Promise

Blogging, right now, is kind of like the pretty round bronzed mirror that looked so good in the entry of our old house but is now sitting dustily on a stack of cardboard boxes. I love it. I miss it. But I'm just not quite sure where it fits in the new place.

I have many blog-able thoughts and moments during the course of my day, but I haven't quite figured out when and how to get them all down.

My days are so busy right now. I don't know why. So many of the things that used to take up my time--half-day kindergarten, early morning Seminary, driving along winding, country roads to get anywhere--are no longer part of my routine. I've found a handful of new friends, but my social calendar is still pretty empty.

I guess it's the four kid thing that keeps me hopping. When they're around, they need food and help with homework and (unfortunately) a whole lot of sibling refereeing. When they aren't around, I'm buying their food, washing their clothes and making copies on the Riso machine for their teachers.

And what's taking up the rest of my time? As Dr. Seuss might put it... "Oh the house. Oh the house. Oh the house, house, house, house. That's the one thing she's doing. The house, house, house, house."

New houses are a lot of work. I have to keep reminding myself that Rome wasn't built in a day and that it took years before I was happy with all the paint colors and window treatments in our old place. We went ages without a finished basement and eons before Brad built the back patio. In fact, it was not the house of my dreams at all until we put it on the market last spring.

But, in my old age, I'm a lot less patient. I know how I want things to look. And I want them to look that way. Now. I drive myself a little crazy. Hanging things up, taking things down. Buying things. Returning things. And I'm still learning my way around town, so usually each errand takes twice as long as it should. See? Low-stress and inexpensive and eco-friendly!

Brad has been extremely patient with this whole nesting process. I mean, let's face it. The guy, if left to his own devices, would live in a house with one MASSIVE tv and a lone, comfortable (but hideous) black leather chair. A bed with a mattress so firm it'd need a medical prescription with no designer throw pillows. The walls would all be white without a single nail hole or picture hook to be found. There would be no toile in his world.

So, Babe, this post is dedicated to you and your generosity of spirit (and checkbook). I promise once all the drawer pulls are installed and the curtains hung, I will return to my former low-key, easy-going self. Yes, really.

Also, I promise, more blogging. More often. I miss it.

Glimpse

Here is a little peek into the new pad. It is spacious and lovely but NOT quite ready for a photo shoot (i.e. double oven sitting in a big box on my kitchen floor, unpainted walls and naked windows).

Still, there are a few cozy corners that are starting to feel like home.

Our new living room is very open and casual. Quite a change from the formal "parlor" in our old house. We got some big comfy club chairs and love our new plantation shutters. Kids are already using it as Lego Central, which is always a sign of decorating success.

The kitchen, as I mentioned, is mid-makeover right now. However, I love my great big island. We chose Silestone quartz countertops with a touch of blue. I'm using lots of blue in the kitchen. (Yay! My blue & white plate collection can come out of the cupboard!) Actually, lots of blue throughout the house. It's a nice contrast to all the desert brown.

I don't miss the basement as much as I thought I would. The kids have this playroom upstairs. Their bedrooms and baths all adjoin the space, so it feels like a big dormitory.

Believe it or not, we do have quite a few trees in the front yard. No cacti. Yesterday we found a huge hive of bees feeling right at home too. Yikes.

Much of the backyard looks like this. I just want the Pool Fairy to come in the middle of the night. Anyone know her number?

In the meantime...thank heavens for kids who would be happy in a mud puddle.

A Few Recommendations

Number One:

If you, like me, are moving old furniture into a new space, run and get this book at the library...
It's an oldie, but a goodie. Lauri Ward teaches design principles that work with any furniture, in any room. Because the people at Pottery Barn don't want us to know this, but we really don't need ALL new stuff to make our homes comfortable and attractive. I have been rereading this week and learning a lot.

Number Two:

If you, like me, will be sending children back-to-school shortly, don't forget to celebrate Children's Day first! (If you aren't familiar with Children's Day, I detail it in this old post. By the way, who are those adorable little tykes? What happened to them and their high-energy young mother?)

Number Three:

If you, like me, love to be inspired by real-life moms, go check out my real-life friend, Rochelle, here. Watch the clip. Anyone with a special needs child or just a burning desire to see a darling redhead will be more than satisfied. Go Ro!

