Life is all about Playing Catch-Up

For some reason I feel I am always "catching up" on posts. But I read a comment on my friend's post, she said it perfectly. I am too busy to post about life....I am busy living it. But here I am finally posting about Lake Powell, a little update on the house, going to the park and what I am doing today other than blogging. Lots of pictures, few words, tons of memories.

Kya was excited to go to Lake Powell.

We built a sand sculpture for the sand castle contest.

Truly enjoying the sun and wind and water.
Ok, so I cliff dove with Carl. I am so proud of myself. When I was younger, I thought I was daring, and now I have become a bit of a chicken. But I did it, TWICE. This is the first video...the second, we actually jumped together at the same time, no chicken in me. However, my nerves were running wild right before each jump.

What a beach babe.

Exploring.
Chillin'! Somebody has pictures of Kya asleep on the floating. The sun got to her a bit and wore her out.

As promised in a recent post...I am trying to be more fun with my daughter and not let this house comsume all our "mommy and me" time. So we took Kya's cousins to the park the other day...we have been twice to the park this week. Go MOMMY.

Mollie
Girls are so stinkin' cute.
Elise

And the girls singing while they swing. I LOVE IT! I don't know what they were singing, Kya likes to make up songs sometimes...that I love even more.

Their favorite activity...SWINGING.


A little update on the house. Here are a few pics of my painting the interior. I love to get dirty. We are so close to being done, its not even funny. Pictures soon....stay tuned.

Check out those white eyelashes from the paint sprayer.
And this is what I am doing today...laundry, laundry, oh and more laundry. Not because we were a lot of clothes, because I have neglected it for a couple weeks.

I love being a MOTHER.

This morning I got up wanting to check out my sister's blog (since I tend to forget to go there...she's private....I google read). So I have been inspired, not saying I will act on my inspiration just yet...still busy with the house. But I vow to try...to be more of a FUN mom.

She had a few links to these blogs...today show report...blog...blog...and I have just realized how little I post about my greatest love...BEING a MOM. Life has been pretty crazy lately, I feel as though this house project consumes all of my time, energy, thoughts and so forth.

Funny note: My little K just jumped onto my lap to help with this post but as soon as I began to read she did this...

It must be a sign that she hates it when I get on the computer...I really didn't think I got on that much. Sorry K.

Ok, back to my post. So, I wanted to just post a little something about what I get to see everyday. K is my purpose in life...C is my reason. K wanted to put on a movie, "Muppets", which she has never watched before and this is what she started to do....

While dancing she sang..."I dancing for you, Daddy"

I was on the phone with Daddy at the time, so please excuse the light conversation in the background.

I LOVE BEING A MOTHER.

K, I promise to be more of a FUN mom, more often, and not let this house project get in the way of that. As I am posting this, K got down and started to sing her song...that she kind of made up...my little composer.

"Rock-a-bye,

Don't you cry,

Let's go to grandma's house,

and see the pool"

But then by the time I got the camera...she was done and didn't want to perform. Next time!

Time for a change

Fall is my favorite time of year, and so I decided that my blog needed an update, a bit of a change. So here we are with gorgeous fall colors. I love it.

Random thoughts....quick post.

So, we are back from our week getaway to Lake Powell. So much fun, I will be posting details later...soon...whenever I get around to it. We are still busy on the interior of the house.

Found out that my race for this saturday has been cancelled, totally bummed about that. I was looking forward to conquering "the hill" on my bike. Besides, training for a race always gives me better motivation for working out that anything else. I love it. And after a week in a bathing suit and seeing myself in some of the pics, and eating crazy bad food all week....it need motivation for sure.

I did have a great time getting to know a new friend of mine. She is adventurous and unique, and I love it. "L" eats very healthy and lives an educational life, traveling to Costa Rica for months at a time just to live healthy. Those of you who know me know that I love the "healthy" lifestyle, but don't always live it. You know...talk about eating raw foods and organic and cooking without all the "good" but oh-so-bad-for-you stuff, but then while I talk about it, scarf down a delicious poppy seed muffin (ate a lot of those this week), or open up a bag of chips while I "talk" about eating better.

Let me explain, I do not see myself going completely raw and organic (although I like the idea), but even making some small changes in my diet can't hurt me, right. I am 30, after all. But after spending some time with "L", I am rethinking some of my eating habits. Don't worry, I don't plan on forcing it on anyone, particularly my husband (I know some of you are worried...wink, wink, you know who you are), but to instill some healthy eating habits into my children isn't wrong, right?

Ok, enough of that random thought, what else...back to work on the house. I love this project, but when I hear of all the fun summer things people have been doing, I wish this house didn't consume us. Can't wait for it to be done though. Ok, I have babbled enough.
No more random thoughts from Paula, signing off.

Curtain call...house project post #1

Ok, so I kind of have been a picture snob when it comes to our house project. I just wanted there to be a wow factor, you know....the BEFORE and AFTER pics so you can see how awesome it is. Well, not to pat ourselves on the back too much....but I am so proud of us and all the work we have put into this house so far....long ways to go still. (Please remember that I have been the photographer for the majority of this project, so most of the pics have Carl working his little tail off....but I don't have a little tail anymore either (i wish) because we have been side by side through this whole project) We really have had some great times working on this house, more good than bad. There will be more pics of me working later. Carl, thanks for all your hard work and helping me make one of my dreams come true. You rock!

Let me give a brief history. For those of you who know me, know that I have a "Things to do before I die" list...a bucket list, if you will. Running a marathon was one of those...did that in 2005. Remodeling a house is another of those agendas on my list. So this project is a big accomplishment for us. My husband doesn't have this same thing on his list, but he is so awesome to do this with me.

So, we have finished the outside, and as of this morning we are seeing the grass begin to grow. Wahoo! Quick rundown of the project...

1. bought the house
2. saw the house (yes, I know this should have been first)
3. got to work
4. started to scrape the paint...
5. decided we didn't want to do that, would take too long
6. ripped out the ugly trees in front
7. tore down siding...
8. found out there was another layer of siding underneath, BLUE
9. put up vinyl siding over the blue siding, and the garage
10. replaced all the windows with new vinyl windows
11. painted all the trim
12. tore out any old bushes or plants that were dead
13. rotter-tilled (is that right?) the whole yard
14. leveled it
15. had is sprayed with grass
16. watering like crazy now
17. put up shutters
18. put down a WELCOME rug
19. got some cute planters for the front porch
20. Finished with the outside and tearing out the insides now.

Enjoy the slide show.

Lil' Critter Bows

Ok, everyone, my sister Jacque is doing a giveaway on her Lil Critters Hairbow blog, so if you have girls and are in need of the cutest hairbows in the world, go to her blog and enter for the giveaway. She is also making Football season hairbows, so you pick your teams colors and they are too stinkin' cute. So check it out and enter to win! Let me tell you, these bows are so much fun. You can pick any of your colors and she will custom make them, it is awesome! (thanks A)