whatever

this week....

we have had a FULL week with more excitement still to come.

life skills being taught.... 

 

 

waffle was naughty and completely dorky as usual. 
he got on the couch while i was still home! 
how is he smart enough to know not to get on when craig is home and that i won't do anything?
it's crazy.
he slept with his leg up in the air for a long time.

ha ha haaaaaaa

 

read this in The Message this week....

"His love was not cautious but extravagant"  

 

the kids tried to dress up the chickens with american girl doll clothes.
but realized chickens don't have arms to make it work.
it was funny to try though. 

one of these days those chicks will be gone & we will know that they learned how to hot wire Barbie's car...

 

i like having lunch with my kids.
i wish i had done it with my older kids.
i didn't know that was a thing that people did.
your kids would love it if you showed up too. (with no other siblings... just you... and fast food) 

campfires are pretty much the best thing ever.
i have tried my best to keep all s'more ingredients stocked all all times at our house. 

mother's day was a very nice day.
i try very hard to keep expectations VERY low and that helps to keep the day flowing well.
i was treated to homemade cards by the little girls.... and cashed in that free coffee immediately. 

after church i went in my bedroom and shut the door and relaxed while my family made the entire lunch.
what a nice treat to come out to a completely set table AND food.

then i went straight back in my room while they cleaned it up. 

best mother's day i have had in many years. 

 

gardening this year in pots only....this is a huge relief to me.
the thought of gardening was LOOMING over me and i wasn't excited about it.
but this is perfect! 

 

lauren is done with high school.
forever.
it's so crazy how fast that passed!
we are so proud that she made it through with excellent grades and can't wait to see her future unfold.

her graduation is sunday afternoon.
it's been an emotional week....

 

this is what happens on a daily basis here.
if we don't do the dishes every 18-24 hours... it looks like this.
NO JOKE.
we even ate on paper plates that day!

 

 

i sported pigtails today.
after a 3 week break.... i went out for a run with my friends this morning.

it was short & sweet but felt so good to remember that i did still know how to run.  :)

as i drank my second cup of coffee i looked down and realized i was a rainbow of colors.

 

so... we have a very busy weekend filled with parties to attend & to give, basketball, shopping, cleaning, rainbow cake making, graduation cermony and grandparents coming.

what do you have going on in your life?

 

 

friday

it got cold here yesterday....now it's fall.
so there are no outside baths and swimsuits going on this weekend.
poor waffle is in desperate need of a haircut.
he has to wait till wednesday though. 

i made THIS SOUP last night....yummmm.
perfect for the first cold night of september! 

and i made THIS DESSERT for mr. duerksen this week.
i love when i can surprise my family.
it's like they say "really??? oh yeah...i forgot you know how cook!"

ha! 

we are going to a home high school football game tonight to see the little girls do a cheer routine...very cute.
then saturday morning we head out to 2 soccer games, one 5th grade volleyball game, one 6th grade football game and one high school volleyball tournament. 
i don't think there wil be any relaxing whatsoever.

this weather just makes me want to curl up and take a nap.

what are YOU doing this weekend?

clean.

oh these goofball dogs.
they loooove to wrestle.

L O V E. 

they wrestled for at least 30 minutes straight without stopping.
rolling and running and tackling each other.....like maniacs.
in the dirt and my weeds.
all for fun...not hurting each other....just full on PLAY time.



waffle is the happiest he's ever been.

and then this happened....


they sat.
together.
just totally chill.

first time ever.




they were TIRED.

it's about time!!!



i think waffle was having the best day ever.



until i declared "BATHTIME!"




ha ha ha.
wet dogs are so funny.
they always look so crazy and scrawny.


shake it.  shake it.

shake it like a polaroid picture.

he actually doesn't mind any part of a bath but his favorite part is when when we towel dry him.
he enjoys the massage.
he's a smart dog!
he hangs out for towel drying....he doesn't want us to stop!


since the girls had their suits on and were already wet they said "let's have a carwash!"
even though i thought it was totally cold outside, they were fine in their suits and cold hose water.  brrrrr.



brilliant plan.
my truck was filthy.
and so was craig's car.
country living in white cars....dirty dirty dirty.


annie's suit is new this year from the walmarts.









clean dog.
clean cars.
clean kids....they took a bubble bath inside after this.

we have had such a good weekend!
my kids are still off school today....who knows what we will do.
maybe some art.
it's been awhile that we have gotten crafty.

 

i am a fan.

my husband took me on a hot date last night to hear the Avett Brothers.
to make it more amazing to me....it was at the Orpheum.
it's a 90 year old theater and it's gorgeously shabby inside.


there is all chippy paint and exposed brick, very grand and over done in the details.
it is such a beautiful place to see a show....especially this show.
it is a small theater only holding 1200.
we knew several people once we got there so it really did feel like a party.


 
the Avett Brothers band was very obviously having a BLAST up on stage.
they were going nuts on all their instruments...i had no idea a banjo could rock like that?!!  or a cello?!!
i have never really heard anything like it in person.....i was completely in love.
i really liked their music before but it doesn't even compare to the live show!!
it was SO GOOD!  

you need to listen to them.  you need to go to their show.  you will LOVE it.

i kept thinking about how much my dad and sister would have loved that show.  
:)
i hear a lot of my childhood in their music. 

i found this clip of them from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon....liked it!

