Dining room curtains and a trip to the park

     My dining room curtains are finally done!  Michelle guided me through the process because I was worried about ruining them.  I think they turned out very nice and even though I was worried that the pattern would be too loud, it completes the room perfectly.  I would take a picture of the whole room but it has been taken over by party decorations (notice I'm still not procrastinating!) and diapers that are drying.  So for now, here are the curtains.

     We had another walk in the park the other day so here are some pictures from that too:

A new wreath, a fun weekend and a cute video

        I finished another wreath the other day.  I'm not sure about it though, I originally put a letter P on it but it fell off and I think I like it better without the P.  Next time I need a smaller wreath, I didn't realize how huge this one was.  So here it is:

Here's a terrible picture of it after the P fell off:

Thoughts?

     Last Friday we went to Jill and Shad's house for lunch.  She made some delicious pizza's and the kids played together.  It was so fun to see our kids with each other, and pretty soon we'll have another one in the mix! (Emilee's baby due in August)  

     On Saturday Matt went shooting with Michelle's husband and my dad.  After that they went to a bar and hung out.  They had a great, manly time and now Matt wants a hand gun.  I'm glad they were able to bond and get to know each other better.  The women and children hung out at my parent's house.  We watched "Parental Guidance" and then did some Karaoke.  

     Adrian is doing well, he's always on the go.  He goes up the stairs so fast, and he's learning to climb back down.  He has learned the joy of pulling all of the books off of the shelf.  I put some of his on the bottom of my bookshelf in the living room.  Yesterday he was banging two toys together and throwing balls and crawling after them.  It's fun to see him play and not just shove everything in his mouth.  

This is a classy picture of Adrian standing on a box, in his diaper, eating cheerios after he tore my living room apart.he can reach everything on the table even without the box.  He goes on his tip toes.  In the background you can see a big canvas.  Matt is painting a picture of Dare Devil for his man cave.  Maybe he will let me post it when he's finished.

  

      Matt is going to have ten days off of work starting tomorrow!  I'm so excited to have time together as a family.  I think we'll be able to do a lot of fun things.  We have a wedding on Saturday of a girl we started Bible study with a few years ago.  I'll be sure to take pictures and video this weekend.

Sorry, your crap isn't good enough for me

My polite reaction to the crap people try to sell.

     

     Two weeks ago, Michelle and I went to a few garage sales.  It's a little awkward at first, especially when you look around and don't buy anything.  "Sorry, your crap isn't good enough for me."  I mean, I'm a hoarder and I saw junk that even I would throw away. We did find a couple of good places.  I got a toy for Adrian that's worth $50 new because I got so many extra balls with it, which are expensive.  It's a Fisher Price gumball machine.  I paid $12.  I also got some Christmas ornaments that are like my favorite ones from my parent's house, only different colors.

     Then I got this for $2 and three books for $1.  

     Actually, I gave the second chick a $20 bill and didn't realize until we drove off that she owed me $5.  I've learned my lesson.  Michelle got a table and chairs for a really good price, some clothes, ornaments, and I can't remember what else but she did well.  Adrian and Hudson were good sports.  It was a beautiful day for garage sales.  I watched Caroline and Hudson while Michelle picked her furniture up and I think Adrian had a lot of fun.  Hudson liked the jumperoo, and he seems to love his tummy.  He kept rolling onto it when I put him down.  There are times when you can tell how much Michelle's kids love each other, and it's so sweet.  I hope Adrian can have that kind of relationship one day.  Hint hint, nudge nudge.  Just kidding, Matt never reads this.

     Adrian and I went grocery shopping and I think it was my most successful trip. I planned all our meals, and we've tried some new things.  I wasn't looking forward to shopping without Matt but I liked it a lot.  Normally he complains because of the way I just throw everything in the cart without any order, and he asks several times if we are done yet.  Adrian is more pleasant on these trips than Matthew.  

     I am getting so close to finishing Aunt Patty's blanket.  I haven't met the deadline I gave myself but I'll be done very soon.  All I have to do is the border now.  

I made strawberry shortcake.  Mmmmmm.

     A couple weekends ago, Matt worked the mornings on Saturday and Sunday, and he had Monday and Friday off so it almost felt like a four day weekend because we got so much time together.  It gave him time to finally hang most of our pictures and it feels so much better in the house.  There's one shelf that feels cluttered to me, but once I figure out how to decorate it I can show pictures of the living room and the kitchen.  My next project will be to finish Adrian's curtains and bed skirt, then I'll do the dining room curtains.  I want to get those done for his birthday party.  Wish me luck!

