2015 Week Twenty-Two | May 25 - May 31

Monday was Memorial Day, and we celebrated the holiday with some sprinkler fun (we hadn't opened our pool yet- darn rainy weekends).  But this weekend, the rain cleared and we were able to stain the deck on Saturday and Sunday, taking the cover off the pool Sunday night (I, thankfully, did not get a picture of what the water looked like under said cover). I had been saying to Annaliese for months now she needed a hair cut, and Friday of this week, I had finally had enough with trying to comb through her knots and managed her mane. An impromptu trip to Great Clips and six inches, and my frustration, were gone. We also signed up for the summer reading program at our public library this week and the kids read like crazy. Ian discovered if he read to her, they would both get credit for the book, and we spent a lot of time reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban aloud. 

They kids helped... Ian for about 15 minutes and Annaliese for about 30.

Spray it on and brush it to even it out- best method ever. 

First time having her hair washed at a hair cut. 

Before and After

It's great having a big brother who can read to you.

The porch is proving to be a favorite spot to read. 

Mmmmmm

Tonight we frosted the sugar cookies. After taste-testing the frosting, Ian said, "That GOOD!" It was so spontaneous, loud, and hilarious. We showed Ian how to frost his cookies and put sprinkles on top. I think he got three frosted before he got sick of us taking them away from him. Before we could grab the 4th away from him, he stuck it in his mouth. After tasting one of my own, the frosting tastes fabulous, but I think I'm going to have to find a different sugar cookie recipe. Could be that I made them wrong, too, because this was a first time thing for me as well.


We met Darrin for lunch today at the Olive Garden. Darrin was running behind, so we killed some time at the quilt store. Ian was a good boy, so I bought him 2 fat quarters of farm fabric. Hopefully tomorrow I'll sew them together and whip up a quick little blanket for his stuffed animals.

Knocked a few more things off my to-do over break list. I finally finished Sara's present. I forgot to take a picture it, so hopefully tomorrow. I also sorted through all of Ian's clothes and boxed up all the 18 months. It's so sad putting some of those away; he was so cute in them and he won't wear them anymore. I read The Quilter's Kitchen- definitely my least favorite Elm Creek Quilt book. Each chapter was only about 5 pages long, followed by 15 pages of recipes. There wasn't much story to it at all, which is pretty much why I disliked it.

New Month, and Hopefully...

new ambition. I put a lot of energy into Ian's birthday party, and when it was done, I really didn't do much the rest of the month. I'm hoping to change that in March. I posted a goals list in January and it really helped me stay motivated, so hopefully the list for March will work the same way.

I did get two more scrapbook pages done this month. This doesn't even begin to make a dent in the number I have to do, but it's two more to put into his book. The first page is carving pumpkins at Marlena and Noah's and the second is helping Darrin make pizza. Marlena had a great idea on the pizza page to make a little pizza for each step, and it turned out great!


And while I didn't quilt much this month, I did read two books about quilting: The Lover's Knot and A Single Thread. The first was a mystery (someone was murdered in the quilt shop) and a story about how quilting can get you through the tough times. The second one also focuses on quilting can get you through the tough times, and opening a new shop. They were both good, quick reads.

Ian even seemed to slow down after his birthday (this could have something to do with the unwelcomed present of a cold he got for his birthday). We found him laying down on the job a few times, though as soon as we snapped a picture of him- his energy would miraculously come back.



Ian had his 2-year check-up on Saturday. All is well in the little guy, and he's definitely not slowing down in the growth department. Still above the 96th percentile for height and above the 75th percentile for weight (I'm surprised this isn't higher, since he eats more than me at most meals).

Now- off to work on that to-do list.

An Addiction

Saturday was quilt day at my house. Sara and Marlena came over and we quilted away the day. I got my block done for the guild block of the month. The colors are really off in the picture; it doesn't show how rich the colors really are.


I got a start on my January wall hanging (yes, I realize January is practically over), and finished after they left. But I hate it, so it's being redone (probably next January...).

Sara left the first two books from the Twilight saga with me. So, after they left, I started reading and I haven't stopped. I am ADDICTED! I have to admit I was slightly hesitant in reading it due to the vampire aspect, but Sara said at its core it's a love story- and I'm a sucker for a good love story. She was right, and I am hooked. I started Twilight after Ian went to bed Saturday night, and finished it on Sunday. As soon as it was done, picked up #2 (New Moon) and had it done by Monday. My co-worker had #3 (Eclipse) waiting in my classroom for me on Tuesday, and I've finished it today. I can't wait to get my hands on #4- but what will I do when it's done... I haven't touched fabric since I started reading, so perhaps I should get back to quilting when I'm done- there's an idea :)

And, because no post for me is complete without some piece of Ian, here's a recent picture of him. He's sitting in the drawer that holds his cars when he picks up his toys at the end of the day. For some reason he likes to sit in it and run his cars on the couch. He's just so darn entertaining. We love watching and listening for what he'll do next.

Reading Books

One reason I don't get a lot done around the house is I get completely engrossed in a book and I can't put it down until I finish it. I become obsessive. All I can think about is finishing the book. That's how I know the difference between a book I love and one I don't; the one's I don't I can put down for a few days before I return to. Two days ago I was obsessed with James Patterson's book Sunday's at Tiffany's. He had such an interesting point of view as to how imaginary friends come into your life, and their impact on your future (it's a total romance story). Better than his interesting view is the fact that he uses my first and last name in the book. I was so struck by seeing my name in the book I had to run and show it to Darrin, who, of course, didn't think it was nearly as cool as I did.

Ian is also obsessed with books, particularly the book Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Darrin and I have it memorized we have read it to him so many times. For awhile now, he's been "reading" the pages of the words he knows when we read to him, those pages that say, "No, please, buh-bye". He pulled his book off the shelf last night and started reading to himself. When he would get to the red page where the pigeon gets really mad because he can't drive the bus, Ian's voice would go up and get loud. I swear on the page that says, "True story" Ian was trying to say it as he kept saying "Oooooooo". But the kicker for Darrin and I was as he was flipping through the book, not in any order, he came across the page that says "Vroom-vroom-vroomy-vroom-vroom" and without any prompt, Ian goes- Vroom. Darrin and I looked at each other in shock. It's so amazing to us how quickly Ian picks up words and says words we haven't really worked on, like Vroom, meow, and lion. Here's Ian reading a bedtime story for you: