Random Bits from Lately

My camera is lost! I had it outside to take pictures of the sandbox we put in under the swingset, as well as the new flower garden, and haven't seen it since! That was a couple of weeks ago... I'm worried that it's gone forever, and as you know - I feel paralyzed without it!

Anyway, in absence of any new pictures to upload, here is an awesome read about ways you can connect with and cherish your little ones on a daily basis. I know I'm not alone in having days where I get to the end and realize that even though I was here with the kids all day, we somehow managed to go the entire day without really "connecting" (especially with all the time spent trying to unpack and organize lately!). The blog is called Bloom and I highly recommend it!

In other news, the boys had Hand, Foot and Mouth Virus AGAIN this summer! What??! Aren't you supposed to only catch that once? Apparently we are just that lucky. At least it wasn't as bad as last year (which you can relive in this post).

Also, today was my last "official" physical therapy visit. I am SO THANKFUL to the friends who have watched my kids week after week so that I could get treatment. I'm still not all the way better, but at least now have the tools I need to get there, and am in much better shape than when I started out. Apparently the right side of my body (mostly back, hip, leg) is much weaker than the left because of dysfunction from the original injury (so we're talking like 15 years of misuse), so things get thrown out of whack just walking around and carrying heavy kids. I'm working on strengthening it, but it's easier said than done quickly... it's hard work, and it hurts. I went in with a back problem, and now it's a "hip and leg" problem, lol. I'm so very, very glad however, to have been put in the hands of a gifted therapist who has me on the right track.

We had the 2010 National Biker's Roundup here at the fairgrounds this last week, in which motorcyclists rode in from across the country! We saw some interesting folks and motorcycles around town, but I won't miss hearing the roaring of bike engines all hours of the day and night... we live about a mile from the fairgrounds, but it sounded like it was in our backyard!

And that sums up what's been going on around here lately! I hope to get a "milestones" post up for Eli and Owen as we've flown past their 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 year marks this summer!

A Quick and Crazy Jumbled Update

A friend sent me an email recently to make sure that we are all still alive... so I guess I'd better start trying to catch up on here! We've been back home for two weeks now. Yesterday was our 8th anniversary... and I didn't remember until 730pm if that says anything about life lately! Lest you think I am the most terrible wife, we had already agreed to celebrate later in the week, so it just slipped my mind for most of the day. We did end up staying up late to watch "When in Rome" and had cake, sparkling pear cider, and popcorn! We were thinking about getting a sitter so we could go out this weekend, but I have been using every friend I have out here for childcare since I hurt my back and have been going to physical therapy twice a week, so I really hate to ask anyone and I'm so paranoid about hiring young women.

Oh wait, did I forget to mention before that I hurt my back?

Yep! I hurt it doing some yard work just before I left for Utah. I had the awful nerve pain down both legs, my tailbone, bum etc - the worst it's been since I first hurt it 15 years ago. I couldn't lift up my legs straight in front of me, put on my own shoes, dress/diaper kids, you name it. It is amazing how much bending you have to do when you are a mom! I got to see a Dr. over at the Rehab hospital where Brad works, and got the complete workup with MRI and everything. Good news is that the PT is really helping, so I think once all the kinks and junk get worked out I'll be ok. Bad news is that it has really put a halt on the working out, and hence the weight loss. I've been doing Turbo Jam and really love it. I lost ten more pounds in three months (34 total since last year!!!). When I'm feeling bummed or stressed I tend to hit the snacks hard, so I'm hoping this lull doesn't send me too far backwards in my fitness goals. I really want to try this Insanity workout, but have been informed that I need to get in better shape before even attempting it or I may paralyze myself =). I need to keep myself mobile so that I'm not totally dysfunctional for our move next month.

Oh wait, did I forget to mention we are moving again?

Yep! Not too far this time though...just a smaller/more affordable/but very cute house a mile or two down the road. We will still be in the same ward, and a quick commute to work for Brad. The nice thing is we know and love the family we will be renting from as well... they were kind enough to let us plant the garden this past weekend so we could get things growing before it's too late. Also, I've been cleaning things out again in preparation and thinking, how do I have enough stuff for a yardsale after having two huge moves already since 2008? I think I get more brutal with the clean out with every move. As it is we no longer have a crib/swing/pack n play/changing table etc and I DO actually plan on having at least one more kid. I think I've just realized you don't need all that plastic clutter to keep track of a baby lol. I just let mine sleep next to me at night, and wrap them during the day. Oh yeah, the back thing... maybe I should have kept the swing, lol.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the rambling stream of consciousness! I usually try to polish these posts up, but for today you get a little peak inside my mind. I'll start positing pics from our trip soon! I must have at least 500 afterall....

