Tattoo you!

I love it, I love it, I love it!

Details:
My mom's handwriting
Both my grandfather's enjoyed birdwatching
The flowers are based off the embroidery that my grandmother's both did with on pillows
The color idea is mine :)

Cute things my kid said this morning....

"Sibs is Mama's friend.  Loki is mine"

"When I get bigger than daddy, I'm going to help someone. I'm going to touch their back."- Matt helped someone up who fell last weekend while we were walking at the Lafayette reservoir.

"When I get bigger than  mommy, I'm going to drink coffee 'cuz then I'll be an adult."

Birthday #32

Today is my birthday and I couldn't be happier in my life... really. 

Since I don't write all that often, I'm not going to try to wax poetic about the epic awesomeness that is my life but I do want to remember in 30 years that this time in my life was amazing.

I'm healthy (except for a root canal that I need done, next Tuesday)
Cash and Matt are healthy
Matt's family and my family are all healthy

We have anything we could need and a ton of the stuff that we want.  My "wants" for this year were a new silicon pastry brush and a tattoo design and I got them both. 

Matt did a lot of special things in honor of my birthday... let's name a few:
* Cleaned the bathroom with very little prompting :)
* Refurbished our old bench in a color that I requested
* Indulged my lunch/dinner desires pretty much all week (that's not all that special, but I knew I had the card this week!)
* Sinful Bliss cupcake gift certificate and we all walked down after dinner tonight to share dessert
* He got up at 6am when Cash woke up asking for someone
* Lovely text during the day

Cash was a pretty great kid (minus a few random screams) and I even got leg hugs and kisses before I went off to work.

All in all, I'm delighted to be 32 but even more thankful that life is so good.  

And a quickie update with the list

Life Projects:
* Get Life Insurance for Matt and I
* Start 403b plan and putting $50/paycheck away to start- in progres, next step, roll over pension, submit thingy to HR.  Need to finalize. 
* Get a will in place
* Make a doctor's appointment with new doctor
* Talk to Financial Guy
* Get new insurance to save money-researched-no savings to be found :(
* Send Frye Boots in for stitching
* Get Library Card
* Update DMV with address
* Make Cashi's first year CD/Video montage-Made Book instead
* Scrapbook projects
      * Finish Wedding Scrapbook
      * Finish Family scrapbook
      * Finish College scrapbook
      * Finish 2010 Project Life scrapbook
* Taxes 2010

House Projects:
* Create chalkboard calendar
* Put up chalkboard calendar Deleted as the chalkboard thingy is in progress!
* Order windows
* Hall Bath Renovation
      * Many things have been completed but were not on this list, including: select paint, paint walls, cut wainscotting, buy and install light, patch up drywall
      *  Things to add: paint wainscotting, touch up paint, re-grout and seal floor (decided not to), paint trim/pieces, install fixtures, hang light after paint dries, caulk fixtures in shower, hang shower curtain rod,
      *  New additions: Hang Medicine cabinet, install final paint job/touch up on moulding/trim, install hooks
      * Find shelving for Hall Bath (none for now)
      * Obtain Mirror for Hall Bath
* Master Bath Renovation
      * Paint new sink base for Master Bath Renovation (Sand it)
* Repaint Master Bedroom
* Knock out wall between Kitchen and Living Room... really, did I put this on here.. this is probably 5 years down the road.  Progress!  We met with a designer who gave us some good ideas and an estimate.  Timeline is now probably 3 years down the road. 
     * Purchase new refrigerator
* Paint dining table?
* Paint chairs
* Paint Secretary?
* Paint Chalkboard Menu Thingy- It's cut!  Hang Chalkboard! Hang Chalkboard in Cashi's room!
      * Get shelf/Hang Shelf- Do I want a shelf?
* Figure out if Microwave can be fixed.  Figured out its a separate unit, so it can be replaced! Progress!
* Hang House Numbers 
* Rebuild/replace fence!  
* Replace deck
* Build Outdoor shower aka Matt's "Master Bathroom" project

What's hapenning: May 2012 version

Hi Brooke!  Thanks for the reminder that I need to post about updates.

I'm feeling like categories tonight, so here we go:

House:  We are making progress towards a kitchen remodel, but it's SLOW going.  The outdoor shower is done, and has been done and we've been enjoying it, especially in the mornings!  The guest room is now finished.... which means the master bedroom/bathroom is probably next on the minor projects list (ha!)

Kidlet:  Growing and showing every part of 2.5.  Wow!  We've figured out that if we stray from his bedtimes too much we pay for it with a cranky, cranky kid which in turn leads to a cranky, ornery mama which is no good.  My mom and Karsyn came for a visit last week and he had a BLAST! but ice cream for lunch and bedtimes around 9am meant the day after they left, I lost it because he was losing it.  We're back on track (for the most part now) and we only have major tantrums, horrible listening, general wiseassness every once in awhile- which I can handle.  I'm too lazy to look at my last update about Cash's language- but it's amazing.  He's starting to joke around a lot and completely speaks in full sentences.  Just tonight he asked, "Mama, wanna hear my joke?  Why did the chicken cross the road?"  His answer was total nonsense but it was hilarious.  Last week, we were sitting at the table eating breakfast and he looked and me and said, "Dohlman, guess what?" He's picked up all kinds of things from daycare from the good (like he told me the other day that Jupiter is the biggest planet, Saturn has rings, Mars is red and Mercury is closest to the sun, which is REALLY hot!) and the bad (we are going to kill the monsters, calling people boobie and poopoo and whatnot).  Potty training is not going too well.  He'll pee on the potty 90% of the time you put him on it, but he rarely (like only 1-2 times) has told us he has to pee.  The stickler really seems to be pooping.  Our reward system is a riot.  I want to document it so I can laugh at it down the road.   Right now, he gets a jelly bean and an M & M for peeing (a big pee) on the potty, a jelly bean or an M & M for a little pee or a "quick try (just sitting on the potty)", skittles for even farting on the potty, and the promise of any thing from his monster goodie (candy) bag if he poops.  I can not believe I can keep track. 

