The Tower

Iz's 5th Birthday is Monday (*gasp* How did THAT happen?) and the family is coming up Sunday to celebrate. Conveniently, Monday is also Hubby's birthday so, though I have to buy & wrap double the presents and make & decorate double the cakes, I only have to plan one birthday event and then I'm done for another year :)

Iz and I went out last week for party supplies and she decided on a Tangled theme for the party. Though it's also Hubby's birthday he has no say on the theme and has, in the last few years, had a princess party, a Backyardigans party, a Tinkerbell party and a Strawberry Shortcake party. Unfair? Yes. But, I make him a carrot cake and he could honestly care less what kind of plate he eats it off of :)

Anyway...Iz and I picked out Tangled plates, napkins, cups, favors and even a little Rapunzel toy to put on the cake. After purchasing all this stuff I asked Iz what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday. In my head, I was referring to chocolate or vanilla but that's not what she heard. Here's what was said.

Iz: Rapunzel's Tower (though she pronounces it Reepunzel which, I think, is adorable!).

Me: I meant what flavor cake

Iz: Oh, I don't care as long as it's Reepunzel's tower.

Me: You watch too much Cake Boss!

So, I'm temporarily retiring as chief cook and bottle washer and starting a new job. Architect. Wish me luck!

Here's the inspiration for my first project...

The Tower

Vacation Project

Last week when Hubby was on vacation we finally tackled a project we've wanted to do since the day we moved in to the house....I don't have actual before pictures but this will give you the general idea:
That's the wall behind the wood stove in our living room. Before we started our project the space around where the stovepipe goes into the wall was covered with an ugly piece of wire mesh (we moved in to our house in October so there was no time to do anything else before cold weather arrived...) and it's taken us three years to finally get rid of the ugliness!

Step One - Putting up wall board....

Step Two - Tile :)

Our "official" UPC sticker remover!

Halfway there!

The tile saw master :)

Tile is up and waiting for grout (that's MY job!).

Grout is done....just waiting to clean up the haze.

A little cutie snuck in when I snapped this pic :)

It took Hubby and I about three hours to get the tile up onto the wall the first day.
In case you're wondering what Iz was doing that whole time....
House wrecking, of course! She's a PRO!


The haze got cleaned off and the shelf & trim went up.
Finished!

Looks GREAT!

Who knew?

A while back someone gave us a DVD of Kid Concoctions. Iz LOVES this DVD. She wants to watch it ALL.THE.TIME. Naturally, she wants to make every concoction and contraption they make though she's a little too young for most. Yesterday we made two of the things she's been asking to make for MONTHS ~ Slime...and, for lack of a better name, Corn Starch Slime.

Slime Ingredients:
White School Glue, Borax, Water, Food Coloring

Corn Starch Slime Ingredients:
Corn Starch, Food Coloring, Water

Five Household Ingredients.....HOURS of ENTERTAINMENT!

No kidding! Iz played with these two bowls of "stuff" for close to FOUR hours yesterday (with breaks, of course). There was hardly a mess...both clean up super-easy and are reusable.

Amazing! I was able to clean both bathrooms with ZERO interruptions. It's a miracle :)

New Years Resolutions!

I've heard on a couple news shows and read in a couple magazines that most people have abandoned their New Year's Resolutions by the 1st of February (or sooner!) so I decided that I wouldn't make any resolutions UNTIL the 1st of February...pretty clever, huh?
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Actually I don't really make "resolutions" but I do have a couple things I want to change this year...a couple goals I want to achieve....a couple improvements to our life that I want to work on achieving.
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I'd like to de-clutter this house, get back to working out regularly and use less processed foods.
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I'm going to work on these goals all at once but, for blog purposes, I'll focus on one at a time. This month's focus is on the clutter around this house. Every day I want to find a box of stuff, a pile, a drawer or a nook and clean it out. I'm going to sort things to be sold, donated or tossed out - if I don't have a place for something, I need to get rid of it!
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Um, yeah....I'll keep you posted on how that goes :)
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Two Days!

I started and finished a knitting project in 2 days!
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And I'm not talking about knitting a coaster or a bookmark or something...this is a fairly major project...an article of clothing...something I decided I wanted to knit FOUR DAYS before I needed it to be done!
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It's a gift so I'm not giving out anymore details. Pictures will have to wait a few more days :)

Busy Weekend!

So, as of last Friday the 15th, I am a year older.....but I'm okay with that!

Went to a GREAT seafood place with my sisters, nephew and, of course, Iz :)

Self Portrait!

