Good Day

I'm in a much better mood today!!



I wasn't able to wait until Wednesday to buy some fabric... I just couldn't!! I saw this awesome sale on some pre-order fabric... I love this fabric!! Like in LOVE LOVE LOVE this fabric so I had to. I just couldn't just not get it. Could I? I have grand plans for this stuff... Fandango by Moda Isn't it GORGEOUS!!



I think that is enough !! in one paragraph...



My newborn shoot ended up being yesterday... It went good. New, nervous, mother... When I finally get done editing I will post them.



I also got a chest of drawers from a gal in Boone. I found a tutorial for an ironing board that I can put on the top of it. My current ironing board is looking a little worse for wear... In the drawers I'll be able to 'hide' some of my fabric stash. I know that I would be able to find some thing new for this purpose but why when something used will work just as well. I am nothing if not cheap! I have plans to paint it and make it cute. Okay so maybe not cute as I would like it to be in my dining room but you know, at least, better looking than it does right now. My husband was shocked when I came home with it in the back of the truck. All I have to say is that he should have gone with me to town when I asked him to. One of these days he will learn!

The tutorial I found for the ironing board is not available yet because she is having problems with spam comments on her blog, Pleasant Home. Specifically spam comments on that post. I'm hoping that she will have it up again soon. I think I would be able to 'wing' it but would rather not. I'm just crazy that way.

This week has flown by! Here it is already Thursday and I've got nothing done. I have photos to edit and a baby blanket ensemble to get done and mailed. Two actually if you really want to get technical. I know I'll get the photos done by tomorrow afternoon. The baby things will just have to wait until Monday because I'm going to my little sister's bday party this weekend. I'll be driving down to Mare's on Saturday and then riding with her the rest of the way. We'll be leaving Mom's around noon on Sunday. I should be home by 5 or so hopefully on Sunday. You'll notice I mentioned nothing about having to take Mason with me because he is staying with Dad. Hehe. I will enjoy my 24 hours alone. It isn't often that I get to spend any quality time with my mom and sisters. There are 5 boys between us and we are constantly having to set one of them to rights. Whether that be clothing or actually reading them their rights, which are few by the way...

Now I'm off to do a 4 hour 30 minute tidy. I've got laundry to switch over, some dishes to do, a little light mopping, and some vacuuming that needs done. It might take a little over 30 minutes but no more than an hour I've decided.

Have a great day!!

I ♥ Bullet Points

I think I'll do this post in bullets.... I might elaborate later on some of the bullets but not until I get feeling more like myself... I think my hormones are messing with me again and it sometimes feels like I'm walking around in a cloud... So here are the bullets from the last couple of weeks...

• Austin got back from Indiana a whole day early... Totally messed up my semi-alone time...
• I absolutely love my new sewing machine!!! Here is the link... Brother sq9000
• I've made 6 baby blankets, 6 bibs, and 12 burp cloths over the last 2 weeks. 80 percent of those were done in John Deere prints.
• Mason has only had one accident in his pants.
• Playing in the hose has become an everyday occurrence. A necessary occurrence.
• I have gotten 6 tomatoes off my tomato plant.
• Hyde and Tootsie are driving me nuts...
• We spent a lovely week at my parents house last week.
• We made it to the Iowa State Fair on Saturday. I got sunburnt. Only me... We had no food on a stick... A record to be sure....
• Mason won't let me out of his sight... I'm sneaking out of the house this evening!!
• My laundry is almost caught up...
• I have no idea where my husband got all his socks from.
• Little boy undies are so... little boyish... they really should come pre-streaked... so gross!
• I'm out of bleach and my garbage can needs a good scrubbing
• I have a newborn shoot tomorrow
• I still need to post my last newborn shoot... whoops...
• My yard needs mowed...
• My floors need vacuumed but the vacuum is no longer working... um... neither is the smoke alarm anymore...
• The dishes are done... but not put away...
• The lift my husband brought back from Indiana was very heavy but is put away nice and pretty in the garage...
• I have an urge to buy fabric... I think I will on Wednesday... pending toddler behavior...
• Tootsie destroyed my favorite bathroom rug... I'm still not on talking terms with her about it!
• I made a really cute hanging beside organizer... Mason uses it like a rope ladder to get on my bed... a habit that needs broken.

