Spring Cleaning

Today I have a fun project. We will finally FINALLY be painting our piano. This one is a hard one for me. On one hand part of me thinks this is a horrendous thing to do to a piano, but the other half of me is like WOOHOO! GO FOR IT!! And then we have Trevor spurring us along to paint it some bright fun color. He's so bad.

It took me a while to decide on a color. I've seen a beautiful aqua one in person. So pretty.  I really wanted aqua for the longest time. Trevor wants it yellow or red or white.

It was so hard to decide. So many colors! I did a lot of research on pinterest.  I looked at every painted piano ever put on the internet. Until finally, after watching a taiwanese drama, I knew what color it should be.

And... you will have to wait and see.

To all you first timers

Dear First Time Parents:

I'm going to tell you some things I wish someone had told me when I was a new parent.

Stop comparing your child. Just stop! It is not fair to compare.

They will make mistakes. You think your child is perfect? Just wait.

Don't brag about your child around other mothers. It just makes you look childish and insecure.

Love others' children. Show your child by example.

Just because you are a mother don't lose your identity. Involve your child in your projects.

You have a new team mate. Involve your child in cleaning the house. Start young. You might be surprised what your child is capable of.

I'm sure I have more, but I've got to go. My kids are waiting for me. We are cleaning the carpets today.

Raking

I remember hearing my mom talking about a lady she knew who raked her carpet when I was a teenager. I remember my mom wanted a carpet rake.

Yeah.

Fast forward.

Today I was looking at my shag rug feeling sad about how ratty it was looking. Then I had a flashback to that carpet rake lady. I thought that a regular rake couldn't be much different. So Logan went out and got the rake out of the garage.

Rake

Rake

Rake

Guess what? My rug looks like new.

Try it. You'll think I'm a genious.

The Conference

Logan had his first parent teacher conference this week since switching schools. His teacher sang his praises and showed his report card which boasted all A's.

Logan was proud he made such improvement. He has told me numerous times how glad he is to have switched schools. I am glad too. I am very grateful that we are blessed to have two schools to choose from here in our small town.

This is Happening

Potty training is going on at my house. I waited with Logan until he turned two. I took care of the girls at 18 months. Carter turns 18 months next week.

I was going to wait until Carter turned two as well, but he has been telling me when he has potty and poops all the time. He would cry to get them taken care of and get a clean diaper. So I decided to just go for it and see what happens. I am no quitter, so there really is no turning back, but I guess when I say we will see what happens, I mean that we will see how long it takes.

The key to a successful potty training is a cushy seat on the potty chair, and a nice low bench to fit over their legs. I made the bench with some scrap wood and phoebe helped me paint it. The purpose of the bench is a place to play with toys and eat. It's impossible for me to potty train without it and also, it traps them on the chair so they can't move.

We've been going for five days and it has been great! Everything is moving along as expected. Lots of potty and poops in the toilet and lots of candy. Only one carpet accident and that was while sitting on the potty chair and things got untucked.

Change Is A Coming

I gotta give a shout out to my sister Alysa who is helping me get my business organized and streamlined. I am so grateful for her ideas and also to her for helping me to not give things away anymore. I'm grateful for her helping me to have a backbone and to be honest with myself about how much taking pictures really costs ( oh and it really costs a lot). Anyway, I am excited because change really is coming and it will be amazing when it does!

Sometimes You Just Feel Weird

I took a hiatus. I got off the blog for a bit, but I'm back now and it was a good break. 

I've had a lot going on here, and the pace just seems to be getting faster with each passing day. I'm trying to finish up some photo shoots and get a handle on the messy house phase that I cannot get out of. I can't believe the school year is only a few months away from being over. WHAT? CRAZY! Like I said, life just feels weird right now. weird. weird. weird. 

By the way, I have decided this very week that I do NOT like having a boy as my oldest. I think it would be easier to switch Logan and Sami. Maybe. Why is it so hard to raise kids? Logan is driving me crazy! Ah, I guess Sami is driving me crazy too. She is so mean to poor Phoebe. 

Life really is becoming weird. Older kids just make it weird. You get to deal with old kid stuff and not little baby stuff anymore. I don't want Phoebe to go to school. School will ruin her. I really think so.