No relation, just interesting (ish)

1.  Kindergartners make me mushy inside.  Especially these two.

Mine are the two looking at the camera...

I'm sorta in love with my six year olds.

2.  The best time to tackle a home improvement project is when you are 19 weeks pregnant and you and your husband are both in school and you have too few hours in the day.  FYI.

After complaining about the genius who put carpet in the dining area for a while (approximately 8 years now) we're finally ready to take the plunge.

We bought the laminate on Saturday with a strict, written in blood agreement that we would wait to install them after the semester was over.  Meaning May.

This was our main level last night right after we put the kids to bed.

Then this happened.

Look closely at the pile o' crap on the floor.  That was under our carpet.  We'd been living with that.  I also claim to be a pretty good maid...

I'd also like you to notice that pile of dust where our heat register is supposed to be.  The husband was digging around in there and found not one but two of my missing exercise DVDs.

I blame these two.

Before we called it a night the carpet was gone as well as those dangerous tack strips.  I had the extremely not difficult job of vacuuming up the years of dirt as well as any random staples, band aids and missing Barbie shoes while the handyman I married took care of the rest.  It was a pretty even trade... for me.

3.  We've finally figured out a way to read our scriptures regularly (more than once every six months), we read during breakfast.  Each of the kids reads, or repeats a verse and the husband and I read a few more.  We're kinda on a roll, it's been months since we started and we're still going strong.  It may take us approximately 27 years to make it through the scriptures but I'm just shooting for effort points not completion.

Oh and yes, my daughter is wearing a coat at the breakfast table.  My heater doesn't go any higher than 68 no matter how much snow is on the ground, it's very strange.

Done and done

I think I've started nesting already.  Yes it's true that I just recently squeaked into the second trimester but if obsessive organizing and home improvement products that have to be done RIGHT NOW are any sign of nesting I'm there man.  After all it's cruel and unusual punishment to bring a child into the world when your basement is out of order and your roof is possibly, maybe, okay definitely leaking.  Cruel.

I already took care of the basement, sort of and the roof has to wait till it's um, above 20 degrees I started with some of the smaller things on the list.  Last night I whipped out my FrogTape (it's awesome, get some, now) and black paint and got to work.

This was the before, if the missing paint and dog food in the vent threw you off.  I know you're wondering if the Miles' family is conducting a highly scientific experiment to see if ants are more attracted to dog food in the kitchen or sucker sticks stuck to the sheets (alliteration alert), the answer is yes.  Results are inconclusive.

After less than 20 minutes with my paint brush, approximately a tablespoon of paint (our kitchen is 4 feet square) and an old towel (to wipe up the drips because I paint like a three year old on cupcakes) this is the masterpiece.

Pretty slick huh?  I was just as impressed this morning while eating my oatmeal.

Crossed that bad boy off my list.

Now I just have to find the time, oh and money to replace my roof, get new carpet and laminate, refinish the cabinets and remodel the bathroom all before August...  totally doable.

Living in a fantasy world,

Kristen

Sibs, beds and many, many toys!

We moved the three older kids into the same room while we've/I've been working on the latest project.

That means that every night there is lots of laughing from them that leads to me yelling down the stairs "get back on your bed, NOW!". 

When it's time to clean I hear "that's not my mess, I shouldn't have to clean it up". 

In the mornings someone usually screams "don't look at me!" and "get back on your side of the room!"

There are now 3 twin beds, 3 dressers, 3 toy bins and mucho grande messes.

Please notice how my children make their beds in a perfect military fashion.  Also notice the humidifier box that my son uses to keep his cars corralled (who needs a toy box).

One unexpected advantage that possibly outweighs the late night slumber parties is that there is only one room to clean.  I might "forget" to move my boy back to his room when the project is over. 

Happy Monday!

Kristen

One photo, five explanations.

1.  We have a project going on right now.  Useless trivia:  when I was in college there were these two guys I hung out with that would pronounce project as pro-ject.  Like it was two separate words.  I don't know why, it was actually kinda weird now that I think about it but now that's how I always pronounce it in my head.

2.  My son was my right hand man the other day.  Please notice his shirt, his pants and how there's just nothing to hold them up and his/ my work boots. 

3.  Thanks to one of the former owners of our home and their weird texturing job, I had to respackle (is that a word) the ceiling in the project room and now there are little bits of joint compound all over my house.

4.  Respackling a ceiling is not for the weak in armed folk.  I know this because my arms are weak and I am a folk.

5.  I painted the ceiling last night, I'm hoping to do the walls on Monday night and the trim on Tuesday or Wednesday.  That would make the shortest turn around time on a Miles' family project in oh, ever.

Off to ice my arms,

Kristen

Top 8: things that make me insane, crazy, nuts, pick a word!

She doesn't make me crazy (most of the time) I just like her cute baby face circa 2007!

1.  Hopping on the treadmill only to find that it needs maintenance, then moving to the next one and seeing that it says the same thing.  Three treadmills later...
2.  Finding out that the reason you missed a question on your math test was because you used an "x" instead of a "w". 
3.  Running out of socks.  That laundry fairy is really slacking these days.
4.  Calling IT support to fix a computer program and finding out that the reason it wasn't working was because one of your short offspring had moved it to the recycling bin.  Actually that doesn't make me crazy, embarrassed is more like it.
5.  Turning on the radio and hearing the tail end of your current favorite song.  Sad.
6.  The multiplying paper pile by the microwave.  They're like bunnies.  Bunnies on fertility treatments.
7.  Getting comfortable on the couch with a good book and warm children and hearing the phone ring.  From the other room.  Up the stairs.  And it stops before you manage to extract yourself from the pile.  And it's a lame recorded message.
8.  Trying to brush my daughter's hair while she's dancing and telling me what a great ballerina she will be.  Did I mention that she's moving?

Good times around here.

In other news I have a final on Thursday then I plan to spend some time fixing this site.  I look at other excellent bloggers likeThrifty Decor Chick, Camp Patton and yours, mine & ours and am semi- inspired to change things up around here. 

Suggestions? 

See ya later!

Kristen

Little brothers.

If you've ever watched Max and Ruby you recognize my title.  Of course you need to say it with bit of a sigh.  I have a little brother, actually two.  And they're not so little, they're both taller than me and despite their freakish height they're pretty awesome.  I was texting the bro that's 3 years younger than me and I was chastising him for the usual stuff like why he never calls/ visits/ consults me for every decision he's ever made when he said something that made me think.  He told that me that because I have a blog that more than one person reads (I hope) I need to be more aware of social and political issues and write about how they affect my life.  And as much as it hurts to admit this, I think he's right.  But here's the problem, I'm not a news junkie, I don't follow politics, that's just not me.  Is that wrong?  I admit I do need to be more aware of issues that affect my life but I don't have any desire to turn this forum into a political site. 

I'm a mom.  I write about my kids, the weird stuff they say and what it's like trying to raise a family in this crazy world we live in.  I don't dwell on the negative and believe me when I say that there's A LOT of negative because, well, I don't like to.  I would rather talk and write about the good things in my life and what we're doing to make them good.  That's who I am.

But....

I do want to be more involved in the world around me so I am going to figure out a way to learn about some of the issues that my communitiy is facing and discover how to involve my family in changing things for the better.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  What do you do to involve your family in the world around you?  How do you use your voice for good?

I guess punk brothers are useful. 

Love, Kristen

I've got it all: part une

Didn't know I was bilingual did you?  I took a year of French in high school but I spent all my time drooling over boys and passing notes to best friends, hi Heather and Marisa!  Translation:  I learned nothing useful except how to count to five and a few swear words, helpful right?!


This is my baby and his doggie.  It smells, it's dirty, it's losing it's stuffing and it's a shadow of it's former glory but he loves that thing.  And when I say love I mean can't sleep, eat, play, pretty much do anything without it.  He has other animals but this is the one that he loves.  He's happy with what he has and doesn't need anything more.

