Dog-tober

Looking through pictures from October, it seems it was the month of the dog.  A few months ago, we began visiting our local animal shelter.  We wanted to get A & M more accustomed to dogs, in hopes that we might bring one home one day.  We did bring a puppy home (on a trial basis) for the weekend back in the summer, but we quickly realized it wasn't going to work out.  Jeremy and I just weren't up for many, many daily trips outside that a potty-training puppy requires, plus the constant vigilance required to keep the girls' toys and other household items safe from small, sharp teeth. (An aside:  We are definitely "inside dog" people...our backyard is not fenced right now, plus we know that an outside dog would get very little attention in our home.  If we're going to have one, it lives inside with us.)

In early October, I saw a post on FB that the shelter needed a foster home for a couple of small dogs who were going to a rescue group up north.  The two dogs in question were both a couple of years old and housetrained, and it would only be for a week, since the rescue pickup was already scheduled.  It sounded like the perfect situation for us.  I went by the shelter and picked up this little guy to hang out with us for the week:

He was fantastic.  Slightly older, calm, and he could not have cared less about the girls' toys.  He didn't even pick up food we dropped on the floor, and he refused the treats I bought!  (Okay, so maybe he was lacking a little in the personality department, but still, he was just what we needed to get the girls acclimated to an animal in the house.)  Buddy, as we called him, went on to the rescue group, where we heard he was very quickly adopted to a great family.

I kept watching the shelter site, knowing now that we wanted a slightly older, adult dog.  When I saw "Brenna", as her foster home had been calling her, I knew we had to check her out.  She is definitely older, estimated to be about seven, with quite a few gray hairs and a few missing teeth from lots of vigorous chewing over the years.  We heard one family's vet convinced them that she was too old to be adopted to a family with small children...apparently suggesting that she might not live very many more years?  We don't care; we loved her immediately.  We call her Sunny, and she is ours!

A & M are thrilled to have a dog, but even more thrilled to have a dog that has not once jumped on them and pretty much just lays around, waiting for someone to scratch her belly.  She is developing an affinity for the million-plus small stuffed animals laying around the house, but the girls are doing well at putting them away, and weren't too upset over the first victim, a green grinch-type guy.  Sunny doesn't bark, sleeps by my side of the bed, loves to take car rides, and stays with us when she's outside without her leash.  We have definitely found our perfect match.

Oh, look! An actual post!

Hello, long-lost blog friends!  In an effort to get myself somewhat back in the blogging habit, how about some quick takes for an update on our lives?

• I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about this blog and what I want it to be.  I have debated whether or not I really want to continue writing.  I decided that I do want to keep it up, but I'm not sure in what capacity.  There are only so many "we're great; the girls are happy; life is good" posts I can write before I bore even myself.  I definitely want to continue writing about and reviewing books, but beyond that, I'm just not sure.  Still some thinking to do, obviously.

• On that note, yes, we are all doing just fine these days.  We have mostly adjusted to J being home in the evenings.  The novelty has not worn off yet.  (I get to cook real, full meals to share with another adult, a fact that really does thrill me!)  We have been busy with summertime adventures, activities with church and friends, and just life in general.  

• Since I wrote about starting Weight Watchers, I have lost almost 10 lbs.  Even more than that, I have managed to figure out and stick to an actual exercise plan, and I am truly enjoying it.  A couple of pairs of pants already don't fit, and a couple more are getting loose...good thing I wear mostly dresses in the summer.  I want to wait another month or two (and hopefully be closer to my goal weight) before splurging on new clothes.

• As I said, we have been pretty busy with general summer fun, including a few short trips here and there, but we are all beginning to count the days until our beach vacation in early September.  (Less than six weeks away!)  We are staying a full week this time, and Addison is thrilled about that fact.  She keeps holding up seven fingers, telling anyone who will listen that we are staying at the beach "a whole seven days!"  Her enthusiasm is definitely contagious.  

• We are considering adding a new member to our family (NOT A BABY!!)--a dog.  Our local animal shelter is being fantastic enough to let us bring a little guy home for a trial run of sorts this weekend.  We'll see if we are ready to handle this new addition...it should be an interesting weekend!  I will certainly report back on that matter.  : )

• I have been reading SO many good things lately; I can't wait to share some of my favorites.  Inspiration to blog again soon, right? 

How are things with y'all?  I miss my blog friends!!

House Dreams

This weekend, on the spur of the moment, I began repainting the trim in the girls' bedroom.  We are getting new carpet in the next couple of weeks, when we will also transitioning in their new furniture, and I want everything to feel fresh and bright to go with their new room.  The trim and molding in our bedrooms are off-white, which has bothered me for awhile, so I decided to just begin tackling it. 

Jeremy and I hate painting, and we are really not very good at it.  So my motto for this project is that it's better to be done and imperfect than never started at all.  I still have to do the baseboards when we move out the furniture, but it already looks SO much better in there. 

Of course, all these projects have me energized and inspired to keep going and tackle more of our house plans.  We have a lot of big dreams about things to get done around here this year...unfortunately, we may not have the cash flow to go with it!  (The eternal problem, right?)

