around our house today

Just some randomness...

find the blonde

Little blonde head poking out of his fort.
Pretty sure this is the first fort he's built entirely by himself.

Little boy milestone.

lego maniac

Legos.
Always legos.
Lego birthday party on Fri!
With a pinata, his one and only request.

best little bear ever

When you are the third child mom lets you sleep in your carseat in the laundry room.
No biggie.

i went to sleep with wet bangs

I am sick.
No voice.
Hard to yell at the kids.

I have decided to rip apart my office.
I am a skeered.

Also, it must be reassembled by Thurs night because of the Lego party on Fri.
Yikes.

seven quick takes #2

Back with 7 Quick Takes...thanks Jen for hosting!

1. A direct quote from #1: "Larry King...had a beautiful neck."
Obviously we have been watching too much Gravity Falls lately.
#2 keeps requesting it - "I need Gravity Falls Wax!"

sick day from school

2. Wed. was sunny and warm (40 is warm for Jan.)!
I let #2 skip his nap and the boys played in their new snow shoes.
Thanks Grammy and Papa, for such a fun present!
(Thanks Mom and Dad, the snowshoes slowed my boys down just enough that #2 only ended up in the street once!)

the carrot nose was a non-negotiable

3. Hot cocoa, our favorite after playing in the snow.

so yummy!

4. SMILES!!!!!

ready for bed...too happy to sleep

5.Too big for the Bumbo.

take my picture!

6. Nearly 7 weeks old.
Size 6 month outfit.
The outfit did run small - good choice Auntie Rachel!

please don't grow up

Also...notice the blur above Bebe?
That's #2.
This sweet baby is pretty great about sleeping through the chaos (for now).

7. Good bye old, hole-y Spiderman slippers.
Hello new Spideys!

spidey sense x4

And #2 has a pair as well :)

seven quick takes #1

I've been pretty silent on the blog for a few months...of course life is going on, I just haven't felt like sharing.
The problem is that when I'm not sharing I also feel like I am not remembering.
And I need to remember.
These little people are too important to forget.
Currently, my brain only remembers things if they have been written down.
So...

I'm thinking if I link up to 7 Quick Takes over at Jen's blog I might just be able to remember, oh I don't know, maybe seven more things each week ;) Hey, this week Hallie is hosting because Jen is hospitalized with pulmonary emboli - please pray for her and her growing baby boy.

1. I bought a gingerbread cookie kit before Christmas...so naturally on Jan 2 Child #1 and I decorated a few cookies for dessert.

It worked out the best that way, he had a little special time with me on his first day back at school, and he was inspired to create his own "Capt. Cookie" from his new favorite book The Gingerbread Pirates.

note the toothpick peg leg (it was very important)

2. I *bought* a gingerbread kit instead of making cut out cookies because I had to back off from many of the Christmas activities I usually enjoy (like baking) - having a baby between Thanksgiving and Christmas forces you to cut back, or have a metal breakdown.
I chose to cut back.
It was pretty great.

Anyway, this was the extent of my holiday baking:

cookies for santa

Haystacks
Nutter Butters dressed up as Baby Jesus (my brothers thought this was hilarious) - a great idea from Catholic Icing

Ritz Crackers dipped in melted Andes Mints and "dusted" with fancy sugar by #1

3. Child #2 loves stickers.
Well, honestly, he loves anything sticky.
Very hesitant to let me wipe his hands after a meal.
Loves how sticky his fingers are after eating a candy cane (another favorite).
Must have a sticker for naptime/bedtime.
Often gives me a sticker and tells me "For your sticky finger!" But the word finger comes out "pinger" and is just all kinds of adorable.

sticky googlie eyes, what could be better!

4. I hate cleaning the bathrooms.

5.

6 weeks old.
Outgrowing his clothes at an alarming rate!

6. I am packing away my maternity clothes, but I only have one pair of comfortable jeans.
Well, they might not be comfortable, but I can button them and they look decent.
The treadmill is calling my name...

