Spray Paint Is My Friend

I wish I could say I was one of those super crafty people who are experts at refinishing furniture and turning trash into treasure. Occasionally I get lucky and find a way to use something of my own in a new way, and I'll be honest - if a can of spray paint can't fix it then I really won't bother. I'm all about easy. I thought I'd share a few pictures of a few things I've worked on lately. (And sorry I don't have before pictures, I know it's always fun to see those.)


















I decided not to get all of my fall decorations out this year, but I still wanted a few little touches here and there. I changed out my summer letters for FALL and spray painted these cute little pumpkins to add some pizazz. (They are real pumpkins.) I love the fall colors of oranges and reds, but I just wanted something simpler and more subtle this year.






















Since our kids have pretty much trashed our good old IKEA computer armoire we bought when we first moved into our house, I decided it would be futile to spend a lot of money on a new one that will probably get equally thrashed in the next few years. Hence, this little lady that I found on Craigslist for almost nothing. It was already black but needed some touching up so I gave it another coat of paint and made some cute little curtains on a tension rod to cover up the contents when not in use. I'm still thinking about putting some cute drawer pulls on it. (Now I just need to move it to the living room and get all the computer gear set up inside of it.) I got the fabric on sale buy two yards get one free, and had enough to recover the seat of the chair (which was also a cheap Craigslist find), and used the rest as a table runner on the dining table.




















The chair was already painted white and kind of naturally distressed so I decided to leave it as is, just recovered the seat cushion.






















I've had these barn stars for almost six years, they used to be an aged bronze color that was really nice, but I wanted something brighter. When we repainted our walls recently, I moved everything around and decided to spray paint them red and put them on a shelf in the family room. They add a nice pop of color. I purposely tried to not spray an even coat, so some of the darker color showed through making them look aged.

















I had been wanting to do some updating in our bedroom decor for a while. I wanted something soft and serene and relaxing. I've been chipping away at it bit by bit when I happen to find something I like. This is just a little peek. I love these little wall lights from IKEA. They have adjustable heads to get the right angle for reading, were priced right, and didn't require any electrical work which is right up our alley. Before we had some table lamps, but I hated the room they took up on our nightstands. I've had a couple of people ask why I went with mostly white bedding since little kids usually don't mesh well with white, (and Morgan has already spilled root beer from his leaky sippy cup on it) but I just think it looks clean and simple and light and I'll scrub the root beer out when I have to. :)
















The headboard we received from one of Riley's aunts when we got married, but I was never really in love with the oak color, so it had been sitting in our garage for the last few years. I sprayed it a few coats of white, didn't even sand it and I like that part of the wood and the grains show through. The metal wall hanging I've had for a long time, and decided to paint it a robin's egg blue and hang it over the bed for a little pop of color.

















So there are a few of my fun re-do's. Next up are the twins room and Kendle and Morgan's room with new bunk beds. It could get very interesting.

Over the Weekend

My life is not very exciting, but last Friday I got a pleasant surprise - my mom called to see if I wanted to meet her in Kennewick and she'd take Morgan home to spend the night. She could tell I was needing a little break and I knew Morgan would be thrilled. He was so excited to go stay and enjoyed going to the Homecoming football game, driving grandpa's truck, and getting all of the toys and attention to himself.

So Friday night we took Kendle out to dinner for some one-on-one time and then did some much needed grocery shopping. It seemed to take forever and I wasn't sure I was going to make it out of the store. It was safe to say I was walking at a snails pace and holding up the show. I told Riley that might be one of my last big shopping trips, just too much walking. We finally made it home and had some root beer floats per Kendle's request. It was a good way to end the night and it was nice to spend some alone time with Kendle.

Saturday we all managed to sleep in a little (for Kendle that means about 7:30ish) and it was a nice relaxing morning. We met back up with my mom and Morgan at Kendle's soccer game at 1:00, Riley's club team had an away game in Spokane. Kendle's team played a really good, very fast, very well coached team and by the end of the game the girls were exhausted. Kendle still managed to score a goal and do some good things on defense. I do my best to yell helpful advice from the sidelines. I'm totally one of those moms. Riley's team ( 3-Rivers Rage) won their game, are leading the league, and had the game of the week.

