Two Ends One Beginning.

So, I am pretty discouraged. There won't be any pictures in this post because my camera has been having a hard time the past 2 months or so. It only turns on about 1/3 of the time. The times it doesn't turn on I always take the batteries out and throw them into the charger for 8 hours and that usually does the trick. Of course, the times one of the boys is doing some thing really funny/amazing/naughty is the day that the camera decides to call in sick. "I have to get a picture of you doing that! Stay right there Sammy, this will only take 8 hours, don't move a muscle!" Ha ha! If only that would work! So now I am not even sure where the dumb camera is. I was going to take a picture of both the boys in their car seats the other day but it was taking a personal day and I don't remember if I chucked the freaking thing against the cottonwood tree, if I forgot it on the roof of the car, or if I placed it under the back left tire. . .

We have to turn the keys into the apartment tomorrow. I pretty much have the place spotless, I just have to wipe off the kitchen counters, then sweep and scrub the kitchen floor and then we are out of there!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! It was a LOT of work. They had a whole longgggg cleaning check list that we had to complete: "Towel bars in bathroom must be shining and spotless or you will be charged. Light covers (like the ones on the ceiling) must be clean. Inside of stove fan hood must be spotless or it will be replaced at your expense."
Oh my GAWWWWWD!!!! I thought I was going to turn into a scrub brush with all the scrubbing have been doing over the past week!! Believe me, that place is 20 times cleaner now than it was when we moved in last year!!! Hopefully we get or deposit back!! I am hoping I can claim it (before Rich does) and get myself a nice reward for all that work- I was cleaning two houses at once for goodness sakes!! I had to clean this house after getting the kids in bed then drive over to the apartment and clean that! I believe I deserve $200!!!!

So for supper tonight we had McDonald's. I hadn't had that in a while just cause I think 98% of their menu items are disgustingly dripping in grease. I got 2 Honey Mustard Snack Wraps and a medium fry. I should have just gone with the wraps but all that salt and fat lured me in. Then they neglected to give Rich his Coke so we had to turn around, drive back and get it and they gave us 2 apple pies for the bother. I ate one. I was *this* close to eating the second but made myself give it to Rich. I was feeling so fat and flabby and tubby that I actually, amazingly opened the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred DVD that has been sitting in a drawer for the past month. I only did Day One at Level One but I am so proud of myself!! It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Don't get me wrong, it was difficult and I had to stop more times than I would ever admit but I feel like this isn't a workout video that I will quit in less than a week. I will keep you posted on my progress!

Rainy Day

Elijah woke up at an insanely early hour this morning and preceded to wake up his brother. So that meant I had to get up. :( After breakfast and diaper changes Elijah insisted on going outside. So I threw Sam in the mei tai and we headed out for an adventurous time of clambering on the mower, running through the clovers, hanging out in "Elijah's car" (Sara's Fox that is resting to the side of the drive way), and picking mulberries. Yes, I'm an adult, the mother of two children and I still love eating mulberries! I long for a handful of those luscious, juicy berries in the dead of winter. I swear when I'm 90 I will still be climbing mulberry trees, instilling a love for this wonderful summertime treat in my grandchildren! I would love to be buried under a mulberry tree often frequented by children (but that would probably creep kids out, leaving every last berry to the birds so maybe its not such a good idea. . .).

After a while it started to rain so we headed back inside for lunch and nap time. After Elijah's nap Rich took him to spend the night with Grandma Debbie and Aunt Candace. I started rearranging the boys' room- I am still trying to make it functional.

Not much else happened today. . . Sammy is getting some "sleep training" since his brother is gone. The crazy child thinks he is a small infant who needs to nurse ever 2 hours at night. Sorry kid, you are almost 9 months old!! I felt bad for you while you were sick, but now that you are nearly 100% again there is no reason for this! I think it is about time you learn to sleep for at least 4 hours without a boob in your mouth!

Here's a few pics from that past few days.

The boys swimming in the backyard.

Funny face Sammy!

Ha ha! What a goofy face on Eli!

Checking out Dodger

Eating grass, his favorite pastime!

Here's how Elijah gets into "his" car:

"I'm in!!"

Spacing out. . .

What a smart driver! He even buckles up!

Playing on the mower

Model pose!

Sammy is finally feeling better!

Concentrating! This learning to crawl is hard work!

The boys mowing with Daddy! Sammy is in the mei tai.

Making a stop for mulberries!

Serious faces.

