A view of my living room almost done..

So, with the super neat panoramic function on my cell phone, I was able to get most of my living room in the shot..

Rob was my hero yesterday, as he hung up the pictures over the sofa.. I like them tons, except I need to do something to the blah small panels on each of the outer pictures, because they blend in with the wall.. I'm thinking altering them to a faux red and gold paint, with small sconce type things..

The final touch will be to paint the fireplace accent wall.. I'm thinking a metallic gold under tone with a red paint over it, so only bits of gold show through.. OR red wall with gold demask stenciled over... So many options..

It was an inexpensive job, as compared to how it could've been, if I didn't hold back...

Well, I should go pick up the two table lamps, as they came in at Walmart... Hopefully they'll match..

Enjoy your day!

Lesley

Twin Toddler Potty Training update SLASH Countdown Subject for today!

So, the kids turn 2 1/2 this month and have been going through the real potty training process since the beginning of July.. It's been one of the hardest thing we've ever gone through with these guys, but rewarding too, because of all the funny moments... So, to celebrate the funny moments, and the not so funny moments, that I have spent in the bathroom with my twin potty-training angels.....

5. Ivan now pees standing up on a stool in front of the big potty.. He gets all excited because he feels like a big boy and it's a big accomplishment.. So, he'll get his bottoms off, get his tiny feet on the stool and stand there belly stuck out, red faced, clenched fists, which is comical.. Then he starts to pee... Now, he's just getting used to the fact that there needs to be some aiming on his part.. However, he'll forget and decide it is way more interesting to watch as the yellow liquid is escaping his tiny body.. So, he'll bend down to look, all the while the pee is no longer going in the toilet, but more like on his pants, or the stool.. Then once shocked into the realization that the pee made things wet, he'll straighten up again, thankfully.. Always a little too late though..

4. Neither of the kids want to use their froggie potties, which bums me out because let's say I have to use the facilities, and then they decide they want to go as well... I'll be sitting there (sorry for visual) and they'll charge in screaming they have to go potty, then they'll grab some T.P. to help me move along faster, which they decide they can wipe for me, which, obviously, I don't allow.. It's quite something to be the main event in the bathroom for two on-lookers...

3. Emilee loves to poop on the big potty, but now she wants help, all of a sudden.. After she's placed on her big potty seat, she'll make the funniest grimace, pushing in on her belly, and say "I go stinky poopies".. As if the odor that now surrounds my every nose hair hasn't clued me in on the event, at that point... She'll, then, lift her shirt and stair through her legs as the massive brown log falls into the toilet water... Then she'll exclaim.. "I went BIG poopies"... YAY Emilee!!, YAY Mommy!!

2. Ivan has been a little stubborn when it comes to pooping on the potty, so he'll hold, hold, hold it all day, then wait to poop until after his bedroom door is closed for the evening. Then when we walk into his room in the morning, and the room is STINK-KAY, he'll tell us... "I'm stinky".. At least he's honest, right?

1. The underwear... tiny little pairs of cartoon-charactered, sometimes-stained, undies that can never be found.. They must have 25 pairs of undies between the two of them, if not more... Can I just say that there must be a small undie thief running amok in my house! I'll dig and dig through dressers, clean laundry bins, etc, to never find a stinkin pair of clean underwear... I'm half tempted to hang them up in their closets by their tiny elastic waist bands... This beats having mis-matched socks... At least you have socks!!

Well, for me potty training is the beginning of a new relationship with children.. The modesty boundaries are all removed, there's no privacy, and you are always well aware of the poop..

I may complain or make fun of this challenging time, but to be completely honest with y'all, I would never change a second of time that I spend sitting on the side of the tub, watching Emilee grimace, or Ivan pee on the front of the toilet, for anything in the world.. These guys are perfect in every way..

Enjoy every moment with your children, even though your nose may tell you otherwise!

New Season begins for most TV shows.. I must loaf now..

