updates

I have not been able to upload pictures from the fair last weekend. Whenever I have tried, the computer freezes up.

SOmething to deal with tomorrow.

Not at 10 o'clock at night.

Here are some photos not blogged yet:

We went to the Bristol Renaissance Fair. (waiting for the joust in picture above)

It was magical.

And then it got hot.

And the kids were tired (we did the outdoor movie the night before)

so then they were hot and tired.

We did not get to explore as much as we hoped, but most of it was PG-13 rated anyway.

Such as this guy below.

You pay to throw tomatoes at him while he insults you.

I was so embarrassed for the people playing because of his creative jabs.

All were offensive.

Most were inappropriate. Funny, but inappropriate.

Definitely PG-13.

We came across it while sitting on a hill for the joust.

Things were so "colorful" I questioned if we should move so the kids could not overhear it.

We have been out catching fireflies.

Chris has been between projects at work recently.

He is being "loaned out" to a company his firm represents and until that started, he wasn't taking on any big projects. So we had a lag time from when things wrapped up at the firm until things started at the company. We cherished so many nights with him home. Catching fireflies. Watching movies. Going for walks. It was heavenly.

Other updates: Reading Challenge guess what I found out. If your child can't read on his own yet, and you do a reading challenge for him to read 100 books- that means you have to stop and sit down and read those 100 books to him. Not just that, but you actually have to remember to mark them on the chart. Otherwise, it's pointless! So we are reading lots of books, but you sure couldn't tell from our chart! That's okay, I guess. It did it's job by raising awareness and reminding us we need to get our books in during the daytime so we can read chapter books at night.

Andy peeing the bed at night. No change there either. After those two weeks of nonsense and constantly changing the sheets I just bought pull ups. Who cares if he had been night time potty trained for 6 months beforehand. He's stinkin' two years old. He's got some time for a little regression.

This guy had a birthday

so did this guy

I stayed up all night making decorations and baking cupcakes, cake balls, cookie cake... but I have nothing to show for it. We had just decided to do a party 24 hours earlier. I called his friends and threw this thing together ... well... overnight. I was so fried by the time the party arrived it was all I could do to host the party, I did not take a single picture of decorations (sorry Bri!) I did, however, get a picture of the door, as that got left up for weeks (out of sight, out of mind. I kept forgetting it was on there!) Inspiration found here. I had planned for mine to be two-toned as well. But I was too dang tired by this point.

Ideas for your next Lego party:

Plates like these (but I did all different mini fig faces)

Cake pops and cupcake toppers idea inspiration

Super cute invitations I would have used if we had planned this more than 24 hrs in advance

How to make cakepops

For cupcake topers

gift boxes (I also really liked her idea to order minifigs to look just like each guest- again, something that needs to be done more than 24 hrs in advance ;)

cute ideas I didn't use:

http://www.tipjunkie.com/lego-birthday-cakes/

http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2010/03/09/hes-six-lego-birthday-party/

http://deliacreates.blogspot.com/2011/01/lego-birthday-party.htm

http://cleof.blogspot.com/2010/07/lego-birthday-party.html

LOVE THIS DIY shirt. Started to make one at midnight and realized I only had wax paper not freezer paper. They are not the same thing. http://party.tipjunkie.com/go/?id=135

Saturdays are exhausting

County fair this morning (post pics tomorrow)

Walk to fountains/shakes tonight.

So. tired.

In a Mood

This morning (if any of you read it already- I deleted it) I blogged about how I am in a mood.

I emailed my MIL about my frustrations that there are things in life that I want and have no power to achieve them.

I was having a bit of a pity party today.

And then I prayed.

really prayed.

And I found that the things that I was lust over (amazing old house, big yard, small town, etc) are not important.

Last night Chris tried to tell me as much when we we talking about things. He said, "You have all of the elements you need to be happy".

I didn't hear him.

I was holding on to this pride that the things I wanted are not wants but they are needs.

I was wrong.

I am so grateful for personal revelation and for a loving God who cares about me and my personal struggles and is always patient and gently shows me the errors of my ways. Instead of praying to know His will, I was really praying, "please give me what I want". 'sigh' and no one can show me the error of judgements but my Father in Heaven (I guess I still have some pride issues, 'eh?)

