Tractor!

Anxiously waiting for the reveal...

At the beginning of the summer, we finally bought... A ride on lawn mower!  It's been a long time coming, and this year we decided to splurge on a brand-new mower.  You should have seen Luke's face when we just told him we were going to buy a tractor, the anticipation nearly killed him!  Our neighbor helped us pick it up with a trailer, and the kids (including the neighbor's daughter, who is Jack's age) all waited anxiously as the men were going to pick it up.

The moment of glory!  Luke was in heaven!

He said, "This is the best birthday present ever!" 

Beth was excited too, but a little less impressed.

Of course we had to take it out for a spin!

The new mower cuts down Ryan's mowing time by more than half, though he still has to use the push mower for some tight areas around the fence and gardens.  Not only does it cut his time in half, but if he lets the grass grow too long, it's not a frustrating mess to get it cut with the push mower.  And of course, now he can sit and mow instead of push- big difference!

Luke's still a hard worker outside, after all these years he still "helps" Daddy as much as possible when Ryan is outside doing yardwork.  He operates the blower all by himself now, sweeps, and uses his own push mower to "get the spots that Daddy missed."  And his weed wacker has seen years of use, so it's a bit broken, but Ryan tied some of his real string on it and now Luke thinks it's the best thing ever!

Such a hard worker.

Riding with Daddy

A Sneak Peek at our School Room

I have a long post brewing about our new school room, but I haven't put pen to paper yet, so to speak.  Ryan and I painted our upstairs gameroom, which really had no purpose up to this point, but will now be our school room.  We built some desks for the kids and painted a coffee table from freecycle.  We have two free couches and a free chair, some hand-me-down bookshelves, and a few other various very cheap/free items, that had all been placed in this room because we had no other place for them in our house.  So the room is sort of a hodge podge of stuff, and doesn't look like the beautiful school rooms I see on other people's cute blogs, but I think it's going to function very well for us!

A few before pictures:

this color is the color that our entire house was before we started to paint downstairs.  only a few rooms of this color are left!

As I moved the furniture, I saw some writing on the wall that Beth had left from last year... Just a few pencil letters and stick figures but it was sort of sweet to stumble upon them. :-)

Fresh Paint

I've been chomping at the bit, ready to paint our downstairs, so when my mom decided to come visit and stay a few days I thought it would be a good time to paint.  In a matter of a few intense nights we got most of the downstairs done.  We are saving our two-story foyer for a professional!  We chose two Sherwin Williams colors, color-matched to Behr premium flat enamel.  The color for most of the downstairs is Dorian Gray, and the playroom is Dovetail, which is just a shade darker.  It's hard to tell a difference unless you're really looking!  The colors are gorgeous, it really takes our house up a notch and to me makes everything look a tad bit more formal- which I love! Part of me wishes maybe we'd chosen a shade that was more different for the playroom.  In a few years, when it's more of a sitting room and less of a destruction room, I hope we'll add some bead board and crown molding!  We planned on painting the foyer a dark blue, but now I'm thinking a red or maroon might be magnificent and provide more of a contrast.  We'll see...

Around Our House

I have so many projects I want to do around my house, I feel like I'm getting antsy!  Maybe writing it down here will help me organize my thoughts, and maybe I can get some good ideas from y'all. :-)

We have our recessed lights and two pendants installed in our kitchen, they've been completed for a month or so now and it's so nice having light in the kitchen!  The next step won't come for awhile, since it's an expensive step- moving the plumbing, new countertops, new backsplash.  Like, probably not until next year.  Honestly it's probably a good thing that we have to wait because I still don't feel like I'm completely sure of what I want to do in my kitchen.  I haven't really defined my "style" yet, and I flip-flop between a Mediterranean feel and a contemporary country feel.  I think I'd be happy with either style, really, but of course I have to consider the flow of the rest of the house!

A fence

I love this view.  One of my favorite things about our home is that we sit next to an empty lot, another 1/2 acre left completely to nature.  Deer and all sorts of other critters live there and every day we have the benefit of admiring the wildlife and the beauty of the trees.  I love sitting on our couch while nursing and looking out the window and watching the trees blow simply in the wind, the squirrels hopping from limb to limb, and waiting to see if a deer will peek out.

