No such thing as free time.....

So I finished my second 8 week term a week and a half early. (Grades are still pending, but I am pretty sure I aced both classes- go me). So finding that I had a bit of free time on my hands I dove madly into my To Do list. Okay, the list doesn't exactly exist, but there are a few projects that I keep in the back of my head just in case I find myself on this situation. In the last five days (yep, I don't start my next term until April 4th- still have time left), I sanded. primed, and painted the doors to the cabinets in my bathroom (white if you were wondering), and hung them up with new hinges and knobs, and did the same for the drawer. For those of you who are keeping score, my dear husband started this project five years ago when we moved here. Love you, Honey! Then I put new contact paper on the cabinet shelves (and used some of the extra to top the kids' play table and chairs). I felt so good about this that I hung up the full length mirror that I bought months ago and never put up (I guess I am just as bad as you, Rob). Then I Old Englished the wood trim and doors, so it looks like new. Then I did a bit of redecorating in there. I kinda went nuts because all of a sudden I had the intense desire to know how to make oragami flowers. So I looked it up online and after several attempts I found one I liked and made a cool flower ball thing that I hung in the bathroom. I also have a cool idea for some wall art - but that hasn't come to fruition yet.
The bathroom looked so great, that I reorganized the walk in closet.
I got so excited about walking in there and having things look clean and neat that I organized my bedroom too. While I was doing that I found the mosquito netting canopy that use to hang on the four poster bed. We had taken it down in because we couldn't feel the fan - a necessity in the summers. So I took it apart and added ribbon tabs to the tops of four panels and velcro fasteners, then decorated the places where the ribbin attached with mismatched buttons. I am really liking the look. Gotta get something cool to use for tiebacks. I am thinking complimentary ribbon and some flowers...hmm.
Meanwhile, we had a good school week for the kiddos. Sydneys parent teacher conference went great - she is doing wonderfully and her teachers love her. Swimming is going swimmingly - although I got a bit caught up over spring break that I forgot to enroll them in next months lessons so I guess we are taking a break. The kids got to watch the movie Enchanted for pizza and movie night on Friday. Of course they want to watch it over and over and over again knowing that I send these movies back on Mondays. Today we grocery shopped and caught up on the laundry and a bit of light cleaning. Right now I fear I am getting a cold. I am hoping to magically feel all better tomorrow so I can continue to tackle my ever growing list of "I should do that if I find time" stuff. If not...well, then I guess not.

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to my one and only. I love you, Rob!

This week...

Bennett with a new toy from Nanny.

The girls at the zoo.

My new specs.

Yep, Thats right, I got glasses. Had a great visit from Nanny/Spring Break. Nice weather, fun outings, a trip to the zoo. We had a blast. Did a lot of projects and crafts, celebrated Daddy's birthday a bit early so Nanny could be a part of the festivities. Went to a birthday party for one of Zoe's friends today. Now we are having a snowy first day of spring and trying to get ourselves back in the groove to be ready to head back to the grind come Monday morning.

Pictures/Update

A few pictures from the last couple of weeks:

Bennett and Mommy


Sydney is ready for bed

Zoe strikes a pose or two before swimming lessons showing off the pigtails she decided to let me put in her hair.

What's up:

Things are moving right along around here. Sydney has graduated to the Eel class at swimming lessons finally, but has decided now that she doesn't want to go with the new teacher. We are working on it. Zoe of course is doing great in swimming and is reading like a champ. Rob started her out on some sight word flash cards last fall and we have just about finished memorizing the second set. She also has had an interest in sitting down and reading books to me, which I love. Bennett is almost finished breastfeeding, usually just once a day now. He seems to like solids as long as his thumb is in there with whatever he is eating which makes for messy eating, but we get the job done. He laughs a bit, but only once in a while - not nearly like his giggly sisters. All of the kids seem to be enjoying the chapter books we read in the evenings (yep, even Bennett will sit and listen some nights). Making good progress on Stuart Little. I told the kids once we finish it we can rent the movie and watch it. Might be a fun spring break activity if this rain keeps up. Although, I am really hoping for some nice weather, as I would like to take them to the Zoo and outside to play. Oh well, if not we will have lots of time for other stuff.

In other news I am still working away at school. I am half way through my second term. The cats and fish are all still alive under my care- amazing. I find myself overcoming obstacles that seem to just hop right out in front of me. Today I fixed the garbage disposal - which had gotten hung up on what I believe was a piece of grape vine...right after i cleaned the fish tank (yuck - not my favorite job) and my bathroom (again not my favorite job) and did a couple of loads of laundry (today must have been crummy job day). Now I am headed to tuck in the kiddos and hit the books.

Giggles