Hugs and Kisses from my Lil D

I got Lil D to do some finger painting for me.

This is a BIG thing for both of us.

For me...finger painting is messy...I don't like messes.

For D...finger painting is messy...he doesn't like to be messy.

Yep...he's like me:)

I cut out a vinyl saying on my cricut

and stuck it to a white 12X12 piece of cardstock.

and then I let him go to work.

It took him a minute...but he got into it.

And it turned out cute!

I'll have you know that as soon as he was done he went straight to the bathroom to wash up. I'm not sure he'll be asking to finger paint again any time soon...but for this project, it was a huge success.

.Merry Christmas.

Homemade Christmas Gift #4 (2011)

.Little Boy Flannel Scarf.

Using this tutorial...I made little D a scarf that he doesn't have to tie.

And while I was at it, I made one as a gift as well!

It's brilliant really.

Just put it on your neck...pull one side through the hole...and off you go!

Turning 34

Yesterday was my birthday...it was a great day.

I have no issues with birthdays...I have no problem having another year pass by and getting another year older. Of course, birthdays are even better when I have my Lil D and Mr. T to spend it with.

I woke up in the morning and was promptly handed my b-day present.

I've been hinting to Mr. T about this charm bracelet...and he came through.

I LOVE the charms he picked out...and the little guy from Lil D...pure love!

Then these flowers were delivered...

from my wonderful mom and step-father...how nice is that...love from Seattle:)

I spent the day with this little one...

and Mr. T...

It was a peaceful day...just hanging out and enjoying my family.

Birthdays are great!

done...and waiting...

ALL of the baseboards are in...holes patched...tops caulked.

Happy...is how I describe that!

Lil D even got in on the action.

Yesterday I spent the day painting the beadboard.

So last night Mr. T notched the cap boards so I can sand and paint them.

I'm hopeful that the baby room is "done" this weekend...and by done I mean all the moldings are in and touched up.

So what am I waiting for?

Carpet.

It was supposed to be installed this week.

It's Friday...so I guess that isn't happening:)

They say Monday...here's hoping since my mom arrives next Saturday.

It's kind of crazy...that in less then a week we could possibly be done with our house remodel. It all started here...it's taken a long time...but I am proud of all we have done.

In case you are wondering...

Mr. T's finger is healing well...it's still a bit sore, but no infections and he hasn't even taken one of the pain killers they gave him a prescription for (I won't go into how easily they give away pain killers in the ER...makes me mad). Anyway...his finger is healed enough that he finished putting up the crown molding tonight...it looks great, now I just get the joy of patching and caulking. I will say that we both jerked a bit every time the nail gun went off...a little PTSD I think:)

In other house news...I got most of the baseboards pulled up to be prepared for the new baseboards going in that I spent all day Friday painting. I painted over my rectangle in my living room (it just wasn't working with the new table, etc...I'll be needing some suggestions on that wall here soon). I also put together a photo wall in Lil D's room that I am loving. I have a few more things to update in his room before I want to post pictures...but I am very excited with how it is all coming together.

Coming up...we bought the beadboard for the baby room today and I'm hopeful it gets put in Monday/Tuesday evening. Once I get the rest of the baseboards up, we will put in the new ones...and then I am hopeful that we will get the new carpet installed in about 2 weeks.

I am feeling really good about where we are at with the upstairs mini remodel. You know when you start a project and the list seems so long and daunting? Well...it's nice to just jump in and get things done...the list gets shorter and you don't feel so overwhelmed anymore...I'm getting there...

and because he cracks me up...

A productive week...

We all know that no project is as easy as walk in a room and paint it...nope...wouldn't that be nice though? So this week I decided to get a crackin' on the baby room...it is the only room in this house that has never been touched...never...after almost 6 years...it was in sad shape...

SO...this week Mr. T and I (and Lil D) patched a trillion holes, painted the ceiling, changed the overhead light, primed the walls, tore out the very bad closet organizer, and started patching it and getting it ready to paint. Outside the baby room I finally got Lil D's bathroom completely finished...the baseboards have been sitting unpatched and caulked for months...no more. We also changed out the light in Lil D's room and put new outside lights on the house.