After the game my mom took Kendle to go see "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" in 3-D and they said it was great. After that they stopped by the Halloween store and came home with a big hairy spider you hang on the wall that crawls up and down on a string when it hears noise. Kendle and Morgan got a big kick out of it and were squealing and yelling every time it moved.

Sunday was our ward primary program and it was really great to see all of the preparation and hard work pay off as the children said their parts and sang the songs we've been learning. Kendle did a good job with her part and she just makes me smile with her little personality. I got released from being the second counselor in the primary presidency during sacrament meeting and it was really bitter sweet for me to watch all of the children and think about the funny and cute things they have said or done during my time serving in primary. It was strange to think I won't have to rush off after sacrament meeting is over anymore and I will miss seeing all of those children every week. I'm sure every primary feels this way, but I really think we have some of the best and sweetest children in our ward. They are a really special group. It was funny when I told the sr. primary it was my last Sunday they all yelled Nooooooo! I had to laugh out loud, but it made me feel good they would miss me just a little bit. I had to promise to bring the babies back in for a little show and tell after they're born. I will miss working with the other ladies and the teachers too - I was just lucky to be surrounded by great people all around.

After church I just came home and crashed. I have been coming down with a bad cold all weekend and it was taking it's toll. It's hard when you are already short of breath because you're pregnant and then you are stuffed up on top of that. So I just relaxed and rested the rest of the day and it felt really good. I needed to recharge a bit for the coming week.

Here's to the start of a new week which will bring cooler weather, the start of a new month, and of course more soccer!

The boy and his dog

There's nothing like your neighbor knocking on your door holding your 2 year old who until that moment you thought was playing quietly in the back yard. First there is surprise, then confusion, then total annoyance that the dynamic duo has struck again. Our neighbors dog has been digging holes under our fence and Bogie snuck under there to go play. Guess who followed him? That's right, his trusty partner in crime - Morgan. I'm not sure if the thought of Morgan crawling under the fence after his dog should make me laugh or cringe. So much for thinking fences will keep the kids safe in the yard. Little boys are definitely a breed of their own.

29 Weeks

I had another ultra sound yesterday and got to have another look at what these babies are up to at 29 weeks. Both of these pictures are of baby "B" and his knee was in front of his face so he is kind of smushed. Baby "A" would not turn his little head around so we could get a good enough picture of him. They were both moving all over and giving the tech a hard time to get good shots and the things she needed.

Both boys are looking great and weighing a little over 3 pounds each at this point. Heart rates are good and I already knew they were very active, so no surprise there. The movement is all day long and I'm constantly feeling little hands or feet pushing out. Baby "A" is facing head down (maybe he will be the obedient child, ha) and baby "B" is feet down.

The bigger and farther along I get, the harder these ultra sounds are becoming. I can't stand laying on my back and feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. I was so embarrassed because I thought I was going to pass out and had to keep stopping the tech so I could sit up and take some big breaths. I've been feeling lately like an elephant is sitting on my chest. I was getting all tingly with pins and needles so she went and got me a fan which did help quite a bit. Still, the thought of having these every other week from here on out is not too enticing. Very much worth it though to know that everything is as it should be and the little guys are safe and sound in this big tummy of mine.

I'm getting so anxious now to finalize names. Riley and I have been having discussions about which baby gets which name. How do you decide who is who? We talk all of the time about what these little baby boys will be like, how we will handle two crying babies, how the other children will adjust to the big change and so on. We usually end up just shaking our heads and not finding any good answers, just knowing we will have to figure it out as we go along.

This pregnancy seems like it has lasted forever, the majority of it has not been very pleasant, but I've been trying to take a little time each day to just sit quietly and think about what a blessing this is for our family. Knowing this is most likely our last time for babies is very bitter sweet. I know years from now I will look back on this time and what an amazing experience it was.

