Long Week With Projects

Daily Pictures: New Paint In Master Bedroom

[gallery]

Well it is Spring time and that means one thing... House Hold Projects!

Mail Box

On Friday I decided to give the weekend a head start and move our mailbox.  When we built the house the post office had a strict policy of where the mailbox should be placed.  We followed the map and letter from the post office 100%.  Well we were one of the first houses on the block and when the rest came they started placing their mailboxes anywhere.  It became a real problem when I stopped getting mail a few times a week when cars parked in front of my mailbox.  I called the post office and they said they could not deliver if a car blocks the box.  They said I could move my box.  Gee Thanks, I do what I am supposed to 100%, but when everyone else does it wrong I get punished...  So I was finally able to take the time and move the mailbox to the corner of my driveway rather then the end of my property.  This should stop people from parking in front of it.

Paint Job

Well the weather outside was pretty bad so we decided to take care of one major project inside... REPAINTING the master bedroom.  We originally painted it 7 years ago, but were never really happy with the shade of green we choose.  Over the past few years we have taken out much of the green and now the walls looked silly.  So we decided on 3 walls a tan and one wall a blue that matches our curtains.  The job was a major undertaking and it took two full days.  I started by taping and priming the walls then painting 1 coat, 2 coats and changing colors and painting one coat and two coats.  The end result turned out better then I had hoped, but the work was rather crazy.  The pictures above are from the project.

Weekly Weigh In.

Well not so much luck this week despite being really good.  I dropped one pound, maybe 1.5 pounds.

• Starting Weight: 270


• Week 1 Weight: 267


• Week 2 Weight:266


• Weekly Loss: 1 Pound


• Overall Loss: 4Pounds

"Take It One Day At A Time"

Whatever happened to? Um I forgot.

Whatever happened to? Um I forget.

I am not sure if it is a product of age or a product of having 3 kids, but I seem to forget more then I ever had.  I will be the first to admit my mind with regards to remembering things is a bit quirky.  I will forget to bring something to preschool for my middle son, plan ten things for the same time and not remember why and of course if my head was not attached I would leave that at home.  On the flip side of that however I can remeber movies like I have a rewind in my head, silly trivial facts spew out of me and if it is not important I remember it.  It seems as of late that my mind is just not functioning properly.  Having 3 kids the youngest 15 months old has pretty much made the last 8.5 years of my life a sleep deprived quest for understanding the different hues of the night sky.  So I guess that would make my mind a little off everyday.

Sick 15 Month Old

Well the little guy has had a bit of a bug the last few days.  He started running a fever after some sleepless nights, lack of appetite and ear batting so rather then risk a repeat of the hospital visit we went in to the doctor.  No ear infection, but he does have an irritated throat and congestion which could be part of some more teething, but the doctor seems to think he has a bit of a bug.  He did tell me after the seizure I should not feel bad about feeling paranoid.  It is better to be safe then have to deal with another seizure.  Of course when I called in I got a nurse that did not know me which is really rare, but I had to deal with 30 questions before I finally just told her after having the seizure I am not taking any chances.  Got right in...

Lets All Fight

Lately the 4yo and 8yo have been at each others throats every waking minute.  I don't like this game, you can't be on my team, that's my toy, I had it first...  They better straighten up before summer break or they will be spending a lot of quality time sitting in their room staring at the ceiling.  I do find it extremely funny that one minute they can be the best of friends and then the next arch enemies.  Not sure which is the villian and which is the hero.

The 5

1. 4/20 - Yes this date has some "Special" meaning with the herbal culture, but it is also my Mothers birthday.  I could not find the strength to write about it on Monday seeing as I was in a rather cranky mood.  This was her first birthday since her passing in December.  Still seems rather surreal.


2. Fallout 3 - It still has me and with the additional materials available I don't know if I am going to be able to give it back to my brother.


3. Flooring - We are getting some quotes on flooring.  The carpet upstairs is nearly 8 years old now and it has not held up with 3 kids and 2 dogs.  We are getting some quotes and hopefully they come in at a point where we can make some changes.  Looking to add in some wood as well, but how much will depend on the quotes.


4. Weather or Not - Well Spring has been teasing us for a while and it seems to have finally taken hold.  The grass is greening and the flowers are popping.  Bicycle rides here I come...


