Zoo!!

Zoo in January... yes please! 

 

We braved it stroller-less!  Their leash backpacks were in the van & they insisted they needed them since we weren't taking a stroller.  Didn't use them.  (Have not used them in a long time, should add them to our growing pile for a summer garage sale.)  I ended up hooking them to my backpack & carrying them around most of the morning.

 Met our friend Ryan & his brother Connor there. 

 Things have changed just a little bit since their first trip to the zoo!!

Even with potty breaks, running off & disagreements... I think its still easier to get them out than it was then.  I think??!!

 We were there for a couple hours & Logan was tired by the end.  I had to carry him some (at least it was him that was tired & not Hayden!!)  BUT in their defense, we did have to wake them up early so we could drive Jeff to work & have the vehicle to even go to the zoo that day.  Thank goodness we now have Jeff's parents vehicle until ours is fixed!!

Project #4- Main floor bath/laundry

Well folks, given that I have triplets, its fairly clear that I'm not one to do things in the traditional way.  So why not finish up house project #4 before finishing #2 & #3? 

Paint is so cheap & a fresh coat of paint makes things feel so clean & fresh.
Add in a few already owned accessories.
A can of oil rubbed bronze spray paint.
A $14 pack of Walmart bedsheets
And viola!! 
A pretty cheap upgrade :)

Now I can do laundry & feel relaxed!  Well as relaxed as possible managing laundry for our household!  As I did this project & worked on finishing up in the boys' room, it has become clear that (thanks to Pinterest) bedsheets are my favorite go-to accessory.  Just wait... you'll see.  Eventually I want new light fixtures, door knobs, faucets & cabinet hinges all through out the house, so that in time will come. 

Here you go.  A mostly completed main floor bathroom/laundry.  I'm sure I'll switch up the knick-knacks a time or 12 before I'm 100% happy.  I like it, but I feel like something just isn't quite perfect yet, but I'm not sure what it is....

Anyways, here she is! 

BEFORE!

 So plain, boring & white-(ish). 

 Light fixtures

 

The walls are a pale green, though its kind of hard to tell in the after pictures.  So here is a during picture so you can get the idea.

 

AFTER!!!



Any suggestions of what to hang or do from that towel bar above the toilet except hang a towel?

We removed the door that was between the bath & laundry.  What purpose did it really serve anyway?  Added a curtain (top sheet) so we have a "door" to hide the laundry room ruckus if needed.  But by removing the door, we gained all that wall space for a bookshelf for storage!! 

I want to get a few extra shelves to add & create some more shoe/boot storage space by the back door & have room for a few more Target baskets for misc. storage.  Contact paper lines the back of the bookshelf (and also the bottom of all the cabinets in the room).

 Easy.  A tension rod, a top sheet & some drapery clips. 

 So what to do with the fitted sheet?  Why, throw it over a curtain rod, and tie it up with some ribbon of course!

An old frame painted with the same spray paint as the light fixture & shelf.

 Some empty space above the laundry sorter for future needs or ideas.  Baskets & shelving everywhere in here for storage & easy access to things by the garage door was my biggest want for this space.

 The new laundry sorter was the most expensive piece in the project! 

 Something we got at a wedding years ago that has been up in our house ever since.  Found its new home in a room I know we spend a lot of time in.

 Painted light fixture & some new globes.  We replaced the boys light with a ceiling fan & bought an extra light kit.  These 2 globes came from one of those & were going unused.

Makes such a huge difference doesn't it!!??

And of course, new light switches, outlets, cabinet pulls, TP holder & towel ring. 

I want a shelf built yet that stretches above the washer & dryer to rap up my storage shelf desire! 

 

Before.

 After.

 Before.

 After.

To Do '13

Because I can't just finish one project, & move on to the other....

 

Well that & I just can't find the motivation to get Liv's dressers painted & thats pretty much my hold up on getting her room done.  Besides ONE thing, I think we have the boys' room done.

 

I started doing the main floor bath/laundry room last week.  I've got a few more projects that are things I can do in there when I have a free day & a spare $35.  Then I've got a Jeff project to amp up storage.  Not sure what I would do in this house if I didn't have Pinterest to get all my inspiration!!

 

Before....

 A glimpse of whats happening in there.

Really, honestly, its on my "2013 To Do List" to get every single wall in this house painted by Dec. 31!  4 more walls down.... what seems like a ga-zillion left to go :)


Whats on your 2013 To Do List??

First Challenge of the New Year

So my plan of not sweating the small stuff in 2013...... its trial by fire already.

Sunday, Jeff & I kinda, sorta looked at some new-to-us (used) SUVs.  With the kids getting bigger & Hayden needing a new carseat NOW (the seats in Jeff's car are rated to 40lbs & he is 39lbs!) & we are struggling to find him one.  If you haven't tried it, fitting 3 5 point harnessed carseats across a single row is difficult.  And Hayden is built like a big dude, broad, thick, so not just any carseat works for him.  Neck straps are too narrow & dig in.  Buckles don't sit right on his belly.  The list goes on.  So I'm failing to find a new affordable seat for him, that fits, works well for us & that he is comfortable in. 