Never Mind

Hmmm...I'm having second thoughts about this whole moving thing...

First, all of our friends are being so nice and saying stuff that makes me cry.

Second, our house looks totally amazing now. Check out the beautiful new countertops! I love them.

And the kids' new-and-improved bathroom....

(By the way, please settle a little marital dispute...does this wall look purple or periwinkle to you? All I know is, it's NOT the sky blue I envisioned. Paint chips can be deceptive. Whatever.)

Third reason I am having second thoughts: spring.

Sure, moving sounds great during February blizzard season.

But now it's officially my favorite season. This weekend did not disappoint. Blue skies, sunshine, green, green, green.

Today we picnicked by the stream in our backyard. Heaven.

I'm Making Plans and I Need Your Help

Although we're still in the throes of home improvement (Oh, the joys of sharing a bathroom with four children!) and weeks away from listing our house, Brad is visiting our soon-to-be-hometown this weekend and is going to start making the rounds with a realtor.

We've been surfing the net and looking at homes for sale. It's heady stuff. Pebbled swimming pools, custom media rooms, five-car garages, backyard putting greens. Everything looks so shiny and new. Of course, our eyes are bigger than our checkbook, but, still, it's fun to dream.

Over the years we've lived in nine different places. Basement apartments, third floor apartments, rentals, new construction, orange carpet, blue showers, crazy neighbors and amazing friends.

Each home has taught me something and I find that, this go-round, I have refined my priorities in home selection.

For example, front entrance versus back entrance. The first thing I fell for in our current house was the beautiful two-story entry with sweeping circular staircase and hardwood floors. Gorgeous. Somehow I pictured myself wearing evening gowns and making a lot of dramatic entrances.

Well. Reality is this: spectacular staircase+forty pound basket of dirty laundry=dramatic language not dramatic entrances. And, as beautiful as the front hall is, I NEVER WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR.

I wish I had paid a little more attention to the back door and the potential tight squeeze of carrying groceries/kids/drycleaning through a mightytight garage and mudroom space.

These days I am much more interested in the size of the laundry room sink than the size of the master bathroom Jacuzzi. We all know where moms really spend their soaking time, am I right?


So, this is where I need your help. What suggestions do you have? I am interested to hear what you all love about your houses, hate about your houses or wish you had known sooner. Do you love the central vac system? Wish you had more storage? Have a favorite home convenience that has dramatically improved your quality of life? Do tell.

I'll forward the list to Brad and he can pick a dream house for all of us.

Construction Zone

I'm finally getting the home I always wanted.

Just in time to sell.

Yay.

New kitchen floor, beautiful new bathroom for the kids, freshly painted walls in every room. That water stain on the ceiling? Gone. The basement shelves I'd given up on? Straight and sturdy.

It is exciting and annoying all at the same time.


There are at least eight strange men wandering through my house today. Moving things around. Switching things off and on. Making a lot of noise.

Come to think of it, they're not a whole lot different from my children. Just way more expensive.

I've always thought of this house as a grande dame. Once a great beauty, she still has excellent bone structure, but there has been some sagging and drooping over the years. The genteel shabbiness has been part of her charm.

But this week she's getting the face-lift she deserves. We're still in the messy and painful stage. I'm excited for the bandages to come off.

My only question, if she's the one having the work done, why am I feeling so sore and tired?

The Perfect Pause

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."

- Carol Bishop Hipps

Ahhhhctober... I love it so much.

Yesterday Brad left for Palm Springs. Any other month I would be completely green with envy. But the thought of leaving crisp mornings, golden afternoons and cozy evenings is unthinkable. (Which is convenient, since me leaving for Palm Springs is equally unthinkable at the mo. I'm crazy busy and the kids are just plain crazy. So no California for me. Oh well...)

Our neck of the woods is so amazingly gorgeous right now. I was thinking that I wish someone would invent a Weather TiVo. Seriously, wouldn't it be so great if you could just record a couple of Indian Summer days and replay them during August's hideous humidity? Or after a string of grey January bummers? I'm surprised nobody is marketing this yet.