5. Sprinklers-Yesterday we had are sprinkler system turned on and adjusted.  We were the last stop and the poor guy doing the service had to deal with 38 degree temps and COLD rain.

"Take It One Day At A Time!"

Another Weight Loss Attempt...

Well the time has come to finally get off my rear and get back to a better weight.  I had been doing pretty well with Project 182, but that came to an abrupt end when I totally lost it after my mom passed away.  I had dropped about 15 pounds, but by Easter it was all back.  So following Easter I began to watche what I eat, journal my food and exercise more.  Plus with the weather improving I will be out working in the law a whole bunch.  So when I weighed myself Monday morning after Easter my jaw dropped a little.  I knew I had put some weight back on, but I was a little suprised at how much.

My "Ideal" weight for my size is about 225 this based on many factors and my Doctor agrees it would be a good weight for me.  According to different charts and scales it is actually 180-225 and my Doctor agrees anything less then 215 would be too little.  I was at 217 back in 2004 when my middle son was born and kept it around 225-235 for a long time.  Then a string of issues from physical ones such as a torn tendon, broken elbow and a hernia to emotional ones from many miscarriage to the resent death of my mother has made it rather difficult.

So my weigh in on last Monday matched my highest weight back in 2003.  A whopping 270!  So now one week into the change of pace and I have dropped 3 pounds and am 267.  I truly hope to average between 1 and 2 pounds a week.  I realize I will see some weeks with a little more and some with a little less.

With the riding season upon us as well I will be riding my bicycle as much as I can because I love to ride and it is really good for me.  I will have the trailer hooked to my bike and pull the younger two until school is out then have the oldest ride along with us.

I will make a new post every MONDAY with my progress to also help keep me honest.  Hopefully by our vacation the first week of August I will be most of the way there.

• Starting Weight: 270


• Week 1 Weight: 267


• Weekly Loss: 3 Pounds


• Overall Loss: 3 Pounds

"Take It One Day At A Time!"

1st Place in Coloring Contest...

Daily Picture: What Did You Do To Me?

Frodo Shaved!



Gandalf  Prim and Proper



Well we had the dogs groomed on Saturday morning.  This was Gandalfs first time there and he did very well.  They trimmed him up, bathed and clipped his nails.  Frodo on the other hand was in for his Spring SHAVE.  He has a double coat and after the winter with the snow it gets all matted and nasty.  So he gets to get shaved.  It will take about a month before he looks somewhat normal and by the fall he will just need a trim.  So until then he will look a little silly.

Monsters vs. Aliens

We took the older boys and a friend of 8yo to see Monsters Vs Aliens.  The movie was very entertaining and the boys had a BLAST.  We avoided the 3-D version since I have a habit of getting migraines with that type of thing.  Overall I think it was just above average.  I think the Pixar Films are better as was Shrek and Ice Age... It matches up well with Ice Age 2, Shrek 2 and a bunch of others.  It is unreal how much it cost us to go even going to the early show.  It was nearly $50.00 for the movie, popcorn and one drink!  I paid for our friend to get in and he bought his own snacks.   This is not something we do very often and is not something we plan on doing very often.

1st Place coloring Contest.

Well the 4.5 yo entered a Easter coloring contest through his preschool and won.  He was the best of more then 40 kids between the multiple 4yo classes.  He was so excited.  They gave him a goody bag with books, paints, a stuffed bunny and some candy.  The baby was all over then bunny, he saw it and went Ah Ha!  Being the really good big brother he gave the bunny to the baby to play with. He also got a little certificate saying he was first place.  The picture is currently on display and we will get it back in a couple weeks.  We will frame it for him with the certificate and hang it in the boys room.

8.5yo was happy and a bit jealous of his loot.  When 4yo colored it he sat with him reminding him not to go out of the lines and giving his opinion on color choices.  I am so proud of him...

