We've Been Busy

The To Do list is getting shorter...sort of. It seems as we finish one house project another gets added to the list. Here are a few pictures of our most current project: painting the living room, dining room and entry way. We've also been adding new baseboard as we go along. As well as, working on figuring out what pictures we want to hang up and where. It is a slow process, but each day it feels more and more like our house.

Shane is all about hands on with each project.

Baby #2 Update

My 16 week visit to the OB was today. Brought my little buddy Shane along. He did fantastic. We heard the heart beat, I'm up 10 lbs total (already!) and my belly is measuring 17 inches (just a tad bigger then "normal").

That is about all until the big June 28th appointment when we find out if it is a boy or girl!!! Counting down the days until that visit.

Wordless Wednesday

OBSESSED

Menu Monday

Monday -- leftovers from last night: Spaghetti and salad

Tuesday -- Lasagna Soup (never made it last week and dying to try it)

Wednesday -- leftovers

Thursday -- something with the tons of potatoes we still have....

Friday -- leftovers

Saturday -- Camping for Memorial Day weekend in Sequim

Sunday -- Mema and Papa's house.

The Garden

After a few weeks of working on it, the garden is finally completed. Kenny is still working on the walkways, but other then that, everything is in the ground. The weather has been so hit and miss it took longer then we had expected it to take.

I didn't get a before picture, but basically this side portion of the yard had nothing it it. Just weeds and dirt. We built the 4x4 beds.

We have 6 strawberry plants, 2 rows of cucumbers (they aren't looking so great right now), 5 cherry tomato plants of various varieties, 2 rows of broccoli (Kenny's request), 4 lettuce plants, 2 rows of carrots, 2 rows of sugar snap peas, and the last box that looks empty has pumpkins in it (we'll see how that goes).

We have had a couple issues with the dogs getting into the boxes. Dodger is in love with the smell of compost. I'm hoping with time they'll become less interested in it. Dodger is pretty much the reason the cucumber plants aren't looking so good. He has stomped on them a few to many times.

Craft Club

This weekend we had our monthly craft club. We made soap, a brand new experience for me. It was a lot of fun and super easy. Who knew!! Thanks Julie J. for hosting.

I made 3 bars of soap for Shane. He is obsessed with soap in the bathtub right now. Most of them are still wrapped and waiting to become surprises as he earns them. But, this one he got today. You can pretty much put anything in soap. I "hide" a little duckie in this bar and the bottom and sprinkles in it. Lots of fun in the tub!

Poor Pup Pups

Ever since we brought Sadie Rose home over 5 years ago she has had a handful of names, but Pup Pups was one of her main nicknames. She was 1 when we got her from the rescue and so puppy like still. The name just stuck. Now as a 6 year old we've laughed because we still call her that. Shane will even tell you that "Mommy calls DeDe Pup Pups".

Most of her life with us she has ran with Kenny. Any where from 4-5 days a week. In the last few recent months she has had a really hard time on the runs that once were so easy for her. She started to stop half way through them. Kenny adapted by bringing her home in the middle of the run so she could at least get some exercise in. She just loves it and knows exactly what is happening when Kenny gets ready to walk out the door to run.

This morning she stopped half through her half run. Poor Pup Pups is going to have to be officially retired from running. We've also decided we need to change her nickname to Old Lady Sadie.

She doesn't appear to be in any pain or having joint issues that we can tell. It just seems her stamina has stopped. I'm sure she has many more years ahead of her with us, just not running with Kenny any more.

Almost Summer

Last Friday it felt like the first day of summer! If only I could have had him holding in the picture the snow cone and kettle corn he had at the Farmers Market after dinner. Or shown him walking down to 7-11 with the old cul-de-sac gang to get a Slurpee after nap. Or if he had decided to wear shorts that day, his outfit would have been perfect for what a fun "summer" day it was. If only it would come back! We can't wait for summer around here.

14 weeks

Wow....is this belly getting BIG fast!! I just kept feeling that I am so much bigger then I was with Shane at this point. Finally, last night I grabbed the scrapbook and confirmed my feelings. I am WAY bigger then at 3 months with Shane. I'm talking between 1-2 months bigger. Scared to imagine how big this belly is going to get!?!?

I'm pretty sure Baby #2 gave me a Mother's Day dance last weekend. I was resting on the couch Sunday during nap time when there was a massive attack of what felt like baby moment inside my belly. I mean craziness for a good 5 minutes. Then that was it and nothing since then. The book I've been reading say you feel movement starting around 16 weeks. Just a couple weeks early, so possible, I guess?!