So, as another new season begins for most tv shows, my ability to get things done after work must come to an end.. Bummer, as I never got everything I wanted to get done, done.. Oh, well, it'll still be there later...

I'm feeling so saucy today that I want to share the top 5 shows, in my opinion, that's on local tv (CBS, NBC, and whatever that last one is, I forget)

This is a list of the BEST tv shows that graces out tv screens during fall and winter....

1. Supernatural - Ok, first of all, I only consider my hubby hunky, because I get to sleep next to him each night, and I'm not one of "those" girls.. However, this show is kind of based on sexual attraction between the brothers and either lady victims, or demons with boobs, but the attraction is almost creepy.. Like, is the girl they're sleeping with a good witch, or a bad witch.. Also, the last season the plot went from simple finding demons and other gools that go bump in the night, to a plot to begin Armageddon and the release of Satan.. There were angels and demons.. Good angels and BAD angels at that.. Always a nail biter, with a touch of humor..

2. Heros - I personally loved the first season the best, then the following seasons kind of got crazy, again my personal opinion.. I did, however, get back into the die-hard watcher this past season because the suspense and the addition of new GIFTED people kept coming on, and going off, because they'd get killed or captured.. This show keeps you riveted and wanting the next episode..

3. How I Met Your Mother - Ok, this is the single most funniest show on air! Each episode there is a sex-capade between "Barney" and half of NYC, which considering the actual dude, Neil Patrick Harris, is actually GAY.. He's a massive womanizer.. He's also an awesome actor! Plus, the crazy women that "Ted" seems to get involved with are hysterical, and some are so sweet.. Remember muffin girl, loved her!! Bring her back!! This show is.. wait for it.... AWESOME!

4. Chuck - I love this show also.. The tension between Chuck and Sarah, his handler with the CIA... You want them to get together, but they can't due to dang rules.. Then there's Chucks sister, Ellie, and now husband Awesome.. they call him Awesome, because there's nothing wrong with him... he's awesome.. LOL... Get some popcorn, grab your significant other and plop yourselves in front of the tv for some romantic comedy time..

5. Ghost Whisperer - I only started watching this show faithfully a couple seasons ago.. The chemistry between Melinda and her hubby is amazing.. Passionate... and death defying, even.. Jim had gotten shot and died in the 07-08 season and came back via stealing a, fresh dead, body that the soul had already gone into the light.. He jumped into that body because he wanted to be alive again, with his wife.. AWWW...... Then when he jumped into the new body, Sam, he lost all of his memories... Melinda knew it was him in there, she only had to get him to remember... Such an addictive show!! Now, since he remembers, and all is well, with Jim.. I mean Sam... I mean Jim.. again, they are now having a baby, that she conceived while the really Jim body was still walking and talking..... Plus, there's the new guy, who can only hear spirits, played by Jamie Kennedy... He's a funny dude that found his niche.. Love it!

The above was in no particular order, as I'm a nut and DVR them all, so I don't miss any.. Thankfully Rob, my darling, loves most of the aforementioned shows, as well.. It's nice loafing together..

NOW HURRY UP AND WATCH THE SEASON FINALLY, from last year, ROB!!!!

Please take the time to at least watch an episode or two of the above, you wont regret it, and if you do... oh, well... What do I know, anyways...

TTFN

Ivan's appointment.. Ivan 1, Club foot, 0

So, we went to see doctor Tebor in Rochester for a normal check up for his club feet. This was a new-to-us doctor that we had to see due to MVP sucking, but I think it will work out for the best.. (He seems smart and nice)

Ivan and Jill occupied the car with me as we went on our adventure together.. Ivan had his taggie, a Carter's blanket with the normal tag that tells you who made it and what it's made from, with him and he was gold.. He fell asleep for about an hour, while Jill and I chit chatted about stuff... (Don't ask me to remember, as I was in a slight fog that day due to stress)