A Letter....

Dear maternity jeans manufacturer's:


Just because my stomach is the size of a ginormous melon (umm, make that two melons) requiring much room and flexibility in the waist of my pants, that does NOT mean that I need an overabundant amount of material in the "seat" area on my pants. This ultimately results in a saggy style that is not very flattering - and at this point in my pregnancy, I need at least one area to be flattering. C'mon and help a lady out.


Signed-
One Very Pregnant Lady

One Step At A Time

(what's been on my mind lately)

Why is it that when you are in a hurry to go somewhere, that is the time your kids will choose to do something really naughty. This morning was a perfect example:

I was trying to get ready to leave for a brunch at a friends house and I'm literally away from Morgan for five minutes while I do the fastest makeup job ever, when I hear the pantry door being open and shut and the broom being knocked around.

I go to the kitchen to see what little guy is up to and find the brand new bag of potato chips dumped out all over the kitchen floor. Morgan looked like he was trying to redeem himself by swishing the broom around all through the mess. He gives me that look like "I'm helping mom, really I am."

It is so hard for me to not get really mad in those situations. I have to write about it on my blog so that I can laugh about it later. Being a mom requires an endless amount of patience. I seem to be running low on that these days. I think that by having twins, I will be forced to either learn the art of being a more patient person or be totally miserable, and maybe that is a huge lesson I need in my life.

It is always amazing to me when I see mom's who never seem to be rattled or unhinged at the things their kids are doing and manage to handle difficult situations in a calm manner. I always wonder, "do I just have ornery children who take it as their personal responsibility to give me trials, or do I just let all of these little things get to me?" Are the crushed potato chips and the sticky greasy floor worth getting mad over?

Some days it can feel like it is one incident after the other. It can be hard not to let out a negative stream of comments when I step on a glob of toothpaste in my bare feet from the children's bathroom or witness my daughter spill a full glass of chocolate milk all over the kitchen counter and newly mopped floor. Sometimes you just want to look around and say, "Seriously? Did that really just happen?"

I love my kids more than words could say and am thankful to have this opportunity to be a mother and raise these little people into worthwhile outstanding big people someday, but it would be a lie to say it is all sunshine and roses every minute of the live long day. I talked to a woman recently who said she used to have to go out in her backyard and yell at the top of her lungs sometimes to vent a little. She said the neighbors probably thought she was crazy, but at least she didn't end up yelling at her children that way.

I think it's OK to admit that we aren't perfect mom's and we get mad and make mistakes. Even the women around us who seem to have it all together at every moment have their own struggles they deal with. I guess ultimately the long hard lesson that I'm continuing to learn is that it's all about attitude and perspective. We only have so much time to nurture, teach, and tend to our little children before they refuse to let us do it any more. I want to be able to laugh about the spilled milk and crushed potato chips and the globs of toothpaste on my bare feet. (I really do.) I don't want my kids growing up thinking they have the crankiest mom on the planet.

I saw these two quotes the other day and thought they were both worth remembering:

"What is destructive is impatience, haste, expecting too much too fast."
- May Sarton

"Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door."
- Dr. Laura Schlessinger

We often forget that even though we are adults with our own families, we are still continuing to learn and grow. I learn and discover new things about myself, the world, and life in general on a regular basis. That magic switch that is supposed to make you more mature and responsible doesn't get snapped on automatically. I'm still figuring out what I "want to be when I grow up", although ultimately at the end of the day the best answer I can give is -
a good mom.

And that's what I need to keep reminding myself. It helps when I see pictures like this:

What I'll be doing today.....

*Drive to my doctor's office for the 4th time in the last week. (Oh yeah, I get to go back on Monday too, yahoo!)
















*Get my Rhogam shot with an extra large needle in a less than pleasant spot.

*Apply some ice to the sore spot because those shots are a doozy.