 

they sang this at the end during the encore...not rockin' but still beautiful...  :)

then my favorite video i found was the Tiny Desk Concert Series from NPR.
it's 15 minutes long....i don't expect everyone to watch that....but i have watched it twice today already.
:)

and none of those compare to being there.

wow.

thanks for taking me Mr. Duerksen.
you are my favorite.

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i am also a fan of ginormous trees on a sunshiney day.



this five-trees-in-one is in the yard right out the window from the kitchen and front room.
it's perfect to climb. 

 



i was more of a fan of this dog when he played in the sun and looked and smelled a little cleaner.


 
he is now stinky and very muddy.  
blerg.

i ran five miles yesterday on the treadmill at the gym.
i watched part of a basketball game, part of Hoarders and part of Behind the Music about PINK.  
ha!
i am hoping this killer headache i have goes away so i can get back out today and get a run in....  
maybe.....
if the sun comes out again it would sure help my motivation!

 

happy monday to you.

 

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oh and don't forget to enter these giveaways.....

enter to win $100 Visa gift card from Hostess over HERE.

enter to win $100 Walmart gift card from IHOP over HERE

enter to win a $100 gift card to Olive Garden over HERE. 

:)

 

we are here...and happy.

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thanks clorox....now onto the moving details!



only one diaster from the move....
otherwise it all went very smoothly.
we had strong men step up and help us out....love it when people are willing to reach out and HELP.
and my sons were SO HELPFUL!  
they surprised me big time at how strong and willing they were. 

we got all the beds set up and annie got cozy right away.  
she loaded her bed with ALL the stuffed animals she owns!


a very fun little extra to this house is this little room...with a tiny door.



it's the perfect size for two little girls to play with all the bajillion littlest pet shops.
they go in and close the door and you can hear their little voices.....it's completely adorable.

the kids' rooms are pretty much set up.
our room is not.
we have too many clothes....way too many....we have to deal with that issue.
the kitchen is put together.
we had our first meal together in the house sunday night.



we had friends and family bring by meals on saturday and sunday.
it was SO NICE!!
i was extremely grateful to not have to think about what to make for dinner
and all the cookies....oh Y U M.
i decided to ditch myfitnesspal for the weekend.  :)


 
SERIOUSLY....this gift was to welcome us to our new home.
from new friends that we just met?!
i came inside and set it down and had a few tears of gratitude.
another confirmation that we have made the right choice.

we had been so busy with everything and then half our power went out and craig was working on that
i was so tired saturday night that i built our bed myself at 10:30 and put the sheets on and climbed in.
i slept like a R O C K.

the farmhouse is good.

and waffle is very excited about it too.

ok....i am off for a morning run.
and the walmarts.

have a fabulous monday!

i was right.

so i had some rather lame stuff happen today....

i gave the dog a bath in a cami and bike shorts (hello 1992 called and wants their shorts back???)
and i was completely soaking wet.
i followed waffle downstairs to take his picture of him SPAZZING out.....



just as i took that picture waffle looks behind me and barks like crazy.
i stand up 
and the FedEx man was standing at my front door RIGHT BEHIND ME.
my front door is made of glass....and he saw me...and i didn't have on a bra and my clothes were dripping wet.
niiiiiiiiice. 

i composed myself...showered and drove all the way to wichita (30 minutes) to the nearest target.
i filled my cart with things for CW and some groceries....and a cute cardi...of course.
i loaded everything out of my cart at the check out.
then i opened my purse and did not have my wallet with me.
and they said there was NOTHING they could do for me, even with my check book.  
BLEH.
so i drove all the way back home with nothing done (another 30 minutes).  
UGH...i was so mad at myself i felt sick to my stomach. 

i came home and found that my dog had eaten all 5 of my protein bars i left on the counter.
and their wrappers.
not cool dog. 

but....you know what....we made the watercolor hearts after school and it was completely relaxing.
just like i thought it would be. 

isn't that GORGEOUS!?!!!
that picture makes me a crazy amount of happy.


 

i had blown a fuse earlier in the day while vacuuming so we had no music on either.
it was just quiet.
my two little girls and i painted and talked.


 

i said "it's just so pretty!" 
annie "mom....you should do this craft at craft weekend....the ladies coming would love it!" 

sigh.
that girl is too. stinkin. adorable.


 



 


talby was not sure if she was going to give her painting away or if we should frame it.
the jury is still out...her decision completely. 
of course my vote is to frame it.
:) 

 

 


ahhhhhhh....it was so nice.

i highly recommend sitting down and opening up a brand new set of watercolors
$3.44 (which thankfully i had purchased the day before!)
and painting a full page of hearts in  every color.
you will feel much better than when you started.

even if you had a pretty stupid morning.

which i did.