show us where you live Friday: kids' room edition

I am joining Kelly of Kelly's Korner again this week for Show Us Where You Live Friday. This week we are sharing share kids' rooms/nurseries. Kelly started Show Us Where You live Friday, which is where bloggers link tours of a particular room of their home each week to Kelly's blog. It's sort of a bloggy Parade of Homes and I've got so many fun ideas from the home tours. This week I am really going to be in search of ideas since the boys' rooms are an area of the home that I haven't put much time or effort into since we moved in.

Welcome to the rooms of our little men, I'll go from my oldest son's room to the

youngest.

This is the hallway that leads to Connor's room. There is a coat closet directly across from his door in this small hallway.

Connor's room

view from hallway

built-in desk and bookshelves which holds his prized possessions

view when standing by his desk

this hallway leads to Coby and Cale's rooms

Coby's room

view when entering Coby's room

My friend, Julie, gave me a twin bed that I am going to paint navy blue so this bed will soon be out of here and will move into Cale's room. I am also going to paint his armoire (which I didn't get in the photo) and his nightstand navy blue. I am trying to get the Pottery Barn Kids look while maintaining a budget. :)

One of these patches came from an old uniform of my husbands and the rest are some that my hubby's dad collected from other agencies over the years. Since Coby also wants to be a policeman when he grows up, I thought he'd enjoy having these patches in his room. I used an old frame and some scrapbook paper and had instant wall decor. There are several of these hanging in his room, but I think this is the only one in the pics.

Cale's room

view upon entering the room (and yes, the walls in here are pretty bare. I've been looking, but just can't find what I want to hang in here yet)

there are lots of toys taking up space in here and I wouldn't have it any other way. it is almost always a disaster in Cale's room, but I'm just glad he likes to play in there.

Thanks for stopping by! Now I'm off to check out everyone else's blogs so I can get some great ideas to steal for my boys rooms. HAPPY FRIDAY!!

sing with me: school's out for summer

I can't believe that the boys are already out for summer break! It has been a crazy busy couple of weeks and I think I am ready for a break from driving to and from school three times a day...and to be honest, I'm going to enjoy the break from school activities too. Now were just down to baseball games and golf lessons. That I can handle. Here's some of what we've been up to as the school year came to a close....

Kindergarten had a letter parade. Coby was K for Kick.

Next, Kindergarten had beach day.

Connor had his first two baseball games of the season. A good time was had by all.

Connor's class put on a set of plays for parents to come watch on the last day of school.

Lastly, the Kindergarteners had a picnic on the front lawn.

WOW! We've had lots of fun over the last few weeks, but we're ready to enjoy our summer. I just about went into shock when I realized I am the mom of a preschooler, a 1st grader and a 4th grader. How can it be? I cannot wrap my mind around the face that my first born is in the fourth grade. Unbelievable!

conversations with the boys

~Last week Coby and a friend were playing with a roly-poly. In typical boy-fashion Coby was quickly bored with it and asked his friend if he should kill it. (Nice, I know!) Coby's friend responded, "You can't kill it, you never know when they'll become extinct!" I just thought that was so, so cute!! That's exactly what I was thinking...you just never know when roly-poly's will be in jeopardy of extinction. There seems to be a great volume of them in our parts, but still one never knows. Plus, the roly-poly is one of the few bugs you can hold without concern over being bitten by it or it flying away. They provide good clean fun and hours of entertainment!

~On Saturday evening after a long day of outdoor play, I told Cale it was time to come in and take a bath. He informed me that he did not need a bath because "I'm all squeaky clean!" (Trust me, he wasn't!)

~After some convincing, I talked Cale into a much needed bath and told him that he could take one with me. When I told him it we were done and needed to get out, he started pouring his water on me. I asked him what that was for. He said, "You'ne (he says you'ne instead of you're) being annoying mommy!" I guess he was annoyed that I was making him get out of the tub that he didn't want to get into in the first place. Boys!!!

~Cale and I were discussing boys and girls and differences, etc. I was asking what I was? A girl. Coby? A boy! Connor? A boy. Daddy? He's a carpethead! Then after thinking for a minute he said, "He's a man." ha! Darren has really thick hair and when it is not "fixed" I tell him it looks like he has carpet on his head. I guess I better watch what I say in front of the boys. They don't miss a thing....especially Cale. He is always listening and absorbing everything we say, just like a little sponge!

I haven't had much to blog about this week. We've been busy wrapping up the end of the school year and Darren's been off so we've been enjoying our time together as a family. I still can't believe we are entering our last week of school. For the millionth time I ask, WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

mother's day

So, today is Mother's Day and I wanted to wish my mom a happy Mother's Day. You are the best mom ever and I am so thankful for our friendship! I hope you have a wonderful day!

As for my Mother's Day, Darren is working so I am spending the day at home with my little fellas. Last night, however, Darren loaded up the boys after dinner and headed to Target. I knew why they were going. I mean really, it's not every day that D loads the boys up and takes them all with him to the store without me. I had to laugh as they were getting ready to go out to the garage and Coby came back in to get his Batman cape. He asked me to tie it on. I happily obliged and could see the look on Darren's face. It was one of embarassment. I knew exactly what he was thinking. I said, "Do you know how many times I've been out shopping with the boys in their Superman or Batman capes? Don't worry about it. You'll get lots of knowing glances from other mothers, who have themselves been there." After a while, I told him, you just get used to it and you won't feel embarassed anymore...you'll just think it's adorable. The funny part is that when Darren was little he wore his Superman cape everywhere and his mom didn't mind a bit. In fact, the Superman cape the boys wear is the same one that daddy wore at that age. I love it!!

When the boys got home, Cale came racing through the door and told me "I got you a blue candle. I got you an itty bitty blue candle (he had a HUGE proud smile on his face)! Do you like blue?" Darren looked at Cale and reminded him he wasn't supposed to tell, but Darren told me he knew who he was dealing with and knew that Cale would tell as soon as they walked in the door. Coby was devastated that Cale told. Then, later Coby was talking about how it was supposed to be a surprise for tomorrow (which is today) and that he wasn't going to tell what all they picked out for me. Then, in the same breath, he said "We got you sour patch kids and I like them and I really wish I could have some." ha So much for surprises!! I haven't received my Mother's Day gift just yet, but I think I just might know what I'm getting! ;)

After the boys fell asleep last night I went into Cale's room and cried and cried. I was just thinking about how sweet they all were when they got home from the store and how proud and cute they all were. For some reason, it has really hit me lately how fast they are all growing up and with Cale especially it is really bothering me. He is my baby, my last one and I love this age. I don't want it to end. I want to soak it all up while I can. He is so challenging, but it is so fun to see the world through a three year olds eyes...everything is exciting and new and he just loves so unconditionally. Time, stand still. These boys are just growing up way too fast. I am just so very thankful that I was given the opportunity to be a mother to these precious little men. So many women never get the chance to experience motherhood and I just feel so blessed that God trusted me with His children three times over.

Happy Mother's Day!

show us where you live Friday: living room edition

Welcome back! It's week two of "Show us Where You Live Friday" that Kelly of Kelly's Korner started. This week we are sharing our living rooms with each other. Be sure and stop by Kelly's for a list of home tours as there are some amazing homes out there. I am getting lots of great ideas for my home...now I just need the money to do some shopping!

Our living room is just that...the place where we truly do most of the living in this house. Everything in it has to be comfortable. We bought our home less than a year ago (it was a spec home so we didn't build it, but it was new). I love the size of our living room, but would love to paint it a darker shade and also do something different with the fireplace. I think I'd like to replace the brick with rock and paint the mantel a distressed black. Until then, I just decorate around it. I almost didn't want the house because of the fireplace, but in the end, the house was just a perfect fit for our family.

The above picture is the view of the living room from the entryway and the pic below shows both the living room and the "piano" room view from the entryway.

This is the view from the "piano" room.

Wow, I think I need to get out the windex and clean all of my mirrors! I didn't realize how dusty/smudgy they are.

This is the room that we named the "piano" room. It is supposed to be the formal dining room, but we just aren't formal people and prefer to eat at our kitchen table. So, we decided to turn it into a room that we could actually use. We pulled the hanging light fixture up toward the ceiling and turned this room it into an extension of the living room. We needed a place for the piano which was the piano my parents had when I was growing up. Darren loves to play, so they passed it on to us.

Thanks for stopping by our home! I'm not sure what we're sharing next week. I don't think Kelly has made that announcement yet!? Have a great Friday!

zoo field trip

Yesterday Cale, mom and I went on a field trip to the zoo with the Kindergarten classes. When we got to the zoo it was rainy and cool and by the time we left it was warm and humid. We were glad the field trip was over by noon! We had a lot of fun though and didn't have any kids in our group other than Coby. The parental involvement at our school is phenomenal so it is rare to have more than one extra kiddo in a group (many times I don't have any children other than my own). Mom and I enjoyed being able to explore with just Coby and Cale and not having anyone else to worry about.