And that fairly well sums up my last two weeks in no certain order. Sorry to have wasted your time... I have my pictures from everyday but no energy or motivation to get them posted. I figure some time before the end of the year I'll get it up to date.

I promise I'll be in a better mood tomorrow!!

My Day

I've discovered that I'm not a huge fan of blogs that the body of the post is a great looking photo and the rest of the post is just links... Rather annoying.

Anyways...

So my husband is in Indiana at the house we still own... You read that right. The. House. We. Still. Own.

Four years is how long it has been sitting empty... Four years!

He went out this weekend with his dad to get the lift and air compressor out of the garage. We originally left them as a selling point of the house but now we want to be able to use them. And they obviously aren't helping to sell the house.

Onto other more pleasant stuff...

I bought a new sewing machine today... I haven't got to take it out of the box yet. Mason was such a handful today that I just didn't have the time. In other words I wouldn't have been able to give my full attention to getting it set up. Even after he went to bed I was cleaning and getting stuff ready for tomorrow so it is still sitting in the box. I'll break it out here in a little bit.

Potty training is going great. I don't dare go to town yet without him having a diaper on but we'll get there. He is getting better about the poop issue. He is a little boy and it is just soooo much fun to pee standing up that he doesn't want to sit down so it... um... falls out while he is peeing. Let me tell you how totally awesome that is on my white bathroom mats. Yep, pretty AWESOME. Oh, and his aim!! Yep. Nuf said there. I have no expectation of my bathroom smelling un-urinal like in the near future... I know that sounds like it should be an easy fix but... it isn't. I clean the bathroom before I go to bed every night because really who wants their bathroom to smell like piss? Not me!! It never fails though that after the first time he goes pee it smells. I know I could clean it up after every time he goes but he goes like every 20 minutes. I would never leave the bathroom!! I have taken to just spraying it down with some vinegar and bleach every couple of hours. Not ideal but better than the old urinal smell.

Overall we have had a pretty good day. Mason went down for bed surprisingly easy. I couldn't believe it. I figured he would cry and cry but he didn't. He did ask for tons of kisses. Melt my heart!! Nothing is better than little boy bedtime kisses. It makes up for him being so naughty. Most days anyways.

The dogs also had an active day. They found a dead toad in the yard and had to roll around on it for awhile so after Mason's last poop and his bath they also got baths. Nothing is worse than trying to give two minpins baths... I was drenched afterwards! I literally wrung out my shirt. I don't know if I'll ever get the wet dog smell out of my bra either... My favorite bra!! I don't know what I was thinking. Well I do... I was thinking they smelled. They smelled bad. There was no way they were getting on my bed smelling like that! Especially Hyde since he seems to think he needs to sleep on my spare pillow above my head. Yes above my head. I am short and like my toes hanging off the end of the bed when I sleep on my stomach so there is room for another pillow above my head. I put a crappy pillow in an old pillowcase and he sleeps there. It was either that or fight him over my pillow. Call me lazy! I tried to train him to sleep on Austin's pillow but he just won't.

So that is how my day has gone. I am ready for some cooler temps and my boy to learn to poop on the potty. After all these hot temps and crazy humidity though it is a toss up as to what one I would choose if presented with the choice of just one.

I'm sure tomorrow will be just as... wonderful so I'm gonna go play with my new machine and then go to bed. My goal is midnight to be in bed... Quit laughing...

um...

So I don't know what happened last week. The post are just gone.

So on to the new week...

This summer has gone way too fast. We have been enjoying our days at home. Mason has been driving me crazy. As in he won't leave me alone crazy. He is constantly under my feet, pulling on my leg, torturing the dogs, getting in the freezer, playing in the sink and destroying my house everyday...

On a good note: Mason is potty trained!!! His aim leaves something to be desired and my bathroom smells like a urinal by the end of the day but at least he is hitting the toilet most of the time anyways. It is so cute walking by the bathroom and seeing his cute little but as he is peeing. It is not so cute when you hear giggling come from the bathroom and when I go to check it out and he is peeing over his shoulder.

