When is bribery is an awesome idea?

When Will jumped out of his bed last summer and began his quest for extreme dislike to the ENT, he also decided his room was scary. After much ado, each of the girls would take turns sleeping in his trundle bed. However, sometimes that got old because a.) they are contrary little girls and b.) they like their new bunk beds. I could understand their sorrow, but I was not the parent who wanted to sleep with a child. The past few weeks, I threw out my strict Babywise training and either Craig or I would lay down with Will to get him to sleep.

In the midst of all of this, Will is CONVINCED he is a BIG boy. He is going to turn 4 soon, wear Luke's big clothes, get an ewectwic (electric-spin) toothbrush and have a Batman b-day party. We hear about this at least 18 times a day even though he will not turn 4 for 7 mos.

Friday night, he was yapping about being sooooo BIG and a clever idea popped in my head.

Me: If you are so big, why don't you sleep in your bed by yourself?
W: I can't, it is scary.
Me: It is not, it is a safe room.
W: Noooooo, I neeeeeed mmmmmmmyyyyy Mmmmmmmooooommmmmmmyyyyy!
Me: OK, if you sleep in your bed all by yourself, you can have an electric toothbrush.
W: Ok, good night, love you, I am a BIG boy!!!!
Me: Ok, good night....(me , taking deep breaths...walking slowly anticipating the hit of him running up behind me)

No hit, nothing, just a sweet little boy reading books w/his Toy Story flashlight who STAYED IN HIS BED ALL NIGHT.

Saturday morning, I woke up to him literally peeling my eyes back. "Mommy, IIIIII am a big boy WHO needs an eweklctric toothbrush because I slept in my bed all night so let's go to the store,mkay?"

Geez, I could have spent $4.96 a long time ago. After our Target excursion and a Spiderman toothbrush & toothpaste, our problems are solved (in that area!).

I knew I made an excellent bribery choice when at Craig's outreach yesterday, Will managed to score a bag of Big League Chew. Not only was it gone in 10 minutes, but I found the drippings on the floor of my car. At least the toothbrush can sufficiently help with tooth decay, my car may be another story.

An un-awesome idea

Give me one good reason to buy your 3 year old Bubble Gum tape while at Market Basket? (Other than the fact that it was meltdown hour and he asked for it!)

In about 8 minutes, this is what your office trash can will look like. You should have just occupied him in a normal fashion, so that he will not resort to sugar and tooth decay.

Happy B-day Abby!

We miss you sweet girl! Make sure you party all week!

Redecor 101

I have learned a few things.

1. Dust before you start moving furniture, your allergies will thank you.

2. Stop and mop 6 times.

3. Don't plan anything else, you will not have time for it.

4. Order out for dinner.

5. Rearrange and decorate in the daytime so that you do not wake up your husband or set off the burglar alarm.

6. Use items you already have, unless you dream up new items.

7. Ask your kids for their opinion, they always agree with you. (Especially if you brought your Kdg-er home early that day after computer lab b/c she made a 105 on her spelling test, and you could care less about Chinese New Year.)

8. Move it all around, be creative, and have fun IF you have a ton of money.

9. Do not visit Hobby Lobby, Ross, Marshall's or Tuesday Morning.

10. Re-read # 9. Just leave it all alone; it looked fine in the beginning.

This is the final placement of furniture, at this moment. The green "thang" and the secretary are back to their post-Rita spots. I still desire window mistreatments, and something on the wall over the secretary & french door. I will shop for a new ceiling fan soon and think about new wall color when my husband is just dying to paint! In the pics, the walls seem to need more color, but in real-life, it is warmer.

***

This wall of crosses is a work in progress. I bought several on sale at Hobby Lobby this week, but one cannot buy crosses instead of groceries, on sale or not. And yes, I know some of them are crooked, but it adds character (or reminds you that is what happens when you beat a wall with the hammer 29 times.)
I am pleased with the rocker in Will's room. I am sending the antique, mahogany one that was in there to the lake.
Another pleasant surprise was the apple picture. It is one of my cherished prizes from Canton. I nixed it in the kitchen when we re-painted, and it has been in the den over the tv. I do not favor the tv in the den so nothing looks really grand hanging over it.

***

Anyway, I put it back in the kitchen, and I am much happier. I know you are too.

I think this post just bored me to tears. However, now the Nester is shaping up more rooms, in less than 10 minutes and free! I would like to see me MANAGE that!!!

Get a grip

Will & I had this conversation in the car today.

W: When I am 4 Mommy, am I gonna be a big boy?

Me: Yes, Will, you will be a big boy.

W: I can wear Luke's big clothes and go to the fire house to see the fireman? (a random thought as we passed the fire station on Gladys)

Me: Yes, you will be so big!

W: Are you gonna cry?

Me: Yes, I might cry if you get bigger.

W: NO, I don't want you to cry!!!

Me, teasing & laughing: Well, I might cry because my baby is not a baby anymore!

W: Then I will tell you to get a grip.

Oh my, well actually, I could stand to get a grip. I was studying John 15 this week and it reminded me in verse 5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

I think that word was nothing, you can do nothing apart from Me. Lord, help me to remain/abide in you no matter what, no matter the day, no matter the hour. Not just because I want to do something, but because I can do nothing without You.

I can't even rearrange a room without You.

I did stick to the grocery budget, and cook up a storm this week. I have to admit, it was all pretty good too. I have found that if you use your recipe books, you can find recipes. It pays to plan vs. preparing the same old stuff, which has been my routine for years. Maybe my life is slowing down to take the time to do it? Since Craig's cholesterol diet 4 years ago, we eat pretty healthy so I weeded out unnecessary recipes I would never use.

