It's getting there! Z is so excited every time he sees the progress, and admittedly, I am too. ;0)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Pirate room makeover: Days 2 & 3...
It's getting there! Z is so excited every time he sees the progress, and admittedly, I am too. ;0)
Friday, March 5, 2010
What we've been up to...
So, I realize I haven't been blogging much recently. I also realized I haven't any updates on what Avalee has been up to in quite awhile. So, she'd like me to let you know, that she's currently working on a new diary entry... ;0)
Meanwhile, the reason I've been out of the blogging world recently is because we're working on a bedroom makeover for Z. He requested a new bedroom months ago, and since it hadn't been updated from baby/nursery times, we felt it was time. We gave him some ideas from which to choose, and he went with pirate (if you're wondering, other 'available' themes were; superhero, dinosaurs and monsters).
We decided after we painted it a new color ('Deep Sea Diver') we wanted to paint a mural on the wall.
So, this is what we have been steadily on for the last couple weeks...
Dad going over painting instructions. (And, yes, Z got to help paint the room. And, yes I know he's only four...;0)
Umm...can you tell he was a little excited?
No going back now...
We put this on the wall...
...Using this (BIG shout out to our friend, Laura, for letting us borrow it!!)
Then Colin traced the entire thing by himself (I did do one small anchor, but that's it)!
So, in an effort to not overwhelm you with tons of pictures ('cause I never do that), i will be posting our progress as we go along... So stay tuned for the next 'installment!'
Meanwhile, the reason I've been out of the blogging world recently is because we're working on a bedroom makeover for Z. He requested a new bedroom months ago, and since it hadn't been updated from baby/nursery times, we felt it was time. We gave him some ideas from which to choose, and he went with pirate (if you're wondering, other 'available' themes were; superhero, dinosaurs and monsters).
We decided after we painted it a new color ('Deep Sea Diver') we wanted to paint a mural on the wall.
So, this is what we have been steadily on for the last couple weeks...
Dad going over painting instructions. (And, yes, Z got to help paint the room. And, yes I know he's only four...;0)
Umm...can you tell he was a little excited?
No going back now...
We put this on the wall...
...Using this (BIG shout out to our friend, Laura, for letting us borrow it!!)
Then Colin traced the entire thing by himself (I did do one small anchor, but that's it)!
So, in an effort to not overwhelm you with tons of pictures ('cause I never do that), i will be posting our progress as we go along... So stay tuned for the next 'installment!'
Monday, March 1, 2010
Valentine Pinwheels
So, I haven't been a very attentive blogger recently, but I have been really busy with lots of various things... I know, not a very good excuse, but I will appease you by showing you these adorable pinwheels Z and I made for Valentines.
So, we could have just bought those cheap-o cardboard Valentines from the store, but those are so not us. LOL! Plus, Z had been begging for a craft day, so I thought we could kill two birds with one stone! My original idea was to get some cute Valentines scrapbook paper, but there was nary a paper with hearts to be found at the store. So, instead, I grabbed some various papers I thought were cute and pinwheel-ish.
Z and I really enjoyed making these together (even if he did poop out on my after the first few...) and our recipients seemed to really enjoy them as well. :0)
This is my first attempt at a tutorial, and please keep in mind that I was doing the main crafting/directions to Z plus taking the pictures. It wasn't easy, but I think the idea comes through pretty well. :0)
Step 1: Gather materials
You will need:
Pencil (for tracing pattern)
Scissors
Glue
Patterned paper (if you can find double-sided, that would be ideal; otherwise you will just have to glue your paper back-to-back)
Pushpins (in colors to match your paper)
Pencils ('stems' for the pinwheels)
Step 2: Trace pattern onto your paper (I found pattern here) and cut out your squares
*Skip this if you have double sided paper
Step 3: Glue paper back to back
Step 4: Hold pattern on your paper and use it as a guide to cut slits in the corners (tip: have two different patterns; one just for tracing and one just for cutting slits)
Step 5: Use a pushpin to poke holes in corners of your square (every other 'flap') and one in the middle of your square
Step 6: Start bringing flaps together by pushing pushpin through your holes
I found it easiest to go in reverse order and push the pushpin in the last flap first and so on...
Step 6: Push pin through eraser of pencil...and that's it!
We also added some little notes that we wrapped around each pencil. I just mounted a piece of white paper that I had printed (using Print Shop) with some cute little sayings (“You make my head spin” and “You make my heart whirl”) on one side and “Happy Valentine's Day on the other side onto a matching piece of patterned paper.
