maid

I don't know how many times today I thought it would be VERY nice to have a maid! I still didn't get everything I needed done. Between playdoh on the floor and kitchen table and having to sweep up everytime the kids played with it and many loads of laundry that I still haven't folded all of it and the numerous times my house looked like a daycare and I picked up most of it I can say that I am tired and wish I had a maid.

puddles

We have been doing ALOT of puddle jumping the last two days. It is free. The kids both LOVE it and they could do it forever and it takes up alot of their energy and it is outside time. Probably not the safest thing for them to do with all the chemicals out there in the puddles on the roads and stuff but I am trying not to think about that. I just like to see them laugh, smile, jump, splash, and get very wet and smell like drowned rats. And Grace was so unhappy about being done she could have gone on forever. She cried all the way to the car and being told she would get a cookie, pasta, shower these all didn't work. And when we got home a shower made it all better. We have been in our pj's and comfyies all day with the exeption of putting on pants for our trial walk to jump in puddles but Grace I have to admit was in her pj's and boots I knew for a fact she was going to get messy so I didn't even change her when we left this am. Just put her in clean pj's after her shower. I see lots of rain boots in our future and lots of puddles thank goodness we live in Oregon. :)

love happens

Last night I stayed up to watch the movie Love Happens. It was pretty cute I liked it alot. DeOna recommended it and so I netflixed it and thought why not watch it tonight. So I did. It had so many good parts and made me think about when life sucks that in reality life could be worse and it is what you make of it and how you fix it and that it will be okay. Totally recommend it! It was filmed in Seattle and I thought it was filmed here in OC but I didn't see anything that looked like it. I know Jennifer Aniston did a movie here cause they had movie stuff across the street a couple years back. So if you want to enjoy a chick flick with your man this might be the movie for you cause DeOna's husband liked it to!

Happy Memorial Day! Today we are giong to go out and walk if it gets sunny and jump in puddles. My goal today is not spend any money and to clean both kids rooms and declutter their toys and give them to friends that need the toys and have babies coming up and go through the kiddos clothes and get down to the mattress on Hunter's bed to clean it of his pee since some nights I forget to put on a pull up and of course it is that night he isn't dry.

Going to try to take pictures today of the kiddos to get them more used to getting them taken especially together shots.

me.

I am trying to make me feel beautiful. I stopped trying in the past and didn't keep up with how I looked, not sure why not but that is the past and it is time for change, right? Today, I got my haircut. I have been trying to grow my hair long since last August. There was a reason I was but I am still doing it for that reason and I want to see how long I can get it this August. I also got my eyebrows waxed today. I haven't done this in years don't remember when not sure why I have grown them to earworms length but I did. I am working on me. I bought nail envy last week for my nails and trying to make them look nice and pretty. Going to try to wear makeup. Why not. My excuse is no time which is true but I am tired of looking at the bags under my eyes and everyone else probably is to. I am going to use my stash of makeup should buy new kind but gonna save and use what I got first. Going to try to keep my teeth whitened going to get into my teeth whitening stuff and if it is too old and expired than maybe check into how much it costs and save up for that. Been using lotions more trying to take the time to sit down and put it on with kids running around me only in diapers or underware why not they like to run around half naked anyways. So that is basically it gonna try to make myself feel beautiful and see how that works. Gotta work on me to be an example to the kids that they need to be comfortable with who they are and that has been a big problem for me. Not anymore going to try to make an effort to make me feel and look beautiful. Going to even make an effort to do yoga. Going to try to save money to take photo classes to feel like I can accomplish something I like and finish something. I hate pictures taken of me but I asked my mom to today with me and the kids. Here they are. Wish one person was in them but at least I am since I never really was cause I was taking the picture or didn't want to be taken a picture of but I am trying to be better. I really don't consider this a family picture just a picture of me and my kids. Enjoy these pics of me learning and working towards feeling beautiful by working on me and what makes me feel beautiful inside and out. :)

PS...I don't look great cause neither child nor myself wanted to sit still for these pictures that is why we aren't the best looking. Forced photos aren't for me and the kids but at least I tried. Hunter and I are both scowling in the picture of us. Nice. Grace wasn't going to sit still for the life of her.

