WFMW...Returning Items to Friends.

Here's my WFMW tip....and thanks to We Are That Family for the Linky Party!

We have a very handy set of hooks hanging on the wall next to our garage door.  When I have an item (book, toy, etc.) I need to pass on to a friend or return to the store, I place it in a grocery sack and hang it on a hook.  There is one little problem-o with this system.  I can't see what's in the bag to know where it needs to go.

So I grabbed one of my new little organizers from Ikea and threw in a stapler, some note cards, and a sharpie.  Now when I put the item to be returned in the bag, I label the outside using the cards.

Now I know exactly what needs to go where and the cards are a reminder that something needs to be taken with me.  Problem-o solved!

Dining Room to Play Room Transformation

Here is a picture of my Dining Room.

I loved how this space looked.  I didn't love that it never got used.  Who wants to feed a toddler on carpet and white upholstered chairs (that you can't afford to recover).  Not me, so much.

Seriously, we ate in here a couple times a year.  It was also a much too convenient place to keep my laptop plugged in so I could "quickly" check email, blogs, coupon sites etc. 

Our home is just right for us...but I need to make use of every single inch of it!

So, we decided to turn it into a playroom. 

It is still a work in progress...but I love that it gets used so much!  We do school time in here some days, and Wook loves to play in here and still be close to where all the action is.

Our old dining room hutch makes a great place to store toy bins!!!

The coffee table was my parents from a LONG time ago.  It has quite a few love marks, so I don't get upset when it gets "loved" on by Wook.  The middle piece slides open and closed and houses puzzles.  The bulletin boards have come in really handy for posting Wook's favorite crafties!

I don't even care that it is the first thing you see when you walk in our front door...toys strewn about and all.  It is a PLAY ROOM.  That's what it's for. :)

Office to Nursery Transformation

Sadly, my hubby lost his Man-Space a few months ago.  This was also used as our "We Don't Know Where To Keep This" room.  

P.S. My hubby is naturally super organized...he's helped me come a LONG way from when we first met!  And I have taught him that it is ok to throw/get rid of SOME things (like dead batteries and twist ties and cardboard boxes)
His Man Room was never this messy...it became this way after we decided to turn it into a nursery and moved most of his stuff out and the nursery stuff in.  This entire process has taken MONTHS just because we (I) kept junking it up, over and over again.!!!

 I am so proud of our Nursery Transformation!!!  We worked long and hard to go through so much stuff.  We purged and organized.  We sold MULTIPLE pieces of furniture, and cleaned the carpets and walls, and of course set everything up for our new little one...who should be here in two weeks!

This is the same bedding we used for Wook.  We picked it out before we knew what we were having.  The changing table was $10 at a garage sale and in way better shape than our old one. 

We had a double bed in here, but sold i,t and pulled a twin out of the attic.  I love the smaller bed because it allows for so much more floor space than Wookie had in his nursery.  Hopefully I can manage to keep from junking it up in the next two weeks!!!

Whatever You Want To Call Them

So my hubby introduced me to "Egg In Toast" when we first got married.
I thought they were fabulous!  Having them for dinner...genius!

I ran across a pic of them on a recipe blog the other day and they were called "Peek-A-Boo" eggs.  This is a much more appropriate name when feeding them to a toddler.

Here's a pic of ours...not the fanciest dinner but super yummy when served with fruit!

I just cut a hole in the bread.  You can use any shape cookie cutter, or just use a glass, like me.
I then place the bread on a greased griddle or frying pan.
Crack and egg into the middle of each piece.
Fry it up, and flip when it is cooked to your liking.
I then cover it with the toasted circles I previously cut...ya know, for the Peek-A-Boo part.

Well, I don't care what you want to call them.  The make an easy and pleasing dinner for my guys!

Man Legs, and Pee-Pee Pants

Well there are a mere four weeks between now and the time I will hold our new little one.

For the most part, I have had a pretty uneventful pregnancy.  It has been a lot like my pregnancy with Wookster.  When I was pregnant with him, I was teaching full time.  I kept on trucking all the way up until two day before my c-section at 41+ weeks!  I don't think I noticed some of the pregnancy issues, due to being so busy, having to get full dressed and dolled up each morning, and worrying about my 20 kiddos.

I really can't complain this time either, but for a minute I'm gonna.

There are just a few things I miss.