7. The Christmas decorations are all still up...I don't want to take them down!
Some years I am eager to clean up Christmas, but this year I just keep picturing how empty the house will feel once everything is stored.

I need a decorating project to motivate me.
What room should I tackle next - dining room, living room, family room, kitchen?

he is here!

I'm shaking the dust out of the old blog to introduce this little guy:

two days old, so little!

He arrived the Sat after Thanksgiving (Nov. 24), and I can't imagine life without him.
He fits so well into our family, we are blissfully happy.
Even when life with three little boys is stressful, it's this weird happy-stress.
I love it.
I love him.
I love our family!

five weeks old, with his biggest brother, who felt it was very important for him to hold a star wars angry bird

Have an excellent day my friends!

movie monday: current house projects!

Warning!
My hair is weird today, also, zero makeup.
Possibly some crazy eyes.
I don't do second takes, folks ;)

Anyway, I thought I'd just skim over some of the projects going on at the house right now.
Of course there are always projects going on...totally normal, right?

Enjoy!



A few posts about the entryway...video post, painting and updating the light fixture.

Any projects going on at your house?

some recent milestones

We rode the Lake Express from Milwaukee to Muskegon to visit family.

a random stranger asked if he could take a pic of us, that never happens! thank you kind sir!

It was fun! #2 slept during both trips, #1 slept on the return trip (the water was really choppy) - I thought for sure he was going to get sea sick; I'm so glad he took a nap instead.

First day of K4!

my backpack is still way too big!

#1 now goes to school (1/2 day) 5 days a week.
He is loving it and so excited to tell me about everything they do (today he was very impressed with a Clifford the Big Red Dog art project). I admit we miss him while he is at school, but I have gotten so much done around the house, and #2 has no problems getting into trouble without his big brother ;)
PS - the school crest includes an image of Mary, and my sweet boy loves to point her out "This is Mary, see Mama?"
Melts my heart.

This guy moved into his big boy bedroom!

sleeping peacefully with bunny

So for now the nursery is empty...which means I can start sifting through the baby stuff and taking inventory of the few things we need/would like for #3...but first I think we will be refreshing #1's bedroom.
I see Star Wars art in my future :)

And today is our 9th Anniversary!
And I would totally scan a pic for you...if I could just get my hands on them ;)
Instead, enjoy this pic of Hubs eating a warhead..

happy anniversary honey!

Happy Thursday, friends!

FB friday - my favorite statuses from August

Welp, it's been a month since I have posted.
August flew by, folks, just flew right by.

This little space here is where I keep track of all of the stuff we do...except lately I haven't been very good about adding little bits of cuteness from the boys, projects in the house, travel stories (oh my, there has been many), etc. I have been keeping a pretty good running list of stuff on facebook...but after a few days everything fades away, and then it feels like the memories are lost forever.

So I was thinking.
Every Fri (or you know, as often as I remember) I could list all of the FB statuses (of importance) as a way to catalog stuff. I like it.
If you want to join in too please add a link in the comments :)

August 1
#1 is headed to the Brewers game with Daddy :)
#2 will nap soon :)
I will eat a cookie, without sharing!

August 2
Target sells porn in the checkout lane.
I am nursing this baby where ever the heck I need. No more hiding in a bathroom stall or dashing out to the car.

August 9
The only solution to getting rid of these ants seems to involve also getting rid of the 2 and 4 year old.

August 11
Minivan parked in the driveway, baby #3 on the way...I believe the transformation from sorority girl to soccer mom is complete.

August 23
According to #2, we are eating Mac-n-Jesus for lunch.

August 27
First day of school! #2 and I already miss #1 :(

August 28
Harold and his purple crayon have nothing on #2 and his green jumbo crayon. Oy...I need more magic erasers.

August 30
#2 wants sprinkles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

movie monday, blast from the past!

