plain and simple

I braved the grocery store yesterday with the kids... Brian is the one who usually goes, but since he was pouring our new countertops!! (more on that later), I thought I would surprise him and get the groceries for this week. The kids did great- the only thing they were guilty of was helping me spend too much money (we spent twice as much as what Brian normally spends-ouch).. Declan threw in some chocolate pop-tarts, Aislin decided she wanted flowers... she was standing in front of the bunches of flowers and was touching them (petting them almost) and looked up at me and said, "I would really like to enjoy these at home." How could I say no?  I didn't :-)  (I guess I will have to remove the dead leaves later- ha!)

Two weeks ago, I painted our kitchen (with help from Brian's mom) a really pretty yellow- Banana Cream.  At first, I was freaked out because it looked lemon, but once it dried and we finished, it started to look so nice and warm!  I love it!  Brian and his brother, Sean,  just got done pouring our new countertops- we are doing concrete, in a charcoal color- I cannot wait until these are done!  Sean has his own business doing countertops, etc.. so we are pretty excited to get these in the house!  (and lucky that we just get to pay the cost for these!)  I'll post pictures when the countertops are installed!

Apparently, I have been in a very bad mood for a few months- not sure why.. but I have been feeling like my life is unorganized and out of control (and if you know me, being out of control is one thing i can not handle!).  It seems that no matter what I try, I just can't swing out of this.  So, starting the month of May (tomorrow!), I am going to try to make a schedule, get things done, make some lists and actually DO things on the list so i can have a sense of accomplishment.  (My friend, Elizabeth , and I like to compare lists to see who has the longest one and to motivate each other to get things crossed off).  I want to try to *be* as organized as possible so maybe that will help me feel a little less overwhelmed!  Wish me luck  :-)  (oh, and I think my bad mood is also from not working out in forever.. I am for sure the heaviest I have ever been-ugh!  so, I am going to try to work out- at least a few times a week.. I always want to strive to work out every day, but so far, that just does not happen!)

My two little tater-tots (see Kelli's favorite word post) are not going to sleep tonight, so I need to go! 

disappointment for my girl

Aislin had a dental check-up today and her dentist took some x-rays and found out that her loose tooth is *not* from an adult tooth pushing through- it is from trauma to her tooth that happened a few years ago!  Let's just hope she doesn't wiggle that tooth out before it is ready! Poor girl- she was so excited about starting to lose her teeth!  The good news - her adult teeth on the bottom are *right there* getting ready to push those little baby teeth out.  I have to admit, it is really funky looking at that x-ray with two rows of teeth.. gives me the shivers.  Reminds me of a Stephen King story I read once...

these two

the one on the left has her first loose tooth. the one on the right needs a haircut. they both love it when their daddy makes smoothies for them.

I'd love to know the tooth-tooth fairy exchange rate these days!  What are you putting in place of the tooth?? 

so tomorrow became yesterday..

and I will post photos today :-)

We had a super spring break- went to Florida to spend time with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Steve...

went to the beach..

Aislin tried out to be in a KISS cover band.. oh wait, no- that is just her trying to eat her hair. in all of the photos. nice.

Deck was wild..imagine that..

Aunt Linda and Uncle Steve took us to Sea World!

We had a great week- then came home and had Easter!  (where apparently, I had my camera tilted the same way all the time...)

enough photos?? yep, i think so :-)

random things

I made the best granola tonight!  YUM!  :-) 

the house is clean. yay!!

I am starting the kids next week with assigned chores. Does anyone do this?  They need to be responsible for some things- so far, i have on the list  :: make their own bed in the morning, set the table at night, take the recycling out to the bin (they love to do this, so not really a chore!), put toys away *right* when they are done playing with them (we are bad about letting them leave stuff out, then they-we have TONS to clean up).  I can't really think of anything else- they both like to help with preparing meals, and they are both really good at putting their dirty clothes away, keeping their rooms pretty neat.. any other ideas of small chores for a 4 year old and a 5 year old?  Not like I want to load them down, but I want them to have a variety.

I remembered to take our library books back on time this week- no late fees!!  :-)

We had an amazing spring break- will post photos tomorrow!

Brian is working hard on our new countertops & backsplash.. concrete.. they are going to be super cool- can't wait!  Now, i must decide on a color for our kitchen- yikes!

my little girl is reading books now. on her own. which amazes me. She reads to her brother. She reads a book to us at bedtime.  It is awesome. Every time I listen to her read, i want to cry- I am that happy and she is that proud of herself.  Love it!

i want to start doing little projects around the house starting NOW. painting. getting family pictures printed out, hung up. Trying to decorate. Our house is so plain right now, and I really need to change that!  I have decided, though, that I love the vintage-clean look. Which means i love vintage stuff, but i want it to be not too cluttered and mixed with some new.  I can see it in my head, but can't explain.

Ok- bye for now :-)