As we try to pay off our debts we're sticking to a budget and we're cutting back on pretty much everything but I'm learning that that's okay because even when we cut back we still have a home and food and clothes when we need them and two cars and internet access and running shoes, seriously I could go on all day.  I'm blessed and I'm trying to remember that and be grateful for what I have instead of what I think I'm lacking.


So embrace the dirty doggies in your life!  Being aware of what you have instead of what you don't makes life easier.  At least that's what I think then again I also call myself bilingual so...

Love,

Kristen

School, Routines and My Abs

School starts next Monday.  Picture me throwing a fit and saying "I don't wanna!"  Got it?  Good.  I miss my babies when they're gone.  This summer I had been mulling over the idea of homeschool but a few weeks ago my oldest said "Momma, I can't wait for school to start.  I miss being with my friends and learning new things."  Okay, well then.  If we were to homeschool it would be for me because I miss my girl not because the school is inferior or because she's not thriving.  Our neighborhood school works for us so we'll stay there.  In the meantime I'll just make the most of the time we do have.

We're going to work on the morning routine this week so that (cross your fingers) we can make getting to school a bit easier and hopefully more productive.  You know those people that have their kids do their chores before school?  I wanna be one of those.

I also want to have rock hard abs but I digress.

Happy Monday!

Kristen

The "Weighting" Game

Have you ever had reality smack you in the face?  I have and let me tell you, reality isn't very kind.  It's like a giant hand with long fingernails and warts and sharp, poky rings.  It hurts.  I've been trying to lose my baby weight for a while now.  Okay, two years and it just isn't going anywhere.  If you had asked me a few weeks ago what my diet was like I would (slightly smugly) have told you that I always eat a healthy, high fiber breakfast, never drink less than 3 quarts of water a day and I certainly rarely eat anything with sugar or fat. 

Ya, not even. 

Apparently I've been deluding myself into thinking I eat the way I did when I was training for a marathon and successfully losing my twin baby weight.  Sure, I eat oatmeal for breakfast but I might also have a handful or three of the kid's cereal or maybe I'd have a few pieces of toast.  Then I'll have a few snacks throughout the day but I don't know if you can call them snacks when they're full size meals.  I don't ever drink soda (I don't like the taste) but I haven't been drinking enough water either.  If I were planning my emergency water supply based on what I've been drinking, a pint or maybe 2 would be sufficient.  And apparently I eat some sort of junk food like cookies or candy or toast with a ton of butter and cinnamon sugar every day.  I think I felt that because I go to the gym everyday and run outside whenever I get the chance that somehow I got a free pass on the food.  My head knows that's a bunch of bull but apparently my face didn't get the message. 

I'm tired of deleting half our pictures because I don't like the way I look.  I'm frustrated with all the clothes that don't fit.  I hate feeling like I could run faster and further if only I wasn't carrying this extra weight.  Most of all I hate that food has such a hold on me.  It scares me.  

So now that I know what I'm really eating, it's time to make some changes.  I'm back in the habit of tracking my food and water.  I'm also trying to slowly change the way my family is eating.  They've been mirroring my habits and that's just not cool.  So we're slowly switching all of our bread to whole grain, I've been spending more time in the produce section and I'm taking the time to notice how I feel and what works and what doesn't.  I think one of my problems has been that I'd follow all the rules and stick to the plan for um, a day and get angry that I hadn't lost all the weight so I'd quit.  Mature, I know. 

Losing weight takes time, it takes focus and most of all it takes hard work.  So any suggestions?  What has worked for you?  What should I try?  I'm not interested in pills or magic shots just real food.  I would also like to know how I can get my kids to eat better. 

Wish me luck!

Kristen

Starting over again... again.

Something about this time of year makes me want to start fresh and finally do all the stuff I keep yapping about.

Happy July!

Love,

Kristen

*disclaimer:  those are not my vegetables, mine are much more... dehydrated*