So Long, Farewell

It’s been real blogspot. You and I have known each other for about 4 years now….I can’t hardly believe it.

If you want to keep up with the Wohlschlaeger Family and all our shenanigans, please come on over to our new blog at www.wohlsfam.tumblr.com

All About My Momcation

That’s right folks. I got away. Alone. It was amazing. I knew I really,really needed a break from mommy-ing, but I don’t think I realized how much. Don’t get me wrong, I love my girls to death. However, they require a lot of attention, discipline, and love during these young years. I’m exhausted. I knew it was a pretty obvious sign when these texts were exchanged.

I couldn’t have been more happy to sit in the airport alone. I drank my mocha and didn’t know a single person. I people watched, for 30 minutes I think or maybe more. I felt so much freedom. It changed me. Yes, right there in the airport. Is that weird?

That was only the beginning. I spent the weekend doing these things:

Going through old pictures of childhood with this guy.

I tried a new beer: Spotted Cow. I actually liked it.

Laughing at this guy. Meet Boston. He makes a lot of strange noises and snorts.

Having coffee at Alterra with Josh (Jackie had to work)

Eating good food: Breakfast Veggie Burrito. Words can’t express.

Drank more coffee. No kidding. One day, we made coffee, then went to get coffee, and then came home and had more coffee. It was a little out of control, but amazing. Oh and I tried espresso for the first time. Josh made it with their Moka pot. Not too bad, although I think I’ll stick with my mocha.

ps. I was wearing that sweatshirt first. Jackie likes to copy me.

We went to the Lake. Holy freezing! It was worth the view and this cute pic of my bro and I.

So many thanks to my fab hosts. Thanks so much for a much needed break from my “real life”. Love you guys!

If you’d like to see much better photos of this trip, please check out Jackie’s blog. She’s kind of awesome with a camera. If you really like her photos, you can also find her on Etsy.

Cure for Mom-Itis

picture from here

This is what I need. This is what I am praying for this weekend when I go to see my brother and his wifey. All. By. Myself.

Painting It Up

We finally chose a color for our living room/kitchen walls. Whoop! Ben recently reminded me that our walls were still white after 8 months, a fact that I had somewhat glossed over. Ya know how you just get used to something and you don’t even notice anymore?

After debating, painting samples, and quitting a few months ago, the walls remained white. Then we decided to take advantage of Ben being off work for the long holiday and paint.

Boy am I glad we did! We both LOVE the color. It was a giant risk. The color is a lot darker than I had ever imagined. I was freaking out the whole time until the color went up and I fell in love. We are quite happy. Every wall we painted I got a little happier. Mostly cause we were closer to being done, but also because I love the color!! We even got a little crazy and tried the old bull up there….yeah, it still doesn’t work.

Check it out!

Sherwin Williams, Web Gray

I love that it’s sometimes blue, sometimes gray.

See what I mean?

Ben brought these home one day after he heard me going on about how good the yellow bananas looked against the new paint. He’s so thoughtful. The man knows how to love me so well.

We also added a few other things. While I cut in the paint, Ben hooked up the new wall speakers (Christmas present) and mounted the tv (another Christmas present) and hid the wires in the walls. I can’t even tell you how blessed I am to have this man. How much would that have cost us? He seriously knows how to do everything I think. Plus, he’s cute.

Due to a bummer placement of some studs, we couldn’t center the tv under the vent, so we may paint it so it’s not such an eye sore. Also considering painting the speakers (they’re paintable…cool huh?) Thoughts? Leave em white? Paint em to blend? Opinions please.

Also, brought up our little treasure from the basement. This cute little AB box was from the year of Ben’s birthday. Sweet huh?

We have finally decided on a route for our living room and I’m so excited! We’re heading towards the industrial path (more on that later).

Yeah for us! We finally painted! The problem is, it’s making all the other unpainted rooms scream at me (dining room, hallways, powder room) At least we’re making progress….

Art Fail

Some of you have had the pleasure of meeting our bull. For those of you who have not, let me introduce you.

It seemed like a good purchase at the time. He came from one of those online flash sites, where they only sell the items for only a day or so, then they’re replaced with new items. They have some really good deals. I thought this was one. I really liked the picture online, but it was WAAAY different when we opened the much anticipated art.  We never buy art, so it was quite exciting…and then… a huge disappointment. There are two sad parts to this story.

1. It is non-refundable (I know…my first mistake)

2. It cost us over $100, a huge splurge for us, considering we never purchase art. This is prob’ly inexpensive to some, but for us…it’s a big deal. We normally hang photos and children’s artwork.

So, who wants to buy it from us?

Let me give you some interesting details.

-It’s carved out of styrofoam ….cool huh?