They turned out very cute and like I said, were really fun to make. I think it's a wonderful alternative to buying pre-made Valentine's, but could also be used for any other occasion (stick a couple in Easter baskets, make some patriotic pinwheels for 4th of July, or have a pinwheel themed birthday party!). Best of all, you have a fun, creative activity to do with your kids... I really can't say enough about getting hands-on and crafting with your kids!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Conversations with Zavion...
My boy is growing up and has just been full of the most amazing questions, observations and of course meaningful conversations. Here a just a few of the questions he has asked me or Colin recently...
“Who made space?”
“Why are there so many colors in the world?”
“Why are we made of skin?”
“How does the Earth make things?”
Smart kid, right? I'm just so proud of my little thinker and would like to think all the reading we've done (from pre-birth on!) has been a bit of an influence. ;0)
Here are some of my favorite recent conversations...
Z: Mom, are batteries made of glass?
M: Uh, no, they're not.
Z: *sigh* I wish they were.
Colin had dropped something and said, “Great job Colin.”
Z: (very earnestly) Good job, Dad!
C: I was being sarcastic.
Z: Ohh. Mom is sarcastic sometimes...when she's mad.
I put on my new sweater and asked Z how I looked..
Z: Oh, oh, oh! *giggling ensued*
M: What...?
Z: You just look so...so...AWESOME!
M: Aww, thanks buddy!
Z: Oh my gosh, I just don't want you to return it...It's SO awesome!
Z came out in a Jason-like Halloween mask...
C: Oh my gosh, what did you do with my son?
Z: I ATE him!
M: What?? Why would you eat a little boy?!
Z: Because, they're tastier than adults!
“Who made space?”
“Why are there so many colors in the world?”
“Why are we made of skin?”
“How does the Earth make things?”
Smart kid, right? I'm just so proud of my little thinker and would like to think all the reading we've done (from pre-birth on!) has been a bit of an influence. ;0)
Here are some of my favorite recent conversations...
Z: Mom, are batteries made of glass?
M: Uh, no, they're not.
Z: *sigh* I wish they were.
Colin had dropped something and said, “Great job Colin.”
Z: (very earnestly) Good job, Dad!
C: I was being sarcastic.
Z: Ohh. Mom is sarcastic sometimes...when she's mad.
I put on my new sweater and asked Z how I looked..
Z: Oh, oh, oh! *giggling ensued*
M: What...?
Z: You just look so...so...AWESOME!
M: Aww, thanks buddy!
Z: Oh my gosh, I just don't want you to return it...It's SO awesome!
Z came out in a Jason-like Halloween mask...
C: Oh my gosh, what did you do with my son?
Z: I ATE him!
M: What?? Why would you eat a little boy?!
Z: Because, they're tastier than adults!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
So, you think you had a bad Monday?!
Did this happen to you??
So...I was trying to get dinner (chicken fajita burritos and cilantro lime rice) done at a reasonable time, and thought I would get everything prepared. I was getting ready to boil water for rice, so decided I would measure out the rice and have it ready to put in as soon as the water started boiling. I was feeling pretty proud of myself for having everything under control...but that didn't last long.
I turned on the burner to boil the water, and set the measuring cup (my awesome 4c Pyrex measuring cup I have used almost daily since my brother gave it to me for Christmas several years ago) on the cooktop. Do you see where I'm going with this...you do, don't ya? So, after several minutes, I smell something burning and the measuring cup catches my eye, because it is bright red on the bottom! Turns out I had not only turned on the wrong burner, but had inadvertently set the measuring cup directly on the burner I did turn on. I rushed over to try to move it just as it blew up, sending shards of glass and hot rice everywhere! Avalee was standing near me in the kitchen and was stunned at first, than let out with some very appropriate screams. She was also surrounded by shards of glass. Of course, the measuring cup continued to melt and the rice continued to burn, so I knew it had to be moved quickly. Luckily my Orca was right there so between that and a spatula, I was able to scoop up the majority of the mess rather quickly and relocate it. I figured Avalee would want to move at some point and I wanted her out of the kitchen. Once I realized the main danger was controlled (I didn't want more glass to start shooting around the room) I scooped Avalee up and deposited her in the other room. Meanwhile, Z had caught on to what was happening, and, let me tell you, this is not the guy you want in an emergency. He tends to panic and run around in circles, all the while yelling for some one to “fix it, fix it!!” So, true to character he starts screaming and pointing at the stove. I'm still trying to calm A down, and calmly tell him it will be okay. He's wailing, “nooo, Mom...look, LOOK!” I tell him I know all about it and it will be okay, when he starts running around yelling, “Fire, F.I.R.E!!” I turn to look and, sure enough, the few particles left on the burner had ignited and now flames were dancing across the cooktop. I put A down and headed back into the kitchen to contain the new situation (I couldn't remember what to use...baking soda, water...?? ). Now both kids are screaming and crying and the whole house smells like a bowling alley (coincidentally burned glass and rice smell a lot like cigarette smoke). Thankfully Colin came in right then and got Avalee calmed down. I was explaining what happened, when something suddenly hit me; I had put molten glass on the laminate counter top! I ran over to check, and sure enough there was a big burn mark on the counter. The laminate was actually flaking away in layers, and it was clear the counter was done for. This was the point I started to lose it; the reality of it all set it and I was pretty upset. Colin tried making me feel better, but it wasn't working, not until Z came over, and said, “Mommy, it's ok. We can get another measuring cup. Don't be sad.” So, I hugged my sweet boy, let it go and finished making dinner. I figured there really wasn't anything I could do right away anyway and Z was right; the measuring cup (and even that piece of counter...luckily it was the small piece) could be replaced. And, the really important thing is that nobody was hurt.