(now, I got a new haircut a couple weeks ago that I LOVE but you can't tell in this pic...

bad hair day! I'll have to try and capture the new "do" on film!)

We shared a seafood platter...clams, scallops, shrimp & haddock...YUM!

The pictures came out horrible because of bad lighting and everyone busy stuffing their face :) but I'm posting them anyway!

Then Hubby came home with chocolate cake and ice cream....my day was complete :)

Saturday morning Iz and I went to the local library for the medieval "Mini-Fair" they were having to kick off the summer reading program.

Saturday afternoon involved a trip to Home Depot to buy blocks to build my new garden :) and more lumber for the new chicken coop.

Sunday was all outside work (while getting eaten alive by the bugs)...got my garden built, though I have not transferred my seedlings yet - when I do, I'll post pics :)...and Hubby got most of the new coop built.

Hubby's taking tomorrow and Friday as vacation days so he will be home the next 5 days but we'll be busy...22 new baby chickens coming Friday! We're pretty excited about that! A cookout at Auntie D's Sunday :)

We're off to story time at the library and a bike ride at Auntie D's house!

Happy Wednesday all!

One More Day!

Tomorrow is Easter!!! We have been busy, busy, busy this week. Iz had another sleepover at Auntie D's on Tuesday and Wednesday we colored eggs :)

We really need a spring/summer apron, huh?

The weather was gorgeous Thursday and Friday....sunny and in the 50's and we spent most of both days outside. Iz rode her bike from Auntie D's to the playground on Friday afternoon and did a really good job! Do I have pictures? Of course not....I'm terrible. Next time, I guess.

We woke up this morning to snow....yes, it was snowing, but nothing stuck.

I sent Iz outside with Hubby and she entertained herself and Callie by blowing bubbles (which Callie likes to eat!).

Now that I think of it, I don't think I've mentioned Callie before....she is our 3-year-old German Shepard...

she's Hubby's dog more than anything but she tolerates me and Iz too :)

I'll make sure to have my camera tomorrow and take LOTS of pictures...can't wait for the Easter Bunny to come!!!

Hope he brings us something good!

Happy Birthday Bumpy!

Happy Birthday Bumpy!
(Hubby's dad)

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This is what Iz and I did on Saturday....

Here's what we were making:
A Paper Plate Robin for Bumpy's Birthday!
(not the best pic of Iz, huh?)

We all met at Longhorn for lunch...Grammy and Bumpy were thrilled to see us all....

don't they look thrilled?


It was great that Liz & Jake were able to make it :)
Hubby was, as always, heart-burstingly happy to see his big kids!
(even if he doesn't look like it in this pic!)

Bumpy's Cake


Good thing he's full of hot air to blow out all those candles :)


Hubby and I and Iz went bed shopping but everyone else walked around the mall...Liz called her cousins "chicken" and convinced them to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny!
Cute!


Definitely a fun weekend with Hubby's family...love them all. And, talking to SIL, R, we would like to try to get all together at least twice a year for a weekend lunch!

Next up....
Iz and I are headed to the movies tomorrow! Or maybe just storytime at the library!
Gymnastics on Thursday!
Staying home on Friday!
Shopping at the outlets with Mel on Saturday!!!
Busy! Busy! Busy!

Updates..

First of all, I can't believe I forgot to include this picture from Sunday of a HUGE bunny made out of bales of hay! Loved it!


Secondly, a few weeks back (when Iz & I were sick) I mentioned a basket making class. I know you've just been hanging on the edge of your seat wondering whether I went or not and what I made if I DID go.

Well, I did go and here it is:

Solid-Bottom Leather-Handled Tote Basket

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...which has pretty much replaced any sort of purse or bag I was carrying before....it's just big enough to carry a wallet, a bottle of water, snacks a drink for Iz, my cell phone, my camera (when I remember it!) and a small notebook and pen...but it's not so big that it's a nuisance.

Thirdly, I ordered a bunch of yarn last week from Knitpicks which I am very excited to receive. Six hanks of sock yarn! and two hanks of 100% baby alpaca which I intend to use to knit a sweater and booties for my grand niece or nephew joining the family in a few months. My nephew, S, is obsessed with alpaca socks so what could be better for his little babe? Will definately post pictures of those when they are complete.

Last, but not least, I think I am back on track. Worked out Monday and yesterday and feel great! Sore, but in a good way :) I'm going to keep it up and hopefully see some progress when I weigh in on Friday (for the first time in WEEKS!)