Too Many Ideas, Too Little Time

I tend to overwhelm myself with ideas of projects that I want to get done. Whether you live in a brand new house or a 50 year old house like mine, it's hard not to let the wheels turn and start dreaming. I wish that I had more time and energy ideally without kids running around. It's so very easy for me to get overwhelmed.

For example, this is what I have running around my head today.

• Laundry, laundry, laundry! The laundry room is now like the grand mountains of Utah and not the rolling, flat plains it should be.
• Cleaning of course. It's a never-ending given.
• Ordering business cards.
• Paint the mantel downstairs.
• Paint the mirror for the mantel. (Which BTW, I started on Saturday and then it snowed. Wah!)
• Work on the never-ending-because-it's-never-really-started-and- worked-on bathroom spruce up that I can't stop thinking about.
• Maybe actually finish painting my kitchen from a really, really long time ago.
• The upcoming boutique and all the stuff that I need to make for it.
• Not knowing how much to make for the boutique.
• Curtains for my bedroom.
• Whole look for my bedroom.
• How 'bout just getting my bedroom cleaned?
• Oh, and can't forget the kids!
• Etc,etc,etc,etc.........

Cute Layla form The Lettered Cottage (love!) had the best post about her Ta-Dah list. I love this girl style and she wrote about how easily it is to get overwhelmed by the amount of remodeling that she wants to do. So, instead of focusing on what she has left to do, she started focusing on what she has done. Her list is impressive. Mine? Well...

• Kids are still alive and kicking. Feed too. Other than the fact that Mia's three pairs of pants have been buried in the avalanche called the the laundry room, she is still relatively dressed acceptable.
• I have painted most of the house by myself. That's a pretty big task!
• I have made and sold well over 150 tassels since November.
• Been making a list to get done for the boutique and cards in the process of getting done.
• The bathroom is clean.
• The laundry is going.
• The bedroom can wait. I don't want to put up just anything. I want something that I love. And Ryan likes too.

That is something and today, that is what I am trying to focus on and not let myself get overwhelmed. Layla's post has stuck in my mind for the last few weeks and her quote was good too.

"Be happy with where you are and, at the same time, eagerly and optimistically anticipate the thrill of the next great adventure." - Kate Corbin

Here's to being more content!

Ode to Dishwasher

Dear Dishwasher,

I love you so much. You are so reliable and quiet. I can always count on you to do your job without having to be told more than once. You help keep the counter and the sink clean making the whole kitchen feel cleaner giving me that nice serene feeling of order in a home that has none.

Thank you for coming to live with us. Thank you for doing the dirty work that used to take me three times longer than it does now. Thanks to you, I now have an extra 30 minutes to my day. I may have to buy more glass dishes to fill your big belly up since we often run out of dishes before you are full. And dear sweet dishwasher, any excuse to go shopping is a good one in my book. :)

With all my love,

Megan

Point for Dad

Rock star Daddy scored big points tonight! I came home from work to find the kids up late playing. He bought them an air hockey table and the season finale of Clone Wars was on and he bought them chocolate milk.

Heaven they say.

I don't know why nights with me aren't so fun. We have a fun night of making them clean up and do homework.

I can't compete. I admit complete defeat.

SALE!

Be sure to check out my Etsy shop for some markdown tassels. Perhaps you could get one to use next year. Maybe you just love hearts. Whatever the reason, go check it out.

Dear Sama-lama-ding-dong,

This morning I laughed while I watched you enjoy your bowl of vanilla yogurt with tortilla chips. That's something that your Papa would do. He always had a knack with coming up with unusual and often unappetizing combinations. I have vivid memories of him eating a bowl of chili with popcorn on top as we watched him eat with various degrees of disgust and entertainment.

Silly Sam. You kept telling me how good it was, just like your Papa would. Your eyes are blue just like his and your middle name is his. And even though there are 70+ years between the two of you, I think you two look alike.

Love,

Mama

Hot Rod Mama

This girl taught me how to ride a motorcycle and I LOVED it! I rode up and down the street shivering cold, laughing so hard my eyes were tearing up and had a huge perma-grin on my face. It was awesome!! Kem was laughing just as hard as I was, especially when I stalled it and couldn't get it started again then tipped over her bike. That was the highlight of the entertainment that I brought to the neighborhood that day. Wouldn't you love to watch some silly girl laughing hard like an idiot, riding a bike around?

I'm cool. I can (sorta) ride a dirt bike now.

Memories of a typical Sunday evening

It's no secret that I love to play games. And I love to play games with my kids, especially Jake. He's old enough to play games that I like and because he's Mr. Smart-tay pants, he picks up fast. Also, he can rock a mean guitar on Guitar Hero.

Last night, at our weekly-ish gathering at the in-laws, Jacob, Mia, Sam, Gram and I played Mexican Train. Jake, a pretty good opponent while Mia chooses her team member according to who is doing best loving to match the tiles for you. Sammy making towers with the tiles while Gram and I laugh. All together, playing games and having fun.

