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!

growing up

This is how I know the boys are growing up....


A meatloaf that used to last our family two nights is now gone in one!

Same thing happens when I make chicken. I used to have enough left over for my lunch the next day. Not anymore. I guess it's time to start doubling my recipes. These boys are sure are hard to keep up with! I'm glad that they're such good eaters though...and that they like my cooking.

hidden talent

Coby gets out of school at 10:30. By 11:15 am, I had picked him up, run by the pharmacy to get Connor's asthma meds and taught Coby to ride his bike without training wheels...yep, all in 45 minutes. The teaching Coby to ride his bike without training wheels part...that was done on a whim and oh, so easy. And to think I was afraid he'd never learn! You see, Darren and I (OK, actually just Darren) took his training wheels off several months ago and Coby was just not ready. It was obvious pretty quickly, but we've been discussing trying again. I got tired of waiting for Darren to work with him so I thought to myself,

Why does it have to be a daddy thing? I can do this. I can teach him by the time Darren gets home from work tonight.

And indeed I did. Actually, I didn't really have to do much teaching. Coby exceeded all of my expectations and was riding on his own in just a few minutes. That's how it's supposed to work. He was ready this time! (But I'll just let Darren think I am a great teacher and that's why he learned so quickly. wink wink)

After riding up and down the street a few times, he was ready for lunch so we came in. I asked if he would like to call daddy and tell him his big news. Of course he did. So, Coby calls and says, "Daddy, I've got some great news. Mommy took off my training wheels and I did it. I can ride my bike now!" Darren sang Coby praises and then do you know what I overheard? "Hmmm... you mean mommy was able to take off your training wheels?" Oh, isn't he a funny, funny guy!?! Coby asked then if he'd like to talk to mommy and handed me the phone.

I was like isn't that great news? Can you believe it? Darren's response, "I don't know which is more impressive....that Coby learned to ride his bike or that you figured out how to take off the training wheels honey." I told him that I had no problems whatsoever taking them off once I found the right sized thangy. Oh, yes, I've got talent. I just don't let him know that I have a way with tools (aka thangys). That way he won't expect too much from me. I don't want to get stuck fixing broken toilets or anything. And that could happen if he knew how well I really know tools!

And it was a crescent wrench. I knew that. I just didn't want him to know that I know. You know?

why is it?

I'm wondering why it is that when Connor and Coby are doing this...

Cale is usually found doing this...

Did I mention that these were taken at 11 PM? And that bedtime is at 8! He is his father's son that's for sure....a true night owl. Luckily he keeps himself entertained for those three hours. Most of the time I don't even know he's still awake until I go into his room to drop off some laundry and he'll be doing some kind of "trick" in his bed. He'll proudly announce, "Look at what I can do!" Oh Cale, you are so much fun and always keep us on our toes!

one mommy is enough

I had had enough! That's what I was thinking when I got home from picking Connor up from school. The ride home was unnerving to say the least. I had absolutely positively had it and I needed a break! Of course, Coby and Cale were in my face asking for a snack the minute we walked thru the door. I told them that mommy needed some quiet time...a five minute break please. Then Connor, who had been in the bathroom washing his hands in preparation for his after school snack, came in and asked for a snack. Coby heard him and quickly told him, "Mommy said no, she needs some quiet time first."

A few minutes later, Connor comes and starts asking yet again. Coby (who was playing in his bedroom by then) hears Connor and shouts into the living room. "Connor, did you hear what just I told you? Mommy said NO, she needs a break." Connor looked at me and asked again. I responded, "Well, didn't you just hear Coby?" Finally, I (sort of) got my five minutes and then I was ready to be a mom again.

Fastforward half an hour...Cale took one of Coby's lincoln logs. Naturally, Coby told him to give it back. Cale, being Cale, made a run for it. Coby chased him around the house for a while. Eventually I hear Coby say, "Cale, give it to me now...Cale!...5, 4, 3....."

I think Coby has been around me too much. He's starting to use my tactics. He'll learn soon enough that they just don't work...especially with Cale. I'm still trying to figure out what works with that one!

wanting something

Tonight at dinner Connor told me that I should open a store. When I asked him what kind of store, he told me I should open a restaurant with old fashioned cooking because my chicken is soooo good. Now that's funny! I've never been known for my cooking, but I will admit that I've been making more effort in the kitchen over the last few months. I've been trying lots of new recipes and it was nice to know that someone appreciates my effort. Truth be told, I just think that Connor wants something. Now I just sit back and wait for him to reveal what it is he wants. I'm sure that will happen soon enough. Until then, I'll just happily accept the compliment and consider the swiss stuffing chicken a keeper....and start pondering names for my new restaurant.

parrot

I'm about to share something that I'm not overly proud to share as it is probably a poor reflection on me and was the result of bad parenting moment. However, I feel that it is just too funny not to share.

Cale was in the boys' bathroom waiting to be wiped (sorry, is that TMI?) and I had to run to the half bath to grab some flushable wipes. All of the sudden I hear Cale yell, "mommy, you get your butt in here." Huh? I couldn't believe my ears and thought where in the world did he hear such a thing? Then, I remembered the moment about a month ago when out of shear frustration I told Connor to get his butt in here! I regretted saying it immediately and really felt bad when Connor said, "mommy, you just taught me a bad word!"

So, Cale learned it from me. Lovely! I was so ashamed. I don't think butt is a bad word per se, but it is a word that I don't want want coming our of my children's mouths. Yes, I have double standards. I just try not to say it in front on my kids and now I know why. We have a parrot in the house and his name is Cale.

The irony here is that over the past week Cale has gotten on to me for using what he thinks are bad words. You want to know what they were? I said dumb, stupid, rediculous, and oh my gosh. I have a dirty mouth indeed!