Some of the things on our to-do list, with varying levels of plausibility:

• Finish painting the trim in the bedrooms and bathrooms so it will all be bright white. 
• Paint the living room and hallway (light gray, I think).
• Paint the girls' bathroom (maybe a yellow of some sort?).
• Have new carpet put down in the bedrooms.  (They're being measured tomorrow!)
• Lay hardwood in the kitchen, to match the living room and hallway.
• Tile the two bathrooms, including our shower.  (This one will likely wait awhile...)
• Check into getting the kitchen cabinets painted.
• New countertops.  (Jeremy and I are both beyond ready for this, but we are deciding whether to hold out for granite or another solid surface.  If we go that route, it won't be happening this year.)  (Suggestions or opinions??)
• Hang shelves and hooks to create a mud-room-type area in the laundry room.
• Paint the bathroom cabinets white.
• Begin to replace artwork, etc. in the living room.  I have wound up with a random collection of things that don't really reflect my taste, and I want to begin to fix that.  Now to figure out exactly what my taste might be...
• Finally get a gallery wall together, to display some of the fantastic pictures that have been gathering dust for years now.
• Hang curtains in the bedrooms.  The blinds-only look has gone on far too long. 
• Fix our backyard to make it more functional for our purposes.  (Possibly replace the deck, but that might have to wait.)  I definitely want more seating back there.

I am sure there are more, but I think that's quite enough to keep us busy for awhile.  

Do you have any house projects going on right now?  Do you think your space accurately reflects your taste?  Can you help me figure out how to get there???

A Big-Girl Bedroom

I think it was right after the girls' birthday last year that we converted their cribs into toddler beds.  The transition was surprisingly easy, with no midnight wanderings or play sessions like I had feared.

The girls do get up occasionally, but they come straight to our bedroom and around to my side of the bed.  It is a bit unnerving to wake up to a small person staring you in the face, whispering your name...but sometimes it's awfully cute, too (like when A says she just wanted to "come say that I love you"!).  In the last couple of months, they have even started going back to bed on their own, without my having to get up--definitely a nice progression.

This year's birthday will see another transition...A & M are getting big-girl beds!  I placed the order and paid for them today, and they will be delivered as soon as we get new carpet installed.  After much thought and searching, I chose this bed:

I am really looking forward to rearranging and doing a minor redecoration of the girls' bedroom.  I am currently scouring Craigslist for an old dresser I can clean up and paint to match the beds.  I'm not sure how much room will be available with the beds and dresser, so I'm planning to possibly install some rain-gutter bookshelves along one section of wall.

Source: mamanotes.com via Deanna on Pinterest

I want to personalize the girls' beds in some way as well.  My idea right now is to make a fabric bunting to drape across the headboard, possibly with the girls' monograms in the middle.  And I am thinking about doing different bedding, to keep it from being too matchy-matchy.  Mackenzie loves purple and Addison favors pink, so I am sure they will request that those colors be worked in somehow.  Some bedding choices I have my eye on:

Pink for Addison

Purple for Mackenzie

A little of both...

Or maybe just white and ruffled?

I hope to have their new room all done by their birthday...in less than a month!  Any input on the bedding?  (Their room is painted a very light pink, by the way, and it's not changing right now.)  

Have you transitioned to regular beds yet?  Seen any super-cute kid bedroom ideas lately?

Dreaming of Spring

Though the weather doesn't always cooperate, we have been doing our best to remember that spring is most definitely on its way.  A couple of weekends ago, we surprised the girls with an afternoon trip to the park.  They played their little hearts out, and Jeremy and I enjoyed watching them conquer playground equipment they wouldn't even attempt last fall.  I was surprised to see that Mackenzie has turned into quite the climber.  We even continued to play outside once we got home, since the weather that day was too beautiful to pass up.

I didn't think about grabbing my camera before we went to the park (it was a very impromptu trip), but I did get to take a few photos once we were home...one of the first times I've had the chance to play with my new camera outside in decent light.

I know the focus is off in this picture, but I love it.  They were concentrating and were deep in conversation.

 Sweet Addison

Again, not technically any good, but this picture makes me smile.

I was off work last Monday and we were able to spend more time outside.  I dressed the girls in sweats, thinking it was cool, but I quickly had to take off my jacket and was perfectly comfortable in short sleeves (so nice!).  I felt a little bad when Addison whined that she was hot...I'm sure she was! 

 The girls are forever bringing me 'presents'...dandelions, acorns, rocks...anything goes!  And yes, it still makes me smile every time.

 Mackenzie--one of my favorite recent pictures.

One of our favorite things to do during the warm months is to have our Sunday lunch from the grill here at home.  It's always a crazy afternoon, with kids running in and out and everyone doing a little something to get lunch ready.  This past Sunday was predicted to be fairly nice, so Jeremy and I decided to go for it and start the grilling season early.  

It did turn out to be a lovely afternoon, and we even had the typical "summery" meal of burgers, beans, grilled vegetables, and potato salad.  Yep, we are definitely pretending it is spring...and I'm loving it!

The wild crew, minus one.

 Me too, Mackenzie!  : )

And the best thing about these wild and crazy Sunday dinners?  This crew is usually completely worn out, making for a very restful afternoon!  

Have you seen any glimpses of spring yet?  What are you most looking forward to with the warmer weather?

Wednesday Quick Takes

1.  Since I already basically gave up soft drinks, I decided not to do another sacrifice challenge for Lent this year.  Instead, I am committing to read Scripture each of the forty days during the Lenten season.  I was planning to do this plan to read the Gospels in forty days.  Then, last night, I came across a book I ordered back around Christmas that I haven't started yet.  The book is called 40 Treasured Bible Verses and has a short devotional expounding on the meaning of each selected verse.  Now I think maybe that was meant for me to read during this time?  I will decide for sure when I sit down to start tonight!