I uploaded all of these awesome moody rooms because... I was in a mood... I couldn't delete them with the post. they are definitely still worth looking at, even if I have pulled myself out from the clouds (again).

A stark contrast from my usual:

I know my MIL and Dad feel particularly cheated if I don't blog pics of the boys.

Wednesday we went for a run after dinner.

It was a million degrees so we went up the the fountains at Bayshore (need a post about that).

Stopped and got a cookie at Pot Bellies.

Dropped books off at the library.

As we approached the library, we could see a tent and hear music.

Then a sign that read "Community Band. 7pm Tonight"

There, under the tent, in a million degree heat, sat a bunch of grandmas and grandpas playing in a band.

It melted my heart.

And made me think of Grandpa Dale.

Especially when they played a polka and a bunch of little girls got up to dance.

(No, cousins, it wasn't Turkey in the Straw or She's too fat for me, but I still loved it).

And a moody songs for you (the video is a little crazy, but the song is great).

Favorite Things: New Moon Soundtrack

I stumbled upon this soundtrack while looking up some indie bands on itunes.

On a whim, I purchased it.

A year later, I still love it.

Some songs are inspirationally beautiful.

Some are kick-butt rocking tunes I run to.

Some that make me want to learn to play the guitar.

Some are moody and haunting and heart-aching and are good to sing at the top of my lungs when I am missing Chris;)

(just kidding)

(kind of)

Some I dance to in the kitchen with the boys while making dinner.

Not convinced? Check out these reviews:

"On a good day, film soundtracks enhance the moviegoing experience. At their best, they transcend it. The latest sonic accompaniment toTwilight's inescapable teen-vampire juggernaut — a swooning conveyance of girl-meets-undead-boy romance, delivered by some of the best established and emerging names in the indie stratosphere — may sway even the most committed Twi-loathers." (link here)

"Music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas of Chop Shop (The OC,Chuck, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy) gives instant credibility to the proceedings, and comes through with a mix of tunes that will floor Twilighters and Twi-loathers alike.
The indie-flavored soundtrack features the already-released single by Death Cab for Cutie, "Meet Me On the Equinox," as well as songs by Radiohead's Thom Yorke, The Killers, Muse, Band of Skulls, Grizzly Bear, Anya Marina, Sea Wolf, OK Go, Bon Iver with St. Vincent, and more. If you have any interest in this genre at all, you've likely already heard Death Cab's contribution. It's as melancholic a song as you might expect from the band, but the bouncy rhythm keeps it from falling into the darkness entirely. Emerging UK rockers Band of Skulls bring their trademark riff-laden swagger to "Friends," a track that quickly assures the listener of New Moon's multi-dimensional sound -- this is going to be much more than a collection of forlorn mellow love songs.....What they've amassed here is a solid collection of pleasing indie-tinged music that's remarkably artistic considering its commercial origins. And while we've no doubt that it'll provide a killer sonic backdrop for the upcoming film, this is a soundtrack that's strong enough to stand firmly on its own. " (link here)

LISTEN HERE

(#6 is my fave.)

Re-upholstering a Chair Demo

I had taken a few photos to blog a tutorial about re-upholstering, but Jenny over at Little Green Notebook just did this last week with lots of great pictures, so go there!

Part 1: Stripping

Part 2: Painting

Part 3: Stapling

Part 4: Sewing Cording

Part 5: Sewing Cushion

(when I went to take the picture above Nate jumped on the chair and said, "take a picture of me and the chair"). How could I resist?

(this chair is for their room for Dad to read at night. It's vintage, so I added a lot more stuffing for a more comfortable seat.)

(No, the back is not attached, I need to sew more cording tonight to finish the back and attach it)

Next up: craigslist night stand.

Plans:

1.add casters to bottom for extra height.

2.Paint inside of drawers something fun as a special surprise

3.paint outside.... can't decide how or what color....

Design

I bought this chair (under/behind Trudy) at a consignment store right before we moved from Iowa because I loved the shape.

I painted it white and upholstered it green floral

to coordinate with this chair

which I bought the fabric for to coordinate with our denim sofa.

