Welcome to Awkward

And so we enter the phase of life that we all wish we could have avoided. Ages 7-16.

Also known as that awkward not-all-my-teeth-fit-in-my-mouth stage. I imagine we'll emerge (hopefully victorious) around age 16. We've already been informed that braces are highly likely and we've started a savings fund for it.

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15 Minutes

I am sure that this is nothing revolutionary, but it has been working awesomely for me, so I thought I'd share.

My kids have figured out that cleaning up isn't really all that fun. And while I whole-heartedly agree with them, we still need to pretend that we're not living in squalor on occasion.

When I was growing up, we would have races to see who could clean up their assigned room faster. Which worked... sometimes. My mom tried all kinds of tactics and threats. But what seemed to consistently work was simply putting on some music. And setting a timer.

And so, "The 15 Minute Dance/Clean" was born. Right before dinner, we set a timer, one kid gets to pick the music, and we go! go! GO! Racing around to see how much we can accomplish in 15 minutes. There is, in general, very little complaining. I act like a total dork and dance around (which I love!) My kids get into it, I get into it, and before we know it 15 minutes has flown by and the entire downstairs is clean! Ta da!

Some of our favorites to Dance/Clean to:
Cake
They Might Be Giants
Mamma Mia Soundtrack
Indigo Girls
Dixie Chicks
Anything that gets us moving!

Good luck and let me know if it works for you!

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CAUTION!

Skinny, chicken-legged, boy with lightsaber tucked in his underpants on the loose. Can be seen wearing silly blue velvet cape, sporting skinned knees and socks. Should be considered armed and dangerously cute.

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Decorating our new place.

I know we haven't closed yet, but I need to just soldier on and pretend like nothing could go wrong. We're past the inspection. We're past our appraisal... and now we wait.

Since we've been renters for the last uh... ok. We've always been renters. Basically, I haven't ever really made the effort to decorate. And I have to admit, my mom was not a decorator. Sorry, mom. But she didn't know anything about tablescapes and color combinations and well, basically anything. So, I don't exactly have a strong background.

I'm a n00b! I've spent a bunch of time researching and getting inspiration.

What Matt and I have learned: we have the complete opposite decorating style. He leans toward contemporary/modern (BORING and COLD), and I'm more a Pottery Barn/Crate & Barrel type girl (warm and inviting). I will give you one guess on who will win this battle. (Hint! The person who spends more time at the house.)

In my excitement over having an actual place to live, I created this for the Living Room:


And yesterday at Target, I bought these on 75% off Clearance for the Kitchen.

Except the yellow will be a more muted tone.

Anyone have any ideas? Or websites they love for decorating inspiration? Or favorite decor blogs? Bring it on!

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Never a dull moment.

Living with Miles is a laugh-a-minute. When he's not pondering on the friendship of Santa Claus and Jesus, he's singing Primary songs to himself or leading an attack as Captain Underpants. Yes, those books are popular over here too.



Weapon of Choice: Toilet Scrubber x 2.

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Sobbing

Abbie's been having a tearful month or so. Not sure what's going on with her. She seems to be even more prone to crying jags when Matt's around (and I'm even more prone to them when he's not.) But we're working on getting it under control.

I wish I could remember how the conversation came up, but we started talking about college and all the cool stuff you do at college. No, not partying... the cool stuff like living with your friends and making your own food.

Abbie was really not fond of that idea. She never wants to leave my side. And so the crying began.



1. This must be documented. Because in 11 years when she's DYING to get out from under my tyrannical thumb, I will show her this picture and tell this story.
2. I'm evil.

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What I got for Valentine's Day

Um, ignore Anna. Also ignore the fact that I don't actually have a picture of the entire house from the front... I was holding a very cranky Lucas.

We don't close til March, so keep your fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.

You can see more bad pictures here with some explanations.

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