Pool Dreams

When I dreamed of what we would do with our pool, I envisioned lazy weekends...floating in the pool on a perfect raft...cold margarita (on the rocks with salt and lime please) in my chilled cup holder...maybe some nice music playing in the background...a nice cool breeze...

It is actually closer to crazy loud  kids hitting each other with pool toys, kids cannon ball splashing me on my make-shift raft of 3 noodles, no beverage, hot 100+ degree air blowing and no music and a lot of 'watch this mom'.

However, it is nice and refreshing to jump into the pool after yard work (not me, my sweet husband), house work, inside boredom...

and to swim with these crazy people - 

Agent P

(the white on her face is self applicated zinc type sunscreen)

Agent P is a very good swimmer and is often swimming and playing with A-Dog. Mini P and Monkey can swim down to the bottom of the pool for dive sticks, do flips and yes, cannon balls and belly flops.

I know, where is A-Dog??? Oh he is inside doing homework. 

Sad but true.

The kid has a lot of homework.

I forced him out after lunch, but didn't take a picture.

I was busy lounging around on my noodle raft and couldn't figure out how to get off and get it set back up didn't go back inside to get the camera because I would be wet.  I will take a picture of him all hot and sweaty at his first Cross Country meet tomorrow.

Of course, it might be just the back of him...by the time I figure out when he will be running past me, I find the camera amongst little kid snacks/drinks/books..he will have past me by.

If you have any clue how one watches a Cross Country meet - please let me know. I'd like to continue being a supportive parent without just sitting out in the middle of the desert waiting for him to run by. Or me running from spot to spot trying to out pace him. Love the kid, but this seems more challenging than I am capable of figuring out.

Cheers!

Can you spare a prayer?

The 11 year old son of my cousin will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant in the coming months. His world was turned upside down in May and has fought and fought to over come this terrible cancer that grabbed him.

He is currently CANCER FREE - but since it is a very aggressive cancer and has proved a challenge to control, he will be needing a bone marrow transplant. 

My cousin Shari and her family are currently reorganizing their life to accomplish this.

Here is his story:  Dillon's Journey

Can you keep them in your thoughts and prayers??

Specifically:

• For strength while their family is separated
• For healing
• For patience. As we all know, appointments can often be frustrating and he has a lot coming up.
• For minimal issues (good blood counts, good health, no other illness while his immune system is compromised, many other things!)

I will continue to add things to my blogs about him, but there is also a tag on the side of my blog to check in on him.

He is 11. This is terribly unfair for him and his family. We all know someone impacted by cancer.

Thanks for the extra prayers :)

I have no title

Things around here have been rather chaotic and scattered uneventful.

Kind of sad huh?

It seems like something amazing should have happened...

But A-Dog leaves for school by 7:45am every day. Returns about 6pm after either Cross Country or Baseball workout. He eats, showers and or swims, does homework and goes to bed. Rinse and repeat.

The kids and I do school for a few hours (argue about math), eat (complain about our lunch), enjoy quiet reading time (moan about the hour we have to be quiet), swim and play (argue and take out 6000 legos), make dinner (wonder who is making dinner) and other random stuff (like wonder who made this mess and who invented glitter). 

Some days we go to the library so we can check out another 30 books. 30 might be on the low side. I wish I was exaggerating. We love books, what can I say. Some days we get groceries. I mean, mama can't run out of wine coffee...shopping can be educational ;). And of course, the house is spic and span when my sweet husband gets home. I can say this, because while he might read my blog, he NEVER makes comments...so I know he won't contradict what I type :)

Fridays we don't do real school work unless we have to. We do fun school work. Paint, art, play doh, music, field trip, sit around and do nothing because we just can't function, ya know - it gets stressful around here.

I need to find out where I can file a report about the threats and verbal abuse I've been receiving here.

Mostly from Mini P.