The boys and I had been to the zoo the previous week with cousin Madison and the boys mostly wanted to re-visit all of the animals from the week before. We realized that going to the zoo when it opens at 9 am is the best time to go. All of the animals were out either lounging or wandering about right in front of the fence so we had a close up of all of them. The boys loved it and so did I. Except for the lions. I did not like their close proximity to us and the eye contact they were making with me just about sent me over the edge. I have always been terrified of animals. All animals. Even dogs, cats and birds terrify me. So you can just imagine how I feel about being up close and personal with lions.

Connor's track meet has been postponed due to the rain and is now scheduled for next Monday. I think I'll go buy a hoola hoop so he can practice between now and then. I still don't know what he was thinking! If you don't know what I'm talking about, read about the track meet here. It should be very intesting and is certain to make for some great pictures!

blah!

Today I have the blahs! It has been raining for days and I am so ready for it to stop.

I'm also feeling really stupid today. I paid my mortgage payment online last week and noticed that the bank hadn't posted my payment yet, but that the payment was posted on our mortgage immediately. After giving it three days to post I finally called the bank where our loan is at and casually mentioned that I noticed my payment was posted there, but that for some reason my bank account wasn't reflecting the payment yet. On a whim, I asked what the bank account number was that I used. I was off one number!! I sure hope it is not someone's account. I repaid it today with our real checking account number (I triple checked myself) and all is well on our end, but I am worried sick that someone out there is going to have our mortgage payment withdrawn from their account. Oh, I pray that the account number I gave is non-existent. I feel like such a moron!

After I got the mortage situation squared away, I headed out for lunch and shopping with my mom. I always enjoy our time together. Unfortunately while I was out, Darren called me to let me know that Coby has developed some kind of tic. I thought something seemed a little off with Coby last night, but I got distracted before I had time to figure out what was going on with him (by the way...it was D's 32nd birthday yesterday!). So, I asked what Coby was doing and Darren said he was heavily blinking every 5-10 seconds and when Darren asked Coby if he could help it, he told him he couldn't that he was probably just tired. When I got home, I didn't comment to Coby about it at all, but as I watched him he would blink three times in quick succession while moving his neck to the side with an almost grimace on his face. Ugh! Darren had already researched it while I was out and said that it is best for us not to bring his attention to it and that it will likely go away in time. In the meantime there is nothing we can do to help him. Poor little guy. I hate seeing him like that, but you know what, I don't think he even knows it is happening. For that I am grateful.

Sorry for the downer post, I'll try to be more chipper next time! Tomorrow I'm off to the zoo for a field trip (Coby's). The boys and I haven't been to the zoo since last week! After that Connor has a track meet I'd like to go to. He is running the (something, maybe 50 or 100?) yard dash and doing the hoola hoop. And no, he doesn't know the first thing about hoola hooping. ME: Why did you sign up for that Connor? You don't know how to hoola hoop. CONNOR: "Well, no one knows how and I knew that someone needed to do it. I just don't want anyone to feel left out." Hmmm, this should be very interesting! I wouldn't miss it for anything. Plus, it's not supposed to rain all day tomorrow (but possibly off and on). That will be a nice change....except it's supposed to be hot and humid. But I'm not complaining. Not me, not at all. Especially not today.

Edited to add: It's now Wednesday afternoon and the "tic"seems to be gone. No signs of anything abnormal with Coby all day! Hooray!

show us where you live Friday: kitchen edition

I'm really excited to join the Show Us Where You Live Friday tour of homes that Kelly over at Kelly's Korner started. It's kind of a bloggy Parade of Homes. I've always loved it when people display their homes on blogs as it is such a great way to get fun decorating ideas. The first edition is the kitchen tour (and yes, it is Saturday, not Friday, but goodness the boys have kept me busy and I'm just now getting to it...I'll be on time next week, I promise!) Be sure and look at Kelly's blog for all the links to others kitchens...there are some gorgeous kitchens out there! So, without further a due, welcome to our kitchen....

view from breakfast bar

This is where the boys eat breakfast every morning.

The hand towel hanging on the oven changes with the seasons.

Doesn't everyone have a race car spatula? What? They don't?

My brother and sister-in-law got me this canister a few years ago. It's my favorite thing in the kitchen.

I made this frame out of some scrap ribbon and an old picture frame I had on hand.

eating area (the blinds are always open in the daytime, but were closed here as I took the pics at 10 pm)

This is where we eat all of our meals as a family (minus breakfast)

Thanks for stopping by! Next week will be the living room edition. Neither the kitchen or the living room are my favorite room of the house...Oh, I just can't wait 'til we get to my favorite! You'll have to wait and see what it is. My lips are sealed!