I told you his aim left something to be desired!!

Hopefully we are over those kinds of aiming problems... After a couple of times in time out and some well needed baths which he hates in the middle of the day he is at least aiming for the potty.

Mason has also learned how to share.

I realize that most kids at the age of 3 already know how to share. All I have to say is that most of those are in daycare or have siblings. An only child at home with just his mother for most of the time never has to share. It isn't as though I want to play with his toys. He forces me to. Which I don't count as sharing. I count that as torture. It never fails that he will get upset with me because I can't make the car noise just right or I turn the car left when I should have turned it right. I know being an only child is hard work I'm sure.

Well being the mother of an only child is hard work too.

Especially one that so intense... Yes intense is the right word I'm looking for. He is just like his father. You know cute as all get out and spoiled. Which leaves me so outnumbered it isn't even funny.

And now I have to go clean the house that was clean this morning but wasn't to the 3 year-olds liking... I guess it could be worse though... he could have been twins...

I'm A Blonde

So I know there was to be a new post everyday this last week and there wasn't. That is because I am blond and can't read the calendar... I can read a map but not a calendar... I know and you just thought I dyed my hair... Nope! It is all natural ditz.
So instead of going through and fixing it there will be new post next week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday...
If I can manage it there might be one on Monday and Tuesday too... Depends on how much help I get this weekend... Austin took my hammer away and has yet to give it back... Something about hanging ugly things and there not being enough room in the kitchen for another welcome sign... I beg to differ but whatever. Maybe when he runs to town for 'parts' I can find my hammer and get my stuff hung. I know he will have to run to town for 'parts' sometime today just because that is the way it works!
So now I am off to enjoy my weekend... starting by going to the store and hitting a few garage sales and goodwill and maybe even an antique store by myself... I'll be talking to myself by the end of the day don't worry...

10 Years Ago Today

Ten years ago today Austin and I had our first fight... our first fight as a married couple... over ice cubes... It is the same arguement we have had once a year since then... If he would just concede that I am right we could stop having the same arguement and move on already...

And This Makes Three

Do you see what I see?

You know, other than the fact that I need to vacuum and that Mason hides stuff under the table... Like the measuring cup for the dog food...

And my wonderful loving husband said to me "Stop freaking out it's just a little one."

and then

in his next breathe

he said

"I hope this snake doesn't bite me where my fingers stick out. Are you sure you don't know where my new gloves are?"

Austin was going to just pick up the snake and take it out, but I could see that going to wrong on so many different levels so I brought him this pitcher. Thankfully it is just a pitcher I use to water my tomato plant. Otherwise you know it would have to be burned.

We had to put another pitcher on top of it to keep the stupid thing trapped. The cream pitcher is just another plant pitcher.

I love when Mason dresses himself. I don't so much love when my husband picks out his own clothes... I've tried to throw these yellow things away but they end up back in his dresser...

We have given up on the pocket. Austin will tuck it back in and Mason will pull it back out.

Not a little snake!!

The dogs were running around the snake in circles deciding who would get to bite it first. We haven't heard buddy bark too many times and he is generally mild mannered but he was barking and growling and having a great time. He sounds HUGE when he barks and growls. No wonder the mailman won't get out of his truck.

Mason had to get in on the action too!

Mostly he just dug in the rocks and made little piles.

Although that one time he did put a little shovel full right on the snake...

And here it is striking at the shovel.

And that is when Buddy found the opportunity to attack. He did this a couple more times and he would actually throw it up in the air. Bad thing was you never knew where it was going to land!!

That is one dead snake. We laid it by the shovel to see exactly how long it was. It was by no means 'little'.

This is how we disposed of it. We just threw it into the ditch across the road from us. Where Buddy later went and got it and made it a snack... gross!

Just Another Baby Shower

Just this past weekend I went to yet another baby shower... I don't know why all my friends think they should be having kids but they do so I just keep making baby shower gifts.


This one was for a little girl. I love little girls stuff!! So pink and purply and fun!!

