Just the Beginning of Spring Break and I'm Already Exhausted!

Spring Break has already been fun-filled and technically, it only started today :)

Started with free entertainment. Who knew that appliance delivery men could be entertaining, but the boys loved it. I had just set lunch in front of the boys, so the men had an audience . . . not planned, just a timing thing.

Before

The twins have never been so quiet during a meal. They watched their every move. And Cam, he couldn't stop asking questions.

"What are they doing" "What is that tool" "How are they going to get that out" "I know that's a screwdriver" "Wow, you guys are strong" "Oh, we get new ones" "He got water on the floor" "Mom, I think they are talking Spanish like Dora" "Uno, Dos, Tres" "Are you talking Spanish like Dora" "It doesn't fit" "Why is he under there"

It was constant and annoying and adorable all at the same time. I think all the questions may have hurried them a little, which was fine by me :)  :)  :)

It's always entertaining watching people try to be polite to children when they throw question after question at them. First, they answer politely, then the answers get shorter, and then they start to pretend not to hear them.

All in under an hour . . .

After

I now have 4 burners that work . . . we've been using 3 for a while and just this past week I was down to 2 and no oven :(  And the dishwasher should have really been replaced a year ago, but sometimes you just have to work with what you got.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

We left shortly after the girls got home from school and didn't arrive in FDL until nearly midnight. That's an eight hour trip.

But along the way, we stopped at KC's work, went out to dinner with him, stopped at Risa & John's and played with a house full of kids waiting for KC to get done with work so we could carpool the rest of the way.

We hadn't been to FDL since Thanksgiving, the visit was long overdue.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

On Saturday morning we went to visit Grandpa S's hydroponics lab at Moraine Park. The kids got to try a bunch of different leaves that tasted like: lemons, licorice, and mint. They each ate a cherry tomato and KC was tempted by a single hanging ghost pepper :)

Grandpa's got quite the garden growing in there. It makes me want to start up a greenhouse . . . maybe at the next house :)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Then the boys went down for a nap (including KC) and the girls, Grandma S and I headed to Oshkosh. We went to the "Art in the Garden" Fine Art Show & Sale that is put on by the Altrusa International Club of Oshkosh every year at the Hilton Garden Inn.

My mother has put pieces in the show for the last few years and sold there, this was our first chance going. We all loved the trip :)

We all got to vote for our favorite pieces

My favorites were by, of course, My Sassy Glass . . . being family, she got our vote, but she deserved it with a beautiful wire-wrapped necklace she created :)

Mom, you need to do more wire-wrapped and beaded pieces . . . they are beautiful!

Also getting my vote, "What a Relief", by Randy Detjen from Two Rivers, WI. He made his artwork from drywall compound on drywall. Who knew someone could make drywall compound so beautiful.

This is an example of his work, not the piece in the competition. I think I'm going to have to try out this technique :) I need a studio . . . again, in my next house.

And "Wildlife Drawings" by Paul Dominguez, he was an artist that used colored pencils on wood.

Again, example of his work, not the competition piece. Simple supplies, beautiful results! This guy was full of personality and more importantly to me, inspired my Zoe to do a piece for the school talent show. Her school has an art gallery, for the kids with talent, other then performing in front of a crowd. She is working on her rough-sketch now.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Then we had KC's fave chicken and dumpling soup for dinner and then went to my parent's for a visit where KC ate his second dinner, another fave, Eaton's Pizza :)

We visited while Emmitt showed off his walking skills, Castiel showed off his climbing skills & Cameron, well, he just showed off :)

Grandpa B cut Zoe some boards so she could test her colored pencil on wood skills. There's enough for Audrey to try too, if she wants. Which I'm sure she will :)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sunday morning I made a quick trip to the store and decided to drive down Main Street to check out changes in my home town. Biggest disappointment was "Arbuckles" a bar that we used to hang out at had changed to "Ziggy's" . . . which, to me,  just seemed wrong!

And then I got lost. A town that I used to know inside and out . . . I couldn't find my way back to the in-laws house. I always recognized where I was, but in the big picture, I couldn't figure out where I was. So I had to backtrack, I guess 7 years of not visiting often has confused me . . . but anyone that knows me, knows I'm not so good with directions.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Then, the whole reason we made the trip to my hometown. A 35th birthday party at the

The rollerskating rink that we used to go to . . . long ago. The funniest thing about going back is that I don't think it's changed a bit, LOL. Same carpeting, same sinks outside the bathroom, same lockers, same giant dice . . . even the same brown & orange skates. Same everything.

