Independence Day

Got Bridger off the morning...for the first time in 2 years!!!!
Jadyn on her second day!!!
OMG
What is a mommy to do!?!?!

Well this mommy got a pedicure!!
And then went and bought a new bible for her class that starts next week!!
Made RSVP's for 2 luncheons she is going to attend!!
And maybe cook a little.

House Updates

Just put Jadyn on the bus this morning...kinda sad, kinda happy. Sad I think just because it is her birthday and I doubt she will feel special today with hundreds of other kids and walking into a madhouse. Happy because I have cut the umbilical cord and it is just a matter of hours and I will be free again. Free to do what? Who knows!!!

We finished our TV cabinet project this weekend. Took much longer than I thought and the wall it sits on still needs something else, but we are closer.




Complete done with the fireplace and the wall it is on. This is the final product.

I could probably get a better picture than this, but I finally added my topiary to balance out the tallness of the mirror, got a firescreen, and for some reason shoved the sunday paper in the red feed bucket. That part does not look to good, but the kids take it out to the backyard firepit to burn. We call that recycling.

Jadyn's Birthday Celebration

So, it all started on Friday-- a whole 3 days early since her birthday isn't until tomorrow. But tomorrow is also the first day of school and Bridger has an open house tomorrow night, so the day is limited when it comes to celebrating.

We went to the movies on Friday.
Saturday we went to Putt Putt



Besides water bumper cars and batting cages, we rode the Go-carts, played miniature golf and games in the arcade.

Today, Jadyn opened most of her presents (her big one from us is not here yet) and then we decided to go to this family gym called boulders. We had so much fun rock climbing that we got a membership.





We are trying to be master rockclimbers. But before that happens we will all be taking some Motrin to kill the pain from muscle aches.

The last part of the celebration is Jadyn enjoying her cupcakes.


Happy 9th Jadyn!!!!

My 70th post!

Wow-- I don't think I ever even wrote in a journal 70 times, so this is good for me. Lots of things happening with the Tylers this week. We are all busy running in different directions. Most prominent on my mind right now is Jadyn's tooth pain. It is bad! She was screaming and writhing in pain until we could get it under control with Motrin and Orajel. Keith is taking her in tomorrow because I have to take Bridger to his new school to be tested. This test is only an hour though. I also have other errands to do by Bridger's school.

This week we are trying to practice getting up early and starting the day. Yesterday I set the alarm for 7am even though we need to be awake by 6am. I figured lets just do a little each day! Well the alarm went off and I got up to turn it off and go back to bed until 8. Bad mommy.

This morning I did wake up at 6am and the only reason was I thought someone was knocking at my window. Scared the heck out of me. Come to find out, it was just one of the sprinklers hitting it. But it got me out of bed! Tried the pry the kids out of bed and it didn't work very well. Bridger came out to the couch and fell asleep again. And right now I am so tired I am feeling grouchy.

Hopefully the rest of the week will get better. We just have a LOT to do! Bridger got his new backpack in the mail and he wore it for like 2 hours. Guess who is just a tiny bit excited about going back to school even though he swore he would never do it again!!!!!

What we have been doing

This last weekend we got busy. So busy that Keith gave up his Cowboy tickets to continue the work at home and the list keeps getting longer instead of shorter. I have a few pics of what is new around here from this last weekend.

First, I learned how to use this.

Well first I had to put it together and then learn how to use it. It is a miter saw that will help us put up more molding around the house. I thought I would practice and put molding on the drawers of the TV stand.



There was a learning curve with this, but here is another pic of one drawer completely done next to 2 other drawers.



The reason I am going to all this work is because we bought this.

This is going to sit on top of the cabinet we all ready have and I have posted a picture of it here before. But I decided I wanted the TV covered completely if I so choose. So I am trying to make it match just a tiny bit with the molding and new paint. I am not trying to make it look brand new, just related. More pictures to come with the project is completed.

Keith got busy and hung this.

The summers are miserable here so this will at least keep the backporch cool and the bugs away when the fan is going.

We also changed the lights on the front of garage---they are awesome.

So much better than what we had previously- (refer to previous pictures)

And to top it all off- we put this up too.


Until next weekend...

Officially Coo-Coo

That would be me according to Keith and really I can't blame him. He has to hear me whine over what I want done and DONE RIGHT NOW!

Last night I almost cried over my kitchen cabinets and that is the truth. It may not make sense to you my gentle friends and family but makes complete sense to me. I didn't hate them at first. It was more of a sense of disappointment, but the longer I look at them the more I despise them. But yet, I am afraid that if I do anything to them permanent, I will screw it up and make a bad situation even worse.

I have become acutely aware of 'builder-grade' options in this house as I had no say what the builder put into it. The house was done being built a year ago September and we didn't find it until May. Builders are out to turn a buck and maybe not give you the best of the best. And this guy made a pretty dime--- I found that out exactly what he made when he sold us this house through a friend with connections!=)

If he made a pretty dime, then I should have pretty cabinents!!!

