in our home and it was feeling sad, and blah, and it needed some love- desperate love.

And who am I to withhold love from any person and/or bar?

Before the bar was just plain thin pressed wood.
It was OK, but it was sad. Very sad. Remember?


I/we had a plan for it. And that plan included:

- bead board..... $30
- 11/16 in. x 2 1/2 trim..... $30
- custom decorative trim..... $20
- new corbels..... $32
- a little distressing (my kids did that for free)
- and white paint with an antique glaze..... $10 & $15

We put the plan into action and this was the end result:


First thing we/Nate did was frame around the bar with the 11/16 in. x 2 1/2 trim. (we used larger trim for the bottom)

After the trim was in place we cut the bead board to fit,
slapped on some liquid nails,
and then used some small finishing nails to ensure it stays in place.

My brother-in-law, who is an amazing carpenter, helped us out by making us some custom decorative trim to place in between the lip of the 11/16 in. x 2 1/2 trim and the bead board. Not only does it give it that extra little somethin'-somethin', but it covers up and mistakes you might have made, say like accidentally cutting the bead board a little crooked. ;)

If you don't happen to have brother-in-law who also is a pro-carpenter, no fear. You can pick up some decorative trim from your local home improvement store.

The last thing to put up are your corbels. The price of corbels varies in all ranges. We got ours for a great deal of $8 each. I wanted to keep it clean and simple and I think that's exactly the look the corbels give it.

After that you just fill in any of the nail holes and gaps with a little putty and paintable caulk, sand and distress, and you're good to go!

Total cost of the whole project = $150(ish)

I say, totally worth it! It changes the whole feel to the house.
Not sad, not blah, and it's definitely feelin' the love.

Things I've learned:
- When buying a house make sure a Home depot is at least within a mile radius.
- Sponge brushes are my friends.
- Don't use home depot paint.
- Glazing is hard.
- Making it look like Macie didn't paint the whole thing is harder.
- Keep lots of paint thinner on hand.
- It's good to have a husband who's handy.
- Having a hot handy man is the next best thing to a good looking pool boy...
- Just minus the speedo.
- Unless your handy man likes to wear speedo's.
- Mine doesn't.


More before's & after's :: Mi Casa's to come...
(I can only post them as fast as we get them done and at the rate we're going it's not very fast)

Joining the Masses

Not to be confused with going to mass.
(Not that there's anything wrong with that)

Just thought I'd join all the other bloggers
and do my obligatory Halloween post.

Macie was a princess (and a mighty cute one might I add).
Abrie was a cowgirl with 6 freckles (all real cowgirls have freckles... I think)
Kaleb was a half hearted pirate with a case of the swine flu
(self diagnosed... I'm pretty much like a doctor,
just minus the massive amounts of schooling and a degree)

Halloween highlights:
Hanging out with family
Chili-dogs and donuts
The kids waiting by the door to pass out candy
(I used to love to pass out candy when I was little. It made me feel big)
Watching the world series.
Having my couches full of bodies to sit on them.
(I love having people over in my very own home)
And watching Macie skip carefree down the side walk
in her bright hot pink army boots,
with her little kitty trick-or-treating bag in tote,
and the biggest smile across her 3 year old face.

Free candy? Dressing up like a princess? This must be heaven.

P.S. I photoshopped (swapped) one of the kids head in the above picture.
P.P.S. Can you guess who?
P.P.P.S. Never mind.
P.P.P.P.S. Don't guess.
P.P.P.P.P.S. You might hurt my feelings.
P.P.P.P.P.P.S. I posted some more Halloween pictures HERE.
P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. I've eaten way too much of my kids candy.
P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. Don't mind all the P.S'
P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. And the (parenthesis).
P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. It's just a mild side effect of the sugar high.

Well that explains it

According to Nate;
Girls don't ever go to bathroom.
And girls never ever have gas.
And girls don't have any other bodily functions that could be found
repelling to the opposite sex.
Ever.

So maybe that could explain my excessive amounts of irritability lately.
Just a thought.

Pumpkin Carving Fools

We carved then...
(with claw bangs and pants pulled up high)

And we carve now...

except this time with three little kidlets of our own.

Nate will teach them the ways of the pumpkin carve.

And I will teach them how not to carve a pumpkin.

(I'm pumpkin carve challenged)

Highlight:

Kaleb dry heaving while cleaning out the pumpkin. Please note the gloves.
Pumpkin carving is not for the faint of heart.

I'm just excited we added to my one lone Halloween decoration.


.

The Definition of a Bubble Bath

The bigger the jets, the better the bubbles.

The better the bubbles, the bigger the mess.

And the the bigger the mess, the better the fun.

The kids made sure to leave lots of fun all around the bathroom for me.

They're thoughtful like that.

Time for some more random

1. I have pan full of brownies... again.
2. But this time I opted to eat some carrot cake.
3. To be exact, I had 2 slices for lunch yesterday and for dessert a brownie.
4. Today I had fish and green beans for lunch.
5. Then 2 slices of carrot cake (with cream cheese frosting).
6. Why do I always feel the need to make confessions on this blog?
7. I'm really a shoe size 7.5 but I tell people I wear size 7.
8.There I go again.