2.  As I mentioned, I didn't really make any grandiose resolutions for 2013, and I also never decided on a word for the year.  I did, however, somewhat inadvertently choose a Bible verse for myself:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  (Ephesians 4:29)

This verse has been on my mind so much in the last few months, and I generally find I am a much kinder and more gentle person when I consciously remember it.  So here is my public declaration that my goal for the year is to live by Ephesians 4:29.  : )

3.  Related, I guess I can finally also say that my word for the year seems to be intentional.  As my verse indicates, I need to be more intentional in my words and actions toward others.  I also want to be more intentional with my food habits (am I eating healthful, nutritious food or wasting my calories on junk?) and also with my time in general (i.e. reading a book or spending a few minutes straightening the living room rather than wasting an hour and a half on mindless tv).

4.  Mid-February is not too late for what basically amounts to New Year resolutions, right?  Hey, at least we know I didn't break them by the second week of January like usual!

5.  Following Marcia's lead, I am attempting to try at least 2-3 new recipes each month.  (I do plan to do a post and share my thoughts on these, maybe every other month or so).  It wasn't totally new (I've made it once before), but I made cajun-style red beans in the crockpot yesterday, in honor of Mardi Gras.  I basically used this recipe, and added a little more cajun seasoning this time, and they were delicious!  I am so glad to have leftovers for the next week or so.  

Haircuts, Etc.

Last week, Addison, Mackenzie, and I finally made it to the salon for long-overdue haircuts.  Several days before our appointment, I started asking the girls if they wanted to have their hair cut short again, or just get a trim and continue to let it grow.  Mackenzie was pretty consistent in wanting to cut hers, while Addison pretty much said she wanted to keep hers long so she could have a ponytail.

I will admit, I was back and forth on the issue of letting them have different hairstyles.  At my most logical, I reminded myself that they are two little individuals who deserve the opportunity to decide for themselves how they want to look (to a certain limited degree at this age, of course!).  But a part of me was thinking, Noooo!!  They're so cute when they look all matchy-matchy!  I can only make these decisions for them for a few years, and I say it stays THE SAME.

In the end, Mackenzie went first and got the short hairstyle we had talked about.  Addison watched the process, waffled back and forth one last time, then decided to go with the short cut, "like Mackenzie's".  {Yes, there was a small sigh of relief from this mama, though I had resolved to let Addison make her own decision.}

I think we are all pretty happy with the results...

...and A hasn't even asked for a ponytail once!  

I feel like they look so much more grown up with the short hair.  I've even used the hair dryer a few nights, in an effort to get it to fall more smoothly.  We're just getting a small taste of all the hairstyling efforts that will go on in this house over the years, I believe.

A & M aren't just looking grown up these days, they are really acting like it as well.  As I mentioned, there are not many naps happening around here, and we are now making plans to upgrade the girls' bedroom.  I have sold one crib and the dresser/changing table, so we officially on the hunt for a pair of twin beds.  (The couple buying the furniture is not ready for it yet, so no, neither of the girls is being forced to sleep on the floor!) 

I still haven't quite found what I'm looking for in a bed, but I have a few options to consider.  I would looove two white iron twin beds, but the ones I have seen are a little out of the price range.  The hunt will continue, and I'm sure we'll find something before long.  I'm also imagining a vintage-type dresser that I can paint white...hopefully for a very low cost on Craigslist. 

This is the kind of bed I have in mind, but we'll see how it works out.  I hope to get around to a few stores in the next couple of weeks. 

Have you replaced the baby furniture yet?  I can't wait to make some changes and get those giant cribs out!

The moments that matter

So last week I was all, "Hey, of course I can find five minutes to put down a few thoughts now and then.  No big deal!"  And yet here it is, more than a week later and I've made no more progress.  I knew this month was going to be ridiculously busy, but wow...some days I feel like I am just spinning my wheels.

I am drowning in a sea of laundry and haven't seen the bottom of a laundry basket in weeks.  Wilting ferns are still lingering on the front porch, as I haven't yet picked up the mums and pumpkins to replace them.  Last month, I bought a new shower curtain and bath mat for the girls' bathroom...and it's still sitting in the bag under the counter.  Every night I have plans to cross something off the to-do list, something in mind to accomplish for the day, but by the time the girls are in bed and the kitchen is back in order, all I want to do is crash on the couch.

But you know, when I consider the things that have gotten in the way of these seemingly important tasks, I just don't feel that badly about it at all.

These last few weeks have been full of birthday parties, a Homecoming parade, visits with A & M's great-grandparents, and movie nights on a pallet in the living room floor.  We made a trip to the library and had breakfast at our local bakery.  There have been loud, rambunctious dinners out with family and lots of (relatively) quiet dinners at our kitchen table.  We tossed a football around the yard and watched the girls learn to throw their very first softballs--pink softballs, at that. 

In short, we have been busy living, so really, what are a few baskets of laundry or dead ferns in comparison to all the memories we've made?  The things we are busy doing while we aren't cleaning the house are the important things.  When Addison & Mackenzie think back to their childhood, will they remember the piled up laundry or that their mama didn't get fall decorations out, or will they remember the day we covered the shower walls with shaving cream and 'fingerpainted' for an hour?  Judging by the way they kept squealing with laughter and Mackenzie's declaration that "This is so much fun, Mama!!", I am guessing it will be the latter.

