Paint Project Complete

You might remember my excitement about this paint project...I got my inspiration from a blog I love

and this painting:

I also enjoy:

It reminded some of my friends of Rothko's art.
One of my faves:

Bill was out of town for a few days earlier this month - a perfect opportunity to start my project. After I put the girls to bed, I popped The Proposal (love this movie) into the Mac and set up my "studio." And so the painting began...I was slightly nervous at this point. That stripe is really - green.
Now my fear was of a Crayola-ish painting......probably completed by one of the girls.Oops.
I forgot to take pictures as often as I wanted.
And this is how the evening progressed......which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way.Voila!
(with and without flash)
I was excited.
Are you?
This is when it's helpful to have The Husband around.There you have it.My little DIY art hanging on our dining room wall.

The Call

The call...

Photo by: Ryan Detzel

Door Envy

I have lots of things on The Husband's ToDo List for our home.
It's pretty long.
Our schedules are pretty full,
so we don't really have a lot of time for house projects
(and really by we, I mean he).

However, that doesn't stop me from falling in love
with new ideas like this one:
I love this door.
I would love to put this door in our kitchen.
I just might have to put chalkboard paint on
my shopping list very soon.

Wail On

Listen to this while you drink your morning coffee:

Wasn't that nice?

His Hers Yours

Do you have a place for your keys when you walk in the door?
If not, make one of these:

I did, and I put it on a table right by our front door.
So stylish AND functional.
Now if I could only get The Husband to use it.

Gianna-isms II

This kid just can't stop being funny (to me).

GIANNA
Where's daddy?
GRACE
He's on a trip with the big kids.
GIANNA
I miss him so much.
My heart is breaking.

GIANNA
Why is that man here?
GRACE
He's here to fix our heater.
GIANNA
Why is the heater broken?
GRACE
I'm not sure - that's why the man is here.
GIANNA
Why is he the heater guy?
GRACE
That's his job, Gianna.
GIANNA
Why is that his job?
Probably that's what God wants him to do.
GRACE
Probably.
GIANNA
Can I play on your computer?


to her friend Lily - age 25 years - at church (paraphrased)
I don't want us to chase each other.
Let's just run around in circles.

ESPY
Who are you going to marry, Gianna?
GIANNA
I'm going to marry Daddy.
GRACE
You can't marry Daddy. He's already married to Mommy - and daughters can't get married to daddies. You can't marry your family.
GIANNA
Ok, I'm going to marry James.
ESPY
(laughing)
James is your cousin.
GIANNA
No, he's my friend.
GRACE
Yes, he's your friend - but he's your cousin, too.
GIANNA
Who am I going to marry?
GRACE
We'll see.
GIANNA
I think I'm going to marry Matt.
GRACE
Oh yeah?
ESPY
(laughing uncontrollably)
You're going to marry Matt, Gianna?
GIANNA
Yeah.
He's my boyfriend.

GIANNA
(walking into the living room first thing in the morning)
Hey, mom.
GRACE
Good morning, Gianna.
Did you have a good night-night?
GIANNA
(climbs in my lap)
Mm-hm.
GRACE
Wow. You have morning breath.
GIANNA
(eyes still sleepy)
It's because I was very tired.
GRACE
Is that right?
GIANNA
Yes.

Valentine's Day

How adorable is this couple?

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Blue Wiggle Tribute

In honor of Isabella's favorite group,
and
in honor of my favorite Wiggle:

Doesn't it make you want to go out and buy a pull-up bar?
I did.

Oh Oren

Sweet song.
Sweet video.

I love music-sharing friends!

Search for Simplicity

I love blogs.
I might have told you this before.
I'm also a fan of simplifying.

I've been following Tsh at Simple Mom for a few months now.
Her blog is great!

Simple Mom is a productivity blog for home managers. It’s like Zen Habits wearing an apron. If we want to get things done and be fully present for all the things that are most important to us,
we have to keep things simple.

This blog is a catalog of the resources, tips, and lessons to make that happen. When we find solutions for cutting everyday life clutter, we’re taking care of our family, our home, and ourselves. I believe that when Mom (Dad, too) is doing well, the whole family thrives.

Just the other day, Tsh introduced Simple Living Media consisting of:

Simple Mom
Live simply, stay sane. Life hacks for home managers.
Simple Kids
uncomplicated parenting in a complex world
Simple Organic
back to nature, back to basics
Simple Bites
real food for the family table
and
Simple Homeschool
never let your schooling interrupt your education.

In honor of Simple Living Media's launch,
each of these blogs is hosting an awesome giveaway.
Check them out by clicking on the links above.
You can enter by leaving a comment, subscribing to the blog, or writing about the giveaways on your own personal blog
(hence this post!).
Be sure to stop by soon because the giveaways end
Saturday, February 13th at 11:59pm CST.

I just wanted to share all the giveaway goodness with you.
I also hope you can find a blog that interests you
and helps make life as you know it become a little less complex!

Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt

Little Big Sister

Isabella fell asleep at the inopportune time of
4:30 in the afternoon yesterday.

