One summer day

Today was a pretty good day. 

We had an appointment with the doctor for Fred's well baby 18 visit. And he is healthy and still growing but thankfully not as fast as before. I am not sure if the new office takes more or less accurate measurements but his clothes are pointing to the fact that he isn't growing as quickly. 

We ate lunch and watched FROZEN. I think I like movie as much if not more than the kids. However, we have only seen it 4 times so I still might get sick of it.  

Now we are doing one of the many shaving cream inspired Pinterest has. 

Food dye and dollar store shaving cream.   Originally, I thought I would be the one to mix the colors but thought the kids would  like the experience and texture of doing it themselves. 

And they did like it. 

I even got in on the action. 

The kids are now playing in the wading pool.  And I am glad it is summer. 

Halloween

First the craft:

I wanted to do and post something that we've done for Halloween decoration.

This spider fits the ticket:

Supplies:  styrofoam floral balls, craft paint, goggly eyes, pipe cleaners

First,  we rolled styrofoam balls in craft paint

Or in Oliver's case covered them in tape

And then poked holes for the pipe cleaners

And finally stuck pipe cleaners into the balls

And added some goggely eyes.

Yesterday, we carved pumpkins.  And by we, I mean me.

Scooping out the seeds

I drew the faces on before I cut them.  I am not a very fancy carver and have little patience to learn so it old school over here.

This pumpkin is Fred's. He has two teeth on the bottom and when I asked him what he wanted the mouth to look like, he smiled.

And here is the outside:

Add caption

The big spider is from Spoonful

Overall, our outside is pretty much off my Pinterest boards.

Poor, poor neglected blog

 So, uhhh. It's been over a week.  I've been busy.  Or not really, but I've been anxious which tends to manifest as me not being able to do shit either around the house or when I have things that actually need to be done.

At any rate, I haven't updated regularly and I'm not all that good about taking pictures right now of my clothes and most of them are on my phone anyways.

Mommy "Style":  Shorts and t-shirts, and jeans and t-shirts.  I wear the crap out of Target $5 t-shirts and then feel guilty when I throw them out stained and stretched out at the end of the season.

I'll come back an update with pictures, (hopefully).

Accomplishments: Nothing huge.  I have done some outside decorating for Halloween.  Oliver is super into the holiday this year, so it seemed like a good idea to dress up.

High/Low: Low: Matt interviewed for a job out in Seattle.  We're still waiting to hear back about the job.  He really wants it.  I really want him to get the job.  It would be a good career move, we think.  And with a company that is doing interesting things in Matt's field.  He has ANOTHER telephone interview after already having an in-face interview in California.  We been waiting to hear back so it's making him anxious, I'm anxious because he is AND I really like the idea of moving. At the same time, I love living near my family and having my kids grow up knowing their grandparents in a way that I never did.  And while there are flights between Atlanta and Seattle, the flights are expensive, long, and expensive.  So while we'd visit, it wouldn't be the same as even moving to New York or even Denver.  So, it's been somewhat nerve racking.  High: the kids are playing very nicely, mostly.

Activities: I got my drivers licence renewed. I had to wait about 2 hrs.  And while that is a long to wait, I guess it could have been longer.  Except, 2 hrs when you have a young child is very long and the restless energy in the place makes even 10 min seem like an hour.   Last weekend was spent killing time.  We thought we would hear back about the job on Monday, so we were waiting for Monday. Sunday, I went for a 6k run.  And then in the afternoon, because I was SO RESTLESS, I walked up to Starbucks and then to the park with Fred, so that was another 2 miles.  Overall, Sunday I walked/ran a 10k, which is my current fitness goal.  Monday, I picked the kids up from their grandmothers and came home.  Tuesday, there was no school and we stayed at home all day.   Wednesday, school and nothing in the afternoon.  Same for Thursday.  Friday, Fred and I went to the botanical gardens with some friends while the older two were in school.  After school we played on the school playground and came home.