What's left of my measuring cup...
But, then...
Of, course, I decided a margarita was in order after all that had happened. Then after I cleaned up the whole mess from earlier, I decided I deserved another margarita. I noticed some salt in the bottom of my glass, so decided to shake it out in the sink...while looking the other direction. The next thing I know...crash! Apparently, I had hit the glass on the sink and, of course, cracked it.
So, that was my Monday. I think I'll just try to skip next Monday.
So...I was trying to get dinner (chicken fajita burritos and cilantro lime rice) done at a reasonable time, and thought I would get everything prepared. I was getting ready to boil water for rice, so decided I would measure out the rice and have it ready to put in as soon as the water started boiling. I was feeling pretty proud of myself for having everything under control...but that didn't last long.
I turned on the burner to boil the water, and set the measuring cup (my awesome 4c Pyrex measuring cup I have used almost daily since my brother gave it to me for Christmas several years ago) on the cooktop. Do you see where I'm going with this...you do, don't ya? So, after several minutes, I smell something burning and the measuring cup catches my eye, because it is bright red on the bottom! Turns out I had not only turned on the wrong burner, but had inadvertently set the measuring cup directly on the burner I did turn on. I rushed over to try to move it just as it blew up, sending shards of glass and hot rice everywhere! Avalee was standing near me in the kitchen and was stunned at first, than let out with some very appropriate screams. She was also surrounded by shards of glass. Of course, the measuring cup continued to melt and the rice continued to burn, so I knew it had to be moved quickly. Luckily my Orca was right there so between that and a spatula, I was able to scoop up the majority of the mess rather quickly and relocate it. I figured Avalee would want to move at some point and I wanted her out of the kitchen. Once I realized the main danger was controlled (I didn't want more glass to start shooting around the room) I scooped Avalee up and deposited her in the other room. Meanwhile, Z had caught on to what was happening, and, let me tell you, this is not the guy you want in an emergency. He tends to panic and run around in circles, all the while yelling for some one to “fix it, fix it!!” So, true to character he starts screaming and pointing at the stove. I'm still trying to calm A down, and calmly tell him it will be okay. He's wailing, “nooo, Mom...look, LOOK!” I tell him I know all about it and it will be okay, when he starts running around yelling, “Fire, F.I.R.E!!” I turn to look and, sure enough, the few particles left on the burner had ignited and now flames were dancing across the cooktop. I put A down and headed back into the kitchen to contain the new situation (I couldn't remember what to use...baking soda, water...?? ). Now both kids are screaming and crying and the whole house smells like a bowling alley (coincidentally burned glass and rice smell a lot like cigarette smoke). Thankfully Colin came in right then and got Avalee calmed down. I was explaining what happened, when something suddenly hit me; I had put molten glass on the laminate counter top! I ran over to check, and sure enough there was a big burn mark on the counter. The laminate was actually flaking away in layers, and it was clear the counter was done for. This was the point I started to lose it; the reality of it all set it and I was pretty upset. Colin tried making me feel better, but it wasn't working, not until Z came over, and said, “Mommy, it's ok. We can get another measuring cup. Don't be sad.” So, I hugged my sweet boy, let it go and finished making dinner. I figured there really wasn't anything I could do right away anyway and Z was right; the measuring cup (and even that piece of counter...luckily it was the small piece) could be replaced. And, the really important thing is that nobody was hurt.
What's left of my measuring cup...
But, then...
Of, course, I decided a margarita was in order after all that had happened. Then after I cleaned up the whole mess from earlier, I decided I deserved another margarita. I noticed some salt in the bottom of my glass, so decided to shake it out in the sink...while looking the other direction. The next thing I know...crash! Apparently, I had hit the glass on the sink and, of course, cracked it.
