The Boys Get To Camp On The Living Room Floor

Mom is chipping and mudding all the cracks in the boys room so their room currently looks like this. Full of dust and only their bunk bed in the room.

We dragged their mattress downstairs and put them in the living room. Dad told them that since it was summer they could stay up and watch TV. They just had to remember to shut it off before they fell asleep. Mom had him say it twice because she couldn't believe what he said. They were so excited. Well at 4 am mom came down and shut off the TV and they were both sound alseep. (why were we up at 4 am? The storm woke up Mackay.) Emmett fell asleep pretty quickly but we have no idea how late Everette was up for. They both slept in till 9 this morning. Yep, 9 am. Mom and dad however were up at 4 am.

Well mom isn't quit done yet so tonight they get to have another slumber party in the living room. Those lucky ducks.

New Porch Chairs

My latest project are these chairs I got at the ISU warehouse sale for $3.00. They were really comfortable to sit in so we bought them with hopes I could figure out how to redo them.

I took off everything and spray painted it white. The next hard part was finding the fabric. I really wanted a bold print with a bright color but I am very limited with outdoor fabric here in the corn fields of Iowa. So I settled on this fabric from Walmart. I thought it was ok and would have to do. I know, not bright nor a bold print. The Top was really easy to do and took me about an hour for both chairs. The bottom on the other hand was pretty hard for this novice sewer. I wanted to put the piping on like they had to give that finished look. It surely isn't perfect but ok if you don't really inspect it and just sit down. The surprise was that there are springs in the seat. I just added a little extra padding wa-la. Now we have 2 new chairs for the porch for under $15.00.

Summer is here!

For us here in Iowa summer has officially begun. The last 3 days it has gotten at least 96 degrees out if not hotter. Today with the mix of rain and heat (wearable air) it was muggy. Will drug out the little pool for the boys to splash in and boy did they love it. Cold water and all.

Emmett started out fully dressed and just jumped right in of course. He then started taking clothing off one piece at a time. Of course caught him just in time as the underwear was coming down.

Mackay's turn

Well usually Emmett gives me a run for my money but today is Mackay's Turn.

First we start out with him crawling his fastest to the stairs. When he hears me behind him, he steps it up into a higher gear. Next he has discovered the bathroom. He loves unrolling the toilet paper and flushing the toilet.

Kitchen Update

Before:

We took out a wall and had to relocate the waste pipe and bathroom. We tore out the really ugly nasty green carpet and laid tile. We started with basically nothing. We had to buy all new appliances and cabinets. Well we are not done with the kitchen yet but I stood back and was amazed on how far we have come in the 3 years. So here are some before and after pictures to compare. We need a new narrower fridge and the micro is then going above the stove and off my counter.

After:

Kitchen Backsplash

Nan is becoming quite the tiling expert. Check it out.

Almost Ten Months

Well Mackay is almost ten months and is feeding himself already. I have been trying to feed him and it has been getting worse and worse as battling with him. So today I gave him the spoon and bowl and he went right to it like he has been doing it forever.

They like him best!

I have always told Will that my parents like him better than me. My dad calls and always ask me how Will is and if I am taking good care of him. Well today I get a box from my mother today and look what comes for Will! Not just 1 super size box but 4!

Ok I did get something.

(one small bag of 100 calorie cookies)

Meet the new member of our family!

Thanks to my wonderful sister Abby who has some serious E-bay skills. I have a new fancy sewing machine that I LOVE! I haven't named her yet but it will come soon. Yes a her. Have to have some femininity in this house.

Well here are some projects I have done. I made this t-shirt for me.

After I made mine Ev asked me to make him one with a monster he drew. I said sure. My sister Joanna sent me a lot of Fay School shirts so I thought I would put them to use.

Front of shirt before.

Now after. I put a pocket on it for him.

Back of shirt before.

Back of shirt after. Glad he made a simple drawing for me to start off with. I am having so much fun with this fancy machine.

You just can't turn your back on that child

I turned away to go and get my phone to text Aunt Abby we got the box and when I came back 10 seconds later I found this...

.

Where was Ev? Outside trying to sell his art to earn money for a trip to Texas.

Maybe while Ev goes to Texas I will ship Wood Gnome off to Georgia.

Growing into a wild child like his brother....

His hair is sticking up because he smeared it with jelly and then insisted on feeding himself. He put the spoon in and growled at me and then would laugh. He wouldn't let go of the spoon with his teeth.

Soda Can Bug

Everette got a Soda Can Robo-Bug for Christmas and has been waiting so patiently (well kinda) to put it together. Last night after dinner they finally had time to sit down together and assemble the bug.

The finished Product.

Like the big hole in the sock? He told me his toe grew really fast and pushed out.

Proud Mama Video

My babe is crawling, kinda. (army style but fast)

He started out in the living room with the boys and ended up at the kitchen door within a minute.

Sledding off the deck!

Will decided to make the boys a little sled hill off the deck. This worked perfectly for Emmett's little legs and the boys loved it.

Emmett takes a face plant in the snow but then pops right back up and ready to go again.

Ev had to try going down on his stomach.

You can kinda see how much snow we have gotten this year. It is almost to the top of our burn barrel in the back ground.

