There was a toilet at the mailbox...

Man, we sure have some funny neighbors!!

Overheard

Landon and Brynne were playing together in Landon's room this morning, and I could hear their conversation as I was laying in bed.

Landon: "STOP Brynnie, you bein' mean!!"

Landon: "Brynne that's a NO NO, you better stop dat."

Brynne: "No Lanlan, my do it yike dis."

Landon: "BRYNNIE, if you break my bridge one more time I'm a gonna tell Dad on you and yous gonna get a BAD spankin, understand me?"

Brynne: "No Lanlan, Dad pank you."

Landon: cracking up "you silly Brynnie, Dads spanken wont even hurt me!"

What have we learned from this little exchange? Apparently bridge breaking is a zero tolerance crime, and Landon has no fear of Daddy's spankings. Good to know.

the San Diego Wild Animal Park

I realize that I have totally sucked at blogging lately. No real reason, other than not being in the habit of doing it anymore. We went a few weeks back in Jan/Feb where one of us was always sick. That interrupted my normal, consistent, blogging schedule. I hope to be back on track in the next week or so, documenting the daily adventures of our family.

Like last Saturday when we took the kids to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. The weather was beautiful...is it ever not in San Diego? Anyway, we had a wonderful day. Here are some pictures.

Look Daddy! Bird!

Getting a closer look!

Beautiful flamingos

Brynne is just like her Auntie in that she LOVES animals. Anywhere we go, anytime we see any type of animal she goes crazy! LOVES all creatures!

Daddy's girl

Landon watching the gorillas at feeding time

They were thrilled to see the gorillas

Daddy has the longest arms of anyone I have ever met! Almost gorilla status, LOL!

She has a little growing to do to catch up..

Brothers turn...

Exploring

I love this picture because it is a perfect example of the different personalities that each of our kids have. Timid, and uncertain, Landon hovers behind dad a little scared of the bird. Animal lover, and much less afraid Brynne goes in for the grab and wants to hug the birdie. Landon stood like that the entire time we were in the bird area, while Brynne chased the birds and grabbed them every chance she got!

Going in for the pet...

Waiting to take the tour through the animal park

On our way back to our car Landon wanted his picture taken in these trees. So while he smiled for Mama...

baby sister napped in the stroller, having fallen asleep mid-snack.

We had the best time and a wonderful day as a family. Our kids are growing up so fast, so I like to take advantage of all of the fun things Southern California has to offer before Landon starts school in another year. The Animal Park was definitely a good time!

35 things about me!

I am linking up to Kathryn's blog here

35 things about me!

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1. I am a crappy reality TV junkie

2. I only watch TV shows that have been recorded on our DVR, and I haven't watched a commercial in months! LOVE it!

3. I paint my nails at least twice a week

4. Travis and I have owned 3 homes, and this one is by far the BEST fit for our family. We plan to live here for the next 20+ years!

5. I always sleep with a light on. I'm not sure if that is more for me or more for the kids who wake me up at least once a night still.

6. I LOVE to clean. But I HATE to mop the floors. Worst chore ever!

7. I haven't had steak in years

8. I only drink water or Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi

9. My kids are 18 months apart, and if I'd had my way they'd be even closer in age!

10. I get stressed if too many days pass between blog posts.

11. I NEVER leave home without my camera.

12. I spent the weekend redoing our daughters room. I LOVE to decorate.

13. I am afraid of heights and literally will talk myself into falling off a ladder if I am 3 steps up, LOL.

14. I wanted 4 kids, Travis wanted 1, we compromised on 2 and couldn't be happier.

15. My entire family (siblings, parents, Grandparents, Uncle) lives within 30 minutes of us. With the exception of my brother who is stationed 2 hours away with the Marine Corps. My sister lives less than 5 minutes away.