I wanted to post a movie, but I have zero motivation to talk to the camera (also my children are loud today).

This commercial has been running through my head lately:



As a young child I was absolutely convinced that a bus full of the happy Sweet Pickles characters would show up at my door. I made it my mission to pester my mother until she caved and ordered me Sweet Pickles.
She refused.
Again.
And again.
And again.

Good job Mom!
I think of this every time we are at Target and my children demand in demon voices ask nicely for a new toy, or whenever we drive past McDonald's and I hear a chorus of "Happy meals! Cheeseburgers!!"

I know that I drove my mom nuts, she is mostly alright today ;)...my sweet boys will not break me with requests!
I learned to read without the Sweet Pickles flashcards, my kids won't starve if I don't hit the drive thru everyday (even if they are suddenly STARVING).

I am turning into my mother.
It is wonderful! (for real, my mom is awesome)

Anyone else channeling mom lately?

"Sweet Pickles is great!"

movie monday: Darius Rucker, deodorant and my awesome mom

Happy Monday!

I turned on the webcam and started talking...and then the kids decided to go bonkers.
So this video feels more outtake-y than usual.




Now excuse me while I pump up my old Hootie and the Blowfish CD's.

routine-ing

I like routines.
Back in the good old days (2003ish) of newlyweddedness (why is this not a word?) I found the Flylady and I loosely used her system to set up cleaning routines, etc for each of our houses.
It was great, our house was generally presentable, bathrooms were company ready, and I had time to care for my family and do some fun things. The biggest bonus was that listing each of those houses wasn't as big a deal as it could have been.

But when we moved last year, I never set up routines for myself.
As we tell the 4 year old - that was a poor choice. I added two bathrooms and about 1000 sq. feet to my cleaning tasks. Let me rephrase, I didn't add them - I only clean the basement bath before over-night guests arrive (our guest room is in the basement), the rest of the household chores are completed randomly when I decide that the cobwebs are too numerous to ignore or I can't remember the last time I vacuumed the stairs.

Combine that cleaning methodology with a pretty awful bout of morning sickness (did you miss my announcement yesterday?), two little boys, and a husband who was traveling for most of my first trimester.

The house felt like some sort of experiment.
Or one of those terrible air freshener commercials.

(this also explains the blogging hiatus)

And now I feel like I am digging my house out of the mess. It's no fun. I need routines.

Here's what I have been doing the last few weeks, and there's a noticeable difference around here (yay!).

Mon.
*change bed sheets
*clean bathrooms (haven't ventured into the basement yet)
*chuck old fridge items
*laundry - sheets, one load of clothes

Tues.
*errands
*dust (in theory - hasn't happened yet)
*vacuum 2nd floor
*laundry - towels, one load of clothes

Wed.
*clean some widows or mop kitchen floor
*vacuum 1st floor
*laundry - delicates

I didn't list all of the normal stuff - making beds, cleaning the kitchen, etc - and there is a bunch of things I'd like to add to my routine - baking day, closet organizing time. This is good for now, I have a cleaner home and doing super fun stuff with the kids is not guilt-inducing.

we like to do fun stuff! and summer buzz cuts - hello cuteness!

Yay routines!!

Do you have a household routine? 

Ever heard of the Flylady?

sometimes...

Sometimes, when the kids are being really quiet, I think "They're being so good, quietly reading and playing so I can enjoy my coffee and catch up with the internets." And then you snap back to reality and realize...they are being quiet because naughtiness is happening.

And you walk into a living that looks like this:

monkeys, blonde monkeys

Hmm...yell? throw your hands up? one more lecture on not destroying the nice furniture?

Nope, I decided it was a nudge from above to vacuum the furniture.

So now it is clean and put back together...

And of course I couldn't stop with just the vacuuming, the train table (which we hauled up from the basement playroom in Jan.) is heading back downstairs, everything's dusted (finally!), mantle is freshly made up and I have grand plans of picking up some summer throw pillows.

