Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Walking on Empty Streets.

Okay so it's our driveway, and she isn't really walking so much as riding. Still, I liked the perspective on this one.

2. Repeating Patterns.

Molly's into building a house of cards. I found these all over the dining room table one morning. Cooincidently she also cleaned the entire dining room and living room before anyone woke up.



3. Floor.

I was going to use this for repeating patterns, but I also took it on the floor at the local ice cream parlour. (More on that tomorrow!)
4. Then and Now.



This came at the perfect time -- we took the "then" ballet shots exactly one year ago today (according to the date in my computer!). Obviously Charlotte is way bigger, babies tend to do that. I was more struck by how much more mature Molly looks this year.
5. Fingertips.

Teague was so excited when he found two GIANT snails on the front porch this weekend. I think they are kind of gross but the kid's loved them. (This was almost a repeating patterns shot too! - Guess I really noticed patterns this week!)

Wordless(ish) Weekend Post (The typical Saturday edition.)

And where are Luke and Molly you ask? Nowhere to be found...

(a.k.a. Lost in the neighborhood somewhere.)

Friday Night Leftovers (The I am still here, still awesome edition.)

(accompanied by pictures of the break through performance of "Samuel the Magnificent.")

* It's been a week of hurry up and wait around here as we desperately try to figure out the car stuff. So frustrating.

* We actually did all the things on this week's daily to do lists, menu planning, and activity plans until today -- there is no science museum because there is still no new car.

* Leo is coming back to All My Children next week. (I know, soaps = pathetic) I haven't watched All My Children since well.. it's been since Leo was one before. I don't have time for soaps and when I do record one and watch in a late night marathon when the kids are in bed and Jason is at work -- it's been Days of Our Lives for a decade. This week I'm recording Leo. Not only did I love Leo -- I have a huge secret crush on the guy who plays him. Holy Hotness people. Made Las Vegas the best old show on TV, and yes Jason - I still call him Danny McCoy and I know that's not his real name. ;)

* Jason works tonights and the leftovers are already gone so I am making Polish Food for dinner. Yum! Real Pierogi and kielbasa.

* I was trying to take pictures this week and Charlotte told me "No, no cheese -- pool!" Oops.

* Samuel has been working on magic tricks and performing for the neighbor kids. He's getting really good. I see a new hobby forming already.

* We made this dry rub by Bobby Flay, "Dry Rub Fo Yo Chicken" it's called and used it on boneless skinless breasts yesterday. It's amazing. (word to the wise go LIGHT on the rub a little goes a long way!)

* I am obsessed with Pinterest. So many fun crafting ideas, so many recipes, so little time.

* I started my first "upcycle" dress this week, the material is all cut and pinned, so hopefully we'll have pictures to show next week. I hope it turns out.

* I haven't been to church since the super bowl and lately I have been considering it again, I just feel like it's this huge hurdle I need to get over mentally. God and I had a falling out and while I never stopped believing I don't know that I can go back to the things that made me feel so alone. I'm trying.

*I called the police on another driver this week. I didn't think anything about not doing it at the time, but some people seem to think I was wrong -- whatever I guess. I was in a parking lot and noticed the guy sitting the car next to me (in the driver's seat, no passengers) was drinking beers, yeah I don't need him on the road with me thanks.

* We bought our last package of diapers this week. It seems surreal but Charlotte is in pull ups 100% now and using the potty a good 40% of the time. I have been buying diapers for over a decade now without stopping. It's so bizarre to think my days of clipping pampers coupons, and doing diaper wash are over. SO BIZARRE.

Late Night Challenging!

Update On The Great Car Adventure.

Jason's "emergency hillbilly repair kit" removed from the van as we were cleaning it out last weekend thinking it was about to be gone.

I am trying to stay as optimistic as humanly possible but let's behonest, I am not good at it. In the last few years it has not been my experience that things work out. Quite the contrary actually.

We finally reached the conclusion that the van has made it's last long trip. In addition to the obvious rear end damage, the tires are bald, one is blown, we've actually been driving on the donut for two weeks today.

This time last week it appeared we had found a car. Having grown up in Metro Detroit, I made my peace with it being a "foreign" car. The price was right that we should have been able to keep any and all payments at point X where I needed them to be. We turned the stuff into the bank with the dealership and waited. And waited. And waited. I knew that something was wrong, it shouldn't have taken more then a day.

