7 Quick Takes

1. I sortakinda (butnotreally) feel bad about unloading on you guys a few days ago. Sometimes, this nice clean white blog gets a little dirty. But if it makes you feel better, yesterday and today have been worlds better.

2. Not sure why today is better, though, because it's cold and rainy and officially potty training boot camp day. The run-down?
2:20 - pee in the toilet
2:25 - accident while eating reward candy
2:50 - accident 5 minutes before I planned on making her try
3:15 - sat, but no pee
3:40 - accident 5 minutes before I planned on making her try
4:00 - sat, but no pee
4:15 - sat, but no pee
And every moment in between:

3. I know there are lots of opinions on how to potty train, so my expectations for this weekend of nakedness are pretty low. We didn't have to do this for Joan, but I kind of think Charlotte needs a different approach since the whole I want to please my parents just because isn't really her style...

4. I haven't even mentioned that we took a Spring Break trip to LA last week to see some fam and left the girls with my parents for three days. I still had to babysit little Evelyn, but the biological break was so nice!

brothers.

ice cream truck treats from uncle mark

Big Poppa & Tootsie

Papa John & Madelyn (sorry Gigi, not sure why I don't have a record of you being around - we all know you were there!)

5. Charlotte regularly asks me in the van to, "talk more about Jesus is dead," and wants a list of names of the people who hurt him.

6. I'm currently eating a shrimp pasta bowl that reminds me of that pasta place on Louisiana Tech's campus - inside Tolliver. Remember that place, Jill and Sara? Yum. And remember when we went on that crazy fast and at midnight on the last day, I had a 20 oz chocolate milk and 2 bags of peanut M&Ms? I heart college.

7. Struggling to find a last one, here. So let's just put us both out of our misery and call it quits. But not before you head over to Jen for the others...

7 Quick Takes

1. I'm ready for Spring Break would be an understatement. Two key words: Spring & BREAK! And it better feel like Spring this break or I'm gonna punch Mother Nature in the face.

2. Despite all my concerns, Joan secured a spot at Annunciation Catholic School for Kindergarten in the fall. And taxes won't be as terrible as we expected. God is good. 

3. It was Dr. Seuss week at Joan's preschool and she was asked to wear a tie. It's probably the cutest she's looked at school all year. 

4. I really miss two people on Facebook: Lisa & Bonnie. Those holy-rollers gave it up for Lent.

5. This is basically what it looks like to be a graphic designer's wife 

(tea-soaking for the beginnings of a  book cover) and mother to little girls (necklace draping for decoration - the occasion? I know not.). 

6. My friend Kaitlin finally had her baby! I'm so excited for them, but she needs to hurry up and post the birth story. amiright?

7. I need a new good book to read - fiction, preferably. And go:

Thanks for hosting Jen!

Quick Takes

Joining Jen & the rest...

1. Posting photos & whatnot of my Valentine's Day gift is always somewhat of a dilemma for me. Does anyone else feel that way? I feel like I'm either bragging or making someone else feel bad if they didn't receive anything when I do do it, but then it's like I'm acting like nothing special happened from my love if I don't do it. And then I realize I'm just too analytical and nobody probably even cares, anyway.

2. I found this 5-leaf clover the other day

but since we backed into our friend's car (thankfully no damage) and left a fundraiser without winning $10,000, it's apparent that it was one-leaf too many. 

3. The fundraiser was for the Catholic school about 30 minutes from here. After some discussion, prayer, & Open Housing, we've decided to enroll her there in the Fall, as long as they have a spot. Apparently, most of the Pre-K students will be moving up, which only allows for a few new students and I think there's already more applicants than spots right now. We have an interview in a week, and we're hoping to get in. If not, we'll probably be homeschooling Joan for at least Kindergarten and trying again for 1st at the Catholic School next year.

4. Originally, we thought about homeschooling Joan the first 2 years and saving money, then sending her and Charlotte to Catholic school once Charlotte was ready for Kindergarten. We're switching it up now because it looks like the classes stay full each year they go up and she might not get in at a later date. Even if we do end up needing to homeschool Joan, I'm sure she'll do just fine - the perfect candidate, really. Charlotte... notsomuch.

5. I have a sore throat that's been around since Wednesday (Lenten penance, I guess). Anything else I should be doing besides gargling salt water and downing warm honey, lemon juice, and garlic?

6. The flaps (technically they're Land Shark fins) on this huggie make it really hard to drink from a can, and only make me want a bottle of beer even more.

7. I love when Payday falls on a Friday!

Quick Takes

Giving Jen's Quick Takes another go with the rest of 'em.

1. This has been a crazy productive day. I may not have brushed my teeth this morning (still haven't), but I did manage to wash/dry/eventually fold 4 loads of laundry; clean 2 bathrooms (with actual cleaner - not just wiping the crust off the faucet with toilet paper); sweep 7 rooms; vacuum 3 rugs; dust 1 room (only the living room needs dusting, right?); and bake a coffee cake. All before 2:03 p.m. Jude brought Wendy's for lunch as a reward for my domestic goddessness and for the children who actually behaved during the cleaning spree.

