Friday, July 30, 2010

Hip, Hip Hooray, it's Garbage Day!

One of the high points of our week, Friday morning at 8am.
There he is!  Wow...amazing.

Sands of Time?

That was the name of the color.  I imagined a nice, neutral tan-ish to compliment my beautiful, shiny chocolate-mousse colored shower curtain, which I did iron (pats self on back).

What do you see when you hear "sands of time?"  Beaches, perhaps?  Maybe a sandbox?

Whatever you saw, I'm certain it wasn't a flashback to high school.  Hideous, awful high school whose colors were brown and gold.  Where the girls wore gold gowns for graduation and the boys wore brown.

GOLD!

  Okay, I'll admit, the photo makes it look better.  But still...not the beautiful, spa-like retreat I'd imagined.  (ha, ha, right?  The boys' bath toys haven't invaded yet.)  

I need to go watch another episode of Color Confidential on HGTV.  Better yet, I need to apply to the show so I can have paint-color-therapy session.

Or maybe I should apply a big brown and gold adhesive warrior head to my mirror?  Yeah, that'll do it.  Because it'll be 6 more years before I get up the gumption to paint again.
*Sigh*
It really was  a good idea on Monday.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Cool as a Cucumber

At the Wednesday farmer's market, Farmer Steve gives us each a cucumber.  They were BIG ones yesterday!

Going...
Going...
Gone!

In other news, the bathroom is painted.  There was far less drama yesterday, so my naptime project this afternoon is to iron the curtain (I SO hate ironing, I actually contemplated skipping this part), and getting the switchplate and fan covers back up. If all goes well, I'll have before and after pics for you tomorrow.  It was a fairly successful project, but I'm giving myself two weeks before I attack the next paint job - watch out, half bath, you're next!  (Why two weeks?  Because my sister-in-law, the Painting Queen, will be here then!)

And today's the last day for blog name ideas! 

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Tasmanian Mom and Angel Babies

Have you thought of any more good blog names for me?  All my entries are listed right there on the right.  After 10pm tomorrow, there will be no more entries, so if you don't like the new blog name and you didn't submit an idea, then no complaining!  (You know, how you can't complain about politics if you don't vote...?)

In other news, I'VE LOST MY MIND!  Yeah, tell us something we didn't already know, right?  No, really.

Somehow, I got into my pretty little head than I can do anything if I set my mind to it.  And, since we are nearing the 6 year anniversary of purchasing our townhouse, I thought I should celebrate by...painting the bathroom!  Yes, you heard me.  I've lived here that long and never painted the dumb bathroom.

So, I decided, on the hottest day of the month yesterday, to start painting the bathroom BY MY SELF.  Mmmhmmm.  I know what you're thinking...

A little too much HGTV, there?

Let's just say, the primer got the best of me and, while I didn't swear, I would've sound less ridiculous in my cursing the primer, brush, roller, hose, etc. if I had.  I'm pretty sure I looked like the tasmanian devil washing out that stuff in my driveway as my sweet little angel babies snacked on goldfish crackers in their pack n play, watching the comedy unfold.
A dear friend came to rescue me from myself last night and got me away from here for a couple of hours, and, despite my being covered in primer, she said, "I'm not ashamed to be with you."  Is that love or what?

I don't remember the last time I soaked so long in my bathtub (because, duh, there's no shower curtain!).  It might have been relaxing if the bathroom didn't look like the DIY network.

I'm rambling now because....I still have to do the actual PAINTING and I'm procrastinating.

*Big Sigh* 

It was such a good idea on Monday night, though.

I'll leave you with totally unrelated and precious pics of my little angel babies.  They were up at 6:15 this morning.  I went in there, changed their diapers and told them it was still night-night time and that they could play with these soft toys if they didn't want to sleep.  I'd be back sometime after 7:00.

And guess what?  They were quiet!

