Our new house :)

Our House

Entry

Living Room

Family Room

Kitchen

Family and Dining Rooms

Master

Part of Master Bath

Loft

Cade's Room

Christian's Room

Breanna's Room

The Store in Mom's Garage

Christian recently informed his dad that the freezer there goes left and right, but the freezer at our house goes up and down, and those are opposites. (At least he's recognizing that!) Then, he tells him that I have a store in the garage with my freezer and there's alot of food, toilet paper, soap, and toothpaste. Apparently, I even have a coupon store at my desk. Then, he told his dad that he could come shopping, because Mom has everything. Too funny!!!

Booger

Cade says, "There's something in my booger!" I think he means his nose. LOL

What Christian Wants To Be

Christian has decided that he wants to be an art teacher when he grows up. He wants to paint and draw and make other stuff. Then he tells me, "And you have to teach all the kids if I get sick, Mom. They can't stop making stuff if I'm sick, so you have to tell them that." I guess it's good that he thinks I'm able to teach a craft class. :)

If You're Happy and You Know It

Cade comes home last night singing If You're Happy and You Know It, except for his version is: "If you're happy and you know (long pause) CLAP!" Christian and I tried to sing with him the right way and he said, "That's what I said, Mom!" Then he starts singing again, "If you're happy and you know (long pause) CLAP!" Whatever works. :)

Update to 15 Days

Christian and Cade met Rhys last night and they were super polite. Christian didn't even ask him if we were getting married or having a baby. He did tell him that I probably didn't care if he wanted to stay the night. How embarassing!!!

15 Days

We went home from Mom and Dad's on Sunday evening after dinner and I put the boys in the shower. When Christian gets out, he walks into the living room and says, "Who's Rhys?" I ask him where he heard the name and he says "I don't know." I ask him if it was at Grandma and Grandpa's house, because I'm totally deflecting.

Cade: "Yeah, at grandma grandpa's house."
Christian: "Is he your boyfriend?"
Me: "Well, he's a boy, and he's my friend, so I guess he's my boyfriend, yeah."
Christian: "Are you going to marry him in 15 days and have a baby in your belly?"
Cade: "A baby in your belly?" (in that little boy sing song voice lol)
Me: HELL NO!!! (Just a thought--no babies for me)
Me: (out loud) "No, Mommy's not going to have any more babies in her belly and I'm not getting married quite yet either."

Cade walks away at this point, clearly uninterested in anything I have to say unless it includes a baby.

Christian: "Can I throw the flowers at your marriage?"
Me: "You mean at the wedding? The flower girl throws the flowers, but maybe you can carry the rings one day."
Christian: "Is it diamonds?"
Me: "Yes, it'll be diamond."
Christian: "Is it big?"
Me: "Yes, sometimes they're big."
Christian: "Is it pretty?"
Me: "Diamonds are always pretty."
Christian: "Can we have it in 15 days?"
Me: "Not quite 15 days, but maybe one day."
Christian: "Can I talk to him?"
Me: "Rhys? Maybe you'll meet him one day..."
Christian: "In 15 days?"
Me: "In 15 days, you'll be back to your dad's."
Christian: "When then?"
Me: "We'll see. Maybe soon."
Christian: "He has to have boys."
Me: "No, he has a girl."
Christian: "Who is she?"
Me: "Her name is Breanna."
Christian: "How many is she?"
Me: "11."
Christian: "Wow, she's really old."
Me: "She's the same age as Casey." (neighbor girl at their dad's)
Christian: "Can she come play in 15 days?"
Me: "Maybe not in 15 days, but would it be ok if Rhys and Bre came over one night and had dinner with us?"
Christian: "Umm....(rubbing his chin lol) I think so. Yeah, he can come over in 15 days. Then you can get married."

REALLY not sure where the 15 days thing came from, but absolutely HILARIOUS!! And really, my dad's been trying to marry me off for the last 2 years, and now my 6-year-old is following suit! Craziness, I say!

