Saturday, May 28, 2011

WIP

As busy I am taking care of two little kids, a house, and teaching part time - I usually have some extracurricular projects in progress. Often they are things I can do with the kids, while they are playing, or while they are sleeping. Here are a few projects I am working on in bits and pieces right now:

Kenley's first tutu! Bethany started this and I'm going to finish it up in time for our family photo shoot on Monday.

The garden... We have a great, big, full sun garden space so I do feel compelled to have a garden (especially after I abandoned it last summer). Our May has been so chilly and rainy that I haven't had a chance to plant it yet. Hoping to get to that this weekend!

Seed starting - I got around to starting a few seeds inside that won't make it out to the garden for several weeks, but judging by my current gardening tardiness, that should work out just fine.

Kenley's baby book - I'm using some PSE, digital scrapbooking templates, photos and my monthly blog write-ups about Kenley to create a baby book for her. I'm planning to print it through Blurb (snatched up a Groupon for their site a couple weeks ago - looking forward to a high quality printed product) after she turns 1. So fun to look back through the photos and put them together with the stories.

Kids' artwork display - I bought 3 11"x14" frames to display some of Lachlan's artwork. Now that I have them hanging together, I decided that I want a bigger statement/impact, so I ordered 6 more and I'm measuring out a grid of 9 frames. They are pretty inexpensive and easy to change out the artwork, so I'm hoping it can become a fun gallery space.

The map project - The artwork in our house has been pretty much the same since we hung it when we moved in 4 years ago. I've been itching to do a little bit of redecorating, and this photo on Pinterest inspired me to start a large fabric USA map to hang in a spot that needs some freshening up. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew here (the map is 36"x56" and will have 50+ pieces to sew, of course), so I'm determined to work hard to finish it in the next couple weeks before I lose my motivation!

photos taken with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

B's graduation


We took a quick trip to Decorah on Sunday to see my sister Bethany graduate from Luther College. It's always great to be back on campus, and it was wonderful to spend the day with family. I made this digital scrapbooking layout to document some of the fun photos. Papers & template by Robyn Meierotto.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Kenley at 11 months


Eleven months old! These past couple weeks have brought a change in your looks. You are even taller and looking more like a toddler than a little baby. I notice your maturity in your new crooked smiles, your furrowed brow when you are studying someone or something, and the new ways you are playing. Right now you love to empty containers of their contents, and you love shaking and tapping the rhythm eggs. You enjoy bath time – especially when you get to share it with your big brother. Your love for Sadie and any other dogs continues - you squeal whenever she is around and keep a close eye on her whereabouts. Now that it is warming up, we’re having fun hanging out on a blanket in the grass together.


You are so flexible and can lean all the way forward and suck on your toes. You’re not crawling, but you are getting better at standing and holding on to something. Some days we can’t quite figure out whether you want to be held or left alone, because you want to be moving independently, but you get frustrated when you can’t get where you want to go. You think it is hilarious when people put funny things on top of their heads. I know your most ticklish spot, too, it’s on your back, right between your shoulder blades.


All four front teeth are in now, and we’re thankful for a break in the teething pain. Everyone is sleeping better at night. Most nights you stay in your crib all night long – 7:45 pm – 6:45 am – usually wake once to nurse in the night and then go back to sleep. You just started clapping and continue to sign “more”. I love the wide variety of sounds you make – sometimes it sounds like you are singing. You also know the word “dance” and bounce and wiggle along to the music.


We celebrated your brother’s third birthday this month. I think your favorite part of his party was getting a taste of ice cream. Yum! You had your first Easter with us in Des Moines and we also took a trip up to Mount Vernon for the “Chalk the Walk” festival. I can’t believe your first birthday is only a month away!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Pinterest love

So are you on Pinterest yet? I know, it's sweeping the blog world. And do we need another place on the internet to suck our time? However - I think it is so inspiring and useful, especially for us creative types. Plus, the man who started graduated from my high school in Des Moines! Cool! They also have a new iPhone app that is excellent. If you're still on the fence - check out some of my favorite boards to follow:

memory keeping by Ali Edwards


photography to inspire by Lisa Leonard


ABC Love by Erin Carney


remember by Codi

rainy day to do's by Robyn Ricks Todorovic

color palettes by Robyn Meierotto

Hmm, well I could go on and on. and on! But that's enough to keep you busy for now.

Click here to follow me:

Monday, May 09, 2011

Mother's Day


I had a wonderful Mother's Day. We met my in-laws at church Sunday morning, then they came back to have breakfast at our house. I made Joy the Baker's cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread. It was delicious, and fun to make. I even made brown butter for the first time. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be and it smelled amazing! I also made this Brie and Bacon quiche. It was good, but I probably won't make that again. I like the idea of brie, but not so much the taste. ha!

Bill and Lachlan went out and picked out a balloon and a hanging plant for me. Meanwhile, Kenley napped and I got to make a scrapbook page. This is one of my favorite photos and layouts in a long time.


Later in the afternoon I went to Dick Blick (all by myself!) and spent a gift card. I picked out a new sketchbook and some supplies to start an art journal project.

We played outside on Lachlan's sidewalk chalk city, and went over to Bill's parents' for a pizza dinner.

I'm feeling too sleep-deprived (thanks, Kenley) to put together my thoughts about motherhood and what it all means. But I will say that I'm blessed to be a mother to two precious children and so lucky for the wonderful examples of mothers that I have learned from.

So many wonderful blog posts by and about mothers showed up in my reader this weekend. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Project Girl: My Very First Mother's Day

Memoirs of a Sick Addict: Happy Mother's Day


Soule Mama: On Mama's Day

Under the Sycamore: My Mother's Day gift

Dana Made It: Mother's Day


Red Bird Crafts: Mother (watch the video, it's so lovely)

Red Hot Monkeys: Sidney is one month old