The blanket is a square yard. Butterfly flannel with green flannel backing. I did try this blanket with pink backing and it bled and stained rather fast so the green was the next best choice.

Burp rags. I decided to add some embellishing to these. I think they turned out cute.


I even made some bibs.

Bibs are so very easy to make. I cheat a little even.

First I cut out my template. I then pin it to my backing and insert material. I don't cut out my insert material that way it doesn't all shift around on me and I have something to grip while sewing.


Here it is ready to be sewn.

And now it is ready to be trimmed.

I know. It is just amazing.

To get my outer edges to lay flat after it has been turned the right way I just make little slits around the whole thing.

Pin the opening closed.

Top stitch around the outer edges making sure to get the opening stitched shut.

Add some velcro for the neck closure.

That is how I make cute little bibs.

For those of you that don't know how to sew or just don't have the inclination but would love to be able to give handmade cute little bibs my friend, Jess, makes and sells bibs just like these on Etsy. Check her out and send some love. She is even having a giveaway of two girl bibs or two boy bibs over on her blog.

If you keep up with my PictureMyEveryday Jess is the mother of the big sister and little sister that have made appearances. She is also the friend that feeds my addiction of fabric shopping. I'm sure our husbands are sorry we ever found each other... all we do is spend their money...

Ha!

Here it is another Friday and I'm no closer to that light.

We are going to enjoy a relaxing weekend at home. We might go to the Boone County fair but I doubt it. I'm going to hoist Mason off on his dad for most of the weekend because that little 3 year old is kicking my butt and I need some room to breathe.

I have some plans to do some things around the house and just generally be lazy. Hope everyone enjoys their weekends!! I'll be back Monday with some pretty pictures of some recent projects. I know what you're thinking but really there will post up Monday thru Friday and I can guarantee it because they are scheduled already. I know I could have posted them all today but then why would you come back. I know but it is called anticipation. I have been one busy lady!! I have the sunburn to prove it!!

You'll also want to check in on my PictureMyEveryday on Monday because there will be some new photos up there as well. I told you I had been busy!!

T G I F

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel...

It's Friday. I'm in a better mood. The word 'mom' when screeched at the top of the little boys lungs has turned into a bad word. That when used just to get my attention or ask for juue (juice) gets him put in time-out.

This does not make me mean.

It is teaching him respect...

Daniel goes home on Sunday. Is it Sunday yet?

We have a busy afternoon planned. We are going to the post office and then to the park. When we get home I am making hamburgers for supper which I know will be protested by the guys in the house. I figure if they want something different then they can cook it!!

Tomorrow the guys are going to a birthday party and I am going to a baby shower. I will meet them at the birthday party when the shower is over. I am not going to hurry though. I am not stupid!!

I was hoping my husband would get off of work early today but I realized that wasn't going to happen when he didn't even leave the house until around 7:30. He was oh so thoughtful and woke up both little boys before he left though. Tomorrow though we are all sleeping in. Well the boys will be sleeping while I have fun with the husband. I'll gladly give up a little sleep for some morning delight. I just really wish Daniel wasn't such a night owl so I could sleep in too. We however don't need him going home with those kind of stories. My siblings would eat that up.

And on to the sibling front...

Both of my brothers have broken bones... Darin broke his collarbone in a dirt bike accident 2 weeks ago. Donnie Guy got his cast off of his left wrist the week before Darin broke his collar bone. Just this last Tuesday he broke his right wrist when he fell down the stairs at work. Those two are making this a long summer! I'm just thankful that neither was hurt any worse than they were. Darin somehow slammed himself up against a wall to set his collar bone. I grimace in pain every time I think about it. Donnie Guy broke his first wrist doing a trick on a horse that went wrong. From what I gather he was standing on Whiskey's back and something spooked him and when Donnie went to slide back down on his back his spur got him in the left rear flank and from there Whiskey started jumping. I've tried telling Donnie Guy that he is 41 not 21 or even 31... Deaf ears I tell ya. Which ironically just another sign of getting older... At least he hurt himself at work this time so he can get paid during his unemployment or get put on light duty...

I'm almost done with my shower gift for tomorrow. Little girl stuff is so much fun!! I have photos but they will have to wait until Sunday or Monday as the mother reads this little blog... But trust me they are cute!

And now to feed the little boys and get to my errands...

Perspective

I LOVE this site.

I don't think "love" is even strong enough of a word!!

MondayTuesday

Today might be Tuesday but it sure has felt like a Monday....

Mason and Daniel slept until past 10. I know!! How Awesome!! Right?

I was able to sleep and finish my bedside book and shower all before those two bright eyed, naughty boys decided to roll out of bed.

Then instead of breakfast we decided to have an early lunch. Then they decided they both needed to spend some time in time-out. I'm totally okay with time-outs. Three to eight minutes of silence... you betcha I can handle time-outs.

The unfortunate part is that what I was working on couldn't handle the time-outs.

I am making some cute, cute, CUTE baby bibs for a baby shower I am going to on Saturday. A girl baby shower!! You can tell on my top stitch exactly where the time outs were. O'well after a couple of washings no one will be able to tell. At least that is what I am telling myself.

And now I have to figure out something for supper... Isn't that always the question when the day winds down. I don't feel like cooking... So I am going to try to talk Austin into going into town for supper... Otherwise we are having hamburgers again...

Note to Self

# 306

Memory cards don't like to be dropped... even from my short height... it is still too far...

#307

Tweezers work good for emergency memory card surgery... Well that and a lot of wiggling and giggling... and a little bit of cussing helps too...

#308

Make sure kids are out of earshot before performing emergency surgery on memory cards...

Not Quite Fireworks...

The weather put a damper on the possibility of seeing any fireworks but we did catch this rainbow...

Austin went to let the dogs outside and looked up and saw this little rainbow. We could actually see the beginning and the end. If the clouds hadn't cleared off so fast we would have been able to see the whole thing.

You'll have to forgive me because this is a photo my husband actually took. I thought I was uploading one that I took but when it showed up I realized it was his. I could change it but am too lazy. All I have to say for this laziness is that spontaneous menstruation sucks. I am finding it hard to stay awake today and the cramps and crabbiness are totally off the bitchy scale. I feel bad that my boys have to be in the same house as me today. That is why I am taking the rest of the day to do nothing until we head out for fireworks this evening. They will thank me later even if it means they have to make their own lunch...

I'm H O M E...

It's been a week... I'm home... I'm tired... I brought a nephew home with me for 9 days... the house is a wreck... the laundry is backed up and I don't think I'll get caught up by the time I have to start in on the bedding... two trips into the grocery store... one very crabby 3 year old... BBQ and fireworks with friends tonight... Husband is off on Monday... *great*... One website that needs caught up... But really is 60some days really that behind???... I mean really? It's only 60some pictures that need edited and uploaded and dated and organized.... okay... so maybe 60some is alot... hmmm.... anyways.... maybe next week I'll see daylight... For now I'm busy doing laundry, washing dishes, making a baby blanket for a shower next weekend, and getting ready to go out tonight for a little adult interaction...
More on my week "vacation" later...

'A Decade'

Happy Anniversary to me. Happy anniversary to me...

This year we are celebrating the same way we have for 6 out of the last 10 years. I will be spending the evening in the car... I know we should probably spend the night together but after 10 years it really is just another day. I'm so thankful that we don't 'do' birthdays or anniversaries!

I did see on facebook that my loving husband referred to this anniversary as the decade anniversary. That makes it sound like it has been long. I will be sure to rib him about it later and for many years to come...

I will see my love tomorrow when he gets to grandpa's. We didn't end up getting each other anything... yet. I have told him he can get the windshield for his motorcycle. I am getting a new sewing machine so we will come out even. I know we are real adventurous people.

That is okay because he knows I love him more today than I did yesterday and tomorrow I will love him more than I did today...

Yep that is all I have today...
I've been busy... Doing what I don't know.
This weekend is Farmer's Merchants Picnic and next week I will be at mom and dad's most likely. When I get home I am grounded until I get caught up!! I am planning on doing some catching up while down home. Amazingly I don't too much to do while everyone is at work. I know, go figure!