Menu: Weekend: breakfast: nothing.  I know I should eat, but sometimes when the older kids aren't home and Matt wakes up very late, I don't see any point.  Lunch: sandwiches.  Dinner: Saturday yummy mexican, Sunday: General Tso's meatballs.  The meatball part was really good.  The sauce wasn't.  I used a couple of sub, and it didn't turn out right.  I think I'll re-make the meatballs, and use the pan drippings for a gravy, more like Swedish meatballs. During the week: dinners: Monday: bratwurst, Tuesday: chicken with eggplant and zucchini, Wednesday: a horrible lentil pilaf.  I make lentil pilaf once in awhile and usually it turns out pretty good, but this time I over cooked the rice and everything tasted awful.  Dinner fail.  Thursday: meatloaf hamburgers  Friday: tacos.  And one of the few things I don't like about my neighborhood is that I am no longer near grocery stores with ripe avocados at a decent price.  

A new shirt

Mommy "Style"

Wednesday:

The angle is a bit wonky on this shot.  So, one of the things I'm always thinking about my clothes is that I hate that I pretty only shop at Old Navy and Target for myself and my sons.  Then I see put together people who wear stuff from different stores or who wear thrift store finds and I think "wow that is awesome".  The shirt I am wear comes from a second hand clothing shop.  I'm sure it was originally found in a Goodwill somewhere, but needless to say I found it at a markup from Goodwill.  I love the print of the shirt.  I'm not sure about the neckline, but if it was just a t-shirt it would be dull.  I bought it over a month ago and have been trying to figure out how to wear it since.  I like it with the skinny jeans and if I had brown riding knee boots I think I would look really great.  I'm guessing this particular outfit will come into rotation now that the weather is a bit cooler. This shirt represents another attempt to step outside my style "zone" occasionally.

Thursday:  

And now to the other end of the style spectrum.  Yoga pants and a tank top.  Super stylish (end sarcasm font).

Friday:

Normal stuff here.  I still really like this shirt.  Banana Republic has it in royal blue.  And I almost bought on Wednesday but decided that two lace shirts was a bit much.

Accomplishments: I finally paid somebody to steam clean the carpets and hopefully some of the cat smell that has been perminating from the house will dissipate.

High/Low:  High: I had the house ready for the steam cleaner BEFORE he arrived!  Low: the morning rush to get out the door to school  results in too much yelling.  It doesn't matter the time we wake up or if I get ready the night before.  There is some much yelling, usually directed at the 2 year old because hey he's two and he really doesn't want to do anything that other people would like him to do.

Activities: Wednesday: while the older two were in school I went shopping for myself and Oliver.  I didn't buy myself anything, but I did get Oliver some more pants.  I think with the exception of a pair of jeans, he's good on pants for the fall/winter.  He'll need shirts, but I buy those when I really gets cold.

After school, the kids and I did this activity I found on Pinterest.   I changed it a little.  Oliver gets strange about school.  

Oliver did different types of lines.  Phil tried to do shapes.  I think it was good activity. 

Thursday: in the morning, I went to the thrift store looking for clothes for Fred, but they didn't have any.  So I'll try the consignment store.  I really don't want to spend a lot of money on his clothes.  He the last kid and I'm not going to delude myself into think that spending a bit more money on his stuff because it might get passed down to a sibling.  I do spend at least sale prices on the older two because it's hard to find pants for older boys at consignment.  I've looked and it is only dress type pants.  After school, the steam cleaner came and made the carpets look nice and a chair smell less like cat.  

Friday: a 4.5k run in the morning with Fred, and the afternoon the kids spent napping.  After nap, an early dinner and then we played outside.

Menu: Wednesday: toast, mall Chinese, dinner was chicken sauteed in butter with onion, carrots, and celery. Thursday: I skipped breakfast, lunch was leftover dinner, dinner was pizza.  Friday: breakfast was leftover pizza.  I love leftover pizza.  Lunch: turkey sandwich.  Dinner: roast pork tacos.  

