a little home decor

I've been at a loss about what to do with our front room wall. There is one high window on the wall and that's it. I decided that I wanted a couple floating shelves to bring some symmetry to the wall. Finding a floating shelf even close to the size I wanted for the price I wanted wasn't easy. But lo and behold I found one on clearance at Target a few weeks ago. Love Target. Drew finally hung it for me. Beautiful. But I guess you get what you pay for because the shelf isn't sturdy at all. On the self is an 8*10 picture frame and then a pumpkin sitting on a book. I was at Meijer the other day and bought a funky green gourd to put up there. The gourd weighed maybe 1lb. When I put it on the shelf the whole thing came crashing down. I guess when Fall is over I'll have to be careful when I change the decor :( . (We have a giant floating shelf from Ikea that we used as a mantel when we lived in Az. When we moved to Ne it became a laundry room shelf and now it's serving in my crafting/storage room. It's super sturdy. I could probably hang from it. :) I wish Ikea sold floating shelves in more sizes. Just sayin)

At first I thought I wanted to hang a big family picture on this wall, but that would get expensive especially if I wanted to keep it current. So we decided on a big circle mirror. After going to a bunch of stores I found this bad boy. I was telling Drew that it looks so small in all my pictures, but this mirror really is huge. It's 33in in diameter. That's almost a yard. The best part about this mirror is that it came from the Home Depot. It was 7 inches bigger than the circle mirror Target was selling and it was the same price. I feel like our room has come together.

Next to the floor lamp hidden in the corner is my grandma's big WWII trunk. I think it's beautiful in an old cool way. When we're done with the high chair I'm going to move it to that corner to make it more of a focal point.

Just in case you were wondering

Across from the big couch we have a console table with 3 11*14 frames hanging in a line above it. (one for each of the kids). Next to the table is our coat stand.

(I like knowing what people's houses look like)

some fabric flower

Molly doesn't want to wear clips in her hair anymore. She says "they just fall out". Well we live really close to Sally's... I found some new clips. Not as cheap, but they are twice the size (about 3 inches). They're called duckbill clips. After I found the clips of course I had to make something to go on them. ta da

I had tried to make these flowers before, but I didn't like the way they had turned out in the past. After reading a few tutorials I gave it another shot. I love the way this one turned out. I made 9 layers using 4 different sized circles. The key is making slits in the fabric before you start burning then you get the petal effect versus just having a burnt circle. Although I think the burnt circles could be really cute too if you have enough layers.

I also made this headband out of a few old shirts. I love it. I think it's very shabby chic.

I thought I'd share just in case you were wondering what I was doing with my new found time :)

The 81st annual Fairdale Fair

We love a parade.

what?

We went from 102 to 56. I can already feel cold coming on. Gabe went back to school without incident Tuesday. Molly was happy that he was with her again.


I think Molly and Gabe staying up too late is starting to catch up with them. Wednesday was a nightmare of a day.

I think it's cute how Molly and Gabe miss each other. They're in different classrooms. They see each other at breakfast, lunch and recess, but I think that's about it. So instead of falling asleep at bedtime they talk and giggle. It's cute, but they're super moody if they don't get enough sleep. They probably get that from me...

We wait for the bus on our porch. I saw the bus rounding the corner so I told Molly and Gabe to get their backpacks on. Gabe said he didn't want to carry his backpack. As I was telling him that I would carry it to the bus for him. Molly lost it. She started crying about how she HATES naps and she doesn't want to go to school without Gabe. As I try to explain to her that Gabe is going to school the bus pulls up and Gabe starts crying too. Gabe doesn't want to go to school if Molly isn't going. AHHHH! So I told the bus driver that we'd be meeting them at school.
Of course this is the one morning that I haven't showered or nursed Lincoln yet. Great. We rush inside I throw some jeans on quickly nurse Lincoln and then we're off to school. I stayed through breakfast and then walked them to their rooms and helped them put their backpacks, coats and lunch boxes away.

It was kind of nice getting to meet a few more kids. I met Jasmine. Jasmine is in Gabe's class, but Molly really likes her and actually talks about her. Jasmine had on a dress with some fancy tights and little high heel shoes. Seriously the girl looked like Fancy Nancy. It was obvious right away why Molly would choose to be her friend. Adorable.

