How Do They Do It?

The other night I was searching for a cute idea for a MiaMaid activity. I came across several blogs of very crafty people. There were tons of cute projects and crafts and cooking tips and decorating ideas and on and on. How do these people do it? I am just trying to keep my kids fed, clean, homework done, house some what clean, YW stuff done, get an occasional run in, coupon so I can get the stuff we need and stay in our budget, have FHE, scriptures, pay the bills. y\Ya know the basics. How can I squeeze in making cute hair bows for my girls, cute homemade decor for my house that by the time I finish the project will be out of style and I won't want to put it up anyways, make super fab meals 3 times a day that are healthy and my kids will want to eat, do thoughtful things for those around me, and look good while I do it? Oh and have the time to make step by step tutorials, with amazing pictures and witty commentary, for my blog about each of the previously mentioned items. Really they must have some secret. More hours in the day? One of those necklaces like Dumbeldore gave Hermione so she could take more classes? A maid? A cook? SoMeThInG?! Well I don't aspire to do all those things. Maybe one or two of them would be nice. But I am grateful for these people and their amazing talents so that when I do have the need for a MiaMaid activity or time to make some cute thing for my house, I can copy their ideas. :)

The Summer Fun of 2010

Two and a half years ago when we sold our townhouse were on a mission to find our dream house. Too bad our dream house was out of our price range so we looked for a house that would work for our family. Shortly after looking, we found it. It wasn't the biggest house we looked at, or the nicest, or the biggest yard, or best finishes, but it had a lot of what we were looking for. Good yard for the kids, the school we wanted, same ward, great location for Eric's ever changing job sites. It was great for our family without pushing our budget. There was some cosmetic updating that we planned on doing but nothing extensive. One thing we knew for sure that we didn't want to take on was siding. The neighborhood our house is in has houses with LP siding. This siding was recalled shortly after this neighborhood was built because it was failing. There were other houses with a floor plan we liked, but if it still had the LP siding we didn't even entertain the thought of buying them. Sure my talented husband could reside the house, but we didn't want to have to put in the time that would require because the guy is busy enough as it is and you just never know what you might find. So the house we bought had "the great hardiplank siding" as our realtor stated. And hey we even thought the paint color was ok.

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If only our inspector had truly inspected our house, which after all is what we paid him to do, we would have been saved so much time, effort, money, tears and heartache and more tears. See these next two pictures clearly show that there is damage going on with this window. This lovely window was in our master bedroom. The inspectors contract states he will inspect all windows. Yeah I am guessing he didn't do that. Turns out there was A LOT he missed.

Then while dealing with all the pet damage inside the house we found out why that window looked the way it did. To get rid of the damage from the horse, er, cat they had living in their house, Eric had to cut Sheetrock 2feet up throughout much of the house. One night we were at the house late working and he cut open the wall in the master bedroom. As he did this HUGE carpenter ants came pouring, and I mean pouring, out of the walls. It was like a creepy movie and a really bad nightmare in one. We started stomping on them as fast as we could. Eric ran to the garage to get some pest spray and starts spraying away. Finally when the dust settles and the ground isn't crawling anymore Eric shines the light on the wall so we can figure out what is going on. Turns out not only was the interior of the house a mess because of the previous owners cat, but when the house was resided, new hardiplank was put right on top of failing LP. This led to continued water damage, mold and carpenter ants with plenty of soft wood to feast on. NOT a happy day for us. Soooo after 2 years of owning the house we were in a position to take on the huge task of residing. Since Eric had inspected all of the interior walls (thanks to cutting out Sheetrock) we decided only one side of the house needed to be done. So in August the fun began.First up, tear off all the hardiplank, tar paper and LP siding. Not an easy task since before putting the hardiplank up they drove a million screws in the failing LP siding.Next: Remove the rotting window and replace the framing that was rotting and damaged.Then realize that the house gets wider at the top so Eric had to cut strips of plywood for the studs on the bottom half of the house. Add some new insulation, figure out how to deal with the utilities on the side of the house and then get ready to put up the plywood. Finally it is ready for new hardiplank siding. Results: New bathroom window stemming from rearranged master floor plan,
new side door into the garage, because just our luck the old one was rotten,
and new siding and paint

Finally repaint the front of the house because it was so faded that even with color matching the sides looked too different. And because my husband is a perfectionist. And I say that in the nicest way. :)

We couldn't have done this without the help of family and friends and especially Eric's determination to figure out how to get a job done and do it right.