Monday we found out the problem. The van was to old. The bank would not finance it for 36 months only 24 months, thus leaving the payments $50 out of range. In my world $50 over x is an impossibility. We kept looking.

We've looked at several other vans in a few locations. We have figured out a few things:

1. At the moment we can find exactly ONE option that *might* work but it is at the dealer that doesn't seem to want to sell a car that badly since he can't be bothered to get back to you in less then 2 days.

2. Every other van in remote price range is just high enough that I need another $500 down to keep the payments where I need them. I don't have another $500, nor do I have a clue when I could possibly save another $500.

3. My trunk is valued at approximately $5500 my van at $500. I can buy the EXACT same van I have, same year, same model, within 4,000 miles even the same mileage -- with a trunk for $6000. I can junk my van for $500. Nice huh?

Wordless Wednesday Post (The Some One on One Time Edition)

What Good Little Cows Do.

I love that kid. I love that my Princess obsessed 20 month old goes to bed every night by

moo-ing at all the family members and kissing them. I love that every night I lay in bed with her and we say "moo" (translation: good night) to all her buddies, Bear Bear, the Lulu-s (remember all her babies are Lulu), and then we Moo goodnight to the little people farm. I sat Good night chicken, she says Moo. Good night Piggy, -- Moo, you get the idea. And when all is said and done I say "Charlotte Gloria it's time for little cows to go to sleep." and proving that she is better behaved then her brothers --- she does!

Monday Madness

My weekends are so much fun, even when I spend it working on the house, relaxing with the family that by Sunday night I feel like this:

I have a hard time sleeping Sunday night because all the relaxation combined with excitement leaves my mind racing about plans for the week.
By Monday morning I usually feel like this:

The to do list rages on forever, as we try and recover from the few days off and it seems the neighbor kids are forever knocking on my door at 9:00. Usually this makes Monday linger. Not this week. The neighbor girl is on vacation for three days, and today I am taking a page from my friend Alex, and choosing to be awesome. Today will be awesome. The do list will soar through quickly, the chores will be fulfilling, the kids will be cooperative, good news will come on the phone.
Be sure to check out this week's planning on the menu planning tab above ;)
For myself - to mark my awesomeness I plan to "upcycle" an old t-shirt into a dress for Charlotte (by far my most ambitious sewing project to date), deep clean the living room and dining room, and catch up the laundry this week.
I used to be good at keeping up like this, I figure if I fake it long enough it will start to feel normal again right?!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Music To My Ears

Ask any homeschool mom, the words "Nah, I think I'll read." is a sweet symphony to hear. Pool behind her, playground to her right, Molly chose a book.

2. Hat

Teague was giving me the "sherrif look".

3. Clear

There's nothing that quite screams summer like a drink of crystal clear hose water right from the source.

4. Out of This World.

Underwater Samuel with some added texture.

5. Sprinkles.

I planned to bake this week. I planned to bake a lot. Then I planned to make a walk for ice cream. It was hot. It was REALLY hot. All I made this week were sandcastles.

Friday Night Leftovers (The Heat Wave Edition.)

* The heat index yesterday was 116. It's been that way most of the week, but I am not complaining. It's summer, and some sick part of me enjoys the heat.

* I am however, refusing to cook. We've had sandwiches and raw veggies twice this week for dinner. They will be time for cooking when the temperature is back in the double digits.

* Luke bought himself a giant rubber duck at a yard sale this week and has been carrying it around like a four year old.

\

* Lottie is into picking her own clothes. Seriously. She's 20 months old. So far I have noticed she likes pink and critters.

* All the kids are into Katy Perry 's "Firework". I don't even know where they heard it -- I don't listen to music like that.

* We are spending a lot of time outside in the pool, it's relaxing, fun, and is starting to feel routine. I like it.

* We looked at used Honda Odyssey yesterday. I liked it, and now we are waiting to hear back on a few things from the dealership. Fingers crossed, we need a new van ASAP. I gotta admit though, I grew up way to close to Detroit -- it feels odd to CONSIDER a "foreign car". My classmates in elementary school routinely had playground arguments over whether Ford or GM was better. Everyone had family who worked for one or the other.

* We've been snacking on frozen grapes, frozen mango, and frozen fudge covered Oreos (oops that is just me!) all week. Now I am searching Pinterest for make your own fruit Popsicle recipes!

* For the first time in weeks I have no major plans for the weekend. Here's hoping it stays that way!