Stuff Portrait Friday.....RAINBOW

Kristine choose the random topic of rainbow this week for her SPF. You would think with all the rain we have had in the last two months I would have an multitude of opportunities to take pictures of rainbows. Let's just say it hasn't happened. We had gutters installed on the house, just so we don't wash away. But no rainbows.

So I was sorting through some old pics on the big computer. I found these. I know they are in the last year....because the kids got that table for Christmas.

My first rainbow........see the little tiny foam squares in Will's sorting activity?? Looks like a color wheel.....he might look exactly like a "mini-me" of Mike, but he acts just like me. The first two squares hold a purple and a red one. After a bit of this sorting, (done with the tongs we use to get toast out), he started the same pattern with circles, stars, and tiny circles.

I can't take the credit for this, I know he does something similar to it at school. But when it has rained for almost the last 2-3 months, we are desperate to find things to do inside besides watch TV..

The no watching TV is purely for selfish reasons....because when I am prepping dinner or not able to be with them, you know it is on!

oh yeah, I feel the need to address his "talk to the hand" phase.....it has slowed down a bit....now he just runs and hides. I cracked up when I found this picture. It is like he is looking just beyond his thumb to see if I am still taking pictures!

The second rainbow.....Livi in a bunch of balls at one of those bouncey house places. As part of an kid's Expo event to things in the area to do with kids, a place about 30 minutes set up about 20 of those huge inflatables that the kids could bounce in and have a "ball"<----I totally make myself laugh some times! We paid a fortune to get in....I thought it might be like $5 a kid.....yeah right....but this was right after Mike had left from being home on R&R, so keeping the kids distracted was the focus. btw, we never have gone over there. I might have to plan a little road trip, they loved it!

happy Friday y'all

Stuff Portrait Friday -silverware drawer

Kristine choose a truly random and odd picture.....we get this assignment: "Show me your silverware drawer. No cheating and cleaning it out either. "

So here it is. I can't even remember the last time I had anything green in the kitchen, but I have managed to hang onto this little sorter. Several times I have found great bamboo or stainless ones...but I never can remember to take the measurements of that drawer. Even though I am the queen of returning things, I haven't gotten a new one. The drawer is lined with that shelf liner stuff so it doesn't slip around. Livi is finally old enough to sort the silverware from the dishwasher. Sometimes the salad forks are with the dinner forks, but at least it is in the drawer.

Happy Friday y'all......Go let Kristine know if you played.

Because Kristine is cleaning out all kinds of junk....we get this assignment: "Show me your favoritest ugly creation that was made just for you. For those of you that don’t have nieces, nephews, children, teenagers…*cough* bitch *cough* and have nothing to post, show me your ass. Yes, you heard me right. Your ass. Pull em down and take a picture for us. Oh wait, you suddenly remember a knick nack or crazy picture a kid drew you. Thaaaats what I thought."

Since I am not up for sharing pics of my back end for all to see, I found these pictures of Livi from her Ooyey Gooyey art class. These are what we made last week.

This is a stepping stone made out of plaster of Paris. We covered the top with wax paper so she could press her hand into it. Then she put those little glass pebbles all over it. The hand is covered with colored sand. She was really upset they didn't have purple sand. I don't know if you can tell, but I tried to mix red and blue sand.....pretty basic concept you learn in preschool right?? Well, it doesn't work with colored sand. You just get red and blue sand ....all mixed up! It has been so wet and humid here though that it still hasn't even dried a week later.

When Mike gets home, we are going to dig out some grass and do some more landscaping....maybe just maybe she will forget about it by then. If not, I am sure we could find a spot for it in the new beds.

The other thing we made last week was this bug. It is made out of a toilet paper roll with colored polka dots all over it. We were getting glued to the tube until I realized I could put glue on the tube and roll it in the dots. Way easier!! When she finished, she flew it around the room singing the song to Miss Spider. I don't even know where this one ended up because it is not in her room. Better than that, I have not been vacuuming up all those dots all over the house!