Ta-Da!

Once upon a time, we moved from Massachusetts to Missouri, and left our kitchen table behind. That table was one of the only pieces of "new" furniture we ever bought, and even though it was from K-Mart and came in pieces that we put together, it served us well for a few years. But alas, it was a bit small for our growing family, and to be honest, I was plain tired of looking at it!

When we got to Missouri and I started online "window shopping," I found this gorgeous set:

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

But alas, even on SALE it was nearly $700 and would include shipping. I'm an HGTV fan and was convinced that I could re-create the look in no time for much less money. Well, I was right about the second part at least. As for the time it took - fast forward 4 MONTHS from date of purchase and you get how long it took. There was sanding, chemical stripping, sanding and more sanding, staining, stripping off the stain, staining again, then finally a few coats of polyurethane. There were times when I definitely regretted getting started, but now that it's done, I'm pleased. It's nowhere near perfect, but I like it. The table is a solid OAK piece I snagged off Craigslist, and the chairs are Walmart.com purchases. The total cost for the table, chairs, and refinishing supplies totaled under $300. So all in all, a good deal eh? What do you think?

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

This is just a picture of my kitchen (the table would be behind me while taking this picture). But you see that lovely black stove hood (metal thing above stove that has light and fan, lol)? Well Brad and I just put that in this weekend - also a Craigslist purchase! The existing one was white and didn't match the kitchen... we got this "new" one for $15! Woohoo!

PS - I painted the kitchen too - all by MYSELF! It's called "Paprika" - a nice terracotta color.

Gifts

So I turned 29 this week. I haven't really been looking forward to 29 ... it feels kind of like the beginning of the END ... the end of youth, or the end of the 20's anyway. I used to think only *old* people reminisced about "where time has gone," and now I feel that exact same way. I have now known my husband for nearly a third of my life, I have as many kids as my parents had, I've got a mortgage and bills and... well now I'm just sounding like a country song! I feel like all the major milestones that I dreamed of in my youth have been attained - college, marriage, kids ... so what now? Retirement? Lol. I still have goals, they just seem a little less life changing - become a better mother to my kids, keep my marriage strong, keep learning and figuring out what I want to "be" when I "grow up." =)

As for the festivities, Brad and I were able to go out to dinner ALONE, thanks to a wonderful friend in the ward who offered to watch our kids. It has been exactly ONE YEAR since we have been out on a date alone - for my last birthday! We had both forgotten what it was like to sit down to a nice meal in peace and calm. It was wonderful. We actually went out the night before because Brad had a work meeting the night of my actual b-day, though he was able to come home for dinner and to have cake with me and the kids - yummy banana cake that he made himself! Eli sang the entire bday song to me all on his own - it was so sweet! Though we did have to sing to him and let him blow the candles out too =).

The next night I went for a Girls' Night Out with some ladies in the ward and we had dinner. I haven't really gone to dinner with friends since who knows when either, so that was also nice. While there, someone asked me "So what did you GET?" (meaning for my bday). At first I felt a little sheepish and mumbled something about "um, er, we decided not to do presents this year, er, uh..." But it really got me thinking about the true GIFTS that I enjoy! The beautiful birthday song from my son, the thoughtful cake from my hubby and the pleasant night out together (he did get me some beautiful orange roses by the way!), the phone calls from two of my dearest life long friends, my parents singing to me over the phone, the package from my mommy who always makes me feel special, the card from my grandma, the chat with my sister... basically connecting and reconnecting with people I love and who love me back! I realized that being loved and remembered are truly the best gifts, and I'm so lucky to have received them this year!

And now for a fun little "before and after." Losing a lot of babyweight is a nice gift too, haha. Owen's is gone, but I'm still working on Eli's! Lol! The saying should be "nine months to put it on, 3 years to take it off!"

Last year's B-day:

This Year (cute shirt from my Mommy):