The Effects of a Cleaning Lady...

Did I mention recently that we have a cleaning lady?  Yes, yes, we do.  We are very lucky people to have people to help us keep the house clean.

So, now that we have some free time, what do you think we're doing with it?

Sleeping?  Sometimes.

Blogging?  Obviously not.  :-)

Other house projects that have been put to the side?  Looks like it!

Recently, we have cleaned out closets, re-organized junk drawers, re-organized under a bathroom sink, and most recently, cleaning up our outdoors. 

We had been kind of lacking in the yard work, other than mowing.  Our landscaping that had been put in about 5 years ago was showing some serious neglect.  So, yesterday, we packed up the kids and went to Menard's.  We picked up flowers, top soil, peat moss, fun garden decoration and even some garden lighting on our second trip of the day.  We came home and got to work.  We are very satisfied with the results and wanted to share with you.

Before and After of our front garden.  We took those giant bushes out and replaced them with lilac bushes that have far to grow.  We also took out 4 of the grass looking mounds that sprout yellow flowers later in the year.  These were replaced with a number of different flowers.

Again, before and after.  Check out the big bushes we removed from the front - they will be adorning the bare sides of our house.

On the other side of the house, 2 of our grassy looking mounds found their way over here.

Before picture of our 2 trees in the front.

The after shot of the trees.  We planted the other 2 grassy mounds, along with some mums and pansies.

Close up of flowers in the front, as well as the lady bug that we added.  We have a bee too, not pictured.

Finished product (before lighting).  Mia is talking to the aforementioned bee.

This is going to be the prettiest garden when all the flowers and bushes grow in!

I thought about starting this post apologizing for my absence.  But then, I thought, geez, every time I start a blog post, I talk about being absent.  Whatever.  This is my blog.  I write what I want, when I want, and shouldn't have to apologize for not writing.  So, I'm not.  I love that you're here reading this, and I'm sorry if you were disappointed that I hadn't posted.  Somehow, I'm not thinking that there was much disappointment out there.  ;0)

So - I could talk about what we've been up to lately, but that's boring.  I mean really - I'm bored just remembering it.  

I got to thinking.  I am working on planning a baby shower.  It got me to thinking about parenthood. What's it like to be a parent?  I recently told a co-worker that being a parent is like being on the longest baby-sitting job ever.  And I wish these kids' parents would come pick them up soon.

I really think that being a parent is one of the hardest things I've ever done, if not THE hardest.  It takes patience, knowledge, the balls to try new things, patience, love, hugs, patience, frustration and patience.  My kids don't always behave the way that they should, or even the way that I would like for them to behave.  They don't eat the food I make, or the food I buy.  They wear clothes that make them look like they are covered head to toe in pepto bismol.  They make me yell and they make me laugh.  It's kinda awesome.

But, back to the beginning.  As noted earlier, a friend of mine is pregnant.  This is her first.  I have been excited for her to have kids for awhile and was excited when she told me she was pregnant.  (This is how/when I learned that pregnancy IS exciting, as long as its not me that's pregnant.)  When she told me, she was less than thrilled about this new development and felt bad about that, like she should be sprouting rainbows from her palms and roses out of her butt now that she's pregnant.  If you have kids, do you remember the first time you found out you were pregnant?  I do.  I burst into tears.  I was terrified.  Prior to this, it was exciting, would I get pregnant?  Is it eve possible?  What will pregnancy be like?  Then, that evil little pee stick has a plus sign and now what? HOLY CRAP!!!  NOW WHAT?!?!?!

I could totally understand where she was coming from. One of the things I learned after my first pregnancy is that pregnancy sucks, but there is an awesome end - a baby.  That little baby was the best/coolest thing I ever did

It's kind of the same as parenting.  Parenting will make you throw up, be abusively angry for little to no reason, make you clean and re-decorate furiously.  Parenting will make your hair turn gray and wrinkles to suddenly appear on your face.  Parenting will make you embarrassed over things you can't control, and make you want to control them even more.  Parenting is something you can't hide, and secretly love.

I love my kids - they are the brightest, somewhat well-behaved, most beautiful (yes, I'm partial) kids in the world.  I really do love this parenting adventure that we are on.

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While I wasn't here, here are some of the things that we have been up to:

I've been rocking out on Words with Friends.  Some of my better scores.

Tony had a birthday and is happily 32!  Happy Birthday to my tonsil-less man!

Mother-Daughter Manicures.

Olivia lost another tooth and left a note for the tooth fairy.  She is a note-writing fool!

I cleaned my fridge.

Mia ran her head right into my face and busted my lip.  My chin is fine - that's just the lighting.

We went to the city and did some touristy things.  Here's Mia by the bean.

Welcome back...

So, you may or may have not noticed a bit of a break I took.  Well, let me tell you what's been going on:

Tony had his tonsils removed and his deviated septum fixed.  He had the surgery last Thursday, and he is really starting to feel better now.  He said it wasn't better until they took the stent out of his nose and he could breathe.  But, he's doing better every day and went back to work for the first time yesterday.

Open windows with the nice weather

That class that I told you about?  The one that was kicking my ass?  I dropped it.  And, am giving myself a self-imposed break until September, when I will attempt this class again.  Am I a quitter?  I don't think so.  I like to think of myself as a realist that was able to withdraw with dignity and live to fight another day.  And, I will change up my tactics so that I can pass this class on my second go-round.

Artwork my mom sent me.  Entitled "Craze"  By Bailey Arnold

Olivia needs to get her tonsils taken out too.  I am prepping her for the pain so that she is not surprised and can hopefully deal with it.  I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to take it when she is wheeled away from me in the hospital, or when she is in pain afterwards.  So, I am prepping myself as well so that I don't completely give in to the inner drama queen.

The lost Kardashian

I am working towards hitting 35 lbs gone.  Because of this, I have come to a strange state with my work pants - they are all either WAY too big, or just a tad too small.  So, I am wearing skirts to work and my kids are totally impressed.  Now mommy's a princess too!

All the work necessities

My brother is in town again!!!!  He is playing Roger in Rent (I think that's the character's name, but I could be wrong).  He's here into the summer and I couldn't be happier to see him!  We've even been into the city to have dinner with him on a Monday night!!  This was out of the norm, because it's not like we're in our 20's without kids anymore.

Bros

We are planning a number of road trips this summer: Albuquerque, Kansas, Mississippi and New Orleans.  Will we be able to do all of that?  Yes - we're going to make it happen!!!

Cari is graduating high school in May!  Congratulations Cari!!!

My little sis

One of my friends in pregnant and I am hoping to work with her mom to plan my first baby shower this summer.  I'm really excited about this!

Tony and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary later this year.  I am planning a fun weekend in Chicago, without the kiddos.  I can't wait!

Easter is hosted at our house.  We are prepping for feasts and company!  Derrick, we'll have lots of leftover ham if you want some.

We need to plan a birthday party for Olivia.  What is a good party idea for an eight year old girl? And speaking of Olivia, she lost another tooth this week and left a note for the tooth fairy asking if she was real and what she did with the teeth?  I wrote back saying that the tooth fairy is real and that she uses the teeth to make pretty necklaces.  Which she then sells to fund all the gifts for Christmas.  What do you tell your kids about these not real people when they ask?

The latest letter to the tooth fairy

Is spring as busy for you?  What do you have going on right now?

I have to go now - Olivia and are going to have a girls day today, and I need to shower!