I left school around 10:45 and had a quick errand to run. Luckily I was showered and ready by 1:00 when Miss B arrived. (I watch a friends little girl a few afternoons a week) Lincoln and B were napping when I got a call from Gabe's teacher around 2:40 telling me that Gabe was hysterical. He was rolling around on the cot and the floor holding his stomach screaming and crying. His teacher knew about what happened the week before and thought he needed to go to the bathroom. I strapped a car seat in the van for B, woke everyone up and we went to pick up Gabe. Gabe's teacher was right. He needed to use the bathroom so once at home everything was alright. But trying to sign Gabe out of school with Lincoln in the stroller and Miss B (14 months) trying to run away from me was crazy. Holy Cow bedtime could not come fast enough. I was ready to put that day behind us.

Thursday was perfect.
and yes in case you are wondering I have taken pictures of Molly and Gabe everyday before they leave for school ;). I am that mom.

Look at this adorable little man. I could just eat him up. He's getting up on his hands and knees on the floor now. He's barely 6 months! I think the saddest thing is when he does it in his crib and he gets his face smashed against the bars. He has no idea how to fix that so he screams until someone comes to the rescue. He really is the best little guy.

Welcome September!

Thursday (Sept 1) it was 100 degrees! what a way to end the first week of preschool.

Friday was 102, so we decided to make snow flakes?
we love scissors and making messes, but mainly scissors!

Lincoln has been getting up on his hands and knees. So far he's only been doing it on soft surfaces. crib, couch, my bed. Drew thinks that I'm going to need more to fill my time so here he is working with Lincoln on the carpet.
Love it that Gabe is using his snowflake like a mask.

Suzie called and said that she was going to stop in for the weekend. It gave us the proper motivation to finish painting the toy area of the basement. :) Now we need some baseboards. Good bye ugly brown paneling! Well almost we have the small wall that the computer is on and the stairway left to paint, but we're almost there.
I have two more large picture frames to hang on the long wall. I was thinking about using some chalkboard paint and turning the frames into chalkboards. I think it would be fun to have ever changing artwork displayed. Or I could just frame more of their art and call it good...

Suzie brought Z and E with her. Molly and Gabe always have fun when cousins come. We stayed pretty close to home just because Drew and I are still paranoid about Gabe. We did however carve out some time to go to Kart Kountry. I think it was the first time that E was speechless. I asked him a few questions while I was driving and all I got were "yes" and "no" answers if I got a response at all. It was very unusual. E is usually quite the chatterbox. :) It was a nice weekend that I sadly got no pictures of.

more preschool and stuff

Molly home from her second day of school. The first thing she went for was the remote. I think she's going through TV with drawls... I didn't think she watched that much, but I like to unwind with the TV too.

We also found out that Molly didn't lose her water bottle on the bus and/or Madison didn't take it. Molly left it in her classroom. Which makes me feel better.

Instead of sporting a watch Gabe's sporting a hospital band and a superstar patient sticker. He really missed going to school with Molly.Day 3."I'm going for a run before the bus get here. k."Gabe didn't go to school yesterday or today and he won't be there tomorrow and maybe next week... Little man has been scaring me and Drew. We went to children's hospital tonight so I'm assuming we were talking with one of the best surgeons in the area, but I'm not exactly sure how you can say that a boy who goes #2 usually 2* a day is constipated. Gabe has been diagnosed with rectal prolapse. gross. disgusting. I'm hoping that no one else has or will have any experience with this. But we're told that with a high fiber diet and lots of liquids that it should correct itself within the next 2 weeks. The surgeon said that his odds of needing surgery to correct the problem are 1% but I'm still freaked out about the whole thing. Send prayers and happy thoughts Gabe's way.

My chicks

have flown the coop...

Today was the first day of preschool.

(No uniforms. I made a slightly humiliating mistake. Which I can't really share on our public blog... I feel bad about sending my mother in law on a wild goose chase. Sorry Suzie!)

Molly and Gabe about a half hour or so before the bus came.

Gabe likes to mimic Drew. He told me "I goin for a run" as we waited for the bus.

They did so well. No tears just excitement. I met Molly and Gabe at school. I wanted to make sure all of their papers got to the right people. I also had a few questions. And of course I wanted to check on them and make sure the bus ride had gone well. Watching them lining up and following all of their teachers directions made me really proud of them. They'd just randomly look at me, give me a big smile and a little wave. They're so big.

I was asked if I was nervous for them. And I really wasn't. I knew that they were ready and they would be fine, but I was really sad. I've spent almost everyday of their lives with them. Now 4 days a week they'll be gone more than they're home. :( But they loved it. They're excited to go back tomorrow. The first things that Gabe told me "I don't have a slide. but I have balls. Lots and lots. I have lots of new friends." I asked how many new friends? He threw his arms in the air and said very proud "TWO!" Love it. Molly started crying as we walked inside. She said she sat by Madison on the bus and Madison took her water bottle. Hopefully we aren't starting any drama yet. They're too little.