Instead of putting her down, I decided to put her on the couch
in hopes of making her siesta short & sweet.

Gianna wanted to make Isabella comfortable.

I love our Gianna for reasons like this:
and this:
Precious.

Birthday Girl

It's hard to believe my Espy is six years old.

It makes me feel sad, old, and sentimental all at the same time.

What happened to this little "eat those cheeks up" baby girl?Really?
Six?
Six years?

We had lasagna that night before she was born.
Don't be impressed - it was Stouffer's.
I told Bill I was feeling weird.
He got sick - literally.

We went to bed, and I couldn't fall asleep.
I just couldn't get comfortable.
I kept having to go to the bathroom - every few minutes.
Weird.
I finally (somewhat) realized that this baby was coming.

I woke Bill up, and we got ready to go to the hospital.
Of course, being baby number one, I had to call my prenatal class instructor just to make sure we were doing the right thing.
We were.

She told me we should go to the hospital, but not to rush.
I was adamant about taking a shower - it was three o'clock (or so) in the morning. I had to be shower fresh for my firstborn, right? Right.
This was my last shower without kids - EVER!
I didn't even realize it.

We headed to the hospital and did all those
"get ready, your baby's coming!" things.
Bill got sick - again.
Poor Bill.

The contractions started coming.
GOOD gracious.
Let me say this up front,
women who have babies without drugs amaze me.
You rock.
I, for one, was not going to have an epidural -
until I had one of those contractions that was off the charts
(you mommies know what I'm talking about).
Orange popsicles
and the epidural
became my best friends that night.

Bill might have gotten sick one more time.
I'll have to ask him to make sure,
but he's not home right now -
so let's just say he did.

It was great having so many friends and family there cheering me on.
It might have freaked Bill out a bit, but I enjoyed the company.

Well after a few hard pushes, we had that baby -
sweet, little
Esperanza Charisse.
Esperanza is my maiden name,
and it means hope in Spanish.
Charisse means grace in French.
We like to call her Espy -
yes, just like the Espy Awards.

She's an amazing little girl,
and I'm not just saying that because she's my twin.

Happy Birthday to Our Espy!

Truth Teller

Gianna always speaks her mind.

Always.
We're trying to harness this superpower ability
for the good of mankind.

Please see the examples below:

(1)
She reprimanded a mother's language on several occasions because she kept saying a word and phrase that Gianna isn't allowed to say.
Ohhhhhhhhhh - she said a bad word.
(This sentence was repeated over
and over - and over - again.)

(2)
In a store, walking by a person who
may or may not have had some hygiene issues.
GIANNA
Mom! I smell something.
GRACE
(I'll just pretend I don't hear her.)
GIANNA
MOM! I smell something.
I think he pooted.
GRACE
Gianna, what's on my list?
GIANNA
(scrunching her nose)
Something smells.
GRACE
(walking away quickly)
Yes, I think we need more yogurt.

(3)
During a van ride home,
Gianna was upset with her sister, Espy.
GIANNA
I smell something.
(pause)
I smell something half-filipino.
(pause)
I smell something half-filipino with glasses...
(pause)
...that's my sister.
GRACE
(as Bill stifles laughter)
Stop being rude, Gianna.
Espy doesn't smell.
(turns around to see a big smile on Espy's face)
GIANNA
Yes, I smell something.
It smells.
It's half-filipino.
GRACE
Gianna! You're half-Filipino, too - so it might be you.
GIANNA
(pouts)

Free Falling

I know Ben!
Does it count if I'm friends with someone who was old
roommates with someone who was invited to
his (and his new wife's) home for dinner?
Okay, then - I know him!

Awesome song. Sweet video.
Enjoy!

No Time

Please read this.
Thankfully I have wonderful, flexible friends
who value the time that we do get to spend together.
Yay for good, sweet friends!

Photo by: chiaralily

Birthday Boy

Today is The Husband's birthday.

Happy Birthday Husband!

The girls are so excited.
They have three Disney princess gift bags
full of presents for him that they found -
in their room.
Espy has made her dad an awesome birthday crown
to wear on this momentous occasion.
One of Gianna's gifts is a green heart cut out all by herself that says:
I love you, Bill.
It's your birthday.
Love ♥
Gianna
You already know how they feel about parties.

I'm just excited that the best husband and dad EVER is celebrating his birthday today - with us! I mean how often does that happen, right? Don't get me wrong - I'm sure all of you know some great husbands and fathers, but mine certainly is the best.
Let me clarify:
my husband is the best -
for me.

There are many reasons why, but here are a few:
I am impatient. He is not.
I am loud. He is not.
I am all over the place. He is not.
I am stubborn. He is not.
This list is not exhaustive.
God knew just what I needed in a husband,
that's why Bill's the best one ever -
for me.

The girls firmly believe that their dad:
can make anything.
can fix anything.
can play anything.
He is the one who can make errand-running fun.
He is the one who can "tent"ify anything in our home.
He is the one who teaches my daughters the art of bodily functions.
I have to take the good with the gross I suppose.

This list isn't complete either but,
the girls and I have a party to plan.

Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt