A few thoughts ...

A few errant thoughts for you ...
I want to cut my hair, again.
I am quite shallow and actually put myself to sleep with thoughts of sophisticated, fun haircuts.
So this is what I am thinking:

I definitely think I am going to do it. Soon.
Onto other unrelated news, this little beauty is for sale.
Alas, my sweet, pink hog is getting the 'ole heave-ho.
Not for any reason other than lack of use.
I have kids, a busy husband who spends the majority of his time at school, and no side-car. hehe
So we posted it on Craigslist. No takers yet. Anyone need a scooter named Hope?

And this one we did sell. Today. It only took Scott a few hours to get a bite on this one. The price must have been right. We are saying adios to him tomorrow. A very small man came to purchase him this evening. I am not sure how he will ride this beast of a bike. But I can't say I am sad to see this one go. I will admit I was super scared every time Scott took it out. (Not that I had no confidence in his driving, just other people.)

And all these transactions made this possible:*

Or at least a 1962 Thunderbird that needs a little TLC. It is Scott's "new" car. The supra is falling a-part! So our solution was to get an older car to replace it. But at least it is a car that has attitude. It's cool and the price was good.

So that is what is happening in our 'hood.
p.s. Sorry that this post is super lame. It is really muggy in our apartment and while that has nothing to do with the "cool" factor of this post, somehow it has everything to do with it. I cannot seem to compose a coherent thought. I am so uncomfortable. It is almost October for crying out loud.

* This is not the actual car sitting outside our apartment. But it is the same model and does look like this without the perfect shiny paint job.

The desk

So with the changing of seasons, I often get a new burst of motivation to tackle some projects that have been sitting on the back-burner (translation: I have finally worn Scott down enough to permit me to overhaul a piece of furniture that was "fine" before).
Case in point: the desk.
Barf.
It was a nondescript, old-lady, with curly-Q details, shiny, monstrosity.
It was "fine" according to my supportive hubby.
But for those of you who know me well, fine just isn't fine.
If I have to keep it, use it, and/or look at it, it has to be more than fine.
Plus, really, if I get an idea into my head, it will just fester until I bring it to fruition.
Scott is probably exasperatingly nodding his head.
And I got the idea into my head that the desk needed a little spruce.
And was I right or was I right? Just take a look for yourself:

Okay, it may actually look worse than usual because I had already emptied out it's contents and stripped the paint off one of the drawers. But I am sure you can get the idea of how hideous it was. So that was the "before."

This is me taking a picture, again, of myself as I slave over the eye sore at 10:30 p.m. Really this is not optimal painting procedure, seeing as it was super dark outside, but that is virtually the only time I have to really work without the kids running wild all over our parking lot. As you can see, excitement is evident. Right now I am thinking, "When is this going to be done?" and "I really need a shower because it has been a few days." (I become a little single-minded when involved in a project.)

This is the "after." I think it looks TOTALLY different. You may not notice the subtle differences, so allow me to point them all out. The embellishments are gone. The middle drawer has been removed (I think it opens it up, gives it a more contemporary look, and brings up the height). The desk is also two-toned now. I stripped the paint off the top and painted it an almond color, then sanded and painted the remainder of the desk a flat black.

After all that, I painted two coats of polyurethane on the top to protect it from wear. So that is that. It looks much better, to me, and I did it all by my lonesome. Next up: the dresser is getting a makeover as soon as it stops raining.

Things that make me happy

This week has been a good one.
Lots of things went my way.
So therefore, I will proceed to list off things that make me happy,
mostly because I want to show off.
So firstly, roses. Roses make me happy. Not only do fresh flowers add a little somethin' to my table, but they are even better when gifted from my husband FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER! Score.

Secondly, a clean house. This makes me really happy, particularly if it gets done early enough in the day to enjoy it before it gets deflowered by my family. Look at my zombie children watching Reading Rainbow. On cleaning day, they definitely get their fair share of PBS.

Thirdly, this lovely really-nice-indoor-outdoor-fabric-bought-for-super-duper-cheap-on-clearance. I salivate over the beautiful cobalt blue color and fun trellis pattern. And to top it off, I repurposed this once picnic tablecloth into pillows, all by my lonesome! I literally giggle with giddiness every time I walk into my living room. Yes, I am that lame. And no, it apparently doesn't take that much to make me happy.

This requires no explanation.
Although, it must be Lucerne from Safeway because it tastes the least low fat. And I have done extensive research. Swear.

This little face. And the fact that he is sitting with his legs tucked up inside his shirt. So cute, or so sad that I don't dress him in pants while at home and he may actually be cold. Sorry Ezzy.

And this little face too. Ryan is getting funnier and funnier every day. The other day while over dinner, she said, "Daddy, I need to tell you something." Scott replied, "yes?" And Ryan responded, "You're hairy." This was said in all seriousness, and with no prompting whatsoever from me. It almost came as an afterthought, like she'd been saving it all day and just remembered then. YEesh.

Anything related to organization makes me very happy. There is nothing better that emptying out your whole kitchen/desk/closet, throwing half of whatever objects are filling said space, and reorganizing it all. Just me? Alrighty then.

Great design. I love design. Someday I will decorate houses other than mine, and maybe even get paid to do it! I would love to get a Master's in interior design in the future. But until then, I will just keep pawing through every design magazine I can get my hands on, surfing the design blogosphere for far to long in the evening after the kiddies go to bed, and continue experimenting on our home. I love myself a good mixture of textures, prints, neutrals, and something industrial for fun, kinda like this:

So the morale of this post is really that I am happy. Life is hard and sad things happen but everyone has reasons to be happy. I feel blessed every day. Life is to be celebrated.

