Yesterday. A Few Things.

Zack & Milee.

They are so cute it is sickening. Really. Milee is Zack's first friend & she came over to play yesterday & I about died at how cute, fun & grown-up they've become. You know how some kids make it easier when they come to play & others, well, don't. Milee is definitely in the easier category. Her & Zack just click & frankly, I love it.

She is ALL girl & he is ALL boy & yet they play so perfectly together. Having Milee across the street is one of the things we miss most about not living with my parents. boo.

Some snippets overheard during their play time...

Milee: "C'mon Captain Zack...get on the ship...the sharks are coming!"
Zack: "Ahh Milee! The sharks are getting you! I'll save you!!!"
Milee: "We're going to the beach!"
Zack: "Let's dance!"
Milee: "Hold my hand."

In other news...I am on a house cleaning, organization, re-decorating binge. After 6 months of neglect...it is in dire need. So yesterday I got the itch to start painting furniture. I've been so hesitant to even start it. Dreaming of sanding, dust, painting, re-painting, on & on I thought the process was just too much.

But yesterday? I just decided to get a can of spray paint & take it to an end table I had hidden away in Zack's room.

best. idea. ever. I love how it turned out, and so did my mom, which was shocking {she's an absolute perfectionist...so maybe she was just lying to me?}.

Regardless...what the heck took me so long? I've got big plans for lots of other pieces now too.

Can't wait.

I also made a Costco trip yesterday & while I was grumbling about all the snowbirds inching their way along the roads...one of those same snowbirds kindly waited for me to unload my stuff & kids from my cart in the cold weather so he could go put it away for me.

I should be nicer.

Welcome Back...

to reality that is.

I fully realize that while living with my parents in what I have coined the upstairs loft...which is really more than just that, but "upstairs loft" just rolls off the tongue & really categorizes ourselves as the losers we are. You know...married adults, with a 2 year-old & baby on the way STILL living with their parents...totally cool.

But I have to tell you it has been TOTALLY COOL. Cool if you like cooking dinner, say, every other night...at the most. Cool if you like having your mother's cleaning lady pick up your bathroom once a week. Cool if you are a stay-at-home mom who enjoys some adult conversation at 2 pm in the afternoon. Cool if you like to take random Sonic runs in good company for a Diet Coke. Cool if you like it when people just happened to be out & they picked up your favorite {insert item here}. Cool if you like going to late movies (with your mom or husband) & there is always someone home to listen for the baby. I could go on, but I'll just stop here because really we are moving out & it could make me a little sad.

So this weekend Scot & I re immersed ourselves into reality. We knew it was coming, but dang it, it still didn't feel good. We've ordered blinds, rugs & painted paint swatches. We've bought fans, returned remotes & unpacked boxes...and we've mopped, stepped on some toys...and mopped some more, seriously did we realize that it was acres of tile going in??? It's been tough...on my knees. Scot hates to see all the money continually being spent & I hate trying to decide which fan, which paint color & does it go okay with the rug color & then which blinds...okay, really I don't hate that part...I kinda love it. Sorry babe.
But thankfully we always have our trusty side kick to keep us on our toes {read slow us down}. I swear this kid talks NON STOP...I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, eh. What's so great {and hilarious in my book} is that the tide has turned & Zack aka chatterbox now prefers Scot to me. Scot never thought this day would come & frankly I think he was a little bugged when Zack would prefer me to him...but let me tell ya, I'm thrilled to just be the 3rd wheel & a fruit snack source. So the good news in all of this is that I finally decided on a paint color. Yeah. The even better news is that I even convinced Scot to let me decide on a paint color...and then like, you know, have it painted by someone other than my chubby, pregnant self. The entire house. I love thinking about a completely painted house...it gives me goose bumps I love it so much. Really, it just wouldn't fly with me in my current state. I am going with the color on the left & no I don't want one more opinion on it {unless you agree of course, then by all means, I want your opinion!}.

The other really good news...we really like our new house & while everyone is posting their goals for 2009, I'm just ready to be moved in & end the myriad of weekend projects. What? What is that you say? They don't ever end??? Ah yes, I am quickly remembering the joys of home ownership. sigh.

Really though...we are happy about it.

Just For Kara!

Okay for some reason I am technically challenged today & can't get this picture to rotate properly, so my sincere apologies as that completely bugs!

But here is my cape pattern...hopefully you can read the measurements good enough. This size fits Zack who is almost 2 & runs pretty true to sizing.

To make a bigger one the measurements you need to take are a neck circumference (although the hole is much bigger than that actual measurement you'll at least have a good idea). Then measure from the nape of the neck down to how long you want the cape to be...on Zack's this measurement was 19 3/4". I also measured from the nape of his neck to the outside of his shoulder, although again this length on the cape is much longer than the actual measurement, but on Zack's this measures 8 1/4". The tab that comes around the front, where it velcros measures 2 1/2"

Anyway, you fold the fabric in half & then cut the neck hole -- draw your star or your letter or whatever you'd like to have on the back & then sew...here are some other cute ones here & here.

You sew your decals on the back first & then sew it right sides facing together (leave an inch or 2 open so you can pull in right side out), then sew your velcro & finish the opening by hand & viola! You're done.

Here is what it looks like completed...

When the Cat's Away

...the mice will PLAY!

So as I mentioned previously Scot went to San Diego this weekend for his cousin's mission farewell. Initially he was just going to fly out on Sunday (today) & fly back...a quick trip, but then his mom requested that Zack accompany him since he still flies for free. When Scot presented me with this idea I, of course, thought it was fantastic, and thus encouraged him to lengthen his trip to longer than just Sunday. So there you have it...they have been gone yesterday & today.

I have to admit I was a tad teary dropping the little Scoob off at the airport...he's my little guy, my shadow...he fills all my days every day...what would I do with myself? After about one millisecond of that, I quickly snapped out of it and shouted for joy...naturally. TWO WHOLE DAYS BY MYSELF!!! What was I thinking, the possibilities were endless! And while I could have been very productive, packing boxes or refinishing furniture, instead I did nothing & played all weekend.

This included delivering Krispy Kreme donuts to everyone in the ward/neighborhood first thing Saturday morning (a yearly tradition since my dad has been bishop), shopping with my mom, then lunch, a quick nap, then Australia and then...just relaxing the evening away & staying up late watching a stupid TV Christmas movie!

Today, I slept in, enjoyed all of the Christmas sacrament meeting & then spent the afternoon making this bad boy!
It only took me...umm, all afternoon, but it turned out cute & was actually quite easy! I have to say I am quite impressed with my novice sewing skills...did you notice the pleats??? Yes, I did those by MYSELF! I am thinking of crashing my mom's next quilt group!