Just in Time

It was a good thing I made the tooth fairy pillow last night because no sooner did I place those photos in the previous post then Addison comes running to me to show me her tooth that was no longer in her mouth. Wow 2 days and it was out. She went to put it in my hand and dropped it. I heard it hit the floor. Our work-in-progress kitchen floor is not the best place to find a miniature tooth. Part cement board and part tile with no grout. I found lots of things that looked like a tooth. Finally it just appeared. Super excited, we wrote a letter to the tooth fairy. She thinks she brings toys, so for the first tooth she probably will but she's leaving a letter explaining it's only for the first one then it's money only. After all, the tooth fairy is busy and if she has to have a sub, that may not work out so well. I can't believe this is happening already, what's next ... dating????

I'd better go check for fairy dust.

A Project and Another Project

So I started painting the dining room yesterday. I don't do things by the rules {I'm such a rebel that way}. I never tape off -- too time consuming. I didn't even take the entire wallpaper border down just part because to me the exciting part of painting is seeing the paint on the wall. Actually I didn't even take anything off the walls like shelves or photos or even the curtains, doing that as I go too. It's a little messy and chaotic but it's always a little messy and chaotic here, we know no different. So the first color that was selected, 2 years ago in my 9th month of pregnancy was a light aqua blue which I thought would go nicely with the chocolate brown. The paint went on and I was not impressed. I let it dry, not any better, I painted an adjacent wall so I could see the paint against itself, still didn't like it.

It's hard to tell with my poor lighting but it like an ice blue, almost white and both Aaron and I hate white walls. Aaron came home and I said what do you think, "I hate it" and since I did too. I went alone to pick out a deeper more vibrant color rather. I came home with Kingstons Aqua.


Much better. It's really bright but I love color.

Next up is Addison's tooth. After school yesterday it was so loose I couldn't believe it. It's the real deal. I had always planned on making something special for teeth for the tooth fairy. I've only had 5 years but not even started. So I searched etsy and free tutorials. I used this idea with some inspiration from etsy.

This is the front.

Here's the back. It has a pocket for the tooth and some cash or prize from the tooth fairy.
I like how it turned out. 1 down, 3 more to go!

Birthday in Photos

Addison, Ethan, and Caden's 5th Birthday in Pictures:

Weekend in Review

Wow what a nice weekend. I wish I had ESP and knew that it was going to be 70 degree weather, we could have had the kids' birthday party outside now instead of in May. Usually it's freezing and windy and/or rainy and snowing this time of year in Illinois.

Aaron spent the majority of the weekend raking up the backyard leaves.

The kids had a blast one last time jumping in the piles.

Grammy had the older kids over to her house for a birthday slumber party. They had fun and came home with treats and new pjs and slippers. They were tired tonight. They went to bed at 8 and not one peep from anybody. I think they were asleep in two minutes. Aaron, Reese and I went to the Quad Cities while the big kids were away and did a little Christmas shopping and went out to eat.

The kids spent lots of time outside today and even were able to play in the sandbox.

This lovely garage

has been a source of HUGE contention this weekend (and for sometime now). But my MIL, Patti, always says she and Ronn almost got divorced one time over installing Z-brick. I know exactly what she's talking about. Without getting into details, I normally don't get too upset about many things but it's a good thing lawyers don't work weekends or I may have made a call due to this garage. Hopefully things smooth over this week.

I went to the grocery store tonight and come back and Addison announces that she has a loose tooth.

What? She's right. She swears she didn't bump her mouth or fall down {however she is about the clumsiest person in the entire world} so we'll see if it stays loose or what.

Here's the beginning of my project for the week.

I've had my dining room paint for 2 years now so it's time to use it. I thought tonight I could tear down the wallpaper border with no problem. Not so easy. I need some remover. Vinegar and warm water work but I have no vinegar so it will wait until morning. I hate wallpaper and this is the only wallpaper I have in my house and there will be no more. And yes, I did put it up about 7 or 8 years ago. What was I thinking?

I hope your weekend was nice {minus the part of divorce lawyers}.

Golden

It was their Golden Birthday this year so I stole Kim's idea and got 5 gold balloons and tried to get some photos. Sun, shadows, a daddy who didn't want to do it.... but I think I got a few. It was a fun day. They didn't want to go to school this morning and they're getting flu shots this afternoon so they are not in the best mood. I'll be back to share more photos, the few that turned out, didn't have a lot of luck with that. I'm going to borrow a fixed lens from my sis to see how I like it and see if that helps me ... probably just the photographer.

Five

Today they're five. Five. That means I've spent approximately 1825 days with them (not including leap year days).

Unbelievable. Amazing. Crazy.

I think they are great most of the time; however, there are times when I feel they are pushing to the edge of insanity only to pull me back just in the nick of time.

People ask me all the time if it's easier now that they are older .... ummmm yes in some ways and no in others.

I don't have to carry them or pull them in a wagon. Dressing, Buckling, Zipping, Feeding, Drinking, Bathing is no longer primarily done by me ... yes, way easier. Now there's Opinions, Sneaking, Fighting, Talking, Yelling, Wanting times three ... I mean four people making things more complicated. So it's different and harder in a lot of ways. I know that it will continue to get harder ... imagine 4 teenagers in my house ... don't bring it up if you talk to me, I prefer not to think about it ... I'd like to live in denial for a while longer.

They really have grown into amazing people. They are funny, sometimes sweet, excited about life, and happy. I still can't believe they've been around for five years but it's been the best five years of my life.

Happy 5th Birthday, Addison, Ethan, and Caden! I love you with all my heart and then some.

Halloween Fun

It was a busy day with flu shots for mommy and daddy, a quick trip to Hobby Lobby & Michaels, a great lunch at Red Robin so the kids could eat their free birthday meal. At home when had cleaning to do,

mummy cupcakes to make, and

mummy hot dogs for supper.

We managed to get our jack-o-laterns done the night before.

Caden wanted a Frankenstein so Aaron drew that and Addison drew her own face and help carve it too.

Ethan used the pumpkin parts I bought. He's really into Mr. Potato Head right now so I thought this was perfect.

Reesey drew hers too (with a little help from Mommy)
Aaron's agenda somehow consisted of watching lots of football followed by lots of phone conversations about said TV football. I also must remember somehow that it takes him a long time to get dressed with or without a costume.

My daylight was wasting away for decent photos and unfortunately we didn't get a lot of good ones. It's about the memories not the photos right? That's hard for a scrapbooker though.

Orginally Caden was going to be Spiderman and Ethan was Batman but when Caden found out that Aaron was the joker he had to be Batman so they could "fight".


The rest of the night was a blur,

literally. Not many houses had porch lights on, due to a playoff football game and a girls' volleyball game.

So we had to walk for blocks to find a trick-or-treating house.
.
They got a lot of candy which I am letting them freely eat so they will go into some sort of sugar coma but it will probably disappear tonight.

Hope your Halloween was fun!