whatever

as part of my new chore system
the kids have to help fix dinner once a week.
i thought they’d be mad.
i was surprised.
it’s their new favorite part of dinner
when it’s their night.

scott chose chicken pot pie…
we made up the recipe.
it tasted okay but scott loved it.
we made one with peas and carrots
and one without.

i made this big chart of dinner time chores
to make sure they all helped and things got done.
and it turned out to be a treat for them.
i have always kicked them out of the kitchen when i am cooking.
it just overwhelms me…
but that was when that they were all “helping”
(and fighting, talking, sword fighting, singing, spilling, whining..)
now it’s one on one each night.
picking the meal, making it, and having time with mom.
very cool.

i am so excited for tonight!
i love tv premeire week.
seriously.
there is really nothing the shows could do to disappoint me
other than not record on the DVR.
after my kids are in bed
i will be firmly planted on my sofa
ready for my shows.
i love it.
here are some clips…not that you all have 7 minutes to sit and watch these…but if you do.
at least watch the first one.

but i still miss seinfeld and friends.

funny stuff talby has said this week…

she made a paper of pretend homework
she drew four boxes
inside each box was jelly fish
then she wrote the number of jelly fish under the box.
i said “great job…why did you draw so many jelly fish though?”
“i don’t know…i just felt like it.”
good enough reason for me.

while eating her lunch quietly by herself
she says “Mom…i think you are the prettiest of all the moms”
i said “hmmm….i think you are right.”
ha ha ha

“Mom do you know what is best number of kids to have?”
“5”
“No…it’s 6. let’s think what we would name our next baby.”
“ok…if it’s a boy – Nate and if it was a girl? marla…lainey…meredith?”
“Those names are terrible. i think MILEY!” (hannah montana’s name)

“Mom when i grow up can i dye my hair pink?”
“yes…i guess you could.”
“how about when i turn 6?”

we picked a white pumpkin at the nursery today.
she was helping me carry it to the counter.
i told her “talby when i was five they didn’t even have white pumpkins!”
without missing a beat…“then today’s MY LUCKY DAY!”

what a goofball she is.

yesterday the girls and i went for long bike ride.
we came home and i felt funny.
i took talby to school
when i got out of the car i felt terrible.
i laid down all afternoon.
i picked up talby from school but it took all my energy.
laid down on the couch and then didn’t get up for 2 hours.
craig came home and i went straight to bed.
at 5:30.
his mom, his aunt and great aunt were soon to be coming over for the evening.
they were bringing the dinner…so i wasn’t too worried.
what a great host i was.
i came down at about 7:30 to say hello.
then back up.

tylenol PM doesn’t work for me.
it did the firs time i took it
and every other time it has made me jittery and i sleep awful
so that was my night.

i feel better today…just weak and tired.
it stinks to be sick.

let’s hope she’ll go easy on me today.
i am going to go take a nap.

i feel safe.
super heros were patrolling the block yesterday.
on bikes.

sean went through 3 costumes before deciding on this one.
talby asked for help with hers…
maribeth do you recognize this?
isn’t it molly’s old dance stuff?
she is wonder woman (of sorts).
annie was robin…rolled up several times.

the cape draped across like a scarf…
fashion and safety in one.

the sprinklers were on…
that can’t stop a super hero.
(by the way…check out that GREEN grass…lookin’ good)

and then it was time for sippy cups.
and computer.
and stripping.

the foyer is “done” too.
(is any room ever really done?)
the color is very close to pea soup.

there was victorian wallpaper in here and dark wood.
now it looks like “me”
my anniversary chandelier is sparkly and white now.

the green curtains are from target.
they were 29 inches too short so i added the polka dot chenille.
it was a martha stewart bedspread i bought at kmart…like in 2000.
7 years later…it has a purpose.

these shelves were all in our old house in different rooms.
and most of these frames too.
it was fun to find them all again and dust them off.
craig didn’t think it was too fun trying to hang them level on plaster walls.
he is the king of shelf hanging for sure.
they are perfect.

and there’s more….

the other side…
this is directly opposite the other photo wall.
and the crazy bathroom under the stairs.

my dad was a newspaper photographer when i was a kid.
he used to develop his own pictures.
always black and white.
that seems like so long ago.
for the past 7 christmas’ (maybe) he has given lorel and i one of the old black & whites he took of us a long time ago. he still has the negatives…wow…so he has them reprinted in whatever size he wants.
they are each in black frames with black mats.
(except for the one of little kindergarten craig)
they are so totally cool.
they are precious to me.
and they are silly…not walmart portrait studio stuff.
they are real life…caught in action.
maybe someday i will do this for my kids…hmmm.
i JUST thought of that.
cool.

the mirror is done.
a bit sloppy but looks the way i wanted.
colorful.

A is for Annie.
grandma do you recognize this bird?

or these?

my grandma gave me 4 bird statues to sell at my garage sale…
whenever i finally have one.
well…hope you don’t mind grandma
but i smashed them and put them on my mirror.
along with many dishes i have broken over the years.
or the kids have broken.
everyone’s first initial is on here somewhere.
if you have never done mosaic tiling…you should.
it’s very calming.

this bathroom gets crazier by the day.
the art is almost all filled in.
it’s all done by the kids.
i want to paint one thing on each drawing.
like some of the stripes on the cat or the beak of the owl.
just a little color.

this bathroom says “welcome children”
and that makes me happy.