Groceries

One of my constant struggles is trying to keep our grocery bill down, but now especially with three eating children and our gluten-free diet it's become higher than ever.

I've tried coupon clipping, The Grocery Game, and other similar methods of stacking and matching coupons.  I've had "success" at the stores, saving over 40% in some of my best cases, but the amount of effort it took for me to do it wasn't a prudent way to spend my time.  Then, I was buying things I wouldn't have otherwise bought.  Now, I have to be brand loyal, so it really doesn't work.

Freedom

I'm always flattered when people come over and are impressed with the state of my house. (What they don't know is I usually spend too much time the night before making it look like that!) I feel like I can never keep it up and that it's no where close to what I actually want it to look like. But, that's my own personal (almost sinful) battle with "gluttony of the home," and that's not what this blog post it about!

I've collected and created what I think are a few good home-managing ideas and thought I'd share some of those ideas. As you know, I'm a Type-A, first-born child, unhealthily obsessed with lists, charts, and schedules. One day I might need therapy, but again I digress.

Our new house has a huge master closet. Obscenely huge. In fact, we still have multiple boxes in there of things we haven't unpacked yet (I should just give them away, obviously we don't really need that stuff if we haven't used it in 7 months, right?). I keep clear bins leftover from the move on my side of the closet, each with it's own label: "sort," "donate," "return to owner," and "sell." I toss stuff in the bin and deal with it at a later date when I get the itch to do some deep-cleaning. I need to have a "return to store" bin also since I usually have two or three things I need to return but alas, I'm out of room. I find that these bins help me reduce clutter and elsewhere (aka my dresser top) and allow me the freedom to take care of these things later when I actually have the time to think.

as you can see, it's time i emptied my bins!

Something I'm perpetually working on is my daily schedule. I don't follow anyone's rules to the "T," like Fly Lady, Managers of their Homes, Motivated Moms, etc. I think, while those rules definitely have tidbits of great information, that I'm too much of a do-it-myself person to follow someone else's plan. I do what works for me. Oddly, I find I get more housework done in the morning if I'm still in my pajamas instead of taking the time to get dressed, which is probably the opposite of most stay-at-home moms! So while I read books about schedules (right now I'm in a book club that's reading A Mother's Rule of Life), I keep my own thing going and so far it works out pretty well. I will most likely need to readjust the schedule as the kid's get older (I long for the day when Beth's old enough to make dinner and Luke can mow the lawn!) but for now, Mommy and Daddy do almost everything.

I find that my schedule adds and element of freedom to my day though, and this is something I've been able to articulate after reading A Mother's Rule of Life. If you have your time allotted for each thing you need to accomplish, then it frees you up to not worry about it. Got a pile of laundry waiting to be folded? Don't worry about it, you will take care of that at 4:00 while the kids are having a snack. Messy floor? Don't even think about it, because you plan to mop that night after the kids are in bed. I don't spend time worrying about the current state of things because I know it'll get taken care of.


Realistically speaking... My "schedule" is definitely more of an ideal. Have you ever had anyone suggest your four-month-old will stay on a schedule? Yeah, I'm laughing too. Every day is different, but if something doesn't get done when it's "supposed" to, it'll happen eventually. Usually.

That being said, one thing I do always try to do is to follow my 30-second rule: If it takes under 30 seconds to accomplish, then do it. Instead of just putting the dirty cup in the sink, take the extra 30 seconds to rinse it and put it in dishwasher. Instead of putting your brush back on the vanity, take the extra 10 seconds to put it in the drawer (or whenever you keep it). If it's under 30 seconds, do it.

I am trying to "let go" of my Type A perfectionist tendencies (don't laugh) by enlisting the children if possible. Some favorite chores for my three-year-old and two-year-old involve anything with a dust rag (they love to dust), wiping windows, vacuuming (especially under the sofa cushions!), sweeping, feeding the dog, "mopping" with the Swiffer Wet Jet, and stacking/organizing plastic storage containers. Though they won't get to do that one anymore since I recently switched to all glass storage and ditched the plastic. (I'm trying to be healthier and they say it's going to give us all cancer one day anyway. The whole de-glutenizing of my kitchen was as good of an excuse as anything to get rid of it!) So what if it's not perfect when they're done, it's better than it not getting done at all, right?

