The Greenhouse.

I don't know if I've mention this a million times yet or not, but, I have plans for a potted garden this summer. I'm most excited about this. Fortunately for me, I have a lovely friend in the city whose entire family is in the greenhouse business. (I'm not joking. Her entire family.)

So, last Sunday, we all headed out to one of her brother's greenhouses up near Black Forest, CO. Our friend Kim and her daughter, Rachel and two of her three kids (plus her dogs), me, Evan and the girls. I bet you want to see pictures of this, don't you? :)

To say that I was blown away by the size and beauty of a greenhouse, is an understatement.

The kids were told to stay in the greenhouse, but they were free to roam. Except for poor Julia. She's too little.

Rachel's dad not only has been in the greenhouse business forever, he also has invented things to help greenhouses water their plants easier. Now, I'm not going to pretend to know the names of these things, or how they work. So, here's my very (very) simple explanation of what he's created:
This thing...

is a thingy that hold plants so that they are carried around the greenhouse ceiling and get water more effectively. (Oh my goodness...I am brilliant)

This thing...the thing the children are riding on...

it is like a rectangular sprinkler that goes up and down the flower beds to keep them hydrated. (I should go into advertising for Rachel's dad. I'd help him sell billions, i tell you!)

I wanted all of the flowers. But, I was partial to this one.

So was Julia.

Ooh...and these ones too!!!

Seriously, the kids stinking loved this rectangular sprinkler thingy.

Julia liked walking down the rows.

Also, she loves the dogs. Loves loves loves the dogs.

The girls wanted to walk the catwalks for a while.


Julia got lazy and went for a ride.


Julia is kind of a vehicle girl. She squealed with delight when she saw this motorcycle.

And when she saw the forklift, you'd have thought it was Christmas morning!!!



We will be visiting the greenhouse again when I'm ready to actually purchase my flowers and herbs. The girls can not wait to go back!!!

Cabin Fever Thoughts

It snowed a lot yesterday. Because of that, we are stuck inside the house because this stupid city does not plow side streets no matter what. Don't get me started on that...

So, here are my random, very cabin fever induced thoughts:

*I have decided that I am tired of looking at the things I have decorated my house with. I am taking everything down and starting over. Here's the thing though, we don't really have a "redecorating" budget right now. So, what to do? Easy, I plan on very slowly finding things to replace old things with. So, whether it's at Target or a thrift store or a garage sale, I am making it my spring project to redecorate our house. Of course, being Evan's daughter, Elisabeth is having a complete fit that I am taking things down and is all sorts of concerned that I am throwing everything away. I am not. It's just all going into the basement until I want to look at it again.

*My children are so not nice to me when we are stuck in the house together with no form of escape. Part of it is my fault because I let the elder child watch way too much tv in the morning. But, also, they seem to find ways to get under my skin until I want to push them both of them into the snow and lock all the doors so they can't come back inside. Oh, and my cat Roosevelt is no better. That damn cat has been eating any sort of plastic he can find because he desperately wants attention.

*I enjoy cooking. If I could, I would spend all day in the kitchen trying new recipes and foods that I've never tried before. I would make large banquets for my friends and family to enjoy. But, alas, I can not cook all day because 1.I do not have a magic pantry that would always restock my foods for zero dollars 2.I would have to clean up the mess, and I hate (HATE) cleaning up the mess and 3.I don't have enough refrigerator space for all the food to be stored. I am saddened by all of these reasons.

*I like Jack London. Why do I always forget that?

*If we have a third baby, I wonder what that baby will do to drive me out of my ever loving mind?

*I dislike cancer sores. They make it very hard to talk, let alone yell at the children. How am I supposed to scream across floor levels with a giant sore in my mouth pending any movement of my tongue?

*How many poopy diapers can one 21 month old produce in one day? Cause I'm think Julia has filled her quota for MONTHS!

*Julia dropped her half eaten apple down the toilet just as Elisabeth was flushing it. Julia is hysterically sad because it is the last apple in the house. Elisabeth explained why you just can't get an apple out of a toilet with tinkles and poop in it.

Please...someone...send reinforcements! Or at least large quantities of wine! Pronto!!!

Sincerely,
The Legally Insane Mother of Two Who Used to Be Known As a Somewhat Competent Virginia

No.

I am working on my "No"s. As in, I am trying to limit how often I am saying them.

When I was pregnant with Elisabeth, my Aunt Diane gave me some advice I have always kept tucked into the back of my mind. She told me to be careful with how many "No"s I give out when my baby was little, because I only get so many as a mom. If I use them all up when she's little, I won't have any left when I really need them (aka: teenage years).

She's right.

I know, for a fact, that I often will tell the girls "No" to something because me, myself and I don't want to deal with it. The play dough. The paints. The eleventh book wanting to be read in the last 10 minutes. The story that's being told that has no ending in sight.

But, then I remember. They won't be this age forever.