College

On the way home tonight, Christian told Cade he "couldn't do that until college". I don't know what he was referring to, but then the conversation went like this:

Cade: "I'm not going to college!"
Christian: "But that's where you get a wife."
Cade: "Wife?"
Christian: It's where ALL the beautiful girls are." (He says this so matter-of-fact, as though he's experienced it first-hand.)
Me: "So why did I go to college?"
Christian: "For a handsome husband, I think."

Clearly, that's the ONLY reason I went to college was to get hitched. :)

Tornadoes

When we had the storms on Tuesday night, my house only had half power. It was super weird, but I had no outlets, no washer, no A/C, no stove (yet I had the stove clock LOL), but I had ceiling lights, refrigerator, water heater, and dryer (though I couldn't wash anything to dry anyway LOL). I found one outlet in the dining room that worked and proceeded to attempt to blow it by hooking up my modem, router, laptop and a cell phone. I thought this was an issue within the house at first, so I called Travis to ask him about it. Christian gets on the phone and says, "Mommy, you have to be so careful today! There's tornadoes everywhere and if one catches you, it'll take you up to God and then you can never come back! Don't let it catch you, Mom!" I have no idea where he saw this, but it was too funny!

Update: Wednesday night, I got home around 9:45PM and had NO power. Apparently, IPL sent an underground crew to fix the aboveground transformer and they must've had a confrontation. Unfortunately for me, the transformer won and I'm without power. :( Hopefully, it will be back on when I get home tonight.

Could Have Been Worse

We went to Noodles for lunch, Christian's choice, and about halfway through, he had to go to the bathroom. He goes in and a couple minutes later, he opens the door and shouts (in front of a half-full restaurant), "Mommy, I need you to open my wiener!" The doctor had told us to put this cream on (he calls it whipped cream cause it's white I guess) and to keep the skin separated, so that it didn't grow back together as it healed. The lady standing next to the bathroom looks at me in disgust as I try to explain that he's just had surgery, but how I do I explain the surgery to someone who has no background? She looks at me like she thinks I'm full of shit and then turns to her husband, whose now also looking at my disgustedly. So we get home later last night, and he's in our bathroom, when he yells, "Mommy, come put the whipped cream on my wiener!"

The Noodles encounter could have been so much worse.

Long Day

We went to the pedatric urological surgeon this morning to have Christian's procedure done and the nurse comes to get us and says, "Good morning!" So Christian says, "Good morning. It's going to be a looong day." Procedure went well and we are at home relaxing today. :)

I Just Want to Play With Him Now

I picked up the kids last night and told them they had a new cousin. So Cade says, "Where'd he come from?" So I say, "Remember, Aunt Sarah had a baby in her belly. Well, he was born on Friday." So Christian says, "she must've peed him out, Cade". I'm not touching that one, so I say nothing. It's close enough. So then, Christian says, "When he's 5, I can play with him", and Cade says, "but I just want to play with him now. Can I play with him now, Mommy?" So I explain that he's little and he doesn't really play quite yet. Christian says, "Well I guess he can only be 3 to play with us, Cade. If he hurries up, we won't have to wait very long." God, Nicholas, hurry up. They just want to play with you. LOL

Got Game?

Last night, we went to Kat and Shane's to hang out. Corey (their 15-year-old son) and his girlfriend, Cori, who we refer to as Cori with an i, so as to distinguish, took the boys to the park after pizza. We were hanging out in the man cave (Shane's man room) when I see Cori out the window carrying Christian. I go to the front door and she tells me that he tripped when they were running home, so she carried him. I told her to put him down that he was fine, and he totally looks at me and smiles then at her, like he already knows this. Now, Cori comes from a family of 9, so she's used to this, but still yet. At the end of the night, Corey comes out to the man cave to inform me that my 6-year-old is seriously flirting with his girlfriend. He had given Christian a biscotti stick and I guess he went over and sat on Cori's lap, put the stick in his mouth, and then said, "Now you eat the other side with your mouth". How hilarious!! My 6-year-old thinks he's got game!!

Who broke it?

