Almost Finished!

We did the big room switch last night. It was quite an ordeal to maneuver everything in the hallway upstairs. Nate's brother came over and helped us out. So now, the painting is done, the window blinds and curtains are up. I need to switch closets and discreetly make some unplayed with toys disappear.

Also last night Nate BBQ'd. It was probably our last of the summer as we ran out of charcoal-yes I know we can buy more, I just know we won't. We had hamburgers and corn on the cob and some spicy potato wedges. It was very very yummy. And for dessert we had fudge bars and creamsicles. I have a new thing with putting whip cream on my fudge bars and letting it freeze a bit. I realize this is probably a crazy pregnancy thing, but it is soo yummy! I think my body may just need some extra calcium, but why not make it fun at least.

This is a crazy picture of Bella at the end of soccer a few weeks ago. She loves it and has so much fun. She wanted me to sign her up for football as well, but the babe is due the week it starts, so it seems like something I shouldn't commit to. I love that the tee shirts they hand out are so huge, it cracks me up to see all these kids looking like they are running around in nightgowns. I think she kind of wants to play football because she knows her dad is coaching. They are very interested in going to his games and seeing what he has been up to. His sophomore team had their first game last night and won!!! The score was 43-0. I felt such a sense of relief for him, not that winning is the most important thing in the larger scope, but that his defense delivered so well. The team really hasn't won any games for the past two years, so it will hopefully make a difference in their confidence and they can play with some heart.

I think I have figured out a solution to my frustrating downloads, if I remove the memory stick and just put it directly in the computer, it seems to work. So, I just need to remember to always use the memory stick in the camera.

This is thus far the best picture I have of Jack playing soccer this year-we have the bulk of the games yet to go-so I am not too worried about it. He is number 5 this year, the jeresey's are reversible to purple or white. He really loves to play and has a ton of fun. I have been having him play sans glasses for the time being, if he does want to play as he gets older I will really need to locate the Bono goggles though. This picture is a bit unrepresentative of how games really go. Usually there is a mob of kids wrapped around the ball, knocking each other over and migrating around the field. It is really fun to watch and last night was breezy and cool, so even more fun for me.

Bella and I went to IKEA and got some curtains for her room yesterday as well. She loves IKEA, it is so very funny, she thanks me again and again for bringing her there. I let her choose from a few different sets of curtains and she picked the ones I really liked, which amazed me a bit. We just need to get the furniture moved and the rooms will be switched. I love the way the paint turned out, and I think she will love her girly room. I need to take Jack to IKEA so he can pick out a few things and get a new storage system for his toys, but I need Nate to carry everything into the car and into the house. So that trip will be later on in the month I suspect. I can't believe it is nearing the end of August already. And that school has been going for a week. Second grade seems pretty cool so far from what I hear!

Painting
I am taking a break between coats of paint in the girls room. I am kind of covered in paint actually, so I guess I am letting that dry as well. Isabella has been helping a bit, she uses a tiny brush and paints below me while I do the high parts. I let some paint drip on her leg though, and that has distressed her a bit. I have one wall that I can't start on yet because Jack's bed is still up against it. The crib and dresser are pushed into the middle of the room and I can barely squeeze past everything. I am thankful my SIL sent me some of her maternity clothes that she is no longer going to use, I designated one shirt to be the paint shirt, and I have a pair of my own old shorts that seem to fit well enough to get by. I forget how messy I am!

We went to a fun family picnic last night up north. The kids had tons of fun and I love anything that involves dinner already being ready. It was nice and relaxing and good to catch up with everyone. I miss our old ward sometimes but am grateful for the camaraderie our group of friends still has. The BBQ pork was lovely and hit the spot, and if I stand up after I eat, I don't get heartburn as easily, so that was really a plus to dinner in the park.

We did have a bit of a catastrophe last night after we got home though. We have a medicine cabinet on our bathroom wall that has decided to come off bit by bit, well the back separated from the frame last night and is now hanging from the wall all by itself. Poor Nate was dealing with this and seemed none to happy about it-who can blame him! Anyway, I think we may have to bring in some drastic measures and cut into dry wall at some point, we are giving each other a few days to think about it and come up with a rational solution. In the meantime, I really want to get the room switch done this week, and as much as I can unaided. I don't want to drag it out and be rushing around in the end here. If Jack's bed gets moved, I can get the paint on that wall done quickly, it's just that Jack's bed is very very very very heavy, and last time required three adults to manoeuvre it, so we will see, I need to find some helpful neighbors....

On another note, today is the first day of school. You would think that this being our third year, I wouldn't get so emotional about it. But summer really goes by too fast and I miss Jack and how helpful and sweet he is. I love that he loves school and really is excited about it though, I hope he has that his whole life. He gets out in about an hour and I can't wait to hear how his day went and what fabulous things he is going to get to do this year!

Downloading pics

So, I have a Kodak Easy share camera that I usually like quite a lot. But the past few times I have tried to hook it up to the computer and download pics, it won't let me!!! I usually have to spend an hour convincing the computer and the camera they are indeed connected and that they do have all the appropriate software to recognize one another. I am not sure if I rather try a new camera or a new computer at this point, but I just want to hit the easy button on the dock and see my pics, really is that too much to ask? It seems like peripherals really have not been perfected yet.

We had a busy week last week. We met Jack's new teacher on Friday, she is new, just out of college and seems really enthusiastic. He is really excited about his new classroom and all his new school supplies and such. I am so grateful he loves school and learning. It makes it much more fun that he wakes up every morning ready to go and excited about the day.

We are also in Jack's soccer season, which is a blast. Most of the girls on the team are a little bit bigger than the boys, they are at that age where they will be taller for the next few years. Anyway, everyone on his team seems really involved and into the game, which is fun to watch, though I also enjoy watching the kids who do cartwheels and sit down on the field, only when you are little can you get away with that. I think I just enjoy watching them play sports in general. And, after an hour of constant running, my does that kids sleep well-I love soccer!

