A Few Ideas

My Nathan used to tell people that his dad was 36 and his mom was 13.  The husband and I are actually only 5 years apart so I'll let you figure out which age was right.

Today I turned 23, Daddy hits 37 in a few months.  Again use your powers of deduction.

To celebrate my birthday I'd like to share a few of the presents that I would not turn down.

Exhibit A:

I'm definitely NOT one of those girls that would be offended if the husband walked in the door with a household cleaning tool.  At all.

Suggestion 2:

Having my very own table saw.  There really aren't words.  Except these:  power tools make me happy.  Very happy.

Idea 3:

Don't judge me when I tell you that I've never been to the ocean.  I know.  It's borderline criminal.  I blame my landlocked childhood.

The above have to wait until ASL* but that doesn't mean I didn't get the greatest present of all this year.  My better half hit an out of the park, over the bleachers, into the atmosphere home run.

1.  thoughtful
2.  original
3.  budget conscious
4.  perfect for me

It's a Silva Brothers Construction Company t- shirt.  It's awesome.  If you're a This Old House/ Tom Silva fan you get my excitement.

One last thing, if Tom showed up to help me with one of my million projects here's what I would do:  first, I would start to cry.  Second, I'd forget how to speak.  Third, I'd try and talk him into a whole house gut job.  Fourth, I would tell every single person that I met for the rest of my life that I had been in the same room as Tom Silva.  I'd get super annoying.

23 or 32 looks like it's full of possibility.  So happy birthday to myself and everyone else who shares my birthday.  Because August is awesome.

*ASL means After Student Loans.  We dream about that day.  I think it'll happen...

These days

Match the bullet point to the picture.

• The gorgeous queen's crown.  Being the costume director for a ballet (especially if you've never actually seen said ballet) is an adventure in creativity.
• Seriously the best salad I've had in recent memory.  There were grapes, oranges, and strawberries along with feta cheese and some incredible glazed pecans.  It was dressed with an incredible raspberry vinaigrette with a bit of a kick to it.  I still think about how good that salad was.
• The three older kids taught themselves how to ride a bike.  With no parental involvement.  That means the husband and I scored big time.  No hunching over running after the bike... we are blessed.  Part two, notice Grant's bike.  I found it a consignment store.  For $25.  Quite possibly the greatest score ever.
• The dollar aisle at Hobby Lobby contains treasures.  Especially useful for rainy days.
• Our floor project has continued to morph.  We, meaning I, figured that while the family room couches were out in the garage that we, meaning I would take advantage of the chaos and paint the family room.  I'm tired of the brown/ tan/ beige/ boring walls.  So we're upgrading to a gorgeous yellow.  I had to re texture the ceiling (thank you builders).  Friday night I painted the freshly textured ceiling.  Saturday morning I thought about crying because my arms hurt.  I'm planning to paint the walls tonight and the trim sometime later this week.  That means that if we're lucky and I remain motivated, the kids might be able to sit on couches instead of camp chairs to watch PBS kids.  Maybe.
• This is Rothbart's hood.  He's the bad guy in Swan Lake (but I've never seen it so I couldn't tell you exactly how bad) and his costume is incredible.  I say that with a certain amount of pride because somehow I, along with divine help from above created something pretty amazing.
• My oldest girl, Anna is incredible.  Someday I'll write a mushy post about how much I love her and how wise beyond her years she is but for now just know that she's amazing.  She's the kind of person that just makes me want to be better.  She's a blessing.
• Nathan hasn't mastered the two wheel bike skill yet so he's banished to a bike trailer that is technically too small.  We need to upgrade to a bike seat but I'm having a hard time finding one in my price range, $0 to $30.  There doesn't seem to be much in the lower end of that range...  Jennie however has completely mastered the dual arts of bike riding and matching her shoes to her shirt.  She's got skills.

Top 8: What I Love

These gorgeous planks of imitation wood.  I love the look of dark wood, it just looks incredible but...  Last year I stained our deck stairs a dark brown, almost black aaaannnnddd they've looked bad ever since.  Four kids, a dog, a busy housekeeper, it just wasn't a good idea.  So we went light and I LOVE them.  LOVE!

Baby checkup yesterday.  She's healthy and growing.  Along with my arse... but you know, what do you do?  Oh quit eating Peanut M&Ms... right.

The man I married, he's a winner.  Yesterday I had a serious freak out   Like ugly demons took over.  He just rolled with it and when I finally got over myself he didn't even play the injured party card (even though he totally deserved some serious payback).  He's a keeper.

Somehow I hit the offspring jackpot.  My kids are funny (ish), reasonably well behaved and usually thoughtful and kind.  I kinda think they're the greatest people ever to grace this planet.

I read this (scroll down to number 5, I'll wait) on Cari's blog.  I've been laughing ever since.

I really do try to take care of this miraculous baby machine of mine so most mornings I hang out with my friend Sadie Lincoln over at Barre 3.  It's a good time, try it.

I'm a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints if you're being particular and today I'm a stickler because my love for the Savior, well it makes everything that I do not only possible but also meaningful.  I'm blessed to belong to a church that teaches that this life isn't the end of everything, my family that I love so much is mine forever!  That's a pretty great thing to help you make it through the day.

Last of all this boy kills me.  He's still trying to overcome his disappointment that Baby Girl isn't Baby Boy.  I was toweling him off after a shower and this is the conversation we had.

Him:  Why can't our baby be a boy?

Me:  Because Heavenly Father decided we needed a girl.

Him:  (thinking) Well He should have sent a boy too.

Me:  You mean twins?

Him:  Yes, a girl AND a boy.

Me:  Well... He didn't because He loves your momma.

Him:  Oh.  Maybe next time.

The End.

Kristen

If you're strong enough, there are no precedents.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Five...

1.  We have a refrigerator in our living room.

Would you like some yogurt?  You could sit on the couch, grab your poison of choice and eat it.  All while expending zero to no energy.  Of course we don't have a couch right now but we do have a shop vac and assorted power tools.

2.  Mushrooming.  It's what happens when you start a project and figure it will take minimal energy.  Then you discover that ripping up tile is a job that should be reserved for chain gangs.  You also find that you need a new sub- floor.  Sure why not, let's throw some more cash at this project.

3.  There's light at the end of the tunnel.

See, we have a fancy new sub-floor and a quarter of the pretty stuff installed.  The rest of it is on a truck somewhere in the Midwest.  We should see it sometime next week.  Probably.  Until then I have a refrigerator in my living room and no stove.  Don't feel bad for me because I am getting fancy new floors.

4.  The belly is 20 weeks.  That mean it's the perfect size for a wounded child.

Poor baby.  He's obviously in distress and all his caregiver can do is make fish lips.

5.  Tomorrow is the day. Boy or girl.  The ultrasound tech better be on his/ her game because the Miles are a divided family.  I've always known before what each kid would be.  One of my weird gifts.  I'm batting 4 for 4.  This time around I don't have any definite feelings.  I'm leaning towards a girl but it's not a certain feeling like all the others.  So... we'll see.  Cast your vote.

5.2  This is what I find on my papers, other people's papers, the car, my wall (one time, I freaked)...

Somebody call MENSA, my youngest boy is a genius.

Over and out.

PS- Don't judge me because I'm doing middle school math.  I'm a late bloomer

PPS- Thanks for tagging me Lisa, I sorta followed the rules...

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