6 Months

Avery is 6 months. Seriously 6 months. Crazy.
She is doing so great sitting up.
Her laugh is like music.
Loves to snuggle.
Does what we call the penguin flap with her arms.
Smiles so big for her family.
Talks a lot.
Loves to be held.
Is a good sport getting carted everywhere.
Sleeps pretty well at night.
She is called Newblett(coined by one of my MiaMaids), Aves, May, MayMay.
We love this girl.

Sisters

I am so happy that my girls have each other.

Natalie and Ella share a room. Avery currently shares with Eric and I. We have discussed what to do with bedroom arrangements when it is time for Avery to move out. Do we give Natalie her own room? Have Avery and Ella share? Have Avery and Cameron share? Keep the playroom? Get rid of the playroom? And on and on.

It seems that since Natalie is the oldest she should have her own room, but I think the big thing keeping me from this is that I love the idea of my girls going to sleep talking to each other. Tonight I was reminded of how much I love that. I was in the hallway doing what else, laundry, and I could hear the girls talking. First they were pretending to be the kids in the story that we had just read. Taking turns acting things out. I could tell they were out of bed, but I resisted going in and telling them to get back in bed. Then I heard them talk about people and happenings at school. Natalie got quiet and soon Ella says, "Natalie, are you awake?"

Natalie responds with a very groggy, "Hmmm."

Ella in a very awake voice, "Will you tell me a story."

"What kind of story?"

"A happy story."

Natalie starts with once upon a time and then her words become a bit slurred, as they do when you are fighting to stay awake. So Ella says, "Say it so I can understand you."
Natalie perks back up and finishes the story.

I smile to myself thinking how happy it makes me to overhear these happenings.

Last week the conversation was a bit different.

Natalie: "Hey Ella you know that guy Brandon I was talking about?"

Ella: "Yeah"

Natalie: "Well he really likes me. Everyone is saying he likes me."

I think there was more on Brandon but I must have blocked it out because 1) Natalie hadn't said anything to me about this and I was a bit hurt to realize she was already hiding things from me and 2) I thought I had more time before the nighttime conversations were about boys!

So for now I will keep them together and work on what room assignments don't involve splitting them up.

Cameron's Future

Cameron played his first arcade racing game this weekend. He had a great time. Such a great time that I think it was the inspiration of our conversation as I was putting him to bed.

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Cam: Mom, when I grow up to be a mom...

Me: You mean when you grow up to be a dad.

Cam: Yeah yeah. When I, when I, when I grow up to be a dad.... (Light bulb goes off in his head)
Do I get to drive the car?!!!! (because when we all go somewhere Eric drives.)

Me: Sure you can drive the car when you are a dad.

{He is so excited at this point I can just see his little mind envisioning the wild racing he had done a few hours ago.}

Me: How many kids are you going to have?

Cam: Four, in the back.

(pointing his thumb back as if he was sitting in the drivers seat and gesturing to his kids in the back)

Me: {Trying to figure out how to ask him about his wife, but not sure he knows what one is}

So is there going to be a mom?

Cam:Yeah, yeah you will sit in the front seat by me!

(awww, melt my heart)

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So there you have it.

My little man can't wait to be a dad with four kids driving the minivan.

HIS Dad sure has the life!

1st Place!

A few weekends ago Natalie's soccer team competed in their first tournament.

They played so well and had their toughest competition of the season.

The took first place in their age division and maintain their winning streak.

Gooooo Red Flames!

Some Summer Fun

The kids loved jumping on the tramp with the sprinkle under it. One day our neighbor girl brought all her pool toys which made the whole thing even more exciting. I think only one toy didn't make it though the kids jumping, surfing and sliding.

I think Cam felt safer on the grass.

The girls also set up a lemonade stand on the corner with the neighbor. They had a ton of fun waving cars down.

Cameron, Avery and I walked down to check out the sales. Over all they did pretty well and after raking in the money the girls wanted to do the stand EvErYDaY! But we didn't. Cause I'm no fun. So Cameron would say, "You are not invited to my birthday party!" A pharse he likes to throw at you when you don't give him what he wants.

Enjoying some delish Popsicles from Grandpa. On our deflated pool. With plywood in the background. And a broken screen door. Yeah, our neighbors our jealous.

Maybe I will get around to posting the oh so fun project that the plywood was for.