I also had a sense of guilt last night that I should be grateful that I have a brand new house no matter what is on the inside of it. Nobody has put their cooties on anything except us and trying to change brand new stuff is wasteful, and most everyone else would really appreciate it. I have become even more aware of that as in the last few weeks, Keith has given away a lot of our castoffs to soldiers who needed it. Not wanted it- but really needed it.

After a goodnight of sleep, because I haven't had one in awhile, I think I have come back to reality. I called a the hardwood floor guy to come out and give me an estimate to make me feel better. Anyone need carpet??

Homeschool NO MORE!

I guess I need to update my profile as there will be no more homeschooling in this family. I am soooo relieved. It was fun while it lasted but I am glad this stint is over.

We went to the Bridger's potential school and it was neat. It is in an old mansion (over 100 years old) and we really liked the teacher who is also the director. He will be in a class with 9-12 year olds that is full of animals, windows, manipulatives, space, and many more good things. Bridger thought it would be cool and Jadyn is jealous. I really wish I could send both of them but right now it comes down to who needs it more.

SCORE!!!

Look what I got for my birthday! If you knew how long I have been drooling over this thing, you would understand! Too bad it won't arrive to my house until September sometime...

The Lion's Den

You see this kid? Well I certainly do because I understand him from the inside out. I would do anything for him and yet, I am standing at a crossroad right now. He is a sensitive child who gets his feelings hurt pretty easy. He totally loves his cat, Pepsi and his 2 hermit crabs, Nixon and Kirby. He goes out of his way to take care of them. He is unbelievably creative and can dream up all sorts of things to build and take apart. He loves being outside doing boy things, such as building forts, building a Go-cart, riding bikes and skating. He has a quirky sense of humor that not just anyone would appreciate. He loves his back scratched and is happy to give the favor in return. He is pretty rotten to his sister though- but we are working through that.

He is also very aware that he is behind his peers in school. No fault of his own because it just the way his mind works. He is as smart as a whip but his mind works a little differently than most. And unfortunately, the public school system doesn't see him the way I do. He has to go back though. I feel like I can do no more for him but I have this overwhelming sense that I am throwing him into a lion's den to defend himself and his self-esteem.

Yesterday I spent the majority of the day trying to get the kids enrolled back into school. It turned into a big arguement towards the end when they wanted me to sign a permission slip so "they" could administer a 3-hour test today to both Bridger and Jadyn. The permission slip specifically has the NO WAY option on it, so I marked it. Then "they" all ganged up on me (I have been in this spot before! It is like a bad nightmare) and told me that if I didn't allow it they would stop the enrollment process.

So why do they give that option on the permission slip?!?!?!

I was so upset by this last night I could not think of anything else. Then this morning came my bright spot. I called the Montessori Private School in town and asked if they had a spot for Bridger. The answer was YES!!!!

If you are not familiar with Montessori- it is the coolest concept ever. The school does not have desks for children because they don't believe a child learns by sitting in a desk all day doing busy work. They beleive that a child learns best by DOING-- not copying, rote memorization, busy work just to fill time. Everything, I mean everything is hands-on. Lessons are given one-on-one with a teacher/student. They garden, take care of animals, cook, math is hands-on and visual, reading and language arts is the same. THIS IS BRIDGER.

Of course, this all comes with a cost. And that is what Keith and I are going to have to work out. I am willing to eat beans everyday if that is what it takes and cut back on whatever plans we have for the future. We tour the school next week to make our final decision, but as of right now, I see no other way.

His self-esteem and confidence and love for learning is important to me.

Random pics

Have been so busy lately! This weekend we finished phase 1 of our front flowerbed and painted Jadyn's bedroom. Phase 1 included just putting in the plants that we could right now. Phase 2 will be waiting for the rest of the plants to arrive in September and phase 3 will be installing the lights in the bed.

And Jadyn's room- what a trial that is! Painting 12 foot walls is no fun-- then since the ceilings are beige I had to get on a tall ladder and paint them white like normal ceilings. Most of it is done now, just waiting to get the molding put in. It will be gorgeous when its finally done.

I took some pictures of the front of my house this morning--- it still needs a lot as far as curb appeal goes. I am dreaming of an awesome wood door- an exciting garage door and the plant beds more filled in-- but here it goes.





Around the corner from me, my same builder is customizing a home and I went in into the house (thru a window) this last weekend to take pictures. I WANT their cabinents. The only thing different is their molding and color.

Here are their cabinents- same wood, granite and same color scheme as mine.


Here is a picture of mine when we first moved in. This is only half of the kitchen.


What do you think?? I think I should change out the molding on the top of the cabinents to a much thicker and fancier type and paint these bad boys black. I think I would then LOVE my kitchen instead of thinking it was just OK.