pickles & paper

Some of my favorite vintage ornaments...

2011-11-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

Vintage Christmas Ornament Wreath

2011-11-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

I love anything that has to do with vintage and Christmas. So this wreath was not an exception.

I took advice from Meg and wrapped the wreath in tinsel garland before I applied the ornaments.

This was something I did over a period of many months. I would get some broken ornaments or a box with lots of the same and place them here on there on the wreath. So I really had no pattern I followed. I love it though!

Advent Calender

2011-11-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

I knew I wanted to make an Advent Calender this year.

I had this frame with picture wire strung, that I would clip pictures or Jax's art up with clothespins, already hanging around.

I used a lot of activities for our advent calender, that's whats in the envelopes. (they are from Michael's by Marth Stewart)

I also used some Martha Stewart rubber stamps to make the numbered tags and I have to fill in a few of the other days with little gifts I find from here to December.

Ohhhh Pretty!

2011-11-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

a tree...made out of vintage ornaments...how awesome is that!!!

I've been building up my collection of vintage ornaments, via estate sales, over the past 2 years or so. I have finally amassed enough to be able to make crafts AND have a pretty tree filled with them.

Stumped

2011-11-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Sherry motivated me to get a move on with my list of "to do's" over there on Pinterest.

See my tree?

Here's a closer look at the base. It's a tree stump.

Those stands that artificial trees come with just aren't my style.

So, I remedied the problem.

PSA: I was worried about termites. NIGHTMARE worried! When I brought this thing in I had it sitting in the basement and I was up all night thinking that termites were going to crawl out of it and by morning my house would be sawdust. At 3 am I was googling how to get termites out of furniture and the like. So, at 6 am I went to the grocery store to get BIG trash bags, and naturally I forgot them because I got distracted by pumpkin spice creamer.YUM. I went back later and bagged the stump up in about 7 bags, tying each one extra tight. Then I shoved the bad boy in the freezer for 2 months. Took it out and let it thaw for a few days, but I left it in the bags while it did so.

A Brief Fall Mantle

2011-10-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

I usually don't do a fall mantle. To be honest, fall doesn't do much for me. Or maybe it's because fall just cant compare to Halloween and Christmas. I decided to do a fall mantle for a minute this year. I like it enough. I don't know how much longer it'll be here after Halloween because my Christmas itch has begun. I have been humming Christmas songs all day long.

I recycled my candy corn garland and added eye hooks to pine cones and strung them on twine. Threw in a few fall-ish things and there you have it. It's not as layered as I normally would like, but I'll have to build up my fall decorations. Maybe after fall is over I can score some cool stuff on clearance.

Darth Vader and an elephant?

2011-10-31T17:54:00.000-07:00

The block we've trick-or-treated on for the past 2 years was rocking! It's pretty awesome. Jax was the talk of the block and got a lot of compliments on his costume, which I found odd since it's just a generic Darth costume. But his joke was the kicker.

What do you get when you cross Darth Vader and an elephant?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
and ELE-VADER!

I was going to make Leftover Halloween Candy Cookies tonight but after helping with Jaxon's pre-school Halloween party today I'm done for the night.

Happy Halloween!

Happenings.

2011-10-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

New record player+Mickey Mouse Disco=DANCE PARTY!

Jax has a new love for Legos. UH OH, they are expensive.

This was yummy, but not as good as I'd hoped.

Can't have any privacy!

We stayed up late and watched our STL Cardinals win the World Series.

Stuckmeyer's for Pumpkins

2011-10-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

We went to Stuckmeyers this year to get our pumpkin because we were short on time and it's a lot closer to the house.

This is his new "smile".

Where the Playing Happens.

2011-10-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

The playroom has gone through many phases.

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

Exhibit C.

But I think I'm finally done. HA! For now anyhow.

I free handed a train on the wall and added shelves to house Jaxon's massive wooden train collection. The neurotic person inside me color coded them a few times. It took me a few times to realize that was dumb! He requested the train have a number so I used my trusty Cricut and made him a 54. Threw together some a pendant banner with Cosmo Cricket's "Boyfriend" paper and added a different "clothes line" for art.

For his birthday Jaxon's got a store. The most expensive thing for the store was the grocery cart, but I knew that a plastic one would be destroyed in a matter of hours. Since I saved money on making the "store" I figured why not. The "store" is a bookshelf I got at an estate sale for $4, slapped 2 2x4's on the back, hung the sign and the awning I made with some scrap wood and clearance fabric (we had the food already for the kitchen).

Please ignore ugly ventilation hole in the ceiling. Moving on...a place for all the dress up stuff. I've had the hooks for a long time, as well as the board but I never got around to screwing them on until a few weeks ago.

LOTS of STORAGE! What every playroom needs.

I love chalkboard paint. I am always looking for something else to slap it on.

I would eventually like to get some sort of carpet squares or some kind of wall to wall floor covering because the floor gets pretty cold in the winter...in time I suppose.

Family's Day Out: St. Louis Edition

2011-10-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

We started off doing a trolley tour of St. Louis which was really cool and interesting. We got to see a side of the city and learn things that living here one might overlook.

Went home for a much needed nap and headed back to the City Museum/World Aquarium for our privte tour where we pet sting rays and fed a myriad of animals.

This bird=SUPER LOUD!

This is Jaxon's favorite part, the fish suckle all the dead skin off your hands.

Fed kinkajous...aren't they so adorable?

Fed this sloth...love her!

Fed some river otters.

Jaxon attempted to feed the chameleon a few times but he kept dropping the live cricket so Luc ended up doing it.

Best way to get to the exit door from a few floors up at the City Museum is the slide!

We had dinner at Pappy's since we've been dying to go since we saw it on Travel Channel,

and we ended our day at Crown Candy Kitchen with some fudge sundaes!

APPLES part 2

2011-10-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

Jaxon went apple picking with the family and then we went again on a field trip with his school to Eckerts.

We watched them launch pumpkins.

Rode out and picked apples

Ate apples.

Waited and waited and waited for our tractor to return.

Took a group photo.

Bounced on the Jumpy Pillow.

...and returned home completely exhausted!

APPLES!

2011-10-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Best $2.50 ever spent

2011-10-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

I usually prefer estate sales over garage sales. More stuff! But my guys prefer garage sales because there are toys and video games and things of that nature. So when they go with me we usually go to garage sales. Jaxon is a natural born bargainer, I usually give him $1 and he finds something he likes and offers less than what its worth and he's so dang cute that people usually let him get away with it.

Well, we were almost done bargain hunting because we were all hungry but i insisted we stop at a one more sale before we headed to the Donut Stop and I found this gem!

All the pieces were there. All the signals, people, cars...even the mail for each business.

The dog has always been my favorite!

We even got lucky and scored some of the Seasame Stree characters!

Jax has been playing with it non-stop. He takes it upstairs at night to play with in the morning, drags it back downstairs to play with in his play room, back upstairs to the living room while I cook dinner. It awesome!

Halloween House

2011-10-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

I changed a little bit up from last year.

This is Edward Skullen.

A closer look at the book wreath.

My candy corn garland survived a year. Thank goodness because I don't think I'll ever make it again.

Half a Decade

2011-10-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

On October 10 around 11pm I snuck into Jaxon's room and filled it up with ballons and put streamers on his door so he would be suprised when he woke up on his 5th birthday!

Taking picture of a five year old isn't much different than taking pictures of a newborn. They make whatever face they want and have no regaurd for what the picture is going to look like.

I know he's not looking at me in this picture but looking at it makes me tear up because he looks like a kid.

LOVE!

We're Having a Halloween Party

2011-09-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

For this guy.

He's going to be 5.

When I send his party invitations to school, these are going with them.

I can't take all the credit for these cute little treats.

Museum of Transportation

2011-08-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

It was the day before, the day before school started so we needed to go on an adventure of some kind. In 2 short days we would be back in our routine, which is kind of how I like it. I bought a Groupon back in the spring for the Museum of Transportation and since Jax loves all things trains we headed over there.

IT WAS AWESOME.

We rode a train.

Then we played in the Creation Station, which he loved. We had to pay $1.50 each but he got to run around and play with other kids and I sat there and watched him have a blasty. Would have been even more fun for me had my phone not been on 3% battery.

When our time was up there we went outside and saw the trains. SO SO MANY TRAINS. We went in the trains, we walked around the trains, we rang train bells and whistles and admired their big wheels.

Pre-K

2011-08-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today was Jaxon's first day back to school.

We couldn't find orange Chucks in his size so we got him gray ones and put orange laces in there.

He requested German pancakes but I made waffels instead, the tasted funny, but he ate them up.

He was excited about going back, he was doing dances and jumps all the way out the door this morning.

He wanted to walk into school by himself, Mr. Independent that one, but I insisted we go with him on the first day.

He wanted NOTHING to do with me once we got there. He was very pleased that his friend Haiden got a hair cut, that was the only thing he cared about telling me.

When we picked him up his teacher said he had a GREAT day, which was a blessing to hear.

I'm so glad that his behavior has been so great lately.

He earned enough tokens (he gets tokens for chores and things like that to spend on treats, TV time, going on adventures) to get his "Weather Tracker" Thomas train so that was super exciting.

Then we had to go get my car looked at, during nap time, I was worried. Not about the car, about this child, in public, sans a nap.

He did wonderfully until on the way home, he started getting cranky and an attitude. I may have flipped him off, IN MY MIND, only in my mind.

2011-08-17T13:05:00.001-07:00

Testing

St. Patrick's Day Parade

2011-03-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

We only stayed for a short time. Jaxon was sitting on Luc's shoulders and when he got down his legs were asleep and he FREAKED OUT! So we left early and got some Hodak's.

Woody and Bullseye came with us into the restaurant and Woody needed a nap apparently.

Mardi Gras

2011-03-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Look who found the baby and get's to be King for the day....bahahaha.

Dr. Suess Birthday

2011-03-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

We had a Who Feast....

Menu:

Roast Beast

Lorax Truffula Seed

Who-Hash

A crumb even to small for a mouse

Pink-Rink-Rinker-Fink Drink

Cat in the Hat Tub cake

and I made Jax a shirt to wear to school...

Sweet Valentine

2011-02-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

A day about love, didn't start out so great. I was tired....so so tired! But I made heart shaped pancakes anyhow. And keeping with the sweet-heart theme he had a nutella and marshmallow heart shaped sandwich. Luc and I were had dinner reservations at our favorite Italian restaurant but plans changed, as they so often do and we'll be spending the night in with heart shaped Imo's pizza!

And here's the obligatory Jaxon Valentine picture.

Quote of the day: "I love you mom, you're so fabulous!" followed by a wet sloppy sucker kiss, then an Eskimo kiss then whispered so sweetly in my ear "I love you like a butthead."

BOYS!

New Routine

2011-02-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

Lucas started his out of the house, full time, job this week. We are all going through a rough adjustment period. This is the saving grace. They finish their day together. Bath, teeth brushing, jammies and book reading.

Breathing Treatments

2011-02-01T16:37:00.000-08:00

I hope this isn't a yearly thing, but that's what it is seeming to be. The wheezing started last week, so back to the nebulizer. He hates it. I hate it. But it's better than spending 4 days in the hospital. And he gets to pass the time playing on the iPad.

Colorful Valentine

2011-02-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to "make" crayons for quite some time now. I have a star mold and a Frankenstein mold but always forget until after the holiday or school party. I picked up a silicone heart mold from Target for $2.50, gotta love the dollar spot! Most people use the decrepit crayons laying around, but I bought 25 boxes at the end of summer. They were .25 cents each.

I peeled all the crayons, cutting down the sides with a blade. I figured out the best way for me to cut them, without have pieces stick to the side. I pointed the "pointed" end of the crayon towards me and sliced in between the name of the color and the crayon logo. That seemed to work most of the time.

Me and my little helper broke them up into pieces and he put them in the molds. He just put whatever in, mixing the colors all up.

Baked them in the oven at 275 degrees for 7-10 min, no longer, the color and wax will start to separate. Let them cool, I put mine outside on a cold day because I'm too impatient to wait for them to cool at room temperature. Then they pop right out of the mold.

My cute little sick guy!

Sweet Mantle!

2011-01-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

For some reason I wasn't going to do my Valentines mantle until the beginning of Feb. But that would only leave my 28 days to enjoy it!

The batteries died on my camera and I haven't been to get anymore so I just used Hipstamtic on my phone.

When going through things after Christmas to donate, we had a alphabet puzzle that was missing pieces. I took all the leftover wooden blocks and kept them because I knew I'd eventually find something to do with them.

My Dad painted these when he was a younger and I've been looking for an excuse to use them on the mantle.

The only thing I spent money on was a few pieces of fabric from JoAnn's for the top banner. I like when my birds are carrying something.

Nothing in front of the mirror. Mobile babies and puppy tails tend to foil those plans every time.

OH AND MY HAPPY DOOR!

Felt rosettes and the last heart wreath in the store.

Science Center

2011-01-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

How Much would it cost to send you to the moon?

To this day, I am still terrified to walk on these things! But today, I did it. To show my son there is nothing to be afraid of. But inside, I was shakin' in my boots!

Jaxon hates the dinosour. He moves and "Rarrrr's" and he doesn't even like to go to the lower level for fear of getting close to him. He mostly likes to admire him from afar. He sits on the level above and watches him for quite some time. Asking questions, but never taking an eye off of him for fear of what might happen. Well today, folks, he walked right under him. We even stood there for a bit. He was so brave. Even telling me so on our way out.