     

Minneapolis Part 1

     Our trip to Minnesota will take a couple of posts.  It's a little overwhelming because I feel like there's a lot to write. On Friday night I finished Eric's wreath.  One project down, 2343223 to go! Matt got a picture of the finished project that I'll have to get later but here it is, almost finished:

     Basically the only difference is that I made the gray berries stick out, instead of following the curve of the wreath.  The colors don't look right in this picture.  The dark flowers are violet and the other ones are gray, off white and a lighter purple.  Honestly I think I would have liked it better if I did a gray yarn wreath instead of the grapevine but I thought it would be too homespun for Eric.  Oh well, I'm pleased with it for the most part.

     Also, on Friday we bought Adrian a new car seat.  We used it in Matt's car for the trip but it will normally be in my car.  I picked one out for Matt's car but I have to order it online. Here's Adrian on the way back from buying his new car seat, which took my place in the front seat.

     We left early in the morning but were a little late because I had trouble putting Adrian's car seat in.  This was after I read the instructions and thought "wow, why are 3 out of 4 car seats installed incorrectly?  How hard is it?" It was frustrating to say the least.

New seat

     We had an uneventful trip up.  Adrian slept most of the way and was pretty happy.  When we got to the hotel, we freshened up and then went to Eric's house.  We promptly wondered what drugs his roommate was on.  She asked if she could "boop" Adrian's nose.  It was weird, but at least she asked.  He lives in a house that was made into apartments.  It was nice, and it's always fun to see old houses.  

     We took a public bus from there.  While we were waiting for the bus, I was holding Adrian and he was wearing his cuffed jeans with plaid on the cuff, that white shirt with the tie and glasses printed on, and his white sweater with the ears.  This woman stopped for the light and I saw her pointing Adrian out to her passenger.  They rolled down the window and exclaimed that he was adorable and "good job mama!"  Adrian literally stops traffic.  I'm so proud.  This was Minneapolis, I'm sure those people see tons of babies right?

     So we got to the pub and Adrian needed a nap.  I was all liberal with my nursing in public and he promptly fell asleep.  I tried brown gravy for the first time in a while and didn't hate it.  I do prefer white gravy though. My dad suggested that mom and I go to Macy's by ourselves to shop while the men stayed to drink.  I didn't feel all that safe, so I said no.  It turns out Matt was nervous the whole time because he felt protective of me and Adrian.  He said he would be fine by himself, but was in protective mode with us there.  Not that I think Minneapolis is a cesspool, I'm just not used to such a big place and I did see a lot of skeezy people. I also saw a lot of homeless people, which made me sad.                                                                                          When we were finished I wanted to see the downtown Target because it's two stories and has a shopping cart escalator.  Who doesn't want to see that?  So we nonchalantly hung out around the escalator so we could watch one go up or down.  How "small town" of us.  We went to Macy's because Eric works there and we met a couple of his co workers.  They wanted to see Adrian.  Mom wanted to look at shoes but they were closing, which sucked.  We took the bus back and went swimming at the hotel.  It was Adrian's first time in a big pool so I wish I got a picture.  The water was kind of cold but he did so well and loved it!  I got him a baby float, but he was apathetic about it.  When I took him out he was kicking and smiling.  I always loved the water, maybe he'll take after me.

     Adrian always takes to Eric pretty quickly and I was glad he got to spend time with his uncle.  Stay tuned for part two!  

Bathroom art and a nice day out

     So when I went to Michael's, I bought three square frames.  I took a really pretty piece of scrapbook paper, cut some to fit each frame and called it art.  It cost $12 but would have cost less if I had realized I could use my coupon as well.  Oh well, such is life.

 Before

 After:

     I also got this new lamp from Target.  The sheep are from Easter.  

     On Wednesday I went to see the Storm Chasers practice with Michelle, Caroline and Hudson.  They were having a family fun fair.  We got free popcorn and soda, and even though I wasn't keen on going over to the mascots I realized I'm not actually afraid of them anymore.  That's one less fear in a very long list! It was a little windy and I think Hudson might have been too cold or something so we didn't stay long.   I saw about 50 pictures of Ben Gibson "Our Hometown Hero!" there. But none of Jesus. *Shakes head*. It was my first trip to the stadium and it was pretty nice.  I would love to go to baseball games this summer.    

