Kitchen & Bathroom Pictures

I love the way the kitchen turned out!

The bathroom hasn't been put back together yet. It's much brighter than I thought it would be but I love it!

Props to Tyler who did the entire kitchen and pretty much all of the bathroom too! (The kids painted behind the mirror!)

Wordless Wednesday

Ten On Tuesday

1. I tried running outdoors yesterday. It is not the same as running on a treadmill and I almost died.

2. I love Tuesday evenings because that means we have dinner with Grandpa Frank. He always pays.

3. Cole was up at 6 today. I made him sit and eat o's from a bag for 45 minutes before I dragged myself out of bed.

4. I watched Kayley at gymnastics last week but didn't get any pictures. I really want to post some on here so I'll have my mom take some today.

5. Joanna came home this weekend for an impromtu visit! Yipee!

6. Matthew will be here soon and I won't be sitting down for about 5 hours.

7. We painted the bathroom yesterday. It looks so good.

8. Tyler joined Facebook. I'm so proud.

9. Kayley graduates from Pre-K very soon.

10. Joanna and I went for a late night run to Wendy's and we got Diet Coke, fries and a baked potato. Tasty!

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. She's not doing Not Me! Monday today but I figured I would still take a whack at it. Enjoy!

I was feeling a bit flustered on my way out the door last Wednesday to pick the kids up from Rainbows and I couldn't find my flip flops so I thought "hey, I don't need shoes." That was until I pulled into the gas station knowing I wouldn't make it back home or to church and home without filling up. So, I most definitely did not mutter under my breath "I'm so dumb" and go pay and fill up in bare feet on the gassy, disgusting ground. And while I filled up I did not stand as high on my tip toes as possible in order to lessen the foot-to-ground contact.

I bought some garlic bread from the store because it looked really tasty. For those of you who know me well, sweets usually tickle my fancy but that night I was feeling spontaneous. So I made one loaf of bread and ate two pieces, then four. There is no possible way I eight six or even eight pieces. I don't even know why I mentioned it because it didn't happen. I didn't eat the other loaf the next night either. Nope, not me!

I was able to get some time by myself on a beautiful day so I headed to the beach in Port Hueneme. It was the beach that Tyler proposed to me at, to be exact. The sand there is so much nicer than in Ventura. Anyway, after going hover style in a bathroom that had ten stalls and no doors I headed out to see what else I could do that you would all be jealous of. I found a perfect thinking spot: the swings! There was no one around so I thought I would hop on and go for a swing while watching the beautiful ocean. Think again, Steph. The swings were like four feet off the ground and super new and slippery plastic like. So every time I jumped up to get on my giant bottom did not slide off the swing. I tried about four times and although no one was watching I felt really stupid. I was going to conquer the swings though. I reached up high and put my feet up there and managed to maneuver myself onto the seat. I was disappointed to find that my aforementioned giant bottom was squished into a seat meant for a 10 year old and that I did not get motion sickness when I tried to swing super high. Since when does 24 equal old?

I just realized I did not totally stretch a simple story about the swings into a gargantuan Not Me! paragraph.

When I went to get laundry out of the dryer I did not find a fully washed and dried pull up. And when I cleaned the lint thing I did not find the entire inside liner of the pull up. And there is no way on earth I actually considered reusing it.

I have not been so relieved that somehow, someway things have gotten easier for me with all the kids in the last few days. Matthew has been happy, Katie is still a stink but we're working on that one, Cole has stopped hitting and started using words and Kayley has been much more patient with her brother and really has been trying hard to think of him first before herself. I've got my own little set of MSC (many small children) and only 50% are my flesh and blood! I still dream of one day not having to work but for now, things are looking up.

That Explains It!

When I picked up the kids at the gym this morning Cole pointed at an 8 (or so) year old and said "mommy, that boy in the red keeps telling me the vinager word f***ing!" I said "oh, in our house you would get your mouth washed out for saying that word." The boy glared at me and I glared back. I'm pretty sure the same kid was there last Saturday too. So I'm going to say that Cole learned it there. And that's that. So now I've got to get him to stop saying it. Bring on the vinager!

I have no name for this post

I attempted to visit my blog the other day and I accidently typed www.battenbloggin.blogpsot.com and it took me to an interesting website. If you care to, check it out. It's unclear to me why their url is so similar to mine.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I really hope today is a good day.

2. Tyler took Kayley to the Santa Barbara zoo on Saturday for princess day. They had so much fun. Her favorite animal was the leopard.

3. Lately I have been writing to instead of too and too instead of two. I don't know why.

4. I love Juice Squeezes more than any other beverage these days.

5. Tyler bought me a dozen roses and chocolate!

6. I'm starting to lust after people's expensive camaras. I know I could never afford one so I should just stop thinking about it now!