My high school friend had invited a bunch girls and their daughters :) Great idea! My girl's loved it, first time skaters. So that meant me skating with them both clinging to an arm. I think in a weird way, we all held each other up. I was just thankful not to take a spill.

Why is it that high school friends never seem to age. Maybe we all are aging at the same rate, so we don't notice it. But these girls all looked very much the same as they did in high school . . . we just all had our own kids around our ankles this time. Our own little mini-me's. Trust me, there is no way we looked like 35 year olds skating with our kids. . . or did we???

It was great to see all you girls & catch up a little :) Thank you Jackie, we had a blast. The girls are already planning their next trip back . . . we'll let you know if you want to give it another go-around :)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Then back to Risa & John's to drop off daddy, eat dinner and run off some energy.

Back home at 9pm, everyone exhausted. Van unpacked, pj's on all 5 kids & everyone was in bed sleeping by 9:30 . . . including me :)

Now . . . real Spring Break begins . . . I wish the weather would warm up for us, just a little . . . please?!?

eBay Crazy not so Cameron Crazy :(

So . . . I've been cleaning my house and throwing stuff in boxes that I want to try selling on eBay.

I haven't been paying much attention to the amount of stuff I have been accumulating.

That was, until today . . . I started pulling out all the boxes, there were 6 of them filled with random items.

Today I played, eBay catch up. Since my goal is 400 items by Easter . . . I have to get going on it.

Today I listed 104 items, so even if I only make the .99 cents I started each item at (because it's free), it will be almost a one-hundred dollar day, which isn't bad for a stay-at-home mom :) I already have some bids . . . so exciting!
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Yesterday, KC chaperoned Audrey's class trip to the zoo. It wasn't a beautiful day, but they didn't get rained on.

He was a little worried about the size of the group he would be responsible for. He was happy when he found out it was only 4.

This note also made him wonder what he was getting himself into.

I love it when people can have a sense of humor about things :) Simple humor is lacking these days, I love being surprised by humor when it's not expected :)

He didn't lose any of his kids, but by the end of the day one of them was falling asleep on a bench :)

Both Audrey and KC came home with stories of their day . . . I loved listening to the excitement in Audrey's voice, just as in her daddy's :) Still a child at heart!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

What I don't love.

Is that my husband is sick.

Sick over the end of a season.

When Duke loses . . . it takes the extra spark out of our daddy.

Suddenly the tournament doesn't seem as important to follow.

I tease and always pick another team to win the tournament, but I know that it's better for the whole family if Duke goes all the way.

Sorry Honey :(

But I'm still in this thing . . . "Go Florida!" . . . small out of respect :)

I Believe In Messy Cleaning

Am I the only one that believes that a huge mess needs to be made to make something really clean?

Sure, a closet can be organized and things can be pulled out that are no longer needed and a person can clean one area at a time . . . . but that's not how I do it.

I believe in total destruction.

That's my entire closet spewed into the room.

Here's the empty proof.

I don't know why I do this to myself. Maybe it's in the motivation that I have no choice but to finish the project before I go to bed.

I knew that my closet would be a huge project. I have been pregnant four times, and the weight gains and losses have been going on for 10 years now. Now my weights back down and I am done being pregnant, so lots of the clothes can go. The maternity clothes have been gone, it's all the in-between sizes that I've kept for "before and after".

I knew my closet had to be done because the "date night" I just had . . . I had to dust a layer off my nice black shoes before putting them on. Dressing up doesn't happen as much as I'd like it to around here. The dust was just proof that I have to get out more :)

I did what I set out to when the day started.

Both sides, nice and neat. And only what I wanted went back in. I donated about 12 pairs of shoes, tons of t-shirts and sweatshirts, comfy pants, jeans, purses, belts, scarves. I packed away winter and put in my summer clothes (a little early, but I'm being optimistic).

There is room to spare!

So, with a clean room, you'd think I'd be happy with that and leave it like that for a while.

Nope. KC doesn't know it yet, but I have a little project waiting for him when he gets home from the school zoo trip with Audrey's class today.

I'm not trying to be cruel, but he'll be home early today and I'll have time to have him go through it. It's only 3 drawers of the dresser (50 t-shirts, 30 boxers, 15 atletics pants, about 50 pairs of socks and 5 swim trunks).