We're taking a ride tonight and a song came on for the first 10 seconds and then skipped to the next song. Christian said, "Hey, turn that back on!" I told him that I couldn't, because the CD was broke. So he says, "Who broke it? C-A-D-E? LOL Like we need to spell it! Then, Cade (since he can't spell), says, "Yeah, C-A-D-E!" I don't think he realized that Christian was blaming him. LOL

Tartar Sauce

Last night, I said "Oh Shit!" and so, of course, Cade repeats me. (Damn kids, anyway LOL) I tell him not to say it and Christian says, "Yeah, we say dang it or oh tartar sauce!" Tartar sauce?! Where the heck did that come from?

Not Getting in Trouble

Last night, I had the kids put pajamas on and I was in Cade's room when he asked me to go to sleep with him. Christian came in at the end of my telling him that I would lay down with him for a little bit. He walks in and says, "What did you say?" I said, "What?" and he says, "What did you say to Cade?" Now I'm amused. "Why?" I asked. He looks right at me very matter-of-factly and says, "You won't get in trouble if you just tell me." This is why I had kids...they are like my personal little comedians!!!

Squish My Butt

We went to thr grocery store on the way home tonight and I put the kids in a cart out in the parking lot. They were riding one on each side, so when we went up to the door, I'm always careful, because it's a tight fit. When I slowed down, Christian says, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll squish my butt." That's classic!

Gaming

Last night was game night, so Christian was playing Dora on the Leapfrog and Cade was playing Spongebob on the Game Cube. Cade tried to get Christian to help him get past a level, but Christian wasn't having any of that. He was getting mad every time Cade interupted his Spanish level. Yes, I said Spanish. He's learning the fruits in Spanish right now from Dora. (la fresa=strawberry, la manzana=apple, etc.) So, Cade asks me to come help him. I love video games, but I don't have much time to play them and usually the kids play the Game Cube together, so they aren't asking me. I've only played this game a time or two when I've helped them pass a level before. I went in there and go past the part that Cade said he couldn't do, but then I couldn't figure out how to climb the wall. Cade is sitting next to me saying, "Want me to do it, Mom?", but I didn't think he really played. The last time I had watched him (a few months ago), he just kinda walked around in the game. So I hollered for Christian. I admit, I asked my 6-year-old for help. LOL He comes in, takes the controller, walks up the wall in like 2 seconds, and said, "That's so easy, Mom." Then he went back to his Leapfrog. So then I give the controller to Cade, so that I can finish cleaning out the linen closet, and I see him start to play. I mean actually play. He was beating the levels! My 3-year-old was playing Game Cube and beating the levels! Am I the only one amazed by this?!

Christian's Plan

The other night, Christian asked if he could sleep with me and I told him that he could go to sleep in his own bed, and I'd turn him on a movie. He laid down, I turned the movie on, and when I checked on him before I went to bed, he was asleep. When I woke up in the morning, he was in my bed. I woke him up and the first thing he says is, "Rock On!". LOL Then I asked him why he was in my bed and he said, "I planned it that way. I waited til you went to sleep and then I came in." Little shit!

See My Finger?

The Bike

Travis put the kids into a contest a few weeks ago at Long John Silver's to win a bike. He got a call from the manager yesterday saying that Christian won a brand new 20" bike. Now, he won't be able to ride it yet, because it's a bigger bike, but he's really excited. So on the way to his dad's this morning, he asked me if I was picking him up tonight. I told him I was meeting him at Long John Silver's so that he could have his picture taken with his new bike. He went into Travis's and said, "Dad, it's the best day of my life today. I won a new bike AND I get to have my picture taken tonight! Isn't it the best day of my life?" What a comedian!

Finding Your Person

Christian has asked me about getting a wife after high school before, and I told him that you have to finish high school, go to college, and then get a wife. So last night, he's talking about college, and he says, "Is that where you find your person?" At first I thought I heard him wrong, so I said, "What?" He says, "You know, your person, Mom. The one you love and get to be your wife so you have have a baby." Mom and I decided last night that if you find your person in college, then at least she's well-educated too. :)

Landscaping

Me and the kids spread all the mulch last week.