On a daily basis I hear: 
"I am NOT going to (insert affectionate action here - hug, kiss, be your friend, love you) ANY MORE EVER AGAIN!!!!".
"You are being MEAN!!! I don't WANT to clear my plate and you CAN'T MAKE me". 
"You are a BIG meanie!!!"
"I'm MAD at YOU!!!"

There are a lot of CAPS because she gets angry in LARGE CAPITAL BOLD letters. I'm glad she weighs barely 30lbs because the other day I had to fling her from the hallway gently put her in bed and inform her I would be back in a few hours after she slept off her sassy mouth. I could go on all day about this girl and her less than stellar attitude when she gets tired, but I would run out of space!

Next week, I am going to take a few photos. 

Not of Mini P's attitude (but I could). Of the kids in general.

I know what you are thinking -  "GET OUT OF TOWN!!!"

In the words of a very cute 4-yr old boy - "Get IN town!"

But for those of you who just can't wait - here is one when my sweet husband took the younger 3 to the children's museum last month.

Dad said "be serious", so we are!

Cheers!

School is in session...oh yay.

Yup, school started at Casa de Locos. Do you need a translation? I certainly don't! I need something else...that comes in a bottle...with a cork...


But, let's not dwell on my sanity level.


I learned so much last year about curriculum, learning styles and the simple fact that Agent P and I are VERY DIFFERENT.


He loves, loves, loves science and history and facts. I really don't. 


I love math and numbers.  He does not.


It makes for a very complicated learning environment at times.


I also have come to appreciate that all my kids learn differently. Some need to read it, some need to see it, some need to touch it...and my kids are all a bit of all of that.


I remember ADog being in Kinder and about half way thru, I figured out he still didn't know how to read and that they weren't really teaching him, nor did they mention anything about it. By then, he was 6. (Give me a break, he was my first kid...we experiment with those...right?) So, I took it into my own hands and taught him myself. By 1st grade, he was reading at a 3rd grade level - so obviously he was ready. He was a math kid and at 4 could add numbers in his head and loved to be drilled on them...


Then came Agent P. He started part time preschool when he was a bit over 4.5 yrs old. They discovered by week 2 he knew all his sight words for Kinder already, plus 50 more - and that was just the initial testing they did. Who knew. We aren't the type of parents who push academics as a primary learning  path.  I'd like to say for him, "we pursued a more substantial learning path such as exploratory learning thru experiments and excursions"... But let's be honest here, he was 2.5 when the twins were born. His learning came from him having to fend for and entertain himself. I cannot take credit for his aptitude to read. We really didn't have to teach him anything and even now he is good at deciphering new words.


Then there came Mini P. Mini P has loved, loved, loved books from the time she could pick them up! She would sit and let anyone read to her. ALL. DAY. LONG. I remember one time they were at my parents house for a few hours - and they were young - under 2 or 3 probably. When I got back, I asked how they were and my dad says "fine. I think I read 60 books." That is Mini P. 


At 4 or maybe before, she started reading. Not just sitting with books making up the words, actually reading them. For a few weeks she asked what each word was, often remembering it after the first time. She did this in the truck A LOT (try driving and deciphering a word that someone is spelling out loud...trickier than it sounds).  In 4 months she will be 5. She cannot start Kinder at schools for another year. But she has read all of Agent P's books from school last year (2nd grade readers) reads chapter books (such as M@gic Treehouse books which are 2nd-4th grade books), and is spelling her sight words. 


Let us not forget Monkey. Monkey, oh Monkey. How I love him. I love him for his love to not learn school things. He has no desire to read or write or anything. He is a normal 4 year old boy who loves trucks and trailers and towing things. He knows his letters, but often tells us a different letter because he just DOESN'T CARE. LOL!  This week he had sight words - it, in, for, me, I. He still has no clue what they are. Even after practicing all week. But he loves singing and watching shows about construction and trucks and is very good at playing alone with his trucks. To him, life is funny and entertaining. He loves to mess around and not take life seriously. He is what grounds me and makes me realize it's ok to NOT follow the norm. It is ok to hook up My Little P0ny trailers to a dump truck.  He colors outside the lines, goes against the grain and challenges me to open my mind to his chaos.