We also went to Grossology but it was kind of a bust for us. Good thing I had a buy one, get one Free from Dierberg's. We were the only ones in there but Jaxon wasn't quite old enough for it yet. And he didn't find the farts, burps and puke funny at all! I'm confused.

Before we left he asked if we could go back.

Last Day

2011-01-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

It's our last day working together, Lucas and I. He starts his new job tomorrow. Out of the house. It's just me and a bunch of boys tomorrow. The only one on my side is BeeBoo, and I don't think she's really of much use. This is a totally different chapter of our lives and I'm slightly anxious about all these changes. We roll with the punches around here, but I'm sure it is going to take some getting used to.

My favorite Christmas picture

2011-01-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, Christmas is long over. The decorations are down and I am just now getting to uploading and editing all my pictures for the whole month of December! I am horrible. I didn't even hook my camera up to the computer last month. I guess that's what I get for buying a memory card with lots of storage!

Anywho, this is my all time favorite Christmas picutre of Jaxon. He asked for 2 things this year. They are both Thomas trains. Proteus and "Broken Down Hiro" or Patchwork Hiro. Well, Santa set one of them on the mantle and I didn't ~~remember setting it there~~ see it there and Jaxon didn't get to open it up at home. I grabbed it as we were walking out the door but didn't give it to him right away. I was waiting for a good time, when something traumatic happened, traumatic for my four year old anyway (I can't for the life of me remember what happened), and that seemed like the best time to give up the goods!

[traumatic/dramatic moment]

[BEST EVER]

It's just an old family tradition...

2010-11-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

It's tradition.

We go to Eckerts...

and cut down the "perfect" Christmas tree.

It has only two requirements.

1. It has to fit into the space that is predetermined.

2. It has to be taller than me.

We found it.

It was full.

So my men went to work...

The celebratory "high five" after the "timber..."

My independent little man insisted that he drag the tree up the hill...

He did a pretty good job but required some help from Daddy.

Together they did a great job!

Then I bribed him to sit on Santa's lap.

With what you ask?

A grinch.

I was planning on giving it to him anyway when we read the book tonight.

Then our family picture.

I always love to get these big group shots of all of us.

Happy Holidays!

Drake

2010-11-28T18:33:00.000-08:00

Drake Kyler

Cousins

Banana Upside-Down cake

2010-11-22T18:27:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the crappy picture, I wasn't planning on posting this. I was in a crappy mood today so I wanted to bake something! I have been wanting to try a pineapple upside down cake but Lucas doesn't like pineapple and I didn't have the ingredients for it anyhow. So I went with Banana! and it was delish!

I used a "regular" sized cast iron skillet but you could use and 9x13 baking dish if you don't have cast iron.

Banana Upside-Down Cake

2/3 cup of butter
3/4 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of chopped almonds
1 tsp. of vanilla
1 box of butter cake mix

3 eggs
1 stick of butter
1 cup of water

1/2 cup sour cream
2 bananas

1. make sure butter is soft and mix the 2/3 cup of butter, brown sugar, and vanilla and coat the bottom of your pan/skillet

2. sprinkle the walnuts over the mixture in the skillet

3. layer in sliced bananas until they cover the pan

3. dump cake mix over the top, give it a few shakes to get the bubbles out

4. bake until the top is golden and toothpick inserted comes out clean.

5. flip over on a platter and scrap the yummy caramely goodness that sticks to the bottom up and slather it back on the cake

6. give some to your friends so you don't eat the whole thing!!!

Kimswick

2010-11-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

We went to Kimswick to watch the tree lighting. It ended up being a tiny tree, that someone parked in front of so we couldn't even see it. Jaxon did get to make 2 Christmas ornaments and decorate a cookie. We rode a horse drawn trolly too.

Holiday Walk

2010-11-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

We went to Kirkwood.

We saw Santa.

We ate hot dogs.

We drank hot chocolate.

Jaxon whispered what he wants for Christmas.

Two things:

Proteus and the broken down Hiro

They are trains

We rode on a trolly.

...these were super cute.

Gingerbread houses

2010-11-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

Our tiny gingerbread village.

This is Santa. Jaxon insisted Santa be on his roof.

My gingerbread house.

Jaxon's gingerbread house, he did it all on his own.

Christmas comes early at my house...to the dismay of many!

2010-11-20T19:42:00.000-08:00

Maybe next year I'll decorate for Thanksgiving.

I just love Christmas so so much.

I love Christmas decorations.

I saw this tree at Target and thought I could make one on my own for cheaper. It was only mildly cheaper and took a long time. I should have just bought it the Target one

The star and "Merry Christmas" are from Hobby Lobby.

I spray painted the both.

The start just a brighter red.

The "Merry Christmas" was once gold, but that's not my scene.

GENIUS, I put all the Christmas/winter books with the holiday decorations!

{bowl}

Home-made ornaments

2010-11-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

Every year, we have the same argument. Real or Fake. Every year I win. We have a real tree. Except this year. This year we both win! We are going to have a real tree upstairs, that's all fancy and such. And downstairs, in the family room, we are going to have an artificial white tree. The white tree is going to have all of our personal ornaments on it. Ornaments of the hand-made kinds. Ornaments that we have collected from places we've visited. Ornaments from our childhood. It's also going to have a Toy Story train under it. We always have a train under our trees. So, I did something I have been wanting to do. I made ornaments.

I made three ornaments for each of the dogs. I used tuperware containers and plaster of paris. I coaxed them into the kitchen and stuck their feet into the container filled with plaster. They, being dogs, were not very receptive to this. So, my "puppy prints" don't look much like puppy prints at all. I wasn't going to go through all that again so I just painted "prints" in the general area after it hardened. I also used rubber stamps to put their names into the plaster before it dried.

Weena refused to cooperate in the picture part of this segment.

I also made an ornament from our first trip to the beach.

Simply added sand, shells a little twine and a tag.

Smiley Face

2010-11-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

Marie Osmond was on Oprah talking about a mothers worst fear this week. Losing her son. Something she said has been stuck in my mind and I have been making a conscious effort to bring it to the forefront and use it everyday.

"You can't give a child self-esteem; they have to earn it for themselves."

So, I've been praising the heck out of Jaxon because he's had 2 GREAT days of school in a row. I've been telling him how proud I am of him. We all have. And yes, we are, we are beaming! But, he should feel proud of himself. So the simple switch of.

"I'm proud of you." to "Aren't you proud of yourself?"
"You did a great job." to "Don't you think you did a great job?"

