leng27

March 26, 2017

Spring Break 2017

Well, Facebook told me that I haven’t posted a blog update in 6 months. Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with FB? It’s such a depressing time suck for me. People are so rude and nasty and it just gets to me, ya know? I like keeping in touch with people, but sheesh, seems like there is more bad than good on there lately. Anywho, enough of this nonsense. Let’s get back to real life and living.

Last week, we spent some time in Pinetop, Show Low and Greer, AZ. It was spring break for the girl and we always like to get out of town, away from work and the day-to-day routine. We rented this lovely cabin for 5 days and it’s really the way to go with a family. I actually LIKE to cook, so having a kitchen nearby is pretty awesome. Also, it’s so much cheaper this way when there are five people to feed.

Cheeeeeeeeese! He just had a bath and did his own hair. Diggin’ it, buddy. Also, moo.

Puffy eyes, no make-up and haven’t taken a drink of coffee yet. You’re welcome :) Keeping it real here folks. There is a coffee shop within walking distance and it’s the best coffee I’ve ever had. For real. They roast the beans right there in the little ol’ shop. So fun. The hubby went and got us coffee the first morning and had them write “Mommy” on it. I almost bawled. He thinks I’m weird. I do too.

This dude wanted to have coffee with me every morning. I actually gave him a tad the first day. Are you freaking out? Afraid it’s going to stunt his growth? Don’t you worry, it was only a tiny bit and then we switched to water. Ok? Ok. Also, I want to pinch his freakin’ cheeks off.

Worms? Are you in there? Wooooorms?!!!

There was so much to do for the kiddos right here at the cabin that they actually dreaded getting into the van and venturing out. They had puzzles, board games, horseshoes, a playground, sticks, mud, poop, you name it, they found it and it kept them entertained.

That look on my face is like serious-mom-freak-out-kids-by-the-fire face. I was so worried that someone was going to get burnt on the fire pit. Nobody did and all is well. I might have drank half a bottle of wine and eaten way too much chocolate after this though. Has anyone ever bought a giant-sized Mr Goodbar? I’m pretty sure they changed the ratio of peanuts to chocolate and there’s like ten times more peanuts in there and I’m digging it!

Let’s talk a little bit about romance, shall we? I like to do puzzles. The hubby does not. He sat with me one night and we put this together. If that doesn’t scream love, I don’t know what does. Also, I’m like 80 right now.

I can’t get over this view.

We had to checkout the library because I’m a nerd. The end.

We went to a restaurant one evening and this happened. He kept trying to crawl under the table and find a place to lay down. Lolz. This kid can fall asleep anywhere…except in his own bed. Oy vey. Good thing I like to snuggle the crap out of him.

One of my favorite pictures ever. He may give me gray hairs, but love him to bits.

No, you may not load up your pockets with rocks and take them home! Also, he can’t find his pocked because he puts his pants on backwards. Criss Cross make ya JUMP JUMP!

The kiddos were feeding them chicken crackers (or maybe it’s quackers?!…I’m lame) and the ducks almost attacked us. We could’ve died. It was a close call.

The day before we headed back home, we decided to head to the mountains and show the kids some snow. It’s towards the end of the season obviously, so this is pretty dirty and wet snow, but they still loved it. As did we. Fifty-seven degrees, sunny and snow…my kind of “winter”.

Why is it that every time we pack the selfie stick, we forgot to bring it wherever we go?! Go go gadget arm!

We even got in on some tubing action. You don’t even have to climb to the top to go down the mountain. Some guy hooks your tube up to the pulley system thingy and up you go. Talk about all play and no work. We all had a blast going up and then down for two hours straight.

The hubby and two older kiddos attempted to make a snowman. Looking a little thin there Frosty, eh? I love vacations. Or maybe it’s more like a trip when you travel with kids. I don’t know. It’s seriously so much work, but now that ours are a little bit older, it’s so much fun and so worth the work. The only thing I don’t like is that I get car sick so bad. I have a to pop a Dramamine before we travel now. Annoying. Again, maybe it’s because I’m like 80? Who knows. Who cares. Cheers to making memories!

September 25, 2016

Updates to Our Little Wall Nook

Boy, it’s been a long while since I’ve blogged. Facebook tells me it’s been 75 days. It doesn’t seem that long ago, but time flies when you’re having fun. We’ve been to San Diego since then, two of my kids had birthdays, been to 6 other kids’ birthday parties, started school, lots of play dates, and so many fun updates to the house. I do miss writing on this little old blog, but my peeps are only little once, so I’m enjoying them to the max.

