Happy Halloween

What do a Ninja, a Monkey, and a Duck have in common?

Not a darn thing...

...but they sure we're cute!

I have a feeling most of my week will be spent keeping the kids out of 'their' candy. They seem to think it belongs to them, since people gave it to them. And they don't appreciate me limiting their intake. Same thing happens at Easter (since you know, they found it).

It May be Little, but it's Ours!

We live in a little house. It is cute, but little. 7 years ago when we moved into this house without any children it seemed the opposite of little. How quickly we have filled it up. Not just with kids and stuff, but also with love and memories.


The best part about our little house is the little mortgage payment (like all my Seattle friends are so jealous). And we want to stay here a little longer, because we have some not-so-little student loans we'd like to payoff.

But we are bursting at the seams. Our '3 children & 2 dog carpet 'is dingy. Our 'used to be in-style' faux paint wall treatment is, well, so 7 years ago. Hubby wants a plasma TV with HD so he can hang out with the cool kids on the playground (and he works hard for the money so he's definitely earned that right). Besides all of the cosmetic wants, we need some hardcore organization--and we needed it yesterday.

So we came up with a game plan to do some little-ish updates. Updates that will hopefully get us more organized, but also so we can feel at home and relaxed in this space of ours for the next little while. I figure a small investment is worth it to keep us here and happy a while longer. We really want the next move to be "the" move, to "the" house. We are trying to make design choices that fit our tastes, but will also benefit our resale value when we do decide to move.



So here what's on the to-do list:

new laminate/hardwood flooring through the living areas (dark, but not too dark)

new neutral colored paint throughout the same area (barley by Behr, just like this gal has throughout her house and I love it)

new flat panel TV (and now I'll be able to see it from the kitchen while I'm slaving away)

reconfigure living room furniture layout to maximize space (made possible by the newer/thin TV...so happy about this)

New chairs/seating in living room

do away with desktop computer & desk (don't use it anymore because it is horribly slow and we like the laptop more)

new storage from IKEA takes the place of computer & desk (lots of place for all our stuff to be corralled)

new "home station" for calendar, message center, cork board, etc.

a "gallery" in the hallway for all the boys' artwork

tile back splash in the kitchen and new hardware for the cupboards??

some major decluttering/purging in all rooms/closets/drawers (nothing will be safe)

some landscaping projects out back that we have been putting off (this is for next spring/summer)


My problem is I want it all and I want it now! All this will have to wait until the end of soccer season. But really needs to be finished before Chip's boys' soccer season starts up in March. Do you think we'll make it? For now I'll continue to peruse design blogs and storage magazines. And take all my "before" pictures.

For Chip

Yes, these pictures are a facebook repeat. But my hubby can't get on Facebook at school. But he still likes to show off our cuties to his students. Honey, these are for you.

• And I know I promised to get more consistent and write
  something with some oomph. But soccer has been crazy and all my extra
  spare minutes are spent with all my sweeties.

  Speaking of the littlest sweetie. Did you know she is 6
  months old this week? And she's doing all sorts of fun things.
  And I
  just bought her 3 pairs of wacky patterned knit tights that are
  to-die-for. I love her.

  And the middle sweetie has been rocking this potty training
  business. Next up: the big boy bed.

  Biggest sweetie is having a blast playing hockey (he scored his
  first goal last weekend), and filling his head with all kinds of goodness at
  school (he loves, loves, loves, loves school).

  My first sweetie has been working his arse off. Just sent
  in his graduation papers for his Masters. whoo-hoo.

  And every once in a while a profound thought jumps in to my
  brain. And I've been trying to write them down so that I can share
  them
  here with you.

  Stick it out with me will you? Maybe I'll make it worth
  your while.
  

Let's just keep the feel good rollin'...

These last couple of days have been great.

Full of fun and memories, and "firsts"

First Kindergarten field trip (pumpkin patch)

First hockey goal

Drayson's first time going on the big boy potty (been struttin his hot stuff all over the place all weekend. truth be told I don't know who was more excited him or Caleb)

The little miss has started rolling all over the place (especially her crib. freaking me out)

Lots of love (not all love mind you, but more hugs than headlocks were exchanged this weekend)
Lots of sweet baby smiles, giggles, and squeals

Snuggles and naps and prayers. And plenty of time with Daddy.

Soccer victories and hockey victories.

Good times spent with Papa.

Love from good friends (you know that saying "it takes a village to raise a child"...feeling so incredibly blessed and lucky, my cup overfloweth).

*Sigh*

Does it really have to end?

I Heart Shrimp Tacos

Hold on to your seat folks. This is gonna be a real deep post here tonight!

So last December the Chipper and I got away for a few days by ourselves to Scottsdale.
Remember that?
....
....
....
Sorry, got distracted there. Dreaming about getting away again.

Well, I had some killer shrimp tacos at Gordon Biersch. Man were they good.

One time when I was hugely pregnant, we drove all over town trying to find shrimp/fish tacos. To no avail.

So when we were in Maui, I made sure to get me some. And had some very tasty tacos at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (I guess they should have been good considering the whole "shrimp co." business in the name and all).

So tonight I decided to throw some together. All it took was some frozen popcorn shrimp, lettuce, sliced radishes, crisped flour tortillas, a mexican shredded cheese blend. Oh and the sauce, can't forget the sauce. It made those tacos.
A combo of sour cream/lime juice/fresh cilantro/a little taco seasoning.

So Easy. And So good. And a thumbs up from everyone in the house.

I should have taken a picture, but honestly I was really hungry.