A sick day = Productive Day around the house

I don't ever like for the kids to be sick, but today, just as I was starting my shift at the Y, J threw up! It was out of nowehere, and I'm not totally sure that he is ill, but we are home bound for the day, which means I have a day around the house and I certainly have plenty to keep me busy. The popsicles from Ms. Jody were a big hit (and help to mommy), so thanks! Anyway, whenever someone is sick around here, I get a lot done. Something about being stuck at home makes me very productive. I guess it is something about being forced to stay at home that makes me want to cross things off the list, including things that have been there for some time. If only I had more paint to finish up my painting!! Here is a look at the new guest room (taken from the hallway which still needs another coat of paint, hence the blue tape). I can't get this picture to rotate the way I want, so hopefully you can get the idea...just tilt your head to the side.Take a look at some more new things around the house...

T's new quilt and sham...a find at Belk, and I think the print is awesome, albeit a bit bright (same problem with this picture....sorry again).

So now we're going with a beachy/aloha themed room. Here is a pic of the sham up close, so you can see all the color! Whew.

I know John will have fun when I put him to work hanging curtains and a bulletin board in her room this weekend. Then we'll just need a few accessories and we should be set.

Back to work this afternoon. Have to put the playrooom back together and fold some more laundry. Thanks, J, for the sick day, but I hope you feel better, little man!

Getting ready for Christmas and rain!!

We have some welcome rain today. My mom just left last night, so we are getting the house back together (not that it was apart, just doing some 'maintenance'). We started decorating the house for Christmas, even though the only party we'll be hosting this year will be a birthday party on December 8 for T's friends. We'll gladly host family for Xmas and I think we're going to have a nice crowd, to include Uncle Buck and Aunt Jen (hope so, we miss her!!!). That said, we also painted our new guest room today. I'll be doing coat #2 tomorrow. I'm cooking up some Turkey Pot Pie to go along with our Fall weather (cold rain) for dinner tonight. Even though we had a small turkey, there are still enough leftovers for soup Tuesday night-thanks to my mom who made the broth while she was here. I'll post more about her visit later. For now, here is a picture of my 'Maryland' tree. An ode to my home state. This is one of three trees in our house and greets our guests in the foyer.

I love Christmas, and have gotten my husband in the spirit, too. I am sure, soon enough, we'll have a sports themed tree in the basement. I can't quite figure out why we don't have one yet.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We sure did.

Our proofs are in!

Our proofs from our photo session Saturday are in. I'm excited to have a few pics of the kids together looking so cute! Tell me which ones you think are the best....
http://smapix.smugmug.com/gallery/3848912#222729064

Fall soccer is over

Today was the last day of the Fall soccer season. We had a great season, great coaches (thanks Coach Jim and Coach Brian), and a great group of kids. The kids got a trophy and some cookie cake to celebrate the end of the season. Now, no more running around on Saturday mornings, which will be nice since the holidays are upon us. J also enjoyed the cookie cake-yummy! Another great recipe from Denise. (Can you see his horns poking through his hair?) Look at those blue eyes!

After soccer, we rushed home to get showered and get to our winter photo shoot with Sara Anthony (www.smapix.com). The kids posed well together, so it will be great if we get a good shot of them together. We had some awesome pics done with Sara in the Spring, but since T has a birthday coming up and the session was free (part of a Portrait Party), we decided to go for it. I hope I'll be able to report that we got at least a few good ones. Should know in about a week.

How can you not love a kid.....

that wears a turkey hat? Refer to two posts ago regarding my dear son. One minute, he is stubborn and bad, and the next.....

He entertained us last night for almost an hour running around with this 'hat' and his macaroni necklace. Makes me almsot forget about the haircut incident. That is his I'm really cute smile. And he was.

Where do the days go?

This is why it is always Christmas before you know it around here. I am a stay-at-home mother and I used to think that once I was at home, my house would always look perfect, a wonderful meal would grace the table each night, and I'd have happy go lucky kids. Well....not so much. The kids are generally pretty good, but as for the rest.....

We've been under construction for the last week. I should say that I'm glad that it only took a week, but there is still work to be done. Painting-who knows when I'll get to that, but probably not until after Thanksgiving. We had a door and a closet put on a room on the first floor so that it can now be used as a bedroom for our guests. Also because for the last three years, I have used this room as a place to stash crap, and I get tired of looking at it. I am so happy to have this room and I hope our guests will like it too. It comes just in time for Grammy's visit which begins Sunday.