Yes, this is the good stuff, the moments that matter. These are the times when memories are made...and I'll take those over an empty laundry basket any day.

Monday

Monday and I have love-hate relationship.  On the one hand, it's Monday and ughhh, five long days until the weekend.  On the other hand, every Monday is a kind of a little gift in itself--a new week and a fresh slate.  Each Monday is a chance to make this week different from the last.  This week I will be productive, and finally catch up on at least one of the perpetual projects hanging over my head.

I started off with a very optimistic attitude this morning.  After rushing around non-stop last week, this one promises to be much calmer.  Vacation Bible School is over and Thursday was the last of the MDO summer session.  So basically, we have nothing at all going on this week, and I'm looking forward to it.  (Plus A & M are spending the night with Jeremy's parents on Tuesday night, giving me a glorious evening in a totally empty house!)

I have a few things in mind I would like to accomplish this week:
--Catch up on work early in the week and eradicate the stacks of files on my desk
--Get back on track with eating at home/eating more balanced meals after indulging a little too much this weekend; make another batch of crockpot black beans
--Catch up on laundry and perhaps find the bottom of our overstuffed clothes basket
--Get a little exercise, either yoga or jogging, at least once or twice this week
--Make at least a small dent in the clutter taking over this house

Sounds do-able, right?

Fast forward to 6:00 this evening when Addison & Mackenzie were bouncing off the walls, despite not having a nap today, and completely ignoring everything I said.  I was yelling way too much and still being totally ignored and my zen-like attitude was long gone.  Nothing I did or said (yelled) was having any effect on the girls and when I spanked Mackenzie's leg (for playing in the liquid soap after she got out of the bath), she laughed at me.  LAUGHED. 

I really, truly love age three, but some days the glimpses of the attitude and strong will in these girls terrifies me.  I feel like all I have done lately is yell, discipline, and explain how important it is that they learn to listen to Jeremy and me.  I've even pulled out the Jesus card--as in, "It makes Jesus really happy to see you respecting mama & daddy and doing what we ask you to do."  All to practically no avail.

Ah well, such is this parenting thing, I guess?  I imagine I will continue to yell and be ignored on a regular basis for at least the next seventeen years or so. 

We ended on a much calmer note, and the girls passed out cold on the couch at 7:55.  There is an upside to days without naps.  : )

My to-do list for the night has been reduced to the following:
--Publish this blog
--Fold one basket of laundry
--Watch Friday Night Lights and/or read in bed until I pass out myself

Sometimes adjustments have to be made for the sake of a mama's sanity!

How was your Monday?

Cars and Books

My beloved Expedition bit the dust a couple of weeks ago.  Well, it didn't actually die, but it was close.  The check engine light came on and when Jeremy took it to the shop, the mechanic advised us to get rid of it, pronto.  Apparently there had been an underlying problem we didn't know about and it had done major damage to the engine....blah, blah, blah, mechanical talk. 

Jeremy might have felt a tad vindicated, as he never really liked my vehicle.  When we found it a couple of years ago, I loved it immediately, and I have loved driving it ever since.  We had a friend check it out before we purchased it (it was a few years old when we got it), but he didn't find the problem that was likely there back then. 

Anyway, to make a long story short, we either needed to get rid of the Expedition or sink several thousand dollars into it....which was not going to happen.  We weren't sure what we were going to be looking at in trading it, but of course we weren't going to sell it to an individual, knowing the problems that were present.  I began praying we would find an affordable, dependable vehicle that would suit our family, and that we would get the money we needed from the trade.  (We didn't get nearly what we needed, which was hard to swallow, but thankfully, it all worked out.)

After a very long and stressful day at two neighboring car dealerships (an hour and a half from home, where I had found a couple of SUVs we were interested in), we came away with a new-to-us Nissan Pathfinder.  The longer we looked at it, the more we felt like it was just what we were meant to find (I hadn't seen it on the internet...we actually pulled in to look at it while test-driving a car from the rival dealership!).  It has low miles, looks brand-new, has the space we need, and has more amenities than we were counting on.  We have been very happy with it so far--in fact, Jeremy commented that he liked it better than the Expedition and felt like it was much more "us".  I just pray this one lasts a good, LONG time.

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I heard about a website the other day that had never come to my attention before.  If you love good quality, inexpensive used books, I highly recommend checking out Thriftbooks.  I have had a hard time finding the later books in a series of YA fiction I started a couple of years ago, and I really didn't want to pay full price for a copy from Amazon.  For whatever reason, they are hard to find in our local libraries also.  I found them on thriftbooks and paid $7.40 total for two paperbacks...not bad!  And even better, shipping is free in the U.S.  

(By the way, I was NOT asked to promote this website, and I get no referral credit or anything like that.  Just passing it along!)

Another bookish happening this week that was exciting (to me):  I discovered the library at the college where I teach part-time has an excellent fiction section.  I don't know why it never occurred to me before, but I just never checked out the fiction and literature section there.  I am particularly impressed by the selection of YA fiction they offer, which is one of my only complaints about my city's library--a small YA section.  I'm on the board at my local library, so I'm certainly not overlooking  it by any means...just glad to have new options.  AND the college library has several ebook titles to lend, which we haven't bought into yet at the city library.

Do you use your local library?  As a lifelong library lover and now a board member, I feel compelled to encourage you to check it out if you haven't been in awhile.  It's hard to beat free books, right?