Losing my groove

Mommy "style":

Monday:

Tuesday

Wednesday

One of the things I don't like about early fall is that it is cool and crisp in the morning, but by the time you get dressed and out the door for longer than 10 minutes, it is too hot to wear pants.  Lame.  But the afternoons aren't as hot and there isn't any humidity, so that nice.

Accomplishments: Sunday, not only did we go to the botanical gardens, but I also washed, dried, and folded THREE loads of laundry!  Monday, more laundry and the kids didn't cry at drop off.  That evening after the kids went to bed I wrapped a wreath in yarn.  I hope by the end of the week to have a fall Pinterest inspired wreath made.

High/Low: High: I've been feeling reasonably productive recently.  And while the house isn't company ready, it hasn't been too bad.  I still need to mop the floors though.  Low: Oliver broke out in hives on Monday afternoon and I have no idea what has caused them. There hasn't been anything different in his diet or new in his environment.  

Activities: Sunday: we went to the Botanical gardens and saw the Imagined Creatures exhibit.  That was really cool. 

Detail of the Cobra

Afterwards, we ate dinner out.  And the kids were reasonably well-behaved so I guess a lot excerice is the way to go when eating out.Then on the car ride home. Phil keep yelling out "oopise!" from the backseat.  And for some reason, every one in the car found it hilarious!

Monday: Kids to school.  Fred and I went to the craft store and home for lunch.  After school, I found the rash and gave the doctor a call.  The on-call nurse said it sound like an allergy, so I gave Oliver Benadryl. 

Tuesday: the rash wasn't better, so I made a sick child appointment for Oliver.  I think he really enjoyed not having to go to school.  I really enjoyed not having to get him ready.  The doctor reassured me that it really was a rash.  We then went to Chick-fil-a for lunch and to Trader Joe's to do some grocery shopping.

After naps, we played with shaving and food coloring.  

phil having fun

Fred trying it out too!

Oliver making a mes.

Wednesday:  School for the kids.  Fred and I came home and went for a run.  We stopped at the playground half-way through the run. He had fun.  After school, we went to the grocery store again.  And home to play.

Menu:  Sunday: bagels, tuna sandwich, buger and fries.  Monday: I skipped breakfast, lunch was a bagel with a side of greek yogurt.  Dinner: sloppy joes.  I don't think it was the healthiest of days.  Tuesday: bagel, chick-fil-a, spinach and cheese quiche.  Wednesday: bagel, brie sandwich, fake jambalaya.  

Phil is trying escape from the house, so I think I'll explain fake jambalaya another post.

Second half of the week

Mommy "Style":  Thursday, I looked nice, white shorts and a purple(ish) tank top.  Before I could get pictures, marker on my shorts.  GRRRR.  Luckily, the shorts are washable.

Friday: 

Another repeat.  I will be sad when I retire these shorts.  But then again, they do nothing for my butt.  

Accomplishment: I finally finished the laundry.  And it was nice for the twenty minutes that it lasted.  I also almost got the house cleaned.  That was nice while it lasted.  Living with 3 mini tornadoes and a housekeeper who doesn't like to clean means a not very clean house at times.

High/Low: High:  I love picking up the kids from school.  The big hugs are so nice.  Low: I haven't gotten a good night's sleep.  I'm running of coffee most of the time, and that doesn't really make feel like doing anything.  And it gives me the jitters sometimes.  

Activities: Thursday: the younger two kids and I went for a run while Oliver was in school.  And then ate lunch.  After lunch, Phil decided that he'd go for a run too.

 He went complete with head phones, just like Daddy.  

After school, we came home and did nothing.  Oliver liked that.

Friday: During school, Fred and I came home, he napped and I screwed around on my phone.  I also got some of the cleaned, but didn't get finished all the way.  After school, since it has been a good week with minimal complaints about school, we went to the toy store.  Oliver got Angry Birds in Space the game.  He played it for hours, setting  up the different ways to knock everything down, knocking it down.  It was a good toy. Phil got a knight that goes with the Imginex castle.  I don't know if that was as good of a toy. 