This is genius stuff here. I think as parents we are all worried we are going to screw our kids up. There are opportunities everyday to do so. I'm am so paranoid that one thing I am going to do is going to change my kids life forever. Because, it happens everyday. Which school I send him to will determine who his friends will be. What if his friends are seedy characters? What if the staff are creeps? What about the curriculum? Yes, I can go tour the school, but lets be honest, I don't know everything that happens. A control freaks worst nightmare. I just want to do everything I can to ensure the best possible outcome for Jaxon. I want my kid, as all parents do, to have a happy life filled with joy, love and compassion.. I want others to be happy to be around him. I want him to be proud of himself and feel accomplished. I want him to be the best possible Jaxon that he can be!

and because who likes a post without a picture?

At school, Jaxon was asked what he is thankful for? He said a smiley face. Which is super cute anyway. But what a smiley face means is that he had a great day at school. The teacher has been sending home a laminated sheet with a face on it. If he has a bad day, we get a sad face...and OK day and line face and a great day... obviously a smiley face! We have yet to have anything other than a smiley face since this has been implemente. T

Struggling

2010-11-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

We are struggling with Jaxon. He is not adjusting well to his new school and every day seems to be something new. We've been to the doctor and the results aren't in yet, but I'm convinced he has ODD/Opposition Defiant Disorder. We have a long road ahead of us to curve this behavior and it stresses me out. I feel like I try so hard to be a good Mom but I see no results. I've read so many books, and websites. I didn't just wing this parenting thing but it seems like it was all for not. I just hope we get some answers soon. Some kind of direction for Lucas and I to nip this in the bud now.

scary pancakes

2010-11-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

We took advantage of IHOP's free "scary pancake" on October 29th.

October

2010-11-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

I've been super busy this month. SOOOOoooo much goes on in October. Birthdays. so many birthdays. Halloween. Pumpkin patch. all that along with day to day week to week, work and life. Blah Blah Blah.

So here's some pictures of stuff we did in October.

We have a routine now. Jaxon wakes up about 6:00 and comes downstairs and asks "can I play until cartoon time?". Cartoon time is at 7am. Then I lay on the couch and "sleep" until cartoon time.

Jaxon is getting so much better at riding his bike! He even rode to school a few times. But it's getting cold now. BOO!

We visited Grants Farm. It's so close to our house and I used a Groupon. I love Groupon!

We went to the pumpkin patch.

and carved our pumpkins....

While eating candy corn with a little heath toffee added to it.

FINALLY found a mirror on the craigslist FREE section to put behind my mantle...and it was only 2 blocks away. I suckered my sister in to going with me at 11 o'clock at night, knowing that it wasn't going to be there since the add was posted at 10am. But there it was, perfect in size. It just slid right back there and required NO cutting.

This wreath is to bare for my taste so I started working on it...I still have a few things to work out with it.

Jaxon went on his first field trip and picked out this pumpkin.

We woke this monkey up to take pictures! And I may be bias, but I do believe these two were the cutest trick-or-treaters on the block!

Creepy Crawly Cricut Shirt

2010-10-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

I used my Cricut to make 2 shirts recently. I took pictures with my iPhone so they aren't AMAZING, but you'll get the just of it.

I used freezer paper and put it on my Cricut mat like I would any paper and let the machine do it's work.

I peeled the paper off and ironed it onto the shirts, glossy side down. Then using fabric paint, I filled in the negative space. I don't let it dry all the way, because it tends to peel a little on the edges. But you have to be careful not to touch the shirt with the freezer paper as you are peeling because it'll get paint in places you don't want it, which is usually what happens to me because I'm so impatient.

Here is the creepy crawly spider shirt!

I told him to give me his scary face, but he just looks so menacing!

When I showed him he said "I LOVE IT, thanks Mom!"

...and that's what it all about.

STOP ON BY THESE AWESOME BLOGS THAT I LINK UP TO!

conquered my fear of vinyl

2010-10-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

checked one more thing off my "to do" list

vinyl house numbers.

The vinyl has paralyzed me with fear.

I have had it forever but I was so scared of it.

I thought I was going to ruin it, and it's quite expensive.

it turned out alright though.

I love pulling up to the house and seeing my happy front door.

It looked so sad before:

I took that UGLY wood thing down with mismatched numbers. GROSS!

I'll get an outside shot in the spring when I plant some flowers and get those shutters hung.

Do you know everyone I call wants over $100 to put a few holes in my brick?

I bought everything (masonry screws and anchors, the bit, my drill is just a wussy!)

PSHT, heck NO!

STOP ON BY THESE AWESOME BLOGS I LINK UP TO!

Paint: Valspar Organic Garden Semi-gloss Exterior (2-3 coats)

iPhone

2010-10-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

I finally got a new phone. After not having one for 2 weeks when my phone decided to split in half on it's own. REALLY, I didn't do anything too it the day it split in two. Phones hate me! That's why I got iPhone insurance from a private company. It covers EVERYTHING...just you wait, this phone won't so much as have a scratch on it ever because I am paying for insurance on it! Well, one of the features it the two sided camera thingy, I'm sure that is the technical name for it too. You can use it like a camera from both sides. Well Jaxon discovered this and went a little ballistic on the shutter button!

Brewery Tour

2010-10-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

We live in St. Louis, and anyone lives in St. Louis knows who the "King of Beers" is. Anheuser-Busch offers brewery tours so we popped on down for a visit. It was really interesting. The grounds are amazing and the beautiful architecture had me drooling. Beautiful chandeliers and pocket doors had me so envious! It was way more than I expected. I thought we were going to see a few vats of beer and the canning process, which we did but we got to see the famous Clydesdales and dalmatians too!

I took all these pictures with my iPhone.

lack of posts...

2010-10-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

I don't have many followers but for those that do follow me, sorry for the lack of posts the past 2 weeks.
I hope to pick up soon, we've just had so much going on lately.
Jaxon's party, his birthday, family visiting from out of town, work and the dreaded doctors appointment for Jaxon.
We are going to start 1-2-3 Magic again with Jaxon as both of our doctors have recommended it and hopefully we can get a handle on this. We won't know exactly what is going on until the results come in from the surveys we have to fill out, as well as his teachers.

I hope to get to being crafty again soon.
I made a freezer paper stencil using my cricket and it turned out really well, so I am going to try and make a few more!

FOUR

2010-10-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Roughly 1,460 days ago I was lying in a hospital bed embarking on the beginning of my life. Jaxon arrived at 11:04 pm and the Dr. called him a football player as he came out a whopping 11 lbs. 1 oz and 23 1/4 inches long. Of course, I knew he was the most beautiful baby to ever grace this earth. Since he was born he's been so independent, always forging his own way and wanting to do it in his own time. Things can't be pushed onto him because he's stubborn like his Momma and he just pushes back until he can figure it out on his own. He is gracious and smart. He tells me that he "appreciates me". I love when he uses words that a normal four year old wouldn't normally use. He likes when we speak "properly", he does things "distinguished" and thinks that boogers are "disgusting", but somehow they always end up in his mouth and that's "hilarious"! He is so kind, nurturing and helpful and will be the best big brother one day. He showers Logan with kisses, helps feed him and sings him songs in the car. He's a lover of Thomas the Train and schools me on all things related! I'm couldn't be prouder that he's a lover of literature and he loves to read on a daily basis! He bakes me wooden cookies with icing and makes me Play-doh pizza. He wakes up way too early and is ready to conquer the day, where as I need a few minutes of peace and quite and about 17 cups of coffee to be able to function like he does. He would eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, goldfish and craisins (NOT the pomegranate kind, he can tell the difference) for every meal if I would let him! Well tonight I am being a cool Mom and letting him stay awake until he passes out, maybe we'll make it to 11:04 and maybe (highly doubtful) he'll stay in bed until 7am! Age THREE aint for WUSSIES, bring it on FOUR!

Featured...

2010-10-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hope on over to Beyond the Picket Fence. She was lovely enough to feature me this week along with a lot of other fabulous people. Even better, everything is under $100! That's my kind of linky party!

Giddy Up Cowpoke

2010-10-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

I spent 2 months making a "Thomas themed birthday cake costume" for Jaxon. When I had finially rushed to finish for pictures the next day and I slid it on over his head everything was going great. Until I tried to get it off and his head got stuck in the top layer. So that terrified him and he refused to put it on again! So I scrambled to figure out what he was going to be and we just went with something we already had.

I got the "cowboy" get up a few years back for 75% off a The Childrens Place. The boots for a freecycle gift from a friend and the huge belt buckled, belt and hat were all garage sale finds. I just had to go buy a shirt for him and we were square!

To Do-ne...

2010-09-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

I been knocking stuff off my TO DO list today!

$5 worth of candy corn

2010-09-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

I don't like to actually eat the candy corn. I'm a texture girl and no thank you! But it sure is pretty! And something really weird is, I love how it smells! Mostly how it looks though...

My purple flowers were coming to an unfortunate end so I decided to change up the mantle with something with more of a pop.

I got 5 bags of candy corn for $1 each...

I used two and a half bags in a hurricane to disguise one of my favorite things about fall, Febreze pumpkin spice candles.

I used a half of a bag and made candy corn ornaments for my "tree". I simply spray painted a few branches black and put them in an awesome silver bowl I got at a garage sale for $2.50 this last weekend.

[I put a smaller Tupperware container inside and filled it with beans to help the branches stay put.]

The hardest and most time consuming thing I did was make candy corn garland. I did it while I watched a few episodes of Lost, about 3 of them. I was very skeptical because I thought that the candy corns would just crumble...and they did. At first I tried to slowly poke a needle through and that didn't work very well at all. So I got the smallest drill bit I could find and held each piece of candy corn between my fingers and VERY SLOWLY went through each and every single piece. I then took a needle and double strung them all. On each end i added a small washer to keep them from sliding off and to hook them on the nail.

I needed a little balance of sliver on either side so I got some "funkins" at JoAnn's, they were half off so I paid about $5 for 3 of them and I spray painted them with metallic spray paint.

Please visit where I link up

Jaxon Appleseed

2010-09-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Today is "Jonny Appleseed's" birthday.

10 things making me smile today

2010-09-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

1. It's Monday, so it's preschool day.

2. iced coffee

3. an amazing man who will go get me iced coffee

4. my Dyson ball

5. "Sawyer"

6. Glue guns

7. crisp fall weather

8. a job that lets me work from home

9. slippers

10. the fun name for fake pumpkins: FUNKINS

Addicted

2010-09-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

We've been watching all the seasons of Lost on Netflix instant Que for the past week. We must hurry because the first 4 seasons are only available until October 1st. I'm bad and read the spoilers and I don't think I like where it's going. But so far it's extremely addicting!

I blame his father...

2010-09-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

...for the silly way his hair grows. It's always sticking up this way and that, and not in a cute bedhead kind of way. Last time I paid someone to cut his hair, about a month ago, actually 27 days ago to be exact, and it's already grown out looking all kinds of crazy.

So I bribed him and it turned out just like I always like it. short on the sides and back and longer on the top so I can stand it up a bit.

[scary face]

What I bribed him with...don't judge.

faux fire for a faux fireplace

2010-09-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to my Mom's house to pick up my extra chalkboard paint. As I was bringing it in I was tipping the can every which way and turns out the lid wasn't on properly and most of it ended up on the hardwood floor. I scooped it very quickly into a Tupperware container and slapped the paint on the wall. I set the fan on high and let it dry and painted 2 more coats on, waited a few more hours then used artist chalk (I like the vibrant colors better and it was only $5 a Michaels for a big box). I decided to use purples and greens and make a spooky fire.

Please stop by these link parties that I participate in.

Inspiration

2010-09-20T12:12:00.000-07:00

[above 2 credit]

THIS BEAUTY.

I just don't know. I'm thinking of painting it in chalkboard paint and scouring craigslist for a free mirror that I can cut down, if/when I get tired of one and can loosen the screws and switch things up.

Apple Picking

2010-09-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

It was HOT this year.

We spent about 10 minutes out in the orchard.

There were mis-communications with the family, I'm horrible with my phone, and we didn't get to go picking with them.

We did go with friends, but Lucas couldn't come because he was sick.

Jaxon's face was DIRTY.

Logan tasted his first apple.

Derick climbed trees.

I got some awesome taco dip.

Then we went home and I was sick the rest of the night and into Sunday.

Affton Day's Parade

2010-09-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we went to the Affton Day's parade with our friends.

Jaxon loves Logan.

This pictures just says "Momma love" to me

He doesn't like the sirens from the fire trucks.

So I can cry for 16 minutes

2010-09-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

This video is pictures of Jaxon from birth until now. I lost most of the computer file pictures from his first year and a half when our computer crashed. Which reminds me, I need to buy a backup. I was able to salvage some from the internet, photo CDs and scanning them into the computer. I didn't realized the video was going to be 16 minutes long, but that gives me almost enough time to get all my cry out. I can't believe that my baby is going to be 4 years old. He has been independent since birth. Always wanting to do things his way and on his terms. He may act like he's not listening or learning and then one day we're riding in the car and he's singing a song about Jesus and the Lord and he starts spelling his name. He's got the biggest heart and loves his family. He is nurturing and helpful. He is polite and makes me a very proud Momma when we are out and he holds the door open for people and says please and thank you. He is stubborn like his Mom. Quick witted and has impeccable timing with his jokes. He loves his rain galoshes, trains and peanut butter and jelly, not in that order. He wakes up way too early. He's always up for an adventure and loves exploring the city as much as I love watching him be amazed by everything he sees. He has shown me that I have much more patience than I ever thought possible for myself. He has taught me an unconditional, unwavering love that is indescribable. I couldn't be more proud of the person that he is becoming. I am so lucky to call him my son.

Keeping Busy

2010-09-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

My next projects:

I am in the process of ripping out 30+ year old tile and painting the walls "golden avocado" in our side entrance. I'm taking my time with this project as it could easily look disastrous! I'm going to paint the steps but I haven't found a technique that really speaks to me yet.
I also got 4 shutters for the front of the house off of Craigslist for $5 each. They need a new coat of paint slapped on but they should be fabulous when I am done!
painting the front door "organic green". I was going to go for a red door but my bestie strongly encouraged me otherwise. and I'm so glad she did!
starting my second quilt for my nephews Christmas present.
scrapbook everything that I haven't for the past 3 months
make vinyl numbers for our soon to be newly painted front door as I very much dislike the mismatched metal thing attached to an abstract piece of wood, attached wonky on the front of the house!
prepare myself for Lucas starting a "out of the home" job. I have worked side by side with him for the past 4 years. As much as I may complain about seeing him too much, I know that I am going to miss him and it's going to be very difficult adjusting to him not being with me all day.

"Finished" craft room:

Jaxon has a spot with crayons and markers to "get crafty"
I store all of my scrap stuff in 2 IKEA Expedit shelfs, they are the best, most functional piece of furniture I've ever bought!
The boxes on top of the left Expedit shelf are Martha Stewart, and I got them for $10 on clearance at Michaels!
I got my Cropper Hoppers, at a Scrapbook Garage Sale that my local scrap store holds a few times a year, for $5 each with a ton of dividers

I used a magnetic bar to hold all my scissors and tools
2 curtain rods hold my punches and clips to hang my latest pages, pictures, rulers, cricut mat...and really anything else I fancy them too.

Play Room:

late one night I decided to paint that wall with chalkboard paint, and I'm so glad I did
2 train tables...yes a little excessive.
who knew a gutter would make such a great book shelf?
That school desk: $2 at a the Eldon City Wide Sale! It was in storage for almost a year at the other house but I knew it would have a perfect place one day. and now Jaxon does his imaginary "homework" there. I hope he is that enthusiastic about homework when he is actually assigned homework! Doubtful.
I'm a huge fan of things being strung across the wall. It's so change-out-able.

This is what it looks like on a normal day.
the other Expedit shelf. It holds all of our family games, the rest of Jaxon's books and all of the toys
The orange bins on top are empty. I scored those at Lowes for $1 each! (I bought all of the orange ones they had)
Lego table: $5 at the Eldon City Wide Sale

and that's what I have been up too lately. taking it slow to unpack and decorate everything this move.

playing in flour

2010-09-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

I made home-made dumplings last night with the help from my little boy. Afterward he carted some hot wheels in and played in the mess that I didn't clean up.

Recipe: Peanutbutter and Jelly cake/cupcakes

2010-09-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

I posted a picture of a cake awhile back and negated to share this sinful recipe!

[I can't figure out if this looks appetizing

or not.]

What you'll need:
box of Golden Butter Cake mix
-3 eggs
1/3 c. butter
2 1/2 strawberries
1/4 c. sugar
2 ts. cornstarch
1/2 c. butter
1 c. peanut-butter
3 Tbls. milk
2 c. powdered sugar

Strawberry filling:
-simmer strawberries and 1/4 c. sugar on the stove until strawberries break down.
-mix a few drops of water with 2 ts. cornstarch until smooth and add to strawberry mix and let thicken (follow directions on cornstarch)
-refrigerate until later

Cake:
-mix cake mix, eggs, 1/3 c butter and 1 c. of water until smooth and put into 2-9 in. pans or fill 24 cupcake liners up 2/3 of the way
-cook 20-25 minutes until golden brown and let cool

Peanut-butter Butter cream:
-beat 1/2 c. butter with 2 c. powdered sugar and slowly add 3 Tbls. milk...until creamy looking
-add in 1 c. peanut-butter and beat until it's all incorporated

Assembly:
-take a butter knife and insert into the middle of the cupcake and twist, making a hole
-spoon strawberry filling into a plastic baggie, seal and cut the corner of the bag
-slowly fill all of the cupcakes
-spoon peanut-butter butter cream into a different baggie and swirl along the top (if you spread it on you might mix the jelly with the butter cream)

In the Gutter

2010-09-11T18:07:00.000-07:00

Supplies:

10 ft. gutter: $10

2 gutter end caps: $6

1 can of spray paint: $4

anchors and screws: $4

Total: $24

It's pretty simple.

1. I drilled holes into the back of the gutter

2. marked those holes level on the wall

3. spray painted the gutter orange

4. put the anchors in the wall

5. waited impatiently for the paint to dry

6. hung it up

7. put the end caps on

8. put all of our favorite books in it!

[I was so impatient I forgot to spray paint the end caps...so ignore their white-ness. Also, I had to spray paint one of them white to begin with because there were only brown "left" gutter ends at the store. Who needs only left gutter ends?]

Update: I spray painted the gutter ends!

drooly baby

2010-09-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

who doesn't love a baby with drool all over his face?

MantlePiece

2010-09-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

$20. twenty dollars. TWENTY DOLLARS!!!

that's an AMAZING deal.

on craigslist they sell for $200.

I'm thinking about painting the inside of the "fireplace" with chalk board paint.

I don't know really what I am going to do with it in the middle yet.

Or if I'm going to paint the mantle itself black so it stands out against the white wall.

For now I am content to put my pretties on it!

But...if anyone out there has any brilliant ideas about what I should do with the middle of my mantle, please leave my a comment. The white on white on white is starting to drive me a little crazy!

Edward Skullen

2010-09-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

get it...like Edward Cullen...the vampire...from Twilight!

or as Jaxon's like to refer to him "my friend".

"chillin out, maxing out, relaxin all cool..."

He can start filling out paperwork now!

2010-09-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

Last night, about 11pm I was all figity. So I painted the wall in Jaxon's playroom with chalkboard paint!

and today he wrote his name. Not just a "J"!

Progress: Family Room

2010-09-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

I have a few more frames I need to pick up, maybe garage saleing this weekend. Along with Halloween shopping with the bestie, making a wreath with the bestie and the parish picnic. When all is said and done I will put the pictures in the "House Tour" section!

some of the kitchen

2010-09-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with the new kitchen. I very much dislike: the ugly tile, the crappy cabinets with missing knobs and the hideous floor [that the last owners used as an ashtray]. I love that it is bigger and laid out much better than our last kitchen, everything kitchen related that I own almost fits into it. Which is a lot because I have a slight obsession with kitchen gadgets.

This is the part that puts a smile on my face.

another one!

2010-09-06T06:48:00.001-07:00

I got another award. I'm so glad people like Jaxon's room, because I kinda love it!

Thanks Kim!

Halloween book wreath

2010-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

We, like most college students, end up with some books that can't be bought back. So I took that book and chopped in to bits, used my scallop punch and made a wreath. Then I didn't know what to do with it so I hung it on the back of a door for a few months waiting for something to come to me. One day it finally did!

FREE to Fab

2010-09-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

I have an amazing man {most of the time} who will whip the car around to pick some "trash" up off the side of the road, haul it in the house and let it clutter up the basement until I figure out what exactly I am going to do with it. I passed this chair for 3 days before I was tired wishing I had stopped and picked it up. So, Luc went and got it for me and there it sat, until I figured out what to do with it, where it would go...yada yada yada. I knew I wasn't doing anything with those straps. I saw a tutorial about how to repair/replace them and it looked like a nightmare, and I'm far to impatient to mess with all that.

What I did was wait. I waited until "foam" went on sale at JoAnn's. Everything was on sale, the "foam" for 50% off, the batting for 40% off and then I had a "take and extra 10% off your entire purchase" coupon. So, it was about $45 for everything. Then I had to figure out how my foam was going to not fall through the gapping hole, those straps were not going to do the trick. I stopped by the hardware store and had them cut two 20"x20" pieces of plywood for me ($7). Usually, I would have had to buy a whole piece ($40) but they had scraps in the back and he was nice enough to sell me that instead.

I came home and pieced everything together.

I put the foam on the plywood, then wrapped it in batting and stapled my little heart out.

I went back and forth on what to cover it in. I had an extra Blad Ikea curtain so I was thinking that, but I'm a lover of patterns and I had a set of sheets that my family bought for me when I was pregnant with Jaxon. We no longer have a full size bed but I love how they feel, I love that I slept on them while I was pregnant with Jax. I love that they are green and yellow. I just love them, so I went with it.

Premature Decorator

2010-09-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

I decorate for Halloween September 1st. I love holiday decorations. Except for Thanksgiving decorations. I only like Thanksgiving decorations. I love Christmas decor though, because Halloween night I break out the many Christmas bins and sleep restlessly until November 1st when it's semi-socially acceptable to begin thinking about Christmas. So what if last year I was taking down my Halloween decorations and had my snowflake lights glistening in the window while the last few trick-or-treaters were knocking. Don't judge me.

[one day I will have a mantle to decorate, until then, this will suffice]

[meet Boris]

[my boo over the Halloween years...]

[black kitty for good measure, just be sure not to cross him]

[extreme holiday decorators don't skip the bathroom.]

Oh, there's more to come....including a life size skeleton with a very clever name!

Today

2010-09-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

I found the PERFECT boots. Well, almost perfect. They are the perfect brown boot for me. I love them. They have a little bit of edge with the metal but they are still country, a little heel (mostly I just like the noise)...I love them!

Oh, and we played outside.

[he was searching for clues as to which way his dad went.]

and Jaxon pwned Lucas today in the car.

He imitated him in a funny voice "I don't need the GPS" ...you're wrong dad, you don't know the way.

Blushing

2010-08-31T11:37:00.001-07:00

I was featured. SO exciting!

check it out: http://oliviarenn.blogspot.com/2010/08/sunday-funday.html

NOM NOM NOM

2010-08-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

he flipped his bowl. he slapped and kicked. he spit it out. swallowed it down. laughed and made the most "hates it" faces.

I laughed...a lot.

...and them promptly feel asleep!

Pre-K: first day

2010-08-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

Last night, getting ready for bed, in the bathroom brushing our teeth and Jaxon starts crying hysterically. I asked him what was wrong and this is how it went.

Jaxon: I don't want the girls to say that
Mom: say what?
Jaxon: I don't want the girls to say I'm cute, you tell them not too.
(after his bath I was fixing his hair and told him all the girls were going to think he is a cute.)
Mom: They won't say it out loud then, they'll just think it.

{I love a picture that captures his personality.}

and I must say, my kid has some style. He picked out everything he's wearing and I will always think he's cute, and say it out loud...probably several times a day.

Oh, and I got this...he's doing so good on his "J's"...just need him to work on the other letters in his name.

the end of nightly cry fests

2010-08-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

Jaxon left his "2B" at his Ma Pam's when he went to visit. He's had this stinky blanket since before birth and has always taken it everywhere he goes and sleeps with it nightly. So when he figured out that it was not within a hundred miles of us he was pretty upset...and has been ever since. But Ma Pam was nice enough to mail it back to us.

We thank her very much!

Chucks

2010-08-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

Today was my first time going "back to school shoe shopping". Jaxon could have cared less. He just wanted to go eat. We got in, and got out. A pair of lime green Converse (with a pink and orange tongue; HE PICKED THEM), a pair of black DC's and a lunch later we all sat waiting....and waiting for Lucas to pick out a pair of shoes. This man is the MOST indecisive person I've ever met. When we go to Taco Bell he has to stare at the menu for what seems like eternity. Mind you, he's been there only a MILLION times but he has to know what on this or that...and in the end he always gets the same thing. Men!?! Back to the point. After we sat there and tried on 37 pairs of shoes I suggested he get a pair of "Chuck" or Converse. I have always worn them, as in before it was cool and Jaxon has had several pairs. In the end he ended up with red high-tops and I won because I made it out of the store before I turned 83.

"Hey now, you're an ALL STAR!"

Nerdy Headboard

2010-08-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Of course I love the FREE headboard that I DIY-ed better than the one we paid full price for.

I got a dresser at a garage sale in the spring for Jaxon and I wanted to have something to match. So when I spotted a headboard for free with the same shape I scooped it up. Unfortunately, I got lazy and left it outside and it warped the wood slightly. Whatever, it still works!

So I sanded it down and stained it. Then I ignored it for a week or two trying to figure out an image or a word that I thought would stand the test of childhood time and grow with him for at least the next 5 years.

I wanted something abstract, and cool. Luc is a huge science nerd so we searched the www and I found an atom that I liked.

I cut it out of contact paper with a craft knife and stuck it on the freshly stained headboard.

painted a few coats of white paint we had lying around....

check out the rest of Jaxon's room

It did require a few touch up's where the paint eked under, but overall I'm pleased with it. If I were to do this again I might try vinyl. Contact paper is on the MUCH cheaper side.

PB&J cake

2010-08-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

It was FABULOUS!

Craft Room

2010-08-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

I finally have a place to create.

Family Room: not quite done

2010-08-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

I waiting on some gray rugs to come in at the beginning of September from IKEA.

I need to paint the tables

figure out what to put on the wall behind the TV, empty frames ?

The coffee table we've had since the beginning of our relationship, we got it on clearance at Target for like $18. It's one of two pieces of furniture that have survived several moves It had been in storage for a few years. We held on to it knowing that one day it would see the light of a room again.
I spray painted the lamps, I got them a a church sale a few weekends back

We got the furniture off Craigslist for $130 and the chairs were FREE!