Summer is Here

Despite the already crazy-hot temperatures, our summer is off to a great start.

Although the girls have inherited my tendency to "hide out" during the heat, we have been out and about quite a bit lately.

• We have been to our town's public pool a couple of times now, and the girls seem to really enjoy it.  They are still pretty timid in the water, but I think we just need to keep going to get them a little more comfortable.  I mentioned a little bit about how nostalgic that pool makes me feel in this post, and it's fun to note the things that have changed and the things that haven't in the (many) years since I last spent time there.  (Still damp, dark bathrooms!)  The cost has definitely risen since I was a kid, and we are actually considering buying a pass for the rest of the summer.

• After an afternoon at the pool, we are all usually worn out.  This week, it was a little late for nap when we got home, so I thought the girls would skip it and go to bed early.  Instead, I came in from the grocery store at 5:30 to find this scene (and J asleep on the other couch):

• Last Thursday, my mom, my aunt, and I loaded up the girls and ventured over to a weekly farmer's market-type setup.   Although I only bought a (delicious) strawberry lemonade and a half-loaf of bread, it was fun to wander around and look at all the goods and produce.  A & M had a great time in the free children's area and enjoyed about 1/4 of their organic, all-natural fruit popsicles (that were $3 each, of course).  Kids!  : )  There was also a monthly art festival going on in the downtown square, with a variety of local artists and vendors.  Bands and musical instruments are pretty much the girls' favorite things right now, so they loved seeing a few different groups playing music.  There was even a full band set up on the courthouse steps.  Addison & Mackenzie would have gladly stayed until bedtime, if not for the band taking a break.  We will definitely be making a return trip soon!

• A couple of weeks ago, we took the girls to their first baseball game.  They were much more interested in the food and the surroundings than the game, of course, but it was a pretty successful evening.  We now know not to waste the money taking them to a Braves game for a couple more years...the local ballpark will do just fine!  A & M entertained the (mostly older) people sitting around us.  They scammed a few peanuts off a nice man behind us, and the lady sitting in front of us bought them a bag of cotton candy.  Strangely, they don't really care for cotton candy much (what kind of kids don't like pure spun sugar?!), but it was awfully sweet of her. 

• Finally, a question for you... With all the swimming and water activities we've had going on so far, I am thinking I need at least one more decent swimsuit. Anyone have recommendations for well-made, figure-flattering suits?  The one I have is Speedo, and it fits pretty well, but I'm willing to branch out and try something new.

(I'm playing with a new collage app, and apparently this will be the summer of the blurry phone picture!)

Lately

With only a few minor exceptions (mostly J's work stuff that's far beyond our control), things have been good lately.  Really good, in fact.

The girls are at a point where they can skip nap when we find something better to do, usually without earth-shattering consequences come bedtime.  It's nice to be able to do a few things differently every once in awhile.  With summer here in full force, I imagine we will take advantage of the option to choose adventures like the splash park or ice cream dates over naps when the mood strikes.

Addison & Mackenzie are interested in things they have never noticed before.  We spent nearly an hour out in the yard the other night, chasing and catching lightning bugs.  Their pretend games are longer and more involved than ever, and they can entertain themselves for the longest time with random objects.  Yesterday it was a roll of duct tape; today, a spool of thread. 

Jeremy and I are making a concentrated effort to change some of our eating habits, focusing on more real and natural (and low-carb) foods.  We are working hard to find new meals we both enjoy.

Personally, I have found myself eating a lot less meat.  I don't know if y'all know this or not, but the South is kind of a "meat & potatoes" kind of place.  Growing up, I didn't think you could have a real meal without meat.  Slowly, I'm learning that there are several meatless meals I really like.  Black beans, rice, and other vegetables and whole grains have become staples in my diet over the last few months, and I just realized today that I am now eating at least 5-6 meatless meals during the week.  I made and froze black bean quesadillas last week, and they make an excellent lunch.

The girls and I are taking lots of afternoon/evening walks.  They sit in the stroller, eating a snack and chatting their nonsense to one another while I jam to a Pandora station and focus on pushing 60+ pounds of kids and stroller up the hill in our neighborhood.  We saw the resident neighborhood peacock (yes, peacock!  No idea where he came from....) the other day, which was way more exciting for me than for A & M.  They did think it was really cool when I let them go out dressed like this, though:

Evening stroll attire should always include pajamas and rain boots.  Cowboy hat and Nerf gun are optional.

Yes, things are going well around here lately. 

How about you?

A Day in the Life

It has been quite awhile since I have done a "day in the life" post, and I think it is safe to say that my days have changed a lot since the last one.  I love reading about the ins & outs of other people's daily lives.  Though I might be alone on this (?), here is a peek at mine:

6:30 a.m.  My alarm goes off the first time.   I hit snooze at least once every morning.  Occasionally one of the girls might be waking up around this same time (usually Addison).  If so, I go get her out of bed and bring her to our bed to snuggle.

6:45-7:00 a.m.  I roll out of bed somewhere in this range and head for the shower.  If one of the girls is awake (they are rarely both awake at this time), I turn on Mickey Mouse or Curious George for her.

7:15-7:50 a.m.  I do my makeup and hair and get dressed while answering demands from the girls.  I usually try to start their lunch if it's a school day (Tues., Wed., Thurs.).  My mom comes over around 7:30 to get the girls ready for school.  I go to work at 8:00, so she takes them to school at 9:00, or stays with them if it's Monday or Friday.