1.  Having smooth, shaven legs.  My leg hairs are BAD.  Its just laziness keeping me from shaving them ...and that feeling that your guts are gonna pop into your throat when you bend over.  My OB suggested that my hubby do it for me.  We both broke into absolute hysterics.  He grows nearly no facial hair and uses an electric razor, and I think we both pictured my legs covered in bloody nicks and tiny pieces of toilet paper.  Needless to say, they will get a little attention before I go to the hospital.

2.  My belly button.  This pregnant one is scary and whenever it peeps out, Wook tries to push it back in.  He's making it his little life's mission.

3.  Getting down on the floor  and up again without a great deal of assistance, or grunting.

4.  Sleeping through the night.  Do I really need to pee 7 times through the night.  And most of the time after I go, I stand up and go all over my pajama pants.  Sometimes I change them, sometimes I don't.  Just sayin'!  I am starting to feel bad for potty trainers around the world.  Wet pants are no laughing matter.

5. Coffee in the morning.  I have never been a multi-cup drinker, but I do love my one faithful cup in the morning.  When I am pregnant, I can't stand it!  It tastes like dirt.  It smells like dirt.  The thought of it touching my lips makes me want to barf.  So hot tea it has been...but its just not the same.


I can't wait to meet our new baby boy.  He will be so very worth all of the above.  He is an active little stinker.  I guess I can thank my ever weakening abdominal muscles for the blessing of ALL his kicks and punches to the ribs!

Get Real!!!

I came across a blog post today that I really needed to read.  I really needed reminding.  I really needed to recommit myself to something I discovered a year ago.  I ask you first to read it here.   Her name is Katie and she has no idea the inspiration she gives me.  I also love love love her menu planning blog  Meal Planning Mommies that she hosts with several other moms.  The recipes are easy and so yummy!

So hopefully you have read her Behold the Mom post now, and you will understand what I am talking about.

About a year ago I really struggled with juggling a toddler and keeping my home clean, oh and also keeping us fed.  I was mortified when someone dropped by unannounced.  When said unannounced family or friend dropped by, I opened the door and uttered something along the lines of what Katie said in her post....

"Hi. Welcome! I am so sorry the house is a mess, we have had a crazy day and there was just no time to pick it up. I am so embarrassed."  

Actually, I just cleaned the house in a huge hurry and sacrificed time with my children, yelled at them even for getting in the way when I could have been loving on them, but I don't want you to know that. I want you to think that I have it all together, that on top of being able to parent, have hobbies, and tutor your kid I also can keep a immaculate house. I want you to think that I am amazing and I want you to like me. Somehow if my house is clean, but I pretend that I think it is dirty you will think I am one heck of a gal and like me.

Could not have said it better myself, Katie!

I got better.  I started leaving the laundry basket full of clean but unfolded clothes on the couch.  I started leaving the dishes in the sink.  I started letting my house be lived in, and liking it.  

I stopped assuming that if the house were not perfectly picked up when my hubby got home, he would think I had been taking day-long bubble baths and watching soaps!  I stopped apologizing for being me, since I didn't mean it anyway.  

Now don't get me wrong.  I pick up.  I just don't necessarily do it any more just because someone is coming over.  I started giving myself permission to Get Real!

Well, here was my favorite part of her post.

I want you to find freedom, true freedom. This is found in Jesus Christ. What he did, he did for you. Within his heart, bared and open and hiding nothing, can be found one prevailing thing of which he carries no shame~ love abounding for you and me. Behold HIM.

Halloween 2010

Here are a few pics of Halloween this year.

First we headed to our church's carnival.  Wook woke up on the WRONG side of the toddler bed and was insisting that he did not want to go.  He kept this up all the way until we pulled in the parking lot where he spied the bouncy house.  All was right with the day!

The youth ministry organized the carnival, and  I thought this was an awesome idea.  We have a great group of middle and high school kids, and they always set a great example for the little ones.

  Jeremy almost won a cake in the cake walk.  This was not your ordinary cake walk!  It was a much more competitive version.  Think musical chairs with elbows and our pastor hitting the floor.  Wish I had pictures of that!

Next we headed off the a friends neighborhood for trick-or-treating.  I was amazed at all the parents who literally drove their kids driveway to driveway.  Heaven forbid the kids walked!!

Wook was a cowboy this year.  He was decked out in his Daddy's cowboy hat and holster set from a college costume.  Memories.

It was a fun night, and Wook was super excited about the two trick-or-treaters he got to give candy to when we got home.

Here is his pic from his first Halloween two years ago....we kinda started a tradition with the porch and pumpkins last year.  Wow he is growing up!