They aren't going to play baby dolls forever. Or dress up. Or want me to read them books. Or listen to their long thought-out imaginary scenarios. Or cuddle them while they watch another (ANOTHER) Sesame Street.

So, I'm trying. I'm making a conscience effort to really put some thought into why I'm saying "No". Is it because I don't want to deal with it? Because if that's why, then shame on me.

I don't want to use up all my "No"s now. I need to save some for when they ask me if they can go to a sleepover that's unsupervised by parents (Um...NO!). Or if they borrow my car without asking (Um....NO!). Or if I think we could get a dog (Hahahahaha...NO!)

Plus, I really don't want to miss things like this:


And, I want this one...

to feel like she can tell me things without having to worry about me not listening or just saying "No" because that's what I always say.

And, I like her. A lot. So, I'm trying a little harder at this whole "Mommy" thing.

Oh, and that little, fat one? I like her a lot too.

St. Patrick's Day 2010

Ah, St. Patrick's Day.

If you remember, I told you in another post about how much Elisabeth loves/dreads St. Patrick's day. Well, this year it was nothing but love for her. Not only was she not scared at all of a leprechaun coming to visit, she was thrilled. She really wanted to capture the leprechaun and ask him for one wish (which would be to turn into a wizard) and then she would let the leprechaun go and tell him that he could come back any time.

So, the night before, she and Evan constructed this:

From what they explained to me, the leprechaun would read this note:

and then would go try and get the penny. Once he tried to take the penny, that top carboard section would spring shut, trapping the leprechaun in the plastic milk carton. Elisabeth felt it was fool proof.

The next morning she woke up fully expecting the leprechaun to come during the night. When the trap was still not touched, we explained that you never know if or when a leprechaun would show up. She then hurriedly got ready for school because their classroom was going to do all sorts of St. Patrick's Day things.

While she was at school, I started getting ready for our own St. Patrick's Day shenanigans. I had a full Irish dinner planned, plus cupcakes with green frosting that needed to be baked. Not to mention that a leprechaun needed to visit us. I literally spent all day in the kitchen.

But, when Elisabeth came home, she found this:

and this:

and this.

She was beyond ecstatic! The leprechaun also left a note saying thank you for the penny, but that she'd gotten trapped in the house that Elisabeth had made her so she'd had to chew her way out (aka: staple remover used a the top of the cardboard) and that the cats had chased her around the house. She also left a bowl of green banana candies (think Runts candy, only green) in a bowl with a note saying, "Your cats drove me bananas! From: Maggie the Leprechaun". Elisabeth was on cloud nine and talked about how next year's trap will have to be stronger and that she hopes it's Maggie who comes back next year because she was so nice. She then proceeded to lecture the cats about not chasing small people dressed in green when they come to visit our house.

We left the "mess" that the leprechaun had made as it was until Evan came home so he could see it. Then we ate!

Our meal:


I made Irish soda bread from scratch. It was super easy to make and tasted great!

We drank some Guiness.

The Guiness was also used in our Irish Stout Stew. It was a recipe that came in our monthly local liquor store newsletter we get. Cause we have a family discout there. Just keeping it classy, people. Keeping it classy.

The stew, by the way, was super good and super filling!!!

And, we ended it with chocolate cupcakes with green frosting.


Hope you all had a fantastic St. Patrick's Day as well! (and that no one's suffering from the "Irish Flu" today!

Just a friendly reminder...

That it is time to re-check your car seats!!!

No. Not for the big kids. Sillies!

For the munchkins! Julia's grown quite a bit since the beginning of winter when we last adjusted her car seat straps.

So, just check to make sure that your kid's straps are sitting on them how they should be. Check your car seat's manual if you've forgotten how it works.

Or call your local police and fire department. Many times they either will do car seat checks for you or can point you to the right direction. Usually the Red Cross also will do checks as well.

Thanks.

My public service announcement is all done now. :)

Bragging on my mommy style...Ha!

About a week or so ago, a fellow mommy blogger wanted to know if there was any interest in helping create a new blog about fashion and style for moms. Being the super stylish mom that I am, I said, "Heck yeah!".

Obviously, you may have noticed that I am always up on the latest hair fashions.

I always accessorize.

I am super photogenic and am willing to post pictures of my daily ensembles.

I really try to look my best when out in public with my kids.

I would never dream of going somewhere with a flawed outfit.

I mean, you all know me, I am nothing if not classy.

Look at me! I should have been in magazines and on the run way!!!


But, really and truly? This blog is exactly for me. It's called All Kinds of Pretty and it's absolutely fantastic! Not only will we all be talking about our style favorites and style fears, but we're all moms trying to deal with our post baby bodies and budgets. I am having so much fun being a part of it all.

So, come on over! Visit us! We'd love to hear what you think!

My cats are so weird.

They love each.



They like to sleep in weird places.


And in weird ways.



They also enjoy peeking out of the hole they've made in our blinds.


Sigh.