It 's been a very long week. The kind of week that makes me wonder WHY? Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we force ourselves to create this silly holiday? Why can't we just buy people things whenever we feel like it? Why save all our money up and spend it all at once? We have plenty of other things we could be buying with all that money, like groceries, clothing, new snow tires... whatever. I'm so glad it's over.

I do love to see my family and friends and have a whole day where I know my kids are going to be totally happy. 

Lili got a wooden tool set to play with grampa Joe and real safety glasses! She was super excited.

Autumn got a Nook with a pretty pink cover and she was super excited.

I got some pretty fuzzy new slippers and I was super excited.

The hubbs got a fun Cuponk game and he was super excited (he was actually more excited about the new PJ pants, weirdo).

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday full of wonder and laughs and general good will.

Happy Turkey Day, it was a good spread.

Unbelievably there is a whole other counter with meat and pie and more stuff on the table... 

I. AM. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. FULL.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.......

A playdate with Dad

Dear Hubbs,

There are so many moments in our lives that I will remember forever. You might be surprised to know they are not holidays, or anniversaries (not that I don't love those too). They are days like this:

That I will always cherish forever. When you run and play and laugh and smile with our babies (even though they are growing up so fast). Thank you for making our lives full of fun and laughter every day. I love you.

There are two sides of fall

I know I have spend a large amount of time on this blog professing my love of fall, so I promise to make this one short and sweet.

I LOVE fall, I love the way the air smells, the colors of the rolling hills, the crisp leaves... Oh, the leaves. Brilliant red, fire orange, sunny yellow. From far away they are amazing, close up however, they are the devil.

Though the kids love them:

The raking is a never ending, the slugs and worms are gross and slippery, the shear volume of leaves that need to be picked up, mulched and disposed of is more than our trash output in a month.

I love my trees, and my yard. I HATE raking leaves.

The key to happiness is cereal that makes your milk turn colors.

True Story...

If you want to be happy all the time, stay in your PJ's all day and watch cartoons.

Let me elaborate...

I am not attractive in the morning, on the couch in my PJ's, so I will spare you that. Instead here is a totally unrelated picture of my daughter catching her own face in a bug net. You're welcome.

A few weeks ago my eldest daughter spent the night at my mother's house. My youngest decided to not go to sleep all freaking night, because her Sissy wasn't there. We sang lullabies, I rubbed her back, we drank milk, Hubbs and I took turns reading stories (sometimes I am a bit too animated at story time and it just keeps people up longer), we tried everything. Finally around 2:30 we gave up and let her watch a movie, hoping she would fall asleep. Around 4:00 she finally did.
The next morning I woke up around 9 and shuffled downstairs in my PJ's and slippers to make coffee.
*as a side note I adore the single serve coffee maker. Whoever invented this glorious machine that can whip out a perfect cup of coffee in less that a minute deserves a freaking Nobel Peace Prize.
For real yo, it's the best. invention. ever.
The house was so quiet, so peaceful.

I padded into the living room with my lovely coffee and a bowl of cereal and plopped onto the couch. Flipping through the channels I realized that there were actual cartoons on. Stupid one's that made no sense, just like when I was a kid. I sipped my coffee, ate my cereal, drank the flavored milk in the bottom and curled up to drift on the couch. That delightful little place between awake and sleeping that happens when you are curled up, cuddling your couch pillows can take HOURS to properly appreciate. I was determined to waste just about as much time as I could possibly manage, doing a whole crapload of nothing.
It was glorious, the sleepy perma-grin of laziness was firmly plastered on my face until well after noon, as I drifted into a cartoon/cereal-milk coma.

It was then that I decided that to be truly happy at all times, you must sit in your PJ's all day, watching cartoons, slipping in and out of consciousness, just doing nothing at all.

Most morning's look like this, both kids in moms bed sleeping (12 YO happens to have a bag of melted ice on her arm from her latest sunburn) why the heck are they using all those covers? It's still almost 60 degrees at night... CRAZY. And YES the 3 YO is always upside down in the morning no matter what bed she is in.

I'm sure I could have saved myself a whole lot of stressful times had I just gone back in time and listened to 14 year old me when I told my mom how freaking rad it was to just chill on the couch, rather than cleaning my room on Sat. morning. I was a total genius and didn't even know it. ( we are definitely moving cleaning day to Sunday).

PS. I am writing this on Friday and totally auto-posting for Saturday morning.

PPS. Right about now I bet I am curled up on the couch with apple jacks and coffee. Even my kids are jealous right now, because they have to eat shredded mini wheat. hee hee.

A little history lesson

This week I begin Operation: GET ORGANIZED MOM!




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Since the LONG story of how I came to be here is LOOOOOOONG, here is the Cliffs Notes version:

In 2010 the company I had worked for started to go south. In December my position (along with many others) was eliminated, to try and cut costs.

For 3 months I searched for jobs, this was much harder than I had expected.

I had never been unemployed before. I had been to a grand total of 2 interviews in 12 years.
A LOT of rejection followed.
Finally, in March I was hired as a temp, that position ended in July and since then I have been unsure of what to do.

The Hubbs and I have had MANY late night talks about what to do, we still don't have all the answers. I have been stumbling through every day, not really sure what I should be doing with myself. Being at home is so foreign to me, I'm not sure how to spend my time. So I jump from one thing to the next trying to feel like I have a purpose.

I have to tell you, I'm not doing a very good job.

I have had a steady job since I was 15. I had always loved working, I love getting up in the morning with a plan, a routine. Now that I have to make my own routines, I find that it's much harder than I thought it would be.

Another glaring truth is that our family was heavily reliant on my income, and we have been making some BIG changes since I lost my job. We have been adapting to our changing environment little bits at a time. Part of these changes meant starting over with a budget 1/4 the size of the one we were used to. Things have been falling apart a little, but recently I think we have found some solutions to the stress and changes.

This is how Projects and Goals were born, the Hubbs and I have mapped out some very specific goals for our family to achieve in the next few months.

It all begins this week.

I have to say, I'm just a little bit excited.
I hope you will join me on this journey, join the Projects and Goals link up's HERE.

Happy Birthday America

I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with my family, friends and a whole field of strangers.

You know what? I STILL stare at the fireworks with bug eyes and my mouth hanging wide open in wonder.

THE Mommy moment (SPOILER ALERT - Toy Story 3 exerpt included)

I have officially watched Toy Story 3 about a bazillion times now (Netflix instant queue is awesome).

If you have NOT watched it, I'm going to tell you now, stop reading this blog, go to Netflix and watch it. Right now, I'll wait... (there are spoilers coming soon so don't read the rest of this post if you don't want it ruined for you).

Ok, for everyone who has seen it, do you remember this scene:

Yeah, that one, the one where I start to sob, snot and bawl uncontrollably EVERY SINGLE TIME I watch it? That scene that starts the beginning of the end for Andy's room? Yeah, that one.

I know there is a happy ending to follow, but I can't help but freak out a little bit every time I see the end of this movie. Every time I see Andy hug his mom in the empty room, drive away from his toys, go off to start his new life as an adult, I cry. Mostly because it's sad, but partly because I know in 6 short years that will be me.

I know that 6 Years SEEMS like an awfully long time.

I also know that for me it will FLY BY too fast, just like the last 12 have.

I know she wishes I would treat her more like an ADULT than a child.

I wish she could travel back to being LITTLE for just a little longer.

A pretty table

"What are you doing"

"Setting the table"

"Why? It's a picnic? What do you need a tablecloth for?"

"Because it's pretty... every meal should have a little pretty"

I am always amazed at all the really cute outdoor meals I see on my favorite blogs during the summer. I love eating outside when its nice. Just as the sun is dipping down and the warm breeze kicks up. Perfect. The problem is that I don't actually have an outdoor decorations, I don't think it turned out to bad, fun and pretty.

I love these pretty glasses, so cute!

Lili insisted on busting out the Dora plates for our "party"

I love watching my family from afar, at a quiet distance

My cousin came to visit and cooked up the delicious garlic burgers

even Gram got a Dora plate :)

Four Heart Friday: Epic Dad Edition

Fathers Day is coming up so like every other blogger in the planet this is where I should put in a woot woot for my dad.

But I wont.

Don't get me wrong, there is a part of me that loves my dad, but in my quest to always be honest with you guys I have to say, MOST of me doesn't even know him. I'm not going go all postal and rant about him either because I don't think it is entirely his fault.

Being a parent isn't for everyone. It's hard work. Wonderful, rewarding, crazy, terrifying work. I have long ago forgiven my dad for not being there when I was young.

I had the best mom a girl could ask for and she was dad enough for me.

I will give a HUGE WOOT WOOT!! for my hubby though. Who is an amazing dad.

He cooks, cleans, changes diapers, gets up in the middle of the night, kisses boo boos, takes the girls fishing, helps with homework, plays taxi, works at night, fixes things, smiles, laughs, roughhouses, and is generally wrapped around these girls fingers.

We think he's pretty great. I think I'll keep him.

So here is my super dad loves for today's four heart friday, enjoy. As always click the image to visit these awesome sellers.

Not only does CookieBits have 2 degrees, but she is an amazing paper crafter. Her cards are TO.DIE.FOR. While I am partial to this simple design, she has a whole section of customizable and pop up cards too.

My hubby is a drinker of all things caffiene. With a million errands, an almost 3 year old and a 12 year old to take care he gets TIRED. I think if he could manage a Mt. Dew IV he would. I prefer my caffiene in teh form of coffee, so I am always on the lookout for cool mugs I can give to him and then steal later. Kitchville comes through, plus I am only slightly addicted to all things zombie.

ok, yes this is a neclace, and admittedly not very manly, BUT it's the red ring of death! How can you go wrong? It's almost rediculous to think I didn't think of this before?! If you know any gamer dads out there, I think this would be a totally awesome gift, I may be getting one for the hubbs, shortening the chain and making it into a keychain instead.

Baileydoesntbark made this and some cutie plates as a custom listing, but it was too cool not to share. I bet if you asked with a pretty please and a cherry on top they might make you one too!

Last but not least is a little something for me. Because honestly? I'm selfish and I want something too :)

Michelemaule

The clever comeback

Ok, so I have had a hell of a time getting ready for my comeback post! One thing after another these days… to begin I guess we’ll start with…

Back to School:

Autumn started 6^th grade this year, it will be her first year of switching classrooms for subjects. So far she has been doing very well. She LOVES her Social Studies class and the teacher. She was accepted into Stage Band (yay!) which is a BIG deal at our school. You have to audition and everything. She plays the saxophone (tenor) and loves it. I’m secretly excited to have a band geek as I know it will be super exciting for her in high school and open so many doors for her to have a social group and take fun trips. She also decided to go back to dance classes this year after taking a 2 year hiatus and she is loving Modern dance classes with our local group Dance Express.

Lili getting older:

When Autumn was a little girl she never had the ‘terrible two’s’, she never really threw fits or disobeyed when you asked her to do something. She didn’t have the greatest manners but she did ask for things instead of the ‘gimmie’s. Lili is a whole different monster! I have never seen a child get so upset over nothing! OMG it’s like the exorcist child! Full out throw yourself on the floor crying fit everytime you say no to anything, its about enough to drive you crazy.

Busy Swapper:

Since the beginning of school is over and everyone has fallen into a pretty normal routine I’m back to swapping again. I just love getting fun goodies in the mail! If you have never tried Swap-bot you are missing out! See my profile here: http://www.swap-bot.com/user:kiwivandal. Sign up and get involved if you love fun J

World Maple Festival

The world maple festival was today in St. Johnsbury and teh weather was perfect. Autumn decided that before we headed out she and Lili had to have matching outfits on, they were so cute!

Lili LOVES baloons, too bad I forgot it was in the car when we left. I opened the sunroof and out it went, off to have baloony adventures...

Baxter accompanied us to the festival (of course! we don't go ANYWHERE without him!) He got to test out some handmade wands, eat maple scones and taste some amazing sugar on snow...

What would a St. Jay festival (or any farmers market around here for that matter) without our signature pipe cleaner tiaras!

Lili and Autumn do the bounce house...