Snug as a Bug

For the past week the temps have consistently fallen into the 40's at night. It's definitely time to change my bed from spring/summer to fall/winter. I took tons of pillows off the bed and only left the two brown accent pillows. Can you believe that? I also did a little "shopping" down in my storage room and changed out the doo-dads on the dresser tops and night stands.

My freshly laundered down comforter with my new brown/green coverlet (thanks, Mom!)

Don't ya just love the feathers on this throw?

This is DK's nook in our room. The chair was a must for nursing little babies but it has since been turned over to him. Because he is such a night owl and I am an early bird he will sit in the chair and read the paper, work on his laptop, etc. while I sleep. He wants to be near me but is sweet enough not to bother my slumbering!

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Are You an Ant or a Grasshopper?

I am an ant or at least trying to be!

Aesop's Fables: The Ant and the Grasshopper

Even though Autumn has not officially begun my thoughts have already turned to winter. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, my little nest on the East Coast will experience : "a colder and snowier than normal winter, with near or above-normal precipitation. The coldest temperatures will occur in mid-December, early January, and early February." Hmmm, I'd better think of some ways to keep warm!

Due to the rising costs of EVERYTHING, hitting the thermostat up a degree or two this winter is not in the cards. Instead I have started gathering quilts and throws in a cute basket and have placed them in the living and family rooms within easy reach of cold little bodies.

While I was out and about on Saturday I popped into Marshall's. I was browsing their bedding section when I came across two warm, fluffy and oh-so-soft twin blankets that were perfect for the girl's beds. The price seemed reasonable and I decided to buy them. My thoughts then turned to my own bed and I started looking for a quilt or coverlet to use in addition to my down comforter. I was not able to justify the expense and ended up not buying anything for my bed.

Fast forward to Sunday. I was visiting my mom and told her I bought the girl's new blankets and that I had looked for a little extra warmth for my bed as well. She got this look on her face that said, "Oh shoot...I have a secret...should I tell her now or make her wait?" She took me down to the closet where she stores birthday and Christmas gifts and pulled out a king size quilt that looked identical to the ones I had been looking at the day before! In addition she also had the softest throw (with feathers lining the edge, no less!) that will not only be warm but is so funky looking I immediately fell in love with it! Problem solved! Now, this winter, DK and I will be warm and snuggly with flannel sheets, a down comforter, a quilt AND a feather-lined throw. Phew!

I wasn't the only one trying to feather my nest with a few extra layers of insulation this weekend. DK spent all day Saturday doing maintenance around the house and getting things prepared for the coming cold weather. We have been having a roofing issue and he was up in the attic and on the roof fixing it. (This is the first time we've lived in a house long enough to encounter problems such as this. Usually we build, move in and out within 2-3 years! Does this mean it's time to move?)

The one area I am not like the ant is in food storage! Probably THE most important area and I flunk at it! Decorate my house? Check. Clean my house? Check. Maintain the house? Check. Grocery shop? Hold the presses. Keep the pantry stocked? Yikes. Lord help me...I have my work cut out for me!

Don't forget to stop by 11th Heaven's Homemaking Mondays!

Foot Washing

JK has wicked wide feet. We're talking double E's. No Target shoes for my guy. Even going to the big bucks children's stores yield very few results. Therefore we have been stuck with Crocs for the past two summers and though they're very convenient and easy to slip on they make JK's feet DIRTY!

JK takes off his shoes and yells, "Feet dirty, Mom!!"

He's become an old pro with washing his tootsies in the sink.

Clean those pigs.

Look at that dirty ankle!

Being a mama has most certainly challenged my obsessive compulsive tendencies (though I still have to scrub my kitchen sink a gazillion times a day)! But I wouldn't trade those dirty feet for anything in the world!

Check out what other Mama's are up to at 11th Heaven's Homemaker Monday!

Fort Making 101

I am not the kind of mama who likes clutter or toys scattered all around. It literally gives me a headache and makes me want to grind my teeth. As you can imagine I most certainly do not like forts. You know, the kind that is made out of all the sheets and blankets the kids can find. Something like this:

This pic was taken after JK knocked it down.

Kenners was not a happy camper.

Lately Kenners and Rand have been asking if they can make forts in their room. I don't know why it bugs me so much but it does. I have to have these little internal conversations with myself.

"Rae, really, what is the big deal?"

"Big deal? The big deal is...well, I'm not sure but I know it will make a mess!"

"A mess? Whoopie-doo. They happily play for a few hours and then everyone cleans it up together. Problem solved. Get over it."

So I let them. I stay far, far away from the mess. They have fun. We clean it up together at the end of the day and truly there is no harm done. To top it all off I get some brownie points!

We enjoyed a few of these this afternoon after all of the before mentioned fort business. Today has been a warmer day and we have enjoyed kicking back with these yummy fruit bars.

I just had to throw this picture in today's post. JK has taken a liking to pestering Kenners. Here he is in action. Nice brother standing on his sister. Kenners is signaling to throw him outside where he won't bother her anymore. 

Can you feel the sibling love?

I am happy to include this post in 11th Heaven's Homemaking Monday. Go on over and visit Jen. She is simply amazing!!