Menu: Wednesday: bagel, sausage biscuits from McDonalds's.  (Don't judge too harshly.  I've been craving them and I doubt that I'll eat any again any time soon.) Chili for dinner.  Thursday: bagels, sandwiches, fried chicken with buttermilk biscuits and spinach.  

So, both the fried chicken and the biscuits came from Pinterest.  

Here's the fried chicken

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/buttermilk_fried_chicken/

I didn't like it.  It was greasy, the coating was weird, and honestly with the price of the chicken and buttermilk, I'd rather go to Popeyes and get to me better chicken.

And since I had left over buttermilk and I don't like buttermilk pancakes that much, I had a recipe for biscuits too.

http://www.traceysculinaryadventures.com/2013/03/foolproof-flaky-buttermilk-biscuits.html#.UiHObTakqvH

They weren't as awesome as the blog made them out too be.  Some of it was my fault.  I didn't roll the dough as thick as it needed to be so they came out flat.  But the recipe included, honey and I didn't like the flavor.  It was off or strange and weird to me and I think I'll keep my current recipe.

I've done a whole week!

And now I'll have a muffin (top, if I keep eating muffins)

Mommy "Style": 

I need to figure out what do with my hands in a pose.  Modeling is not something I certainly ever planned on.


Accomplishment:  I cleaned out my car.  I try to empty out the crap: paper, Starbucks cups, and other random crap on a regular basis, but boy did my car ever need a deep clean.  It didn't get the really deep detailed job it needs, but I emptied out all of the trash, kids toys and shoes.  I washed the windows and mirrors.  And I found another use for baking soda: it can buff out minor marks on the car! I wish I had taken pictures because I'd totally put that on Pinterest. I also tried using toothpaste to clear up headlights, but it didn't work particularly well.

High/Low:  High: getting some basic house stuff done.  Low: I realized after my kids went to sleep that I used my phone a little to much during the day.

Activity:  We stayed home all day.  And we didn't do much.  All of the kids were acting extra tired and a little sick so we just stayed home and hung out.  

Menu: Breakfast: oatmeal, Lunch: hotdogs for the kids.  I had leftovers.  Dinner: Mongolian Beef.  This the second time I've made this recipe.  It is pretty easy and tasty, but I'm still not getting the beef quite right.  Either my strips aren't thin enough or I need to cut them differently, but that part isn't right.  And the coating isn't quite right either, the texture is off.

July 12

Mommy Style: 

I think I need to rethink the size of these t-shirts.  They are really big and baggy and do nothing for me.  Well, that was one of the goals of this blog was to really look at what I wear and try to make it better.

Accomplishment: First day of Annual Training DONE!!!  My husband, Matt, is in the National Guard and the next two weeks are his annual training.  This is the first year I've had all three so I've been a little apprehensive about it.

High/Low:  High: We had a really good afternoon.  The kids were really well-behaved and there was minimal screen time.

Activities:  SCIENCE!!!  I saw this rocket experiment I knew one day I would have to have the boys do it.  This summer Oliver and Phillip have been really into rockets and space. Although we have two model rockets, I'm doubt those rockets are air-worthy.

Here we are setting it up: 

It took us several attempts to get it to fly or as Oliver says "Zoom down the rope!".  I added in parts of the Scientific method asking him what he thought might happen. And then we tried to blow up the balloon different amounts to see what would happen.  And then lastly Oliver raced the balloon to see who would get there faster.  It was 50/50.  

Second science/exploration was to put straws into the salad spinner. This was for the baby since balloon rockets aren't something he found interesting. The older two liked helping set up the straw thing. I saw something similar on Pinterest, but I can't seem to find the real link.  I wish was this creative.

More brother help

Helping put it together

Exploring is tasty!

And fun!

Menu: Breakfast: cheese and fruit. Lunch: Oliver and I had leftovers, Phillip had a peanut butter sandwich.  Dinner: Pasta, Sausage, and Broccoli.  We eat a lot of broccoli.