righteous desires

You know how there are things in life that you struggle with for a while because they seem like really good things but it just isn't working and then you come to terms with whatever it is and then you are ok with it for a while and then you come really close to resolving the problem/attaining the goal and you realize that you can't resolve the problem/reach the goal after all and that thing you were fine with yesterday becomes a HUGE deal all over again and you feel like you have to start all over...

Yeah.

It's only taken 20 years to learn this lesson

I remember clearly my mom's frequent requests to clean my room and make my bed as I was growing up. More often than not they went unheeded and resulted in me being stuck in my room until it was clean (usually missing out on something else I had really wanted to do). I'm sure I'm not the only one who spent parts of their childhood/teenage years in the same situation.

Fast forward 20 (plus) years. Now I get it. I love my bedroom. The little details are all coming together. I'm in love with that color. I've been slowly sneaking more pillows on the bed over the last 5 years and Wil has even stopped complaining about them (he's a champ). BUT... our bedroom is the dumping place for everything without a place, along with all of the unfolded laundry. Slowly I've been able to get this more under control (except, of course, the laundry, which might always be a step ahead of me*), but it's still the last room in the house to get cleaned.

Except for the bed... it's the one thing I can accomplish quickly, without having to go in search of cleaning supplies or missing parts. And especially when it's been a no good, horrible day - walking in the room and seeing that the bed is made, makes me feel like I've accomplished something.

I'm coming to terms with the fact that my room may not ever be uncluttered beyond the time it took to take those pictures, but you can bet the the bed will be made.

*I was complaining about my plight to my mother the other day and in her wisdom she said, "Do you remember growing up and going to the M's and the G's and C's and the W's? Can you think of a time when there wasn't a pile of laundry waiting to be sorted, washed, folded or put away? Probably not, because once you have kids... it just doesn't happen. Thanks, Mom, for keeping it real.

My Mirror - a birthday update

Last month we had friends coming to visit and see our house for the first time. The chaos and clutter had been driving me crazy and knowing that friends were coming... it was the last straw. I called babysitters, Wil had a day off and we cleaned. We unpacked, organized and finished projects that have been waiting a year. It was fabulous. It didn't last long, but I now know that it can be clean.

While doing all of our projects I hung my new mirror. It's the perfect addition to the two mirrors that were already there - and I love, love, love it. I love my lamps from the Christmas Tree Shops, that look like glass, but are really just plastic. Also my super cute annilygreen pillow, that Zee surprised me with for my birthday.... and of course that little monster is adorable too.

First Day of School

Showing off his backpack (above) and nametag (below)

Peeking in the classroom with Bug

Hanging up his backpack

In the last 36 hours Little Man has...
- taken 5 lbs of sugar from the kitchen to the playroom
- snuck a pump bottle out of the bathroom and used it to give his stuffed animals a bath (this was while we were trying to clean up the first mess)
- climbed in to the pedestal sink and used it as a toilet
- emptied the canister of the vacuum, the one full of SUGAR, back onto the floor
- spilled a 12 oz berry smoothie across the kitchen floor (this one was an actual accident)

The next two weeks can't go quick enough. Last week, I wasn't looking forward to him starting school, but now... I would be happy to send him tomorrow.

I'll try that again...

Wil and I are off to pick up the boys from a friend's house. But I have to take a minute to document this occasion: my WHOLE house is clean. At the same time. This hasn't happened since we walked in the door after closing on the house, before we moved anything else in... a year ago (almost exactly). So next time I think that there's no way it will happen, I now know that it isn't impossible.

Somehow I missed the last 4 days

Saturday morning my very first migraine hit. Unfortunately, I didn't realize what it was until I couldn't bear it anymore. No over the counter medicine I tried even touched the pain, so I spent as much time as possible with my head on a pillow, hiding from my children (cause, wow, they are REALLY loud). By Tuesday, I couldn't handle it anymore and headed to the doctor... 2 visits, a CT scan and a nasty shot later, I feel human again. Someone has taken the 100lb weight out of my head and I feel like I can function. I love modern medicine. I also love my husband and my sister, because they put me to sleep for 12 hours straight and then made sure the boys were taken care of while I was out of it.

