craft room mini makeover

Last week I house sat for Cake Leah.  It was fun to be in a house by myself again!  Laura and I had conspired together before Leah and family left that if I house sat, we would give her craft room a desperately needed mini makeover.  Those of you moms with kids know that life with two toddlers leaves only precious few moments here and there to grab for a passion such as a craft of any kind...much less the time to actually keep a craft room looking spotless! On top of that, when she does grab those few moments here and there, she quite often ends up making things for US! Which of course we love :} don't get me wrong!  Then there's the fact that while Ben has an AMAZING music room downstairs that is solely for music...Leah's craft room triples as a craft room/office/guest room.  Laura and I decided it was high time that Leah have a room that felt more like an escape like Ben's music room.  And while it wouldn't end up looking like a room out of a magazine like his does, we did our best to make it cute and functional.  :)  

Here is a before shot:

We knew Leah needed an actual curtain over the window lol.  And I made the executive decision that that bookshelf should be pretty much dedicated to Leah's craft stuff.  We took over a couple shelves in the closet for all the books that were on the bookshelf.  Her window sill was lined with crafting odds and ends and we took care of that as well.  The material on the bed needed it's own place to go...so hello pinterest idea!

Here is an after shot:

We needed items for the wall so we added three things: in the left corner we went "shopping" in their basement for wedding pictures they had hung on the wall (hello! they should be hanging on a wall for everyone to see!!), we simply used a piece of contact paper above the window to add the word {create} for inspiration (contact paper was my idea...the word and {}s were from pinterest), and we used some beautiful little tapestries that our sweet friend, Jing, had brought back to Leah from China on the right side of the window.  

The sun was so bright at the moment that you can't really tell in the above pic, but there are matching pink baskets lining the window sill ($ tree!) plus a little green bucket that Leah already had for all her pens.  The larger pink basket on the sewing table is also from the $ Tree.  We added slips of scrapbook paper in the front of each drawer in the two drawer sets to the right of the table to hide the contents and make them all coordinate.

Here are some close ups of other things we did:

Wedding pictures from the basement...except the small one in a gold frame of just Leah...remember that one for future reference...

 Pinned and organized all ribbon.  Yes. That would be me who did it all in rainbow order...as much as I could.  :}

Pinterest idea of cool paper on the back of the bookshelf.  Baskets from the $ Tree for holding fabric scraps.  Cardboard (gift boxes also from the $ Tree!) to make mini bolts of fabric - yes, again in rainbow order...hey, it just makes sense! lol.  

Ok, remember I said this room is also the guest room?  And remember I told you to remember that one picture of Leah?  Well, this is how the guest bedroom side of the room used to look:

One tiny picture on that huuge white wall!!  And the bed the general fabric and scrap and odds and ends holder.

But not any longer!  This is probably my favorite part of the room now...  :)

 Laura found a way awesome Pinterest idea for those two biggest pictures kind of at the last minute...and of course we had to try it out!  You can order online at some office stores (we used Staples in OR...and found out later that the one in Knox can't do it...which is weird but whatever.)  an "engineer print" of a picture in black and white.  It cost $2 per picture at this size - this was the medium size - 24"x36"!  It prints out just on "regular" paper and then you grab some foam board (they said from home depot which cost $11...we grabbed some from...yes, the $ Tree...for...well...$1!), painted the edges black, used spray glue and set the pictures on it and voila!  huge cool and very light pictures for the wall!!  

We had a ton of fun working on this surprise...even though I about gave Laura a few heart attacks just taking over their house like that ("are you SURE Leah and Ben won't be mad that we're moving these books??  What if they need them?!" "Laura...we're only setting them in the closet! It's not like we're gonna get rid of them completely!...and AGAIN....have you SEEN Ben's music room?!")  :}

Hopefully Leah really enjoyed the makeover and will get a chance to enjoy the room...after she and her kiddos get over being sick!  :-p  Fun way to spend a trip, let me tell ya!  :-p

We love you Leah!  ;)

(abby...don't worry...i haven't forgotten about you...your post is coming!)

may recap

My two days a week with Big Brother and Little Man consist of a lot of routine - bottle time, play time, nap time, repeat.  Which is great for little ones who thrive on routines.  But it doesn't make for very interesting blog posts every day.  So for now I'll do monthly recaps on some of our activities.  Here's a camera dump of what we did in May.