My living room is going to feel so fresh!

Sometimes...all you really need is a little bit of happy chaos to add to life's wonderfulness.

And that's just what is happening around here...baby #3 is due the end of Nov!!

We are thrilled, I know three kids (and let's face it, we all know this will probably be another boy :D ) will create even more chaos, but along with the chaos is so much love. I can't wait :)

Anything exciting happening in your world?

procrastinating

We're hosting a farewell party.
The party is tomorrow.

So far I have ordered subs and a cake.
I also picked up parachuting army guys for the kids.

self portrait at a wedding last weekend

Some things I have done today:
Read Horton Hatches an Egg...32 times.
Framed a random embroidery project and hung it in the bathroom.
Cleaned the laundry room.
Vacuumed the living room (the rest of the house is still waiting).

Why I am so content to procrastinate the party planning???

I think I am just sad to see my friends leave.
And it's raining; rain does nothing for my motivation levels.

Off to be productive.

Have a great weekend!

a vlog about coffee saving the day

Confession: I sort of really love making a video on Monday mornings.

And because it is Monday, I feel like it's okay for you to see my hair before it is flat ironed, my face before it is made up and my office before it is cleaned in its natural state of disorder.

A hint: if you start the video, then pause it and restart, my voice syncs up to the video a bit better, otherwise you can pretend it's a Kung Fu movie.
Totally your choice.

Have a lovely week!

Smooches!

just another movie monday - and a giveaway!

I sort of like talking to the camera on my computer.
For about 1.5 minutes.
Then I want to run screaming ;)



Here's some info on the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge.
If you aren't reading Sarah's blog - Clover Lane, you should be, I like her.
A lot.

And my giveaway!
It pains me to do it, but I am graciously offering one of you my unopened copy of the Dawson's Creek Series Finale.
The box proclaims "exclusive never-before-seen extended cut"
I have no idea what that means, but I will let you tell me after you've watched it :)

I'm a giver.

Giveaway rules:

1. US only, I'm pretty sure this DVD will only work in US DVD players, sorry international friends.
2. Leave me a comment, otherwise I don't know your undying love for Dawson.

That's it.

Have a wonderful Monday!

PS - In the video, when I say "it's lint" I really mean "it's Lent" I have no clue where the accent comes from, I am Midwestern, through and through.

randomness from me

We had a fun Valentine's Day.
Hubs brought me flowers and a small box of chocolates (I told him Mon night - if you do bring chocolate make sure it's a small box - next week is Ash Wed).

He's pretty excellent.

I gave him a Mason jar full of green M&M's.
That's what happens when you buy a few bags of Christmas M&M's on clearance...you put the red ones in gorp for the kids, and the green ones into a jar for your love.
Perfect.

We've already vacuumed the first floor. The stairs, upstairs and the basement are next. We need the house to sparkle for Grammy and Papa!
(they arrive on Fri!)

The boys are wearing a diaper and a pair of batman underoos.
It's Feb in Wisconsin.
Whatever. I figure they'll wrap up in blankets before hypothermia sets in.

more raisins!

I need to get them dressed.
I should probably put on some concealer.
We need to go to the mall and buy new shoes for #2 and then hit up Trader Joes and pray the shelves contain cilantro.
Maybe we'll go to 5 Guys for lunch...could totally go for a bag of fries.

never enough coffee. never.

That's all.
Smooches.

eating ice cream in the winter

On Sat we took the boys to Dairy Queen.
I won't lie, we pretty much had ice cream for dinner.

Highly recommend. 
Highly.

#1 enjoyed his first ice cream cone - he ate it so fast there was no time for it to make a melted mess.
#2 was so cold from his ice cream he could hardly get the spoon into his mouth.

Somehow he soldiered through ;)








I'm thinking movies on Mon might be fun.
Not always of the boys (although, they are pretty entertaining)...what do you think?

a pinterest menu

We had a relaxing weekend.
We played.
Moved toys around.
Moved furniture around.
Cleaned.