With this much-larger house I have now, I've learned something that most seasoned moms probably already know: keep things where you need them, not necessarily where they belong. Instead of keeping all cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink, keep them where you need them so you can easily access them. In my case, that involves keeping a tub of Lysol wipes right next to the toilet to wipe up little-girl messes. (Pretty soon little boy messes too! We're talking to Luke a LOT about potty training and I think he's almost ready!) I liked the coffee cabinet idea I read about, as it turns out I already had this done before I read about it. :-)

My last "tip" isn't really a tip, it's more of a trick. Fill the spaces and the mess will be less noticeable! Do what you can to change things up. I get bored with the look of things quickly and could easily spend thousands of dollars just making my house pretty. Obviously that's out of the question so I "shop" my storage closet and look for ways to reinvent things. I'm by no means as cool as this chick or some of the other neat blogs I like to visit, but I try to gather inspiration. Recently I brought out a bunch of photo albums and the kid's brag books we had stored away, organized my bookshelf by the color of the bindings, and hung a few pictures/crucifixes/knick knacks I had stowed away. I tend to be a minimalist (it's cheaper) but it's amazing how much adding a few things warms up a space. I like to decorate only with things that mean something to me, so that slows the process because I won't just go pick out cute things at TJ Maxx to decorate with. Sure, this arrangement of white plates on the wall is really neat, but I don't have a collection of antique plates that are sentimental and I'm certainly not going to buy some just to get the look. You might- and that's cool, show me a picture because I love collections. Maybe one day I'll have one too!

okay, occasionally i buy cheap decor from tj maxx. i'm sure this one was created for me though, as i am told i have my hands full literally every time i leave the house with my three children. this is my new motto.

So don't laugh at my meager attempts to impress. I lack imagination but follow neat blogs and have creative friends, and I like to think that I can pull stuff off occasionally!

New Things

We finally bought a new-to-us kitchen table! We've been wanting one for a looong time, our current table seats 4 and is missing the leaf. We bought my cousin's table since they're moving, and it seats 6 but has a leaf to seat 8. It's perfect for our space and now we're excited to be able to actually invite people over for dinner!


We also received a few hand-me-downs this weekend... matching decor for our half-bathroom, a vacuum cleaner for upstairs (though I think that one is going to need a tune-up), and a new-to-us television! Plus a few other random things. Our house feels a little more home-y with the nice big table.

The move

old living room-the day before the move

old living room- two days after the "big" move- we still had a bit to clean out!

last play time in beth's old room

in beth's old room

new living room, in progress during the move

new living room- six days after the move. mostly put together.

our second morning in the new house, the view out my back french doors

enjoying breakfast on our second morning

the "formal" room, which is a playroom for a few years until the kids are old enough to go up and down the stairs without my supervision. this was during the move.

hello counter space. i think this photo alone is at least double the space from my old house!

child labor is awesome. my youngest brothers (with beth and luke's help) ripped out dead plants and added mulch to my front garden beds.

beautiful long FLAT front driveway, plenty of room for bikes and trikes

playing together nicely...for now.

mohawk

We've survived!

I think this might be the longest stretch of time I've ever gone without blogging!

Our internet was hooked up today at our new house, so I finally have the opportunity to write a little. We moved last Saturday, March 13, and spent our first night at our new house that night. Ryan had a few helpers to get the big stuff over here and I had help from my family during the week (thanks to a well-timed spring break!). Currently our house is set up, and the important stuff is unpacked. I seem to have misplaced my USB cord so I can't pull pictures from my camera! The kids have adjusted very well, Beth loves her new bedroom (the walls are lavender at her request, and she has new-to-her furniture) and Luke is sleeping incredibly well for some reason. Ryan and I still have a lot of work to do (mostly baby-proofing stuff still) but we're trying to take things a little slowly now. I passed my 27th week of pregnancy this past Saturday,which puts me at entering my third trimester this week! I don't think I "0ver-did it" during the move, but I'm definitely feeling the effects of standing and leaning over. And the stairs! My calves were so sore for a few days! This two-story house better keep me in shape after I have this baby!