We found the office, easily, and ventured in.. The waiting room was quite large and clean, which was a nice change to Dr. Polomino's office which was dirty and smelled rank.. I filled out some forms, answered some questions and was told to wait in the waiting room.. So, I got out the goldfish crackers for my little man, and Jill and I kept him busy.. We sat there for maybe 10-20 minutes, and alas, we were called in! YAY, that was QUICK!! The three of us walked in, following the nurse, and were led to the scale to be weighed. Ivan wanted NOTHING to do with it, so as soon as I let go of his hands, he took off running past us, through the office towards the nurses station thingy.. Jill ran one way, the nurse another, and he was caught! The poor nurse who had caught him, picked him up, and he immediately started crying.. The poor kid!! So, I scooped him up and he calmed down long enough for a quick weight and then off we went to the exam room...

The nurse tried to get his height by having him lay down on the paper that covered the exam table, but he was also, not interested in that.. She we improvised and she took the paper ran it vertical to his back and made marks.. 36 inches tall.. Now, as far as accuracy, I'm not sure.. We'll double check that later.. The nurse got her info, and left the room.. While she was gone, Ivan had to pee, so we took out the Potette Plus potty and handy liner bag for a quick sit and as soon as I had tied the bag to dispose of it, the doctor came in with an intern.. He was super sweet, very calming, and seemed compassionate with the situation.. He asked about his treatments so far, when he stopped wearing the brace on the 23 hour schedule, which I completely forgot, and then had him walk the hallway so he could observe his feet in action.. Ivan was not happy about this as I walked in front and he followed like a sad duckling wanting his momma to stop and scoop him up..

We got back in the room where Dr. Tebor had Ivan and I sit on a chair while he rubbed his tiny feet and gave us the low down.. He definitely has Idiopathic clubfoot, bilateral.. He also has knock knees, which may (more likely) or may not (less likely) go away as he grows.. He told me that his feet look good for the treatments so far, that Dr. Bob Cady, had done a fabu job. (Thanks Dr. Cady) He also told me that poor Ivan will more than likely have one pure Flat Foot, his right foot, and that nothing can be done to treat that. He spoke of past theories and treatments that had no success in that treatment, so they wont even attempt putting arch supports and such in his shoes.. He also mentioned that the long term use of the special bracing was controversial.. That some doctors want the children to stay in them until they reach 4 years old.. He felt that until he's 3, would be sufficient enough.. So, maybe very soon, in 6 months, Ivan can sleep shoe less!! I am going to cry that day! I already feel the tears filling my eye sockets!!

Dr. Tebor was a good doctor, and after all was said and done, Ivan was ok.. He survived a scary doctors appointment, and a horribly long drive.. Which is great, considering we have to venture out to see him again in 3 months, on Dec 18th, right before Christmas, YAY!

I know Ivan doesn't know any different... He has been going through this since he was 2 weeks old.. I just feel horrible, as if it's my fault. I want to take his current, and future pains, away from him, so he can live a normal childhood, and accomplish everything and anything he wants.. I know he will do great.. I want him to be treated normal by his class mates, as he will look a little different, maybe wont be able to keep up with the faster runners, or may be on the shorter side, but he is a bright light, a great little man!

If he was given to me to teach me a lesson, I am eager to listen and learn.. Ivan's my little hero!

When life gives you an obstical, access it, try it and if you fail, or you get hurt, drink a little and try again.. Sometimes it's just the fear of the unknown that prevents success the first time around!

Weekly count down.. here we gooooooo!

So, today I have to drive to Rochester to take my 2 yr old to see a Pediatric Orthopedic, who participates with MVP... I think it's so lame that I can't be seen locally, but MVP blows donkey nuts, as I have previously spoken about..

So, because I have an hour and half drive, with my son and my BFF, thanks Jill, I feel like counting down the best road trip songs of all times... Because I'm lame, and can't think of anything else today.. These songs will be a mix of songs you'd sing if the child was awake, and ones for the adult, when they're napping in their car seat (hopefully)..