I pulled some wall colors for the baby room and priced out the bead board for the bottom half of the walls. I also ordered new blinds for Lil D and the baby's room...we have slowly been replacing all the old crappy blinds in our house with Levolor cellular shades...I LOVE them! We get the cordless ones and they are fantastic. Anyway, I was ecstatic to find them on sale again, so I placed my order and splurged a teeny bit and bought the room darkening ones...I am so excited about that!

The baby room decor ideas are slowly coming together...Lil D has had a lot of opinions about it...so I am going with them so this whole transition of having mom to himself for 4 years to sharing her with a needy little thing will be a little easier...he is VERY excited about a baby....but I swear I can't leave his side lately...I hope that wears off soon:)

This week's to do list:

-finish prepping the closet for paint

-prime and paint the closet

-paint the moldings around the outside of the closet

-and while I'm painting moldings...repaint the chair rail in Lil D's room and the rest of the crown molding for my bedroom.

-finalize color for baby room and maybe paint.

On a side note...we woke up to this lovely site on Saturday morning. Lil D can't wait for summer and to hit the pool...but he was pretty excited that he got to shovel the driveway one more time...

Hoping you all had a productive week too!

What we've been doing.

I wish every day could be filled with craft projects and home projects...but they can't...and to be honest, aside from a few Easter decorations, I've been pretty unmotivated in the craft and home area...the intermittent snow and cold weather is leaving me feeling like staying on the couch with Lil D curled under a blanket watching whatever Nick Jr. has to offer:)

Luckily, we have had a few breaks here and there and spring has shown it's face...so on those days we head outside as quick as we can...and this little guy couldn't be happier!

"going on safari"

"a soccer ball game"

"Easter egg hunt"

watering the yard.

April is a funny month. I expect that it should be warm...but it's not...and I guess I wouldn't mind so much if the projects I wanted to work on could be done indoors.

But...such is life in Utah...there will be plenty of warm, sunny (consistent) days very soon and then I can paint and craft and room redo to my hearts content. Until then, Lil D and I will play lots of games, watch some tv and hop outside if the sun shines and the temps get above 50*.

My "Lil" D turns 4 tomorrow...maybe:)

For the past few months Lil D has informed me that he doesn't want to turn 4. He was so excited to turn 3...he loved everything 3...and I think he is having a hard time giving that up. I finally gave up trying to convince him that 4 was cool and told him he could stay 3.

This was today's conversation:

D: Is tomorrow really my birthday?

Me: yep...but it's not your birthday party...just your birthday.

D: When's my party?

Me: On Saturday.

D: That's a long way.

Me: No, it's only a few days.

D: Why is tomorrow my birthday?

Me: because it was the day you were born.

D: Why do I have to turn 4?

Me: You don't have to, you can stay 3 if you want to.

D: Mom....it's my birthday, that means that I have to turn 4.

(to true little man, to true)

For his birthday, I made him a little t-shirt.

(Thank you cricut, freezer paper and Walmart's $4 t-shirts.)

And a birthday "sign" for the front room table.

(He actually helped me paint all the blocks green....he really loves to "help")

(block and vinyl set purchased at The Wood Connection)

After he went to bed tonight, I put together the birthday table.

(please ignore my outdated family picture...yes, lil D is 10 months in that pic)

(and please ignore my off centered rectangle thing...since we rearranged the room, it no longer works and I haven't taken the time to change it...I'll explain later)

I am really excited for Lil D's party this Saturday. For the first time, he had a VERY strong opinion about what we needed to have at the party. It was pretty funny to take him to the party store to pick things out. He chose a "construction" theme and I have found some cool things to do and give the kids. I also found an awesome cake that I will be attempting to replicate. One of the cutest things about his upcoming party was that he wanted to write his friend's names on the invitations and when we delivered them, he had to go up to the door all by himself....love him! You can see him writing his invites here....he's pretty impressive.

I'll post pics of the party festivities this weekend!

Photo Pendant

I bought some square pendants at hobby lobby awhile back. They were half off so I think I got 2 for like $1 or $2. I decided to make myself a little photo pendant with Lil D's face....'cause c'mon, he's so stinkin' cute.