A new shirt for Mackay

If you got a stain or hole in your shirt here is a good way to fix it.

Isn't he getting so big? This shirt is a size 24 months by the way.

Another Project

My old planner started ripping out at the seams. I priced a new one and was shocked on how expensive they are. I had gotten this one on clearance about mid-year about 2 years ago. I have to admit I have inherited my father's attitude "Oh I can make that for cheaper." So after I priced out what the cost of a new planner was going to be that is exactly what I said standing in the store staring at the new bland planners.

So I came home and used the fabric I had here and made myself a new one.

Here is the old! Used as pattern and three ring insides.

And here is the new one!

I also made some new envlopes to out in it for our cash budget. I just took an old envlope and used it as a pattern on some scrapbook paper. Taped it, punched some holes, and added some velcro to keep them closed.

A New Desk

The idea started this summer when we found these doors hidden above our garage. We tried to figure out what they went to but they are very small and narrow. So we brought them in and my ideas started flowing. We really needed a narrow desk but at first I was hating the idea of cutting them up.

Well I took the plunge and sawed one in half yesterday. The lighter colored back brace board is from our butlers pantry we took out to obtain a usable kitchen.

And after a little sanding and a little furniture oil I think it turned out beautiful. We are going to get a piece of glass or plexiglass to put on top of it yet. It looks even better in person.

So there is my cheap (would be free but have to buy glass) desk. And it matches all the woodwork in the house which to me is a huge bonus.

Grammy Beach's Lilac Trees Get A Hair Cut

2 weekends ago Will and I gave Grammy's lilac trees a haircut and cleaned out all the leaves from under them. They were starting to take over her clothes line and hanging out into the alley. Well get to the point you say. When we were done we had a very large pile of sticks. Nice green bendable sticks. I kept looking at the sticks and decided to take a bundle home with me for a craft project. I know Grammy was shaking her head but she amused me.

My original plan was to make a 'B' to add to my collection out on the front porch. (that is another story on how that started). I am going to add twine to the joints to spice it up a bit.

Well as I sat there looking at my pile I knew I could do more with them. So I took a wreath I had in the basement I got for .19 after christmas last year and made this. Now I have to get another wreath and make one more for the other side to balance them. I think it needs some red or something too but haven't been out to the store yet.

(Try not to look at the reflection of my sexy outfit of sweats and slippers.

I was holding Mackay and he also amused me. )

My final project was a very simple one. I just cut down a bunch and stuck them in a vase. Everette thinks they need rocks on the bottom so he has been picking up little pebbles on his walk home after school.

Well of course Ev had to get into the act of making some art too so he made his own out of a stick he went and found from our christmas tree.

I still have a pile of sticks left sitting out on the deck so you might see an update to this post with something new I create. Or if you have any ideas shoot them my way. To my siblings, REAL ideas. I can hear those gears grinding and those comments are just not welcomed. Ha! Of course if anyone wants some of my special art sticks, I am more than willing to share too.

Floating Shelves

Here is the finished product of our $6.00 floating shelves. I got the idea out of a book I got from the library but I found it here too. We found the hollow core door in the clearance doors for $1.00 at Menards. Then we cut down a 2x4 for the brackets. Then with some lag nuts into studs they are pretty sturdy. We used screws to secure the shelves to the bracket instead of nails to make it movable otherwise they would have been permanent. They are for my oil can collection but as you can see I am missing 3/4 of the collection. The maddening part of it all is now we can't find the other 3/4 anywhere. Of course that is how it usually works out. We won't find them till we move again I am sure.

Adventures with Apples

Been awhile since I took my turn with posting to the blog, of course it's much easier for me to do with great (tasting) subject matter, namely fresh picked apples.

Our neighbor was kind enough to offer up whatever we could get from his tree. Its a tall old tree with almost all of the two kinds of apples just out of reach of my fingertips, that's right, one tree, two kinds, cool huh?

After a couple of jumping/long stretching attempts to pull off some of lower ones. I noticed Ev on the trampoline watching me with mild interest. Hmmmm...Two options there at my disposal. Ev or trampoline? I could get some serious air off the trampoline and reach some of the choicest pickings plus have a fun time doing it, but I'd probably end up tearing up myself and the tree and most certainly give Ev some ideas that he doesnt need from me, I'm sure he'll get enough of his own without my help. Ev it is and I wave him over. He's more than happy to climb right up, sit on my shoulders and get a couple more. Still most of them are out of reach. We try him standing on the shoulders but that doesnt last too long, since I loose some hair when he starts to loose his balance. Ladders are probably the best option.

Adventures with Apples - How many ways can you eat apples in a couple of days?
(Picture story)
Mmmm... Apple pie and ice cream for breakfast, if that doesnt jump start the day I dont know what will.

Nan's homemade applesauce. Sweetened kind (Sorry, Chad, that's better hot then the unsweetened) with the new secret ingredient, Mt. Dew.


Can't believe there's actually leftovers of fresh, warm applesauce, but that is good, my helper and I want to try fruit leather.


This will be in the dehydrator overnite, so we'll have to share the results tomorrow.


The apple peeler/corer saves a ton of time and its clean cuts reduce alot of waste.