Too Many Paint Fumes?

Quips from our painter...

"Are all three of them twins?"

"I have more respect for murderers and drug dealers than thieves."

"I'm taking this with me (pointing to our toilet paper)."

"I've got a bed like that, 'cept mine has mirrors on the top."

"Dang! That's the biggest bathroom I've ever seen!"

"(Referring to his boss being a Jehovah's Witness) What does that mean? Does he believe in God and stuff? You can tell me. I promise I won't tell him you said anything."

Turkey Turkey Turkey

My first turkey venture was a success. It could have been taken out a little sooner, but overall, everything was delicious. Along with the turkey, I made stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, and sweet potato casserole. Then Saturday, we did it all again, but our friends were kind enough to bring the side dishes, so all we had to do was the turkey and stuffing.

The baking of the turkey turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would, but it's such a time guzzler that I think we're going to do a ham instead of a turkey for Christmas. We're hosting Christmas at 3:30 p.m., eating around 4:30; we'll be at his mom's for brunch in the morning, so that doesn't leave us much time to visit and get home in time to get the turkey in the oven. We might fry a small turkey to have alongside the ham, but that's it.

We got our Christmas decorations up this weekend. I've been wanting to take some pictures, but our digital camera has been on the fritz, so it looks like a new camera might be in our future. We need to do something quick so we can get a photo to use for our Christmas cards this year. That's always fun...and stressful! Getting three kids to cooperate for a fun, family photo just isn't the jolly good time you dream it to be.

Mia is going to have some mock-ups for me this evening, so my new look should hopefully be up in the next day or two. Keep your fingers crossed!

Randumbs

I think I've got everything I need for Thursday. It's my first turkey, so it's safe to say I have a bit of turkey-anxiety. Cross all crossables that I leave us with an edible - and maybe even delicious - meal. There's only going to be three of us, plus the kids. Then Saturday we're doing it all again with two other couples. It will be good practice for when we host Christmas - serving close to 30 people, plus a gaggle of children. eek! Practice makes perfect, they say...

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I'm going to see "Wicked" tomorrow night. I was hoping to get through the book in time for the show, but it's not exactly a quick read - I'm maybe a third of the way through. I used to be an avid reader, but since I've had kids, I'm just too damn tired anymore. I'm really looking forward to the show. It starts at 8 p.m. and goes to 11 p.m., so I'm sure it will be midnight at the earliest before I get home. That's LATE for me. If I make it to the first guest of Letterman, it's a big deal.

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RD and I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and got everything we needed to make our wreath. This is what I was going for. I need to take a picture of it. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Though...RD did most of the work, though he wouldn't want me to share that. ;)

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We decided to wait on the train set for the kids. I think they're still a little young to appreciate it, so we'll reconsider it when their birthday comes around. So now I'm trying to think of something else and I'm drawing a blank. This (21 months) is a really hard age to buy for. They're past all the baby-stuff, but they're still too young for most everything else. My mom's getting them a big, play kitchen; RD's mom is getting them this big Dora-house thing that they can play in; and his sister is getting them these Flinstone-type cars they can ride in. What toys did your children love at this age? As for what they're into right now...Elmo, dogs, babies (I bought a Cabbage Patch Baby for AR), and planes. You can only buy so many Elmo's.

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Something I'm very excited about...I will have a new look soon! The kids aren't exactly babies anymore (though I'm in constant denial), so I wanted to change things up a bit. Mia is working on something, and I hope to have it up soon. Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas to Me!

We went shopping for my Christmas present today. After searching various stores on-line, we headed to Pier 1 to look at some chairs. We saw a couple we liked, but nothing that got us too excited. RD suggested we go to Crate and Barrel. I thought they'd be way too expensive, but I love the store, so we went ahead. I still had a few Christmas gifts to buy, so the trip wouldn't be a loss.

Everything we looked at was way too expensive, as expected, then we found this. Still not cheap, but not ridiculous - and it's the perfect color! The chair and ottoman will be delivered November 29. I'm so excited!