Little side note on the sleep problems I have been having with her.. ..after reading this book, (Thanks nice friend J...I'll be getting it back to you in a week or so), today she has managed to sleep in her own bed for a two hour nap and go to bed, stay in her bed, and go to sleep on her own in less than an hour. Yes, she came out 7-8 times, but she eventually went to sleep on her own. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!

happy Friday y'all!

Stuff Portrait Friday - Air Freshener

Because Kristine is a cleaning fool this week, she asks: "How do you keep your house smelling good? Is it open windows? Is it Febreeze? A fan? Removing all children from your house thus removing teenage FUNK stank?"

Anyone who knows me or even reads this occasionally knows I am a overly organized person who does the Flylady thing adapted to our family. I do a little bit of cleaning everyday. Once a week I do an hour of a house blessing, I spend 10 minutes doing each of these things: dusting, swiffer the tiled areas, mop the tiled areas, vacuum the carpeted areas, purge magazines and shred junk mail, and change bed sheets. It should only take an hour, but it usually takes about an hour and a half with all the interruptions. Everything else is done on a daily basis that I never really have to stop and spend an entire day cleaning. I wipe down the sink and counter every day after I finish my morning routine. The kids do the wipe down in their bathroom. I still do their toilets, though.

I should mention I use this stuff that came with my vacuum cleaner once a week. The stuff is this moist powder that you sprinkle on the carpets. It magically absorbs any skanky smells. Once it is dry to the touch (about an hour) you can vacuum it up. I know Target carries it.

The other thing I use is this little thingy I blogged about in Feb. Here is a recap of what I wrote:


I went to lunch with a new friend today. I think that is the hardest thing about moving.....having to find, make, and keep friends. This mom has a daughter that goes to Will's school. I have volunteered with her for a few events. Her little girl is always dressed so cute. I mentioned to her that she should sell her daughter's stuff on Ebay. So one afternoon she came over and I showed her how. She suggested we go to lunch sometimes. Since my babysitter comes over on Tuesdays, I suggested a little hole in the wall Thai place I had been wanting to try.

Well, I am so glad I did. We had the greatest time. She brought me this diffuser from Pier 1 called Ember. I was hesitant to even open because I am very picky about smells. I am not a fruity sweet type....this has rich scents of oranges, clove, cinnamon and more. Place the reeds in the glass bottle filled with fragrance and allow it to gently waft through the room. I am so impressed she noticed the couple of candles I had were very fall-ish...if that is a word.
I wanted to take my camera and take a picture of my Thai tea...but with the making-new-friends thing, I wasn't hesitant to bust out the camera and start snapping. Don't want to run her off too quickly. We had such a good lunch. It was 3:30 before any one noticed the time. (We met at 1.) We have already made plans for our next girls lunch at another place.
So here is to new friends.....I have definitely made a lifelong friends at each and every place we have lived.....from big Lawton America to Alaska, out to the beautiful bay of California, to the cornfields of Kansas...So now it is time to do the same here. I am trying to keep a positive outlook about this and things are looking up.

Stuff Portrait Friday - Bounce

kristine wants some Bounce this week........The kids have always called a trampoline a BOUNCE ......so two little kids on a bounce.

This is at my aunt's house in podunk America. Yes, I am aware there are no nets. Yes, I was standing there the entire time.

So did you play??

stuff portrait fridays....FRAMED

kristine wants something “FRAMED” Show your favorite frame, framed picture, a frame you have been coveting in a store or online, or get creative and show us your version of ‘framed’..

Way too tired to get crafty and creative, so I will show you a little peek into my favorite framed picture of me and hubby....this is the picture we had taken for our engagement announcements ten years ago this summer. We showed up at the little portrait place for just the generic in house snaps of a few photos. When he offered to go up the block to a park, we were quite shocked. We didn't pay for any extra on location shoot. We had fun sitting on some park benches, leaning on fences, and this one peeking between the trees. We had this matted at the reception of our wedding. People who were there signed it. In the past ten years so many of those people who signed it have passed in and out of our lives. Grandparents have passed away, friends have moved away, and so much has happened. We look so young....but, yes, it is one of my favorite framed pictures of us.

