Tech Troubles

Hey all!  I'm just popping in to let you all know that my laptop is dead.  My tech guy (Michael) is trying to work on it, but I'm not holding out much hope.  It might have actually bit the dust for good this time.  Either way, "texting" an entire blog message is not something I'm too interested in.  So I'm not sure when I'll be back to posting regularly.  Hopefully soon!

Five (or six) For Friday

The organizing and down sizing continues!  In the first six weeks of being here, I have made $128 at Once Upon a Child, $110 off of Facebook, and $170 at a consignment sale!  And that is just scratching the surface!  (In case you aren't familiar, you can only re-sell kids clothes during the current season.  So all fall and winter stuff has to wait.)  I haven't done much in the garage in the last week or two, but it's time to get back out there and keep going before it gets way too hot out!

I've also been organizing other things--like getting my email inbox from 2500+ down to 10.

I love organizing and decluttering! So while this process is a bit daunting at times, it makes my heart happy!

I actually got a job at Target, and I'm pretty happy about it.  There are a lot of "fun" places I would like to work--another cupcake store, the teacher store, a children's consignment store, a craft store...but all those places close pretty early.  I can't get to work until 5:30 or 6, so a place that closes at 7 or 8 is just not going to work for me.  So I had to think of another place that I would enjoy, but would be open later.  I also considered what place would benefit me (discount)?!  Target!  I know there are some people that think I'm "above" Target.  Yes. I have a degree and could do more.  My dear sweet husband thinks I should start my own business... or run the world. ;)  But I run MY world every day!  I don't want to use my degree or work with kids or take on the huge responsibility of running my own business.  I just want to show up, do a mindless job, have a break from whiny/clingy kids (yep. I said it.), and make a little extra money in the process.  My kids are 3 and 1, so this is where I am at in my life right now.  And I am perfectly fine with it.

I will be working two to three nights a week.  I had orientation last Tuesday.  I was "trained" on Wednesday.  And by trained, I mean I observed for an hour and then got thrown on a register all by myself because the lines were long.  Awesome.  I have worked a handful of times since, and it seems to be going well.

For the month of March we had to pay for THREE houses.  Our tenant moved out of our condo.  She had been there 3 years, was a great tenant, but was ready to move on.  Her lease was up, so there was no scandal there. (It's crazy the questions some people have!)  We still had to pay for our rental house in Ohio even though we weren't there.  It was part of the 60 notice we had to give.  We tried to see if they could rent it out sooner to help us out, but they weren't being very gracious. Then we had to pay rent for our place here in TX.  So three house payments... and three different utility bills.  To say it was an expensive month is putting it mildly.  But it is April!  We have a new renter in our condo (yay!), we are completely done with the house in Ohio and should have our deposit returned to us by the end of the month, and things at our house here are going well.  This is a relief.  It's always scary waiting for a renter.  Thankfully this time it only took us two months instead of 8!  Onward and upward! :)

Olivia has been eating chicken!!  It's a Christmas miracle, as Michael says. :)  She hasn't eaten meat for nearly two years.  Like NONE.  She wouldn't even eat Chick-fil-a nuggets!  But she has found out that she loves sauce and that chicken nuggets/fingers aren't all that bad. When we went out to eat with our gift card last week, she actually ordered the chicken strip kids meal and ate almost all of it!  Progress!

A few years ago I read a blog about how a mom loved these Old Navy shoes for her son.  I picked up a pair for Olivia that spring.  We loved them so much, that I have bought her a new pair every spring for the last 3 years.  (Along with an Old Navy pair of jellies). They are great because they are close toed, which sometimes you just need when playing outside.  They let the air in so the feet can breathe.  They are cute and super easy to clean. Plus, she really likes them.

Funny thing is, this year I have seen no less that THREE blogs write about Natives from Nordstrom.  I'm sure the Old Navy shoes are just a knock off.  But I am so glad I pay $10 to $13 for a pair as opposed to $39-$44. :)  I'm going to keep buying them each spring for as long as Old Navy keeps making them!

We went over to our friend's house last week for dinner.  Michael and John went to high school together, and we both moved to Texas within the same year.  Michael stayed at John and Alison's house for the month before the kids and I moved down here.  They have three children.  Olivia love Avery and Jordyn (the girls), and have asked to go to their house numerous times since our first visit.  So she was ecstatic to go back.  We have had some not so nice encounters with other children and play dates in the past (that is a story in and of itself!).  It was a breath of fresh air to be around sweet, kind, and loving little girls. They all played so well together. Texas is going to be good for our kiddos!

Playing Outside

We had a fun day playing out back last week.

