A Little Advertising...

One of my MOPS friends is hosting a giveaway on her blog... you should "head" over there and check it out.  I am always game for fun giveaways. 

Domestic

Today was one of the rare days that I have been a domesticated lady.  Granted I was not wearing heels and a pearl necklace - Thank you June Cleaver, but heck I am wearing a non-maternity waisted pant and a decent looking sweater with a real bra under and not just a shelf tank (so I got dressed for real today). 
Today I dropped off Ki at preschool and Zeke, Riah and I came home.  Zeke and I talked for a little bit then he went and played in the snow in the backyard while I got Riah down for his morning nap. 
While Riah napped Zeke and I made Chex Puppy Chow and Cookie Dough.  Then Zeke and I went to the basement and while he played I ironed my stack of clothes that have been holding down my ironing board and got a load of laundry in. 
We picked up Ki from school and then came home and made lunch.  While the boys were eating their lunches I baked three dozen cookies.  After lunch I sent all three boys up for nap time. 
While they napped I cleaned out my shoe cubbies and the boys shoe basket to donate to Soles for Souls.  Then I made dinner - Turkey Pot Pie, it is sitting on the counter waiting to go in the oven.  Then as the boys were waking up from their naps I washed the dishes that have been sitting on the counter due to the fact that I am currently out of dish soap for the washer so - hand wash it was.  Now I am doing another load of laundry and Zeke is watching Looney Toons and Ki, Riah and I are in the basement. 
A pretty domestic day if I say so myself!  Although I am not going to fully pat myself on the back until dinner is out of the oven, on the table and Michael says it is good. 

Pumpkins Please

Last night the boys and I dug into their pumpkins.  It was kind of funny the difference between the two boys... Zeke was digging in with both hands up to his elbows, Ki on the other hand was picking out the seeds that could easily be grabbed from the top with his two pinching fingers.  Here are a few pictures from our pumpkin night. 

That is Zeke saying "Pumpkin"

The dainty seed getter

The all in seed getter

The seed separation, Ki did a lot of directing while Zeke did a lot of goop playing.

My first attempt at ever carving a pumpkin... Not too bad if I say so myself.

A little side note:  With all the seeds that we got I cooked them up with this recipe that I found off of pinterest.  I did everything that it said but added a little allspice to it too.  Everyone really enjoyed the snack!

Last Visit of the Year

Twice a year the boys and I head over the hills and through the valley to Grandma Joan's house.  This time Michael joined us as it is has been a few years since he had last seen his mom.  Our trip was nice, kind of a bummer it was so cold because the boys didn't get to run and roam like they usually do but we had to push back our trip so that Michael could make it.  Here are a few pictures.

Channeling my Inner Polyanna

This week it has been a chore to channel my inner Pollyanna! 
Last Monday I called into the dealership to let them know that I needed to bring in my car to get some work done on it.  I was told to drop off the car at nine in the morning on Tuesday and they would have a complementary car for my use.  I showed up a little behind schedule at 9:15 and I waited at the dealership for over an hour for a vehicle and then was taken by carpool van to Enterprise where I waited another hour and three cars later to finally get into a GMC Acadia.  I rush home to realize that I had locked myself out of the house.  An hour of having a picnic in the front yard Michael left work to let us in.  That night we were told that most likely my car will need a new engine.  What the heck!?! 
After that and the snow we had on Wednesday I was ready for a new week. 
Well yesterday began normally - the boys and I left the house to go to Ki's parent teacher conference then we ran an errand came home.  I was putting Riah down for his nap when I heard our CO2 monitor go off.  I assumed that the boys were messing with it and I went running down the stairs to see the older two boys nicely playing in the front living room and the lower living room monitor was blinking numbers at me.  I told the boys to go to the front yard I ran upstairs grabbed Riah out of his crib and went to the front yard too.  After a phone call to Michael and one to the property management company the boys and I spent the next two and a half hours in the front yard - Three potty accidents, a screaming baby and two hungry boys latter we are told that the furnace needs to be replaced due to a broken pipe and the CO2 leak.  We are told we can come back in the house but to open all the doors and windows and know that we will be without heat until it is fixed.  Really?!?! 
Well, this morning three men came to our house and replaced our furnace in time for a snow storm tonight.  The baby is up and running and just in time for nap time too!  The story on the car... well it is still in the shop one week later and I am driving a rental still and we have been told that they are rebuilding the engine and it should be complete by Saturday.
The inner Pollyanna -
Thankfully the two days that we spent hanging out on the front lawn were warm days!
Thankfully we have an extended warranty on my car and everything should be paid for other than our $50 deductible. 
Thankfully we are renting this house and the new furnace is not on our dime.
Thankfully we are all healthy and taken care of!