And they have their "garden" now...well, tomato plants anyway.

Saturday I built the planters.


Today I planted the flowering hostas.

Finally, this house is starting to get a little curb appeal...next is adding some more color. Not sure how to do that quite yet.

Christian's Birthday

1. I asked Christian what he wanted for his birthday on Friday night so I could give Mom a few ideas. He says, "I just want one thing. Can she get something for Cade, so he can open it with me?" This is what makes motherhood worth it. :)

2. He's opening presents (or rather tearing through them without paying any attention to what was from who) when he gets to Shannon and Kevin's gift bag. He takes a Thomas kite out and exclaims, "All these years, it's all I ever wanted!" Really?! ALL these years? All 6 of them?

3. After everyone leaves and I'm putting the kids to bed, I ask Christian if he had a good birthday. He says, "Yeah, Mom. And my girlfriend even came." I ask him who is girlfriend is, and he says, "Shanna, Mom! Dontcha know?" This cracks me up that he thinks Shannon is his girlfriend, because a) she's an adult and b) he can't even get her name right (Shanna, Shannon). LOL

4. New term: Voluntold
Definition: when someone tells you that you are volunteering to help

Kevin tells me that he and Ryan are going to move my hutch into the garage. I asked him how he got volunteered for that and by who. He laughs and says he thinks it's my grandpa who voluntold him and Ryan. LOL Too funny!!

Flower Garden

I had mulch delivered Wednesday and started to spread it last night. Travis needed to come over to borrow the van last night and the tire needed aired up, so all the kids were all playing in the yard with us, running up and down the rest of the mound of mulch that still needs moved. Lily goes down on her butt and Tammy asks her if she wants to smell like that mulch, because if she keeps going down on her butt, she'll stink. Travis looks at me and says it really smells like horse shit. Kids have really great ears, because Christian takes off running from the far end of the mulch mound and jumps off on the driveway next to Travis and says, "No, Dad! It's not horse shit! It's my flower garden! Dontcha know?"

Sexy Sunglasses

Christian had a field day today, so when I picked him up last night, he told me that his teacher said he had to wear sunscreen to school today, a hat, and sunglasses. I had bought both boys a pair of sunglasses, but Christian's pair was in his birthday bag, so they weren't going to get them until Sunday. After they went to sleep last night, I got the sunglasses out and set them next to the front door, so we wouldn't forget them this morning. When he sees his, he's 9 kinds of excited. I coax Cade out of bed this morning by telling him that I have a present for him, but he has to get dressed before I'll give it to him. He's dressed in record time this morning and I take him into the living room and tell him to look on the table by the door. He's all excited about his new sunglasses too. These are "real sunglasses, not the orange kid kind", as Christian patiently explained to me this morning. As we're walking out the door, both boys in their hats, they get on the porch and stop to put their sunglasses on. Christian looks at Cade and says, "Wow, Cade! Now you're so sexy, just like me? Right, Mommy?" How can I say no? LOL

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah

So last night we went to Mom and Dad's for dinner. Mom grilled steaks and cooked corn on the cob. Everyone eats, Ron and Sarah are taking off, Dad is inside with Ryan, me, Mom, and Cara are on the back deck with all the kids. They're running around screaming, Cade keeps touching Emily, making her scream and cry, so we're calling her Drama. I tell Cade to stop touching her. He pays no attention. Andy is trying to spit out his last bite of steak and we're telling him that he has to eat it. Christian has "what about me? sydrome" lately, so as we're yelling at everyone, I wait for him to say "what about me, Mom?" Finally, we've had enough, so I turn around and yell, "Cade, quit touching Emily! Don't look at her, don't talk to her, don't go within 5 ft of her! Drama, quit screaming and crying! He's not hurting you! Andy, eat your food! And everyone quit screaming!" Christian looks down at me (we're sitting at the patio table on the lower deck) and says, "Blah blah blah blah blah!", including the hand motion next to his mouth. As we 3 moms sit there trying really hard not to crack a smile, or God forbid let out a giggle, I think that Ron and Sarah are really in for it if their boy acts like mine.