Laundry baskets make great playpens! Ha!

Going on walks is always fun - especially now that Little Man can sit up by himself in the wagon!!

Big Brother cracks up Little Man! :)

 Little Man loves his jump up toy!  He also started eating cereal!  He thinks eating like a big kid is fabulous! 

Little Man also started wanting to hold his own bottle.  He likes to hold it until almost the very end...then he likes me to take over for the finish.  :)  Which of course I am happy to do!  

One day while I was feeding LM his bottle, BB sat on the floor and looked at his Bible story book.  His story of choice that week was David and Goliath and he sat there for a loong time "reading" the story while talking on the "phone".  So cute!  And of course he was done as soon as I could pull out my phone to record it on video! lol oh well!

BB loves orphans too!  :)  

This laundry basket is the exact perfect size for LM to sit in - and he usually thinks it is great fun!

This  is BB playing the piano like Jon Schmidt!    Go here to listen and watch!  He makes me want to play again.

And it is officially warm and summery outside and that means lots of water play!  Kiki's favorite! There is no point in being outside in the hot hot weather unless you can get soaking WET!!  :}  The only problem is my cute little baby tub/pool has a hole in it and didn't hold water for too too long.  :-p  Don't worry...I had another plan...that'll be in the June recap!  :)

spring session :)

click over to my photography blog for my latest session with this little cutie and her big brother!  :)

(click on my "creative glory photography" button over on the right of this blog...)

engagement session

New photo session up on my photography blog.  Click on the "creative glory photography" button to the right and down just a tiny bit if you'd like to check them out.  :)

mother's day recipe fail

I had the job of covering dessert for Mother's Day lunch - my favorite part to do.  So where did I turn for a cute, easy, but impressive looking idea?? Why Pinterest of course!  Which is where I found this idea:

Aww, so cute and yet easy, right?  Right. That's what I thought.  I didn't have a cupcake pan just like that but figured a "regular" one would work just as well - the little bowls just wouldn't be shaped like that.  No problem.  However, I made the mistake of attempting to make this easy idea even easier by using a cookie mix. That would be my mistake.  A cookie mix is a lot more (ahem...sorry, m...have to use it...) moist than making cookie dough from scratch.  I thought once I spread a clump over the cup, it would just stay in place and bake just like the picture. Wrong. They all spread together to make one ginormous MESS! Like so...

By this point it was 10pm Saturday night and I wasn't sure what in the world I was going to do.  Thankfully I had prepared two mixes together, not being quite sure how much I would need, so I still had half the dough left.  So I flipped the pan back over and filled the cups with dough, baked them, and then while they were still hot, stuck little medicine cups inside each one as they cooled to make a different, smaller kind of bowl.  Not what I wanted, but it would have to do. 

Thankfully, these turned out well enough to use and even turned out pretty cute when it was all assembled.  The original idea was to put the ice cream in the bowls but since these were smaller, I reversed the plan and put the fruit in the bowl and the ice cream on the side:

 That ice cream, by the way, is Private Selection from Kroger and is called English Toffee Caramel and turned out to be reeally good!

In between dinner and dessert, Daniel insisted on doing presents and had picked out this card for mom:

Front:

Inside:

Hahahahaha!!!!  Yeah right.  :}

happy supermom day!!

So in thinking about what kind of post to do for Mother's Day, I quickly realized that I am not good at the typical mushy, sappy posts that a lot of people would do.  I would rather make people laugh.  Then I remembered something I had the idea to do last year but ran out of time.  This year I remembered in just enough time to pull it off.  