Here We Go!

5. The Wheels on the bus go round and round... This is a great song, unless your child asks to re-sing it over and over, been there done that.. Yeah, it gets old QUICK!

4. Old McDonald Had a Farm.. Just how many animals does he have, anyways? Seriously!! It gets to a point where you add in a few pieces of farm equipment, because you can't come up with a another animal, plus how dumb do you sound clucking and mooing with your window down at a stop light... lol

3. Convoy... http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYS0Epyyu3k this is a favorite of my DH... He has a whole cd about driving songs, mostly big rig type songs, but this one's good!

2. Cats in the Cradle.. Who doesn't know these lyrics... You're probably singing it to yourself right now, aren't cha!?

1. Wally World theme song from National Lampoon! - Our kiddies wont know this song, but for anyone that has watched the National Lampoon movies, this one was awesome! Especially after they get to Wally's World and it's closed... LOL... my luck! For those who don't know the words... Here they are..

Who's the moosiest-moose we know?

Marty Moose!
Who's the star of our favorite show?
Marty Moose!
M is for Merry, we're merry you see;
O is for Oh gosh, Oh golly, Oh gee;
S is for super Swell family glee;
E is for Everything you want to be.
M-A-R-T-Y;
M-O-O-S-E.
What's that spell?
Marty Moose!
Marty Moose!
Marty Moose!
(Hyuk), that's Me!

Well, that's it for me! Enjoy yourselves either at home, work, or driving in your car!

TTFN

Pictures, so far, of my HGTV livingroom...

This is the entry door way, the cluttered closet will be covered by drapery, as soon as I get a tension rod to hang them..

This is one of the two area rugs I got from Marshall's Home Store.. A Bargain and much nicer in person as my phone camera is only a 3 MP

This wall above the mantle will be a different color, plus I am probably going to paint all of the trim white, including the mantle.. The accent wall will more than likely be red with a tad of gold, some kind of faux finish.. Just need to get the curtains up so I can see the red together.. Plus, note the giant metal pineapple, a total score from Burlington Coat Factory! Also, the mirror will be re-hung to be vertical vs. horizontal..

the other run, which is currently under the coffee table, which were a total steal from a woman off Craig's List.. Retail these are almost $1250.00, I got them for $120.00.. Nice, huh?!

Boring corner, where the dining room joins the living room.. The rocker may be replaced.. just maybe.. Plus, I got some small wrought iron mirrors to hang on the wall..

This is the giant empty space over my couch.. I picked up some canvas art today at Burlington Coat Factory, that I hope will fill this space nicely! Cross your fingers!

Another view of the empty wall, this time also a view of the love seat.. Yeah, definitely white trim.. ????\

The unfinished parts are...

1. 2nd coat of paint
2. Hang the pictures
3. Paint the trim white (?)
4. Lamps
5. redo ceiling with paintable wallpaper
6. dual ceiling fans..

Yep... that's it... I'm exhausted just thinking about it... Well, may all your projects finish themselves in the middle of the night, on their own, while you're sleeping...

Toodles!

Smitten Kitchen Layered Cookies.. thanks Jill!

So, these cookies are only the MOST delicious ever! They're my favorites and every time Wegmans actually has some, which is rare, I scoop up a small pack or two, to eat by myself in the closet.. Kidding, but rarely do I share..

So, Jill sends me the above link to a wonderful recipe site, with humor and normalcy, which is rare these days.. Most good recipe sites are basic or use insane ingredients, so Kudos Smitten Kitchen, you RAWK!

I have the dream to make these someday.. Maybe for Christmas this year, dunno.. My kiddies are quite a handful and at times any kitchen work gets interrupted many, many times.. However, I'm on new meds and I have so much energy now, it's insane! I will make these cookies! I will make these cookies... and sit on the dark closet floor and eat them alone... I guess it's better than drinking alone... right??