Slow down Summer!

PLEASE!!!

I seriously cannot believe how quickly this summer is passing!! :( I had so many wonderful plans for this summer: taking up drawing again, reading one book a week, losing weight/ working out, getting the house in tip-top order, working on becoming a wonderful mother. . . so far none of that has turned out the way I had hoped. I have only made one sorry sketch, am only 1/3 the way through Love And Respect (the first book on my summer reading list), haven't worked out even once, the house is still a disorganized sorry mess, and I been driven by my grumpy, exasperating, naughty children to become a monster of a mother. Sad. Hummm, I'm such a disappointment to myself.

Now, there is no hope for any improvement because I started back to work on Friday and in only one and a half months I start back to school full time!!

We have only 19 days left to get the apartment cleared out and cleaned SPOTLESS, and I am the only one who seems even slightly worried about it (probably because I am the only one who will be doing it all).

Poor Sammy has been having a rough month so far. He is currently on amoxicillin for a really bad ear infection, this is his first ear infection. We are hoping that it gets cleared up by the time he goes back in to see his pediatrician on the 20th. If its not I'm not sure what will have to be done- Elijah never had an ear infection so I am clueless. Also, his first teeth started cutting through Friday night, which of course had to be my first night back at work- poor baby really needed his mama that night!! That was a horrible night and following day for all of us!!

Elijah has been a terror. Every little this is this huge production and involves an unbelievable amount of temper tantrums, screaming, thrashing of arms and legs. . . The DRAMA!!!!!!!

I am being torn in every direction this summer and my patience undergoing some MAJOR testing and failure seems to be turning into a habit.

Any way, here are some pics to prove that we have not killed each other off- yet.

Classic scene of the summer: Sammy chilling in the grass, Elijah playing on the mower and heaps of laundry.

My fellow mulberry lover!

Enjoying some cake.

Elijah fell asleep reading his book!

Elijah experienced his first parade on July Fourth while visiting relatives in Des Moines. He sat on the curb enjoying the goodies daddy was catching for him rather than joining the chaos. Smart kid!

Other news: there is another great giveaway going on at The Cloth Diaper Whisperer!! You can enter for a chance to win some way amazing BabyKicks accessories. I have one of their Joey-Bunz inserts and it is the best thing ever!!!
Here's the link to the giveaway: http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2009/07/fluff-friday-37.html

Only 1 day left!

Just reminding you that you only have ONE day left to post your comment (s) at The Cloth Diaper Whisperer's Fluffy Friday 36 Super Giveaway!!! Hurry on over for your chance to win the amazing Kissaluvs Marvels diapers and a Cloth-n-Go bag!!!
All entries must be placed by Thursday, July 9th at 8pm EDT.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Kissaluvs has two new awesome products!

Kissaluvs cloth diaper brand is going to start selling two new amazing products and I am here to give you a brief overview! I am SOOOOOOOOO excited about them and hope I get the chance to try them out!

1. Marvels

These one-size fitted cloth diapers are high quality and super absorbing! PLUS they are complete with the most adorable prints EVER!!!! Check them out!!!

Aren't those prints SWEET?!?!
Not only do I love the prints I love that they are one size, meaning they will fit most babies 10 to 40lbs! That means you do not have to buy separate S, M, L diapers as your baby grows!
Truly Marvelous!!

2. Kissa's Cloth-n-Go Bag
This adorable "Blue Zoo" print wet bag is perfect for cloth diapering on the go. It can hold one cloth diaper inside and a pack of wipes and a diaper sprayer in the two outer pockets. It zips closed and is waterproof! It even has a nice little handle for easy carrying and hooking onto a stroller or cart!

Interested in purchasing or want more info? Please visit:
8http://www.kellyscloset.com/Kissaluvs-Marvels-One-Size-Fitted-Diapers_p_3662.html8

http://www.kellyscloset.com/Kissas-Cloth-n-Go-Bag_p_3663.html

http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2009/07/product-focus-kissaluvs-marvels-cloth-n.html

Fluff Friday 36 - SUPER GIVEAWAY'S!

There's another giveaway going on over at The Cloth Diaper Whisperer and I'm in for the WIN!!

Here's what's on the menu for this week:

1st giveaway:
3-Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fitted Diapers
1-Kissaluvs Cloth-N-Go Bag

2nd and 3rd giveaways:
2-Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fitted Diapers

4th and 5th giveways:
1-Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fitted Diapers

Go check it out and help me win!! ;)