-It’s handcrafted!

-It’s painted metallic…what doesn’t go with silver??

-It has cool printed words on the background if you look closely.

The whole thing was a nice idea that just didn’t play out for us in the end.

Give me your best offer!

These are a few of my favorite things

We are blessed to have so many awesome people in our family, which is QUITE enough of a gift for me. They babysit, send us on dates, let us into their homes for a week at a time to make a giant mess, pray for us, buy our children clothes “just because”. I am very thankful for those in our family. I am also thankful for my Christmas presents. If you’re nosy like me, you like to see what other people got for Christmas. So, I’ll share some of my favs.

Don’t judge me. Ben stuffed these in my stocking and I LOVE them. Ellie constantly steals paper and post its from me, so I have deemed these “MINE!” They are bigger than regular post its and they have lines. If you know me, I like lists. It may be a disorder. I think Jackie would understand.

This was by far the most unusual gift. It is a cross made out of bog from Ireland, where Rick and Jill recently visited. They claim to have 10,000 years in each piece. How cool is that? If you want to read more about them, you can do that here. 

Slippers! I’ve been wanting them for awhile now. In the end, I got two pair. I took back one pair and somehow ended up with a pair of Clark’s boots. I am keeping these. In an unfortunate turn of events however, I tried these on and they don’t fit. I am slowly (very slowly, like creeping) coming to the realization that I have GINORMO feet!!! These are 10s and I barely can get my feet crammed in there! SO, I have to send them back and get an 11. ELEVEN, PEOPLE!!! My feet have grown in pregnancy and have not “gone back” like that mean lady told me in the Dick’s sporting good shoe section 4 years ago while pregnant with Ellie. SO mean. Either way, I love my slippers. Thanks dad.

Another don’t judge me portion. Anyone watch The Real Housewives of New York City? NO? I do. There, I said it. This book was I think, sort of like a joke gift, because Jamie knows that I watch the show. I began reading it the other night just to “see what it was all about” and found myself entranced for like 2 hours. (I later regretted staying up late to read such a ridiculous book)  Some of my favorite statements the Countess makes ( a part of 12 Things Elegant People Are Never Seen Doing)

1. Exposing the sold of a shoe when crossing legs for all to see.

First of all, she is most likely talking about heels, which I rarely wear, so I don’t have to worry about this problem. Seriously though?

2. Chewing Gum

I love gum. I have a major problem with this one.

3. Yawning

Ok, you try having a 4yr old and 2yr old run you crazy all day (without a nanny) and then tell me you’re not gonna be yawning all day)

This book is entertaining but unfortunately most of it doesn’t apply to me. Or actually, it’s fortunate. I think my friends like me enough. I don’t have to be Elegant and have “flair”.

That’s right folks. Laura got me a sewing machine. Do I know how to use it? Not at all. Do I know what all those fancy buttons do? Nope.

Who wants to teach me how to sew? The memories I have of sewing are my mom letting me use her machine when I was younger. I just  remember being so PO’d that I wanted to chuck the thing across the room. The stupid bobbin dealy kept getting stuck. So, there’s that.

Truthfully, I am super excited to try it. Now if I can get some time to open the box!

I feel pretty, oh so pretty! I love that Ben spoils me with perfume. To me, a scent is really personal. Your nose likes or dislikes something that others may like or not like themselves. Ben and I must have the same kind of nose sensories because he always chooses the greatest scents. He has a tendency towards Chanel, which I am more than fine with. Chanel Chance has been my favorite for awhile, but this year he bought me COCO Mademoiselle. SO delicious (I don’t drink it). I feel so feminine when I wear it. I just want to smell myself all day. Mmmmmmm. Plus, how gorgeous is that bottle?!? Thanks Ben!

And finally, possibly the best gift of all. It really wasn’t my gift, but Sophie’s. Corb and Carol are sending Sophie to Parents Day Out once a week until the end of the school year. YIPPEE!!! We went to visit the room yesterday and meet her teacher. She seemed ok with it. We may have a little terrorizing departure on Friday, but I am so happy for her. And for me. I will have a morning to myself, which I have SOOO needed. So, I think this gift is more for me than for Sophie. Thanks a billion!!!

As you can see, I had a wonderful pile of gifts this Christmas. Thank you everyone for all the great gifts. I couldn’t mention them all, but they all meant a lot to me.

A Christmas Story

This year we celebrated Christmas 6 times. Each time was different and fun in its own way. We love our family. We love that they are flexible with us and love us enough to do what is best for us. Next year our celebrations may look a bit different (not quite sure how yet) but no matter what we do, we are thankful for our family and friends and of course, for baby Jesus. Hope you had a Merry Christmas too!