9. I think I'm coming down with the swine flu.
10. It's my fault
11. I didn't wash my hands good enough after reading my sister-in-laws post about being sick and afflicted with the H1N1 virus.
12. Make sure to wash your hands twice after reading this blog.
13. And double up on the hand sanitizer.
14. I might be contagious.

15. Contradictory to this recent post, I found this pillow from Pier1 that I must have.



15. It makes me feel all sorts of HAPPY.
17. Plus it's on SALE.

18. Nate and I had a discussion about making out in high school
19. He made reference to a friend and used the phrase, "He totally pieced her"
20. I corrected him, "I think you mean getting a piece dear"
21. Was it really that long ago?

22. Nate, if it makes you feel any better,
23. I would have totally pieced you in high school.
24. Multiple times.


25. Question is, would you have totally pieced me?

Giveaway

I'm giving away a family photo shoot over on No Biggie.


Head on over there to enter.

Now I shall copy & paste from my photography blog because I'm too lazy to write anything different.

What to do:
Click on over to Kami's blog and check out the details.
• Leave a comment professing your deepest love for me despite the fact that I'm a deeply flawed individual.
• All professing love comments should be followed by an enthusiastic "AMEN!"
(not mandatory, but strongly suggested. Usage of the word "AMEN" will not increase odds of winning)
• Then sit tight and wait for the winner to be chosen Tuesday, October 27th.

Good luck!

It's All About the Benjamins

I have a thing with money.
I like it.
The only thing I like more than money is having it.

Ever since I was little I was a saver.

Money earned babysitting... I saved it.
Birthday money from Grandma's & Grandpas... I saved it.
Pennies found on the ground... I saved it.
Money I stole borrowed from my brother... well, I spent that.

But you get the picture.

Now that I'm older nothing has changed.
I still like money,
I still save,
but I've stopped stealing borrowing money from my brother.

The problem I have is that I can't spend money.

It physically pains me every time I spend money.

(visualize me doubled over at the cashiers desk breathing heavily into a paper bag, hand clasped over my heart)

And buyers remorse? I get that.

Nothing feels better than standing at the customer service desk, returning my items, and having the clerk hand me back my money.

I have problems. I realize that.

Is there some sort of support group for this?

Now accepting applications

In light of the recent move, I have had several friendship positions open up. I am now accepting applications for full & part time friends. *Benefits included.

Personal information:

Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Mothers Maiden Name:
Social Security #:
Credit Card # and Expiration:
(A small nominal fee will automatically be withdrawn from your bank account each month to cover your friendship dues.)

General information:

I am seeking a permanent position Yes____ No____

Present or Last Friendship: _______________________________________

Reason for leaving (if applicable)____________________________________

Available start date:__________

(must be willing to work holidays, late nights, and weekends)

Have you ever been convicted of a crime? __ Yes __ No

If yes, explain number of conviction(s), nature of offense(s) leading to conviction(s), how recently such offense(s) was/were committed, sentence(s) imposed, and type(s) of rehabilitation.
________________________________________________________________________________

Please list your areas of highest proficiency, special skills, or other items that may contribute to your abilities in performing this friendship position. ________________________________________________________________________________

How do you feel about sarcasm?

Sarcasm is scar-casm_____ I’m neutral____ It pleases me deeply _____

Please rate your level of expertise in the following areas on a scale of 1-10:

Back rubs ______
Foot rubs ________
Courtesy laugh ______
Home cooked dinners______
Awesomeness ________


Multiple choice:

1. If it was 11:37 pm and I called in need of a pseudo therapy session would you:

A. Accidentally hang up on me and then accidentally forget to place the phone back on the receiver.
B. Answer the phone but say, “Tank you fo calleen Wongs Café. You like some ham fry rice too-ni?”
C. Forward all my calls to my cell phone.
D. Answer the phone and counsel. All those hours of watching Dr. Phil are about to pay off.

2. “Hey [insert applicants name here], do these jeans look too tight on me?”
Your answer would be:

A. Pfft, no! Don’t you watch the Jonas Brothers? Tight is good.
B. Sa-weet! Jeans that double as spandex!
C. It’s not that those jeans look too tight on you; it’s just that you should probably put them back in Abrie’s closet.
D. So, is a camel toe just as lucky as a rabbit’s foot?

3. I’m in desperate need of a night out, do you:

A. Suggest a late night grocery shopping trip.
B. Offer to let me come over to your house to watch your kids.
C. Suggest a late night grocery shopping trip and then offer to let me come over to your house to watch your kids.
D. Kid nap me and take me to the local cold stone, because nothing fills desperation and boredom up like a large 'gotta have it' chocolate ice cream (and diet coke).


*Benefits include being my friend, killer Sunday roasts, your own special ring tone, finding a place on my top 10 speed dial, and earning the title of Breast Friend.

Please send all applications ATTENTION:Ginnie
All applicants will thoroughly be reviewed and considered.
Flattery will not ensure a friendship position, but it may increase your odds.
Bribery also helps as well.
So does chocolate.

And pedicures.
And those yummy lil' smokies smothered in BBQ sauce.

And maybe a sonic strawberry limeade with the perfect crunchy ice.

And diamonds, lots of diamonds.

* * * * * * * * * * *