5 Random Things...

So I have been tagged by DesignHerMomma to share 5 random things about myself. Seems like my life is in limbo at the moment so maybe this is a good challenge.

1. I lost 25 pounds last year, have kept it off pretty easily but need to lose another 25 and am struggling to get motivated and really do it. I could use a GOOD diet buddy/motivator...the last one I had convinced me to forget it and just eat whatever I wanted for awhile (you know who you are, and it is all your fault).

2. I am still in the midst of planting my garden. It is a rather large plot and I am just hoping I can actually keep up with it this year. I was hoping maybe the kids would be into it a little more. This has turned out to be KINDA true but I already had two casualties, one by a 3 year old foot and one by a 3 year old wacking it with a shovel.

3. I had a great experience on my knees last week (not what you are thinking). Check out my friends similar experience here...my colors were apple green and white.

4. I just figured out how to make the best and easiest Strawberry Dacquiri with my new blender that I got for Mothers Day so if you are in the neighborhood please stop by and we can blend it up!

5. I have begun to realize that in the midst of having children I have lost a piece of myself. I think becoming a mommy all the sudden your focus on life can get easily out of whack. So much attention goes to your children and mommys tend to get put last on the list. It is easy to get burnt out b/c you aren't spending the time rejuvenating yourself and the relationships around you. I strongly urge all of you who are feeling a little disconnect with either you or someone close to you, to try and bridge that gap. Take some time (away from children) and reconnect, laugh and just enjoy yourself or eachother. I failed to do this, hopefully it isn't too late.

Now I get to tag 6 more! So, here you go fellow bloggers...get random!

Jamie, Steph, Melanie, Kelley, Amy & Tricia

Spring Cleaning...

Well, this weekend I stayed home and did some much needed spring cleaning. Here is a list of some things I accomplished:
Cleaned Carpet spots...including stupid cat who is going to get thrown out soon
Tried to spot clean sofa...just need to give up and buy a new one
Dusted areas that probably only get dusted twice a year...yes it was thick
Dusted all the regular areas...(this doesn't happen very often either)
Cleaned base boards...or really that little area between the base boards and carpet that seems to collect anything and everything...especially doggy and kitty hair
Reorganized linen closet, hall closet and front closet
Cleaned off the top of our armoire which had somehow become a catch all to many things...including an inch of dust. There was also a years (or more) worth of "important" papers sitting on top that needed filing into the overstuffed filing cabinet that hides inside our master closet. That accomplishment felt great for some reason...I think b/c you lay in bed and tend to stare at all the stuff and it soons becomes something you dread doing.
Scrubbed bathrooms from top to bottom
Went through Lilly's closet which contains tubs and tubs of baby clothes/stuff. Got rid of a few tubs worth to both a church charity and a friend...well they are awaiting delivery.

What I didn't get to yet:
Wash windows...this really wasn't even on my list.
Reorganize Kitchen cabinets...this includes getting rid of stuff that is probably expired and maybe digging out those mashed potatoes/rice boxes that are in the back and never get eaten...Anybody else have those misc items that you forget you had?
Cleaning kitchen cabinets (with that special orange glow wood cleaner stuff)
Cleaning inside and outside of fridge
Actually hanging my kitchen decor that has been staring at me since November or so when our kitchen was painted...so sad that I am not inspired to do this.

So basically as you can see the Kitchen was last on the list b/c it was the most daunting. I think this weekend I will finish up with that and then by that time there will already be a thin layer of dust on everything, hair will have begun to collect in that little crevice again, all the floors will need vaccumed, handprints will appear on all the clean mirrors and walls and life will become normal again. Well, at least 90% of the house was clean for 24 hours. What more can you ask for?? A maid perhaps? :)

Beginning of Lake Season

Well, this weekend Tim took the kids up to his parents and began a summer of what I am sure will be many trips up to the lake.

Lilly was more interested in sand than the water.
It was cold...but I guess kids don't mind so much!

First boat ride of the season and she didn't want to sit still...so picture a drunk trying to walk on a moving boat and that is probably what Lilly looked like!

As you can see so much fun in the sun can make you sleepy...

doesn't happen too often at this age so you just have to enjoy those moments when they do occur. Too cute. I will blog later about what I did this weekend...not quite so much fun in the sun but I do have a clean house to show for it...well I did.

36 hour adventure

So about last night around 8:30 I arrived home from a 36 hour adventure. This wonderful carpet company whom one of my favorite girlfriends (and original interior design mentor) now works for, took me and my beautiful work associates on a Carpet Mill tour in Dalton, GA. The trip started out and ended a little rough as you can read about here. But overall it was a great little getaway filled with many things. First we stopped to see how Carpet tile was made which was very cool. Then we were off to check into our accomodations which I have to say if you are ever planning on staying in Chatanooga I would definitely stay here...well without children that is. Very quaint little B&B right downtown. This was my very own room...along with Yes...that is a jacuzzi tub and Yes...I did jump in.
After we checked in we got to go to this great Glass Studio and actually blew our own glass christmas ornaments. Of course I forgot my camera in my room so you can check out some pics both here, and I am sure here. After that it was out for dinner with their carpet designers and then off to the mill the next day. At the mill we were filled with knowledge about Nylon yarns, tufting machines, dying vats, backing, and so much more. (It is a very interesting process even if you don't spec carpet everyday). We even got to eat lunch with the President of the company before we took off. After a 2hour delay out I would have to say we were exhausted. We realized we never got a pic of us girls, but weren't really up for posing at the airport. So I did find some pics from last year that I had to post b/c we are just all so cute! :)

Thanks for a great time Christi! And don't worry we'll keep spec'n!

My little baby mama

Two at once?
Oh Miss Lilly is really getting into her baby dolls. It is Oh too cute. This week I taught her how to wrap them up all snuggly like I use to do to her...oh so sad my baby is soooo big!!

Let's get Real...

So I decided that my blogs are going to start getting a little more "real" here at Hess Happenings. B/c I am sure if you are a frequent (or non-frequent) stopper-byer of the blog that I tend to probably make everything look "just dandy" here in the land of Hess. I know most of you know that that is far from reality but I figured I might as well start sharing some of the bad along with the good.

One good example that I was reminded of after reading my friends blog was last week at the grocery store. Now I will blame a bit of this on myself since it was nearing lunch time and my kids were not up to feeling 100% healthy yet, but it was Lucas' turn to bring snacks to school the next day and we were literally running in to pick up 5 things.

At first I thought things were going well. We parked right next to a GREEN car cart. Lucas was sooooo excited and actually wanted Lilly to sit next to him...(just don't touch his wheel). We headed for the produce department and grabbed the weekly must-have fruit items then headed to the cookie isle to grab some Teddy Grahams to go with the Go-gurts we already had so Lucas would have snacks for school. That's when things turned very ugly very fast.

As soon as I threw them in the cart Lucas asked if he could have some...now I don't know about you, but typically I could care less if we open up the box of crackers/snacks at the store while shopping before we actually "pay" for them. It always gets paid for, they still get thier money and everyone is happy right? (If you happen to disagree with this please feel free to leave a comment). But I am honestly not sure how any mom with two children who has to buy a cartload of groceries does NOT do that.

But that day was different, it was our last item of 5 and all we had to do was check-out which was 15' away. So I told Lucas No and explained that we were done and were going to check-out and I would open them when we got in the car. For some reason I think Lucas stopped listening after I said the word No...hmmm. He then proceeded to beg and plead for some cookies as I continue to say no and push the cart the 15' to the self-check out. Lilly now catches on that there is food in the cart and now she wants some too. So they are both trying to turn around and beg and plead and whine (not quietly) through the little window in the back of the car. In the meantime Lucas doesn't want Lilly to lean on him while she is trying to turn around in a moving vehicle cart and Lucas keeps yelling "Don't push me Lilly!" and then head butts her head with his. We are now 5' from the scanner machine and the self-check out lady sees my 3 year old beating my 1 year old with his own head and is just staring at me with big eyes and says "Oh My!" So I pull up and grab Lilly out who is now crying b/c her big brother hurt her, console her for a minute while Lucas continues to beg and plead for food (again NOT quietly). I get Lilly calmed down and put her in the regular part of the cart and then decide to try and explain to Lucas that he is in trouble for hitting his sister and is definitely NOT getting any cookies. As he screams some still I hold him down and strap him into the car for time-out.

So now he is screaming even louder for me to "Let me out!" and I take calmly scan my 2 items and across the scanner, then of course the others have to be "weighed"...figures. The self-check out lady is trying to help by offering my crying children stickers...Really lady? I didn't bother to say anything to her b/c I know she was only trying to help but do you really give a kid stickers who just hit his sister? I also didn't even look aound at what I am sure was the entire store looking at me...whether out of pity or thinking I was a horrible mother. I was just trying to keep myself calm and collected which I think I pulled off rather well. We exited the store with Lucas still trying to catch his breath from crying so hard. Lilly was content with the keys she had taken from my purse. We made it home and they were fed and put to bed.

Honestly, I have always struggled with those public occurances b/c it is not as easy as sitting them in timeout or sending them to their room. I would tend to give in at church b/c I figure its better than causing a big scene. When shopping, I can take Lucas and put him in the cart if he starts running off but that doesn't mean he doesn't try to climb out! (Scary!) Typically shopping experiences go pretty well, and typically I have my kids when running errands like these. I would have to say this was the worst experience yet. So if you have a magic solution to discipline in public places please let me know. Otherwise we will hopefully move past the terrifying threes soon enough and survive the neccessary shopping adventures with two children in tow.

Can you feel the love?

Happy Birthother Day

Well, yesterday was not only Mother's Day but it was also Tim's birthday, so we got to celebrate double! Plans for putt-putt and a picnic were kinda ruined with the rainy weather, but we got over it with movies, popcorn and cake!

So cute with their daddy.
Then Lilly decided that she wanted to be just like mommy and wear my sweater.

It was actually the first time she has tried to put on my clothes, definitely cute. She is growing up WAY too fast. I am a pretty lucky mom with too adorable and healthy children. I hope you had a good Mothers Day too!

God through a 3 year old...

Lucas had said some of the most interesting God spoken thoughts lately and I thought I would share them with you;

We were getting off 465 onto 38th St and were stuck in Construction.

I said to Lucas: Do you see all the Construction Trucks?

Lucas: Yeah, what are they doing?

Me: They are making the road bigger.

Lucas: For Jesus?

Me: Well...no, not for Jesus, but so more cars are able to drive on the road.

Lucas: So that God can watch all the cars drive?

Me: Yes, so God can watch all the cars drive.

A few days later Tim and Lucas were taping up a box and they had one of those tape guns that you use for packing. Pointing to the wording (SHUR-TAPE) on the tape gun

Lucas says to Tim: Dad, do you know what this says?
Tim: No, what does it say?
Lucas: It says "Jesus is Alive!"
_______________________
A few nights ago we were saying bedtime prayers;
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
The angels watch me through the night, until I wake in morning light.
God bless mommy and daddy, my sister Lilly, Wrigley, Oliver....(etc...rest of family), and at the end he said "And God bless my buddy Neil and all my toys".

I think God is working through Lucas with those little reminders that He is always around and is everywhere you look, even in things like Construction and tape. :)

Fast paced

Well, here are some pictures I got of our dogwoods (at least I think they are dogwoods) before the flowers blew off at the end of last week. They were in full bloom for about a week and then in the midst of two days the petals covered our drive and yard. We pulled in on Thursday and Lucas' says, "Mommy, is it snowing?" I hope we are definitely done with snow, but it is Indiana so I'm not going to promise anything.

It was a good weekend. Tim ran the Mini Marathon on Saturday- We are very proud of him! Then as if that wasn't enough, on Sunday he decided to conquer to prarie grass that had grown in our front yard. It really wasn't bothering us too much but I am sure our neighbors appreciate it. Lucas got to help daddy mow the back yard and Lilly and I raked up the remains of the prarie (well...she would at least clap for me everytime I got the grass into the bag!)

Bit of a Bug

We have had a bit of a bug this week. Now Mama has it and everything has gone down hill. I'm tired, I'm exhausted, I can't breathe, and not sleeping well due to my own caughing and caughing children and Lucas who seems to sleep talk/cry/scream alot when he has a fever.

Fortuantely, the house is actually pretty clean, the laundry got done yesterday, and luckily all my work was done on Wednesday. So what will today consist of? Hopefully nothing...well maybe a doctor visit.