Kitchen Makeover!

I am so excited to be getting a kitchen makeover. Well, makeover is a big word to use when we really arent doing much at all. We just need a little more space to move in the kitchen and some new countertops. The countertops that were here when we bought the house were granite tiles. They were not put on very good and kept popping off and the countertops as a whole was very uneven from tile to tile. So, we decided to change it up.

Here is a before shot.

Notice all the edge tiles that are missing? They literally just popped right off and so did pretty much the whole countertop.

We have decided to move this cabinet space against the wall so that we have more room thru the kitchen. We will loose a tiny bit of cabinet space but it shouldnt matter since we didnt really need/use it before.

We will need to eventually redo the floors as now we have a gap missing from where the cabinet was. But, I am having a garage sale this weekend so hopefully we can get the $ to do that sooner rather then later.

Matthew works with a guy on his off day from chuch doing some remodling stuff. He is going to be able to get us the countertops for a great deal. Hopefully we can have those done the end of the week.

Thankfully, it was washable!

Matthew walked out of our room this evening to lovely blue marker all over the hall walls. I was downstairs nursing the baby and when Colton came down i noticed he had a blue marker but it was closed and he didnt seem guilty.  BOY OH BOY, was i wrong! Thankfully it came off perfectl with a wet rag. ALL Coton wants to do is draw these days maybe he will be our artistic one!

Thoughts

- Colton has a thing with saying " hey somebody listen to me" "hey somebody i need help" "hey somebody im hungry"...even when its just me and/or matthew in the room!

- Tinsleys favorite new word is "dog" she rounds her lips and puckers them out when she says it! shes adorable!

- Westin has started rolling from back to stomach. but gets his hand caught under him and gets mad

- The doctor told me I could start feeding Westin food but that is so far off my radar. I want him to be my baby forever! ha! Maybe around 6months or so, we will see!

- Me, my mom, and sisters are going to NYC the end of April! My sister Chrissi has a buisness trip and we are tagging along for a few days! I am so beyond excited!

- We also found out we get to go to Disney in September with my whole family! CANT WAIT!

- If I had to pick a career for Jr right now, at 4, it would be a professional baseball player. Thats all he wants to do. All the time! And, hes pretty awesome!

- i would love to see moms supporting each other more. there is way too much judgment out there that doesnt need to happen. NO ONE is the perfect mother. NO ONE!

- I have to ask my kids for forgiveness daily. its very humbling. thankful for how God uses thier sweet little lives to teach me everyday!

- I would rather cook then bake, that being said, i dont like to cook. but i do it!

- I had to go to the doctor today to get a shot and we were there for 20 min (and being very loud and whiney) before they told me that they didnt have my shot and i would have to come back tomorrow. AWESOME! 

- i am not kidding when i say my 4month old sat up on his own for about 7-10seconds this morning. it has yet to happen again!

- pollen = yucky

- i shaved jr's head last night and 1/2 way thru he decided he didnt want it cut. trying to shave a 4yr olds head while he thrashes around is very difficult. i was sweating bullets by the time we were done!

- tinsley is so funny bossing her brothers around. she lets them know whos boss and they go right along with it.

- i started weightwatchers and in the first week i lost 3 lbs....hopfully next week shows the same results. after being pregnant/nursing for almost 5yrs i have about 30-40 lbs i need to loose.

- this is how we wake up every morning. i am squeezed on the edge by the wall and jr. its cozy around here!

Our Little Artist

We started an art project with the kids! Heres the begining....

And, heres what mommy and daddy look like after painting 4 little ones hands....

They had more fun painting us then painting thier hands! We are still not done but we are making progress and having fun while doing it!

Saturday

This is my last post of " a week in the life" and its a great one to end on.

We had tball this morning so we were out the door at 10 to go play the tigers. the boys did great. it got hot towards the end and colton decided he didnt want to play so he took his hat and glove off and waited in the shade!

We then ran home and I ran inside and made sandwiches to go. We were off to go get a grill (or girl as the boys say..ha!) for the church cookout tomorrow and put the church sign out. then off to a car wash the 5th graders were doing to raise money for the "imagine" campaign. we got ours washed and they did an awesome job.

we finally made it back home just in time to make bean dip and head out the door to matthews parents house. matthews cousin Jonathan is joining the Navy so we were having a little party to spend time with him. it was sooo much fun. we had yummy lasagna and then spent the rest of the night in the yard playing baseball and enjoying time with family.

 we bathed all the kids at yaya and pops so when we got home it was off to bed. they were all asleep within 10min of walking in the door!