Last week was actually unusually quiet-no birthday parties, nothing that kept us running all over the place. We had a GREAT soccer game with T Saturday. I was oh so dissapointed that Daddy was not there to see what an AWESOME job she did. She was in the game for the first time in a long time. Even the coach commented on how well she played. We hosted some guests Saturday evening for dinner. They were great, as were the delicious margaritas they brought for us to taste. Yes, I got the recipe and it is the best--knock your socks off!

This week has been busier. I will be glad to have next week 'off'' from school so there won't be so much running around. This week I started what is to be T's birthday present-a bedroom makeover. I painted the bottom half of the walls a bright pink. It looks great, but I think we need to do a little more in the way of decorative painting. Also to come is a new comforter, lamp, and some curtains. I'll post more as the work continues.

Yesterday, we went to Amy's house for a golf cart ride. J loves this! T, on the other hand, told me she didn't want to do it unless we were getting pizza. We did not. Amy's four year-old son also announced that he was (when asked, "How are you doing?"), "Not Good!". These four year-olds are very funny! They both hung in there during the ride, and a good time was had by all.

Today was a busy day for Thanksgiving parties at the schools. Both schools. Unfortunately, John's work called a last minute meeting so nobody attended J's party (last time all he did was cry anyway), but what a great 'feast' we had at T's school. I asked a friend from J's class to pick him up so T could have my undivided attention. They put on a great spread! The kids even made centerpieces for the tables. It was very nice. The downside....the event was over at noon and T wanted to come home with me. I lost 3 hours of peace and quiet. It was still wonderful to share in this event with her-I'm not sure how much she liked me being there since all she wanted to do was tell me how she wanted to go home with Skylar (her carpool buddy) before the event was even over.
I also took some pictures of the BEAUTIFUL red trees we have here in the neighborhood. It is amazing, since we've had no rain and are in such a severe drought, how beautiful these trees are. Take a look...

Must go do birthday invitations with T. Yes, it is that time already, too.

He is my kid and I love him

J has generally been more difficult than T. He is so much better than he used to be, but today was not one of those days. He desperately needed a haircut. I don't know what I could have done differently, but lets just say, it didn't go well. Meagan, my adorable hairdresser that I adore, 'worked me in' to her schedule today and I'm sure she regretted it. From the minute we walked in there, J said things like, 'get my outta here' and 'I don't have to' (his words). There was screaming, yelling, crying. Oh, and lets not forget the other two year old I was toting around this morning. Thankfully he was an angel. J, on the other hand, had his horns on today. One of the ladies in there told J to be nice to his mommy. Yes, its true, he gives me such a hard time sometimes, but he is also lovable. Here are some great things about him:

1. He's spunky. I mean, this kid has PERSONALITY...some don't!

2. Squishy cheeks

3. The 'huge ones' -if you lie on the ground he tries to wrestle you and says, 'ah ah ah'

4. Big squeezes (hugs)

5. He's loud-sometimes not so good, like in a restaurant, but usually very funny, and just like me.

Anyway, during the 1/2 hour at the hairdressers, I forgot all about the good points and was just ready to chuck him out the window. But, as soon as we left I took a look at my little guy and thought to myself (despite all this)....He is my kid and love him. No matter what. (I just wish he'd act better sometimes)

Here is a picture of the fabulous new haircut. It isn't Meagan's fault that the front isn't straight!! I assured her I'd never bring him back and tipped her well as I went on my way.

Halloween

This neighborhood is absolutely insane on Halloween. You cannot imagine how crazy it gets here, in fact, I have many friends that spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on candy. It is also 'the place to go' on Halloween night. I mean where else can you find almost 3,000 single family homes on less than 1/2 acre lots-no wonder it is a trick or treaters dream! Seems it would be cheaper to buy your kids bunches of candy and turn your light off. I guess that is the accountant in me talking. Last night, we saw way too many teenagers without costumes trying to mooch some goodies. Come on! The upside this year was that we were trick or treating in daylight since we haven't set the clocks back yet. There was light out until about 7:15, which was nice for the little people. I think T and J had a great time-Daddy wasn't too excited about being the guy to take them trick or treating, but he did ok. Check out our goodies-45 minutes of trick or treating and this candy will last until the new year!