Logan couldn't keep the bubble machine alone!

Bubbles!

I brought the car out back for Logan to use, but Olivia used it more.

She did give him a little push... until he started trying to climb out while the car was still moving. :)

Even though our sand table has a lid, inevitably it gets filled up with water every time it rains.  So our sand table turned into mud table is great fun for these guys.

and then since we were already a hot mess we just added a little water table into the mix.

Michael and Olivia took the magnifying glass and went looking for bugs.

The kids went right in to the bath tub.  But they had fun.

Wordless Wednesday-- Style

14 Months--Logan

This cutie turned 14 months last week!

I mean... those dimples and that smile! :)

He is not a baby any more.  He is a cute little toddler who is learning and exploring and growing daily!  I thought I'd give a little update.

 

Remotes!

I weighed him the other day, and he is back up to 23 pounds.

Like I've said, most of his summer clothes are 18 months (or 12 to 18 months), but he really fits into size 12 month clothes better.

He is still in size 4 diapers.

He wears size 12 to 18 month pedipeds/size 4 shoes.

He walks like a pro.  He pretty much never crawls anymore.

Often times he puts both hands behind his back when he walks, and it makes us crack up.

He has started dancing when he hears a good song. Also super cute!

He climbs EVERYTHING he can!  Yes, he did climb up that slide and then stood straight up.

He gets into everything he can.  If it is a small door, he will open it.  And then empty the contents of whatever was in it.

He loves shoes.  It doesn't matter whose they are.  He will find them and then carry them around.

Despite my joking, he actually does have some words.  Olivia had 40 words at 14 months.  We always knew that was "not normal", and never expected that any future children would do the same.  Logan has about 10 words.  Which actually is still on the higher side for his age.  He's just not always consistent with them.  The things he does say are: mama, boppa, ball, sissy (which sounds like 'tissy'), up, bye bye, nigh night, hello (while holding an object to his ear like a phone), uh oh, and thank you.

He also signs "eat", "more", and "milk".

He pretty much eats anything we give him.  If Olivia doesn't eat her food, we give it to him. :)  I joke that he is just like Michael.  He LOVES meat, but does not prefer pasta. ;)

He eats three meals a day, and sometimes has a snack.  He still drinks almond milk three times a day.  I remember at Olivia's 15 month appoint that they said she should only be having milk twice instead of 3 times, so that is what we are working towards.  He LOVES his milk, though.  So that's hard.

He still only has the same 8 teeth he's had for months.  I'm just assuming they are all going to come in at the same time. Fun.

His sleep schedule is much of the same.  He goes to bed anywhere between 7 and 8.  He wakes up around 7 each morning.  He still takes two naps, although I'm sure he will be giving up his morning one soon.

He loves balls!  That is his toy of choice. He also loves anything with wheels.  But he's pretty happy to play with remotes or anything else he shouldn't be playing with!  He also likes to play with his sissy.

When Olivia was his age, we were pretty careful about what and how much TV she watched.  She maybe got one show a day and even then it wasn't daily.  Now that big sister watches TV it is on much more.  But he couldn't care less.  Sometimes I actually wish that the TV did entertain him.  He just has no interest in it whatsoever.

He is just my sweet, cuddly, sensative little guy and I love him to pieces!! He may be a *tad* bit more needy that I would prefer, but we'll get there.  They are only little once, right! ;)

Hope Park

A friend recently posted a link to the "50 Best Playgrounds in America" and Hope Park in Frisco was #14 on the list!  We actually went to the park years ago before it was redone, and then again before moving.  You may remember many splash pad photos from our days there a few summers ago! :)

The weather was great on Saturday, so we decided to take the kids.  There are many parks closer to us, but none that are as good.  Plus, I knew that there were two parts. One section for bigger kids and one section for smaller kid, and I wanted to make sure there was stuff for Logan to do.

We packed a picnic lunch and ate before playing.

At first we were separated.  Logan and I went to the sensory wall and Michael was with Olivia.

Playing music!

Stinker won't wear his hat or sunglasses!

He loves to crawl through/under things, so this was great for him!

He thought peeking under here was hilarious!

A park where there are things for Logan to do too (and not insist on being held the entire time!) is an A+ in my book!!

Yee-haw!

We gave the swings another shot.  He actually liked it at first and was giggling, but he was whining before long.  At least we made progress! ;)

CUTIE!

We finally got Olivia to join us.  She likes hopscotch!

She was serving us snow cones. :)

We left the park and headed to get snow cones.

Because that's what you do in Texas. ;)

Then we all went home and took a ridiculously long nap. (Some more than others--I think my napping days are over.)