Things I Did Over Fall Break

I think most moms feel like they don't have enough time.  The things on my never ending list are items such as painting, which you need a good chunk of time to complete AND you do not need (or want) little hands helping you with this chore.  

We use breaks from school to really cram in a bunch of stuff.  I always try to balance the fun with the no so fun and still try to carve out some hours to sit on the couch and watch DVR.  

Here is what we were able to accomplish over fall break: 

1. Went to California. 

2. Touched up my baseboards.  My children LOVE to run their trucks, bikes, cars, who knows what else, into the wall.  It was looking trashy.  Then 30 seconds after I cleaned everything up, Charlie rammed a toy directly into the baseboard.  Someday we will have nice things again. 

3. Cleaned the playroom.  I got rid of SO MUCH stuff.  And yet we still have so much stuff?  Paul and I have different breaks, so I did this little task while he was at school.  Winning.  He of course came home and didn't notice one thing was gone.  

4.  Took Paul to the dentist to fill the 2nd cavity.  Actually Ryan did this because I could not handle it.  And it went just as bad the 2nd time as the first.  And the next day the dentist called and said Paul had somehow won the raffle from the waiting room for a big stuffed lion.  Obviously this win was rigged because they probably felt bad for us and Paul that he screamed his head off for 30 minutes. But he was excited about the lion so maybe he won't hate the dentist for the rest of his life??

5. Carved pumpkins.  I thought this would be a fun activity.  It was for Ryan and I.  Charlie lost interested in about 23 seconds and Paul thought the seeds and guts were disgusting.  

6. Celebrated Halloween.  Lots of candy around here.  Even Charlie tries to sneak some when I'm not looking! 

7. Went to the museum of Nature and Science.  We met up with other friends to get the wiggles of fall break out.  There is so much to to see and the boys LOVE it, I even asked for a membership for Christmas! 

8. Binged watched Madam Secretary.  After the first episode I wasn't so sure, but after I watched 4 in a row I really like it! Thank you DVR.  

9. Had dinner with a friend.  Fall break is great opportunity to go OUT to dinner, catch up with friends, have a beer and enjoy the fact you don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn the next day.  Even though your children won't get the message. 

10. Enjoyed my boys.  I love the snuggles on the couch, the building of towers, listening to Paul's 45 minute stories,  the slower mornings and just being with my family.  

Painting bathroom is on my list for Winter Break (yes, Ryan I am serious).  Anything on your house list?

Fall Break California Style Part One

I am not sure Ryan and I travelled anywhere for fall break?  Usually we are at home doing lots of projects or a whole bunch of nothing, which is always nice and important.  But this year my mom found some really cheap tickets to Santa Barbara, CA (where her and my dad grew up and where plenty of my extended family lives) and we decided to do a very small trip over break.  We only travelled Saturday to Monday but it was so nice to get out of dodge and play at the beach with my favorite little dudes!  

Our flight didn't leave until Saturday afternoon so I went to yoga and we had plenty of time to pack, write the instructions for the dog sitter and get ready!  

Paul insisted on bringing his hat.  This is the only time he wore it. #ofcourse

We arrived just a touch early, so Ryan and I indulged in some red beer (it's healthy because it involved tomato juice, yes?) 

The kids were excited to be at the airport and were being super cute: 

Luckily the plane ride was uneventful.  Charlie fell asleep.  Paul looked out the window, played with his cars, and watched a show on the ipad.  

We arrived and were only a few minutes away from our hotel. The boys ran around like crazy people and checked everything out.  

We then had a dinner with all our aunts/uncles/cousins and grandparents that were in town.  It was crazy and loud but fun to see people we haven't seen in awhile.  I realized I had not been to Santa Barabra since Paul was 2 months old.  He is now 4 1/2.  Oops.  

All the grandkids and great grandkids that were in town!

I love how Paul is looking at Grandma Zena! 

We came back to the hotel and had some more wine with Buck and Kascie!  The kids did great in the hotel room and were PUMPED for the beach the next day!  Come back tomorrow for LOTS more pictures! 

Today for fall break adventures I am going to clean out our playroom and THROW some stuff away!!  

Friday Favorites!

Well I have to say, the thing I am most excited about today is FALL BREAK!! 

In just a few short hours I will be celebrating with a Bud Light.  ONE WEEK off.  No where to be, no one to answer to, just hanging out with my favorite dudes.  Of course I have some plans.  Like get a pedicure.  And clean our baseboards.  Seriously, that is on my list.  But mostly I want to read and play and enjoy the boys!

Good things I've read this week: 
1. This article about firepitting your marriage and children- always saving the "good" stuff for when you have friends over.  This really hit home for me!

2. Bad at something?  Do it anyway! Loved this and it had the "F" word quite a bit!

3. This made me cry.  Be nice to yourself and enjoy life- What the dying really regret.

I read this book in a day and a half.  I couldn't put it down.  It is depressing and amazing all in one! Check it out!!

We are getting a new library in our town which is much needed, and this week they had a special story hour at the site where the new library will go.   The mayor read a story about Construction and then the kids received plastic hard hats and got to dig in little pools of gravel for BOOKS!  Talk about an adventure.  Then they all were lifted up into a bulldozer to honk the horn.  A very good day that combined the two favorites of my children: books and dirt! 

Finally we had parent teacher conferences last night and of course I spent 80 hours looking in front of my closet figuring out what to wear.  Thank the lord I have an iphone and can text mirror pictures of myself to girlfriends for outfit approval.  What did we do before technology??  I was worried the scarf (from Forever 21) was overwhelming, but I rocked it regardless!

Happy Weekend Everyone!