It was good.
The week ahead looks exciting.
St. Valentine's Day and Grammy and Papa (my parents) are coming to visit!

YAYYYYY!!!!! So Happy!

But I was a bit stuck while planning this week's menu...and Duh! I remembered all of the noms I have saved on Pinterest.

A few new additions to our food repertoire for this week:

Breakfast:

Source: savoringthethyme.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: simplyscratch.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: plainchicken.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Dinner:

Source: skinnytaste.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: recipekitchen.net via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: tasteofhome.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: canyoustayfordinner.com via alannarose on Pinterest

A little Baking:

Source: rfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: recipetips.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Looks like we have a yummy week!

And, if you are like me, and couldn't figure out how everyone makes such cute Pinterest posts...here's the tutorial.

Are you following me on Pinterest?

Any really excellent boards I should be following?

stress and clutter

This week has been a bit chaotic and stressful.
Last week was peaceful.
I can only find one difference...last Mon Hubs came home with beautiful flowers for me.
It set the tone for the week.
Things were pretty great.

I think it had something to do with the lack of clutter on my kitchen island.

The flowers were on the island (because #2 is in that incredibly dangerous 20 month old stage - he enjoys climbing, sticking things in electrical sockets, eating soap), basically nothing on the kitchen table is safe.
So I kept the island clean, because there was this pretty vase of flowers that my sweet husband picked out just for me.

The flowers lasted until Mon morning.
Bye bye flowers.
Hello clutter.

real life

How does the island get this cluttered in just two days?

And why does this induce so much stress?

I'm off to detox the island.
And then finish off a fashion post (because you love to see what I wear!).

Do you have a clutter hot spot that turns you into a massive stress-ball?

why you should always make your bed

I've mentioned before that I generally make the beds everyday. At the end of the day, I just really like to climb into a nicely made bed.

The real reason you should make your bed everyday?
You just never know when the police will stop by to inspect your home.

Wait, what?!

Oh yes, nap time last Tuesday turned into a three ring circus.
I had just tucked #1 in and heard my cell phone ringing.
It was my sister, letting me know that my alarm company had just called my dad because a silent distress alarm went out from my house.

Confused yet?
Me too. I'm still unsure why my dad didn't call me, I guess he hung up the phone (after speaking with the alarm company), looked at my sister and said "the cops are headed to Alanna's house, maybe you should call her."
DAD, if you are reading...the answer is YES. If police officers, firemen, ambulances or Jehovah's Witnesses are headed towards my house, you should always call and let me know. Thanks.

Anyway.
I tried to call the police department and let them know I didn't send a distress call, but if officers are dispatched they check on you no matter what (actually that sounds pretty reassuring, carry on officers). So I kept an eye on the front door to avoid them ringing the doorbell and waking up my happy nappers.
(please tell me you are now singing the happy nappers jingle)

And two really nice and professional officers checked on me to make sure everything was okay.
And because I was a wee bit freaked out, they swept my house just to make sure...

You haven't lived until you've seen cops go down your basement steps with their guns drawn.
Alright, their guns weren't drawn, but they did have their hands on them, and they didn't turn on the lights, they used flashlights...very CSI. Creepy and cool at the same time.

Also, they checked upstairs where the boys were napping, and we must have ninja cops around here because they went into the kids bedrooms and opened their closet doors and both boys.stayed.asleep.
I know!
I can barely sneeze and they wake up.

But getting back to the nicely made beds...the family room was a shambles, Legos, duplos, dinosaurs, #2 has been carrying a Thomas coloring book around and shredding it nonstop. I thought about this for two seconds, then I realized my bedroom was clean, the bed was made and everything was tidy so I didn't care about toymaggedon, I figured if they would judge me, they would see that I make the beds (even though 2 were occupied at the time) and that little bit of effort would go a long way towards my clean house credentials.

So make your beds!