So quiet, in fact, that I had to go wake them up at 8:20 to leave by 9!  Here's what they looked like - check out Nathan using the caterpillar as a pillow!
Ironically - or should I say, blessedly, we were going to my Bible study.  Now I'm feeling a little less devil-ish than yesterday and a little more confident that I actually CAN do all things through Christ who strenghthens me -

even finish painting the bathroom.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Do you work outside the home, or stay home with your kids?

Rather than do my laundry and clean my kitchen, I've decided to answer Multiples and More Blog Network's Question of the Week.  I haven't participated in awhile.


  • Do you work outside the home or stay home with the kids?
    • I'm staying at home with my 14 month old twin boys.
  • How did you come to that decision?  Are you glad you made that decision?
    • I was struggling mightily with the decision, when, at 26 weeks, I was told that my teaching position was going to be eliminated for the following school year.  So, it was easy to decide to stay at home.  And yes, I'm glad that it happened!
  • What is your favorite aspect of staying at home?  Least favorite?
    • I love being here to witness and record every "first," to be paid in hugs and kisses, to drink coffee and blog during morning nap!  My least favorite aspect is the late afternoon, when we are all on each other's nerves and Daddy is still and hour or two from coming home from work!
  • If you stay at home, did you have to make adjustments to your lifestyle to make this work?
    • Yes, we go shopping and out to eat far, far less.  Almost never.  That's why I post about it when we take the boys out for pizza - it's an event!  And I have become a coupon and rebate queen!  
  • Do you plan to continue doing what you're doing now? Or make a change in the future?
    • We've decided that I'll stay home with the boys for the next school year, as well.  It's working for us right now.  We're taking it one school year at a time, but I fully intend to go back to teaching sometime.
  • What advice would you give to a mom who is pregnant and deciding whether to stay  home with her kids or go back to work?
    • They'll only be babies once.  You've got the rest of your life to work.

14 Month Birthday Picnic

We celebrated the boys' 14 month birthday yesterday with a goose poop deck scrubbing party picnic in the park because it was a beautiful sunny afternoon.  Both boys are WALKING!  They've been up and at 'em for a week now, exhausting their parents every waking minute of the day. 
They invented a game, pushing the wagon round and round in circles.  If they were both on the same side, like this, it worked pretty well.  One on each side didn't work well at all!
We finished our picnic with some soft-serve ice cream from our local Dairy DeLite.  For the first time, we bought the boys their own cup to share:

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Blog Naming Contest Update, or, When Geese Attack

PEOPLE!
I was just kidding when I told you to send your entries via homing pigeon.

Apparently, someone thought, 
"If homing pigeon is good, 
CANADIAN GOOSE
will be better!"

So, while you all were brainstorming brilliant blog names for me on Sunday, hubby and I were swabbing the deck (ahoy, matey!) because a 
GIANT
CANADIAN
GOOSE

CRAPPED

on our deck.  The word "poo" does not, cannot, describe what this bird did to our deck during his fly-by.
No, Maverick!
I did not grant your request for a fly-by!

Ugh.
I did not take a photo because it was too. disgusting. 

You know what makes this worse?

These creatures are protected in our state!


If I ever find out who sent that goose....I'll sic'em on you!

P.S. The entries are excellent!  Keep them coming...I plan to post a running list on the blog Monday.  And I'm thinking I'll have you all vote beginning Friday.  Fun!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Blog-naming contest!

We need a new name.  aulds world (times two) isn't cutting it anymore.  we'll still keep the same URL - I don't want to mess with that, but I want our last name out of the title.  But I still want the title to reflect US, our (sometimes) world-travelling four pack.

So, a contest!  Woo hoo!

I found this cool looking-into-the-clouds-from-the-inside-of-a-plane background on blogger.  They actually have a lot of options, I discovered, when I clicked on a tiny little button that said "background image."  Imagine!

I think it's very "us," seeing as how our family literally makes a living from this vantage point.

So, what should we call ourselves?  I simply cannot name another thing - coming up with our childrens' names took all my creativity!

The winner receives....(shuffle, shuffle, rummaging in purse)...a diaper? no.  My coupon file?  No way!  A $5 coupon to Bed Bath and Beyond?  Maybe.  How about a pat on the back and pride in knowing a job well done?

Rules and Regulations:
  1. No reference to our names or residence.
  2. All entries must be received via blog or facebook (or email or text or snail mail or homing pigeon) comments by Thursday, July 29, 10:00pm Central Standard time.
  3. Winner will be announced...whenever I feel like it.  I'm not gonna make any promises!
Here's your inspirational photo: Matthew flying to Texas in May.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Fireworks Photos

I know that the 4th of July was weeks ago, but I finally remembered to post our friend N's photos of the event.  These were taken from our driveway!  It was a grand display, and so much better than sitting in traffic or waiting in a field all day to watch them.  Sharing the night with friends made it special, and the boys sleeping through the whole thing upstairs in their cribs made it terrific!
Thank you, LORD, for our freedom.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Under Construction

FYI, the blog will be under construction until further notice.  I'm losing my black and white background from thecutestblogontheblock.com, can't get on their site for a new one, and don't like what blogger has to offer.  Any suggestions, fellow bloggers?  I'm not interested in changing to a different system - I like writing in blogger.  Okay, I'll be honest.  I took me forever to teach myself and I don't have time to learn a new system.  Stick with what works, ya know?  Anyhow, I don't like their designs.  What do you all use?

Oh, and anyone know how to get a watermark on their pics easily?  I tried picnik, but it was a hassle - at least, on my first try it was.

This Week in Pictures

Monday: I took the boys to watch Daddy play softball.  Matthew didn't take his eyes off the game.  Nathan didn't take his eyes off the goldfish crackers.
Tuesday: I took the boys to see the Puppet Wagon at our favorite park.  It's cute and a good excuse for a picnic on a beautiful afternoon.
Wednesday: We introduced them to Veggie Tales this week, and it's getting easier to feed them vegetables!  I walked the boys down to the farmer's market and the man I bought veggies from gave each boy a cucumber.  I let them play with them on the way home, only to discover that Nathan ate half of the cucumber when he tossed it overboard and it got run over by the stroller!  Matthew had chewed a significant chunk off of his, too.  I didn't get photos of that, unfortunately, but I did get this.  After breakfast that morning, while I was cleaning in the kitchen, they somehow got this bowl of grapes off the dining room table and were eating them as fast as possible when I found them.  I guess they were still hungry!

Thursday: Daddy's working an evening shift today, so it was playtime with Daddy all morning!  Mommy got a chance to actually clean the boys' room while they played and discovered some forgotten trucks.
The End.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Anticipating

Guest blogging is the hubby, Steve.

More often than not, we use the blog to share pictures and keep family and friends up on fun, momentous or exciting adventures we have. The blog is also a good way to share tiny, perceived inconsequential moments that our 13 (nearly 14) month old twin boys can teach us.

At our house, we have stairs that lead up from our garage and we have a railing that the you can look over (or through if you're 2 feet tall) and see who is coming up the stairs. Kim has shared pictures of this in the past. Yesterday, I came home from work and for whatever reason, had my head buried in my phone, reading the news or an email. As I came up the stairs, to my surprise, I heard a very sweet little 13 month old voice say, "hi". There was Matthew, a big smile on his face, standing there at the railing.

...my son was prepared, excited and anticipating me, I was not anticipating my son...

This fleeting moment, was and is a reminder to me that I always want to be prepared, excited and anticipating seeing my family and everything else associated with jobs, responsibilities and the world need to be left at the door.

I'll be ready today.

 "Hi!" 
(March '10 photo added by me, a wife who feels very loved today)

Monday, July 19, 2010

Beach Bums

Less than two miles away from our home is a beautiful city park on a lovely lake, complete with a beach.  Now that we are parents, we appreciate the local parks in our area more than ever.  Saturday was a hot one, so why not try out the beach?  We packed up a picnic lunch, the SPF, suits, swim diapers, and sand toys (aka plastic food containers) and headed out.


Matthew didn't mind the sand, but it slowed down his "knee-walking," so he got his arms swinging back and forth to get going!  [Maybe the sand and grass at the park that day motivated them to get up on their feet because on Sunday they started WALKING!  Yep, they're fearless now, just letting 'er rip!]
The food containers were forgotten the second they spotted another kid's toy basket.  So, we let them play for a few minutes...it made for cuter pictures than our toys!
I like this one...it's very...surfer magazine-esqe. 
(And my highlights look great!)


So, what did we learn?
The beach is fun.
For 20 minutes.
Then you have to go home because the babies start eating the sand.
And drinking the lake water.
Like a dog.
And scream when you try to change them into dry diapers.
Because the lake water is giving them diaper rash.
And the sand is sticking to their man-parts.
So you have to put sandy wet kids in their hot car seats.
And carry them up 35 stairs.
To bathe them.
Then yourself.
Hm....
Are we ready for a beach trip with the boys?
Not yet.
Would I trade a Saturday afternoon at the beach with boys?
Not for anything in the world.

Happy Summer from the Aulds Beach Bums!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

EEGADS, it's hot!

It was so hot and stormy here yesterday that we did not venture outside.  I think it was like Texas yesterday: 93 degrees and about 99% humidity.  Not until 10pm did the humidity let up.  Ick.  The good news is that we're lookin' at a high of 83 with sunshine and low humidity today.  THAT'S what summer's supposed to be!

Praise the Lord for air conditioning!  We spent the better part of yesterday reading library books- okay, flipping and flinging them, but you gotta start somewhere - and climbing in and out of the inflatable playhouse I mentioned last time.

 EEEEEGADS!  This house is so fun my hair stands on end!
Peek-A-Boo!  You can even see in his eyes how he's laughing!  
That's a "window" Nathan's peeking through.  He loved the challenge of climbing through it rather than the "doors" on either side.  Notice how the house sags under his girth?
We nearly wore out the toys yesterday, so we're venturing outside this afternoon for a playdate with an old friend.  Okay, my old friend and her baby girl, since we can't quite call them "old," right?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Pizza, Playhouse, Pucks

Having guests in town is the perfect excuse to trek up to the cities and visit Punch Pizza, the absolute, positively BEST pizza outside of Italy!  (Not that we need an excuse, mind you - we just love to share the love!)  Last time we went, we just let the guys gnaw on crusts, but this time, they ate the pizza for real!  Look how much Matthew loves it!  And they loved watching the pizza guys working behind him - that's the 900 degree wood fire oven you see over his head.
 Here's Nathan, in heaven, finishing up his piece!

Then we went to listen to a big band concert at the Lake Harriet Bandshell - we love to go up there in the summer for their concerts!  Grandma and Nathan are keeping cool in the shade here, just moments before he breaks her new shades!  Oops, sorry, Grandma.
Monday was our last day to have Grandma in town, and she did what grandmas do best - spoil the kids!  So off we went to Toys R Us, where she got the boys some new trucks and this cute inflatable play house. Matthew is occupied with the trucks (see his bottom thru the house?) and Nathan LOVES the house!
When the novelty of the playhouse wears off, I might give them the balls it came with. 
Maybe.
We'll see, like my mom used to tell me.
And we all know what that means.

P.S. Bonus Pic, to make this blog more fair because it's full of Nathan today.  I made blueberry muffins to give to our new neighbor, but forgot the baking powder, so they were blueberry pucks. (NO, I did not give them to her.)  That was the same day the boys tried spaghetti-o's for the first time, which resulted in this:











And then a bath!