So, that was my Monday. I think I'll just try to skip next Monday.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Superbowl
So, our Superbowl celebration turned out great, despite a bumpy start...
Actually, it started on Saturday evening, when Colin came home from watching a UFC fight (really don't understand the appeal of this. But to each his own, I guess...) at a buddy's house. He was complaining of not feeling well, but since he hadn't eaten all night, thought that might be the cause. Well, after a nice salad, he didn't feel any better...than actually started feeling worse. When I went to sleep, he was feeling nauseous and apparently spent the next few hours in and out of the bathroom. Poor guy! The next morning, he wasn't feeling any better...So, this left me to take care of the kiddos, finish cleaning and make all the food by myself. And, I'm still sick myself with, well, whatever the heck it is I have (that makes me cough so hard my face turns purple and I just about pass out), so I'm not going full-speed myself. UGH! And, of course, I decided I was going to make a whole yummy spread of food; artichoke-spinach dip (first time making this too), potato skins, bacon-wrapped Lil' Smokies (a favorite around here!), wings, caramel corn, cookies and PB pie. Yeah, just a little daunting without Colin's help; So I had to cut out the pie and cookies and used pre-made wings, but am proud to say everything got done (luckily, my mom came over early to help out!). And, it all turned out way yummy too! Yay!
And, of course there was a game to watch too...LOL. As you know, from my previous posts, we are a football family, so the Superbowl is a fun event for us. C and I weren't really rooting for either team, since we don't have an affiliation with either. I really like Peyton Manning (who doesn't?!), but also liked the 'Cinderella' story of the Saints. So, we cheered, let out some “ohhs” and grimaced when poor Peyton threw 'the' interception. But, overall, it was some great football and turned out to be a great game. And, I have to say when the Saints won, it was a great moment to see the team, fans and pretty much the entire city of New Orleans celebrate. :0)
Poor Colin is trying to hold it together here! ;0)
Spinach-artichoke dip...mmm!
Yummy potato skins!
Homemade caramel corn...so addictive!
Wings & Lil' Smokies
Halftime fun (yay for a playground acrross the street & grandma to take you over while missing the commercials!)
A's first time in the wagon...she loved it!
And, of course, cap the day off with strawberry margaritas!
Actually, it started on Saturday evening, when Colin came home from watching a UFC fight (really don't understand the appeal of this. But to each his own, I guess...) at a buddy's house. He was complaining of not feeling well, but since he hadn't eaten all night, thought that might be the cause. Well, after a nice salad, he didn't feel any better...than actually started feeling worse. When I went to sleep, he was feeling nauseous and apparently spent the next few hours in and out of the bathroom. Poor guy! The next morning, he wasn't feeling any better...So, this left me to take care of the kiddos, finish cleaning and make all the food by myself. And, I'm still sick myself with, well, whatever the heck it is I have (that makes me cough so hard my face turns purple and I just about pass out), so I'm not going full-speed myself. UGH! And, of course, I decided I was going to make a whole yummy spread of food; artichoke-spinach dip (first time making this too), potato skins, bacon-wrapped Lil' Smokies (a favorite around here!), wings, caramel corn, cookies and PB pie. Yeah, just a little daunting without Colin's help; So I had to cut out the pie and cookies and used pre-made wings, but am proud to say everything got done (luckily, my mom came over early to help out!). And, it all turned out way yummy too! Yay!
And, of course there was a game to watch too...LOL. As you know, from my previous posts, we are a football family, so the Superbowl is a fun event for us. C and I weren't really rooting for either team, since we don't have an affiliation with either. I really like Peyton Manning (who doesn't?!), but also liked the 'Cinderella' story of the Saints. So, we cheered, let out some “ohhs” and grimaced when poor Peyton threw 'the' interception. But, overall, it was some great football and turned out to be a great game. And, I have to say when the Saints won, it was a great moment to see the team, fans and pretty much the entire city of New Orleans celebrate. :0)
Poor Colin is trying to hold it together here! ;0)
Spinach-artichoke dip...mmm!
Yummy potato skins!
Homemade caramel corn...so addictive!
Wings & Lil' Smokies
Halftime fun (yay for a playground acrross the street & grandma to take you over while missing the commercials!)
A's first time in the wagon...she loved it!
And, of course, cap the day off with strawberry margaritas!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Friday Follow: A Celebration of Followers
Welcome to the fourth Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.
Here's how YOU can join the celebration:
* * Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add to one blog linky.
* * Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots. We will follow you back.
* * Follow as many blogs as you like
* * Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow
* * Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow
The Blog Hop is the same at each of our three hosts blogs so you do not have to add your blog at each site. Just one - but you can follow each host blog. Here is the great part, we will follow you back.
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