8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  I am almost always a couple of minutes late for work, something I am trying to work on!  I usually eat an apple and peanut butter at my desk while I check my work email, etc.  There is not a whole lot of structure to my workday routine.  I do whatever needs doing first, then catch up on everything else as I can.  I get urgent to-dos first thing in the morning sometimes, and occasionally around midafternoon.  Otherwise, I just try to clear some of the stacks that are constantly threatening to take over my desk:

Addison & Mackenzie have school 9 a.m.-2 p.m. three days a week.  On Mondays, they stay with my mom all day, either at our house or hers, or a combination of the two.  On Fridays, my mom stays with them until Jeremy gets up (from his second-shift job) around 10, then they have "Daddy-Daughter Day".  I think they all love their lazy Fridays...I often come home to find all three of them still in pajamas!

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.  Lunch is one of my favorite times of the day.  I go home a few days a week, where I enjoy the stillness of an empty house and squeeze in some reading time while I eat.  Other days, I go out to lunch with friends or run errands and grab something to bring back to the office.  On Fridays, I usually go home to hang out with J and the girls for a little while.

1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.  More work.  My mom picks Addison & Mackenzie up from school and they go to our house or hers, where they play outside, have a snack, and occasionally go to the park or some other fun destination.  If it's not a school day, the girls usually nap from 2ish until 4ish.

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.  I pick the girls up if they are at my mom's, or head home if they are already there.  I always change clothes first thing, because I am eager to get out of my work clothes, and they tag along, telling me about their day.  We play a little, and I start our dinner. 

5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.  Any combination of dinner, playtime, and bathtime happens during this time.  If supper takes a little longer to prepare, the girls play while it's cooking or we all hang out together.  Last night, I fell asleep on the couch for about 15 minutes, until Addison woke me up banging on her drum while performing a "concert"!  With the beautiful weather we have been having, I am occasionally able to let the girls play in the backyard while I cook (I can see them well from my kitchen window).  I leave the deck door open and they wander in and out.  I love these little moments of independence, and I love when they rush in to tell me something that just happened outside or to ask for a drink.

We usually go straight to bath after supper.  Bath can take anywhere from 30 minutes to close to an hour, depending on our moods and how well they are playing in the tub.  If they are playing well, I catch up on Facebook, Twitter, or Words with Friends while refereeing. This is also usually the period when the girls use the potty for the last time for the night, unless we have a rare bedtime request (bladders of steel, I tell you!).  If Jeremy is home, he typically does bath while I clean up the kitchen or work on something else.

7:30-8:00 p.m.  We all hit the couch to watch an episode of whatever is the favorite for the week, usually from Netflix.  Right now, it's almost always the Fresh Beat Band, which often inspires a little pre-bedtime dance party.  The girls have a few drinks of milk or juice and occasionally some yogurt or fruit snacks if they are asking for a bedtime snack.  Lately, I have been able to do a little reading of my own while they watch their show, which is a pretty awesome advancement.

8:00-8:30 p.m.  When the allotted episode goes off, the girls inevitably ask for "one more!", but they are getting much better about not grumbling when I herd them to the bathroom to brush teeth.  We all three crowd into the rocking chair to read a couple of stories (at least two, sometimes more, depending on the time and attitudes) and say prayers.  I sing (badly) one song while holding the two of them, then rock them each for a minute before putting them in bed.  I turn on the lullaby CD, give each girl "one last hug and kiss" (per their request), and exit the room, calling out "Sweet dreams, I love you!" as many times as they answer me back.  Apparently, I am supposed to say it last, and Addison usually yells it at least three times.  : )

8:30-9:15 p.m.  I clean the kitchen from dinner, doing whatever needs to be done with the dishes (J is good to help me by unloading the dishwasher several times a week, so it's ready to go at night), and generally straightening a bit of the chaos. 

9:15-11:00 (or lately, 12:00)  My time...I read, blog, watch tv, or sew/craft.  If I have work to do for the classes I teach, this is when that happens.  The laundry is perpetually piled up, but if J and I are down to nothing to wear, I fold clothes while catching up on tv.  If Jeremy is home, we watch some of our DVR'd shows from the week.  I read at some point almost every night, even if only for a few minutes before bed.  It's my release from the day, before it starts all over again.

What does your day look like?  Seriously, I love reading these things, so leave a link if you've written one lately...or go ahead and write one now! 

State of Affairs, March Edition

Trips taken:  None, again
I did get out for fun shopping trips all by myself on a couple of occasions, both in the name of gathering supplies for the girls' birthday.  Naturally, I managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping for me too while I was out and about.  It's only fair, right?  I got to go to a movie this month as well, when I took some teenagers to see The Hunger Games.

I also took a Saturday trip to Fayetteville, TN with my mom and aunt to a fabric store.  We enjoyed a leisurely day, stopping at a local craft fair, eating lunch on the downtown square, and checking out the gigantic Goodwill store.

(There are already two day trips on the books for April.  Woo hoo!)

Books read:  5.5
Anything--Meh.  Strange and vague on the details.  More like an outline of what could have been a better story.

The Lifeguard--There was a somewhat-unexplained supernatural theme to this one too, but I didn't mind nearly as much.  Not bad.

Shooting Stars--Far-fetched, but pretty entertaining.  I liked the way it worked out in the end, and didn't really see it coming.

