Template 113
10 years ago
Just as suspected, my list of things to do in the toyroom is growing not shrinking.
Here's what I started out with:
paint the bookcase
find new storage for blankets
make a chalkboard
I'm making progress, except now I've added:
sew curtains for game storage
find chairs for craft table
build shelves in closet
Completed project is a foreign concept around here. Good thing I enjoy the process.
So here's what IS done:
I got myself a little (24 inches!!!) clock for my birthday. I'm sure it's exactly what Reas would've picked out for me had I given him the opportunity. It was a joint effort, meaning I selected, and he paid. Thanks honey!
Are these colors fabulous, or what!
I finished the window treatments, lining and all. Sorry about the horrible lighting. I really prefer floor length curtains, but considering this is a room that is often filled with unsupervised rugrats, I was too chicken to hang long drapes. That "twist yourself up in the curtains" business would be much too tempting.
Cheater tip: use an old sheet for the lining. It's cheaper and it's already hemmed.
I painted my $5 dollar bench with some "Oops" paint from Wal-Mart.
And finally, I tackled another wall. There are huge walls in this room. Big walls are so hard to decorate without big stuff. Big stuff obviously costs more. Fortunately, my thriftstore stars were aligned and I found BIG. It all needed a little help though.
This $2 sign had the perfect bones for something...
I still had 2 more of these stars waiting around to be used...
A $3 shelf is always a good find...
All my treasures got a spraypaint facelift, then I put it all together.
I found the cute window mirror at a yard sale 4 years ago for $2! It's been painted about 12 different colors because I keep moving it around. I'm trying out black for a while.
I sprayed the sign with chalkboard paint and modpodged paper around the border. I plan on totally brainwashing my kids with this sign. I've already got a list of lovely little thoughts to put in their heads.
This entire wall cost $7, including the mirror which technically I shouldn't have to include since I already had it, but I will. The paint and paper was all leftover from other projects. Wahoo!
I found this awesome little...um thing at Goodwill. I don't really know what it's called. I'm sure it was never intended to be an art caddy, but such is the life of Goodwill merchandise. I LOVE it!
I found this awesome little...um thing at Goodwill. I don't really know what it's called. I'm sure it was never intended to be an art caddy, but such is the life of Goodwill merchandise. I LOVE it!
And there's the present state of my toyroom progress.
I'll start up again in January.
For now, I've got the major Christmas craft itch and I'm decking my halls.
Complete with a whole lot of fa la la la la-ing.
Today my heart is full of love, gratitude, and sadness all mixed into one. My Grandpa passed away last night peacefully in his home with family surrounding him on every side. I can't say it was unexpected, but it's still a difficult thing when reality sets in. Grandpa has left a legacy of faith in God, love for all people, and dedication to what is right and good. He will be missed by sweet Grandma, 8 children, 36 grandchildren, and whole lot of great grandchildren. It's no coincidence that his passing happened now, right before Thanksgiving. He loves holidays. He loves his family being together. I know he will be smiling down at our enormous family and he'll be happy. I'm looking forward to being with my family this week and celebrating his life and the legacy he has left for us.
On Saturday, just one day before he died, he was able to be in one of our church's sacred temples to witness the marriage of yet another grandson. That night at the wedding reception, he danced one last time with Grandma. How sweet and wonderful that he could enjoy that one last earthly experience with his wife and loved ones.
Love you, Grandpa. You are loved, and will be missed. Thank you for your incredible life and the many sacrifices you have made for your family. Until we meet again.
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a little walking and a lot of booty busting
5 comments Posted by Carrie at Thursday, November 18, 2010Today Lily is 19 months and this week she's decided that walking just might be a part of her future!!
We're so proud of her and sooooo happy to see the physical progress she continues to make. She makes it clear that she's pretty darn proud of herself too.
The kids have oh so affectionately named her repeated spills "booty busting." So along with cheering on our Lily girl, get a load of Ty's "play by play" on the action.
Claire: Mom, why do cops suck your blood?
me: uh....where'd you hear that?
Claire: Oh I just heard it a lot when I was 3.
(I could stop here and it would be amusing)
me: Cops don't suck your blood. Do you know what a cop is?
Claire: Yeah. They're bad people that have sharp teeth.
me: You mean a vampire?
Claire: Oh. Yeah, that's what I meant.
And this is why I think it could be a nightmare to spend a day in the mind of a kid.
What can I say? The cuteness just runs in the family...
along with the singing slightly off key.
I spent a good part of my weekend agonizing, swearing (dang you...oh crap... what the?! Intense, I tell you!) and nearly crying over the toy room window treatments. I've made lots of curtains. LOTS. But for whatever reason everything that could possibly go wrong with these ones, did. Even hanging the rod was a nightmare. The rod brackets weren't cooperating, the anchors wouldn't fit, my drill and battery are dying and so I couldn't even drill a measly little hole right, the screw heads stripped, I cut one of the panels too short, I broke the needle on my sewing machine TWICE, I don't have enough fabric for the lining, I don't have anymore needles. blah blah blah.
