Caterpillar Craft

One of our favorite books around here is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." It teaches kids the days of the week, counting and how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly -- genius! The other day Daniel was looking at the book and said, "I want to make a caterpillar." Oh boy, now that it's summer break coming up with crafts is up to this mom instead of his fabulous preschool.

I grabbed a few supplies (colored beads and some pipe cleaners) and made what ended up being a pretty cute craft. Daniel patiently dug through the colored beads to find different shades of green to make the caterpillar's body (using good fine motor skills he thread each bead), then made the red face, and a small piece of pipe cleaner twisted around the body for the antennae. We curved it into the shape of the caterpillar and VIOLA! Of course after he made the caterpillar we had to make a bee, a butterfly...needless to say we have several pipe cleaner/bead bugs in the house now.

Kindle Kozy

I didn't think I would like reading on the Kindle. I received it as a gift and left it in the box for month before I figured I should check it out. Now, I love it. I love how small it is, how I can finish a book and start another one within minutes, how I can throw it in my purse and if I find myself with 5 extra minutes at preschool pick-up I can fit in a quick read. I still don't know all the features on it, but I don't care. I recently decided it was time my tech friend received an update - not a software upgrade or anything, but a comfortable place to rest.

I created a Kindle Kozy. Well, I sewed two scraps of material together and called it a Kindle Kozy. Here are some pictures of the process:

Outside material is a cotton with a fun retro orange flower print; lining is white fleece.


Sewed the pieces together, turn it inside out, added a loop of elastic (for the closure) and stitched up the sides, leaving a flap to go over the top.


Made a fabric flower out of the same material to hook the elastic loop on.


Super easy and fast project and just what I needed to store my Kindle in. I think the real reason I love my Kindle is because it is the one piece of technology my kids (so far) have no interest in -- it makes no sounds, doesn't play cartoons and doesn't take their picture. I love having something all to myself.

Master Bedroom Remodel

I'm obsessed with remodeling my master bedroom. It's like a light switch went off in my head and I want it done NOW! Do you ever do that - are fine with something but then decide it's time for a change and even though it's been forever all of a sudden you can't wait a day longer?!?! Well, that's where I am. My master bedroom had never really been done to my liking and I've pretty much been ok with that for eight years, but now I can't stand it. Here's my problem...my wonderful husband. Not that he doesn't want to make changes, but that he is semi-handy and wants to do them himself. Sometimes I think it would be better to have a husband who can't hammer in a nail because then the DIY thing wouldn't even be an option. The big hurdle is we don't want to move forward with anything until we put in new flooring (bye-bye nasty carpet, hello wood). That means Joe has to do it. But WHEN??!!! He's been working like mad lately and when he's not working we are busy with birthday parties, family parties, trips, etc. So when the heck is he going to find the time to do it??

After the flooring goes in, the decor type stuff should move along quicker. We already bought new bedding, but I don't even want to use it until everything else it done. Sort of reveal it all at once. The other things we want to do are relatively easy - new bed (just a basic frame and upholstered headboard), new corner reading chair (possibly with ottoman), get rid of current tv and put up a flat screen (already know which tv we want, but I don't want to order it and have it sit in a box in the garage for weeks or months). I'd like a more modern look overall.

So I'm thinking I might have to trip in the middle of my bedroom with an open bottle of red nail polish. That might move the flooring issue along.

Where Did the School Year Go?

Tonight was Daniel's preschool promotion night, meaning it's the end of the school year. He's been promoted to the 4-year old class...we are so proud ;). Really though, I just can't believe the school year is over. One of my very first posts was about Daniel starting school and I feel like I just wrote it. Everyone who has older children tells me "they grow so fast, enjoy this time." I'm starting to believe them.

In the Desert

In the desert we like to...

go on water slides


play with cousins


pick flowers


jump off rocks


build human pyramids


chase bunnies


play with grandpa


create wonderful family memories

My School Pictures Never Looked Like This

At the preschool Daniel goes to we are fortunate to have an in-house photographer. So not only is she awesome with the kids, but the kids respond immediately to her because they already know her. Hence, the ridiculously cute pictures (oh and Lauren doesn't attend yet, but I just happened to have her dressed cute that day and arrive a little early...).

Is Mature a Good Thing?

In recent days I've had two strangers tell me that Daniel seemed so mature for his age. Which got me thinking -- is that a good thing? I mean when we are sitting in a restaurant and he is behaving, then yes, it is a good thing. Good for my sanity and for the patrons around us. But I hope I'm not treating him too much like a young man and not enough like a little boy. I'm not ready for him to stop being my little boy. Now don't get me wrong - Daniel can throw a tantrum like the best of them, but I do admit that overall he is a relatively "easy" kid. I find myself being harder on him than Lauren and expecting a lot out of him. Looking back it's been like this for a while.

Daniel was just about the age Lauren is now when I had her (23 months). I remember expecting him to be a good big brother; I thought he was such a big boy at that time. I look at Lauren right now and think she is still a tiny baby! Why is my perception so messed up??!!

I can see now how birth order does impact a child - mostly because of the parents. I understand why my older sister has always been the responsible one -- and I'm just continuing the cycle as I place those same traits onto Daniel. I should step back a little and let him be my little boy for as long as he will let me.

The morning Lauren came home from the hospital - yes, what a big boy indeed!