Leapage

Tis the 29th of February!  A rare day that only comes around what, every 4 years?  I should be doing something special today.  Something to warrant this little gift of an extra day.  Nothing comes to mind just yet, but the day is young!  I can tell you that we are going to look at another house in PG this afternoon.  I'm pretty stoked!  Yesterday Cody and I spent a few glorious hours at Ikea (anyone who knows me is well aware of my devotion to this Swedish import).  We purchased some much needed items for our house and talked about what we would like to do in our next one...house talk is so much fun.  We ran into our friend Mark who practically runs the place, it was so great to see him!  Cache was more than happy to try out every chair and every mattress - but I think his favorite passtime was playing with their activity stands they have throughout the store.

If those were for sale, I would SO buy one.  

Cody is working on his gym this morning with Dave and Jason - it's really coming along and I'm very excited for them!  Cody took Cache with him a few days ago (I think most of the guys brought some of their kids) and put him to work - I'm sure Cache was  huge help.  This picture is Jason with one of his boys - so cute!  Since I have a few hours to kill,  I think I will try to get to Home Depot to buy some plants before we go see the house this afternoon.  I'll keep you posted!

Finally - beins that this is the last day in the month of amore, I need to post my final list of things I love.  Here we go!

1 - Happy Monster Band.  Those with kids may know what I'm talking about.  This fantastic animated foursome is on Playhouse Disney in the mornings and I LOVE THEM!  My sister called me about them yesterday, we are huge fans.  The band that does the music for it is called 'Tally Hall', a band that I mentioned on my fitness blog a while back.  Their voices are so cool, go download 'Haiku' and send me a thank you note.

2 - Getting popcorn and a drink at a movie theater.  I love going to movies, but I think getting a little treat at the snack bar makes the experience that much better.  I could be full from dinner and not interested in a box of milk duds, but as soon as I smell that buttery popcorn goodness I instantly have room for some snacks!

3 - Planning our Summers.  I'm one of those geeks who buys big desk calendars each January, sits down with colored markers and fills in important dates, Birthdays and vacations.  Our Summer is filling up fast, but I'm SO excited for everything we have planned!  Powell, Girls Trip, Disneyland, High School Reunion....

4 - Summer tunes.  You know those songs that just fill you with sunshine?  That make your stomach all fluttery when you listen to them?  Those songs are the best ever.  Driving around with your window down, feeling the warm breeze, listening to a great song...at that moment all is right with the world. 

5 - Adobe Illustrator.  I'm still learning how to use this wonderful program, but from what I have learned thus far?  I cannot live without it!

Sunshine!

It's amazing what a little natural light can do.  Yesterday was  a gorgeous, sunny day - absolutely mahvelous!  It's been gray and cold for so long, it was nice to have a bright blue sky and sunshine all day.  It just gives you so much energy to get things done, doesn't it?  I was even able to drive around with my window down a bit while I ran some errands.  It wasn't balmy, by any means, but certainly warmer than it's been.  I have to laugh, however - have you ever noticed those people that seem to relish in the fact that it's simply above 2o degrees?  They whip out their motorcycles and shorts, t-shirts, sandals, convertibles - all to celebrate the fact that it's not snowing.  While I admire their spirit...it's not that warm.  But hey, who am I to spoil their fun.

I am getting SO excited for Spring!  Easter decorations are everywhere and snow is melting.  I'm pretty sure that we haven't seen the last of the snow, but for now the nice weather is a grand distraction.  What are you excited for when the weather turns warm?

I also need you to tell me some great songs to listen to - tunes that evoke that summery feeling.  I know my sister will have some great suggestions because she is so music savvy (along with my brother, Rich).  Let me know some favorites so I can start listening to them tout suite!

As far as things go on the home front, I am overwhelmed with projects (as usual).  On top of little things I'm doing, I have the enormous task of organizing my home in hopes to get it on the market.  I'm pretty sure I'll need a month to go through everything and clean, but trying to do all of that with 2 little ones is tougher than I thought...so who knows how long it will take.  What I can tell you is that we will be having a ginormous yard sale before long!  Make plans, buy tickets, tell friends - it's going to be an event.

SO much more to say, but not enough time to say it.  I have lots of things on my agenda today - which reminds me...anyone want to come climb on my roof and take down my Christmas lights?  It's a nice sunny day!

Hunting

When I watch HGTV, I watch those shows that have couples looking for a new home.  They spend all day looking at houses and I can't help but think, "That actually looks sort of fun, I wish I could spend a day looking at homes".  Yeah, well - I got to do that yesterday and let me tell you something, it can wear you out!  Our dear friend Adam (who is the best Realtor ever) took us around Pleasant Grove yesterday afternoon so we could look at some homes we were interested in.  Adam was very patient since it's clear that I'm super picky.  Cody and I had chosen about 6 homes and we visited them all.  Some had some nice features, some had great kitchens, some had horrible decor and some had huge yards, but none of them really stood out as a favorite.  (Mark, are you really going to move to PG?  Lets be neighbors!).  Finally, we visited the last one on the list - and this is they one we like the best:

We both really like the layout and the basement is unfinished (something we wanted), and the best of that is it has all the electric work done and it's already been framed - sweet!  There is also a place for a wetbar, anyone want to come over for a fruit frappe'?

It is a smidge dated...lots of things have been painted forest green and the hardware is brass, but that is fixable.  It's got a nice sized yard, it's in a good area, lots of good features...I'm a fan!

  

We can't do anything too crazy since our house isn't even UP for sale yet.  Which also means I have lots of projects ahead of me to get our house ready to go on the market.  Nothing too serious, just a few things here and there.  It's still sort of weird to me that we're going to be moving - but move we must.  And until we find our dream house, the hunt is on!

The randomness that is my life

Just a few random tidbits of days gone by.  On Monday Cody went snowmobiling with our friend Jon, so I had the day to run some errands with the boys.  It was nice to take them out of the house since they've been sick forever!  We hit some local venues, then headed up to Gardner Village so I could purchase a few crafty items.  The highlight was looking at the ducks and eating some treats at the bakery -

I must say, sometimes the thought of taking my two boys out to a place like Gardner Village terrifies me!  If I'm by myself, I always get so nervous - will Cache run all over, will Cole cry the whole time, etc.  But they were great!  Cole was happy (especially after I fed him...nice milk drool). 
I was stoked as we were pulling out of the parking lot, I thought, "Hey, we did it!"  It was fun to spend time with the kids, I can't wait for Cole to start walking so we can go on more outings together.  Speaking of Cole, little dude is so close to crawling!  He rolls over like a banshee, so if I leave him alone on the floor for 2 minutes, I come back and he's made his way across the room.  My favorite is when he's on his stomach and he's high-centered with arms and legs flailing, trying to get forward and he just can't figure out how to move.  Aren't babies fun?

Then on Tuesday my Mom and I spent the day together!  We had a lovely lunch full of deep conversation, that woman is so wise - I don't know what I would do without her.  I've been going through some lame stuff lately and talking to her about it was good for me.   We did some shopping, some browsing, some purchasing, it was just so great!  We must do that again soon.  Love you, mumsy!

Now, I have to ask you something, dear BC fans.  Those of you with little boys, I pose to you this question - does your son paint his nails? Hmmm?  No?  Perhaps?  Yes, well, turns out my son is quite fascinated by it.  Before I went out with my Mom, I painted my nails.  Silly me - I left out my nail polish so this is what I came home to - 

Cody told me that at some point Cache disappeared for a few minutes and then came back with painted nails.  Now, I must admit - for doing this himself, he did a pretty good job!  Luckily, he did want me to take it off and he actually brought me a cotton ball and nail polish remover.  How cute is that?

Finally, tonight I went to my 'Thrillionaires' class with Hannah.  We were very much looking forward to tonight because we were going to work on Musical improv.  In a word - terrifying.  But guess what?  I rocked!  Oh yeah - don't you love that I have no modesty?  I'm like, "Word - I rule".  When it was my turn to get up there and sing a song on the fly, my word of inspiration was, "Give her something yellow, like a canary.."  Um, hello?  Perfect.  Then I sang a song about walking around in a towel because curtains are overrated.  Yep.

Ok, now that this is longest post ever, I'm off to bed.  Anyone doing anything fun this weekend?  Cody and I are headed to the Boat Show Friday evening...we may just come home with a yacht. 

Cullen Family

I could have posted about what I have been doing the past 2 days - outings with my boys, things that made me laugh, brilliant epiphanies...but am I posting about those? NO! Great news Twilight fans, the Cullen family has been cast for the movie!

Obviously, the faces will take some getting used to. To be honest, when I read the books I never pictured anyone's face for the characters. Now I guess I'll just have to go re-read the books and use these faces in my mind! I'm so excited, poor Edward has been getting some crap because so many people don't think he's hot enough. While it would have been easier to love a dreamboat carved out of marble (um, because Edward is), I have much hope for dear Robert Pattinson. He's quite dashing in his own right. I think when we see him on the big screen and he speaks those glorious words, we will all be swooning. So what do you think of the cinematic Cullen family?

Monday Monday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM!  My beautiful, classy, timeless Mother is celebrating a Birthday today.  The best Mom a kid could ask for, she always gave us the best Birthday parties as we were growing up.  Not sure we've ever been able to give her a sweet soiree, but I plan on taking her to lunch and shoe shopping this week in celebration.  So Happy Birthday Mom!  Thank you for everything you do for us.  You give everything you have to the family, you inspire us with your creativity and artistic mind.  I owe so much to you!  I love you so much, you are my best friend and I hope you have the best day ever!

In other news, Cody and I went to dinner at my Aunt and Uncle's (Mike and Linda) house last night.  We had the best time!  The food was so yummy and it was great just sitting around chatting.  I adore them - hopefully we can do something again soon.

And the boys are finally feeling better!  Cache has a little cough, but other than that they are doing great!  I'm so ready for Winter and the sick season to be over.  I want so badly to let my kids play in the backyard while I weed my flowerbeds.  And that itch I get every February about putting a hanging plant on my porch?  Don't even get me started - it's taking everything I have not to go out to Home Depot and find some perennial.  So!  To wallow in sadness about the fact that it isn't Summer yet, I thought I would list the things I love during Summertime - 

1 - BBQ's in our backyard with our friends

2 - The sound of lawnmowers

3 - Tanlines

4 - Driving around with the windows down

5 - It being light outside until 9:30 at night...Summer can't get here soon enough!

PS - Before I sign off, I should mention that Cody and I have seriously been looking at some homes in PG.  First and foremost - we'll have to get this house ready to sell, but with any luck we'll have a house picked out in no time!

Down with the sickness

I have sick babies.  Cole is finally getting better after his awful bronchialitis, but he still has a little cough and runny nose.  Cache was inevitably going to get sick and now he's battling a bad cold.  I woke up to the sound of little cries and coughing from both rooms.  Sick babies!  Cache is sitting on the couch with a blanket, drinking water and eating bread bits (it's all I could get him to eat...even with my best convincing and bribing, water and bread was all I could get him to agree to).  So today I will be wiping noses every few minutes, folding laundry, making sure no one is throwing up on themselves, cleaning up the house, comforting kids, making meals, distributing medicine, wiping more noses, taking temperatures and changing diapers.  I know - you so want my life right now.