So you're looking at new cars because of carseats, Katie?

Sort of yes. 

But also, someday we still would like to add to our family, so its an investment on future dreams too.  And with 3 kids, an Equinox doesn't leave a lot of room for "stuff" & anticipating a future of dance lessons, T-ball games, etc. upsizing doesn't seem crazy.  We could spend $1500 on some great new Foonf carseats that would fit in our vehicle just perfect.  Or we could put that to a new vehicle that will continue to grow with us.

Both of our vehicles are paid off, so the thought of taking on any new monthly expenses is not ideal for us, so we're doing a lot of online research of prices, and trying to find something that we can trade in ours for & pay minimal in cash to keep no revolving payments, without compromising on what we want for vehicle, gas mileage, quality, etc.  

So what does this have to do with not sweating the small stuff?

Tuesday.  Work was slow, so I was staff reduced & home on call.  The kids went to school as scheduled since I was on-call & Jeff & I were going to slip over after he got off work with the kids still at daycare & test drive a thing or two. 

Until, while parked in the shop at school.... the Equinox lights started flashing.... horn started honking.... and engine started smoking!!  6 hours before we had every intention of trading it in if we stumbled across something perfect!

Apparently some freak thing happened, and the fuses & wires coming from the battery (or something like that) sparked & all melted down together & shorted out!  Estimated repair cost (keeping in mind our vehicle at trade in is worth probably $7000)..... $3200!!  Oh lordy!

Good news.... we have a warranty.   Bad news.... this is excluded.
Good news.... insurance says this is a "freak" thing, not normal wear & tear.  So they will pay after we meet $500 deductable.  Still $500, but much better than the alternative!!
Bad news... since this was a bigger issue than just a PART... they can't just go out & buy this PART to fix ours.  Meaning, they will spend a few days checking with people to see if they can find this "whole system" salvaged off another vehicle, if not, it has to be built.  Meaning we are without a vehicle for at least a month.  Wait?   A MONTH!! 
Good news... insurance helps with a rental.
Bad news... it still costs $13 a day, which over 30 days adds up to... well a lot!!

So here I sit... home with 3 kids & no vehicle, hoping nobody gets sick or nothing happens.  And trying to decide what exactly is going to be our plan of action for the next 30 days??!!

Do we get a rental?  Do we try to find someone who has a vehicle we can borrow for a week here & there?  Do we get up early every day that I'm home to drive Jeff to work & pick him up?  What are the costs of that in terms of extra gas & mileage to our van? 

At least we had good insurance.  At least no one got hurt.  At least it didn't happen when Jeff was driving somewhere with 3 kids in the car, can you imagine??!!


Welcome first challenge of the year.....

A typical case of the Mondays...

Isn't this how you spent your Monday??

 

Playing dress up!

 Train track guy - Princess - Working guy

 3 super heros!  They go "pow" to bad guys {AKA push them down}

 Love them!  I had to be the monster & chase them into their Castle (tipi). 

After dress up, we had a spa day.  Hair cuts, manis & pedis & a soak in the tub.  The boys are so excited to go show their teacher their blue fingernail polish tomorrow!

 

Some things never change :)

I wish....

That I didn't work as many Sundays as I do.
Its handy in that Jeff is home.  No daycare cost.  Its usually slower days at work, which is nice.

But this weekend I was off AND we were home & went to OUR Church.  We get there so infrequently.  I forget the weeks inbetween how amazing all the people are.  It just feels like home!  And they really have been so great to us with hospital visits, phone calls & warm meals when our kids were born, just came home & were sick with RSV. 

One of the ladies got my e-mail this week so she could send me a picture she had taken at the Church Trunk-or-Treat this year.  Its the same lady who had taken our picture in the park last summer at the service in the park, a picture that is one of my faves from last summer!

Say Cheese!!

Outside of pictures of opening presents.... some Holiday Photos!

 

 

Lack of Livi cooperation.  Her "pouting" stance.

 "Livi... would you please cooperate!" - Love, Hayden & Logan

 Goofy!

 Got um :)

And just because we were bored one evening, to the best of our $5 Walmart scale's reading & a pencil mark on the wall.....

Hayden:  39lbs!!!  39in tall.  95% for weight!!, 75% for height.
Olivia:  31lbs, 38.5in tall.  50% for weight, 75% for height.
Logan:  30lbs, 37in tall.  25% for both weight & height.

We finally got our holiday decorations packed up while the kids were napping.  When they discovered the tree was gone.... Hayden was worried someone stole it.  Olivia was excited because "Its going to be Easter time now!"  And Logan was in tears, because he thought he had to give all of his new toys back. 

 

Now this 0 degree weather can move on.  We can have one more snow so we can go sledding... then I'm ready for spring!  (Walmart has cute SPRING kids clothes out.... trying not to shop!)