I thought I’d share a simple, yet effective update I made several months back. This little nook is at the top of the stairs in our home. I was never quite sure what to do with it, so it pretty much stayed like this for 3 years. Boring, huh? I mean, I like things simple, but this was not doing it for me.

Also, the light shines up here like nobody’s business because we’ve got several windows that let in a ton of light, so I’d like it to shine on something pretty.

One day at the beginning of summer, I just decided to paint it black. I have little ‘pops’ of black throughout the house (including the inside front door), so this worked really well. It didn’t cost me anything either because I already had the paint.

I decided it was still a tad boring, so I found a piece of wood in the garage, stained it and had the hubby cut notches out of the bottom so it could rest on nails he put into the wall and it become a shelf. I must say, it breaks the space up nicely and allows for some pretty decor items. You can’t go wrong with a clock and little bit of greenery. I just love clocks. I actually like when it’s super quiet (which is pretty much never in the past 7.5 years) and I can hear a clock ticking. LOVE it so much.

Also, I’ve been slowly adding more greenery to the house. Faux stuff mostly because I really don’t have the time to keep anything else alive around here.

I didn’t like the way all of my neon books (Janet Evanovich!) looked on the shelf and I contemplated covering them all, but A.) That would take forever and B.) I have 3 children that rip these suckers off the shelf a dozen times a day, so those covers would never last. So, I just turned them all around and voila. I kind of dig it.

I kind of like my little nook now :-) .

Also, if you follow me on Instagram , we’ve been installing new tile in the Master Bathroom. I really hope I can blog about that sooner, rather than later. Let me tell you, it’s a learning experience and is taking what seems like forever. It’s actually been a month since we started and we only work on it when we have the time. I can’t wait to be done, so I can share the results…and have a shower and toilet back.

July 12, 2016July 12, 2016

And Then There Were Four…Weeks of Summer Remaining

In exactly four weeks, my oldest kiddo will be starting second grade. Where did the summer go? The older I get, the more I forget where the time went. Speaking of old, only 14 years plus a couple of months until I turn 50. I’ll probably look the same as I do now because I’m pretty sure I just don’t age. Ha. ha. ha.

The hubby and I want to take a big ol’ trip somewhere across ye land and sea. I told him when we turn 40 and by we, I mean him because he turns 40 first, so we’d get to go a whole year earlier. Which means I should probably start saving all of the loose change I find on my morning runs (runs as in running, not as in the trotts). Anywho, maybe 40 will be alright when it gets here. I’m still not sure about 50 though.

Anyway, back to summer. We’ve been hanging out with friends, hitting up the splash pad and pools any chance we get, went to San Francisco and are doing anything we can to keep cool in the warm Arizona summer. Oh, I just realized that I didn’t share any pics from our San Francisco trip last month. It was our first ever real long (12+ hours one way) road trip with the kiddos and it went surprisingly well. The two year old was NOOOOOOT a fan of so much time in the van. The older kids did great though, so two out of three ain’t bad.

The view from our hotel room. We even got to see a wedding one night. I looooove weddings! I mean really, really love them. I’m a sucker for romance I tell ya. I should get married again. Just for the wedding. To the same man, obviously. But, not a vow renewal because I’m pretty sure once you do one of those, you’re destined for divorce. So, maybe I could just be a wedding planner?

We got to see the Full House house!

Those little hands.

I actually gave my camera to someone who offered to take our pic. Can you see my pit stains? I was pretty much sweating the whole time, hoping she wasn’t going to run away and steal it. I told Jesse that he’d better prepare to sprint after her like the cops are chasing him.

These little houses are called painted ladies. Aren’t they just lovely? I’d buy one, but they’re several million dollars and I’m a tad short.

Love this pic. Love my babies.

Bow-chicka-wow-wow. Do you think I should blow this up to poster size and hang it on my bedroom wall?

We went to some forest (don’t remember the name) and saw some redwood trees. I am still amazed by the size of those things. Huge.

Such a blurry pic, but not a blurry memory. I remember Noah chasing Liam to try and give him a hug and it was a fun game for them. These are the days…

I am in such awe of the beautiful flowers and foliage. Coming from the desert of mostly brown, this view definitely gave my retinas a workout. I should probably look into living by the beach now. I know the kids wouldn’t mind. ;-)