Here are my supplies:

Diamond glaze (this stuff lasts forever)

a wallet size photo of Lil D, so his whole head will fit in the pendant

silver pendant

I cut the photo down to fit in the pendant. I think it's about 1" X 1".

Then I filled it with the diamond glaze.

and let it dry overnight.

Then I simply slid it on a silver chain I have and away I go!

These little pendants are so great. They come in a few shapes, and are really inexpensive. You can put just about anything in them...photos, flowers, words, a special date...

Love it!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow....

I am having a fantastic giveaway that you won't want to miss....

just think DRESSES!

A day late.

But that's what happens when you go to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday so the "wear red to school/v-day party" is held the day after Valentine's Day.

I found this super cute robot template at Lil Blue Boo.

I added the heart so it said V-day a bit.

Cut it out on my freezer paper...ironed it down...

and set Lil D to work.

I think it turned out great...

and for the boy who is always pretending to be a robot...

perfect!

What do your Mary and Joseph do?

While decorating the house today, I found this video from 2 years ago (I was looking at pics of decor from the past years). Lil D at 20 months...

My little trick-or-treater...

For the past 3 years, I have picked out Lil D's costumes...

a dragon

2007: 7 months

Pajamas...I mean a skeleton

2008: 19 months

a doctor (wishful thinking...)

2009: 2 1/2

But this year, I tried and tried to convince him to a be a few different things. He would pick and change his mind, then pick again....and change again. We were at Target one day and he saw spiderman...and that, was the winner. Never changed again...good thing!

So here is my little spiderman!

2010: 3 1/2

He knows all about the superheros now....guess who is finally gonna get a cape:)

Because I can't believe he is so big.

19 months.

2 1/2

3 1/2

Man I love this kid!

Well rested and ready for a new week.

We made it to Vegas....and then back home.

And boy did we have a great time!

Day 1:

This year we stayed at the Mirage. When we checked in...the place was crazy. They guy informed us that it was a "big weekend" for them..."Rolling Stones Rock Weekend"....and Weezer was playing on Saturday night. Then he stated, "Weezer is a band". OHHHHH....thanks for clarifying that for us "old people"....maybe I should have started singing "The Sweater" song so he knew that Weezer is from "my time" too:)

Anyway, after we got checked in, we headed to Cesar's Palace, and ate here

Delish pizza. We got the greek and the margherita. The greek was amazing...I will be trying to recreate that one at home. The margherita was good too...but we make that all the time...except this one also had goat cheese chunks on it...YUM!

Day 2:

After a yummy breakfast at the Mirage buffet (compliments of a very full hotel and us having to move rooms) we headed to Fashion Show mall to do more shopping. We got Mr. T some steals of deals and used up some gift certs he has had forever...we got him 2 pair of jeans and a pair of slacks and me 2 camis and we spent $1.24 (and all these items were purchased at The Gap and Banana...I'm pretty proud of us:)

Then we spent some time here...along with the rest of Vegas. Did I mention it was H-O-T!

For dinner we went back to this place.

We LOVE it...thank you Emeril for some seriously delicious food!

Then we saw this show.

I LOVED it...I mean LOVED it! Mr. T liked it a lot, but definitely was a bigger fan of Mystere. Love is more about the music with lots of dancing and some acrobatics (amazing acrobatics), while Mystere is all about the amazing acrobatics. So if you love the Beatles and dancing, you would LOVE this show. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time...LOVED it all. Ok...I'll let it go now!

After the show, we headed down to the Bellagio.

walked through the conservatory

and watched this.

I could watch that all night.

Day 3:

We slept in and then had "brunch" here.

I call it brunch because Mr. T ate breakfast and I ate lunch :)...grilled salmon sandwich on ciabatta...YUM!

Great recommendation Ungurens...thanks!

Then we headed to my favorite bead store so I could stock up...it's always a bit of a shocker to Mr. T...I just remind him that I only do it once a year:)

Then back in the car to head back to St. George to pick up the little one, who got spoiled for 3 days with Grandma. He was pretty excited to see us.

But as much fun as we had...it's always good to be back home!