Menu Monday

Man, am I ever tired of thinking of dinner ideas. I seem to be in a dinner slump! I've got a few new recipes on the menu this week. I also hope to make sure I actually have the things needed to make said menu, since I've been having that problem lately, too.

Monday -- Chili and Cornbread (still haven't had it, even though it's been on the menu the last 3 weeks)

Tuesday -- leftovers and there is usually even enough to freeze a batch

Wednesday -- Southwest Roll ups (I'm going to make a double batch and freeze the extras. They are a great quick dinners out of the freezer).

Thursday -- Crispy Beef with Broccoli (this is a new one)

Friday -- leftovers

Saturday -- Lasagna Soup (also new, looks yummy!!!)

Sunday -- leftovers

A Big Announcement.....

We are expecting a new family member due November 11th!! I am now 13 weeks and counting. This little one has been quite a force to be reckon with the past few months. I had morning sickness; that was really all day long 24/7 sickness, for over a month straight - that was tough going for all of us. Being so tired and sick for so long was hard on the family, especially since we had just moved into our new house. But I've have come through the worst of it. The all day sickness has subsided and the wanting to sleep all day long has gotten better, too. This little one is measuring in the 80 percentile, which is great news. Since little man was so small they actually induced me at 37 weeks because he had stopped growing. Looks like we won't have that problem this time around.

Shane is super excited and asks if his "sista" is here yet. I'd say about 90% of the time he says he wants a sister. Which is fine with me! We'll see on June 28th if it's a boy or a girl!!!

Menu Monday

Where did the sun go!?! I'm so very happy it joined us for the weekend.

Monday -- leftover turkey burgers, watermelon and beans

Tuesday -- baked ziti and broccoli

Wednesday -- leftovers

Thursday -- chili and cornbread

Friday -- leftovers

Saturday -- tacos

Sunday -- leftovers

Mother's Day Weekend

It was a lovely weekend here in the Pacific Northwest! Sunny and beautiful, just what we needed. A nice spring weekend. My brother and SIL came for a visit. We enjoyed the new found sun in our backyard and took a couple walks. Today we purchased our first trees for the backyard....4 Leyland's to help create some coverage from the neighbors house.

This afternoon we ate dinner in downtown Kirkland, had a nice walk around the marina and ended the trip out with a yummy cheesecake cupcake.

Fun times with a 2 year old.....

How quickly a simple little project can become a HUGE mess!! It all just started out as some simple shaving cream. Add water and a two year old and viola a mess.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We were in the car this afternoon when Shane spotted a digger:

Shane -- "Mommy, digger on the road."

Me -- "Wow, your right, that is pretty cool. Where do you think the digger is driving to?"

Shane -- "The dirt."

Ah yes, what a dumb question I had asked!

Lesson Learned

Yesterday I (against better judgment) let Shane play while I took a shower. Normally he watches cartoons while I do this task in the morning. But I thought I'd try again and see how it would go. I left him in the kitchen sweeping.

I was greeted by my little buddy as I got out of the shower and he had quite the little smirk on his face. He said to me "I feed Dodo (Dodger)." Hmmm... this doesn't sound so good. I went out to examine this situation and yes, he sure did feed him, all over the living room floor. I must say Dodger was quite happy with the food and Shane was quite proud of himself, too. What a pair!!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

What is wrong with this picture?!?!

Menu Monday

I don't think I followed last weeks menu at all. Sometimes after I make a weekly menu life happens or I just don't feel inspired by the meal when it comes time to make dinner. Let's see if this week goes better on the dinner front.

Monday -- Southwest Roll Ups (super fast and easy, basically baked bean burritos)

Tuesday -- Tuna Melts

Wednesday -- Happy Cinco Day Mayo! We'll be celebrating with Tostadas.

Thursday -- Chili

Friday -- leftovers

Saturday -- My brother will be in town for the weekend. Thinking dinner out or maybe Carne Asada??

Sunday -- We'll see what is left over in the frig!?!

Hello Sunlight.....

and neighbors. This morning we had the two big evergreen trees limbed to allow more sun and light into our backyard. The end result is wonderful, but man, can we see our neighbors now. We have plans to quickly get some small trees along the fence line for screening purposes. This also has created more sunlight into our side yard, which will be the perfect place now for our garden.

BEFORE

AFTER

IN THE PROCESS