And just for the heck of it, this is another framed painting we have in the entry way. I try to follow a bit of feng shui ( I know, call me Best Friends with Crazy right now, but I need a little peace in my life!). Feng shui is a way of creating harmony between humans and our environment to enhance our well being. People are affected -either positively or negatively- by their surroundings. So if with a little placement of things here and there I can make my life a happier, healthy, and more peaceful...I say, "Pull up a seat, Crazy, let's talk"...

Oh yeah, where was I?? The painting....the entrance to your home should include a landscape.....kind of like a little entrance into a peaceful place. We try to collect local arts and prints from the many places we get to live. This one of course is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. We got it because we loved living in the east bay. We had these beautiful rose bushes in our yard. This painting really combined the two memories into a living piece of art. See,don't you feel a bit peaceful all ready??

So did you play??

okay, I don't know where my comments thing went.....like everyone is dying to leave comments here....I'll see what I can do.

eta: okay, I just had to redo the entire post, just copying and pasting....Has this happened to any of you using Blogger??

Stuff Portrait Friday - Home

kristine wants something from our home...

This week has been nothing but rain.....so this is what is lined up in the front entry. Of course I washed my car last weekend. I don't think it has stopped raining since. My new camera wil lbe here before it stops!

How is that for short and sweet.

Did you play? Let kristine know.

Stuff Portrait Friday: TWO

This week's assignement from kristine takes us back to the beginning of Stuff Portrait Friday. Apparently she has given out assignments for two years! She gives the history of the whole game....someone wanted to see her fridge....so in honor of her fridge....here is my TWO.

I propped the camera up on the baker's rack and took this with the timer while the kids were eating breakfast. Apparently they thought I had become best friends with Crazy, because they were totally cracking up at me. They had to get in the action too.

Live popped up out of her chair, and said, "Cheese me." <----Two year old speak for 'take my picture'. What no badgering from me to get a picture??

Will said, "Mom (like Crazy and I were close)...You are not TWO!! But I am three!" It was so funny. I almost spewed my coffee all over! Then of course he wanted to do a crazy picture for Mike. He thought it was crazy something day at his preschool since we were taking random pictures with the fridge open.

Okay, by now the "door open" warning is going off!! What is up with the pulling your lips as far apart as you can thing? Who does that?? At least they didn't stick their tongues out at me!

Did you play?? Let kristine know....and wish her a Happy birthday to SPF while you are at it!

happy Friday y'all!

Stuff Portrait Friday - Knob

When Kristine at Random and Odd. assigned Knob as this week's assignment, I thought I would dig up some pictures of Mike when he was a freshman at The Citadel....as a freshman with their shaved heads they are called knobs. But to find a pic would require some time that just didn't happen this week.

So I went for the obvious....

As I ventured around the house, I realized most of the door knobs have something hanging from them. This one has Mike's keys and stuff near the front door....usually a clippie I try to take out of my hair before I answer the door!!

Since we have had so many storms lately where the electricty went out, I have some tealights in this one. Since I used so many of them last weekend, I need to refill it.

Of course my fun new tassel from Southern Living.

So did you play??

Stuff Portrait Friday - my stuff

things that make me ....well, me

Recently I asked people to describe me in one word....I expected alot of neat, organized, anal...because I am . See that label maker there....I don't do much without it. Everything is labeled everywhere in the house. The plastic containers of things in the pantry, the Rubbermaid tubs of toys, the scrap supplies, pretty much everything.

Can you use one too much?? I think so, the letters are starting to not be as dark on the tape...like it has labeled one too many label.

Next, the glass of wine....yep, a big wino here. I am on a white kick these days. I am loving me some Barefoot pinot grigio. Cheap and light....what a great combo! I love my neighborhood....most Saturdays we get together in someone driveway or inside if it is too cold....and I can enjoy my little glass or two of vino. Now how many hours until Saturday evening???

Finally, my keys....I love my car. I never thought I would drive anything but an SUV....but we ventured over to the Volvo dealer near Austin when we first got here.....so now, I am truly a wagon-driving mom! When I was in college, I used to babysit for all these moms that had the black one with the warm brown leather interior. That was always my standard for a mom truly living the cushy life. Well, I like my cushy life.