I'm hoping he's not too mad . . . it's on my list of 40 areas in 40 days . . . I'm just seizing my opportunity to cross this one off.

It's his closet and top drawer that is going to be the fight :)

Wish me luck . . . I'm just hoping that he gets rid of enough so I don't have to do the stuff and shove to close the drawers on laundry day :)

Have to Feed the Boys Lunch and Get Back to Cleaning!

I May Just Finish This For Real!!!

Not So "Super" Moon :(

The Supermoon was definitely not the brightest that I've ever seen . . . at times it was barely visible with the layer of clouds covering it.

The street light was brighter.

But it was "super" . . . date night!!!

Grandma decided to change the angle of the pic, mid-pic, but it works :)

With KC's parents visiting, we took advantage. It's only our second date this year, but we're trying. We went out to Biaggis, our favorite Italian restaurant. Pomegranate Martini, Penne Sardi and Chocolate Cake . . . yummy!

With March Madness going on, I was shocked that KC made reservations at a restaurant with no t.v.'s :)

That was the "first half of the date" (my half).

Then KC decided we should stop at Fox's Pub, a new place in town, for a drink on the way home. This was the "second half of the date" (his half). We were at the bar with the Wisconsin game playing on a big screen 5 feet in front of us. Great game, much less conversation :)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Had a great weekend with KC's family, well, of course, my family too. Kids got spoiled and entertained and they loved all the extra attention. Castiel had everyone holding him as much as possible and Emmitt showed off his new walking skills. The kids keep calling me "grandma" since they left.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
We also had a house showing on Saturday, with all our company here. I had lots of help picking up. But then . . . they showed up a half hour early! The 7 of us, Grandpa and Grandma, Auntie and Cousin Jack all poured out of the house as fast as we could. Really, lately I'm not having much luck with these showings, early . . . late, I can't win. They said they'd be back, I'm hoping so :)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The kids all played "Headbanz"on Friday night. You put a picture card on your forehead and asked questions to try to figure out what it is. Cameron, as usual, was hilarious. He couldn't, not look at his card. He always snuck a peek. But he was smart enough not to guess what he was right away either.

Example: "SHEEP" . . . " Can I be eaten" "Yes" "No I can't, am I fluffy?" "Am I a marshmallow?" "Am I a sheep?" and then proud that he "guessed" correctly, he'd give a proud 2 thumbs up. I was impressed that he at least played along.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
And we ended the weekend relaxing . . . or running our little hearts out some more.

Odyssey Fun World in Naperville

Yeah, no pressure keeping track of 5 children here!

I didn't get any pics of the girls, they were off running with their friends :)

Kids had a great time . . . thank you neighbor's for having your birthday party at such a fun place!

The girls did bumper cars and laser tag, rides and each got 40 tokens each, which lead to lots of tickets . . . that, of course, they are used to "buy" candy for the car ride home. Cam cashed in 150 tickets for a bag of Swedish Fish :)

And I was able to leave with the same five children I came with, without having to use the intercom system to locate any of them. Very proud of that, the place was HUGE.

And the kids all went to bed early :)

THE END (to a very long but fun weekend)

Duke Wins By a Landslide!

We awoke to a threatening letter on the kitchen table.

Cameron was seriously concerned that Daddy was made at him.

Then I had to help a very confused "Duke" fan get dressed :)

He was very happy to have help from a "Florida" fan :)

Green Eggs and Ham

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Cam does not eat eggs easily for me. He does eventually, but it's always a fight.

So . . . to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Cam's teachers decided to feed a bunch of 3 years olds green eggs and ham in school today.

His teacher brought him out to the car and said, "He loved the green eggs and ham, he asked for seconds. He might not be to hungry for lunch."

Cam on the way home said "I don't like your eggs, but green ones are good and they were scrambled." I said, "But I make you scrambled." Cam answered, "But these were good scrambled."

So does this mean that I need to add food coloring from now on?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Daddy bought the girls light up earrings to wear for St. Patrick's Day.

Sun-drench picture . . . now the clouds have rolled in :(

She is one of her "funky" moods today, only would gave me a half smile.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The girls did Jump Rope for Heart today. Zoe won the boys a new mini basketball :) Cam is loving her for it, he's been carrying it around all afternoon.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
I went to 3 teacher's conference today with all 5 kids. It took 2 separate outings, but they were all great for me.