Of course, October has its bittersweet moments. In the four weeks since school started, I have had three sick children. Today it's Lukey's turn. Stomach troubles and fever. I worry most about Mr. Luke when he gets sick. Maybe because he had a rocky start in the NICU or maybe the Lyme disease...which is technically still in his system. He just seems to be the most fragile of my litter.

But I like having him home alone. It's rare that we have bonding time without Sam around. Right now it's just the two of us (and Tom and Jerry, of course) along with ginger ale, dry toast and a curly straw.

In other family news, Jake is learning to cook! He made this Banana Cream Pie last week. Other new specialties include Peanut Butter Brownies and Lemon Cake. Is there anything better than a guy who can bake?

Yes! A guy who changes diapers. He assisted me in babysitting this little cutie last week. I have noticed that Jake is extremely tender and patient with babies and animals. Shall I get him one? (Kidding)

In a rare crafty moment, I made these centerpieces for a going-away party we hosted for dear friends. Apples were the motif of the evening, so we served hot spiced cider and "Mormon champagne" (cold cider and ginger ale) alongside Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle. So good...

Last but not least, today our driveway was recoated! Doesn't it look good?

Babe, I took these photos just for you. Enjoy your California sunshine. I'll be crusin' on this smooth stuff and enjoying beautiful Ahhhhctober!

p.s. Happy to report my dad is home from the hospital and celebrating his 63rd birthday today!

Happy Birthday, Opa!

Laundry List

Today is laundry day. After an amazing three-day weekend (to be detailed soon...mark your calendars), it is time to reign in the freedom. Time to go back on the diet, back to the budget (I'm trying, Hun!) and, most of all, back to the washingboard.

After years of laundry loathing, I have finally made peace with the spin cycle. I've learned to love the April freshness of Downy mixed with the pungent tang of Clorox. I love the warmth and softness of a crisp, clean batch of cotton sheets. Give me a basket of folded towels instead of a Picasso anyday. A load of well-done laundry is a true work of art.

First off, let me clarify that I do NOT have a dream laundry room. Far from it. If my laundry room were a state it would be Rhode Island. Clearly, the only Ultra Tide the man (because obviously it was a man) who designed this house knew about was the kind that rippled onto the shore of his Cape May beachfront property. Still, I have learned that you don't need a fully-loaded laundromat establishment to enjoy cleaning your linens. All you need is a good system.

Here are a few tricks that really knock my socks off. (And leave them gleaming white and static-free...)

• Laundry hampers. In every room where clothes are stored, removed or changed. I have them in every bedroom and bathroom. Some larger rooms have more than one.
• Regularly scheduled wash day. I only wash twice a week. Period. Usually Tuesdays and Fridays. It works best if you are at-home most of the day. (Or have a helpful home-officed husband who doesn't mind shifting the loads, in a pinch.) Promise yourself that you will get all the laundry in and out within a 12-hour period. It takes discipline...but there is nothing more depressing than seeing yesterday's whites still molding away in the washer as you are digging through piles of clean, but rumpled, permanent press searching for the soccer uniform.
• Individualized laundry baskets. Each kid has their own labeled clean-clothes basket. (Note: these are not the same as the laundry hampers...those are stationary, because there is always more laundry.) Depending on their age, at the end of laundry day, the kids will have either a pile of clean clothes to fold or pre-folded clothes to put away in drawers and closets. (Word to the wise: I don't advise looking in drawers too often. It can cause stomach upset.)
• Fold as you go. This doesn't work for everybody, but I've found that if I drag all the clean laundry into the family room and fold while watching Oprah or other educational programming, it takes a whole lot longer to finish. Plus, I am annoyed if my kids trip over my work. Time yourself. Folding even the biggest load only takes about twelve minutes. Just pull it out of the dryer and deal with it while it's warm and sweet. Less wrinkles, too.
• Bright whites. Sort and wash whites first while there is still plenty of hot water. For best results, rinse the load first with cold water. Tip learned from appliance guy: If you have an high-efficiency washer, it may fill with water before the water gets really hot. Before starting the hot cycle, run the faucet in your washtub or closest powder room to get the heat in the pipes.
• Sock basket. My laundry room is also the mudroom. The kids keep their shoes in there. So it makes sense to keep a big basket of clean white socks handy. I don't even match them. It has streamlined our daily out-the-door routine...and every second counts.
• Baking soda. Gets the stink out towels and socks. Can be used instead of bleach to brighten whites. Used as a paste will clean out a dirty washing machine. Cheap trick.
• Finally...buy cute clothes. When apparel shopping, don't just look at cost and fit. When buying any top or bottom, ask yourself, Will I still love this after I've pre-treated, sorted and folded it 50 times? If the answer is no, put it back on the rack.

What's on your laundry list?

The Great Outdoors

While on our month-long vacation, I realized that I didn't even miss my house or my car or my wardrobe.

In fact, the only thing I really missed was my backyard!

(Do you have an Airpogo? Best toy ever...)

Our last home was brand-new, really cute and in a great neighborhood. But it had a lousy backyard.



So...we moved.

And it has been a beautiful thing.

Because, in case you hadn't noticed, my kids are the "outdoor" type!

They need wide, open spaces.

And, although I prefer a comfy couch and air-conditioning...I'm learning to get my hands dirty, too.

My kids aren't the only wildlife back there...
A good backyard is worth a few bucks!

Trading Spaces

Project "BIG BOY" is finally complete.

The cribs are gone & the bunk beds have arrived.

(Anyone who has met the Twinkies realizes the wisdom in keeping both bunks floorbound for now...)


The entire process took a long time because the boys needed the big bedroom, formerly occupied by Princess Em.

Thus a whole lotta furniture hefting, closet cleaning, garbage dumping and picture hanging.

Emmie was a good sport about moving into a smaller room.

The deal was sweetened by all-new, custom-made bedding & window treatments.

Designed and stitched with love by Nana!

Em adores her new room and takes great pride in making her beautiful bed every morning.

Poor Jake got nothin'!

But he cleaned his room...so I'm taking his picture because a clean room is a terrible thing to waste.

Finally...

My kids were so happy to finally have a snow day today!

It looked so beautiful and we had so much fun...

...until 9:50 a.m.

when a couple of people started to do this...

So we had to come inside for a lotta this...

OK...I'm over it.

Send in the sunshine!

Housekeeping

I've spent the day putting away the Chris-mess and now I'm living in a whole new house. Although I love every inch of the December trimmings, it is nice to pare down in January. Everything seems bigger and newer and ready for a fresh start.

Brad entertained the kids all day and I did my favorite kind of housekeeping. I call it "puttering."


Puttering is the love-child of deepcleaning and decorating. I am not the best at either, but I do love to walk through each room in my house, tidy things up and then rearrange. You know...put new photos in the old frames, restack books on the shelf, shuffle the merchandise a little bit.

I redid my mantelplace.

Hung something different in the powder room.

Set the living room to rights.

Took out the Christmas dishes and brought back the blue & white.

And, best of all, made a new home for the gabtop! This is my kitchen desk and, now, Gabblog Central! I am sitting here right now...so much better than Brad's den, which is always much too chilly and, shall we say, a little bit "masculine" for my taste.

Puttering is a no-cost makeover for my home and I usually get into a putter-mood when the seasons change. A few years ago, I bought the book, Use What You Have Decorating and I love what I learned...using professional decorators' secrets to make the most of stuff you already have. Because, although others might argue...I am deep-down a very frugal person!

(Don't get me wrong, I love to collect new things...but I also am quite sentimental and get great comfort from the fact that I have a piece of my mother's and grandmother's china in my dining room hutch and love seeing my nine-year-old's silver baby cup in my laundry room cabinet, holding loose change and pens.)

Some people might think puttering is a shallow hobby or a waste of time. But I don't think so. I think one of my jobs as a homemaker is making my home a clean, lovely and welcoming space. There is a difference between trying to create a showplace to outshine the neighbors and trying to make a gathering place where neighbors want to be. I choose the latter.

And, if you ever want to come for a visit...you're invited.

Now...for more January housekeeping:

1. I have two special birthday boys to celebrate this month! My husband and oldest son(through a little tender mercy which still gives me a thrill of delight) share the same date of birth...31 years apart! Every year I moan over having two birthdays so soon after Christmas, when I am feeling my most close-fisted and non-festive. But the truth is, a little celebrating cures those post-holiday-January-blahs...and everything is on sale...and they don't even mind if I wrap their gifts in Christmas paper (although I try not to)!
2. This is a benchmark birthday for my hubby. The big four-oh! And you know what that means? It means I have a 40-year-old boyfriend! Yikes. (He is probably less-than-thrilled with his 37-year-old sagging, wrinkled girlfriend...but there you go.) Actually, Brad makes 40 look good. Really good. I will try and get him something special this year...
3. I have to brag about my mom! She was asked to speak at BYU Women's Conference this May! About? Staying connected to long-distance family using email and BLOGS! She is perfect for this assignment. Can you believe just a few years ago she bucked at the idea of using a computer? And now she is a cyber-star! I just booked my airline ticket to Utah so I can cheer her on...If any of you feel like meeting there, it would be a dream-come-true! I am so proud of you, Mom.

Happy Housekeeping!

Has It Really Been 10 Years?

Ten years ago, my husband and I left the Rocky Mountains for the Atlantic Seaboard. We were young and ready for adventure. Brad got a great job offer and was excited to move up the corporate ladder. I had just finished five years of unsuccessful fertility treatments, including a very painful and expensive failed attempted at IVF. For both of us, this cross-country move was just the change we were looking for.

Of course, if you had told us ten years ago that we would still be living here, working for the same company and the proud parents of four, we would have laughed. We were just having an adventure, not settling down...

But, we've put down some roots and found a place that feels like home. It's been a wonderful place for us these past ten years! To celebrate, I'm posting ten photos of my favorite things around here. Hopefully, it will make you want to come visit!

This is the local pond. I drive by almost every day. During the spring we feed the baby ducks, in the summer you can see people fishing, the gorgeous autumn colors are reflected each fall and in wintertime it twinkles with lights. When we get really lucky and have a cold winter, people come out with skates and hockey sticks!
I love New York! And it's only a little over an hour by train! The first summer we lived here, when I had no kids and lots of out of town company, I went to NYC almost every week...seeing a different Broadway play and visiting different tourist spots each time. Heaven!

These days we don't go nearly as often...but try to see a show at least a couple times a year. Nothing is more fun...

The local food is delish. Soft pretzels are a biggie. Lots of Italians means there are lots of great little Italian places. Yummy pizza. Delis, bakeries, and water ice stands offer all kinds of delicious treats. Everyone loves hoagies and, of course, cheesesteaks. I'm not a huge cheesesteak gal myself. But I love the great restaurants around here!

Sesame Place is the top tourist spot in our neck of the woods. It is a waterpark geared for the preschool set...but my older kids love it too. I love their "Rock Around the Block" parade. It's very cute, clean and almost Disney-esque. We used to get season passes every summer until the year I lost my oldest child there. I have not completely recovered. But Sesame Place is still a happy place!

The architecture here is sooo quaint and charming. Lots and lots of stone houses. Historical homes are preserved beautifully. Tradition and history are everywhere. Of course, there is not a gas station or McDonalds on every corner...but a little inconvenience is so worth the beauty I enjoy each day.

Growing up in a land-locked state, I never thought I was much of a beach person...boy, was I wrong! I could spend days on the beach (or "down the shore" as the natives say). The Atlantic Ocean is very warm and swim-friendly in the summer months. Plus, the cute seaside towns have great boardwalk amusements, charming shops and fun restaurants. The above photo is in Cape May, NJ...my favorite beachtown here!

The spot where we live is close to the city, but also close to the country. In fact, we have the best of both worlds. I love to drive by all the local farm stands and past old covered bridges. Lancaster County is just an hour away. We like to go and see the Amish farms and stuff ourselves silly at the Good & Plenty!

Philadelphia itself has a lot to offer. No matter how many times I see the Liberty Bridge or tour Independence Hall, I learn something new about our country's history. It is fun to walk the old cobblestone streets, visit Ben Franklin's house and eat at the Old City Tavern. A great way to travel back in time!

Of course, it would be wrong to not mention the shopping is fabulous! King of Prussia mall...need I say more? This is another aspect of life I enjoyed much more in my pre-kid life. But just knowing it's there...that's enough for now.

**Hope you enjoyed your tour of my hometown today! Truly, the best thing about this place is the group of amazing friends who have become our East Coast family. They have helped us so much and continue to provide support and love. We always are ready for company, though...so call us when you're in town. We'll leave the light on for ya!