I am imagine that years down the line that they will remember the good ol' days sitting around Grams' table playing Mexican Train. Chompin' on snacks imprinting their tiles with Dorito dusted fingers. And hopefully, just hopefully, still loving to play Mexican Train with their Gram and their Mama after all those years. This is just one of many memories made on a cold Sunday night with their Grandma that loves them to the moon and back.

Picture obviously not from a cold Sunday night in March.

{PS: Gram, I need pictures from you digital camera on my computer. :)}

Update

So turns out that Samalicious has the stomach flu. Hmm..Samalicious and stomach flu in the same sentence just doesn't seem right. That would suggest that the situation would be somewhat delicious. While Sammy is, the stomach flu is not.

I took him to the doctor this afternoon after a scare of finding vomited blood on him this morning. Poor little guy can't stand up and is all shaky and can't stay awake more than a 1/2 hour. He put on a good show in the doctors office by vomiting the water he just drank across the room.

The doctor decided to watch him day by day and if he was to vomit or have another bad diaper to take him to the ER for fluids. Of course, he threw up as soon as I left for work. The doctor told Ryan to give him Gatorade and see if would keep it down. Sam wouldn't wake up enough to take it. Talk about scary! Thankfully, I work with some great women and was able to cover the last two hours of my shift. I was able to get Sam to wake up and we went for a nice brisk walk around the neighborhood.

After coming home, he had some food for the first time in three days. So far so good. It hasn't come back up yet. So here's hoping and praying that the night will be good and we will be turning a corner for the better.

Poor little Sammy. It's hard to see him so sick.

Sick Kids

Sick kids are always so sad. Started with Mia on Sunday night and she was down for two days sleeping it off. Then poor Sammy caught it. I think that he took a swig of her drink. He's been so sad and quiet. He's either being held or sleeping the last two days. So sad to see them fallen asleep where they sit.

Poor Sammy is really going to have a hard time when Ryan goes back to work. Sam's been Ryan's little shadow these past two weeks. Only Daddy will snuggle with him to sleep in the middle of the day. Mama is going to miss Ryan being home too. It's been nice to have an extra set of arms to help with the kids, to run errands alone and stay home with them when they are sick so I can go to my sister's party. Thanks honey.

Happy Birthday Kaylin!!

And a quick Happy Birthday shout out to my favorite hair dresser, niece extraordinaire, cutest little pregnant girl you have ever seen. Love you lots!

And why do I not have a picture of you?? I might have to steal on off your blog. :)

Project install dishwasher complete.

Meet the new hired help. My neighbor Kem came by to congratulate us on our new addition. She's fun like that.

I know, I know. A dishwasher? Not that exciting but it is very exciting when you haven't had a dishwasher for three years! In fact, in the ten years that we have been married, we have only had a dishwasher for four years of it.

To get a dishwasher put in it required more work then we thought. First of all, it was a solid bank of custom built cabinets. The cabinet had to be reworked. Then the electrical had to be redone. Then the easiest part, the plumbing. After all the bids I got, we lucked out on finding the right contractor for us right in our own neighborhood. Right in our own ward. I found him when he came over to give me a new calling. A new calling and a dishwasher. Sounds great to me!

All the workers were great! They were friendly and quick and by the end of the day, we had ourselves a new dishwasher. Lucky for us, we didn't have to replace the counter tops since they had a fairly large (and odd) overhang on that side. It looks better than it did before. Like it has always been there. Love that! I bought a white dishwasher even though I really wanted the stainless steel one, but, all of our appliances are fairly new so really, it would never match.

Tonight, it took it's maiden voyage. Ryan and I stood hand in hand as we watched our baby take it's first steps. So quiet and lovely. We are so proud and I am very thankful. Thank you honey Ryan!

Now, on to the next project. The FLOOR! Washable, easy to clean floor. Then the backsplash and maybe some bead board, a new pendant light, repaint and finish painting from the first time around, a window covering and paint the kitchen table and chairs oh and new countertops would be nice. And also a built in microwave while we are talking. (Sorry hon, I know my list drives you bonky. Still love ya!)

Happy Birthday Teryn!!

Happy Birthday to my favorite designing sister of mine! You are so much fun to be with and so much help and support to me. Your warmth and love radiates from you. I love your tender heart and genuine concern. Thank you for being such a great example to me and for being a fabulous sister!

Tonight, she had a the best surprise birthday party. Her husband had it all worked out and had Teryn completely surprised. They were on their way to dinner in Salt Lake when a worried "neighbor" called to tell them that the water was flooding basements in the neighborhood and that they better get back and check their basement fast. Teryn was so panicked about her basement that she didn't even notice us sitting in the dark. She was standing arms length out from Dan looking at the carpet. Finally, Dan said "Boo!" and it scared her right down to her knees. It was great!! We all laughed so hard we cried.

We enjoyed a catered dinner and cupcakes, a birthday game that Cort made for Teryn and lots of laughter. It was wonderful!!

So Happy 50th Birthday to my sweet sister Teryn! You don't look 50 and I say that 50 is the new 40.

Lots of hugs and kisses! Meg