So, we move forward. At 3 different paces. 


Doing 3 different things.


BUT with some things in common.


They get to be with each other. Learn to get along with their siblings. Fight Play with each other every day. Go to T@rget when Mama needs to. Swim. Play games. Even go to Grandma and Grandpa's if we want.


They will all have their strengths.

They will all have their weaknesses.


They will all learn what they need to learn.


SO, while some may not agree with homeschooling, it is what we do for the younger 3. It works for us for now. And today, we are going to play with colored water and do some painting (on paper, not my walls...I hope...)


Cheers!

Renovations complete...well, almost.

I didn't fully grasp enormity of the renovations we took on this summer. But, taking most of it in stride, we have completed nearly all the items we set out to do.


I have to say, we have lost steam.


I am so sick of painting. Especially baseboards. That I have taken a hiatus. 


Or I quit.


Either way. There is no painting this week.


We have finally gotten our bathroom near completion. Hopefully the new light will go in this weekend...but it requires..well, you my not have guessed it...PAINTING. I need to get around the light and one of the walls needs a second coat. 


Oh joy.


But it would be nice to tidy it up.



Here is the new vanity:

It was worth the wait for this bad boy.  It is much higher than our original vanity. It has more drawers. The counter is travertine and it is beautiful. It also weighs nearly 500 lbs. No joke. The day it was to arrive, it was scheduled between 10am-2pm. They finally showed up at 5:45pm. Just as well, then my sweet husband was here to direct them and make sure they put it in the bathroom, unpacked and verified it was perfect, mirror included. It also took an additional 2 weeks to get installed and working due to faucet change, back splash...and all the drilling to accommodate the water lines.



Faucet and back splash...

Notice the intricate stone back splash...ok, actually I bought it already on a mesh backing.  We put the back splash up ourselves. Trust me when I say, I'm addicted...so if you need a back splash, I'm your girl! I can have you one put up in no time flat! 


Originally, the fireplace had the same tile around it as was in the kitchen. We had it removed...with no intentions except to have it gone. Luckily, the tile guys were creative and came up with this...

So, even thought the fireplace doesn't work, and we have our loveseat sitting in front of it - it is a charming addition to the wall. As opposed to how we were going to leave it until we thought of something better...like this...

The final piece to the living room/dining room was the kitchen table.


Do you see how this just doesn't really go?

The color is all wrong.


We have been saying "when the twins are 5...they will be less destructive...". Whatever. 


We found this, and decided this was the table for us!

It was large and overwhelming at first, but we are used to it now and absolutely love it. It seats 8, and thank goodness, there is no fighting what-so-ever over who sits where and who they want to sit by.


Yes. Thank goodness.


And I drive a convertible sports car.


So, there is your renovation update. I have to finish our bedroom. It is plain and blah. Needs a decorator. Any volunteers? ;)


Cheers!

A new chapter

Off to high school he goes. 

How is that possible?


A quote I have been hearing a lot lately - "The days are long, but the years are short".


Oh so very true!!


With a smile,a schedule full of challenging classes and and excitement I hope he can sustain...off he went to start his new chapter. 


He makes us proud every single day. 


I know he will excel and I pray that he tries to make the best possible choices, knowing it's impossible to be perfect! 


ADog, have fun! Enjoy! And remember it is supposed to be a fun time! Don't get over loaded! Take each day as a gift.


OH, and we leave in 2 months for Maui...That should help him thru the first semester :)

Renovations gone wild

If you live in an older house like I do (by older I mean it is about 13 years old and deemed "outdated" by every DIY show I watch - and that my friend is solid truth), you know that you need to keep the house 'updated' or you just can't watch Renovation Re@lities without seeing yourself on the show... (have you seen that show??? Great entertainment!!)