Summer is oooooover ....

Can I just say that I am really looking forward to the school year.
And it's not because Scott goes back to school and I get much more done and the kids aren't nearly so wound up ... okay it is that too.
But in all seriousness, I crave the normalcy and schedules that typically accompany the new year.
I can't wait to have the kids in bed at the same time every night, dinner at the same time, with Scott focused (and his distracting mornings of Maury Povich and internet surfing which prevent me from any productivity whatsoever so over) .... theoretically.
Plus, I like that it always feels like the beginning of something.
I get excited to tackle projects, recommit myself to take the kids to library story-time every week, and this year I am going to organize/teach a pre-preschool for Ryan.
I feel like pawing through our apartment and purging it of any clutter, and making soup.
And, can I also just say, I love fall.
The colors, the sweaters, jeans, cool weather, rain.
I am a sucker for it all.
I feel like running outside with my arms thrown wide open and belting U2's, "Beautiful Day."
But that might result in a few rude stares and I am not looking to ruin anyone's loverly autumn.
I am actually feeling slightly harebrained and perhaps I didn't get enough sleep, and I am listening to some sort of techno music on Pandora, so that might explain this strange post.
Anyway, a few random pictures from the last week or so.

Ezra was gifted two new Lightening McQueen lego sets for his birthday from Auntie Britney and Papa. Let's just say these fun toys have been the source of many a fight around here, which basically means they are a hit.

We finally moved Ezra into his "big boy" bed. He is now sleeping in Ryan's bed and she has moved to the top bunk. Fun for all. However, on the first night that we tried this arrangement, I came in to check on them and found this scene: apparently Ezra needed some extra snuggling.
And let me tell you, it was quite the feat getting Ryan into her bunk while dead asleep. My babies are so darn cute.

p.s. A few other tidbits to end our summer on a high note: (the last one being the most serious problem)
1) Scott's car is broken and needs a new starter
2) He also lot his friggin' wedding ring while fishing in the ocean ... awesome
3) When I went to get my hair trimmed, the stylist cut my bangs too short and now I look like Edna from the "Incredibles."

Birthday weekend

Happy Birthday to my BEST friend and sister, Britney!
Here's looking at you kid!
I love you (insert high sing-song voice).

Happy Birthday Ezra!

My baby is TWO!
Ezra is officially out of babyhood!
He has reached the terrible twos (in fact, I believe he is ahead of the curve and reached them some time ago).
I am a teensy bit sad that he is no longer a baby.
Has that gloom translated into the desire for a third baby?
Hell to the no.
Someday ...
Anyway, even though my sweet newborn has grown into a crazy, monster-child I just can't get enough of him.
He is so funny.
He is so stinkin' handsome.
And all boy, thru and thru.
He loves trucks, tractors, airplanes, basically anything that goes vroom.
He also loves destruction, hitting things with sticks, getting dirty, jumping off anything that will make me scream, electronics, and antagonizing Ryan.
He toots ... on purpose ... and then laughs.
He loves movies and can aptly work all of our home theater equipment.

And now, onto the inevitable: a little reminiscing.

On this blistering day two years ago, Ezra came screaming into this world (well, perhaps that was me or coulda been the newbie EMT who requested to observe his first live birth).
Right from the start, he was a good baby, very happy.
And still is.
Look at that sweet face, and Ezzy is so absolutely adorable too.

My babies are always so bald. Look at that snot-shoot ... he definitely got that from me.

Today we took him to the beach to celebrate his b-day and beat the heat. He loved it. Both the kids had a blast, until Ryan had to go the bathroom and we spent 10 minutes trying to convince her to squat in the ocean. That ended with everyone in tears and a trip to the nastiest port-a-potty on the entire Oregon coast.

This is pre-potty discussion. She spent the first 20 minutes splashing and boogie-boarding in the frigid water, and she liked it.

Ezra snacked with Grandma on the rocks. The tide was very high so we camped out up here.

After returning from the beach, we had a little fiesta outside on the lawn with prezzies and cupcakes. It was 342 degrees inside our apartment so we opted to party in the lot. Look at that face, tell me that isn't the cutest mug you ever saw!

Was not a fan of the party favors, which is why we kept blowing them in his face, hehe.

He is playing with the frosting not snuffing out the candles with his fingers. He got a soccer ball and a new puzzle for his birthday.
Happy Birthday Ezra, my sweet snuggler, my life is so much sweeter because of you.
We love you SO much.
Thank you for being our baby.

Bikes, trikes, and automobiles

Ryan got a new bike.
Ezra inherited her old trike.
There are automobiles in the background of most of our pictures because my kids spend their days playing in a parking lot.
We spent the morning outside, enjoying the overcast skies and breaking in our new wheels.
Well, new to us anyway.
We purchased Ryan's "princess" bike from a nice old man advertising on craigslist.
I felt a little guilty about presenting her with a bike that is a little worse for wear,
that is until she crashed it twice in 20 minutes.
Then I was patting myself and Scott on the back (metaphorically) for getting a bike that will no doubt receive a few more battle scars.
And since I have now realized this entire post is made up of corny cliches,
I also tooted my own horn while crossing my fingers no one would get hurt.
And no good morning ride is complete without a photo shoot.
And no good photo shoot is complete without me taking a picture of myself;
at least according to Scott.
Mark my words.