Colbie Caillat

She is my new favorite singer! Anybody have her CD's that I can borrow? I promise to give them back! I have her on Pandora but would like to hear her in the car and house. What do you guys think of her do you like her or not? I have only heard a couple of songs but I like the words on her songs.

names

I am bored. Hunter isn't asleep yet and I can't read my book in the living room until he is asleep. So I thought why not share with you how the kiddos got their nicknames. I am into nicknames and I have given alot of my friends and family nicknames in the past but slowed down on them in the last few years. Not sure why just did. Anywho, the kiddos. Hunter got Hunter Bear from his Aunt Lindsey she has called him that since I think his birth. I think she started calling him her little bear and than she came up with Hunter Bear and it kinda stuck. So I didn't come up with that one. I still call him it everyonce in awhile especially if I keep getting on his case and keep calling him Hunter Thomas all day long cause he isn't listening or obeying I try to put it in there just for his sanity and mine. I have also called him Buddy since he was born and so does alot of the family. It just seems to fit any little boy I even call Nate that and almost every little boy that I have to give shots to or little guys that aren't happy at the clinic.

I gave Grace the name mouse. Not sure when but I think it was when she was born maybe even one of the days that it was just her and I in the hospital. She was so tiny when she was born that she looked like a tiny little mouse cause her head was full of black/brown hair and she had side burns to her cheeks and she was so small like a mouse. I guess I could have called her anything cause she was so small but mouse just fit. Some family calls her that to but mostly she gets called Gracie. I call her Grace more than Gracie not sure why but I do. But I call her mouse alot.

So there you go. The way my kids got their nicknames. Hunter is still awake so this is going to be a long night.

pigs

This morning the kids and I went and saw Riley and Spencer's pigs. They were showing them at the fair and we went and saw them and pigs, sheep, and cows. They had a great time. They held on to my hands like pros and listened and obeyed pretty well. I was impressed. Grace had never wore rain boots before and she was wearing Hunter's old ones and they were way to big on her so she walked alittle slower but she told me "I walk" and so I let her. Hunter had a blast! He wasn't sure about the animals at first but kept wanting to go see the pigs when we were seeing the other animals. He didn't want to touch them or go in their pins he was fine just looking at them. His eyes were huge and he wasn't missing a thing. He kept wanting to find Riley and Spencer when we went to look at the rest of the animals I think it was because he wanted to see the pigs. Now Grace is another story. She also was a pro but the pigs kinda scared her. They were almost as tall as her and they were noisy and screaming at some point. She was fine being held and being above the pigs and would say pig when asked what they were. We lost her boot at one point but found it and she didn't go far from Hunter and I. When we went to see the sheep and cows she knew what they were and was making their sounds. I of course was helping her with them. We went back to the pigs and I was trying to take their picture but I think Grace thought I was leaving her with the pigs cause I had to stand back to take her picture so she started crying. At one point we had stopped to look at a very, big black and white pig and he came up to the fence and Grace was watching him and all of a sudden he sneezed and she jumped and had a major melt down cause it scared her. She was done with the pigs. We went and found Riley and Spencer at the pig show ring and said goodbye. Grace found a small puddle and started splashing a first for her cause normally when I take Hunter and her for a walk for him to go jump in puddles she is in the stroller. Not this time. She knew exactly what to do. There was this huge puddle that Hunter went to and had a blast and I just let Grace go in it to. Yep, she fell down on her butt got all wet and Hunter splashed so much that both kids were soaked from the puddle but I knew I had a change of clothes in the car. I didn't think they would be drowned rats so we went and saw Pa and he let the kids use his shower and bath and they were happy, clean kiddos. Here are some pics and you can tell who enjoyed the pigs and who didn't. :) Every picture Grace is not happy and that is why her head is down.

Don't they look so cute in their raincoats, rainboots, and hats?! To bad all of those items have to washed because of puddle fun! Oh well kids will be kids.

playing!