My husband bought this house new and was able to just couldn't afford to put the top of the line quality appliances and all the extra upgrades. It has been a blessing that this was all he did...because it kept the doors open (so to speak) to make upgrades and personalize it now.


In the past 9 years we have upgraded our dishwasher so that it doesn't sound like it may take off a section of the house while cleaning the dishes. We have upgraded our refrigerator, washer, dryer...not our oven - yet. We have painted...some rooms twice. We put laminate wood flooring in 2 rooms (Agent P's and twins room). We have done MANY things outside (pool, garden, play area, 21 tons of decorative rock...). 


A few years ago, I updated the kids bathroom (remember? I can't find the post right now...I'll keep looking). However, I didn't do anything with the floor or the vanity. We removed the mirror that was attached with roofing tar (not really, but it's what it seemed like), painted and updated shower curtain, faucet and towels. 


I couldn't replace vanity or floor.


You see - it's like this...


If I wanted to replace the vanity, I had to replace the flooring in bathroom. If I wanted to replace flooring in bathroom, I needed to replace it...IN THE WHOLE HOUSE. No one wants to just do 1 room, when the whole house needs it.


So, about 3 months ago, the carpet cleaning guy indicated the carpet in the living room was on it's last leg.  I coerced him in to putting in writing and signing in blood that I need to rip it out. Not really. Or really. You decide. But really, he did say it was pretty bad. 


That was all I needed.


I relayed that information to my sweet husband with or without some exaggeration. But we already knew we needed to deal with it. We were stepping on exposed carpet tacks between living room and kitchen. We knew it needed to be done...but it would be a big job.


How big?


Oh, ya know - pretty much all but 2 rooms in the house. Moving out for a week. Living out of bags for 2-3 weeks and sharing a bathroom for 3 weeks. No biggie...Right?


As soon as my sweet husband said "maybe we should look into tiling the house"...I said "OK" and within 10 days was ready to go :). I'm efficient like that. 


SO. We had to remove all furniture from living room, ADog's room, dining room and school area. Some went into garage, some went in to Agent P's room deeming it unlivable until we moved it all back out. (the 3 little kids shared a room for a week, I slept on the couch and my sweet husband slept on an air mattress -  that was awesome...or something.)


We had to have tile, carpet and linoleum removed from all rooms, closets, halls. It was like moving, without a moving truck.


But, here you go - in somewhat random order because I wasn't sure how to order them. Plus, at one point, I lost the camera so there is a gap in the order of work. Remember, we are still moving back in and there are kids that live here. Ignore all randomly placed clothing, shoes, toys and other odd objects.

Before - carpet and old tile

removal of tile (kitchen, dining and entry)

opposite direction after carpet removed (living room and dining area)

Kitchen, dining and part of living room 

Before (carpet gone, just concrete floor)

new tile in ADog's room

looking down to twins room

new tile - looking into dining area (back to twins room)

Kids bathroom with new vanity and backsplash

kitchen

New tile

So, the project was far more than I might have realized, but definitely worth it!!  I ended up painting our room and bathroom (in another post, not today, LOL) because "all the furniture is out...now is the time to do it". So, after 25 hours of painting - they are almost done.  Final touches on bathroom are waiting for me - and the new vanity arrives today between 10am and 2pm.


Anyone that knows me has to know this - I have remained relatively calm during this very, very chaotic upheaval of our lives. I moved the 4 kids and I out for 5 days - came home for the weekend only to have to be out of the house for 2 full days until tile was completed. I had to go to IKEA one day because I ran out of things to do ;).


To my dear sweet husband - thank you so very much for (after almost 9 years-heehee) sacrificing SO MUCH to make this MY house too!!!  I LOVE how it has turned out and am so glad that we jumped in 100% to make it happen. I am grateful beyond words! I know it was a HUGE job and I know sometimes difficult! Thanks for all the work you have done above and beyond to help clean it back up!!! I love you!