16. I hate breakfast and eat a plain bagel with very little peanut butter on it every morning.

17. I never learned to type correctly. I only use 3 or 4 fingers to type. However I type 40 WPM with no errors!

18. I have owned 8 cars in as many years. Drives my hubby crazy, but I say better cars than drugs or other men, LOL!

19. I have a bad habit of watching TV while laying in bed, and never fall asleep without watching TV first.

20. I have a death phobia and can't bear to see anyone in a dangerous environment.

21. I studied photography for all 4 years of H.S. and an additional year in college. I would say that taking pictures is my absolute favorite, and only, hobby!

22. I have a very sarcastic sense of humor and often times people have a bad first impression of me, and think I am a bitch.

23. I am a gossip magazine addict. I read them all, every week. Sad I know. But I love it!

24. My mom had me when she was 30, and I had my daughter when I was 30. I think that is kinda cool!

25. I hate to stay home, and the toddlers and I are always on the go. We stay home about one day a week to get cleaning and laundry done, but other than that we find something to do away from home!

26. I have always wished that I was a runner. I suck at running, and I hate exercising. But I wish that I could be one of those people who wakes up and goes for a run each morning.

27. I am a champion walker though! I could walk all day, every day and not need to stop.

28. I triple check to make sure the doors and sliders are all locked before bed every single night. I also NEVER go to bed without checking on both kids to make sure they are still there are tucked in and warm.

29. I cannot wait for Brynne to be 2 1/2 because that is when they are allowed to start ballet where we live. I have dreamed of having a little girl to take to ballet class for years and years and am so excited. My sister and I took ballet when we were younger and I always remember being so happy to go to dance class. She will be adorable in her ballet shoes!

30. I used to love my job as a part time waitress, lately I HATE it. Travis and I are making changes in our lives and schedules so that I can hopefully quit working all together. My job is very stressful and dealing with the same "type" of people each week is making me crazy and judgemental.

31. I absolutely love spring and am thrilled to see the weather warming up and am especially thankful for the extra hour of daylight we get! I never understand why people bitch about losing an hour of sleep when we "spring forward." To me it is SO worth it to have an extra hour of sunlight each day!

32. If I could I would eat chicken salad every night for dinner. That's all.

33. I hate chocolate, and prefer vanilla in almost every situation where a choice is necessary!

34. I rarely am in bed by midnight every day.

35. I am most thankful for my beautiful babies and my sweet husband!

NO sew, cheap curtain project

While browsing Target the other day I came across these cloth napkins on clearance. 4 napkins for $1.74! They were in the same shade of green that we had begun to use in the re-decoration of our dining room/living room. I didn't know exactly what I would use them for, but I stuck all 5 packs into my shopping cart and continued on with my shopping. I got to thinking about an easy window treatment, and here's what I came up with.

We have 3 windows in the dining room, so I bought 3 of these cheapy spring loaded cafe rods from Lowe's...I think they were under $3 each!

I marked on the back of each napkin where I needed the fabric to fold in order for the length to be the same on each one, with a pencil.

Next I put a thin layer of hot glue along the top op the napkin back. I didn't even bother to pull out my heavy duty glue gun. The $2 mini one I have worked ok.

I learned after the first one that I had to work quickly while doing this step. The glue had a tendency to dry quicker than normal, and I am guessing it is because I was using the glue on fabric, which can be pretty absorbent.

Next I folded the top down to my pencil lines and pressed firmly for about 15 seconds.

A perfect loop for a curtain rod and I didn't need to drag out my sewing machine!

I used 3 napkins on the 2 side smaller windows.

And 4 napkins on the larger window in the center of the dining room.

I'll admit that the "curtains" needed more fluffing, and tweaking, than normal store bought curtains. There are more seams that can show because the napkins are small. My husband and I are both perfectionists so we worked on this until they looked juuuust right!

In the end it took me 15 minutes, I spent $11 dollars ($4 napkins, $7 on curtain rods) on window treatments for 3 windows!! Best of all it turned out great!! This was by far one of the easiest projects I have ever worked on.

Up next, the dining room reveal!!

*Sorry for the crappier than normal picture quality, I had to take these late at night, with the point and shoot camera.