The kids and I have been playing, playing, playing. Long weekend ahead and I am a little scared of it but I think I have alot of house work, laundry, watching chick flicks, reading my book,and playing in my future for the next 3 days. I finally am taking pictures.

We played with Leggo's. I actually had these hidden for awhile cause I didn't want Grace to eat them so I think this was her first time playing with them.

Yes, Grace is putting a leggo in her mouth! She didn't after that though. Playing with AquadoodlePlaying with banks and quarters.

Here is some artwork that the kiddos have done and I put them on the kitchen door. Ladybugs and tulips. Two of my favorite things. Don't the ladybugs look huge like spiders? Love ladybugs not a fan of spiders, though.

Strange...

Hunter went to bed again at 8:45pm and Grace is asleep and I think he will be soon! This is getting too strange! What am I to do with all this free time?! Hunter usually doesn't fall asleep until 9:45pm what am I to do with an hour? I went to bed last night right after I posted my last post but couldn't fall asleep my mind was just thinking, dreaming, wishing, wondering, and stressing. Wanna hear something else strange? Misha. She must be getting into her adolescent years cause she stopped pooing on the porch a few months back and now she hangs out in the rain on the porch. This dog would not go outside even to go to the bathroom if it was raining and she used to hate walking in wet grass. Tonight she spent almost 2 hours hanging out in the rain on the porch. Yes, she is a wet, smelling dog right now but she seems pretty happy. No she still isn't eating to par but at least she doesn't let her food wait a week in the bowl. She is almost down to the last of her food in the bin and I now know what Peaches eats so Misha better start eating!

joe-joe's

These are Trader Jo's Oreo's. The kids love them. Hunter eats them up whole, but for some reason and I didn't teach her this Grace takes them apart and eats the middle. She is pretty funny goes for the best part. I tried to get the kids to drink the carrot/apple juice cruishers from Trader Jo's but Hunter tried it first and said yuck so you know what Grace did cause he did it. Bought two boxes looks like Cousin Nate gets the other box and hope he likes them. I try so hard to get veggies in these kids and try to use all my resources but nope didn't work. Thanks Jessi for the info though! I even tried giving them Z-bars that my mom got for me for them and nope they were not into them. Going to try for round 2-3 this weekend.

Also, both kids are in bed and I think asleep and it is 9:00pm! They both headed to their beds at 8:45pm! Hunter has two girls he played with today that he seemed to enjoy and Ma and I told him they would be there tomorrow so he needed to go to bed early. Being reminded this evening must have triggered him to go to bed when I told him Grace was! If only this could happen every night. :)

candles

I love candles. There is something about rain and candles. I had used up all my candles that I had around the house that I had to get my candle stash that I put away when I decluttered my house so now I have some more to burn! I think a person can not have too many candles. I just checked my phone and it is supposed to rain all week so I see myself using up alot of wax this week. I also have 2 fake candles that I got for Christmas it was a 3 piece set but one of the kiddos lost the battery back and I had to toss it cause it was a battery hazard waiting to happen and Grace was chewing the side. But I have two on a timer and I love them! I hope Costco gets them again this year cause I would love to get more! Nothing better than a fake candle to light up on its own and light for hours and be safe for kiddos.

I still haven't taken out my camera yet. Hopefully tomorrow I do. Not sure why I am gun shy about it. I messed it up at my class and I am not sure how to fix it other than take the next class that is a two nighter to see if the guy will tell me how to make it better. Maybe will see.

Gonna get the fabric out of the pantry tomorrow. Thought about it at work today and meant to do it when I got home but my Costco run was long and Grace wasn't happy with the trip so I forgot about the pantry other than tossing Costco stuff in it. I love a full house of food and kid stuff to have on hand. I also like to see how long I can last on what I have and see if I can not go to the store other than to buy milk, which I seem to do every 3 days I am buying 2 jugs. My kids love milk and I am trying to drink more of their Vit D milk to cause why not?

I am reading Red Tent. I am still trying to figure out who is who and when a book has more than 3 names to remember I get lost. It doesn't help that their is 4 wives in it. Crazy but someone recommended it for me and I am borrowing the book. Kiddos are in bed and I am deciding if I should watch Food Revolution or not I have two more episodes. Or start watching Love Happens that I netflixed, DeOna recommended it. Decisions.

Misha has had the same food in her bowl for probably a week I don't even remember the last time I put food in it. Is she dieting? No. Stress? Maybe. More food that she can steal from Grace? Probably. Sick of her food and likes Peaches food better? Probably. Picky dog. Stealing the cats food cause she knows where it is at now? Yes. Dang dog. I am going to toss the food in her bowl right now and give her fresh and she better eat it! No Peaches food until she is down to nibbles in her food bin. I love her to death but she is on my budget plan. Eat what you got than you can try something new. If I tell her that maybe she will start eating again :)

potty

Cousin Nate sits on the potty now and I thought why not try Grace on it. Big mistake. The kiddos were going to take a shower and when she was all naked I put her on it and she sat on the toliet like a pro and I thought she would go but I asked her and she said no and wanted paper but in her words and was pointing to the toliet paper. When and where did she learn this? From Hunter from daycare from hanging out with me in the bathroom? So I gave her a piece and she knew what to do and than wanted more. But she needed a shower so I put her in it with Hunter. When she was done she wanted "to sit" and went to the toliet so I thought why not. She did the same as above with no pee and I messed up her world and took her off to get her pj's on and she was in an uproar cause she wanted "to sit". When she was dressed I put her on the lid of the toliet which was cool for 1/2 a minute and than she got off and tried to get the toilet seat up and was unhappy with me cause I said no and she threw a fit and wanted "to sit". What have I created?! Will see how tomorrow goes but I think she and Nate might get trained way before Hunter did. He is doing awesome with pottying. He hasn't had any accidents that I know of and I still put him in a pull up at night but will stop when I run out of those. He is such a big boy and I can't believe that maybe Grace will be there before she is two will see. Where did my babies go? Where did the time go? Is this why I have gray hair in certain areas? Must be. Gotta jet I am eating whoppers they are my new candy of choice to get my weight back on. Wore my bathing suit the other night and it didn't fit and almost fell off. Not cool. Whoppers and milkshakes here I come. :)

My daughter is a pro now at saying the word "no". She even shakes her head no when she says it. And she knows what it means and when she means no she means it. Where did my sweet baby go and when did she become such a big girl?

No more highchairs :(

I just cleaned up the last highchair we had in the house. I am trying to sell it on craigslist for $50 so if anyone needs one let me know I got pics and everything! We do have a wooden chair for the kids can't remember the name but Grace kept slipping down it and hitting her head on every level till she got to the floor and it is still a little to big for her. I had to put it in the shed. So we have four regular chairs at the table and Grace sits on her knees and Misha loves it cause food falls on the floor more. It is so weird not to have anymore highchairs in the house. I sold the one we had with Hunter that we used with Grace a month or so ago on craigslist so I am hoping the one my mom had that Grace liked better will sell too! You know your kids are big when you don't have highchairs anymore. :(

We planted seeds this morning on the porch. When I got the booda dome cat litter boxs for the cats I accidently got 2 bases by mistake they were stuck together so I was going to return it but I didn't my bad. I used it as a potting source and Hunter put the dirt in and we used his Burgerville Garden lettuce seeds and filled it up. Hopefully it will come out with a lovely arrangement of lettuce. Will see. We also potted sunflowers in the little pots that came with the kids meal at Burgerville. The kids had fun planting and now the pots and "cat litter bottom" are hanging out on the porch table waiting to be watered by rain and than Hunter says they need sun after that.

I am thinking about getting all my fabric out and doing something with it to get rid of it and clean up those bins to use for other things. Just an idea will see if it happens and if I can sew with two very curious monkey's

I love Tamales! Especially from Trader Jo's. Grace and I went today and she would not sit in the cart I had to carry her. My poor arm. I think it was because we didn't have Hunter with us it was just a date with me and my girl. I got my Munster cheese, frozen Tamales, and new dog treats for Misha and we were set. I would have got more but between holding Grace, my big purse, and a basket of stuff my trip was quick. Now I am eating my Tamale, yummy.