Resolution- January

*New Year's Resolution- Each month, I will surprise someone with a little something to recognize all that they do.*


Today, the kids and I whipped up a batch of super chocolatey chocolate chip cookies to take to our local post office.  We have the best postal clerks ever.  There is always a line and yet the workers are never stressed or grumpy or even rude.  They greet you with a smile.  They ask you how your day is.  They politely ignore your wild, crazy kids (or even better, they say, "Oh, they're adorable.  Kids will be kids. We don't have that kind of postage to ship them to Missouri.").  Today, we thanked them with a card and cookies.  The kids were rewarded with huge smiles and a sticker each.  


Of course, we didn't forget our mail carrier who drives all day, everyday.  She got a special handmade card from Mary and her own container of cookies.

A big "Thank You!" to all the postal workers out there.  I can imagine what a stressful job it must be, but you bring joy to so many people when they get that special letter or package.  E-mail and the internet are wonderful ways to communicate quickly these days, but nothing beats a good letter.  

Poster time!

Well, I can now say that textured walls and vinyl stickers are not good combinations.  The non-artist part of me loves how these huge stickers can transform a wall and yet, peel off easily when it's time to redecorate.  The crafty side of me is kinda excited about changing up the wall in the playroom.  I've seen a couple of ideas to give me inspiration via pinterest and etsy and Potterybarn, but they were all well over $130.  I love a good challenge, I love being crafty, and this time, I was able to get the kids involved.

I bought a 20"X30" white poster board for $1.97.  However, since the walls in the playroom are currently white and I have no immediate plans to paint them, I needed some color on the poster.  With the help of a rainy, dreary day, I enlisted the kids for some finger painting fun, er, work.

Things started off neat and precise.

 Now, it's getting fun.  (Don't worry, that's chocolate donut on Adam's chin, not paint)

 Adam looked like he was doing the toddler version of twister.  He was really getting into it.  Good thing I took his clothes off.  Yep, smart mommy.

 Almost done!  Gotta cover all the white spots.

 Hmm, the next Picasso?

The wall before...

The wall after.

My version might not look as professional as those I could have paid $130 for, but mine is definitely unique, one of a kind and 100% fun!

 I think Adam approves.  Probably because he's almost always a mess.

Better late than never

I think I've finally figured out what my New Year's resolution will be this year. No, I'm not losing or giving up anything. I'm going to give. Each month, I will surprise someone with a little something to recognize all that they do. It might just be a card to say "I've been thinking of you". It might be something more to say, "thank you for all your hard work". I have a few more weeks in January left to figure out what and whom I will surprise. Will it be you?

Busy, busy, busy

We've been busy painting and buying furniture and decorating and trying to get our house exactly the way we want it.  I'm not sure that's going to happen until we move again, but we're definitely trying.  There just aren't enough hours in the day and weekends in the month.  We finally painted the kitchen, living room and dining room.  We didn't do a drastic, major change from the cream colored walls (a light taupe), it just cleans up the place and makes it look fresher.  It's nice not having to look at the scuffs and stains and poor painting job from the previous owners.  Doug put in a faux stainless back splash for me behind the stove.  Not sure why the previous people didn't have anything there, since the grease splattered wall looked terrible, but I'm definitely happy with the new look.   Doug also built a wooden shelf to hold our DVD player and cable box and the TV in our big hole over the fireplace.  It looks great and the kids love finally being able to watch movies on something bigger than their portable DVD player.  I organized our tiny little hall closet and added a shelf to store our shoes.  I hated the look of all our shoes scattered haphazardly at the front door.  The kids love walking in the closet to get their shoes and so far, they're good about putting them back...with only a gentle reminder.

Mary's enjoying pre-K and doing so much better with her writing, coloring and Spanish (yes, she goes to Spanish class).  I will say, her "knock-knock" jokes are seriously lacking, though she told me today that she and her friend, Anthony, started doing "knock-knock" jokes that had the whole class cracking up.  Hmm, future class clown?  She said she used Adam's favorite joke:  knock-knock.  Who's there?  Bean.  Bean who?  Car.    She's hit that age where she's curious about everything...guns, death, Jesus/God...and Adam's boy parts.  I'll tell you, some questions are easier to answer than others.

Adam's vocabulary is expanding everyday.  It's so exciting to hear what comes out of his mouth next.  His newest favorite is "so sorry".  He thinks it's a "get out of jail free" phrase.  I have to admit, it is pretty cute when he says it.  So for now, I'll leave with with just a taste of what you'd hear at our house...

Adam, don't crush up your crackers on the floor.
So sorry.

We let your sister go to the bathroom by herself.
So sorry.

Don't spit at the cat.
So sorry.

Aww man, you peed in the bed.
So sorry.

Hey, did you just toot on your sister?
TOOT!  (betcha thought he was going to say 'so sorry', huh?)