*Try not to sit, lay, or lean on the sore area.

*Be deprived of the afternoon nap I really need because it's early release day, aka the bain of my existence.

Jealous?

Weekend in a Nutshell

-Date night of P.F. Chang', shopping, and ice cream.
-Planted some mums
-Cleaned house and made snickerdoodles - yum!
-Kendle had three goals - an awesome assist - and super good defense in her first soccer game of the season.
-Enjoyed the sun and glorious weather (although a little hot for this time of year).
-Coach Riley's team won their game.
-Kendle had a fun night playing with cousins.
-Watched the AMAZING Jessy J at the Jazz and Blues concert at Columbia park. Can't even describe how talented she is.
-Ate the best carnitas known to man kind.
-Had dreams about said carnitas.
-Watched the Oregon State Beavers pull out a nail biting victory.
-Had really great quality time with friends and family.
-Kids and mom in bed by 8:45 last night, all tuckered out from the fun.

9/11

Don't forget to hang your flag today. We must never forget.

Recently our newspaper asked the question, "Do you think we are doing enough as a country to remember the attacks of 9/11?"

I wish they could talk about it in the schools more and have some sort of assembly or way to formally acknowledge this day. I think our children need to hear about it over and over again, so that they never become comfortable in their thinking that this could never happen again to our country.

What do you think?

Concert

Saturday at Columbia Park in Kennewick, the Riverfront Concert Series presents "Jazz & Blues".

One of the featured artists is Jessy J who is my sister-in-law Molly's younger sister. She has recently released her second album (which was featured on itunes a few weeks ago) and is fantastically talented. She will be performing on Saturday at 5:00 pm at the amphitheater in the park. Here is a quick little bio on her:

Musical prodigy Jessy J began her journey on the piano at age four, and she enjoyed an active career as a competitive artist, traveling to perform at major conferences, competitions, and festivals. By the age of 15 Jessy was named Piano State Champion, at the Bela Bartok festival in California. At the same time Jessy was also enjoying a successful saxophone career, performing in many state honor bands, including the Grammy Band, and international festivals like the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Fluent in Spanish, the Samba rhythms of Cannonball Adderley's collaborations with Sergio Mendez awakened her Latin Roots. The "sound of the music" called to her and encouraged her to explore. As a teen she studied the recordings of Cannonball Adderley and a lifelong love affair with Jazz began.

Jessy was accepted on scholarship to University of Southern California and graduated as the "Most Outstanding Jazz Student" of her class. Since then, she went on to tour the nation in various capacities and has served as member of the Henry Mancini Jazz Orchestra and the Hispanic Musician Association (HMA) Jazz Orchestra.

Extending her skills from the dance floor, Jessy J danced and played in London and Japan with the Tony and Emmy award- winning company Blast! Intertwining various forms of creative expression was a natural fit for this vibrant artisan.

Jessy has already worked professionally with the World's most popular artists including Jessica Simpson, Michael Buble, Burt Bacharach, the Temptations, and she is currently on tour with Michael Bolton playing sax and singing back up vocals.

Jessy's extreme desire and ambitions have placed her on the "fast track" to success. She has recently finished a smooth jazz project produced by the "Baby Face of Smooth Jazz", Paul Brown and was hand selected by musical genius Paquito D'Rivera to perform alongside him at Carnegie Hall for an event featuring "tomorrows star musicians". Not only have these two multiple Grammy award winning artists sung her praise, she is currently being hailed as "Sexy, irresistible, sensible, the upcoming sax star, soulful, delightful, top notch, fresh, and terrific!".

This will be my first time to get to see her perform live and I'm so excited. Her music is super fun and easy to listen to. I made a new playlist with some of her songs on it on my sidebar. Not only is there going to be great music, but there is supposed to be lots of good food there as well from restaurants and vendors around the Tri-Cities area. So if you're looking for a fun date night -come check it out!

