12 Questions

I was reading some posts on Facebook recently and one of them that has been going around is asking you kids without ANY prompting these questions...

Tatum is always saying the funniest stuff, so I thought that she would be the perfect kid to start with.  She did not disappoint!!

1.  What is something I always say to you?

Answer... "To stop!" 

2.  What makes me happy?

Answer... "Giving a hug!"

3.  What makes me sad?

Answer... "When I take something away from you."

4.  How do I make you laugh?

Answer... "Tickling"

5.  How old am I?

Answer... "6"  (She's only off by 30...no big deal)

6.  What is my favorite thing to do?

Answer... "Play on my phone!" 

7.  What do I do when you are not around?

Answer... "Get groceries" 

8.  What am I really good at?

Answer... "Darts"

9.  What am I not really good at?

Answer... "Pool"  (she's right...I suck!)

10.  What do I do for a job?

Answer... "Make dinner"  (Glad to know she thinks I have a job)

11.  What is my favorite food?

Answer...  "Fish"  (No this is not my favorite food...however I do like fish)

12.  What do you enjoy doing with me?

Answer... "Going to Target!"  (She asks me everyday after school to go to Target)

This girl cracks me up!! 

iPhone Photo Dump

1.  I'm back at it...COUPONING that is!  I did a little stock up on hand soap and dish soap (oh and a toothbrush).  All for under $8!!  I'm sure you can do the math, but that is less than $1 a piece.  That is better than shopping at the dollar store!

2.  Two more coloring books!!  Have I mentioned that I am obsessed?

3.  I snuck a picture of Tatum's dance class...they are just so cute!

4.  No explanation needed!

5.  Me and my mini!

6.  We tried a new restaurant while my sis was in town...Beau Jo's...and it was DELICIOUS!! This is the pizza her and I shared...the Lil' Italy!

7.  My hubby's pizza!!  (in case you are wondering...we didn't have any leftover's)

8.  AFC Championship game!!

9.  My sis and I went to breakfast after we dropped my kids off at school...if you haven't tried SNOOZE and you have one near you...GO!!  And order this Coffee and Donuts pancake...It was AMAZEBALLS!!

3rd Time Was Not A Charm

My sister flew in for the AFC Championship game this weekend and we had hoped that the third time would be the charm, but NO DICE!! 

It might not have been the outcome she preferred, but we still had a blast!!  Living in Denver keeps proving to be pretty great.  The memories we have made in less than 3 years are amazing!  She swears THIS really was the last time she would come to see the Broncos play her beloved Patriots, but I doubt it, we have way too much fun.

The Big Debate

Does our Riley need a friend??

I feel as though it's a battle I am bound to lose. 

But if the battle is lost...the war will not be. 

No puppy!!!

I took the first step in adopting a rescue. 

In fact...I even got my heart set on a dog, but he ended up with another family. 

Oh well...what's meant to be will be.

RIGHT??

I just wonder...

Does Riley want a FULL-time friend?

Did You Hear

If you have talked to Tatum since Christmas you probably heard the news, but in case you haven't...

She got a tablet for Christmas!! 

Yup...a 3 year old with her very own tablet (thanks to her Nana and Papa Dodd)!  She pretty much announces it to every person that walks through our door...and to anyone that I may happen to be on the phone with.  I have to limit the amount of time she is on it because if it were up to her...the only time she wouldn't be on it was when it was charging!  Thanks to her very LARGE imagination...she thinks she can text and FaceTime people on it (SHE CAN NOT)!  She has however...figured out how to play Prime Music and search YouTube...I have to constantly remind her she needs to be using the educational kids part of the tablet.  Apparently PBS can get a little boring.

And as you can see... she rarely lets it out of her sight!

iPhone Photo Dump

1.  I REALLY want that M!!  Like seriously...I REALLY REALLY WANT IT! 

2.  Taylor only likes hot lunch when it comes from her own home...this little thermos is AMAZING!!  I heat up her whatever (this day it was ravioli) and when she goes to eat it at 11...STILL PIPING HOT!!

3.  Look at her...I love her!!

4.  A dish filled with muffins makes me happy!

5.  Just waiting for dance to start!! 

6.  I am getting pretty good at driving in this weather.  Snow does not keep me homebound anymore! (Don't worry I was not driving and taking pics...Thomas took that pic for me)

7.  OBSESSED people!!  I am obsessed with coloring!!

8.  #7...the reason this jumped into my cart at Target!! 

9.  The girls now have their own table in my craft room!!  They are pretty excited about it!!

A Case of the Mondays

My feelings towards Mondays is usually pretty darn good.  Today however, not so much. 

