Partyof5

Links, I have many

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:16:18 GMT

A friend turned two:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/choo-choo-guess-whos-two/

I thought Cora Janie broke her arm:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/1223/

Spring refuses to visit Kansas:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/spring-blues/

I got caught up on "Downton Abbey:"
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/excuses-and-examples/

But I'm still not finished with the series:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/this-isnt-a-real-post/

I took a trip through memory lane:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/excuse-me-while-i-cry/

And (finally) built a play kitchen for Cora's 2nd birthday:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/simple-play-kitchen-plans/

My thoughts on kindergarten

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:30:34 GMT

This is a good one. You should probably check it out. And share it with your friends.

http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/of-this-i-am-sure/

Linky dinky

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:08:13 GMT

We finished the dining room:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/dining-room-board-and-batten/

And celebrated Easter:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/easter-pictures-with-little-words/

April Fool Fun. (Probably the best post out of the bunch.)
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/april-fools-jokes-4-days-later/

Our current living room:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/living-room-reveal/

And (finally) why I love Spring:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/signsofspring/

Sharing the links

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 05:06:42 GMT

Spring break was a bust:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/out-on-a-limb/

But we made gloop:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/how-to-make-gloop/

And went shopping for some super fun, baby girl stuff:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/cradle-of-love/

Long time, no share

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:23:28 GMT

Almost a month since I've been here last. My bad, friends.

We've had lots of snow:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/snow-thank-you/
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/snow-fun-continued/
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/good-bye-winter-2/

I also showed off our headboard for the master bedroom. Bow-chicka-wow-wow. Here is where we make magic:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/how-to-make-a-headboard/

Finally, (some of) my favorite pictures from 2012:
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/favorite-pictures-2012/

Sick babies and snow

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:12:07 GMT

Sick babies and snow. I've got 'em both.

Why I don't craft

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 04:01:00 GMT

http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/why-i-dont-craft/

Love Letters

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:25:42 GMT

Some written words (with pictures) about the ones I love: http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/love-letters/

Valentine Treats

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:22:37 GMT

Feel free to pin this shit: http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/valentine-treats/

Please note that there is no actual "fruit" in the parfait.

More plants

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:19:08 GMT

The rest of my houseplants: http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/plant-tour-continued/

All time low

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:16:09 GMT

Rock bottom is blogging about plants, people. http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/plant-tour-2013/

Also, CJ is still sleeping through the night. Amen, thanks be to God. http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/big-news-updated/

Big news!

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:07:07 GMT

We finally did it! Cora Jane has some news over here that she would like to share.

No, she's not a big sister. Don't get any ideas, people. :)

Bennett the stair sleeper

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 03:53:50 GMT

A post about Bennett and his strange sleeping habits: http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/harry-potter-wanna-be/

House tour 2013: our kitchen

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:55:08 GMT

I finally took and uploaded some pictures of the kitchen:

http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/house-tour-2013-our-kitchen/

Instagram pic of progress:

More about my work

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:19:41 GMT

Question and Answer type post about my job- http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/my-night-job/

Maple flooring

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 04:19:52 GMT

I am not sure how long I will keep this up, but new post over at House of Pool about our new flooring.

Cora Bean

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 03:28:38 GMT

New pictures of the babe here: http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/weight-check-17-months-23-lbs/

Christmas pictures

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:03:12 GMT

I posted a few Christmas pictures over on my "new" blog. Feel free to check them out: http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/785/

It's time

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 04:53:25 GMT

After a long debate, I've decided to stop posting here at Pool, Party of 5. Update your readers, friends. I'm moving to Wordpress.

If you care to follow along (and I hope you do), you can find me here: http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/.

Thanks for the fun. It's been nice.

~~~~
For my LJ friends, I appreciate all the stories that I have read and the friendships that I have gained. Big, sloppy kisses for you. ♥

Be Merry

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:00:59 GMT

Did all your dreams come true today?

I truly hope so.

I also hope you are having a wonderful and blessed holiday, friends. Most importantly, I hope you are surrounded by those that you love best.

Kitchen update

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 05:13:06 GMT

Remember a month ago when we had a minor house flood? We're STILL not all back to normal yet. Turns out house floods are the equivalent to house fires in terms of damage and personal items lost and clean up. True story.

The process could be going slightly faster, however, if I didn't feel paralyzed about making decisions. I SUCK at stuff like this because of my gigantic (and slightly out of control fear) that I might make the "wrong" choice. (Mama doesn't like to be wrong.) Be it flooring, paint samples, or even knobs on the cabinets. I struggle. Laid-back and easy is not my way. Oh no. I have to fret and paint sample colors on the wall and trust random strangers on the Internets for advice.

We went with the top choice when we finally got down to painting the kitchen cabinets, by the way. I know it looks white in the picture but it's really not. The color is called Artist Canvas and it's a Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint. If it chips up and looks like shit, well too bad. It has taken us WEEKS to pull down all the cabinets, sand, de-gloss, prime, and paint three coats on everything.

As for a kitchen wall color, we ended up painting everything the same color as the living room. I've never been very happy with the blue but too scared to make any change. I had a hard enough time deciding on a color in the first place. (If you recall, it took forever for us to even paint the living room. Here's a refresher of the living room color.) It's another Behr Premium Plus Ultra called Macchiato.

I know that is a terrible picture but it gives you an idea of how everything is coming along. If you're shocked by the state of my floors, well then WELCOME TO MY LIFE. We've been living on sub-floors for a month now. After a long and healthy debate and many (many!) trips around town, we ended up ordering this maple flooring in the maple syrup finish. Thank goodness my Dad was able to order it at the wholesale price. Dads are the best, eh?

Here is what we have left to do: finish painting the cabinets, install the hardwood floor, install the tile in the bathroom/laundry room, replace/re-hang all the trim, fix the holes in the wall, apply felt protectors to the furniture, and order an area rug. I promise to take real pictures with my camera once the whole thing is said and done. It's going to be beautiful when it's finally finished.

The bad news is that, unfortunately, none of this will be finished until the New Year has started. The good news, however, is that I only have one decision left to make. (Picking an area rug.) After that, if you ask me to make ANY housing decisions, the answer will be NO WAY.

I'm done with house projects for 2012.

Family pictures

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:30:55 GMT

A few weeks ago, we had family pictures taken. If you are looking for a photographer in the Lawrence, Kansas region, I highly recommend checking out Nicole Bobey Photography. She was pretty darn awesome to work with and captured some amazing photographs of my children.

We went out at 8:15 in the morning and traipsed through a broken barn and some random (but beautiful!) woody areas. It was COOOOLD outside but we had fun nonetheless. The pink cheeks and noses give us character, no?

I sure do love those kids and that man. A lot.

~~~~

Make it your goal to use the word traipsed today when conversing with your children. Great vocabularies are built through talking. This moment brought to you by your favorite parent educator, yours truly, and spurred after a conversation with one of my closest friend and fellow educator.

Happy (almost) Christmas, friends.

Ugly Sweater Run

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 06:00:27 GMT

I think it's part his personality plus part encouragement from his family but Simon has taken a pretty big interest in running lately. The record should be clear that I DON'T ENJOY THE RUNNING. Uh-uh. No, thank you. BIG HEAD SHAKE NO. I don't like to sweat and I certainly don't like to run. The closest you'll see me running is to the car when I'm late which, sadly, happens entirely (read: every day) too often. So this running interest? Not from me.

His good looks? You better believe it. The desire to make your chest hurt and legs feel like jelly? Not so much.

Just this fall, Simon completed his first school marathon by running 26.2 miles after school every Wednesday afternoon. Typically it takes him all of the fall season and part of the spring. This year his goal is to get another marathon completed during the spring season. This drive? Again NOT FROM ME.

We also can't forget that we "ran" the Color Run in October. This month's big running adventure? The Ugly Sweater Run with his Uncle Josh and Matt.

The course was a 5k and Simon ran almost the entire course with Josh. Josh reported that they walked twice during the race but ran the majority. Sadly, Daddy couldn't keep up with the young crazies. He finished, of course, just not quite as fast. I thought it VERY FITTING that his fake 'stache came in gray.

Simon had an absolute blast out on the course and really enjoyed playing with the fake snow after the race. I really enjoyed watching him run. (I may or may not have actually missed the finish. I was on the playground with the other two.) Anyways the key word here is watching.

I enjoy watching him run. I enjoy celebrating his success.

And his dance moves too. I enjoy watching his dance moves. May b be he did get something from me after all.

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I swear to be a better blogger this week. I have an updated kitchen and house post. More Elf on the Shelf shenanigans and out-takes from our not yet arrived Christmas cards. #ifailatblogging

The Elf on the Shelf

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:11:26 GMT

You know what we've been having an incredibly fun time doing? The Elf on the Shelf. I know, I know. Some people think he's really creepy. And truthfully? I do too. Honestly, I believe that children should WANT to behave appropriately and not be WILLED into submission because of threats. Or you know, the belief that they won't get any Christmas presents.

But whatever. Part of the fun is that Simon still believes. I really thought he wouldn't buy into the whole deal. NOT SO, FRIENDS. The first night he woke up at 4:30 IN THE MORNING and went looking for him. Simon even writes notes to him. (Example: Are you coming with us to Grandpa Pool's on Christmas? Mark yes or no.) (Um...YES IF IT MEANS THAT YOU BEHAVE.)

Seriously. He's NINE. I love it.

Anyways, Buddy is an ornery little cuss.

1. 2.

3. 4.

1.) Buddy was sad that the Christmas decorations are missing. He took matters into his own hands. #stockingsarehung?

2.) Oh Buddy. You're so funny.

3.) Buddy, if you want to wrestle then take it outside.

4.) Buddy got into big trouble last night. Good thing we are painting the kitchen and kitchen cabinets this week.

~~~~
The last picture was shared on Making It in America and was selected to be a part of Your pics: Awesome Elf on the Shelf Ideas! I am officially "that Mom" that takes the idea too far. My apologies.

Do a happy dance

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:21:47 GMT

18 (almost 19) months later and guess who is finally deciding to grow some hair? Oh the irony of the whole situation. Both my boys had hair. Not a ton of hair but definitely more than this little lady.

Ok fine! It certainly looks more like a mullet than anything but still HAIR. We've got some! Or maybe we just call this a glorious rat tail? Whatever. Everything (well, almost everything) about her makes me happy. (Sleeping through the night would be AWESOME.)

I'm happy even though I fail at blogging. My kitchen is (literally) in pieces. My cabinets are half painted. We have no flooring (and nothing ordered yet). I haven't purchased a single Christmas present or ordered any Christmas cards. The weather has been awesome and we put up a Christmas tree despite the giant mess surrounding us. We've got insurance money on the way. I have a picture of how I want it all to look.

Everything is going my way.

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Follow me on Instagram (@thepools) if you care to see more. I've got lots going on over there.