10 years

What in the world am I going to get my husband for our 10 year anniversary?

I can't believe it has been 10 years!!

Some of those years are just a blur... We have both changed so much and grown closer together that I don't even recognize those two teenagers that we were when we got married.

10 years from now will I recognize us as we are about to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Sometimes I would just like to know what the 10 years hold for us.

I'm thinking a good arguement is in store for us soon. We have been riding the calm wave for too long. Maybe I could give the fight of ice cubes for our anniversary. That one is always fun. Mainly because I am right and he is w r o n g. I think he needs reminded of that fact.

I'm thinking he may just deserve that windshield for his motorcycle for putting up with me. I will admit that I have not been the easiest person to live with the last couple of years. We are finally seeing the light on the horizon though and hopefully my hormonal problem is ebbing to a close. Wouldn't that just be wonderful!!

And so now I'm gonna go continue editing photos to update my picturemyeveryday and contemplate gift choices for him. I need to figure out way to maximize the return of said gift into what I want with little complaint from him. That is the tricky part!! Therefore I'm not going to remind him of our anniversary until the day before. Leave him little time to get me something so the guilt can be added to my equation.

Happy Wednesday!!

Front Porch Beauty

My friend Jess has joined the world of blogging!! She is one creative lady with a great sense of humor. She wouldn't be my friend if she didn't. I know hard to believe that I wouldn't be able to get along with women that have no sense of humor...
Anyways you should check her out!! She'll be posting crafty stuff, gardening stuff, photography stuff and my favorite is her cooking stuff.
Front Porch Beauty

...

I'm still here, just busy...

Maybe Monday I'll get some time to myself without having other things on my to-do list... I have no goals for next week. Well other than to just get out of bed.

Playing Catch Up

I've got a whole stack of baby blankets ready to go for the silent auction. I'll be posting pictures later this week. I've also got to update my picturemyeveryday 365 project. I've been so busy sewing trying to get everything done that I just haven't had time. I haven't had time to do much else lately and today I'm babysitting all afternoon and Thursday afternoon. Between sewing, babysitting and sitting on the edge of the tub I am feeling kinda frazzled.

We have decided to forego 3 year old preschool this fall. It is based off of income and the cheapest teir is 70 a month. I just couldn't justify 70 a month for two day a week for 2.5 hours. I did look into the program and it is just a bunch of playing with some numbers and ABCs thrown in. We already do a whole bunch of that. Mason can already say his ABCs, count to ten and knows his colors and shapes. When those are the goals for the year it wasn't a real hard decision. Next year the 4 year preschool is free and 4 hours 3 days a week. I can handle that.
I was glad to see that I wasn't the only in town to decide not to send my child this year. Evidently I am not the only parent not willing to pay that kind of money for a 2.5 hour social play group. Last year the lowest fee was 50. The only way to get out of paying the 70 is if you are on any sort of state program. Thank you share the wealth... I'm not bitter about it though...

All next week I will have my 13 year old niece, Morgan, staying with me. I am excited!! She is just a younger version of me. We look alike, talk alike, and even give the same facial expression which drives my brother nuts. Once in a while when she is being a real pill to him he will text me his frustrations... I love those text messages!! After all those years he tortured me it is nice to see him getting a little payback!

Last Wednesday my husband had a little kickball game for work and Mason and I went. It was fun to see my husband interact with his coworkers. After everything was cleaned up from the after-game victory great losers dinner I got to see my husband get real embarrassed. He had gotten out his phone to show someone something and while he was putting it away it pocket dialed me. All of a sudden 'White and Nerdy' by weird Al started coming from my phone. His bosses (there were 3 of them sitting right there at the time) got such a kick out of it. In all of the years I've been with Austin, I had never seen his face get that red. It was great!!

So that fairly well catches us up to current. Hopefully I'll get back to this computer before the end of next week but if not just know that I am probably nursing a sunburn and sitting on the edge of the tub. Summer should be a blast since Mason has decided that he is ready to potty train... Awesome!!