Now the only furniture pieces we really need are end tables and a chair for the living room and a chair and bench (for the end of the bed) in our bedroom.

I'd like to get some art pieces, but I think all the fun house stuff I'm wanting is going to have to wait until after the holidays.

Our dining room walls are a dark chocolate brown. I am wanting a vintage chocolate print, but have been unable to find one that isn't too cutesy or just the wrong colors. Do you have any stores or websites you'd recommend?

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. It's taking everything in my power to keep from dragging out our Christmas decorations. Maybe I'll see if I can find a good movie on t.v.

I'm bored out of my mind.

Fun all over the place

Bunco was a blast! I'm so excited to have a scheduled outing every month. A chance to get away from the house, the family (yes, definitely needed from time to time), and a chance to gab with the gals. Everyone was really nice and a lot of fun.

Plus, the host of the evening built the same model house as we did, so it's always fun to see what options and upgrades other families go with when building the same house.

The night before last I got a call from one of the moms I met at the Pampered Chef party, inviting me and the kids over to play yesterday morning. RD was off work, so I left SJ home with him and took AR and SA down to play. It's a win-win situation. I have just two kids to keep in line and SJ got some one-on-one time with his dad. She has a 17-month old daughter and is due in April with her second. Another mom from her cul-de-sac brought her 16-month son over as well. They kept commenting on what angels my two are. "Just wait," I told them, "They're not comfortable here yet. Let us come a few times and you'll see what they're really made of." ha!

While at Bunco, I made plans to have another mom and her two daughters (4 and 18 months) over to play. Even if it's time spent with Elmo and choo choo trains, I feel like I've finally got a social life again.

Something that's long, long overdue.

Bunco Fabulous!

Yeaaahhhh!! I got a call from my neighbor, A, "the clock lady," as she called herself (long story). They've added another table for their Bunco group, so she asked if I'd like to join them. They take turns hosting and meet the third Wednesday of every month - my first being this Wednesday.

I'm so excited! Two of my Aunts have been in the same Bunco league for close to 30 years and have made lifelong friends. I have no idea how to play, but I hear it's easy and has more to do with a bunch of ladies gabbing and drinking it up, more than the actual game itself.

I really need this.

Weekend Randoms

RD cleaned up SA's hair, so it doesn't look all that bad anymore. Aside from me missing all his sweet curls, it actually looks pretty good. RD even went ahead and cut SJ's hair today. There was a lot of squirming and screaming involved, but his hair turned out pretty good. I trimmed AR's bangs, but I'm not going any further than that. This sound awful, but it's one thing to mess up the boys' hair, it's another to mess up her's. The boys hair is a fairly easy fix, just buzz it...her's...well...I can't chance it.

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Yesterday was a fun day. I spent the morning at a multiple's playgroup. A girl I used to work with had triplets a few days after mine and she's involved with the local Twin's Club. She has them over to her house once a month for a playdate. This is the first time I've gone and we had a lot of fun. I thought for sure my three (especially AR, who is very clingy) would be fighting over my lap the whole time, but to my surprise, they all jumped right in to play.

Then lastnight I went to a neighbor's house for a Pampered Chef party. I really don't need any more Pampered Chef stuff, but I went mainly to meet some new people. I had a lot of fun. I really hit it off with a couple of the ladies, and we plan on getting our kids together sometime in the next week or two. It's always wonderful having something to do in the mornings - it really breaks up the day. Plus, our kids are the same age, so I'm excited for my kids to make new friends as well. And mommy can always use more friends herself!

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I'm back on my happy pills. Boy can I notice a difference! I'm a much more pleasant person when medicated. I never wanted to be one to rely on meds to get by, but I got so sick and tired of being so pissed off and unhappy all the time. It's like night and day. I'm happier and you can bet those around me are happier as well.

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Dave the painter is starting on our foyer and master bathroom a week from Monday. He is doing a reverse rag rolling technique in the foyer and Venetian plaster in our master bathroom. He said it should only take him three days. I'm sure that's if he doesn't talk. This man talks and talks and talks like you wouldn't believe. Once those rooms are done, all we will have left to paint are the kids' rooms, which we're waiting on until they get their big-kid furniture. The house still looks a little bare - we still need furniture here and there, but it's all coming together.

