Bathroom Woes

I would call it ironic that because we are getting our master bath shower repaired, I actually wasn't able to shower today because my kids were cranky most of the day.  You see, the room that shares the other side of that wall is the nursery.  Tommy napped about 35 minutes today .  Patrick, about an hour and a half after the contractor left at 4:30.  It has been the longest day ever.  I keep reminding myself how exciting it will be to no longer shower with Buzz, Woody, a duck and the entire alphabet in foam letters. It has been almost ten months since we used our master shower. 

Turns out it had been leaking.
 A LOT.

And that pretty blue mosiac tile?  They don't make it anymore.  And that simple white tile?  They don't make that anymore either.  But we are improvising and making things work.  We have a great contractor who came oh-so-highly recommended by our our friends down the street.  So while we are in the depths of mess, I figured now was as good a time as any to change the yellow paint to something a little more subdued.  I am thinking a gray/blue? 

The funny thing?  I actually cleaned the bathroom before the contractors started this morning so they wouldn't be grossed out.  I know.  I cleaned that.  Makes no sense.
 

Mother's Day 2012

Last year I had just had Tommy and was battling the baby weight blues.  I remember crying in the car on the way to Mother's day brunch because the only thing that fit me was a maternity dress.   Still battling it out, but no tears this weekend!  I had an awesome weekend. 

Saturday Tom and I spent literally all day mulching the front yard.  Four truckloads of mulch are now sitting in various beds.  We are quite impressed with ourselves.   Tommy took a two hour nap in the morning and a three hour nap in the afternoon.  Our amazing 14-year-old-sitter-in-training took over with Tommy between naps, and P man helped us out using his sturdy little wheelbarrow and shovel.  When the neighbor girls came over to see if he wanted to play, Patrick pointed to the pile of mulch and told them he couldn't play because he had so much work to do.  The weather was beautiful.  I had no energy left at the end of the day to cook, so we ordered pizza.  Gardening + Pizza = Refreshed momma.  Seriously. I have aspirations to join our garden club one day when the boys are of school age.  One day, my roses will be breathtaking. 

We are having P's 3rd birthday party at our house Saturday and have been working to get the yard ready.  Praying for sunny, dry weather.  All my flowers are cooperating gloriously for the event.

Each year, we are winning a little more of the battle with our house.  Tom solved the problem of the perpetual avalanche of mud and mulch that always slides onto our stairs by building up a little wall out of rocks along the side.  Small gesture, but one more thing off our to-do list.

And this monster of a project is done!  Until you have personally pulled a whole bed of overgrown ivy down to each last root, you have not lived.  Really.  Ever since we moved in, bees would make a huge nest in the ivy and we'd have to dish out lots of cash to have the exterminator get rid of them.  If bees had faces, I would love to see them when they roll in this summer and see all my mulch. 

But enough of that-down to the nitty gritty.  We basked in brunch this year.  All of us.  Tommy ate about a third of his body weight and we had to pry the chocolate mousse from Patrick's little hands. 

The perfect shot with all my boys will have to wait until next year. Again.

My mom LOVES Clark bars, so when I spotted the case of them at Sam's Club, I had the perfect gift.

Kids, I'll let you stay up until midnight jumping on the bed with scissors if you would just LOOK AT THE CAMERA. 

(...at the same time.)

After brunch, the kids napped before we headed over to Tom's parent's for a joint Mother's Day operation.  Tom, his sister, brother, and dad all helped cook dinner for Baba and me.  It was great until Tommy melted down at bedtime and we headed home. 

Patrick must have told me "Happy Mother's Day" 20 times.  And it was.

Wedded Bliss

Saturday we attended my cousin Brittney's wedding on the University of Pittsburgh campus.  The bride looked beautiful, as she always does, and we love her new husband.  I was lucky enough to be able to hobnob with my sister (far left) at our table.  

Okay, so I guess this is as good a time as any to mention the lack of blog posts regarding my treadmill usage.  Ummm (crickets).  As you may be able to observe from the photos, I have not lost my last ten pounds.  I was ZAPPED the last month  (allergies) and had no energy.  The treadmill has still has that new smell.  I have been feeling better and pushing the kids on the mile loop around my neighborhood..  Pushing 60 lbs up a typical Pittsburgh hill  a few times has been providing LOTS of cardio.  I do plan on returning to the treadmill as well, since we now have another wedding to attend this summer.  I WILL lose more weight before we hit the beach.  And our four year anniversary.  Curse you, carbs.

Sis, Mom, and Me

And finally...This is probably not appropriate, but how does one NOT post a photo of a dress worn to a nice wedding that zippers from the bottom up?  The men were distracted all evening.

New Digs

Last night Tom installed Patrick's new car seat and we passed the old convertible seat to Tommy who had still been riding around in the infant seat with only 8 oz to go until the maximum weight limit was surpassed. I am really liking the new seat, a Diono (Thanks Elizabeth for doing all the research).  Patrick has been loving the seat because this is the first time he has ridden forward facing. 

Best Little Voice Ever

Patrick has been learning a new prayer:
He wants to know what "Hail" means.  And what "fruit of thy womb" is.  The kid asks some good questions.  In fact, I am considering joining a local bible study group because it has been a LONG time since I studied anything. 

Playing Hooky

Where have we been? Hiding under a rock?  Nope.  Try buckets.

We are all primarily healthy and happy.  After Tommy started feeling better, I had a touch of a cold, but nothing bad.  The weather finally turned hot again so we have been soaking up the sun.   Tommy is walking about 75% of the time which has made being outside a whole lot easier. 

So no real good excuse from being gone so long from the blogging world.  Just being a slacker. 

Misery

My littlest guy is MISERABLE.  A trip to the doctor confirmed it- an ear infection and pneumonia.  First dose of antibiotics given and he is sleeping soundly at 5:38 as I write this.  Considering he goes to bed at 6:30, this could be problematic, but I can't bear to wake him. 

Please get better.