Easter Dinner

We hosted Easter Dinner yesterday for my immediate family.  My Dad, Grandmother (moms mom) Older Brother and his wife and 4yo son and my younger brother came over for dinner.  We had a wonderful Spiral Ham, wine, Salad, Deviled Eggs, Scalloped Potatoes, Fresh Backed Sour Dough Bread, corn and of course Chocolate Cake and Apple Pie.  My Dad brought some wine, Sister In Law made the eggs and potatoes and my younger brother brought the dessert.  It was a very nice relaxing dinner with family.  It was the first Easter without my mom and her birthday is the 20th so we are all a little more focused on the family.

Candy For Breakfast.

Not just the kids, but the wife only had chocolate for breakfast.  That was just too much for me so I made a toasted ham sandwich for breakfast on Easter.  The boys had so much candy even without getting a ton of baskets from relatives. (Thankfully)

The 5

1. Cadbury Cream Eggs - My Favorite around Easter!!! Mmmmm


2. PEEPS! - My second favorite Easter Treat.  Now they make them for every holiday, but this weekend would not have been complete without a Peep Overdose.


3. Fallout 3 - My addiction is still strong.  I have a house now with a robot Butler.  Been blasting mutants and saving the wasteland.


4. Cops - The cops stopped by my house on Easter Asking if we had dogs and if they were barking. WTF? It was 1:45 in the afternoon with kids playing in the yards all along the street.  My dogs hardly bark, but yesterday the puppy barked a little more because he was scarred to death of a new puppy behind us.  The cop seemed pissed to be walking to the houses finding out who has the barking dog.  If they were called on me I am pissed.  I know most of my neighbors and there are at least 8 dogs within the dozen of so houses on the two block that back to each other.  To call in the middle of the afternoon with dozens of kids out playing, at least 6 dogs barking and playing around the block seems just plain stupid.  If it my dog and you have a problem come talk to me.


5. Watching It - Now that I made it through my Birthday Cake and Easter it is time to get back to watching what I eat... Next up JULY 4th...

"Take It One Day At A Time"

Cinderfella, Cinderfella...

Daily Picture: 4.5 yo Goof...



Cinderfella, Cinderfella...

I had been a "Work At Home Dad" until Feb 1st when I was no longer employed.  Well no longer having to devote 20-40 hours to working I have been hitting a few other things around the house.  Of course there is all the typical house stuff including the dreaded Laundry Monster.  Well today I stepped it up a notch by SCRUBBING the tile floors cleaning the grout in both bathrooms with a hand brush.  I actually worked up a bit of a sweat and by the time I was done had sore arms and knees.  I think I spent more time on my knees then an adult film star.  The end product is actually really nice and the floors look like they did when we had the house built.

Bake My Own Cake

Well for my birthday tomorrow I baked my own RED VELVET cake.  This is the third time I have tried this since January and I think I am getting the hang of it.  One thing that really helped was I borrowed the kitchen aid mixer from my dad.  He will never use it now that my mom has passed.  It made the whole process a bit nicer and easier.  So tomorrow I get to eat the cake I made from scratch...

The 5

1. Need Better Weather - The odd cold and wet weather has made it difficult for the boys to get outside enough.  They are getting on each others nerves big time


2. Kitchen Aid Mixer - Pretty darn cool!


3. New Shelves - After taking down a cheese wall shelf system in our bedroom and replacing it with some rather nice decorative shelves I needed somewhere to put the old ones.  We were just going to garage sale them, but I noticed they fit really nice in our little store room in the basement.  I put them up and the work PERFECT!


4. Fallout 3 - A-D-D-I-C-T-E-D


5. Nano,Nano - I have enjoyed having the little Nano my brother let me have.  I still like my Video, but the little Nano has been a little easier to have while I clean the house.

"Take It One Day At A Time"

3 Boys and a Pizza Place

Daily Picture: Pizza I made a couple weeks ago.  Mmm Chicago Style!!



3 Boys and a Pizza Place

Today after picking up 4.5 yo from preschool I had a craving for Pizza.  I asked 4.5 yo if he wanted some and he was very excited.  So on the way home we picked up slices from the local Pizza Joint for the 3 boys. (ME, 4.5yo and Baby) I cut up the 4.5 yo's the way he likes it and as I was cutting up the babies he was staring down his brother trying to do the Jedi Mind Trick.  "You Want To Give Me You Pizza!"  Well as soon as I sat down with the babies pizza he got so excited his arms and legs we going and he sounded off with a loud Ah H!. 4.5 yo ate 90% of his slice which is fit for an adult while the baby ate about 50%.  WOW!  Off course I finished mine off and the leftovers.  This worked great since 8.5 yo does not like pizza and would not feel left out.

Fallout 3 Addiction

With my younger brother letting me borrow Fallout 3 I now have a new addiction.  Luckily it is not something I will play with the kids around so I will actually get stuff done during the day.  As for sleep at night that is another story.  I have to admit it is an AMAZING game and I actually have the first two sitting here on my laptop. :-)

The 5

1. Peeps - Oh you little tempting fluffy little bunnies & chicks how you taunt me.  Sale today, the power of the peep side overpowered my will and I was forced to buy more.


2. Weeds - Borrowed the first season from the library and watched some of it already.  What a funny show!  I can't wait to finish the season and watch another season.


3. Dehydration Nation - Well I did Fresh Pineapple, Bananas, strawberries, canned pineapple, grapes, apricots.  I am doing Mangos, Fresh Pineapple, Mandrain Oranges and Strawberries tomorrow.  Jerky on Wednesday!  I am loving it!  Need to practice Apples and other browning fruit with a acid base.  Lemon Juice...


4. Red Velvet Cake - Taking another shot at my moms Red Velvet Cake receipe.  Making it form my birthday which is Wednesday.  I just wish I had tried this long before she passed away so I could have gotten some pointers.  I love to cook, but am a novice when it comes to baking.


5. Number 5 - I've got nothing.

"Take it One Day At A Time"

Baby Loves Omelets...

Daily Picture: Look What I found!



Easter Egg Hunt

Over the weekend our little town of 4,5oo people had their annual Easter Egg Hunt. It is at a park on a little lake next to the police station.  Over the years they have improved it dramatically, but it is more of a rush to pick up then a "Hunt."  Baby (14 mo) had his first experience and once he picked up an egg for each hand he was done.  Those eggs were not going anywhere.  The other boys were in two different age groups that were at the same time so the wife went with the 4.5 yo while the baby and I went to watch the 8.5 yo.  They all had a blast and of course already have too much candy and silly little prizes.

Back Yard War Zone.

Just after lunch the two bigger boys were playing out back on their fort with guns and other weapons when two little boys a few yards over wanted to play.  So for over 4 hours there were 4 boys (8,6,4,4) playing in the back and about 3 hours in another neighbor (11) joined the fun.  I have a feeling there will be a lot of days this summer where our yard is the place to be.

Video Game Time For Daddy

Well I have had the joys of playing a few more games on my 360 and Wii thanks to my younger brother and my younger brother in law.  I beat Gears of War 2 last week and just finished off Bioshock.  Up next Fallout 3 which I just started a little tonight when I needed to get away from the kids.  I really enjoy benefiting from the family to feed my game addiction.

Baby Loves Omelets!

Well tonight the wife had a taste for an omelet so I made he a Tomato, ham and Cheese omelet.  the baby tried it and was all over it with a grin and a Ah-ha!  Well when his 4.5yo brother saw his reaction he decided to give it a try.  So needless to say I made 3 omelets and they were all gone.  The one place I know I could get the boys to each is a Breakfast Restaurant like IHOP or Walker Brothers...

The 5

1. Slowly Changing - Decor that is.  As we move along we have slowly been painting again and changing out some decor.  Tonight's project was some shelves.


2. Big Garage Sale- With our decor changes we have also been trying to get rid of the "STUFF" that accumulates over time.  So this Spring we will be having a big garage sale and then donation to good will or who ever.


3. GameStop Tornado - I had stopped with the two little guys at GameStop while I was out shopping the other day.  Well the baby loves to pull books off of shelves so when he saw all the games on shelves looking a lot like books his little eyes lit up.  I had hoped to just look around, but that will have to wait until this week when 8.5 yo and I go looking.


4. Try As I Might - I think no matter how hard I try I will never get ahead on the laundry.  Ugh!


5. Stuffies Paid The Price - The baby has 4 stuffies he sleeps with, little Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eore.  Well I think he tells them to get help and get him out of his crib and when the first does not return the others pay the price.  He throws them all over his room and we find them in the strangest places.

Take It One Day At A Time