We have lots more to blog about but I'm going to save it for when I can get the pictures up!

Painting!

We've painted our room! We painted the walls last night and tonight we're touching things up. The room is a mess, but here is a picture from this morning, before we pulled off the tape. Our furniture should come next week sometime (we hope!).

To Grandma's (and Grandpa's) House We Go...

Beth left us again to go stay with Ryan's parents- this time for 2 nights all by herself! I tell you, I bet the girl doesn't even know we're not there. His parents came in Tuesday night so that Ryan and I could go on a double date (Papa's on the lake- very cool!) and then yesterday they took Beth back home with them. Ryan and I will drive together Friday evening to go pick her up.

I am taking advantage of her absence by doing what's hardest to do with her around- shop! Yesterday I went to Target and mulled over their organization stuff... Beth's room has driven me nuts for awhile now and I wanted to fix it up. I try to take on a minimalist perspective when it comes to toys, but somehow things keep piling up and looking messy. In an effort to organize and get rid of stuff she never plays with, I bought part of an Itso organizational system from Target along with some canvas boxes. (Now, here's the part where I justify my purchase to myself, claiming that I would love to be a more DIY-type of person and that if only I had the time then maybe I could shop thrift stores and refinish something myself...But I'm not that person. Not right now, anyways, and so I had to be proactive and just do something about it.) I tackled her room last night, purging old toys, moving out baby toys and organizing the rest and viola! It looks fantastic!


Our bedroom is a mess right now since I sold my old bedroom furniture on Monday. Ryan and I had been using my high school/college furniture, and it wasn't fitting our needs anymore, so I sold it. Our bedroom is currently housing our king bed on a metal frame, a dog crate, my Ikea night stand, and a pop-up card table for the computer. Clothes are everywhere since we have no place to put them, and mix that with the usual plethora of kid's toys and a lazy dog, and we have a big fat mess. Hopefully by next week things will be a little better! Our comforter should be coming in the mail today, then we can pick a paint color!

Today Luke and I have errands to run and friends to visit. The house is very very quiet with Beth gone...

New sod

Last Saturday we laid down new sod in our side yard- the side that had been demolished by hurricane debris last fall! As spring came, a nice thick layer of ugly weeds had taken over what was once a mud pit, and we had to do something about it. Ryan, our neighbors, and I all worked really hard to pull up the weeds, "till" the soil with a pitchfork, mix in new top soil, lay the sod, and water very thoroughly. It took all day and we were absolutely exhausted, but it looks good, huh? And it's been 8 days, and I think it still looks fantastic. I think it worked!


Ryan also received a VERY early father's day gift on Friday... a Stihl FS 45 Trimmer- aka a really nice weed wacker. We were both really tired of buying cheap-o products that didn't work after the third use, and decided to put a little money into something with a nice warranty and a solid reputation. I totally surprised him though, it was awesome. I love it when I'm a cool wife. :-)

We worked on the yard some more this weekend, Ryan had two years of weed wacking to catch up on (the yard looks great!) and we planted a few impatiens in the front garden, and I *finally* got some veggie plants in the ground. Sheesh- I'm only about 6 weeks late! I planted 3 tomatoes and a bell pepper, and I also have some seeds (that probably won't grow) that I need to finish up tomorrow.

We also fired up our grill this weekend for the first time. We had some friends over for the inaugural usage and grilled some chicken fajitas and tonight we had different friends over and grilled burgers. I'd say both times were successes. I'm looking forward to using it a lot this summer!

So we spent a lot of time outside this weekend. The weather's been really warm and pretty humid, so it wasn't the most pleasant of all weekends to work outside but it needed to get done! Next weekend the pools open- time to swim!

edited: I totally forgot! I scored BIG on freecycle today- we got a functional deep freezer! Don't ask me where we're going to put it (obviously in the garage, but it's not like we have a ton of extra space) and it's a little old, but it works and it's awesome. This means I'm going to buy half a cow and stock up when Blue Bell goes on sale!