Sunny Sunday

Jerks

So someone broke into our house in the middle of the night and cut all the wires and ripped out the copper wiring and busted up the control panel and the AC. This is the second attempt, last time they cut all the wires but didn't take anything, and three windows were broken. Seriously? This time, while they were trying to get the wiring out, they lost their balance and fell through the ceiling and into the garage, ha, leaving behind a cigarette trail and a crow bar.

The house is back on track and moving quickly along. Finishwork, siding, painting, and cabinets are all happening in the next week or two. My goodness, this house is a lot of work. I am trying my hardest to be so smart and money conscious. And as of yesterday I totaled all of my items that we have added after the fact and I am only $300 over budget! BUT that is not counting the several things that John has added to the house and a couple of invoices that came up today from the builder. A couple of hundred dollars here and there, and a few thousand on other things really add up fast!

This process has been such a whirlwind that it has been so hard to stay on top of all the little details. Things have been overlooked, forgotten, or will have to be added later, and some things we have just taken out all together. But (to quote my Dad) for the most part everything is looking fantastic! I hope that in the last few weeks our budget doesn't totally fly out the door and that we have a cozy place to crash this fall!

PS, if you are going to build a house anytime soon please allow me to write you a long list of all the things not to do

purple

Mae was pouting and hit her eye on the corner of the table, ouch.

Sisters!

I am so glad that these two have each other. I can't think of anything better than growing up with sisters! I have been spending a little time planning out the "girls" room in the house and it makes me excited to watch them grow closer as Vera gets older.

Buddies

Grace and Mae have become little buddies, they can play house or boat or make anything fun with their imaginations. They love to empty closets and shoe boxes and change their outfits a dozen times . . . that's what cousins are for right?

My Mae

Mae is my little buddy, especially my hair buddy. I straightened her hair the other day so that I could trim it and see what I was doing. It never got trimmed but she did run around the house thinking that she was rapunzel. Doesn't she look like a different girl? I have been doing my hair curly lately too, I have been straightening it for the last 8 years? But I like doing it curly because I feel more like I am Mae's mommy and I feel back to my roots. I wonder if Vera will be curly. Anyway, here are some pictures of the curly hairs around here.

Trouble

Mae is in time out and I am making Wes clean the house. These two are serious mischief makers. I just found a window screen, the candy land game (and all the cards, gingerbread men, and board), papers, and toys three stories below our balcony. Then I found the contents of their closet (including all their clothing and shoes) in one big pile with a box of graham crackers smashed up and poured on top. Then a whole case of water bottles was emptied in our front closet. Then I came into the bathroom to help Wes and he was sitting on the toilet with a pair of scissors cutting Mae and Vera's amber necklaces (do I need to mention that they are expensive heirlooms?) Ahhhhh.

Last week I found them sitting at the top shelf in our walk in closet, with all of our clothes, shoes, hangers, luggage and boxes etc on the floor, and they were eating all they could from a costco box of gum.

I literally cannot let these two out of my sight, they are not allowed to play in their room or go to the bathroom without me there. If they are taking a bath and I step out, they flood the bathroom. If they are pooping and I leave, there is poop or pee or toilet water all over when I come back. If they are eating breakfast and I go to get dressed, then cereal is on the walls, (along with blueberries, which stain). They empty the pantry, they empty the fridge, they cover Vera with blankets, and swim toys, and milk. They draw all over my house plans and to do lists, and computer, and tear up my magazines. They loose my nice jewelry, watches, and keys, and push over lamps and break lightbulbs . . .

hang on, Wes just ran by with his hands full of granola bars . . .

Ok, where was I. Oh ya, and they dump gallons of milk, and juice, and bottles of soap, and peel hardboiled eggs and smash them all over the house. Well, I could say more but I think you get the point; sometimes I want to pull my hair out.

If you are wondering when they find the opportunities to do these things, it is usually when I am feeding Vera, changing Vera, doing dishes, laundry or making a meal. As soon as I answer a phone call, they disappear. It usually takes me two hours to get all three kids to bed. By the time I am done I am ready for bed as well. But that is my only time to get anything accomplished, so these days I am surviving on 4-6 hours of sleep a night.

This is all I have to say when John wonders what I do all day.

My two precious trouble makers: I love them