I started the big room switch, I have moved out all the toys and painted some of the room. The window had a place that needed to be fixed, so I had to wait while my Spackle and sealant cured for 24 hrs. But I think I can finish it all up this week. I like the way the green is looking on the walls, and I can envision some other things I want to do. The blinds in all the bedrooms don't work well, so we bought one new set, and will probably buy another before this is all over. I was going to go for some very cool cordless blinds, but alas, out of budget for now. I need to get a new toy storage system for Jack. I have one picked out at IKEA, but need Nate's help to get it home, so he and I are planning to go. I also need a new shower curtain, some storage for under our bed and a few other odds and ends, so it will be a big trip. I am excited about finally doing something with the kids rooms, we lived in apartments too long I guess, I finally feel like I have permission to make permanent changes.

I quilted two baby quilts last week as well. I have finished binding one and need to start on the other. My list of to-do's is long and I see that time is getting short, so I suppose I need to kick it into high gear nesting mode to accomplish all I have planned. I have most of the stuff for Isabella's Halloween costume here, I just need to put it together. I just made Jack decide this weekend what he wants to be-army man, I need to go to an army/navy store and see what is available there, I can make some of the costume but not all. I am just relieved he has at last commited to something doable, his other choice was the solar system, which would have been creative and fun, but too dark for trick or treating, and too involved for a mama this pregnant.

August 12, 2007
Shopping
Last night was a huge sale at one of my favorite fabric stores, Pine Needles, in Gardner Village. I have been busy, so I wasn't sure I would make it, but had been planning on going. Last year, my SIL Jessica was here and we went with other SIL Alice and had a fabulous time. There was karaoke-yes I love karaoke-there were games and prized and all sorts of fun things. I was a bit nostalgic about it but knowing I was going alone and not planning on spending a lot of time didn't have too high of expectations. But when I got there the power went out! How is one supposed to pick out matching fabric in the dark!?! I wandered for a bit thinking it would come back on, but when it didn't, I headed out to Kohl's to do some school shopping.

The evening improved from there on out actually. I found tons of stuff on sale at Kohls for the kids this fall. I got Bella 2 pairs of shoes, both 70% off and Jack some jammies and shirts. And a few other odd and ends of outfits. They had a Colts jersey I really considered getting for Jack, he has been a Colts fan for the past two or three years and really wants a football jersey. I debated back and forth, so I still may, or I may save it for Christmas. Then I headed over to TJ Maxx and found an adorable outfit for baby girl and a sleeper, and some ballerina jammies for Bella. I also got some toys for their hospital bags and another long sleeved shirt for Jack. So overall, the evening went well considering the start it had. The kids despise school shopping with me. Jack is really getting to the age where he needs to come and try things on though. He is tall and skinny, so pants are a bit of a challenge, I am grateful for adjustable waists, and he is on the cusp of changing from the little boy sizes to the big boy sizes...sigh, how did he get so big so fast!

I didn't get home till kind of late which caused me to sleep in a bit this morning, that felt really nice, I have been up at 6 for days it seems. Only one more sharing time to go til this baby is born, I have been counting it that way, and I have a lot to do still. I am almost finished with her Halloween costume and blessing gown. I need to finish one of the quilts I have made for her and start on Jack and Bella's costumes though, and switch the kids rooms. If anything else, the time passes quickly and I never run out of things to do!

August 10, 2007

Well, I have a ton of stuff to do, I really need to get the kids rooms switched in the next few weeks. I have been chipping away at it, I think I just know it is going to be a couple of difficult days, so I am avoiding really doing it. And, I have begun a lot of sewing projects that I want to work on instead, so that is distracting me. Then of course the regular stuff I have to do like pay bills and the dishes, and the never ending laundry. I must say, I am enjoying the new washer and dryer, they work much faster than the old set, I don't even think I had noticed the old washer was slowing down, but it was.

The kids and I had a busy week. Tuesday, Jack had an appointment with a pediatric opthamalogist. He has a lazy eye that was diagnosed last year, but it has been there since birth. His eye doesn't drift or droop, so it's not what you would picture, and no one but a doctor would notice it. So he has been in glasses since last fall and we went to a follow up. The eye has improved a bit, he will still be in glasses for the next several years. The boy is so hard on glasses though, I am seriously contemplating putting him in goggles like Bono or something, I can't even mention how many times he came home from school with broken glasses last year. Anyway, the doc wants to see him again in 6 months. He looked at B and says she looks fine, but to have the new baby checked when she is 6 months old because it runs in families.

After the doctors appointment, we ran a few errands around Salt Lake. I still miss all my places I used to go when I lived up there. We found the brown minkee fabric I was looking for at fabric center on 90th. Jack spotted it and was very excited to drag me over to it. He does great shopping if he has a mission or knows what we are looking for, but if no list or just browsing, he is a terror.

Wednesday, I had a doc appt.. My friend Shelly watched the kiddos while I was there, no new info, all is well with me and baby.

After the appt. we took the kids to see Underdog. Totally a kids movie and they all enjoyed it very much, I almost fell asleep, but that seems to happen when ever I sit for more than a few minutes these days. It was a nice lazy day though, we relaxed and chatted and the kids played.

I found out today that fall swimming registration begins tomorrow, I really need to get the kids in. I have tried all summer and the levels they need are full, so wish me luck, I'll be up early tomorrow trying to get online and get it all in.

Tonight we are going to go watch Nate coach. I think he is really excited about and I am looking forward to seeing him in action. I feel so happy for him that he is getting to coach and do something he loves. He may be tired a bit more, but it's thus far worth it!