The girls are both doing excellent in school. Audrey is getting a little "chatty" and Zoe needs to work with kids outside her circle of friends more . . . but academically strong for both of them. It's nice hearing good, I'm hoping that the boys will follow suit.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Emmitt has figured out shaking his head for "no" and nodding his head for "yes". Suddenly he seems like an expert :) Non-verbal but definitely understanding.

And Castiel is still standing in his highchair :(

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Tonight I rolled out a full garbage can and a full recycling bin. I have realized that I will easily be filling them up a few weeks in a row.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
And this video will clarify Cam's pick from last night . . . without the influence of daddy!

Can I hear a  "GO FLORIDA!!!" And the war has begun :)
Louisville has already totally destroyed my bracket. Day 1, losing a Final Four team, not good :(

Instead of a Bedtime Story

Yes, he has brain-washed our 3 older children . . . 2 left to go :)

They all picked Duke to win in the Final game . . . well, I don't know about Cam, LOL!!!

Lots & Lots Today!!!

First off . . . we had daddy home . . . very exciting!

We've been working on Audrey's Leprechaun Trap all week. A little at a time. She drew out a plan of what she wanted it to look like, so I could find the supplies needed.

And this is what it looked like when she went to bed last night. She was very proud, but felt like it was missing something. She needed glittery shamrock stickers to finish the bottom and we put daddy on a mission to find them on his way home from work.

Daddy stopped at a few places, unable to find any stickers, so he brought home something better :)

Light up shamrocks!!! She was VERY happy.

So the Leprechaun will be attracted to the trap by the lights, gold coins and "welcome" sign. He will climb the ladder to the top of the rainbow, try to climb the beads to get the shamrock, but he'll slip on the beads and fall into the hole. She's very clever.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

This afternoon I started going through paper. I emptied 3 boxes, took lots of pics, made keep boxes for everyone and started recycling :)

Now I have a place to go with what I REALLY want to keep. My favorites I kept. There was a lot that was easy to toss. Then there was the stuff I took a picture of, held my breath and threw it away. Some of it was hard to part with, but I'm proud of myself for doing it. I kept telling myself "You have about 15 more boxes of this stuff to go through, you can't keep everything".

Ended the project today with a nice, neat stack :) And room to spare in all the boxes.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Daddy took the day off today because it was Zoe's Science Fair :) And outings with lots of wandering people and 3 boys aren't a fun combination by myself.

Zoe worked so hard on her project. We were so proud of her.

Her teacher came up and told us that her project was a big hit with the kids in her class :)

Zoe was right inside the door. She was funny. "At times there were swarms of people around me."

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

We walked home from the Fair. The boys in their double stroller. They missed there afternoon nap, we let them be out for a little bit, but they were tired. 

The neighbor kids came over to play. It was probably only in the high 50's, but after a long winter, it feels more like 70's to all of us :) Beautiful! K.C. pumped up tires on many of the bikes. Even for some of the neighborhood girls.  While I organized the garage, so I can fit more boxes :) I also went around the house and cut down the died flowers from last season.

The girls only have a half day tomorrow, hoping the weather holds out so we can enjoy the outdoors more tomorrow . . . rain in the forecast.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

NCAA tournament starts tomorrow. Having the biggest Duke fan living under the roof, March Madness is always an event in our home. This is the month daddy picks his favorite children. (The ones that have Duke going all the way) The kids are making there picks tonight.

I have Florida vs. Duke in the final! Florida taking it all. I just hope to beat Cameron with my picks :) I am not sucking up to KC having Duke in the finals, they are always a great team and usually I have them out in the Final Four, but my bracket is always a loser . . . I can't possibly pick them to win it all.

Go Florida!!! 

Mmmm, the smell of paint!!!

I did what I do best. I got side-tracked.

Today, I gave myself an easy area of the house to conquer. The storage space/closet under the stairs. I knew I had boxes already packed in there, ready to go. Easy adds to my 80 box tally :)

I emptied it all. Made a "go to garage pile" and a "put back pile" and a "go somewhere else pile".

Half of this area is carpeted, and the other half is concrete. I vacuumed it all out. Got rid of spider webs and a couple of spiders in the process.

Then "me" hit. I looked at the walls. Once white. Now gray with scuffs. It actually looked like someone walked on the slanted ceiling.

I looked at the clock and decided I had the time. And went to where I store all the paint leftovers. Found a white and started painting. (A free project, love them.)

It took me less than 45 minutes. And I was done long before the girls got home from school or the boys woke from their naps.