Friday

Matthew headed out about 6am to work with his buddy Steve doing some painting. Colton was up at 6 as well with no sign of going back to sleep. Me and him headed down stairs and ate breakfast and turned on the news. He doozed off around 8 for about 20min but then was up and at it again. Jr got up around 930 and Tinsley was up at 10. Everyone had breakfast and started playing.

We spent the day at home. Playing outside. doing laundry. cleaning bathrooms. cleaning dishes. doing more laundry. playing outside! It was a productive day for all. Matthew got home around 330 and he showered and we all got finished getting ready and we were out the door.

We headed down to matthews parents house, Pops and Yaya. They watched the kids for us while we went to dinner and to the prayer time we were having at the office. This whole week has been a week of prayer for Cedarcrest Church as we are in the middle of our "Imagine" series about the future building plans. GOD is truly AMAZING! It is so awesome how He has worked and is continuing to work in and thru the leadership of Cedarcrest and the people of Cedarcrest! Its an exciting time!

After the meeting we had gotten a txt from my mother in law that said " we are good no rush w and t are in bed boys will bathe soon then a movie. enjoy some time alone when you are done"...so we did just that. we headed to hibbett sports and target to look for a few things. It was nice to run errands without little ones along!

we got back and got the kids and headed home to get in bed. it took the boys and tinsley all of 2 seconds to fall asleep and once westin was fed he wasnt far behind. Thankful for a productive day and a date night!

Thursday!

Today is Westin bugs 4 month birthday! WOW! Its true, these days go by way way way to fast. It started off a good day. We all got up and I actually got a shower before Matthew had to leave to go get Jr to school. Today Matthew had to run errands to Guitar Center so he took Colton with him. It was just me and Tmae and the baby.

We headed out about 10 to get to Westins well check at 1020. He was such a good boy and laughed and talked to the doctor and nurses. Tinsley was halarious and was trying to steal all the attention. As soon as a nurse would start talking to Westin and giving him attention, she would go to them and hit on thier leg and when they would look at her she would point to her nose and start laughing and snorting. She is a mess!

Westin weighes 15.3lbs and is 50% for weight and 25% for hieght! He had to get 2 shots and one by mouth. Poor guy doesnt do shots well and was just pitiful on the way home until I could get some tylenol in him. I must say that it is easier having the boys there with me because they can help with Tinsley and keep her entertained. She was all over the place and is just busy busy busy!

 Colton had fun with daddy. After they were done we all met back up at the house for lunch. I made some cheese quasadillas. Matthew then headed out to meet a guy he works with at Costco to get lots of hot dogs, water, chips, and condiments for the prayer service we are having on the property Sunday after church.

Me and the kiddos headed out to get Jr from school. After we got him we scooted on over to the office to see Mimi for a bit and the boys wanted a sucker. We hung out around the office for about an hour or more. Got to see daddy again and then went home to get Tinsley down for a little nap. Westin finally got comfortable enough to nap as well.

While the babies napped Jr and Colton played outside and ate a snack. Matthew got home early and had to do some construction work making light boxes for the stage. So, the boys of course stayed outside with him and helped him and played in the dirt. I got dinner ready and cleaned up the house a bit.

When I went to get the boys for dinner I about passed out at how bad they smelled! ha! they had been sweating and playing in the dirt and saw dust all afternoon long so I made them get a bath before dinner. While I was bathing the boys (with big boy soap and shampoo bc they smelled so bad!) Matthew grilled the pork chops. We then got Tinsley up and we all hung out on the back porch and watched as the rain cloud rolled in and we could hear distant thunder. Westin was still asleep. His shots really did him in!

We ate a yummy dinner and got it all cleaned up and then I was out the door for bible study. I meet with a group of 4 AWESOME girls every Thursday. This week we met at Menchies! When they closed we were still going strong so we opened up my trunk and got out lawn chairs we had in our cars and sat in the parking lot to finish up. It was funny! I am so thankful for each of them and what they teach me and how they keep me in check!

