Life's happenings

I hate to sound only negative and keep focusing on all the C-rap that keeps happening around here, but it just feels like that's all that is happening.   I say feels because I know that isn't reality, it just seems that way.  So this post is to document (mostly for me) all of the good things in our lives right now.  I need to see it in print.  I also believe that family blogs should be genuine, and that means putting my real feelings down and not just the "fluffy stuff".  Nothing can make me feel worse than looking at all these cute blogs and feeling inadequate about my own life.  I wish we could all just be more honest with each other.  Oh well, that's a post for another day.

Mara started Kindergarten.  Shut.the.front.door.  When/How did she get soo big?  I was so excited for her (and not gonna lie, for myself as well).  We start walking up to the school and suddenly I feel these sobs starting in my belly.  I was able to contain myself and not shed a single tear...for a moment.  When I saw Mara standing there all by herself she just looked so uncertain and and scared out of her little mind, I lost it.  The tears started pouring.  I'm not even talking a tear or two, I'm talking borderline hysteria.  She just looked so scared.  So cute, but so nervous.  All the other kids were chatting it up with each other and Mara seemed all alone.  I think my sobs were because of the guilt I felt moving her away from all her friends and planting her there all alone.  Despite my sad departure she was full of fun stories when we picked her up for the day.  Each day she gets a little better telling me about her day and the friends she plays with, and each day I feel a little less guilt about moving her away from her friends.

Logan started Preschool.  That day couldn't have come soon enough.  As much as I adore that little man, we both needed a small break from each other.  Twice a week he goes to Ms. Brooke's preschool that is in our neighborhood.  He came home from the first day with the cutest drawing of a truck, and didn't surprise me at all by the detail.  He did however surprise me by attempting to write his name.  He did a perfect L and o then a funky g and some scribbles.  This kid is a genius.  I know we all think those things of our own children, but it's true!  I sadly cannot take any credit for it.  He honestly figures everything out by himself.  He looks at something and then replicates it.  It is adorable.  It's so fun to watch him become a little kid.  His listening skills improve every day (for which I am deeply grateful).

Both kids are in soccer.  Mara is timid and careful when she plays.  Logan doesn't know what planet he's on.  Both ways to play are equally adorable and frustrating!  Isn't that the funny thing about parenting?  I don't care if they are soccer stars, but then we get there and I find myself wanting to be the screaming parent telling Mara what to do (don't worry I don't, but I'd love to).  Watching Logan is another thing entirely.  He is the weird kid that doesn't pay attention at all, randomly sits down, runs and bops his head up and down...you know the type?  It's hilarious and slightly embarrassing.  Don't call the mommy police on me for saying that.  Just keepin' it real.

Sean started a new job.  It kind of sucks.  The positives: working M-F 9-5.  That's where the positives end for me.  I hate the pay and I hate the benefits (or lack there of).   I guess we'll just keep waiting and see what happens.

As for me, my business has taken off running.  I feel so excited every time I see a sell.  I get between 30-40 each month the past couple of months.  Soooo cool!  Right now I'm trying to expand into the digital scrapbooking elements.  It takes a bit of computer time, but I think it's worth it.  Piano lessons have started again too and that helps us out a lot.  The combination of the 2 "jobs" make me feel like I'm actually worth my weight to this family sometimes.  I always feel like Sean works sooo hard especially compared to me.  As the kids get older and my parenting job gets easier I feel guiltier and guiltier about not contributing to our family financially.  These "jobs" lessen that guilt.

I feel like that's about it for us right now. 

Mara turned 5

This is my sweet little 5 year old.  It's really hard to get a picture of her not posing right now.  I tried to get her to stop, but then I realized Hey!  This is a part of what makes her the cute 5 year old that she is!

 Of course I used this opportunity to put together another birthday kit for my shop.  I think it turned out pretty cute!  I wanted to make a princess party that wasn't just pink.  Plus, the majority of her cousins that would be there were boys.  They were good sports though!

 Best Buds ready to party!

 Do you notice something that is missing from this photo?  How about the 5th candle....oops!!!  I can't believe no one caught that mistake!  I think we are all just in denial that she is really 5.

 While we were cleaning up the party I looked over at Logan.  Apparently the party tired him out!  He just crashed on the floor.  He layed there forever.

 This is Mara and her best friend Brooklynn.  This was the first year we let her invite friends to her party.  She is growing up WAY TOO FAST!!!!