I know it's only a closet. It's only a closet! But now it's a clean, organized, white closet :)

Is it weird that a closet makeover makes me happy? I just figure that this is the beginning . . . I already have my eye on some other walls around here :)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
I have 16 boxes packed already. Usually I hate when my husband has to stay at his sisters or mine (to cut down on all the driving he has to do) but my garage is starting to fill up. I think it might be time for an overnight, so these boxes can be taken to storage (a.k.a my wonderful sisters's basements). LOVE you guys :)

Two Hours Til Clean

I'm bored.

So I got a call yesterday to show the house (fingers crossed!). But this living life so that your house is completely clean within a 2 hour window is . . . boring.

The two hour thing has only happened to me once, usually they are kind enough to give about a 12 hour head start. But that one time was a lot of fast, hard work.

So, I try to keep on top of everything, so I can keep my sanity.

But then today. Showings at 4:30 and my house is clean. The boys are napping. The girls are at school. And me, I don't know what to do with myself.

I have lots of projects to do. But they are all messy projects. Ones that I would be silly and stupid to start now.

So I have my blog and my facebook . . . and I wait.

Because very soon, the girls will be home, the boys will wake and I will have to pack them all in the car and leave this clean house . . . before they mess it up on me.

And something to look forward to. Tonight, no dishes, no cleaning my already clean kitchen . . . it's a McDonald's night. I kind of have to, 4:30 - 5:30 showing, kinda cuts into the preparing dinner and eating dinner time for this house.

So, these people better buy my house, because this time it's costing me money to leave!

Please buy my house, please buy my house, please buy my house

"Creations By My Children" . . . and yes, I know I'm Crazy :)

After just a few months with my blog . . . I have added another blog. "Creations By My Children", I know, a little crazy, a little over board . . . but that's how I do things.

But, I am totally justifying it. Because it is going to serve a very important purpose. It is to help me with another one of my 2011 Goals, "Kids School Papers".

Like I said, I have papers everywhere. LOTS of school papers, LOTS of artwork, and LOTS of memories. I seriously have boxes and boxes of the stuff.

Random boxes around the house

My last attempt of trying to organinze

Baby Books/Boxes/Photo Albums

Notice (1987) yes, memories from my past

More random boxes

And yes, more random boxes - I know, it's a weakness of mine!

We got a brand new, HUGE recycle bin last week, and that inspired me. My goal this week is to fill this Recycle Bin with paper. I could probably fill it 2 weeks in a row, if I stay motivated. I am not just going to purge the paper. I am taking baby steps.

My camera is going on the tripod and I will take lots and lots of photos. I am keeping the memory, without having to keep the actual memory.

My "other blog" is my memory book of the past. Things I want to get rid of, but can't. It's funny how a silly little piece of paper, or movie ticket, or hospital wristband would mean something to me . . . but I hold onto it, because they are little pieces of my children's lives. And I refuse to become a hoarder, so on to my solution :)

So I'm going to think of it as my Online Scrapbook of Memories Past. It'll mean more to me then any of you, but it's there, so if you want to take a look from time to time, be my guest :)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Also, I have finished the kitchen. I went through EVERYTHING! I packed up 5 boxes, have 2 boxes of stuff to sell on eBay and got rid of the extra cabinet (I know you're proud of me KT). My lent goal is to pack 2 boxes a day, eBay 10 things a day and clean the entire house in 40 days. Yes, I know . . . that's 80 boxes packed, 400 things on eBay, and 12 rooms in 40 days . . . but I don't sit or sleep as much as I should, so I think it might be do-able :)  I'm not Catholic, but I follow Clover Lane, and again, got inspired . . . I'm starting to think that I'm ADHD, but I think that is sometimes a good thing when you're an adult :) . . . . I also drink LOTS of coffee!

Daddy/Daughter Dance

We didn't even ask daddy if he'd go to the dance. He works so much that we just assumed no . . . but lucky for the girls that daddy hasn't been feeling so well.

He stayed home today to rest, because he has to work all weekend, and the girls saw there opportunity. Zoe asked me if they could go, and I told her that I wasn't the one she had to ask :)

Even with a Duke game playing, how could he ever say no this these two.

He did offer the girls $5.00 each if they could just stay home and watch the game . . . and the offer went up to $10.00 before they walked out the door, but these are the opportunities that we as parents have to take advantage of . . . before they don't want us to part of it.