While I was gone Matthew got Tmae bathed and her and Colton in the bed. Jr wouldnt fall asleep so he stayed up and helped with Westin by feeding him and keeping him entertained! I got home around 1015 and we wtached the news. Got Westin to bed and then me, Matthew and Jr layed down and eventually fell asleep. We talked to Jr for a bit. I LOVE late night talking with my boys. It is such a sweet time and I learn a lot about them. When we stopped talking it only took Jr about 2 seconds to fall asleep! I was not too far behind him and Matthew had already fallen asleep during all the talking! ha!

Wednesday

It was a HOT day today. A BEAUTIFUL day today!  A great day to go play with cousins. After eating a yummy breakfast of cheese eggs and biscuts we headed out the door to go play with my sister Aunt bob and her boys, Jakson and Henry. Our friend Alaina and her precious boy Zion were there as well.

 It was an awesome day to send the boys outside to play and get nice and dirty. My sister has a big playground in their backyard but what did the boys find to play in?!? A big mud hole. We went to check on them and they were covered in head to toe dirt and mud. It was awesome becuase Jakson and Colton could care less that they were dirty. Jr was a little more cautious and just had dirt on his legs and hands. They probably spent over and hour in the mud pit having fun!

 After rinsing them off and feeding them a pizza picnic they came inside and got bathed. Tinsley had fun playing inside with Henry and the babies while the boys played outside. Next Aunt Bob pulled out the fun water table and they spent another hour or so playing on the porch and throwing water at one another.

They were getting nice and tired so then they came in and relaxed on the couch watching cartoons and playing Wii Mario Cart. Matthew had texted me and asked for us to come eat dinner with him. He has bible study on Wednesday nights and doesnt get home till around 10 so he wanted us to come eat dinner so he could see the kids for a bit today. We left Aunt Bobs and ran thru Sonic and headed to the office to eat with daddy. We then headed home and played outside for a bit longer.

Yaya and Pops swung by to get the trailer from our house so Pops could go get the lawnmower tomorrow. After they left we went inside. Took baths. Got in bed. Fed the baby. Put him in bed. Now I am folding laundry and watching tv waiting on my man to get home! Another wonderful day in the books!

Tuesday

I DID NOT want to get out of bed this morning. But, when you have 4 hungry little ones begging for breakfast then you find the strength to get up and going! The boys wanted cereal so I made them cereal, fed Tinsley oatmeal, and then nursed the baby.

I got Jr ready for school and him and Matthew headed out the door about 915 for school. Its so nice that Matthew can drop Jr at school on his way to work. I am so thankful for that.

The rest of the morning me and the 3 little ones did laundry, cleaned the kitchen, played with dinosaurs and ate some lunch before heading to get Jr. We had to get Jr by 130 but Im always in line by 1pm. That way we can be one of the first and head home to get Tinsley down for a nap.

Tinsley and Westin napped and me and the boys got dinner in the crockpot and the boys wrestled for a long time and laughed a whole lot! Tinsley woke up and I decided to give all the kids a bath. I bathed Westin first and put him down for another nap while I bathed the others. My kids absolutly LOVE bath time. It keeps us occupied for a while!

After getting cleaned we headed downstairs and were waiting on daddy to get home. He was over at AHS helping the drama teacher with some stuff and didnt realize what time it was so by 6 when we hadnt heard from him we decided to go ahead and eat without him because we were starving! A little after 6 he called and was headed home!

When he got home he ate and I took a quick shower. We then headed out the door to go to our friend Steves house to get some tools matthew is borrowing and then headed to Menchies. The boys were so good today and made very "good decisions" (coltons favorite words) so we treated them to some good ole menchies! It was the perfect end to a wonderful day and was great weather to enjoy our yogurt outside!

Headed to kroger for gas and then went home for bedtime! Everyone is now in bed except Jr who refuses to fall asleep so he is helping me with laundry and singing/dancing for us! He's a mess!

Monday

Today started off nice and relaxing. The boys woke me up at about 830 and we got Westin up and headed downstairs for breakfast. I had to lock Matthew in our room so he could sleep and not be disturbed. He got home around 1130pm last night and had basically been gone since 330am besides tball. He usually takes Mondays off since he works Sundays but for the past few weeks he has only had Saturdays off since he started working with his friend Steve doing some remodeling stuff. We were so happy he took today off to be home and relax with his family! We decided to wake him up at around 12 so we could go have a picnic at the park.

After eating and thankfully finding some jackets in the back of the car, we headed over to the playground to play for a bit. It is always so fun to watch the kids play and get dirty.

