Always Judging, Always Judging

I found this great and reasonably priced carpet cleaning company through my neighbor. When I say reasonably priced, he will clean my entire house for $65. (Stanley Steamer wants $200+)That's including stairs, hallways, walk-in closets...I even catch him cleaning areas I don't pay him for when I want less than the whole house done. He's great!

The only thing is, well, he judges me. I mean REALLY judges me. He always talks about how dirty our carpet is. I've always been so embarrassed and he gets more and more dramatic each time! (We use him about every 3 months or so.) After he left the last time I said to myself "Self, you don't have to listen to him. Be prepared next time he comes, you don't need his crap."

When Daniel came into the house today, he took one look at our carpet, put his head in his hands, started shaking it back and forth and emitted a low "Oh no". But this time I was ready. "Well Daniel! OF COURSE IT'S DIRTY! If it wasn't I wouldn't need you, now would I?" He nodded quickly, saying "Yes, yes. Si." and I think, ladies and gentlemen, that will be the end of that.

WOW! THE HOUSE LOOKS GOOD THOUGH and is all ready for Sat's party! If you are interested, give him a call at - Diaz Carpet Cleaning - 704.965.0311.

Gone Too Long, Back Too Soon

Last night I drove the kids up to my mom's house where they very happily are spending the weekend. I've been told that due to their busy schedules of hide and go seek games with Angelique, Ashton going pee-pee on the potty all by himself, and the help they are giving to Papa Freddy with building the swing set he and Grandma bought for the grand kids, they have no time to talk with me on the phone!
While Paul and I are grateful for the much needed break from Ashton & Kate, I find myself not enjoying the time alone like I thought I would. It's peaceful, but a little boring to say the least. Well, at least it's been productive!

In between the umpteenth phone calls to check on them, tell them I missed them, say their prayers, monitoring Ashton's potty-training progress and Kate's growing vocabulary, Paul and I managed to clean out the garage and do some major spring cleaning in the house. My plan, though not necessarily Paul's plan for the garage, was to clear as much room out for the kids to play in there as possible.
Now that Ashton has a best friend - Richard - who lives across the street he loves to play with and Kate has a boy near her age, Juan Sebastian, up the way, the garage is more accessible for the neighborhood kids to come and play in. Also, the deck is a great place for playtime, but during the hot summer months, the poor little ones can bake like a cake out there in the afternoons, due to the horrible lack of shade trees.

I am ready for the kids to come home, yet want just ONE MORE DAY without them. Motherhood, the conundrums that occur are seemingly endless!

See in the below photos the hard work Paul and I are VERY PROUD OF! :) Everything has a place and a home. I am so excited for the little ones to see a new space to play.

*Notice the peg board with hooks and etc., the tool holders on the wall we installed on both sides of the garage, and the workout equipment stowed away.