What's so great about Handy Manny?

I mean his tools do all the work right? He just sits back reaps the benefits and takes all the credit. I need a job like that!
This is just one of the observations I've made this week while on vacation.
We're still working on plans for the big toy room remodel, but at my insistance they are on hold until later this week. DH wanted to just clear out the room and move toys. I put my foot down, insisting if we're going to do this then we're going to do it right. If I can't hang drywall and replace carpeting I at least get to fix it up to some of my semi-standards. I know I promised pics, but it being the storage room for all of Santa's presents things were a bit crazy this past week. We're also at odds just which room to use.
Upstairs is typical of the bungalow style homes in this area. 2 rooms with entry to one depending on the other. Currently the back room is my office and the front a guest room. DH wants to leave the guest room as is and dismantle the office. I'm fine with that ... however ... I think we should move the guest room and put the toy room at the front of the house. There are many reasons for this.

1. It's bigger and has 2 closets for storage.
2. The back room is the entry to the whole upstairs. Meaning there is an open landing to the staircase and a 1 foot edge that runs along above the steps themselves.
3. If we do have guests I would prefer them not to have to stumble through the toy room to get to bed.
4. The doorway is easily gated.

So we're at a standstill. I plan on hitting the store for some paint samples this week although DH is still against painting the paneling.
I'll win though, I always do. ;)

Jules?!! I need you!!

And any other inspiring designers out there. We've decided (thanks to the jolly one in the red suit) that we're going to bite the bullet and convert the upstairs office to a play room.
The problem? We have no 'extra' money to do it the way *I* want to. So I'm forced to work with what I have.
What I have is dark wood paneling and bright blue shag carpeting direct from the 70's. Ugly in all sense of the word. I need ideas. I'm not adverse to painting the walls, anything is better than living in a wood pile. I want a fun place for the kids to play and relax that also fits in with the style of my home. Some toys will be staying downstairs but 99% will be going up. Eventually the girls will move up there to share a bedroom as well, but not until they are self-sufficient enough to come up and down the stairs themselves.
So please help a girl out. I've never been one to have decorating woes, but would love to have some feedback and ideas from others.

Caution: Fruit Loops will turn your poop green

My holiday in a nutshell.

1 sick kid on Tuesday.
1 trip to ER on Thursday night.
2 infected ears.
2 sick kids on Friday.
2 very whiny kids all weekend.
1 tired mama.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today was our Thanksgiving Feast at the Preschool. It was a lot of fun with some seriously great food. I can't wait until next week!

 

 

I won!!!

The fabulous Maya over at Little Dudes and Divas (www.littledudesanddivas.com) just had a fun giveaway where a few people could win their choice of prize, and I was one of the fortunate winners! We could choose:

Either:
1 Cupcake Mini Baby Blanket (giraffe, duck, bear, frog, blue lamb, pink lamb)
(1 blanket with 2 babies, not a good idea)

Or:
1 BabyLegs (Spice, Chipotle, Purple Bandana, Seersucker, Gold Dot, Pink White Heather, Blue Herringbone, Tulip, Ivy)
(we have BabyLegs we never wear)

Or:
1 Fanci-Free Accessory
(a bag for me)

I chose the Fanci-Free Wallet/Cellphone Oraganizer in the Raining Daisy's print. I'm soooo excited. A new bag for me, and it's free! Anyone who knows me knows how excited I am. Here's a pic of what I'll be anxiously expecting in the mail.




It should go great with my Black/Envy Packabe (made by Ju-Ju-Be) and be something I can carry everywhere. I can't wait!

Oh I almost forgot!

No more binkies! I took Addison's bink away last week to attempt the cold turkey removal ... and it worked! She was only taking it during naps and at night but we were having issues with her crying for it all day. After her nap on Thursday I put them in the closet and when she asked for it, I told her it was gone. She cried for awhile then got distracted. At bedtime when I walked her to the crib I reminded her it was gone and put her in bed. She cried and whined for about 15 minutes and was out like a light. Since then we've had 5-10 minutes of calling for mommy and bink before naps and bed and that's it. She doesn't ask for it during the day, she doesn't wake at night looking for it, and she is as pleasant as can be. Why didn't I do this earlier????

Ugh

We have mice. The little bastards are into everything. They even got into my cupboards and made themselves at home in my dishes. I am so grossed out I can hardly stand it. Of course we get them every year, a big downfall of living in rural Ohio. The big field behind our house doesn't help. We've planted traps, sealed up all the food and plugged all viewable holes with Steel Wool. Anyone else have any other suggestions for clearing them out? If so I'd love to hear them!

A little cell phone fun ....

As promised ...

Here is a pic of the new 'do. It's not just like the pic, and it's fantastically easy to style. I just wash, run some mousse in and go. It's messy and wild, just like me LOL.

The new color:


The cut:

A fun Fall day ...

Yesterday the girls and I went to the local University my MIL works at to visit. They had a ball! All the students milling around campus were cracking up at their antics and so were we!

I post here ....

Do you?

Trick-or-Treat!

He works hard for his money ...

My poor DH comes home looking like this on a regular basis. Thanks honey, for everything you do.

 

I think ...

I'm going to get my hair cut like this:



I got it colored this afternoon a nice caramel/honey shade and need something to make myself feel human again. This may just be it.

Happy Anniversary Me!

5 years ago today DH and I were married in a really cute ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. All of our close family flew out to be with us and celebrate the occassion. It was fantastic.
Just a little background. Our ceremony cost a whopping $250, the dress $125, shoes $30, and my hair $100 ... that's Vegas for ya.

This is the reception whe received when we returned to our hotel. We stayed at The Excalibur, and throughout the day they have trumpeters that announce various activities and such. Well when they saw us enter the casino, they pulled us on stage and proceeded to play the Wedding March. Every eye was on us, and flashbulbs popped around us like a parade. It was amazing. Somewhere in America, and even beyond, we were in someone's slide show from their October trip to Vegas.


The picture locales were fantastic. On any given day I can choose where I was married ... Paris, Venice, New York ...



The scenery and decor of Vegas in Fall is gorgeous! Everywhere we went was painted in browns, oranges, reds and yellows. Pumpkins, cornstalks, and even Fall leaves were everywhere.

Spaghetti-O's Rock!

Addi loves Spaghetti-O's and by love I mean loves eating them, wearing them, throwing them, and smearing them.

Algonquin Mill Festival

We had a great time this morning! We took the girls to a local festival to see the sights. Here are a few things we got to experience ...

A Mail Pouch Tobacco barn replica ...




A horse powered Sorghum grinder...


A mini barn-raising for kids ...


A barn full of antique farm equipment...


Music...


Dancing...


An old-fashioned organ grinder (complete with stuffed monkey)...


Horse-drawn hay wagons...


Antique engines...


Chain saws of every shape, size and age...


Wagon rides!...


Some gorgeous Ohio scenery...


and covered bridges...