For the first time in my life I will publicly admit...

I've been considering re-doing the girls' bathroom, and Lillian's room! I know, I know...I JUST did Lillian's room a while back, but that was a BABY room. I was thinking about doing something awesome. Something artistic. Here's some examples of the ones I like:



This is the fun version.



And the possibly too old room, but I can add cutesy girly stuff to make it pop like a little girl's room. And I don't necessarily have to find a comforter like THAT.

The girls' bathroom is a weird "refried bean" color (according to Doug) and not suitable for a bathroom (?). Anyways, these are fun:



I like this color. Maybe a fancier mirror. The bathroom is NOT this big, however!



And this shower curtain...



And some of these vases up on shelves. Maybe a fun design on the wall, over the purple? Too much?


I'm afraid if I start, I won't want to stop...and anyone knows how expensive fun things like these are :) Oye!

Things Addie said/did:
"Mommy, who is coming over?"
"Nobody. Why?"
"Because. Why are we cleaning?"
"WE DON'T JUST CLEAN WHEN SOMEBODY'S COMING, WE'RE NOT SLOBS!! GO CLEAN YOUR ROOM!!!"

Apparently she thinks the only reason I clean is for other people. I hate feeling slobby, that definitely hit my boiling point real quick, hahaha...

I went into Addie's room to pick out some clothes for her, and noticed her bed had little toys on it. So, like usual, I started picking them up and putting them in the little toys basket, which is just out of reach of Lil up on her side table. Right that second, a hand reaches out from under the bed and grabs my foot.

"*&DA^*$SdRIGH$#$FUIF%^^$#%&*&^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" More jumping around, flailing, freaking out. Elevated heart rate, giant purple vein popping out of head. Ready to fight, clawing my way to freedom if necessary. At least, in my head this was happening, everything I'd have imagined I would do if I was attacked...or attacked by the giant, ugly, slithering typical monster under the bed. In reality, on the outside, I froze. My heart literally dropped into my stomach and started pounding there, as if that was its new residence in my body. Of course, my eyes were big, and I didn't feel like I could move at all. It was Addie, I hadn't noticed how quiet the house was and that she was hiding in a new favorite spot. She's laughing, big toothed grin.

Guys, for the first time in my life I will publicly admit that I am afraid of being grabbed by something under the bed. Especially at night, by myself. I am also (wait for it), afraid of the dark. I am a 25 year old woman who hops into bed at night, because "they would never expect me to hop, I could totally use that surprising second to make my get away..."

Why these things are in my head, I have no idea. I also imagine car crashes, people doing dumb things and I'm in anticipation for whatever may come. I think this is a result of being made to watch too many MAN movies. That my friends, is why my DVR box is also considered a PMS box. Because, my imagination runs away full speed!! Ridiculous. I'm hoping to conquer this before my ten year reunion, where everyone judges if you've grown up and how much since they last saw you.

Speaking of being a man, I have been infiltrated. On our night without the babies, we ended up coming home, drinking a beer, fixing the door with MAN stuff, and playing Halo. I was totally okay with this, even though I was dressed to go out in heels and my sexy "lingerie shirt" (or so my SIL deemed my lacy shirt). Meh. So hard to make that transition to full blown adult.

Spring is here, bringing the freaking crazy weather with it!!
Kesolyn

Uhh, WINNING!!

Pretty good, right? I'm thinking of throwing all child labor law caution to the wind and starting "Photography by Addie". Uhh, WINNING!!

Last week was one of the most amazing weeks so far this year!! SO so many good things happened, its almost unfair to the rest of the 51 weeks. Like, really. Seriously.
Doug had an appointment in Missouri Tuesday for an epidural, which may be an alternative to the pain treatment he’s already receiving. It was at 10am, but when you have kids, sometimes its easier to leave them at grandma’s for the night instead of rushing around in the morning ;) Thanks Grandma!! The doctor was Japanese, and had the classic R instead of L syndrome in his speech. I definitely recorded a small bit on my phone, sooooo hard to tell what he’s saying. This actually made it more nerve racking, when you can’t understand everything, and this man is about to put a giant needle in your spine. Ya know?!?
Long story short: it worked, he’s well, lunch in Joplin, faked interest at Ashley furniture, back home by 5!
Turns out, when they use epidural for more long term use (momma’s, instead of just for that one incredible time where you’re glad God made man smart enough to invent medicine!) they do it 2-3 times within 2-3 weeks each time, then possibly once every 1-3 months. The difference is incredible, we just want to see how this works with his body.




Lillian is walking! Walking!! I thought this day would NEVER arrive!! In fact, I had called and made a physical therapy appointment just to see if her legs (calves specifically) were underdeveloped in any way because she uses her thighs so much. They’re freakishly strong. It was like she heard me, rolled her eyes, huffed and said “Well if you’re going to freak out (hands waving vigorously in the air, obviously emphasizing criticism on FREAK OUT) on me, I’ll just get up and do it already. You are so not as fun as they say.” (she’s lying, I’m so much more fun than they say)

I loooove seeing her little body walking around like a little person!! It only took 18 and ½ months of waiting, patiently…And she’s so much more confident about it now, 4 days later showing off and acting like its every day normal. A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
Can I just say, or WARN, perhaps that’s a better description, that I am EVERY bit as fun and crazy as you see in pictures when I don’t have the girls to worry about. I am a small person, but there’s a big presence that takes over when my freedom takes hold!! So, there ya go. Its online, living virtual proof that you’ve had the opportunity to be warned. I am not some poised little mommy Barbie, at least, I’m sure I used to be somebody else before this mommy persona took control. I say this, because I have a few outings planned, and ya’ll need to be able to handle this jelly. Hahahah. Yeah…
((and now that I am aware of how my strange face contorts on film, I will try very hard to control it))

My previous hint in my last post can now be revealed! Doug got a raise, YEAH!! So proud, he does so well at whatever he goes for. Just even that he does well at his stressful job WHILE going to school and doing well there is amazing. Shout out. Shout out!!

I am definitely in need of a beautiful vacation. With lots of boozy fruity umbrella drinks. And sand. That is all.
-Kesolyn

At 70% off, you didn't just pick Coach. Coach picked YOU.

Its been a whirlwind of a month for the Erbs! I can most definitely say that I've helped that along, by finding how easy it is to make/freeze meals and pre-organize easy and healthy foods (insert pat on back). Aside from my normal mommy freezer meal swap, I went on a kick one morning and just didn't stop! While looking for a great new recipe for my mommy meal plan, I came across a site that had an ingenious idea: beef base. Beef base consists of ground beef, onion, and garlic. Simple, but very smart. From this, you can make: Tacos, just add taco seasoning. Beef Stroganoff. Sloppy Joes. Or, throw some spaghetti sauce on it. Sooo simple, my "DUH" light came on and I went with it. So making/freezing that aside, I also pre-made roast beef/colby jack/spinach leaves on ciabatta in saran wrap (just like they do in the store), Canadian Bacon/egg/cheese biscuits, shaved/pre-cut carrots in small baggies, boiled eggs, and made two batches of a delicious french onion soup (soooo delicious, found HERE).




Insanity? Lots of red bull? No. ingenious and rewarding. I can't explain how much pressure that takes off my day. I realize these are not the most amazingly elaborate meals, but who as a mom to four (I count Doug and Meelo in that, don't judge) really has the energy or time to make such with young kiddos? Nobody. If they say otherwise, they're lying. This is not underachievement, overachievement, this is survival.

Okay, semi-dramatic.

I had the most awesome time on Girl's Night Out, best friend assembling a team of her besties to take the hill on. Shoguns, high heels, wine, and Dickson. (I'm pretty sure I will need to undergo a complete makeover before ever showing my face at Shoguns again. GNO always has a mischievous flair in the air...) Said bestie's friend and co-worker totally popped a heel off her shoe, laughing hysterically said best friend conjured up medical tape from her miniature Coach wristlet (obviously prepared for whatever the night brings) and failed to find a way to tape the white tape on black heel properly. Laughing more. Man coming out of building from play stumbled upon six fierce vixens, and under our hypnosis gladly gave up his shoes for the hobbly one. Hahah, not really, but he had a whole slew of extra prop shoes for the play and helped a sista out! So funny, just a typical Saturday night. I'm pretty sure we were boo'd for singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" too.

I am no longer under the previous assumption that my mail lady is a cackling, wild haired tease. Funny how that comes and goes with the weather. I still can't believe she made me shovel 4 feet of snow from the delivery site before delivering my mail...I mean, I made her a special bag of cookies for Christmas and tucked them the box for her. Special. Cookies...

Doug has been soooo busy lately, and we're about to travel to Missouri to try a new way of dealing with his back pain. If you'd say a quick prayer for him that his epidural procedure goes smoothly, that'd be awesome. Tuesday morning this will take place. There may also be some exciting news, but I will have to wait to be sure I can report.

Speaking of Doug, I have to share a funny moment. We often watch movies together, and at least once a week we do a family pizza/movie night. There was NOTHING amazing at red box one night, and we resorted to tv and recordings.

"Is there anything good recorded?" he asks.
"Yeah, there's some good ones saved, I think." I answer.

He's quietly flipping through taking in all the amazing movies I have deemed A-list worthy for my quiet time...

"Keslyn, its like a BOX OF PMS!! Look, "Time Traveler's Wife", "The Last Song", "The Runaways", "The Nanny Diaries", "Valentine's Day". The only good thing you have is Anchor Man!!" Hahahahah. Thanks, dear. He's now decided he must take over again.


I had decided that setting aside a small portion of tax refund money for a "grown-up" purse was more than appropriate. I went one day to find a present for my brother-in-law and happened upon an amazing deal. Dillard's had a select variety of Coach purses on sale, 30% off. That week, there was an additional 40% off items already on clearance. So, guess who scored 70% off a gorgeous Coach purse? This happy girl right here! At 70% off, you didn't just pick Coach. Coach picked YOU.




And because I can't sign off sounding like a complete snot talking about a silly overpriced piece of pride, I'll share my reads! The books suggested to me by my librarian (who also suggested Racing In The Rain, she's pretty good at picking good ones) were: Three Cups of Tea (Project in Pakistan to build schools for children), The Help (1960's setting about a small town and the women in it), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Olive Kitteridge (about an old fictional lady reviewing her life after retirement). I'm so busy, I'm not sure I'll get through them all but I'll keep them as long as the library will let me :)

-Kesolyn