I'm done. I'M DONE. Unfortunately, the curtains are not. Two of the three panels are complete and I'm beginning to think two will be good enough. Who needs curtains that actually cover the entire window anyway?
I need a break. A break from screwing things up.
I can't show the window treatments yet because I'm not ready to be happy about them. I'm not done sulking. I want to be mad a little longer.
*********I'm mad...I'm mad...I'm mad...I'm mad...*********
Still mad.
Alright, I suppose I'm feeling good enough to show an entirely different something that doesn't require power tools that are just gonna poop out and break on you.
I've had this $3 beaded garland thingy that couldn't find a home.
I'm done. I'M DONE. Unfortunately, the curtains are not. Two of the three panels are complete and I'm beginning to think two will be good enough. Who needs curtains that actually cover the entire window anyway?
I need a break. A break from screwing things up.
I can't show the window treatments yet because I'm not ready to be happy about them. I'm not done sulking. I want to be mad a little longer.
*********I'm mad...I'm mad...I'm mad...I'm mad...*********
Still mad.
Alright, I suppose I'm feeling good enough to show an entirely different something that doesn't require power tools that are just gonna poop out and break on you.
I've had this $3 beaded garland thingy that couldn't find a home.
Since I didn't love it as much as I thought I would I
took a chance, and chopped it in 3.
Then wired the ends together, fluffed it all out, and hung 'em up.
Look how much fuller the mini wreaths look than it looked as one long stringy garland.
A succesful surgery, I think.
Home decor thought of the day: If you're mad and you happen to be staring at something you don't like much anyway, try hacking it to pieces.
It just might turn out kind of cute, and I KNOW it will make you feel better.
So, here's how it all played out. Soccer games had just ended, it was late, I was without husband. First, there was me with a diaper bag on one shoulder and a lawn chair on the other. Then there was screaming Lily, facing outward in my left arm, her arms and legs flailing in anger, and slipping down my body at a disturbing pace. Then there was the stroller being dragged along in my right hand, spilling over with a picnic blanket, leftover dinner containers, trash, and sweaty socks. Then there was Ty, covered in strawberries and 3 more in each hand, thus explaing his complete uselessness in helping me. Then there was Claire about 20 steps behind us whining of being cold and tired, Tired, yes. Cold? Well, I guess it had dropped to like 80 degrees by that time and being Vegas born...who knows, maybe she really was cold. Did I mention I was talking on the phone too? I was. As we trudged onward, a nice man asked if I needed help. Hmm. Help? Aren't I supposed to do this all myself? I AM the mother and I HAVE control. "No thanks. We're parked pretty close." About 1.3 seconds passed by before I realized what I had just said. What!? Did I really just turn down the help of a willing adult? That was plain stupid. Here I am about to drop one kid, lose another one to the crowd, and dump over a stroller full of junk, and I actually tell him I don't need his help! I'm sure the nice man was thinking, "Dumb lady. Why doesn't she let me help her?"
I don't know why I refused his help. Maybe because I'm so used to having a baby on the hip, holding a little hand in the other, and being loaded down with twice my weight in kid supplies, it's normal for me. All of that is such a part of me, that I wouldn't be any more likely to ask for help managing it than I would ask someone to help me brush my teeth. I do it because it's my job.
Here's what I realized. I don't have to do it alone all the time. That man was completely willing and I sort of blew him off. I would've loved help and he obviously would've felt good about providing a chivalrous deed for a damsel mom in distress. Instead, neither of us got anything.
Bummer.
So, mom lesson learned today: let others help me once in a while.
Everyone will be better off that way.
For the record, Disneyland was FANTASTIC! The weather was perfect, the crowds were minimal, the kids had a blast, and Lily was happily (I use that word loosely) shipped off to stay with Grandma and Papa. Oh yes, it was good.
I'm not going to be too wordy here. Basically, a few sentences can sum up the whole experience.
Reas: Where do you want to go next??
Carrie: I'm SO glad we're not pushing around a stroller.
Maggie: That was AWESOME!!
Ty: Can we go on Big Thunder Mountain...again?
Claire: Is that REAL?
And that was pretty much it.
Reas was just a little nervous about the carousel...
We totally rocked the astroblasters...they were so into this!
Claire was pretty much living to see a princess...love her little shyness. And Belle was so cute.
A few of our favorite moments:
Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters
Eating cookies and milk for breakfast...we couldn't just dump out the rest of the milk now, could we?
Realizing that we don't ever have to venture on to Tom Sawyer Island again.
Mickey's Street Parade and dance party...awesome!
The haunted mansion all decked out for Halloween.
Favorite rides:
Reas - Space Mountain
Me -Indiana Jones
Maggie - The Matterhorn (which we affectionaly named the Maggerhorn)
Ty - Big Thunder Mountain
Claire - Finding Nemo submarine ride (slow and cute, her 2 requirements)
Everyone had a great time, and it was well worth the wait. The bucket is ready to start saving for its next big trip...Reas and Maggie will be heading to Costa Rica!!!
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