2. I'm as surprised as you are about #1, but something needed to be done because

a). The house was disgusting.

b). I've been having back trouble & not doing my fair share around here.

c). I'm nesting and have no more money to spend. 

d). I was craving cinnamon. 

3. Apparently all of my friends needed to see a chiropractor by their 3rd pregnancy. Did you? I'm much bigger this time around and I feel like I've been in a wreck. 

4. Bonnie hosted The Sheenazing Blogger Awards (named after Venerable Fulton J. Sheen) for Catholic bloggers, and this blog was actually nominated for Best Looking Blog. I didn't mention it because I'm almost positive it was one of the 3 friends of mine that know Bonnie and that also read this blog and because I was pretty sure our plain white background and green boxed title wasn't enough to take the cake. But I appreciate the nomination, if it was you! Here's who actually won.

5. Speaking of good looking design, Jude was featured in the regional magazine Catfish Alley. They showed some of his portfolio and gave a little bio. I'm just so proud of this guy. He's really, really talented and deserves every bit of the recognition!

 And if you'd like to purchase one of these (or view more items) 

check out his store.

6. We got something in the mail from our old mortgage lender. It says IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION ENCLOSED and I'm sure it's the form we'll need to submit for our taxes (too scared to open it to be sure). We were forgiven a ton of money in the whole short sale deal and I'm super anxious about how it'll affect our taxes. At the same time, I'm so relieved that the house mess will officially be over soon and that we should have enough money saved to pay the IRS. I think.

7. I should probably go brush my teeth.

7 Quick Takes

1. I'm going to give the Quick Takes another try. Honestly, it wasn't my favorite style of blogging and I felt like I was scrounging around to find enough things to fill the post. But it could've been my fault - it was a weird first try.

Can you spot him/her (I know nothing about animals)?
Pretty dead center of the photo jumping into the brush.

2. The last two winters, we've been able to spot deer in our backyard. This is mostly interesting because we don't live out in the country. In fact, we live on Main Street. But we lie to our children, like most good parents would, and say they're Santa's reindeers - the bad ones that made fun of Rudolph.

3. Did you notice all those leaves? This preggo certainly wasn't going to rake them. Instead, the nicer parent created fairytale trails for the girls. Nicer parent, indeed.

4. We made some purchases recently for the kids' rooms (still coping with buyer's remorse). Tomorrow, these fun FLOR carpet tiles should be delivered for the girls' room. We moved all of their toys into it and kept a nursery/guest room for the new babe. The arrangement doesn't lend itself well to just a regular rug in the girls' room, so we plan to make little paths with the tiles. We also bought bedding for our little guy. It's adorable. Pictures coming soon!

5. Joan needs to learn how to ride a bike. She got this sweet balance bike from her grandparents, but if I don't let her ride somewhere other than our narrow front porch, she'll never learn. She was obviously not prepared for the amount of work that goes into learning (nor was I): I give you Exhibit A

(and if you're viewing this on your phone and can't get the video to show up GET ON A COMPUTER! a phone is for CALLING people!

Ok, here's a photo for you, just in case.

6. Did you notice Charlotte's outfit in the last photo? She certainly has a style all her own. Exhibit B:

Polka-dot on polka-dot on polka-dot on rain boots -
and that's all without mentioning a swim suit.

7. These takes haven't been that bad. Thanks for bearing with me and be sure to check out everyone else's, too.

7 Quick Takes

A Christmas Miracle! I'm writing a Quick Takes post (the first time ever). And I'm choosing to do it after a 2 week Christmas-Extravaganza internet-hiatus. Surely the perfect atmosphere to keep things quick and random, right?

1. We've never lived close to our families, so Christmas morning has never been in front of our tree, with just our family. Instead, we choose to open gifts the day we leave for the holiday. This year it was December 15th. The girls get to open gifts from Momma & Papa and Santa drops off a gift wherever they happen to be on Christmas morning. It's not the ideal situation, but I don't see any kids complaining...

2. I'm super excited about adding a boy to the mix of cousins & second cousins. Totaling each of our sides, there are 24 girls in Joan & Charlotte's generation and only 9 boys. These don't show everyone, but just look at all those girls!

3. Joan & Charlotte had plenty of baking time with their grandmothers and though their diets for the last 2 weeks pretty much consisted of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and lots of scary dyes, I'm sure they'll live. At least until next Christmas...

4. The gift on the left is for Jude (my husband for the last 6.5 years & boyfriend for 1.5 years before that). The gift on the right is for Jason (my sister's boyfriend for a year). They're both from my parents. That's all. You make your own conclusions... 

Kidding, Mom. We know you love Jude!

5. Two questions: Does your mall have awesome things to do like bungie-trampolining, train rides, and indoor playgrounds like the one where my parents live? and Why am I always pregnant for the fun stuff?

You know, just dancing on a stage for the food court.

6. It might be too late, but this is our What I Wore To Christmas photo and we're all conveniently in coordinating colors.

6b. An appropriate time to sneak these in, too.

We really missed having Art & Chloe there, but are so happy to welcome their new baby Henry to the family!! 

7. It's not a Christmas post if you don't include a photo of Baby Jesus or Santa, so here goes...

Merry Christmas and check out everyone else's more appropriate Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary!