I'm no Betty Crocker

This weekend while Bob was home I thought I'd make some homemade Apple Dumplings. I've made this recipe before so I thought I could breeze through it super quick and get back to cuddling up with the family.

I get the apples all covered in dough and go to make the syrup. Butter and brown sugar go into the pot to start to melt. Then I realize the water is on and forget why. So, of course I figure that I was going to do dishes while I wait for the syrup to start melting.

After the butter is all melted the syrup is a little lumpy but I figured it would finish melting while it baked. 30 minutes later and the syrup didn't melt! This is what it looked like.....

That's supposed to be a nice carmely syrup for the dumplings but that water I had running? Well, 2 cups of it was supposed to go into the syrup! I wasn't really going to do the dishes afterall. That is why I shouldn't mulit-task while cooking!!!

While you were out...The Harness Edition

Does anyone remember that old show from TLC. They tricked someone into leaving their house and the spouse who was left behind would redo a room or two in the house with help from a VERY large crew? I did that this week in the front room. Although my husband was gone I didn't have to trick him at all. And my crew consisted of me, my friend Canesa our children and then a dose of our husbands to help bring in heavy things and finally hang stuff.

I love this room. It's a grown up me. I fought my designer (Canesa) on some of the elements but she was right and this room is TOTALLY WICKED! At least in my opinion. My kids have been trying to spend every spare moment in that room, Ok, I have been too. Bob really loved it. I still have a few touch ups to fix with the paint and pictures to put in a frame but the room is almost done.

Here is the room before.....(actually this is circa 2006. I couldn't find one from this year but you'll see the difference in a bit)

Here are the renovation pictures....

Isn't it adorable! And did you notice those red curtains on my chocolate wall? I really didn't want those, my decorator made me try them and THANK HEAVEN she did because they are sooooo cute in that room. Sometimes you just need someone else to push you out of your comfort zone and have a fresh eye. This room is earthy yet comfy, elegant but livable. It's different from usual me but still me. It's Laurel all grown up!!

Vision

This week I started to paint the inside of our house. We've only been here 2 years so I may be a little quick to start but I'm on a mission people! Don't judge.

Monday morning my front room was totally a mess. Things were everywhere so that I could tape and begin my little project. This is what it looked like...

Books were everywhere, nothing was in it's place, no one could move anywhere! All I could think about was the big mess I was creating and I needed to hurry up to get painting done and the mess cleaned up.

My kids however saw something so much more exciting... they saw a place to have a puppet theater (the broken entertainment center) or a place to be exploreres through the maze of the room.

It amazes me that as we age and "learn" more we seem to become more grounded in our beliefs. We forget about imagination and just the simplicity of being. I don't think one adult would have walked into that room and thought "wow! How much fun are we going to have!" They would have been like me, able only to see the work and the mess ahead of us.

My new goal is to try to remember that things are not always what they seem. Sure, in my adult head I think I know more because I've experienced more or read more or studied more but it may not always be true. Although the facts may point to my front room being a mess the truth of it is, we had fun in that room just being simple.

A little slice of Heaven

It's called Pizza. And it is the VERY BEST pizza EVER! It's from Papa Murphy's and it is the bacon artichoke delite. I can't get enough of this pizza. I had it last week with a friend and got it again today because I needed a little retail therapy! So many things going on and I've just been too lazy to post anything. Let's just take a little looksy into my boring little life, and some of the reasons I turned to Pizza instead of chocolate or the new wardrobe I'd rather have, or the furniture or , well you get the picture.
This is the end of Spring break for the kids. They go back on Monday for the last 6 weeks of school! I don't know where the school year went. I've just become use to the routine, FINALLY! I usually love spring break. One full week where the kids and I get to do whatever we want whenever we want. We do some outings to the zoo or the like and then sit around and just enjoy eachother. This year however we started off the break with Easter and Bob's birthday the next day. And well, it snowed ALOT. I think I heard 10 inches around our neighborhood. The kids played outside for bit but I really am over the snow and am ready to get my shorts on and hang out at the pool in sweltering heat. I feel like we got jipped out of our spring break. My kids were indoors most of the time! And the 6 more weeks of school? Holy cow time flies! Next year Jake will be in school full time, did you hear that FULL TIME! I could cry just writing that. I think he's ready but I am not. Natalie will be a third grader and Grey will be 8th. When did I get this old? Half the time I don't act any older than they do!

We also saw alot of Bob this break because he took the rest of the week off in order to spend a little time with us before he starts a 3 month stint at another worksite. He'll be home every so often but it still sucks! I'd love to throw a fit like the kids do and just walk around with a kleenex and watery eyes talking about how much I miss daddy and I don't know why it has to hurt so bad a la Natalie/Jake. But, I'm soon to be 36 and I don't think that is appropriate plus I think the kids would freak out if they saw me do that! So, instead of going anywhere he hung out at home and played wii games. Hasbro family game night is really fun. I really hate complaining when my hubby isn't home because so many women do so much more without hubbies. But I love having that man around, if nothing else just to drool over him. He is my best friend and it feels weird not having him home at night to talk or complain too. It's just not complete around here. We have great technology though so we are keeping up through skype and texting. (Thank you Amber).

With Bob being gone though I have finished one whole book and half of another, I have decided to paint my whole house (inside only) and plan on catching up with The Tudors and checking out Big Love. My kids, and this is what really surprises me, have banded together and have played games or just "hung out" together. Yes, they have fought some and that's normal. BUT, Grey has asked the kids to play or watch something. This morning Natalie was all sad and he went and SAT down by her and asked her what was wrong. She of course yelled at him like any normal woman would. I have NEVER seen that kid do that. Well, he did when he was younger and Natalie was still a baby. Jake and Grey are having a blast chasing eachother on a Need for Speed game and they BOTH like it. I am so amazed at how they have been treating eachother. I guess maybe I am doing something right.

So, let me recap. My kids are growing up way too fast , I hate my husband being gone, I like to eat lots of things or spend money when I feel crappy. However, my bank account can't get smaller and my hips can't get bigger so you all had to listen to my little saga. I have so many things planned that I'll most likely shirk those to-do's and actually update my blog more than I currently have been doing. Yeah for you!

Sushi

Doesn't that look delicious? It's the first time I have ever made sushi myself instead of buying it! But, since I made it on April Fool's day it was more Rice Krispy treats disguised as sushi.
The kids LOVED them! Jake and Natalie actually like sushi so they were a little upset that it wasn't real but Greyson was very relieved.