So What

There aren't even words LOL

Christian's People

We're driving home tonight, and like every other night, I ask Christian how his day was at school. Tonight, he tells me, "Harrison, Claire, and all my people got put on red. Me and the new girl stayed on green." Apparently, my 5-year-old now has peeps. :)

One Less Human

We went to church last night and as we were walking toward the play room for the kids, I asked the kids if they wanted to play on the jungle gym. Cade said, "Yeah!" and Christian said, "Yeah, but there's one less human." At first, I wasn't sure what he said, so I had him repeat it. That's what he said. No idea where that came from. So I asked him what he meant and he said "Lola's gone, too, and now there's one less human again." I think he must have thought the church looked like the funeral home, so Renea and I had to explain to him that no one died before he'd go play on the indoor playground. How funny!

Cade's Mural

So Christian's mural was done last week, but I didn't get around to Cade's mural until Sunday night. At least it's done. :)

Superhero

As soon as we walked out the door this morning and Cade started to cry immediately. I asked him what was wrong all the way to the car and he just cried. I seat belted him in and started out the driveway when I finally said, "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong!" So he says, "Mommy, it cold!" I said, "I'm sorry sweet pea, but I can't change the weather." Then Christian says, "But Mommy, you're a superhero." God love the little ones. LOL He plays a Shrek game that has "battles" called Hero Time, so that must be where it got it from. Nice to hear that he thinks that now, because as he gets older, I'm sure he won't always have that opinion. :)

Our Bathroom

So everyone who's seen our bathroom has been forced to shield their eyes from the horrible colors while they pee. I've finally saved enough to do the major renovations that will allow me to enjoy my bathroom. So we decided to tile the lower portion of the wall and paint the top. I was also going to replace the medicine cabinet, which meant I had to change the light, since the old one was one piece. I went to Lowe's on Friday night after work and picked up my terra cotta tile, which I got at a great price. I matched the tile to an olive green paint and bought some ceiling paint, etc. I came home and primered and painted the olive green on the walls (twice), then taped and painted the ceiling...with 2 coats that wouldn't stick very well to the old pink satin paint. LOL Saturday morning, I put a 3rd coat on the ceiling and it finally covered it up. Mom came over and we decided to start with the elecric. We took out the old medicine cabinet and had to re-locate the wiring higher up the wall for the new lighting. Then we replaced the medicine cabinet. When we started the tile, we found out pretty quickly that I suck at putting the adhesive on. Mom took that over while I started putting the tiles on. We got quite a bit done, but also found out that the drywall under the sink is torn up, so now we've added a new vanity to the project list. The toilet still needs to be taken up to tile behind it. Now, if we're taking up the toilet and replacing the vanity, wouldn't this be a great time to replace the floor as well? Yeah, we thought so, too. So far, the tiling is as done as we can be until we take the toilet up. Colored grout to match the green and the vanity have been ordered and I picked up a piece of linoleum and a cordless cellular shade today. We are more than half done with the renovations and there is a huge difference. Mom and I were worried that Christian might not like the change. When we got home tonight, I told him that me and Grandma had a surprise for him and Cade. When we went into the bathroom, Cade said, "Mommy, you in trouble. You made mess!" To this, Christian says, "Don't worry, Mommy. We can make it pretty again." So much for our renovations. LOL At least we think it looks worlds better.

Dance Dance Revolution

Mom and Dad got the Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 2 for me for Christmas, but we had no idea how much fun the kids would have with it. Christian, Cade, and Sierra have been playing for the last 2 hours this morning and are still not tired of it yet. Kudos to the Wii for being able to create a video game that gets kids off their butts and still engages them enough to keep their attention for 2 hours of exercise. :) For that matter, kudos to them for keeping my attention to exercise every night now as well. :) Maybe I'll be one of those crazy success stories on the box and lose 50 lbs. in 2 months. LOL Well, maybe not 2 months for me, but still yet...

Sierra and Christian and a view of DDR2.

Sierra, Christian, and Cade all playing.

Cade's excited!! The game said you failed, and he decided they won. LOL