We then headed home to nap and rest. Tinsley and Westin nap but the boys just chill out for a bit and watch a movie or cartoons. Today they played on the porch for a while and then watched some cartoons. Colton started to fall asleep but I woke him up with a bath. If he falls asleep he wont go to bed good at night for us.

After rest time we turned on the oven to heat up some pizza for dinner. The boys love pizza so tonight was a leftover kind of night. It was yummy and easy! We then made a grocery list and headed to walmart. The kids did good so on the way out we let them ride a "hotrod". They loved this part but we majorly sanitized after this ride! ha!

Colton pitched a huge fit on the way out of walmart because we wouldnt let him get candy in one of the machines. So when we got home me and Jr cooked some cookies but Colton couldnt have one because of his " bad decision" he made earlier. They were yummy!

For the rest of the night we played and laughed a lot. It was a good day with daddy home and getting to spend special time with him. The boys have missed him and got so excited this morning when they found out daddy was going to be home "ALL DAY LONG" (they would yell this and then laugh and smile so big)!

A Week in the Life...

This week I wanted to do a post a day on what we do! Years from now looking back I want to remember what this season of life was like for us. I never want to forget the good times and the bad times the fun times and the tantrums. 

Sunday:
     Sundays always start out kind of crazy. Matthew leaves between 330/4am to head to the office and then to move trailers and start set up at church.
     I got up around 630 to get myself ready before getting the kids up. After getting all the kids up and dressed we ate breakfast, fed the baby and were out the door to church around 830. Sundays we are at church from about 9am till 130/2 after teardown.
     Today we headed home to get ready for Tball. Matthew grabbed lunch on the way home and the boys scarfed it down and headed out the door while Tmae and Westin slept and I got a short nap in as well.
     The boys were home an hour later and Matthew was off again to church. He had to go back to move trailers and get ready for the prayer service we had tonight.
    Around 5 me and the kids headed to downtown Kennesaw to play and picnic and watch the trains. My mom and dad met us for a bit and we had so much fun. We saw 4 trains in the 2 hours we were there. The boys LOVED it.
     Me and the kiddos then headed to Publix and grabbed a pizza for dinner. Went home and ate dinner. Put Tinsley to bed and let the boys stay up a bit and play. Finally got them down around 830. Fed the baby and put him down around 930.
     Now I am relaxing and waiting on Matthew to get home. It was a very long and fun day. I love being able to spend special time with my kids and watching thier faces when they get so excited about a train or sliding down a big slide for the first time! I did have to break up the boys a few times today but for the most part we were tantrum free today! I think they were to tired from the daylight savings time! ha!

Goooo Rangers!

Tball 2012 is off to a great start! Both boys are playing this year and it is so fun to watch! I love being mommy to my boys! The first game was Sunday. Colton did great until the first at bat and he decided he didnt want to play and screamed for 10min. It was awesome! Jr did awesome. He had 1 little episode because he was kicking the dirt and the coach told him not to and he got embarrassed and when he gets embarrassed he cries. Once that passed and Colton deided he wanted to play it was so fun! They batted back to back and we were cheering loud and proud for them! Its going to be a fun season. We are enjoying it this year because next season if they want to continue to play then they will have to be in seperate leauges. One tball and one coach pitch. So we are thankful for the 1 season of 1 game and 1 practice.

My "middle" children!

Colton and Tinsley. #2 and #3 out of our 4! My "middle" children!

They are halarious together. They take care of each other. They love each other. They pick on each other.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays they get to spend extra special time with one another. Jr is at school these mornings and Westin takes a good long nap in the mornings. So, these 2 loves get to play together and fight together and love each other!

They truly do love each other because between all my kids they are the 2 that pick on each other the most. Its hard to explain but their relationship is just differant then all the others. It is special! They are special! They, together, make me laugh so much.

Colton will be playing with his cars and lining them up in a row and Tinsley will be watching carefully, then Tinsley will sneak on over grab one of the cars as quick as she can and turn as fast as she can and run the other direction laughing the whole way. Colton will scream and chase after her until he gets the car back and Tinsley will continue laughing the whole time! Its so funny to watch!

Whenever they are upstairs playing together and Tinsley comes down, Colton cries for her to come back up and play. He doesnt like to be alone and hearing him ask for his baby sister to come play with him so he feels safe is the sweetest thing. I LOVE these two and I LOVE watching them interact with each other!