YES, apparently I have a strong affection for red furniture.
YES those are cinder blocks under the couch, we broke it trying to get it down the steps and into the basement!
tables were also FREE from Craigslist
finish sewing the pillows

My favorite "small boy"

2010-08-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

While we were driving the other day I told him he was my favorite baby. Where in he quickly informed me that he was not my favorite baby, that Logan was. I got all worried, was I not paying him enough attention because Logan is here. I think that I have been very good at balancing the two of them, especially since Jaxon is such a big helper and loves to dote on Logan. But, that was just my Mommy guilt getting the best of me. He followed up, telling me he was not a baby. OK, you're my favorite big boy then. That wasn't right either, apparently he's NOT big. So then you are my favorite little boy? Wrong again? He said "Mom, I can be your favorite small boy!"

I don't know what it is lately.

The fact that another year of school is getting ready to start.

The looming date of October 11 when my boo becomes FOUR. That's right, FOUR. I'm choking as I type that, because there seems to be an error. This little baby that I carried around for 10 months is going to be four years old, how is that possible as I just gave birth to him yesterday?

Maybe watching Logan has me feeling reminiscent of cuddling a little baby and when I try to snuggle Jax his long gangly legs and arms, knees and elbows poke me and prod me and he squirms because he doesn't want to snuggle? I didn't think that was supposed to happen until he turn 13 or something.

He asked me today when I was hugging on him during before nap time why I looked sad so I told him it was because he was growing up into a big boy. But that was OK because everyone grows up. This is when he concocted a plan to NOT grow up. He has decided he's not going to eat anymore so he won't grow. We'll see how long that lasts.

Play Room

2010-08-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

Our new basement has many purposes.
-utility room
-office
-family room
-craft area
-bathroom
-baby/nursery area

and the play room.

All of Jaxon's toys are now downstairs because this is where we spend most of our day, never needing to venture upstairs much.

So here it is.

best thing I ever bought was these Ikea Expedite Shelf's. They are amazing and store so so much.
Got the Thomas ride-along toy for $1 at a garage sale

the game box is an acutal game I got at a garage sale for .10 cents

the movers thought I ran a day care

Lego table at a garage sale for $5 with legos

Christmas present a few years back

chalk board: garage sale for $1
globe: $2 at a rummage sale
chairs: $4, Target clearance
old wooden school desk: $3 at the Eldon City Wide Sale
I need to get a new table for the chairs as I used the other one by the pool and it go warpped

rug from Craigslist for $15
I need to figure out what to do with that BIG WHITE WALL!

Hold the Pickle!

2010-08-16T19:01:00.001-07:00

Supersize it - Nsync

Meg | MySpace Video

Classic Peg

2010-08-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

fWhen I'm having a bad day, this always cheers me up!

absence

2010-08-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

We're moving NEXT WEEK, so I won't be posting much here. It came upon rather quickly but we are super excited. We will be moving while Jaxon is at his Grandparent's house and DB is at camp which will make it so much easier.

I'm kind of thrilled that I have a whole new house to decorate. Also, moving means lots of crafty things and the like. I am going to be more intentional where I place things at the new house. I'm usually to anxious and I just throw it all somewhere but I end up hating it a few months later. I am going to be less cluttered at the new house, and if I don't LOVE it or it's not functional then it's gone.

Jaxon is going to be changing pre-schools to one that is closer to the new house, close enough to walk too.

We are going to have a HUGE basement that will be several areas: play area, crafting, office, TV area.

I really can't wait! I think this is going to be good for us.

Without further ado, the new casa: (it is under construction, the former tenants got evicted and were not very happy about it, so they destroyed the entire property)

So many changes are going to be happening in the next few months so we are just praying for easy transitions.

What happens at a truck stop...

2010-08-03T05:02:00.000-07:00

We left St. Louis at a horrible time on Friday. It literally took us 5 hours to get from home to Luc's parents. It usually takes us 2.5 hours. It didn't help that we had to go back and get my camera, then we got stuck in traffic and tried to go around it, that wasn't very helpful. So bad planning on our part landed us at a truck stop for dinner. YUM! (she said sarcastically) At least the entertainment was good!

Lone Elk Park

2010-08-02T05:07:00.000-07:00

We stopped at Lone Elk park on our way home from Eldon.

I thought this poor little deer was the only thing we were going to see, because it was the only animal we saw for what seemed like forever. But who am I to say, I'm impatient and wanted animals greeting us.

This guy look terrified, every time Lucas said something his eyes popped open really wide.

BABY BISON!

Wiener Mobile

2010-07-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

Guess what came to our town?

He even got a whistle, the wiener whistle! It's so cute that I didn't care that he blew it for 15 minutes after he got home!

these rolls aren't edible...

2010-07-31T05:28:00.000-07:00

How freggin' CUTE? Too cute.

Do you see that one bottom roll, it's like a pocket.

I love it!

like trying to get oil from a water spout

2010-07-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when I try to take this boys picture.

Such is life.

Montavy Family Reunion

2010-07-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

We ventured to Eldon this past weekend for Lucas's family reunion.

Future Photographer or Hiro the train?

2010-07-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Interview with Jaxon: June 26, 2010

[I watch my besties baby and Jaxon LOVES him. He is very helpful and concerned when he fusses. He decided to take pictures of him with his camera yesterday.

What's your name? Jaxon
Do you have a favorite toy? No, but I like to play with them.
...favorite food? peanut butter and jelly, goldfish and craisins
...favorite song? Chicken Fried
What do you want to be when you grow up? Hiro the train
Best friend? Colton, Paige, Adrianne, Ricky
...favorite book? ALL OF THEM
What is the one present you want that you don't have? Neville
What would you do with $100? get a trash truck, the big one that trashes Andy's toys.
Are you going to get married? No, I don't want too.
If you could have a different name, what would it be? Bo Bo Jelly Face
...favorite movie? Thomas...(then he went on to give a narative of all the Thomas movies)
...favorite color? red and orange
...favorite TV show? Caillou
If you could be an animal, what animal would you be? I don't want to be an animal.
...favorite animal? all the animals at the Zoo
...favorite place to go? animal store
...favorite game? Hide and Seek

making the doily look cool

2010-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

[someone needs to iron their shower curtain and take a better picture of her cool new shower curtain.]

I saw Ashley make a bag with paper doily's. I just did what she did (not as well) and spruced up this cheap white shower curtain. Even the Mr. loves it, he said it kind of looks like gears.

riding along in my automobile

2010-07-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

some of my favorite pictures from our trip to Eldon this weekend.

photographic evidence he was with us

what I tried to do during the trip

HI-LARIOUS

out of focus, but still funny/cute. he was scared of the bison at Lone Elk Park