So, please send me some luck this Christmas so I can make them PERFECT!

Oh, and check that lady's recipe site, it's awesome!

Lesley

Time again for a countdown of some sort...

So, I find it tougher some days to come up with a topic to blog about.. Some days it's my kids and their stories, some days it's whatever is on my mind.. well today is going to be different..

You see, I'm going camping this weekend with not only my hubby and kids, but also Jill, my BFF, and her family, which hasn't happened since I was pregnant in 2006...

Normally, when we all go camping there's a bit of alcohol, remembering (Drink fest I, II and III), the skunks, the wine tour, and bear country... All included an untold amount of wine, and good times...

So, with that said.. This week's countdown is going to recount the best of the alcohol-involved moments that I spent with my BFF, and our hubby's.... Watch out Jill... LOL

1 . Jill's Christmas party, several years ago, while working for MS Kennedy.. She got pretty drunk that day, thanks to a company paid open bar. She had a co-worker that decided to put his hand down her shirt, in front of everyone, including her hubby, Jay... Yeah, that went well... But besides that moment, she also was pulling down the bottom of her shirt while "WOOOO"-ing, it was an interesting night... lol

2. Wine tour through the finger lakes in a limo bus.. What an awesome event.. Well, we did some silly things on the bus, had a ton of laughs, and REALLY enjoyed ourselves! We had a long day filled with a constant state of DRUNK, and had been dropped off at my house by the chauffeur. We all had started to meander in my house, except Jill, who was still laying on my front lawn, but she did eventually climb into my house.. One in, she crawled into my bathroom and washed her hands, all the while still kneeling... I have pictures to prove it, I'll have to dig them up!

3. New Years Eve several years ago, BT (before twins).. We had the two J's, a couple co-worker friends, including one that worked in my office and that was married to a paraplegic, who was injured in a bad motorcycle accident while they were married.. Well, she was still married to the guy, but had been "chillin" with a much older man from our work, so he also came to the party... She was there a whopping 20 minutes, tops, and gotten herself majorly drunk.. She kept saying... "(Nasty burping)... I NEED TO GET LAAAAAID" the entire time she was there after she got her drunk on.. She ended up outside where she fell over, and my sister had to pull her arse up, and Jill was out there... but I wasn't so you'll have to ask her the rest...

4. The following year's New Year's Eve party.. (evil laughing .. Muw ha ha ha).. We had a smaller party at my house, this time just the two J's, a friend of hers, Laurie and Chris, and then Rob and I.. Well, it was a pretty slow going party, but still was fun.. At some point, the two J's went down stairs, into our basement and... um... they were totally getting it on.. So, then Rob and I disappeared, and reappeared, and we even have on tape the last couple making winks at each other, without knowing the camcorder was running.. That was an interesting party...

Side NOTE: either the first or second New Years Party, was followed up with breakfast for all the next morning. Jill and I made breakfast burritos, just ask Rob how that went... LOL

5. Now, this last tale may not seem important to anyone but me, but it was quite an event... So, the two J's and the aforementioned Chris and Laurie all went to a Buffalo Sabres game in Buffalo, NY one year... I couldn't go, or wasn't invited, something.. Anyways... I'm at work, at maybe 11am, I get a call, again, while AT work... It's Jill.. She is very DRUNK.. She was hootin' and hollarin' and rubbing it in that I wasn at work, and she was already drunk... yeah, what a great friend, right?!

So, for most this may have been a boring countdown, but to celebrate an alcohol-intended weekend with my favorite people, I thought we could reminisce the good times..

Have a great Labor Day weekend! Drink responsibly and don't drink and drive!

Lesley

Copying Jimmy Fallon Thank You Notes

Jimmy Fallon does his weekly Thank You notes on Fridays because he is simply running behind.. So, I thought I could help him out and add a couple to give him a hand...