The Last Plea Bargain--My favorite of the month.  A legal thriller in the vein of John Grisham, but with a main female character.  A little on the long side, but I liked it quite a bit.

Speak--I have heard a lot about this YA book over the years and finally picked it up at the library this month.  I read it in just a couple of days, but I didn't just love it or find it that outstanding.  I did like the ending of this one as well.

I'm halfway through both Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (continuing my Harry Potter re-read) and Survival Mom.

(By the way, for anyone who may be interested in any of the books I mention in these recaps, they are listed on my Goodreads profile.)

Music
Eh, nothing exciting here this month.  A & M have now discovered The Fresh Beat Band on Netflix, so I get to hear a lot of that before bed at night.  Thankfully, it's not too annoying.  We have also listened to the Disney/Broadway station on Pandora and I have been reminded of just how much I love that one song from The Little Mermaid.  Cheesy much?

Crafts and Projects
The project I am most proud of this month (maybe for the entire year?) is outfit I made for the girls' birthday party.  I have a ton of party pictures and details to share soon, but I loved the way their outfits turned out...even if they included skirts and not a full dress like Dorothy wears!

I made cupcake toppers and party favors for the party, as well as designing their invitation.  I have never really fooled around with digital design before, except for the blog, so I was excited that I managed to accomplish that as well.  I bought fabric for simple kitchen curtains, but that project was sidelined for the birthday craftiness.

Project-wise, Jeremy gets the gold star this month.  With a lot of help from my dad and his stepdad, he spent an entire weekend putting together our birthday present for Addison & Mackenzie:

They love it, and I love that we have something to keep us busy outside in this beautiful spring weather.  I have already claimed a prime spot for my lounge chair and plan to spend a lot of time there, reading and watching the girls play.  : )

Notables

Here, at the end of March, I am not nearly as stressed as I was at the beginning of the month.   Though some things didn't turn out as well as I had hoped this month, I have pretty much let it go and given myself permission to start over with a clean slate in that area.  And I have vowed again to say no to things that will just add to my stress.  Every couple of years I have to be reminded that I can't do it all and refocus myself on what I can do.

Jeremy and I did a lot of thinking and talking about food this month, and while we aren't yet committed to huge changes, I do see good things beginning to happen in our attitudes about the way we want to feed our family.  I am very much looking forward to the upcoming fresh foods and vegetables of the summer.  Also food-related, I made a first attempt at any kind of homemade bread and made this Cinnamon Strawberry Bread.  It is amazing, and has become a regular rotation in our house...proof that I can actually follow a recipe sometimes!

We also finalized some plans for fixing up some things around the house and began to loosely, but seriously, discuss adding on to our house.  We love this neighborhood, our yard, and most things about this house, but we want just a little more space.  We hope to possibly meet with a contractor this month to find out the possibilities to add a new master bedroom and bathroom.  I don't know if it will work out or not, but it's fun to dream.

How was your March? 

A Perfect Spring Weekend

This past weekend was one of those I wish I could copy and paste throughout the entire year.  It was one of those perfect weekends that we imagined when we started thinking about a family--spending time together, just hanging out and enjoying one another's company.

I ran out early to the first yard sale of the year, at the home of a friend with twin girls a year older than Addison & Mackenzie.  We just love to get a big box of new-to-us clothes!  After the yard sale, the girls and I went to a birthday party, where they had a great time running around in the morning sunshine.

When they got their fill of birthday cake, A & M were ready to come home, where they knew Jeremy was working in the yard.  As soon as we pulled in the driveway, I faced the fact that the girls would probably not be napping.  Not only was J working in the yard, but my dad was over installing a fan in the master bathroom.  Way too much distraction for little girls to want to nap!  I decided to be okay with that and to make the best of the afternoon.

Even without a nap, it was a great afternoon.  The girls alternated between watching their Paw Paw inside, helping Jeremy outside, and begging Adele (my stepmother) to push them on the swing.

Mackenzie did fall asleep for about an hour while watching Curious George, and Addison headed out to help Jeremy wash our cars.  As soon as M woke up she wanted in on that action, and they had a great time playing in the soap and water.

Sunday was the usual-- church, lunch, long afternoon nap.  We tried a brand-new restaurant for lunch, and it was a hit.  A new family joined us for lunch, which brought our kid total to FIVE (all age two and under).  It was loud, crazy, and perfect.  The kids got balloons and ice cream sandwiches with their meals, making the restaurant a new favorite in their eyes.

The more relaxing, enjoyable times like this that we have together as a family, the more sure I am that we probably won't have any more kids.  Things are just so much easier at this stage than they were a year or two ago, and I am so looking forward to all the new and fun adventures the four of us have in store!

Overwhelmed

Back in college, I used to get in these moods where I felt totally and completely overwhelmed by all my schoolwork, commitments, jobs, and other obligations.  It happened most often around the time of finals or when I had a big project due, or when I was working on a major event for sorority.  I would long to curl up with a book I wanted to read, as opposed to whichever one I was supposed to reading, and to just do nothing for awhile.

In graduate school in particular, I distinctly remember thinking I could not wait until I finished my degree so I could just work.  I anticipated the days when I would do my job, then go home and do whatever I wanted to do, without worrying about research, classes, or exams.

