Apartment Revamp

We're lucky enough to get paid to live in a pretty spacious (for the bay area) two bedroom. Sometimes we feel a bit like sardines, but for the most part it works. Since we're probably going to be here for a while (I decide this after we've already lived here for three years), I thought it would be a good place to test out some of the things I learned in design school. Not to mention give me the opportunity to show others how easily you can customize- YES, even a rental! Who says you have to live in a cookie cutter, off white box, just because you don't own it?  Quite some time ago I began my total apartment revamp with the boys' room, and these are my results!

Since I wasn't with it enough to take "before" pictures (I was 7 months pregnant at the time, cut me some slack!), you will have to use your imagination. I'm sure it won't be hard (we've all lived the apartment life at one time or another), imagine a big off white box with a closet and a window.
It took one simple question to ask our landlord (oh wait, that's us!) "can I paint?"
You would be surprised at how many say "yes."

I began the process of creating this accent wall by painting the entire wall with a satin finish crisp white. After allowing a full 24 hours of dry time, I created a modular pattern with blue painters tape.

Using an angled painters brush (non-foam) I painted the first of five colors in a randomized pattern. Because the wall I chose is textured (as most apartment walls are), it was important to use brush strokes that began ON TOP of the painters tape and brushed away from the tape towards the middle of each square/rectangle. This kept the paint from puddling under the tape and allowed for my lines to remain crisp.

This finished project:

More rooms to come! I'm very behind on my "after photos."Eh-hem, NOLAN!

~Tracy

Earliy Potty Training

Today when we returned home from shopping Jax runs into the bathroom to go potty. When he's done he comes out with just his shirt and socks on (which is normal). We told Jax to go get his "boy pants" on, and both boys ran down the hallway to their room. Minutes later Jax returns with his "boy pants" and sweat pants on. We tell him "good job" and he runs into the living room.
Seconds later Maddox comes running into the room with another pair of Jax's underwear yelling "Oy-pant! Oy-pant!" He wanted to be just like his big brother, so we put the boy pants on over his diaper which made him very proud. We love our boys...
-Nolan

Brotherly Love

Mornings like this are the best. Mornings when Jax wakes up an hour before Maddox, and no doubt spends that hour dreaming of ways to "play" with brother. At 8:30 we hear Maddox awake in his crib and Jax just about yanks me to my feet (I desperately try to keep my coffee in its cup where it belongs).
"Come get bro-yer Mommy, he's awake!"
I walk into the boys room, kiss my innocent little Maddox in the head, and set him on his feet. Immediately Jax wraps his arms around him in a rare display of brotherly affection. They run down the hall together and I think to myself "This is why we had another baby, they really are friends, they really do love each other!"
No sooner than I sit down and take my next drink of coffee I hear Maddox crying.
"What's going on in there?!" I yell down the hall. Quickly (a little too quickly) followed by "Na-ting!" from Jax.
A few seconds later a door shuts and I hear more crying.
"No. I locking you in da cage!" Jax states in his most authoritative tone.
I have to laugh as I go free my youngest child from the "cage" his brother has created for him (really just their bedroom with the door closed).
Yes, this is brotherly love.

what a day

I'm really starting to wonder what else can go wrong today (as the entire family is trying to wrap up a day run on 4 hours of sleep). Took my freshly pink-eye free child to the pediatrician because he was complaining of a soar throat/ears. On the way there I ran over a metal pipe and blew out a tire. Enter AAA. An hour later we made it to the doctors office so that Jax (on his first day antibiotic free) can be diagnosed with tonsillitis and prescribed more antibiotics, and Maddox can be diagnosed with a respiratory infection. Fast-forward a few hours to dinner time...We give Jax his Amoxicillin only to have him break out in hives 20 minutes later. Back to the pediatrician we go! I guess we have discovered his first allergy. I would really appreciate some prayers for SLEEP for our whole family tonight, as we could all certainly use it!
~Tracy

chicken

Today was a busy day. Being the first day our family has returned to our everyday life after Christmas, I spent a lot of time trying to keep the boys occupied while I caught up on cleaning. As I was finishing loading the dishwasher, Maddox rounded the corner into the kitchen with a big grin on his face. He was obviously very proud of something he had done, and whatever it was was apparently pretty amusing to him.
"Chit-in! MOMMY. Chit-in!!" He grabbed my pant leg and pointed excitedly around the corner. I followed him to the entryway where our retract-a-gate baby gate hangs. There, resting on one of the hooks the gate connects to, was a half eaten chicken nugget that Maddox had been munching on. Instantly he began to laugh, as if this was the funniest thing he had ever done. Our little monster is starting to develop such a great personality, it's amazing to watch. He has such a sense if humor already, I can't wait to see what kind if a little boy he grows into!
~Tracy

Happy New Year

We have been back in town since Thursday and it is nice to be back in our own home with our own stuff again. Jax seems to have pink eye, his eyes are all crusty and mucasy, and yes, pink. We took him to the after hours pediatrician (because these things only ever happen on weekends in our family) at Lucile Packard yesterday and he did very well. He told the doctor that he brought his "snuggly," and she said "ugh" (she did not care at all). As we were leaving the hospital we stopped to play with the huge model train setup the hospital has on display. It's hugely detailed with little people and lights that the kids can turn on- really cool. The entire setup was huge and looked like a replica of an old Canery Row in Monterey.
Jax did not want to leave the hospital.

As for today, Tracy went to the store to get food by herself and I took the boys to park down the street from our house. Getting them ready was like herding cats, nobody would help me at all. Maddox was running around saying "mommy, mommy" and Jax was running around in his underwear not getting dressed. I finally got everyone together, food in the back pack and we were out the door. Here are some pictures of the boys playing basketball. Jax laid on the court like he was sleeping and Maddox started to do the same thing (because he instantly mimics anything "brother" does). They are so funny.
-Nolan

Tired Maddox

This afternoon I was sitting next to Maddox watching the movie "UP" at Tracy's parents house. I asked him if he wanted any milk and he said "yes." When I returned with his milk, our little dictator pointed with on finger at the seat next to him and grunted, clearly telling me to sit back down next to him where I belong.

Tonight we had a rare date night with my brother and sister in law. It was nice to get to spend some time with them without the kids. We went out to dinner and to the movies ("breaking dawn") and had a great time!
-Nolan