7. I love mom's who cut their babies' cheerios in half. Hahaha. Only a new mom would do such a thing.

8. Cole said the 'f' word last night. It makes a mother proud. Hey, he didn't learn it from me.

9. Tyler painted the kitchen last night. It's green and I love it. The bathroom is next!

10. My mom pushed me really hard the other day. I got so mad at her until she explained that I was about to step on a black widow spider in bare feet. My hero!

Not Me! Monday

It's Not Me! time! Click over to MckMama's blog and see what things she and many others didn't do this week!

I most definately did not drop my Ipod while on the treadmill again this week. And I'm certainly not talking about the gym again. Man, I'm annoying myself.

I tried a new facewash the other day. It seemed harmless until I worked up a large lather and didn't inhale a giant bubble causing me to cough and hack up my lungs to revive myself from toxins that would surely lead to my death.

I've been going out of my freaking mind this week with my kids and their choice to deem sleep as useless. I sing, talk sweetly, give reminders, set timers and I never, ever spank, yell or cry. And I most definately do not lay with my kids to get them to sleep. Never have, never will.

Cole and my mom were conversing about underwear. Cole listed a couple like "undies" or "chonies." He did not continue on to say, "grandma! I know another name for underwear...nuts!" My son has never even heard that word in the lower body region context. At least he doesn't know what the so called "nuts" are slang for. Holy moley Coley.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling on the River Grandpa's Walker

I was going through some pictures on my parents' computer and I found these. They were taken at a family reuinion two years ago. I think the kids riding on Great Grandpa Frank's walker is classic!

Look how little they were! Cole was 1 1/2 and Kayley was 3 1/2!

The funniest thing about this picture is Kayley's shoes. They are a size nine and I put them on her when she was a six with cotton balls in the toes. And she still wears them to this day. Anyone want to contribute to the Kayley Needs New Shoes fund? Ha.

This was taken the same day. Holy 25 pounds heavier Batman.

Pure Bliss

I packed things up today and headed out towards the beach with my mom and three kiddos. A perfect 70 degrees on the east end continued to the west end where we planted ourselves for two precious hours. The screaming, arguing, punching and wacking subsided. I didn't have to say "don't spit" or "put your hands on your head for three minutes for hitting." They rolled in the sand, yelped when the water came too close, waded, collected shells, snacked on sandy peanut butter crackers and attempted to help two fishermen get their boat off shore.

It was not quiet or peaceful but to me, it was pure bliss.

(Then both my kids screamed and refused to rinse off their suits at the shower so I lifted them up and held them in the water while they flailed and frolicked about).

Ten On Tuesday

(Don't miss the post below)

Ten facts about the gym:

1. People love to stare.

2. I use the people next to me on the treadmill as motivation to run faster and longer.

3. Some people stretch for like 20 minutes. I could never do it that long.

4. When I don't bring a towel I use my knee to wipe away my butt sweat from the seats of the exercise equipment.

5. The gym has antibacterial gel in a few places and I douse myself in it from the tip of my fingers up to the middle of my arms.

6. When I see elderly people or people with disabilities exercising it makes me smile.

7. I'm so afraid to do an exercise class.

8. I see certain people at the gym every time and I feel like I know them when I really don't.

9. Are you sick of me talking about the gym yet?

10. I thought I had ten things but I only have nine.

Precious Words

Last Friday Kayley's class had a Mother's Day party. Each of the kids drew a picture of their mom and wrote a little description of them. I don't have my camara so I can't take a picture of what Kayley drew (I look like a monkey with a growth on the side of my face) but I can tell you what she wrote:


My Mom

by Kayley

My mom is 14 years old.
Her favorite color is pink.
My mom likes chicken.
I love my mom because she takes me to the park.


Isn't that the cutest? Phew, it was a hard labor at 9 for that kid.

Cole asked me yesterday if I would pray that God would give him peace. Today Kayley asked me if the computer was more important than cuddling with her. If you have ever wondered if God speaks to and through little children, He does.

Not Me! Monday

It's that time again! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

There is no way I just put my kids in front of the TV so I could update my blog.

Yesterday my mom, my sis and I went to get pedicures. We were sitting in the giant massage chairs next to each other and the guy doing Jo's toes asked if we were related. He looked back and forth between Joanna and I and said, "you have the same eyes, the same cheek bones and... those lips!" I did not laugh out loud at the way he said it and Joanna and I did not repeatedly mock him all day. The fact that he thought we looked so much alike is funny to me because I really don't see it.

At my mom's this weekend I absolutely did not pick up the can opener and assume it was a Pampered Chef one. I did not proceed to struggle with the can and opener until I realized what the problem was. I'm so much smarter than that. But nothing like that really happened so it doesn't matter.

I am definitely not emotional about my love for my sister who helped me out so much with the kids on Friday and Saturday. Thanks Joanna! I think she deserves a picture.



This one of her pole dancing sitting on the carousel is the most recent one I have.

I did not just make a joke at my sisters expense. I would never do that.