There are so many different points of views to go by when talking about Mother's Day.  For some, it's about honoring the mom who works hard to care for you every single day while you're still young.  For others it's the anticipation of being able to celebrate that day for the first time with a baby or child snuggled close.  And for others it's a chance to reflect on what you do and why you do it day in and day out.

I asked three of my friends to write just a few thoughts on the day from their specific points of view.  One you have met before here on my blog.  One you are about to get to know better in the coming week or two (stay tuned! you won't want to miss it!). The other one has actually made appearances somewhere on my blogs and is a closet comedian who I keep telling should go on the road speaking at women's conferences!  Ha!

First is one of my almost-nieces, Emily.  She has been a guest writer on my blog once before as well as being in multiple pictures from time to time.  Em loves to write lists so I told her to make me a Mother's Day list about her mom and here is what she came up with...

The Mommy List:

1. My mom smells pretty good ALL the time.

2. She makes casseroles taste a lot better than... Normal casseroles.

3. She loves me and I guess that should be number one.

4. She can run a camp, be a mother, secretary, wife, daughter, friend, teacher, sister, and daughter-in-law all in one day.

5. I love how she can jam out to Creed and 3 Doors Down in the car one minute, yet cry her eyes out in "The Lucky One" two minutes later.

6. She can't drive. 

7. She can run. Hard.

8. She likes kids. That's a good thing since she had four.

9. Her laugh is hilarious and it makes you happy to see her happy.

10. Philippians 1:3

11. Her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are so good, she could be making money off of them. A lot of money.

12. She loves to capture the moment whether through snapping a picture of our whole family in front of something we all would forget if she hadn't taken the picture or pasting the picture in a gigantic scrapbook.

13. She homeschools. And HELLO that is a HARD job for any human being!

14. She rocked a perm better than anyone I ever saw.

15. She bought me one of those really big Panera cookies once when I was sick and if that isn't love I don't know what is.

16. She loves sharing the amazingly wonderful, way better than the Panera cookie news of Jesus.

17. She can wear heels really, really, really well.

18. She is allergic to cats.

19. She really loves chocolate so that shows she is somewhat normal.

20. She is so much more than my mommy... She is my super mommy and she's all mine (despite the fact that I share her with 3 siblings and a dog named Calvin) and I love her so so so so so so so so so much.

I LOVE MY MOM!

- Emily :)

Ok, so number 6 cracked me up and anyone who has ridden with me in the back of her car during camp will understand!  lol  :}

My friend Abby is a lot of things, an official comedian being one of them :} , but for the purpose of this post, she has the perspective of anticipating her first Mother's Day...through adoption! :)  (Come on, you knew I had to bring the topic in here somehow! lol)  Abby and I went to the same college and although she was actually Michael's friend first since they were both in the drama group of people, she and I did have one awesome class together where we wrote a skit of the parable of Jesus feeding the 5,000 set in the form of the Princess Bride.  It was epic. :}  Here are Abby's thoughts...

I’ve been pregnant for 24 months now. I know – you’re checking those numbers. Yes, you read it right. This means there are two possibilities. Either Kathryn has asked an elephant to write an article for her blog, or... I’m expecting an adopted child. (FYI – It’s the second one...) Expecting, expecting, and more expecting. They’ve been giving me Mother’s Day candy at church for two years now, and frankly, it feels a little weird. But I totally take the candy anyway. Wouldn’t you?

As I prayed about what to share, that same verse that every adoptive parent shares is what came to mind: Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...” And I was like, “God, that’s so cliché. Really?” But when you hear from God, you’d better listen! So I started to think about it. Many times when we quote this verse, the focus is on the renewed strength part – the “make me feel better” part. But maybe if we focused on who we’re waiting for – the Lord – we would feel better. Our adoption isn’t taking this long because of our adoption agency or the Indian government or anyone or anything else. The Lord is the one we’re waiting on. And the Lord knows exactly when and how this child should join our family. He knows what He’s doing – what a relief! So... “my soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” (Psalm 62:5) All of that said, one thing is for sure. No matter how long this process takes, I’m still gonna take the candy on Mother’s Day.

-Abby Chelian

I know so many of my friends who will read this totally understands what she is talking about and understand all to well the word "waiting.....".  :}  She's right.  His timing is perfect.  (Say it with me "His timing is perfect." ...and repeat as often as necessary!)  :)

(Remember Abby's name...like I said, I will be introducing you more officially to her in the near future!)

Finally, we needed the "mom perspective".  Jennifer is a mom of two elementary aged kiddos, one girl and one boy.  When you meet her she is super quiet, gentle, proper, and has perfect southern manners.  When you get her alone with a small group of our good friends from highschool and we all start sharing stories...her other side appears and you realize...she is actually hilarious and I'm sending her on the road with Abby if she ever goes on tour and needs someone to open for her! The way she tells stories of being a mom should be told for all to hear (even the phone call story!..ask her...it'll make her blush! teehee!)  Here are her thoughts on being a momma on Mother's Day:

  SuperMom

  

Becoming a mom is like opening your eyes one morning

and discovering you are a superhero.

The first time you hold that infant in your arms you realize that you will fight the evil of this world to protect your precious child.  You also realize that spandex is not only fashionable superhero material but necessary to hold everything in place again.

It takes superhuman strength to smile and hold your tongue when someone compliments your covered-in-pink daughter as a cute little boy.  Or says the dreaded “If that were my child…”

If looks could kill…oh yeah, laser vision comes in handy when that child on the playground pushes your child off the swing or that young boy is gazing at your daughter.

Those lightning speed boots are perfect for a bloody knee, a bee sting and the cry of a girl whose friend has hurt her feelings. 

And who doesn’t look good in boots?!?!

Your ‘spidey’ sense starts tingling when something is not right with your child.  Yet, you know that they just want you to listen, cry with them and hold them tight.   Now, THAT is strength, my friend, because what superhero doesn’t want to swoop in and save the day?

 And maybe…possibly…very likely…take out whoever hurt them. 

There is no kryptonite for a mom who burns the midnight oil!  It's when you realize that you stand your tallest on your knees. 

 A praying mother is a huge threat to the enemy!

Being a superMOM means getting up in the morning, putting on your spanx..er, um…I mean spandex…attaching your cape and singing the VeggieTales Larry Boy theme song, “I am THAT hero!”

All the while, hoping your hair isn’t too greasy because you are totally not getting a shower this morning.

Happy Superhero Day from one Wonder Woman to another!

~ Jennifer

No matter what the perspective of your view of today is, I hope you are either spoiling your own momma, allowing yourself to daydream at least a little bit what your child will look, smell, and feel like once they are home and wrapped in your arms, or being properly spoiled and getting to rest and relax...because hey, every super hero has to have her cape washed sometimes!  :}

Happy Mother's Day to all my mom friends, both current and waiting - Shannon, Jennifer x2, Jessica, Catrina, Kathy, Melissa, Anastasia, Leah, Laura, Cassie, Rebekah, Wendy, Abby, Stephanie and all you other ones who happen to read this!

And to my own momma...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

LOVE U!!

Ok, two more things real quick....

First, I think that must be about the ONLY time in my entire life that I have worn the color yellow! lol  

And second, all you adopting moms out there...just wait...this is the look you will have on your face some day soon when you see and hold your child for the first time!  :}  It'll be worth every minute of the waiting, I promise.  :)

derby weekend

I got to stay with my kiddos last weekend while their parents went up to the KY Derby!  I picked them up from school on Thursday and stayed an hour and a half after their parents got home Sunday evening.  :)  I wish wish wish I could get a picture of Mr. Happy when I pick him up from school.  His aftercare teachers always comment on how they love it when I pick him up because of his reaction.  No matter where he is or whether he knows I'm coming or not, he yells my name when he sees me and comes running full speed towards me, huge grin on his face and eyes lit up and jumps into my arms and squeezes me tight.  :)  Then after we walk to his classroom to get all his stuff, and head to walk to the car, he usually grabs hold of my hand and makes a comment something to the effect of "I can't even believe it! I can't believe you're here!!"  :}  

