Trying to Get Into the Spirit

Christmas is only 28 days away.  In my best effort to get into the holiday spirit, I purchased the Elf on the Shelf.  I had seen some amazing things people had done with their elves and wanted to steal some ideas.  Just google it to see what I mean! The idea is that the elf picks a new place each morning to be discovered.  We've now caught him in the chip bowl, munching on Tostitos, on the couch, watching tv, and hanging out in Haley's room watching her be naughty nice.

First things first, we had to name our elf.  After much deliberation, the girls came up with "PeePaw Elf".  I'm guessing since my dad, PeePaw, and his family were here visiting for Thanksgiving, the girls were heavily influenced by his presence!  So, without further adieu, meet PeePaw Elf:

Silly PeePaw stole the remote!

So far, they aren't buying his "magic" powers of reporting good/bad behavior to Santa at night.  I guess my hopes were a little too high...

In another attempt to lift my Christmas glee, I pulled all the stuff from the attic to decorate.  After putting up our Christmas "Palm" tree (a gift from my sister years ago that I absolutely LOVE), I climbed into the attic to find the rest of the crap decorations.  That is when I discovered this beauty:

Nope, this is not a model from an anatomy class!

It is a battery operated candle.  It melted.  All over a snowman rug.  Nope, that is NOT normal.  Except in extreme heat...So, I guess my attempts to get into the winter holiday spirit did work a little with the reminder that this past summer's heat is something I never want to see again.  Bring on the snow and cold!

What Does Not Kill You...

After suffering through several weeks' worth of home improvement, I can now safely say our family has survived!  It was a little rough going the night we spent in a hotel due to paint fumes, but it was all worth it in the end.  Haley seemed to be the most traumatized, running around with her hands over her ears, crying "Loud!  Loud!"  She did enjoy sleeping in Shelby's bed one night when her crib was shoved in our bathroom.

Before we started, I had an interior decorator come over to give us some direction.  In one short hour, Erika Basham (www.ebdesigns.org) gave us some great ideas, specific paint colors, and motivation to get the project started.  Unlike my sister, I have NO home decorating skills, so Erika was worth every penny of the $50 it cost.

Some before and after pics:

Before-formal living

During--formal living

After--formal living

WAY Before--Study/future nursery

During--Nursery

After--nursery

Before--kitchen cabinets

During--kitchen mayhem 

After--kitchen cabinets, much cleaner

After--kitchen

Before--living room carpet (this picture does not give the stains justice)

During--Living Room

After--living room (bad pic...sorry!)

During--accent wall

After--accent wall

Meep, Meep!

Everyone has their outlet for stress reduction.  For me, it is sewing.  For Bryon, it is tinkering with his 1947 Ford is the garage.  This afternoon, I heard a strange "Meep, Meep".  He was so excited to get the horn working.  Here's video evidence that even a three-year-old can honk an old horn!

Watch out world!  These two will be cruising the streets in Sparky before you know it!

The Unexpected Costs of Parenting

Our "spirited" child, Haley, is VERY conniving curious and stubborn determined.  Turn your back for five minutes, and you never know what you will find her doing.  At this point, all I can do is grab the camera and laugh.  

When we became parents, we knew it would be expensive.  Diapers, formula, piano lessons, all kinds of therapy, car insurance, college tuition, and wedding dresses were all on the list of expectations.  Little did we know, parenting costs also included:

Full boxes of trash bags strung across the house

The wasted bottle of sunscreen was the least of our worries.  Replacing the carpet was a little more expensive.

Ink on high-quality pleather...finally removed with acetone.

Yet another bottle of mom's lotion

A full bag of brown sugar...not that expensive, just a pain in the a#@ to clean up.

A case of bar soap, again a pain to clean up after she used it as a "crayon" on the floor

YUM!  Powdered coffee creamer mixed with water makes for a messy, yet delicious, treat!  Just ask the carpenter ants now living in our kitchen...

This is a toughy.  It's dried lavender with lentils mom was using to stuff eye masks for her friends.    At least the carpet smells good...

Tabasco, EVOO, sesame oil, and worcestershire sauce go well with sprinkles.  

Also included in Haley's adventures are not one but FIVE bottles of shampoo, all the same brand and all newly purchased, squeezed in the bath for bubbles.  It's taken me this long to learn to buy the cheap stuff.

So, to those of you replacing your flooring, NEVER buy light colored carpet.  NEVER put carpet in a dining room.  And, most of all, NEVER leave "spirited" children unattended in your home!