     We went to Chick-Fil-A so Caroline could play.  Hudson still wasn't very happy, so poor Michelle didn't get to eat very much.  I remember when Adrian was a couple months old I felt like everyone else's baby was happy and easily entertained in public, while mine was making me walk on eggshells.  I don't think Hudson is always like that but Adrian was.  It was really nice to get out of the house on a pleasant day.  

     This weekend I would like to concentrate on the blanket, and cleaning.  Wish me luck.

A swollen lip, and back to crafting

   

     Yesterday I woke up at 6:00 AM and my lip was swollen.  Just the upper lip; it looked like I got botox. I have no idea what caused it. Anything I could have been allergic to, I would have come in contact with hours before.  I've also been getting random hives though so maybe this is all some sort of lasting postpartum gift.  Just in case the stretch marks and hair loss weren't enough.  Adrian had no reaction which is good...I guess.  I mean, I looked freakish so what does that say about the rest of the time? I'm still getting over a cold so my voice does not sound normal.  Just when I was convinced that I would be stuck with it for two weeks (thank you Google) the swelling started to go down and it was gone by bedtime.  At least it didn't hurt or itch, and I didn't have to leave the house.  I would have died if Adrian had a doctor appointment that day.

     Today I played catch-up with housework. Also I started to work on one of the several projects I have lined up. First is a blanket I started for my aunt...a year and a half ago. So much fail.  To be fair, pregnancy and the beginning of motherhood took a lot out of me. Now I'm excited to get back into crocheting!  When I  finish the blanket I have a list of other projects:

• Adrian's bedroom curtains
• Adrian's crib skirt
• Dining room curtains
• Painted quotes on canvas for Adrian's room
• Some bird art for either the bathroom or dining room; I haven't decided yet.
• A summer wreath

     Also Eric asked me to make him a wreath so once I figure out what kind to make, I'll do that too.  I'm so excited to have projects lined up!  I can normally clean the house pretty fast and I do one or two big things every day.  So I have time while Adrian is napping or when he's having a little bit of quiet time.

     Speaking of Adrian, he is doing well at sitting up by himself.  It will last for a couple minutes at least.  He doesn't hate being on his belly so much anymore and he's attempting to get things out of his reach.  Did I mention that he knows how to wave?  It's so cute.  He's done it four times so it's not a coincidence. I know he's not old enough to learn the alphabet but I still sing the song, and I go through the alphabet using all the sounds the letters make.  Yesterday I got to Z and he started laughing.  Zzzzzzzzz is a funny sound.                                                                                                          

New Project

      I’ve had this project in my head for several months, and I tried to find fabric once before but it didn’t work out because I wasn’t sure what I wanted.  This project involved getting three kinds of fabric that somehow coordinated with each other, putting them on canvas and sticking them on the dining room wall.  At first I wanted to frame them but that’s way more expensive.  Also I wanted some geometric fabric at first, in three different bright colors. 

     I told Eric about my plans a couple months ago and he said “you should take me with you to pick out fabric!”  Eric is way more artistically creative than I am, and he has a good eye.  Plus his taste is more similar to mine than Matt’s is, so Matt just gets frustrated when he tries to help me.  Eric is moving to Minnesota in about a week so I finally decided to get the ball rolling before he left.  On Wednesday we went to Mangelson’s.   It must have been a funny sight, us standing in the fabric aisle. I was in my giant puffy purple coat and Eric was in his badss leather jacket.  It was fun though, and here are the three fabrics we picked out:

     My camera decided to die after a couple pictures so I'm stuck with these.  The blue is prettier in person.  I'll post the finished project though!   I actually decided to have 6 square canvases and make two out of each fabric.  So this will look entirely different from my first plan but I’m really excited!  I feel like I would have passed by the blue fabric, but Eric pointed it out and I think it’s really pretty. In fact I got two yards in case I find something else to do with it.  


  Today we went grocery shopping for the first time since October.  It's hard to plan meals since I have to consult the powers that be whenever I get hungry.  It was double coupon day though!  We only saved $10 but that's better than nothing.  Yesterday we bought this 6 month size sleeper.  The clearance was 33% off at Gordmans so it was super cheap.