In the morning

It's 7:03 am
I wake up and I feel soooo tired still.
I toss and turn all night. Not being able to sleep is SO frustrating.
Why can I fall sound asleep on the couch, but not in bed?
I'm hot, my family is cold.
I'm uncomfortable.
I have another doctor's appointment to go to this morning.
I want to come home and sleep but I know I won't/can't/will find other things to do.
My brain is foggy, it's hard to think fast.
I feel like I'm moving in slow motion.
Now I'm off to slowly help Kendle get ready.
Just trying to keep my eyes open.......

Goodnight

It's 9:04 pm
Checking email
One child in bed
Sandwiches made for the week
Kitchen cleaned
Football STILL on TV
Second child playing quietly
I'm fading fast
Swollen sore feet
Tired eyes
Feeling the heaviness of babies
Basket of laundry haunting me
Needing bigger pj's
Still tasting garlic from dinner
Mind zig zagging around
Trying to remember everything
Hoping for no heartburn
Hearing the steady hum of the dryer
Too tired for ice cream
Heading to bed and hoping for a good tomorrow.............

End of the Week - Fall is Coming

This busy week is finally coming to a close. I felt a sigh of relief as I got Kendle off to the bus a few minutes ago. September is just one of those crazy busy months where you feel like your whole family is going in completely different directions. We only had one sit down family dinner this week, and we were lucky to do that. Almost every day has been filled with errands, meetings, practices, and work. I hope that soon, (SOON!) I can finally slow down and enjoy these last few months before the twins arrive. Not likely, but I can hope.

It's been hard trying to get ready for these babies to be born. Not knowing really when they are coming is the most difficult thing. I guess one never really knows exactly when their babies will be born, but Kendle was born on her due date and I was induced with Morgan a week before his. So I'm used to being able to count on dates and plan accordingly. As of right now, both babies are average size and weight according to my last ultra sound. My doctor told me I could have really healthy big (by twins standards) babies and could go almost full term with my good track record, (good track record of having 9 and 10 pound babies!?) so December or November is the question. In my mind, I keep picturing having some adorable little swaddled up bundles by Thanksgiving time.

We watched our first college football game last night, which always makes fall a little more of a reality to me. This morning Kendle went to go look outside the window and said "brrrrr mom, the window is cold!" She decided she needed a little jacket to wear to the bus. I love the first few weeks of fall when the mornings turn a little crisper, but the days are still sunny and warm. I go into baking mode, partly because I love treats and partly because I love the way it makes my home smell and feel. For dinners, hearty soups and stews start filling in the weekly menus. Everything starts to feel a little bit cozier.

I'm looking forward to a relaxing Labor Day weekend with the family.

Great Movie For Fall

I saw this preview a few weeks ago when my mother and I took Kendle to a movie. It looks fantastic! It's a true story about Michael Oher who now plays professional football for the Baltimore Ravens. A family took him in during his time of need and helped him become what he is today. This reminds me that we can all do something to help make someone else's life a little better.






To read more about Michael's accomplishments and history click here.

Exhausted

Yesterday was one of those days where I was just dead on my feet by the end of the night. The kids and I were all in bed by 9:00. Is anyone else suffering from first day of school hangover? I'm hoping today is less crazy. Kendle was off to catch the bus this morning by 8:00 and Morgan is just waking up. He is starting to not take naps as well in the afternoons, which means that by 5:00 when I'm getting dinner ready he is a little beast and very cranky, which in turn makes me pretty cranky. Last night was a perfect example of that as he laid on the kitchen floor throwing a huge tantrum. Riley was gone to coach soccer by 5:15, so I told Kendle I'd make her whatever she wanted for dinner in honor of her being back in school and she wanted french toast. That sounded good to me too. It's amazing how some yummy food can calm everyone down and pretty soon the kids were munching away and happy as can be. I felt like a magician with my magic spatula in hand.

Today will be a lot slower paced and relaxed, (not counting piano and soccer, but I don't have to deal with that until later in the afternoon). I'm thinking positive that it is going to be a good day!