Thank You, ATM machines for never being wrong.. I would hate to think what would happen if $40 got dispensed when you only asked for $20.. I mean, how horrible would that be? Man!

Thank You, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAk77Kr_OwQ Shick Quattro for Women Trimstyle Razor & Bikini Trimmer for having such a "HIDDEN MESSAGE" embedded in your commercial.. Who would know that this razor slash trimmer actually trims your bushes and topiarys.. I went to Home Depot to buy one, because that's where I buy my pruning shears, but they didn't have it in stock.. huh.. to think!

Thank You, Jonas Brothers, for posting an amazing video of them answering every one's question about their website. I've never heard of the term TWATTER before, but thanks to them I know it causes spontaneous, uncontrollable, laughing and the inability to be on camera... Huh, weird, but thanks!

Thank You, The Ramones, for creating a song that can be easily used in a movie soundtrack that spotlights the porn industry. Every time I hear "I believe in miracles", I think of Roller Girl and Dirk Digler and his ginormous sausage, as if that's an image I need to hold on to... So, thank you for that..

Thank You, The Final Destination Movies... For making me wonder if someone can really almost drown in their suv from a drive through automatic car wash, then decide that sticking your head out of the sunroof, for air, only to have your torso trapped by the sunroof glass so your head goes through the thrill of being thoroughly cleaned, and probably slightly mangled.. Now, I'm off to Delta Sonic for a touch up, and to a car race after I ride some escalators at the mall... So, thank you Final Destination, Thanks!

Thank You, Candyman, for making every night time trip to the unlit bathroom a thrill.. When I wash my hands and look up into the mirror, I wonder ... IS he just waiting for me to call to him 3 times in the mirror, and if I don't did he just watch me pee?.. At least I washed my hands, he should be happy with that... So, thank you Candyman, thanks!

Thank You, Always Maxi Pads, for giving me the advice to Have a Happy Period.. Without that sound word I would probably go into a fit of rage and knock down old ladies and small children because I was having an unhappy period, but it would only last for about a week. Now, I don't have to concern myself with that negativity, as I now know to be happy, and that wings make everything better.. Thank You!

So, that was my weekly thank you's.. Thanks for reading, I'll send you a thank you note next week...

Boo Hoo... Selling my Vespa LX150 Dragon Red..

So, my hubby and I have upgraded to a larger popup and now need to sell my beautiful, yet handsome, Vespa scooter...

We had a small Sun-Lite popup with a full size bed on both sides, even though it felt like a twin size mattress... It is a great camper, but not really for a family of 4.. Especially when two of the four are wild crazy UFC champions in a 2.5 yr old body.. I swear when we put them to bed while camping, there's more fighting going on the UFC fighting camp.. Seriously!

So.. We got a Coleman/Fleetwood Bayside Elite popup.. the thing is HUGE Tom, HUGE! There's 2 queen sized bunks with a slide out dinette that becomes a bed as well.. There's lights everywhere, a refrigerator, hot water tank, a furnace, fancy curtains, and sink and two stoves.. YUP, two... It also came with a monthly payment, but what's more debt, right?

So, getting back to the Vespa LX150.. I need to have the money more than the fun, liberating, (it's a red liberator, lol) exciting Vespa scooter... It gives me a "high" when I ride it... It's so awesome and the fresh air, and not so fresh air (thanks for in-car smokers with their windows down and the chucking of lit cigarettes out their window left smoking on the pavement next to them, and me, for that matter)..

When I took my road test I drove about 45 minutes up steep hills, down rolling hills, and through the woods, Kidding, to get to Auburn NY, it was an amazing ride..

So, can we all take a few minutes of silence to remember a big girl with a CHIPS white helmet, long flowing, snarled, red hair, and maybe a butt crack moment, riding a red Vespa down the road having the time of her life? Yeah.. I'm gonna miss it... (I'll still enjoy it until we sell it though, don't you worry)...

:(

Lesley