For the most part, I really did enjoy all the free time I had after finishing school.  Jeremy and I were already married when I completed my master's degree, and I had recently moved into my current job, which was a lot slower-paced and with much more normal hours than my previous one had been.  It felt so good to just be able to relax and enjoy the evenings and weekends, without anything hanging over my head.  (And I remember SO many weekends early on in our marriage when we both slept until nearly lunchtime, then might take a long afternoon nap, accomplishing absolutely nothing for the day.  The beauty of being a young adult with few responsibilities, right?)

I have done well keeping my promise to myself to remember how stressed I get when I am over-committed, and I have kept a pretty low-key schedule for the most part.  Sure, there have been times when I got a little too busy with one thing or another, or we had weeks when it felt like every moment was packed full.  Once, just a few weeks after the girls were born, I was convinced I was going to have to give up teaching because I just couldn't handle it on top of managing newborns.  (See--that "do nothing but work" phase did not entirely last...within a year or so of beginning my current job, I also started teaching part time at a local community college.)  Naturally, I settled into the routine better after a few weeks, managed to finish the semester, and am still teaching today. 

In the last month or so, I have realized that I have been letting my commitments and obligations stack up again.  Addison & Mackenzie (and Jeremy!) are the first priority, as always, but I am also juggling my regular job, two online college courses (which I do still enjoy and plan to keep), serving on a local board, teaching Sunday School and working with youth at church, among other projects and everyday things.  I let a project fall through the cracks this month, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I really failed at something I said I would do.  It's not a good feeling at all.

Still, at least I am aware enough to realize why it happened and to put a stop to the underlying issue right now.  I am still the same type of person I have always been:  when my day is done, I want to retreat with a book or tv (or a sewing or craft project), and let everything else go.  I don't want to spend the hours between the girls' bedtime and my own working on something I don't even really want to be doing.  Some commitments bring me joy, for the most part--teaching my online classes, working with youth, blogging and reviewing books--but my plate is full with all those things.  For now, I need to face the fact that I can't add anything else, and focus on those activities I truly enjoy.

After all, I am an adult now; I get to pick and choose what I want to do with my time.  I have learned that I function best somewhere between a jam-packed schedule and a wide-open life of leisure, and I just have to move it back into balance at times.  I am getting back to being a little more picky about what I choose to do, and learning to say no a little more often. 

Do you ever feel over-obligated?  Have you learned your limits and when to say 'no'?  Do you like to be busy or have lots of free time, or somewhere in between like me?

Monday on a Tuesday

We had a great weekend, complete with an extra day off yesterday.  Friday night, the girls went to spend the night with Jeremy's parents.  We decided to go ahead and eat dinner with his family instead of going somewhere else, since every restaurant seemed to be packed.  Late Valentine's celebrations, I guess...it was ours too!

After dinner, the girls went off with their grandparents and Jeremy and I went to see The Vow.  It was...alright...some things about the characters really irritated me.  Still, it was nice to sit in a theater next to my husband and do nothing but take in the movie for about two hours.

I made a quick Target run right before the movie and ran into a local blog friend (It was great to catch up for a few minutes, Iana!  We should really get our kids together sometime!).  I also snagged this necklace on clearance for $2.40 that I am a little bit in love with:

The Gemini symbol (my astrological sign)...also the symbol for TWINS!  : )

Jeremy and I spent our child-free Saturday morning piddling around the house.  I finally started a project I have been intending to work on for months.  After a morning spent in Jeremy's workshop and one trip to Home Depot, this desk

became this:

It is still far from perfect, and I have already put a couple of spots on the top (because I didn't wait long enough before setting the heavy sewing machine on it), but it is a great improvement.  I used spray paint and it was pretty easy, so there's no telling what piece of furniture I will attack next!  I do want to make a little skirt for the desk, to hide the cords and stool, and I need some baskets for the open shelves on the end.  I don't really know if the desk is going to stay where it is (in the kitchen) or move somewhere else, but at least it is now in the house and functional.  Progress!

The rest of our weekend was pretty quiet.  We hung out at home, had a fantastic Sunday lunch with just the four of us (a rarity!), and did lots of reading (rainboots optional).

--------------------

Random Addison quote from lunch on Sunday:  "Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!"  

I love that my baby quotes one of my favorite shows (I Love Lucy) without having any idea what she's talking about.  (She picked it up from her silly father a couple of weeks ago.)  : )

Lazy Days

As a mom who works outside the home full time during the week, I feel like our evenings are a rush of playtime, dinner, baths, and as much quality snuggling/reading/rocking time as we can fit in the hours between 4:30 and 8:30. 

Largely because of the rush-rush-rush of our weeknights, I find myself enjoying lazy weekends at home more and more.  I used to feel we had to plan something special for the weekend--you know, fun family activities to make our quality time together even more exciting.  I am sure that as the weather warms up and the spring sunshine begs us to take advantage, we will begin to fill the weekends with plans and activities again.

For now, though, we are all enjoying the peace and contentment of quiet days at home.  My favorite weekends are the ones when we have absolutely nothing on the agenda, when we are free to come and go as we please...or to spend the entire day in pajamas, playing with baby dolls, drinking coffee (both the real and pretend kinds), running races down the hall, coloring, cutting, gluing, and snuggling up to watch a movie on the couch.

Weekends with these cutie-pies?  Yes, please!

Even on our lazy weekends, the library is a must-do at least one or two Saturday mornings every month.  I love that my girls love the library!

With Paw Paw (my dad) on his birthday last week)

What do your weekends look like?  Do you prefer to have lots on the agenda, or are you happiest hanging out at home?