Also, I plan to use one of my cookbooks a month. The ones that I do not like, I am chunking/giving away. I could also pull out recipes I like in order to compile ideas vs. 15 books I never open. Here was the menu this week:

Monday: Steak, sweet potatoes, salad
Tuesday: Creamy Italian Ziti, asparagus, salad
Wednesday: Meat Loaf & Auntie Ona's cherry cola salad
Thursday: Shrimp bisque, grill cheese sandwiches, cherry cola salad

Tomorrow is leftovers and/or cereal when all else fails. I also plan to make Mere's apple pie. Craig took Will with him to the lake so it is just the girls. We are much easier to please. We could eat pie for dinner!

An amateur gone nest-er!

All this rearranging furniture talk has challenged me. My furniture in the "kid-den" has been the same since Rita came for a visit. Rita is like a member of the family; she bought a new roof, furniture, floors, and a dear amount of nerve.

Anyway, after an easy day yesterday, I decided to change the den, at 11:30 at night. Instead of finding precious posts like this, I should have been on my decor kick.

I was trying to be really quiet because I was a bit scared that Craig would wake up and wonder where I was. I knew he would miss me madly as he slept. However, he never woke up until I dropped a lamp. He ran down the hall at lightning speed as he thought it sounded like a gunshot. I knew then as he rolled his eyes and huffed, I should have just gone to bed. Much to his dismay, I continued to work because by then I had become the lucky winner of 5 bendaroos, an extra extension cord , and 3 pounds of dust.

Before:



I think this is way cozier, but I now wish the walls were not painted the color wish. Now was not the time to share it with the Rev.


My next problem was the corners of the room. After changing the green cabinet/shed like storage & previously Paula's fancy secretary about 3 times, I became frustrated. It was too crowded with the rocking chair. I thought about getting rid of it but, I am a little attached because my friend Karen friend gave it to me and she & Paula worked so hard to staple gun material all over it! It has comical memories, along with sweet baby spit-up, lots of it. It used to have a cute pillow on it, and I am wondering if I spied it in the kid's playhouse last week. For a moment, I contemplated putting the chair in the playhouse.

Then, it hit me. This is my fave part of the post. I moved the rickety bookshelf in closer, more cozy.

I like it so much more! I want to rearrange all the pics and move many items around, but I was afraid to use the hammer. I don't want to lose my jelly bean status. Also, a new ceiling fan is in the works too. Budget, must keep with the budget....Hobby Lobby is calling my name.

I do not like this shot as well, it still needs more style. In the left corner, do you feel a plant, lamp, or neither? I am thinking lamp and pics. What do you think? I need all 5 of you to comment. :)

Highs & Hoes

Each evening at dinner, we all tell our "high & low" for the day. For about a year now, Will calls it highs & hoes, and we all just crack up! About once a week, the girls ask, "What is a hoe?" We always laugh and tell them it is a garden tool, which it is. Tonights' list went something like this:


W: My high is dat I had a Balentine party at school & Mommy played spiderman toys wif me.
My ho is dat I jumped out of my bed and busted my ear (really old story) and I do not wike the ear doctor.


F: My high is I made a 100 on my spelling test, and I loved centers today. My low is a boy said something GROSS at lunch. I cannot repeat it.


Me: Did he say a bad word?

F: No, he is just disgusting.

Me: Well, that is normal.

Cl: My high is that I made a Valentine project and Mommy picked me up from school, and my low is that Jessica in Ms. So & So's class is still mean.

Me: My high is that I ate lunch w/Daddy today, went to Will's school party & made soup for my girls. My low is ...it keeps raining & it is cold.


Craig: My high is Mommy is my Valentine and my low is my outreach rained out.


Craig is prompt, I will give him that. He always celebrates holidays, anniversaries, and b-days early. On the 11th, he brought home a Valentine, although we agreed we were just going to lunch. He knows I am a sucker for the Jelly Belly.




The funny part is the card: so sweet, thoughtful, pretty and it cost $5. However, what he wrote is priceless:

"Honey, you are still my high & you take away all my hos!"

This was the best present: He made the bed! Woohoo!

Goodness gracious...the bread

Tomorrow is Girlfriend lunch at my house. I do not know if the bread will make it until 11:30. It is so yummy and a quick recipe from Pioneer Woman's book that I had never seen it before. I found out that it is profitable to actually sit down & read the recipe books.

However, it may lead to sin. Sin that involves REAL cheese & olives. It may also lead to late night organization or procrastination. Either one can be devastating. I do not think it is as exciting as watching 3 seasons in 14 days of Friday Night Lights.

Back to lunch, I am also making 3 Cheese (liking cheese lately) Tortellini salad. Also easy, here is the recipe.

Pkg of Tri color cheese tortellini, cooked
chopped purple onion
cooked cubed chicken (I use 3-4 breasts)
1 can artichoke hearts
frozen green peas
cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Newman's Own Ceasar Salad dressing (not creamy)

Prepare tortellini as directed. Sometimes it is hard to find the tri color tort, no big deal, it is just for color. Mix w/onion, ckn, peas & artichokes. (I left out the peas this time, just because. Ok, not really, I forgot them. ) If you are ready to serve, mix in tomatoes and coat w/dressing. If you are not ready to serve, wait to add dressing and tomatoes.

It is divine and reminds me of summer, or at least Spring, just not 37 degrees & rain.

I had big plans for an italian creme cake, no thanks to HEB, but my friend Betty Crocker shared her brownies.

Happy Birthday Wucy!

We miss you & your double chin!

Music Matters

Faith began piano lessons a few weeks ago, she enjoys practicing (at this point) and I adore hearing her practice. One problem? She often asks me questions, and I can barely recall one thing I learned. It kinda reminds me of French class my sophomore year, or maybe my entire high school era. Craig's cousin, at the wee age of twenty is her teacher. Raegan has no clue this is a 2 for 1 deal.