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That's all folks! It's starting to storm, so I guess I'll get off the computer. It wouldn't kill me to go to bed early for a change.

Have a great weekend!

A Moment of Insanity

We did the unthinkable. Insanity? Maybe. Over-confidence in our ability? Most definitely. Stupidity? Well....gulp...yes.

Just what did we do, you ask? It's awful, just awful.

We cut our son's hair. RD did the doing, but it was my idea, and he won't let me forget it for a second.

His hair was out of control. All over the place! SA's got this really curly hair and when it gets long, it doesn't really get, well, long, it just sort of grows...out. It just gets bigger and bigger. The boy's already got a huge head, so his hairstyle was just not helping. If my husband made one more Art Garfunkel joke I was going to snap, so I said, "Let's do it. Let's go cut his hair. Let's cut both the boys'." Due to the results of our first victim, the second son was spared.

I don't know what I was thinking. Okay, that's a lie, I was thinking, "How hard can it be?" I figured we'd just set the clipper to a 6 or 7 and buzz away. Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom. Just like that.

Three words.

It ain't pretty.

I just kept staring at him thinking how strange he looked. Poor kid. He's a great looking kid...but...that hair...well...that head that once had all that hair. I think he'd be better off had we just shaved it. Yes, it's that bad. All RD could say was, "This was your idea." And he said it again and again and again.

Now I'm taking the kids to a playdate tomorrow where we're going to meet a lot of new moms. Just how long do you think it's going to take me to blurt out, "My husband did this!" ;)

Bring On the Ho-Ho-Ho!

I am so excited for Christmas! We've had some crazy weather around here - I've had the windows open for a few days, kind of strange for November - so it's hard to believe Christmas is so close, but I'm ready!

I'm looking forward to decorating our new house. I spent the better part of the afternoon yesterday in our basement, going through bin after bin of decorations. A lot of it I need to just get rid of. My mom, God love her, is a dime-store junkie, so I have a lot of things that I've never been able to bring myself to put out (AK, like that Christmas tree toilet bowl brush I used as a White Elephant gift last year). I know I'll never use any of it, but I've felt too guilty to throw the stuff away, but I need to either give it to Goodwill (someone would want it, right?) or throw it away, because right now all it is doing is taking up space.

We're hosting two Christmas parties this year - RD's friends (they're mine, too...but you know..."his side") on December 3rd and my dad's side of the family Christmas afternoon. It has always been tradition that my dad's side has turkey for Christmas - something I've never made. I suggested we have ham this year...that didn't go over so well; so turkey it is. RD's working on Thanksgiving this year, so I'm having my mom and my friend, C, over. I'm planning on having a small Thanksgiving dinner that night, so I'll have a trial run at the turkey dinner.

I've gotten most of our Christmas shopping done. I got most of it done while down at the lake, then did some lastnight and this morning. Now I just have our mom's, our stepmom's, and our kids to get. We're getting the kids a train set and table, along with a few little things; RD said he is getting new work-out equipment for Christmas (oooooooo-kaaaaay, I'll play), so then I told him I'm getting a new chair and ottoman for our family room. Boring, I know, but I'm going to get my fill of perfumes, knick knacks, and clothes from family, I'd like something I've really been wanting. My birthday is two days after Christmas, so I already asked him if he'd get me the vacuum I've been wanting. We're great fun at parties...heehee! Who would've thought I'd get so excited over cleaning supplies? Welcome to the real world!

I've got a great husband who is quite romantic when he wants to be, so I know he'll pull through for me on V-Day and our anniversary in March, so for now, give the lady what she really wants. ;)

I've got a question for ya...we've become sort of friends with some of our new neighbors (I say 'sort of,' because it hasn't turned into any more than joining each other for walks around the block or talks in our yards...yet), so do I do anything? I mean...do I send them Christmas cards...give them some Christmas cookies...anything? What is a nice neighborly gesture without being too...I don't know...creepy or suggestive? I know I'm giving this too much thought, but am curious to see what the general consensus is.