Front room circa 2009

Well,

I am not sure what the cause was, but pretty soon, I was determined I needed to get rid of my casual traditional furniture and move in a more sophisticated look. I bought a tufted velvet sofa and crystal lamps. I got rid of our denim sofa and banished country-traditional chairs.

It never felt quite right.

I spent hours looking at design blogs and planning all the things I wanted to buy and changes I wanted to make to our apartment.

Friends joked that every time they came over to my house (even if it was 2 days in the same week), the house furniture would be rearranged differently.

I had this self imposed pressure to create a perfect house.

No one else noticed (or cared).

I think a lot of it was that I had no control over life (specifically law firm life), so I had to control what I could. I obsessed over perfecting the space I was surrounded in because I felt so much stress about what I could not control/perfect.

Guess what.

I never perfected it.

Instead, I calmed down.

and stopped moving my furniture.

There are so many thing I would like to change and furniture pieces/bedding/rugs/ art / lamps I would like to buy right now. But I am not. I am happy with the way things are right now, which is reflective of the fact that I have also come to accept the chaos of our life right now. I acknowledged that my obsession with design was a distraction from missing Chris (good) but that I took it too far (bad).

The crystal lamps are gone.

The tufted velvet sofa is gone.

(I realized they aren't me (never were) as much as the denim sofa isn't me (was at one time, but not anymore). I sold the velvet sofa and crystal lamps on craigslist.

I have not rearranged any furniture in my house for 6 months.

(that's not true, I did move a rug from the family room to the boys room)

And I am happy with the "now".

But don't let that fool you in to thinking that I don't have any projects.

One thing I have always loved, and still do, is repurposing a piece I already own.

I have always been drawn to tone-on-tone chairs.

Love the conflict of a traditional frame presented in a modern way.

It boldens.

It beautifies.

This chair is currently in the process of getting a tone-on-tone treatment.

And by in the process, I mean I have been working on and off on this chair for...oh... 3 months.

Remember this beaut?

She's gettin' a little paint job.

Stay tuned!

Little Boys: Sunday Morning Edition

I

love

bow ties

and

suspenders.

Grandma Dolly Pics

Chris's grandma is so wonderful about mailing photos to the family. She was recently in California for Chris's youngest cousin's graduation and she mailed pictures of the landmark event when she returned home. So thoughtful.

Here are two of my favorite pictures she mailed.

CELLO

From this music, my love for the cello was born.

A friend's husband is renting a cello and teaching himself to play from youtube tutorials.

So cool.

Fishing

"A man's gotta believe in something... I believe I'll go fishing."

I can't tell you how many times I have heard this saying in my life.

My grandpa.

My brothers.

Growing up in a family of all boys

and living down the street from your fisherman grandfather,

you have more that a few chances to go fishing.

I am glad to see these (cute) girls coming out with the boys just like I did.

Let me tell you a secret.

I like fishing.

Here's why:

• The landscape is so beautiful (a new appreciation, not something I noticed as a kid)
• I got to spend time with my brothers and grandpa (and learned that drinking soda that has been boiling in the cab of a hot pick-up all day is a really bad idea.)
• I felt competent. I can bait my own hook and take a fish off the line.
• I finally just felt like one of the boys. Fishing is an equalizing sport. Young. Old. Girl. Boy.Anyone can fish. Even a little sister.
• I was part of "their world". the world of boys. of brothers. and I wanted to be terribly.
• Now that world still the "world of boys". It has grown to include a husband and sons. I am so glad I already know my way in and can be a part of it again.

To me, fishing is family.

I have never fished with anyone other than family.

Chris and I even went fishing a few times just us before we had kids.

He would bait my hook and remove my fish like a true gentleman.

I would let him.

(I said I could do those things, not that I liked to do those things).

This particular night in June was the night before the Ott Family Coon Feed (Family Reunion). There is always a fish fry and all of the cousins look forward to fishing the night before at one of Grandpa's (now Uncle Ben's) secret fishing holes to provide the fish.

While helping Andy, I took over his pole and we caught a fish.

I was 10 years old again.

and I loved it.