Other words people used to describe me: I saved those emails...kind of like my own little "please validate me" file....

wow

private

meticulous

authenic

example

sparkle

nice

OCD

inspiration

strong

fun

cute

organized

fun

mulit-dimensional

organized

fun

thoughtful

Did you play?? Let Kristine at Random and Odd. know.

Stuff Portrait Friday - Holy

Kristine at Random and Odd. has a new challenge for this week .....

HOLY...

Early again, but I am headed to the pawpaw patch of Oklahoma where there may or may not be internet....not even someone's wireless I can steal (oops did I say that outloud) I mean borrow.

I could go to my aunt's house, but she has dial up! Yeah not happening in my little world. I could go to my friends in big L-town...but she is NEVER home. So, hence, you get an early SPF.

For all that is good and HOLY in the state of Texas, you must have a big A star in your home....preferably a big rusty barn star. Trust me, this one is big .....Husband hung it while he was home...I had the little topiaries from a neat little store called Nell Hills' in Kansas. From my Southern Living party I got that little copper thing with the candles. I think I am going to put some candles in some, and some seasonal flowers in the others....wrap some berry garland around it and call it done!


Here in Texas people are proud to be here and from here. We try to immerse ourselves in the area where ever we are. We try to collect some local art and enjoy it...because it could be a long time to be miserable.

So I give you my HOLY big A Texas barn star....

Happy Easter y'all! See you next week.....

Stuff Portrait Fridays- BEHIND

Kristine at Random and Odd. has a new challenge for this week .....insert drum roll here....BEHIND....take it how you want it....

just a few definitions:
be·hind –preposition
1. at or toward the rear of: Look behind the house.
2. not keeping up with, later than; after: behind schedule.
3. in the state of making less progress than: We can't afford to fall behind our competitors.
4. on the farther side of; beyond: behind the mountain.
5. originating, supporting, or promoting: Who's behind this program?

That big orange one is the one I am chosing to post about today....I give you my behind.



Tuesday Updates started when I had Will. He was born on a Tuesday. I kept a weekly scrapbook of him. It is a small 6X6 album. Each week I would take a picture of something big that happened. The page of him and Husband below was the first time he had ever said dad. I was changing his diaper, Husbandwalked in from work and peeked his head in his room, and Will said, "Hey, Dad!" He was about 6 months old!! Since I already had the pictures, I would email friends and family near and far of our precious little boy. Yes, every Tuesday I emailed ....in the subject line I would put "Tuesday Update". Will was the first grandchild on Husband's side. They live in OH, we were in OK. So these weekly emails were just a little something so they could keep in touch with us.

So, when Livi was born, I started one for her. I had great intentions. I took a million pictures a week. Yes, I had two kids under 16 months of age...but I kept up with it for the most part.

Then we moved from CA to KS...only there a year....then moved again to TX....so now my poor baby girl is now almost 2 1/2. Here is the final entry in her Saturdays with Olivia.

Can you read that down in the corner?? Nope....look a little closer..

Yes, my dear friends, that says "thirty-five weeks"...almost nine months. So I am behind not just a little bit.....BUT nearly two years!! I had big plans of catching up while Mike was deployed...but yeah right, that is so not happening!! So, maybe when she is in preschool I will finally have time.....until then.

happy Friday, y'all!

Stuff Portrait Friday - two....

I know it is not Friday yet....but I have time NOW...so Kristine at Random and Odd. new challenge for this week is .....insert drum roll here....TWO. So my two includes: two projects that I need to get done this weekend..

While Mike was home, hanging this planter was on his "honey do" list. Now it is just begging for some flowers. I was waiting until the spring soltice to finally put some flowers in it. Some old man told Mike that it would freeze one more time here around the 20th....

I don't usually put much thought into statements like that, especially since it has already been nearly 90 degrees on several occasions. But, in the back of my mind I was wondering if he knew something I didn't! Remember what happened the last time it iced over here......My poor little flowers never recovered. There is another urn like this on the other side of the garage. The little tree in it has some brown leaves in the center, so I think it might be dead. The flowers have long been pulled out. After the ice thawed, they looked like lettuce does when it gets to cold in the veggie drawer.
This is another fun planter that I got at the prisoner store in Leavenworth. Yep, some convicted felon crafted that little doozy with his own little criminal hands. It has started to get that rusty patina I so love. My little ladybug kevlar (or it is styrofoam, not sure what the training one is called) is looking a little dusty. I guess she needs a bath this weekend too. I saw one of these ladybeg helmets when Mike and I first got married. He made this one for me just before he left.
The final place begging for some color is this little patch between the porch and the front yard. These mums and some other things came back after I hacked all the dead stuff off.

So tomorrow after I drop Will off, I guess Livi and I will head over to Home Depot or Lowes and get some flowers. I can bet Livi will want anything "purpur", it is still her favorite color. The kids and I will be getting down and dirty this weekend...okay technically that is three places that need flowers, but who is counting??

Did you play?

Stuff Portrait Friday - your letters

Since Mike left today I need a distraction. The kids are in bed, the kitchen has its shiny sink, so I have time to play..... I know it's not Friday yet, oh well.... SPF today, hosted by Kristine at Random and Odd.

These are the letters I love best. Letters from Husband....he is so good about writing a letters. I get one at least 4 days a week. Some time a few days go by then I will get three or four in one day. I love walking across the street (we have one of those community boxes for half the neighborhood just across from our house), giving will the "golden key" to open out box, and hoping to see one of plain white letter-sized envelopes with his handwriting on it.

Being as anal as I am, I don't rip it open right there. I go inside, pour me an ice cold diet Dr Pepper, neatly open it across the top (not on the side like I do bills)with a letter opener, and sit and really enjoy the letter. It is usually just a simple note of how he is doing or something that reminded him of us that day. Sometimes I cry and try not to let the kids see me crying, other times I just crack up just like I would if he were walking in the door at the end of the day.

Except I know he is not walking in and this is all that I have to hang onto until .....

the next day that I walk out to the mailbox.....

with the "golden key".

Did you play??

happy thursday, almost friday.

Stuff Portrait Friday - Luggage

It’s my veg night, so I have time now and might on Friday so that means it’s another “Stuff Portrait Friday” hosted by our lovely Kristine over at Randomandodd.com.
This week’s theme is “Your luggage”

Want to see how much stuff is needed for just three people....two kids and one adult to take a long weekend trip home to my mom's in big Cache America, a mere 5 1/2 hours away?

*luggage for Liv

*luggage for Will

*luggage for me

*snacks for all

*our own pillows....far be it they sleep without the "big dogs"

*unlimited amount of movies for kids

This was the first trip I had taken once Mike had deployed. I wasn't sure how I would do driving alone with the kids. I know I blogged about this, but this was the time that we got locked in a bathroom in PODUNK, TX!! lovely.....

Of course my new favorite bag/luggage/diaper bag. I got this adorable bag at Gap recently. It has the necessary things needed to lug around two toddlers....diapers, wipes, snacks, Bobbi Brown lipstick (I don't have to always look like a haggard mom!) I got it at our regular Gap, but on the website it is in the maternity section, so I guess it really is a diaper bag. I saw it one night and went home WITHOUT it....I kept thinking about it, so I went back to get it the next day! I am so glad, I LOVE IT!!

Now go ahead and play… and let me and Kristine know about it!

SPF assignment: LEFT OVER

SPF: Did you pay attention to the link? it’s LEFT OVER

March 1st, 2007
Thanks Kristine for the link! She already linked this weeks SPF assignment (see, up there at the top? up there. Look? see it?)

It’s LEFT OVER. That is your only assignment. Something left over.

These are the leftover parts from the huge box of GeoTrax trains that Mike and Will put together today. Will first got these for Christmas the year he turned 2. Every since they have been played with! He usually only has out a simple little set that he can do by himself. When we first got the beginner set, we went crazy buying the extra little parts and trains. I am not sure if Mike liked them or Will. After an afternoon and a huge box, here is the final project:

The green part on the left goes up on an angle and is elevated. Super fun for a three year old and his dad!

happy Saturday!