Grown-up Type'a Weekend

Okay, I feel like a total grown-up now. I totally get that I am a grown-up, and have been for some time, but I still feel like a kid. I feel like a kid playing house sometimes. I may look all of my 31 (getting close to 32) years, but I sure don't feel like it (except for my back pains...and crow's feet...and snail's pace metabolism...you get the idea). Sometimes I still have to pinch myself when I see that I'm married with three kids living in Suburbia. House payment and all. But anyway...where was I? Oh yes... I had a total grown-up moment today...

RD left for Chicago this afternoon to take his boards. His flight comes in tomorrow at 8:20 p.m. - right in the middle of Desperate Housewives...what on Earth was he thinking(?!?!) - and I needed someone to watch the kids while I pick him up. A neighbor-girl stopped by a while back offering to babysit, so I gave her a call. When she called back she...gulp...called me "Mrs. XXX". -insert shocking horror music here- "Please, please call me Mel, because calling me Mrs. XXX makes me feel really, really old and someday you'll understand that's a really, really bad thing. You see I like to think I'm this young, cute, itty-bitty thing that just happens to have three kids and a husband, so don't jolt me back into reality by addressing me as you would your Great Aunt Jane's friend, m'kay?" Okay, I didn't really say that, but it did cross my mind.

So that was my moment of the day. They seem to be plentiful these days.

As for the rest of my weekend, lastnight I painted the guest bedroom. The color is sort of a coffee with cream kind of look. A very relaxing, and what I would call yummy, color.

Tonight, my friend, C, came over for dinner and we rented a movie after the kids went to bed. This was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time and I highly recommend it. If you haven't watched it yet, you've gotta put this movie on your gotta-watch list, because it is that good. Crash. I laughed, I cried, I got really pissed off. You've got to watch this movie.

Tomorrow, not much on the agenda. I need to go to the store to get the Sunday paper (gotta get my coupons...yes, very old lady of me...teehee), and I've got to get some cash to pay the sitter. Other than that, nada.

Time to go through my US Weekly. Britney's pissed off and Jessica's once again not wearing her ring. Oh the drama!

Until next time, have a great weekend!

Enough to Make Your Heart Melt

I was sitting on the floor, just before bedtime. AR came up next to me, wrapped her arms around my head, pressed her cheek against mine, patted my head and said, "Awwwww, my baby."

So sweet.

Pictures and stuff

I finally downloaded all the pictures from my camera. Long overdue! So I thought I would post a couple.

Here is a picture of AR and SJ in their costumes (w/my MIL)...



Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of SA dressed as Elmo without his face in the picture, so I don't have one of him to post.

Here are the three of them crawling like babies. They think this is hilarious for some reason. I say, "Crawl like babies," and they take off. If only they'd listen to me any other time.



As you can see, the boys aren't wearing their costumes in the picture. They couldn't wait to take their's off, whereas AR would've stayed in her's all night if we'd let her.

And I have to share my great buy from the Lake. I bought two of these lamps...



...at $12 each!! They were originally priced at $50. They're gorgeous and they're perfect for our bedroom...



I went to the mall and to Target today to get some deals on the discounted Halloween merchandise. I got a cute witch from the Hallmark store and a whole bunch of goodies from Target. Man I love Target. They got all their Christmas stuff in...and I'm going to be getting into a lot of trouble! ...insert evil laugh here...

I told RD to take the remaining Halloween candy into work today, but he said he didn't want to take it in today because he's sure they'll be overloaded with it. Like we're not overloaded with it? He said he'll take it in on Monday. I guess he would rather be the cool guy who brings all the candy in on Monday, rather than blend in with all the other people who brought it in today. In the meantime, I'm doing my part in ridding us of Snicker's. I.JUST.CAN'T.RESIST.

My bladder's doing spasms right now and I really should get to bed anyway. So until next time...