If you leave my three year alone old in a room that's not Cole proof he's going to go searching for trouble. And trouble he made. Cole did not spent some time practicing his artistry by using a pen to write on grandma's lamp shade today. To tell you the truth, I really don't know when it happened! I must admit I was disappointed. I truly thought we would escape the toddler and preschool years pen on fabric mishap (similar to the one Kayley had with the green Sharpie and our couch cushion) this time around. How foolish of me to hope for such things! After reviewing the scribbles (I give them a solid B+) I spanked Cole for his foolishness and went along with the day. By the way, pray my mom won't kill me when I tell her:)

Yay for Kim who did her first Not Me! Monday today!

Bedtime

Last night the kids and I spent the night at my parents house.

I put Cole to bed on the floor.

Apparently he had other arrangements.



In case you didn't notice, he's not wearing a pink princess pull up.

But he is pretty stinkin' cute.

Ten On Tuesday

1. It's Tuesday. A crying baby will be dropped off in one hour, 17 minutes.

2. I had coffee with Becca last night. We had great conversation! I miss my buddy!

3. Aunt Flo came to town and I've never been more disappointed to see her.

4. Becca said my body is wasting away. Ha! I have lost a couple inches around the middle though.

5. Tyler went to Best Buy last night and got a new part for our lappy charger so now we don't have to wiggle and jiggle it to get it to charge.

6. My house smells like last nights dinner because I didn't rinse off the dishes before bed. I don't do that very often and now I know why.

7. My kids have been so mellow. I can count on one hand the number of tantrums Cole had yesterday. Praise the Lord.

8. I wish to eat all the rice krispie treats on the planet.

9. I asserted myself last night and asked my neighbors to turn down their music. I'm so ready to live in a place with no shared walls!

10. I'm trusting God in our finances. It's a never ending struggle and we need, yet again, another miracle!

Not Me! Monday

It's Not Me! time again. Check out MckMama's blog to see what things did not happen to her this week.

I went to visit my newest baby friend in the hospital this weekend. Her name is Katelyn and although she is a baby, there is no possible way holding her raised my hormone levels and made my ovaries, once again, jiggle. Maybe I could get pregnant just by holding a baby. Is that possible? Although the picture of her below is rather red she really is one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen. She was not squished or splotchy. Just tiny and warm.

Last night Tyler and I were eating salsa con queso and chips while watching p.s. I love you. We get to the bottom of the chips and there are only crumbs so I give up eating them. Tyler poured them into the cheese and then continued to get his knife from his pocket, stir it around and put the food in his mouth! I did not jump up and yell "you are not a bachelor! That has so many germs and has been so many places and you're putting it in your mouth?!" I got him a spoon and yanked the knife out of his hand. All I can say is he's asking for the swine flu.

Speaking of the swine flu, I did not whisper to Tyler in church yesterday that I wouldn't be partaking of communion in fear of extracting the flu. Inappropriate? Yes. Funny? Absolutely.

Last night I was up till 1am. Why, you ask? My neighbors like to think that late at night is a brilliant opportunity to blast their music as loud as possible. The dryer beeped twice, waking me each time. Then Cole fell out of bed and an hour later woke me up to go potty. I'm not crabby this morning and what's more, I did not wake up with a sore throat.

We met Aunt Lisa and Taryn in Buellton yesterday to get the kids back. Cole, as expected, has a bruise on one cheek and two big scratches next to his eye. We all took a potty stop at McD's so we could just head straight for home but once we were headed down the coast and there were no places to go to the bathroom Cole announced that he had to poop. So we get off at the next exit where there was a nice looking side of the road for Cole to do his business. I'd never done this before so I was worried but Tyler was too much of a pansy to do it so I took the initiative. I seriously pee on myself every time I try to squat so things didn't seem positive. I placed the McDonalds bag on the ground and he did his thing. I couldn't just leave the bag there and I remembered a trash by the road when we first got off the freeway. I most definately did not fold the bag in half and hold the poop in our car until we made it to the trash. I just couldn't leave the poop there like he was some kind of animal marking his territory in the wild! At least I know we could do it again if we had to.

That's all I've got this week. I do believe you should try and Not Me! today. I'm talking to you Kim and Ashley!

Springtime Saturday Drive

This morning after eating a quality breakfast at Eggs and Things Tyler and I went on a trek through the mountains of California via motorcycle. We went through Ojai on the 23 and then headed someplace else for approximately 70 miles of twisty road until we reached Frazier Park. What a beautiful drive. I really enjoy rides at less than 65 mph so once we hit Gorman and headed south on the 5 I truly almost peed my pants. I was hit left and right by bugs and bees but lived to tell the tale. By the time we hit Valencia I almost cried because my butt was bleeding hurt so bad. Five hours on a crotch rocket is not recommended, people. Here's a picture of me at the top of somewhere in my cool jacket next to my cool bike.