Picture Purge

This past month has been pretty uneventful.  Just full of overtime for Sean, and sickness for me and the kids.  More comfy clothes and snuggle time.

 Of all the places they choose to chill, they almost always pick the tile entryway.  I can't figure it out.  It's hard, and it's FREEZING cold.

 Sean finally got himself the T.V. he's been wanting for a while.  That meant decor changes for me ;)  Here he is putting the finish on the tv stand we got from Ikea, but of course I had to paint it first and replace the boring knobs.  I couldn't have a boring old tv stand!!

 I knew Sean wanted a large T.V.  What I didn't know was exactly how big it was...I almost pooped my pants when the box showed up at our door.

 Look closely at Logan's face...he was in man heaven with his dad while they set it up.

 I mentioned sickness, and on this particular day Logan wasn't doing good so he was laying on the couch watching a movie.  The next thing I know, Mara was dragging out all his blankets and pillows.  She meticulously tucked him in and then climbed up to spoon him.  She is seriously so compassionate.

 Logan is a back seat driver.  No joke.  He yells at me to STOP, GO, SLOW DOWN, GO FASTER!  It drives me bananas.  Sean's brother bought him a PS3 for Christmas and a few games.  Logan has taken his love of backseat driving to new heights by bossing around Sean while he plays the PS3.

 I am pretty lucky because my kids really do love vegetables.  This was Mara devouring her asparagus.  She kept asking for more, more, more!  No one believes me how veggie crazy my kids are so I had to get a pic.  I love that they love healthy foods.

 Daddy makes them laugh whenever he's around.  The noise level in our house goes up exponentially when Sean is home.  It's out of control...

 After mentioning their love of veggies, here is proof that they love the regular stuff too ;)

Introducing MabelStreet

I decided to open up a shop on ETSY.  Mostly to sell my printable parties that I do, but there are also some christmas cards and home decor items.  To introduce y'all to it, I decided to do some Halloween Printables for you!  They are designed to fit in an 8x10 picture frame.  Enjoy!

Infact, my friend Alicia (owner and operator of Alicia States Photography) came and photographed Logan's birthday party for me so I could start listing items!  I'll post pictures of that in a little bit.  Until then....go check out the shop!  Click on the Page at the top labeled Mabel Street and it'll take you right to it!

Scavenger Hunt

I've been seeing some super cute scavenger hunt ideas on Pinterest lately.  Sadly, my kids couldn't do them because every one that I found had to be read.  Since my kids don't read yet, that made it impossible.  So I decided to make my own!  Then I realized that a lot of my friends that had pinned those same hunts had kids that were too little too....so here they are.  They are nothing special, but we are super excited to head out this afternoon and have some fun!

I left a gap on purpose in the picture one.  They get to draw a picture of the coolest thing they see on our walk.  Logan will probably have to use the back since his drawing skills might not be able to keep a picture that small ;)

P.S.

My kitchen looks virtually the same as it did a month ago...


I lost steam.
I got sidetracked with school (this semester is stressing me out).
I got plain lazy.

Hopefully I can find the motivation to go at it again!  Maybe this weekend?  Hmmm....we'll see.

I need your help

I mentioned in the last post about needing your opinion on something so here it is.  

I'm thinking of painting the section of cabinets between the fridge and the corner wall a different color, and putting up some bead board for the "back splash", also changing the counter top to wood, adding some corbels to attach the top and bottom cabinets, and lastly some furniture feet at the floor.  My hope is that it would then look like a custom furniture built-in.  Here is my sad attempt at a drawing of it.

 

This is that section of cabinets.  It goes right up to the fridge on the right hand side, and the very left of the picture is the start of the stove section.

So what do you think?  If you walked into a house as a buyer and saw it, what would you think?  Would you think it was really neat?  Or would it turn you off completely from the house entirely?  I guess I should mention that I haven't decided what color to paint it.  Maybe yellow?  I don't know....  Maybe I could keep the color the same (white) but still add the wood counter top, the bead board, furniture feet, and corbels?


Here is a pic of a corbel incase you are wondering what the crap I am talking about:

So the bottom of the pic would be attached to the bottom of the top cabinets and the top part in the picture would go straight down and end on the counter top.

Also, Ikea has a size of wood counter top that would fit for only $49.99  I think that is pretty amazeballs.

So, what do you think?  Good idea?  Lame attempt?  PLEASE let me know....and give your honest opinion.  I won't hold it against ya ;)