1.  Have you ever had a smoke detector that needs a new battery??  OK if your answer is no to that I'm going to need you to just stop reading now.  You'll never be able to relate.  If you have though...well you know that this VERY ANNOYING OCCURANCE happens only in the MIDDLE of the night.  It's like it knows the minute you are in a nice deep sleep in dreamland and BAM!!  BEEP....................BEEP!!  Well that wasn't exactly what happened to me, but it was just as annoying.  Tatum got her very own Kindle Fire for Christmas...SHE LOVES IT...I am tolerating it because I just haven't quite figured it out.  She somehow managed to set an alarm and at 5:37AM...it went off.  First I couldn't find it and then I couldn't figure out how to turn it off.  I am pretty sure my hubby almost threw it against the wall.  Nothing comes easy in a sleepy haze.  I ended up just powering it off and dealing with it later. 

2.  Have you ever had your air conditioning go out in you car when it's 115 degrees out?  I HAVE!!  And it sucks!!  Like REALLY sucks.  But you now what's worse??  The heater in your car when it's 15 degrees outside!  Yup...I have now experienced both!  Tatum asked me "Mom...why is there smoke coming out of our mouths?"...  I laughed...and then I called the mechanic and made an appointment.  I'll be driving my hubby's car tomorrow!!

3.  Oh...it's Monday and normally I get to send 3 kids to school and 1 husband to work....today though...thanks to one very annoying cough and a runny nose...the littlest one got to stay home from school!

4.  I normally have all this CLEANING motivation on Mondays!  Nope...4 messy bedrooms and at least 5 loads of laundry are quietly calling my name and I just keep turning the volume up on my TV!

5....I'm pretty sure there was something else I had to tell you, but I've forgotten. 

See I'm just off my game today!!  I think I'll binge watch Netflix Making a Murderer and color the rest of the day!  I'll pretend it's Sunday and start my week tomorrow!!! 

A First...Sledding!

This is our third winter in Colorado, but believe it or not we haven't done any sledding.  Well unless you count the five minutes last year before Taylor had a giant meltdown and Tatum came home crying...WHICH I DO NOT!  I really wanted to pack up the whole family and head up to the mountains, but I settled for a local adventure and it was great. 

My hubby chose not to partake in the sledding fun...BOO to him, but that didn't stop the rest of us!!  We went with our good friends The Leahy's.  We smiled and laughed a lot...but I was quickly reminded of how I'm not as young as I once was...I fell off the sled and I was pretty sure I broke my tailbone.  I may or may not have cried a little, but I kept going!  Thomas and Taylor LOVED it!!  Tatum was a little hesitant at first, but just about the time we were ready to go she was all about it!!

Here is the hill...my picture from the top doesn't quite do it justice, but keep in mind that I am taking this pic with one and holding onto that fence (you can see the shadow) behind me for dear life!!  Once I let go...we were gone.

 I went down 3 times...it was a lot of fun, but I'm not sure my butt could have handled anymore.

I love this kid!!! 

She cracks me up!!  Seriously...I can't handle the cuteness!!

Just chillin!!

Typical of my child to be the one on the sled being pulled UP the hill by her friends!! 

It was the PERFECT day...we topped off our sledding adventure with Red Robin.  Only thing missing was my hubby, but I'm pretty sure he won't miss the next time!! 

I'm Back!!!

2015 was a GREAT year!  We spent most of the year making our home OURS!!  Putting a lot of blood, sweat and tears MONEY into it.  We have a small list of things we would still like to do in 2016, but those things will most likely come in the spring time. 

Our holidays were great...starting with our first Thanksgiving in Colorado hosting family and friends.  They don't know it yet, but I am expecting them to all come back next year.  The girls and I went back to AZ for my moms annual cookie party and besides me being sick the whole time...it was WONDERFUL!  We spent Christmas at home just the 5 of us and it was perfect.  My hubby took vacation from Christmas until Jan 4...it was actually quite nice.  OK fine it was nice, but Monday morning it was nice to send everyone off to work and school!!

I think 2016 is going to be just as amazing as 2015!!  Thomas will be playing both Baseball AND Football this year, Taylor and Tatum will both be playing soccer again in the spring and Tatum will continue dance.  We are ALL looking forward to our big trip to Disneyworld in May to celebrate my parents' 40th wedding anniversary.  With our newly finished basement suite I hope we will have many guests this year. 

I didn't set resolutions for myself, but just a few goals.  Last year I really dropped the ball on my blog and the amount of pictures I took.  I plan to change both!!  Now that I have a craft room all my own I have plenty of things I want to finally get around to completing (haha or starting for that matter).