So since Thursday was a school night, we had a low key evening at home.  The kids swam in the pool for a good while before dinner and I stuck my toe in to feel the usual early May freezingness that is usually the pool.  However to my surprise, with the warm weather we've been having lately, the water actually felt really good!  Standing with my feet on the first steps in the pool with the rest of me roasting in the sun, I started to regret not bringing a swim suit....and I ended up totally shocking my kids and jumping in clothes and all! lol  

After that was dinner and then just a little bit of chill time with one show on TV with my baby snuggled next to me on one side and my girlies on the other. 

That night I woke up in the middle of the night to Mr. Happy crawling in bed to snuggle next to me again.  :}

Friday after school, since I hadn't gotten to see Little Miss Sunshine on her birthday back at the very end of March, I told her she could pick pretty much any store and we would go so she could pick out her own present.  She thought this was pretty cool and chose Hobby Lobby and chose a large sketch pad, a book about how to draw many different things, and a set of colored pencils.  Perfect.  :)

After dinner Friday night I told the kids to get shoes on and climb in the car because I had a surprise for them.

We drove to the familiar playground across the street and got to meet up with our little friend Lulu!  It had been so long since we had seen her!  She is getting big and is talking so very well!  (and yesterday, Saturday, was her and her mommy's birthdays!  Happy birthday y'all!!)

Saturday we slept in and ate lunch at one of our favorite places - the Tomato Head downtown.   

Then we came home and tried out these t-shirt ideas from Martha Stewart that a friend and I had seen on her show recently.  They were super easy to make and even Mr. Happy could do his all by himself and they can be so colorful and happy!  :)  

Then it was time to send mommy and daddy a quick pic just to say hi.  They're so silly.  :)

That evening we got to go over to Cake Leah's house and have a cookout with all our old friends!  That was so much fun!

Madison thought Mr. Happy was pretty awesome!  She was stuck on a blanket on the grass outside and would fuss just a little bit if she felt ignored for too long, but Mr. Happy made sure to stay close by for a good long time and talk to her and keep her company.  :) 

This is our friend Aiden...and his s'more!  lol  Those marshmallows can get a bit sticky!! 

Finally it was time to say goodbye.  This is LM Giggles with little Leah. 

Hugs all around.  :) 

So sweet.  :)

Sunday we went to church of course.  I love getting to take my kids to church...and they would love to go every week!  I had ALWAYS told them that any Sunday they want to go and mommy and daddy say ok, I will come get them myself and take them!  Maybe someday....

After church we went with a few of my friends to eat lunch.  I knew the kids would finish eating before I would, so since I just happen to have two itouches plus an iphone...I had one per child...perfect!  LM Giggles had my phone at one point...thus this pick of LMS! lol

Back at home we all got in the pool for a good long time.

Sometimes Mr. Happy has to take a break and warm up for a bit and discuss life with me.  :)  I love hearing his thoughts on whatever topic he decides to bring up.  This weekend it was restaurants and what would be the best and worst jobs about working at one.  

Then it was back inside to dry off.

 We played around in the living room for a while and LMS worked hard on a drawing from her new book.  She is a great little artist and works very intently putting everything into her drawings!  She doesn't know this but she gave me the drawing she's working on in this picture and I have another one at home that I am going to eventually actually frame and hang on the walls of whatever place I live at next.  :)

I grew sadder and sadder as the afternoon went on because who knows when I will see my kiddos again.  :-p  If I could choose, I would see them one day a week at least for this summer anyways!  

I love you guys and I will see you as soon as possible!!!  :)