He's awesome at playing baseball and can hit a ball when it is tossed to him.  He can run and kick a ball without stopping. 

He knows the Alphabet song and to count to 10.  He knows most of his letters by sight (not lowercase) and he knows what a lot of the letters are for "D is for Dog" and funny enough, "D is for Dohlman." 

Work:  Going pretty well.  It looks like my job will be split into two positions if the budget goes through (hallelujah!).

Matt:  A gardening fool.  He got a juicer for his birthday.  Tonight was our first juice and he's smitten.

Sibley:  She's doing better.  She wears a muzzle 100% of the time when she is with Cash. 

Sprite:  He is an awesome cat, with extremely stinky poop! 

That's all I wanna write.  Hit PUBLISH! 

You're Driving My Nuts! and other cute things my 2 year old says

We were preparing dinner and Cash wanted to help but was really just getting in the way.  I really wasn't at the end of my patience, but I jokingly said, "Cash, You are driving me nuts!" and he responded, "You are driving my nuts!"  Which in honestly, I do every day!

Whenever Matt and I are talking to each other and not to Cash, he says, "Talka me." (Talk to me).

We made something (I can't remember what it was) and Cash exclaimed, "It's delicious mama!"  Which is incredibly precious coming from that little mouth.

Cash can properly pronounce (and use the following words): rhinoceros, elephant, delicious, cooperate, gross,  frustrated and a bunch of others that I'll add here as I think of them.

I love 2 year olds! 

Best Date Night Ever (with a 2 year old)!

Tonight, Cash and I had a little date night.  Matt went over to a friends house to watch a football game so I told Cash that we were going on a date.  To start off, we walked (he triked, I pushed) to the school park and toodled around looking at the creek and monster equipment that is set up right now (they are installing solar panels at the school).  He slid down the slide once but went through a puddle of water, so we headed back.  It was adorable because I asked "Donde esta la luna?" and he pointed right at it, though I asked again and I don't think he thought he actually understood what I was saying.

Then we went to Panera for dinner.  On the way there, out of no where, he said "I love you so much."  Tears, I tell you and the highlight of my day.  At Panera, he was generally well-behaved, especially for a two year old and especially after drinking a very sweet hot chocolate (my little treat for him). 

We read book in Mama's bed and sang two songs and he went down to bed.  Just after I left, he said "Where are you mama and prite (Sprite)?" and I just couldn't help but go in and tell him that we were right here and would see him in the morning.  It's now 8:15 and I still hear him tossing and turning but he's been quiet ever since.

Matt reported the best day with him too.  2 is sooooo much fun.  I love it!

A Fun Day in the City and home

What a fun day!  (With no photos to prove it).

3rd day of vacation after 2 days of working on home projects with Matt led us to a day in the city.  We had intentions of spending the entire day in the city but plans changed.... Here's a rundown of the day:

Cash to School
Home to Ready
Out of the door at 9:45, in the city by 10:30.  Parked at Guerrero, rockstar style, near Tartine.
Awesome breakfast- croque monsieur, croissant with ham and a morning bun
Walk around the Mission, stopped in a thrift store (no finds)
Walked through Dolored Park
Pit Stop at Bi-rite creamery
Then we decided to head home!

Nap time!
Got my toe nails did!
Picked up Cash
Baby shower
Now Matt, Ron and Jimmy are just finishing up a jam session in the living room!

What an awesome day!

My Man, My Outdoor Shower!

Matt worked on this project (his dream project) all over winter break.  I got to enjoy a nice soak yesterday.  Here are some shots:

Struggling in 2012...

I've been thinking about 2012 and all that it entails to ring in a new year and I am struggling with a word.  A word in inspire me through the new year, to focus on improvement/betterment/etc.

Here's the current struggles:
Finance:  I struggle because we make enough money to live and enjoy life, but not enough to not worry.   In 2012, I'd like to relax a bit more about our monthly expenses but also be looking forward to saving for bigger plans (not in 2012- like a kitchen renovation)

Family:  I have really enjoyed living in the moment in 2011 and will continue to do so.  I struggle with balancing time to myself and time with family and time at work. 

Self:  I love to blog, facebook, read, design, dream but I struggle with balancing that with family and productivity time. 

Organization:  Part of me says "Organization!" It's the way to go and part of me says "Who cares!"  I think more organization will take a lot of effort on my part but would alleviate some struggles on a daily basis (what to do with dinner, where to find that, storage/house stuff, etc).

Memories:  I struggle with living in the moment, and capturing it all and getting it down.  I love to look back on the year, but haven't found a project to stick with throughout the year.  

Job:  I struggle with balance on getting projects done, keeping caught up with my daily work, asking for what I need and being detailed enough.  Also struggle with leaving work at work.  Yet, I really enjoy my job most days, which means checking in from home is actually something I look forward to nearly each day. 

The words that I've tossed around so far are "peace "(it was on a candle I was gifted and it seems like a sign, but I have yet to make sense of that sign), "organize" and "live."  Perhaps another word will come to me.  Perhaps I'll start to jot things down here so they stop swirling in my head.