Around here...

For some reason, the Counting Crows song has been in my head this morning.  I realized that I haven't updated the blog with anything real in forever...so here are a few pics from my phone.  This is what's been going on around here the past few weeks:

The kids have been wanting to rearrange their room.  So, the week after vacation, we did.  It ended up being a lot more work than they bargained for (I made them clean out every nook and cranny--we took 2 carloads of STUFF out of the room and the office, all together) and I cleaned it, top to bottom.  Won't even tell you about the dust on the curtains--just gross.  Wait, I just did.  Oops.

These are panoramic pics from my phone--making them bigger makes them look pixelated.  You can probably click on them and see them better.  Or, just come visit!  I loved, loved the last incarnation of their room because it accomplished the goal of giving each of them their own space.

http://adventuresofmommygirl.blogspot.com/2012/01/little-space-please_09.html

BUT, it felt forced, somehow...never quite right for them or for our house.  This configuration came after lots of measuring and moving and moving again and talking and compromising...but they love it.  And that's enough for me!  Kayci's goals were to NOT have his side/her side and to have lots of space in the middle.  Accomplished!  We did not accomplish her goal of putting the beds closer together, but it was a good learning experience for her...even after all of her thinking, planning, drawing, the room didn't look quite as good in real life as it did in her head.  We didn't spend any money this time, but I updated their "Always kiss me goodnight" over the window by spraypainting it yellow and did the same thing to Noble's N hook where he hangs his clothes every night.  The sign was my LEAST favorite part of their room after I painted it last time...it was just blah.  Now I love it again!


The only money spent was Kayci's money, on this mirror.  She loves having a space to get ready...and we love having her in the bathroom less each morning.  Keepin' it real, friends--we've only got the one, it gets crowded!  And it was a good lesson for her...she ended up spending ALL of her wallet money on this, down to the change.


We worked hard and got the room done by the day of Kayci's birthday party (Thursday, July 11)...and Noble finally, finally got to do his volcano eruption that afternoon.  It was a project he started on Monday when Kayci started Drama Camp, and it just kept getting moved to the back burner.  He was a little disappointed that the baking soda and vinegar didn't ACTUALLY turn into lava, but he was amazed at how "clear" vinegar made the "lava" red.  A little red food coloring in a red cup makes for lots of magic--even the big girls were wondering.  :)


And the big party...it was actually a small party this year, postponed almost a month after Kayci's birthday to make sure all 3 of her bff's could attend and planned on a Thursday so we could take them to karaoke at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  We had so. much. fun.

I'm not sure how this happened...I think it started when Kayci set up a "photo booth" for the party and I got out our stash of 'staches.  They were everywhere!


The girls hogged the stage...good thing it was a slow night for karaoke.


DaddyBoy got up there a few times, too...here he is singing my favorite song from "Hope Floats."  I love that Boy!  And that cute thing beside him, too.


After all these years, finally!  Kayci's friends told the waiter we were there for her birthday--she loved every second of this!


Oh, back to drama camp--Kayci and Jenna made the front page of the paper the day of the party!  Kayci's a pink cow...nope, no clue.


Last week Kayci went on vacation with Jenna's family.  She's back safe and sound, and she had a blast!


I got caught up on t-shirt orders.


Noble and I had a date night and went to the Circus in Houston--it was awesome this year!


We celebrated Jackson's 2nd birthday...such a sweet boy, such a fun party!


And last night, the soundtrack around here was the kids giggling.  They missed each other!  Noble even slept in Kayci's bed last night because they wanted to spend more time together.  Man, I hope that feeling lasts!