While I was in my haze, I did discover a few things....

If you have the recipe for spaghetti pie and love it as much as we do, then you should try this. Little Man asked for thirds and said, "Wow, Mom, this is YUM!". It's quicker and easier than spaghetti pie and even has less fat (because you skip the eggs and butter). I made mine in a oven safe skillet, put the cheese on top and threw it in the oven until the cheese melted. This one is a keeper.

I had peaches from the farmers market in my fridge that needed to be used and found this recipe. It is divine. (and can you tell where I've been going for new recipes? I'm kind of hooked) I added some blueberries we had in the fridge and substituted the maple cream with some vanilla bean ice cream. I might have had the leftovers for breakfast, but it was fruit... right?

My mirror is on it's way!

My boys have alter egos:

We are very serious about saving the world.

As we were pulling out of the hospital parking lot yesterday Bug asked me, very seriously, "Mommy, you feel better now?" That boy will melt your heart.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I'm feeling indecisive... or maybe a bit overwhelmed by the choices.

For the last few years, instead of a birthday gift, my mom gives us money for our birthday. She says it's easier that way and I L.O.V.E. having something I can spend on me without having to worry about which budget I'm taking it out of. But because I know it's coming sometimes I spend months dreaming of what I'm going to use my money for. This year is no different... unfortunately, my dreaming has left me with too many decisions. Now I'm having a hard time deciding how best to spend my money.

This is where you come in. Check out my wish list below. Let me know which items you would get me for my birthday. You have $80 to spend (including any tax and shipping charges).

1. wrought iron vintage mirror - $15 (plus $10 shipping)

2. Mom's Line a Day Journal or Quotable Kids journal
3. shoes - I can not decide which one of these I like best. The flats ($30) are by far the most comfortable shoes I have ever tried on but the flip flops ($25) would be perfect right now and I'm sure would last me for years.4. I'm in love with these and these and these. Similar ideas but VERY different applications. I can't narrow it down to just one. But I do need something to hang in the entryway of our house. It would have to be at least 8x10 but bigger would be better.

5. this sign: ($54 + $12.50 shipping)

6. a half tee - perfect for layering when I don't want the seam from the bottom of the tank to show through. (2 for $26 + shipping)

Have fun shopping!

ps. this money is burning a hole in my pocket, so you have until Sunday evening to vote.

Since we took away Bug's bedtime pacifier a few weeks ago, bedtime has become a nightmare. The boys share a room and will play/fight/irritate each other for hours to avoid sleeping. We've had to get both creative and harsh with them... it's no fun.

Tonight was bad and after an hour & a half of doling out the punishments, Wil took away everything. They each had a pillow and a blanket, but all of their stuffed animals, extra blankets and their beloved blankies were gone. The hallway was piled high. Things soon quieted down and the boys went to sleep.

About half hour ago we went in to tuck them in and give them back their blankies (mostly because I want them to sleep through the night). We discovered both boys in one toddler size bed, legs dangling over the edges, taking care of each other. It was such a sweet sight.

Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that they can do more than be naughty & mean to one another... and that when things are hard they'll stick together. I sure do love those boys.

The Romantic Weekend

The majestic George Washington Hotel, a modernized and updated local in the heart of Old Town Winchester is the retreat for couples. It offers access to the walking mall and several fine eateries including The Union Jack and The Dancing Goat.

This is the setting we selected for a one night get away for Lauren's birthday. For dinner, we chose a place called Sona, an Indian restaurant. Sona is one of our favorite places to eat and we love going there! We had Lamb Boti Kebab, Chicken Vindaloo, and Chicken Tiki Masalla. We enjoyed a fantastic meal that again delighted our taste buds. After dinner we retired to our hotel room. A luxurious room with a fireplace, jacuzzi tub, and a four poster bed.

As we were preparing to retire, I walked into the fireplace and broke my left pinky toe.