I will leave you with an iPhone photo dump.  I know that my blog posts just aren't as fun without a few pics.

1.  All I wanted for Christmas Eve dinner was Chinese food from my favorite restaurant...my wonderful hubby drove across town to get it for me!!
2.  Thanks to their Nana the kids continued their tradition of 'List' cookies for Santa!  Highlights...Tatum asked for a Hippo (she did not get it)...Taylor asked for an art set (she got it)...Thomas asked for Madden 16 (he got it).  If you are wondering...Tatum got lots of goodies for her baby doll!
3.  Riley was not left out this year, but received her presents on Christmas Eve...Playing with toys at 9 years old can really wear a girl out!
4.  Had to snap a pic at the gas pump...$18.25 to fill up my gas guzzler!!  LOVE IT!!
5.  Guess who got his iPad back??  I let his dad talk me into fixing it for him...it's been broken since the summer!
6.  SHE LOVES MAKE-UP!!
7.  Adult coloring books are all the rage right now and I'm OBSESSED!!  Since I'm coloring a lot...so are the girls!!
8.  See #7
9.  I SKUNKED my hubby in cribbage the other night!!  Had to take a pic because that has NEVER happened before!

iPhone Photo Dump

From top left:

1.  The project I am currently working on...redoing this coffee table.  I should be done this weekend  (need another coat or two of poly)!!

2.  My hubby has agreed to more selfies with me lately...LOL!

3.  Tatum is still loving her dance class...it's amazing how much better she has gotten with "mommy separation"!

4.  We took the girls to our friends kid Halloween party last Friday...Tatum was the most cooperative mummy!!

5.  The bird WOULD NOT stay on my shoulder...I finally had to get rid of him!

6.  Yup...that my friends is one of the intense games of Twister that was played at our party!

7.  Stubborn...it's what best describes her lately!

8.  These would be the next project on my 'To-Do' list...we need some seats for around the pool table in the basement.

9.  I have a love/hate relationship with laundry...I have I love my washer and dryer, so doing the laundry isn't so bad anymore...putting it away however...not so much! PSSS...what you don't see is the two full baskets on the floor!

Finally done!

I knew the second I stepped foot in this house that it was THE ONE!  I saw past the oak...I saw past the awful carpet...I saw past the paint and the black out curtains.  I knew that the bones of the house were all that mattered and I LOVED IT!  I really wanted a house with a finished basement...my hubby did not...he won that battle because I loved the rest of this house too much to care about the basement.

We were fortunate enough to be able to finish the basement after only living in the house for a year.  Although the project took way longer than we had planned...I am happy to say it is finished and we are enjoying our investment.

Excuse the crappy lighting in some of the pics...I promise the wall color is the same throughout even though it looks different in each pic...LOL.

Thanks to my moms creative thinking...I took the inspiration EXIT sign and have added multiple arrows to this wall.  I am not done...I might just fill the whole wall...or at least add a few more.

So this would be the truest pic of the wall color!! It was also requested that I not add too much 'Girly' stuff...I found these pictures at Hobby Lobby...Nice, but not girly!

Our Craigslist pool table...some guy left his wife with 5 kids, so she decided to liquidate his stuff.  His loss...OUR GAIN...at only $300.  We paid movers and had it re-felted to match the décor, so it was an $800 total investment.  Totally worth it!!! 

My mom and sister got to enjoy the new sleeping quarters in September, but there wasn't much else for them to enjoy.  This past weekend though...my parents surprised me and stayed for the five days and got to enjoy all the new amenities.  Maybe they will visit more now that they have their own space!!

Participation Awards Go To...

Thomas and Taylor's football and soccer teams have not had excellent seasons thus far.  OK...if I am being honest...which I always am...Taylor hasn't won a single game and Thomas finally won his first game last weekend.  Despite their records though...we truck out to the fields every weekend and put in 200% effort...me included.  I might be one of the loudest parents on the sidelines regardless of the score and you only have to sit by me once to know which kids are mine!!!

 

Just like Tatum, Taylor is decked out in pink so you can't miss her.  She does not stop...and even when her team is losing she keeps at it!

Thomas is a jack of all trades...master of none when it comes to football.  I am grateful this season he has gotten to play multiple positions and decide what he likes best.  I think if you asked him he would tell you that QB is his position, but as you'll see in the pics he plays quite a few.  And if you can't tell which one he is...look for number 11!! 

 He finally got to try his kickoff abilities...and he didn't do too bad!!

 

 

Look at him go!!  I'll let you decide if he made it to the end zone or not...WINK WINK...or if that #74 tackled him in the what would have been next shot!!

 

Winning or losing...I love watching them both play!