I'm here, but I'm snarky, snippy and pissy so I figured it best that I avoid blogging. We are back from a nice weekend camping. Dance recitals are officially done. Footloose finishes this weekend for Maggie. We leave for vacation with family next week. So, for today, I am cleaning this pit and hauling more stuff down to the neighborhood association dumpster that we have for a short bit. Already tossed - some old patio chairs, the old Weber grill(rest in peace), one shower door (the other shattered in my hands, niiiiiiccccce), an old play kitchen, the Little Tykes table, and the old ironing board.

I do have a plan for dinner so I'll call it a successful day and move along.

Let me preface this post in my best Arnold Sch. voice from Kindergarten Cop, I'M NOT PREGNANT. BUT you would think I am with the major nesting going on these last couple of weeks.

It all started a couple of weeks ago when I decided to conquer the boys closet and that began the Great Clothes Shuffle 2009.


I moved on to the kitchen and family room area last week. Tossing junk piles o' nothingness, cleaning windows inside & out, dusting light fixtures, clearing the countertops (haven't seen that granite in a while). It sorta feels like I've lost ten pounds, don't I wish!

So, this weekend I jumped into Amanda's room. The clothes shuffle was the trigger b/c she had stuff to hang but no hangers available. More tossing of clothes involved along with emptying major toys like the Dora Kitchen and the makeup thing. There is a God! I can be rid of these chunky eye sores. We gutted everything down to the bedside drawer......dress-up clothes, books, doll stuff, moved furniture, vacuumed corner dust bunnies.

I started a list of stuff that needs to be done in hopes that when Collin gets a free minute (ha!ha!) he can just do things like repaint her door. Got another list going of things to make life better like a shoe cubby for her closet and a new lampshade.

As of now I feel like I've lost 20 pounds with all the donation stuff and trash going out the door. Why are those pounds still on my behind?

So I realize that it seems I've disappeared, I haven't. I have loads of blog posts swirling in my brain and no time to just get to it. We've had school projects to finish, our school's closing party, Field Day, Music Man rehearsals, Ian's bittersweet last day of preschool, and many, many hours of volunteering to help pack the school library (we are closing and moving locations). Enjoy these assorted photos that I've promised for months.

Sean as Thomas Jefferson for Famous Americans

Mr. BBQ tailgating at our Angels team night



Maggie turned 11


Ian and Amanda chillin' during movie night in the living room and is joined by our insanely goofy dog Fritz. This is how he lays ALL the time; funniest dog ever.
And last, but not least, my beloved Mother's Day gift. I am in love with this appliance. My kids love it too b/c I am always making something with it. I couldn't have been happier.

Learning to appreciate the little things like perfectly mixed icing from scratch and lots of homemade banana bread with added flax meal (shhhhh, don't tell my kids).