A Very Happy Half Birthday

In Alice in Wonderland style we're creating birthday celebrations here.

I feel like one birthday a year just isn't enough at this age.

There is just too much growing between 2 and 3 to not acknowledge the halfway point.

Plus, I have been waiting patiently to do this balloon streamer dealy.

Thanks to this blog post for the idea!  

{It took longer than I thought so I'll try more next time.}

I can't believe this little chicken is growing so fast!

Impromptu Bib Success

Something wonderful happened last time we were at the lake.

I forgot Cedric's bib.

Ok, you're right, that doesn't sound wonderful.

I didn't think so at first either.

Then I grabbed a tea towel, folded it in half and tied it around his neck.

Voila, the best bib you've ever put on your baby!

I'm not kidding you.

It has it all.

You know how you pay out the wazoo for the food catching pouch?

It has that.

You know how you pay extra for those super large bibs that cover their shoulders because inevitably the dog will bark or the toddler will scream by and the baby will whip their head around before you get a chance to spoon off that extra food and it ends up all over their shirt?

I know you do.

It has that!

You know how you also break the bank for a bib that kind of makes your baby look like a really cute cowpoke/hipster?

It has that too!

I love a good discovery, especially the thrifty kind.

We Love Grandparents

Grandpa airplane.

I mean who doesn't right?

But we really have the best situation going on.

Both sets of grandparents live within a 1/2 hour drive.

Both sets of grandparents love spending time with the kids.

Both sets of grandparents are willing to have sleepovers.

Sleepovers, you guys!

Fiona had her first at Grandma and Grandpa's this weekend.

She has had a couple at Gram and Grandpa's. 

The last in which she contracted Norwalk, threw up all night and passed it on to my Mom.  

Still sorry about that Mom.  

Did I mention we really REALLY love grandparents?

At first I was a little nervous that she'd be homesick and we'd end up driving out at 2am.

So I stuck around for a little while to ease her in.

Imagine my surprise when she said, "Mommy drop me off?  Mommy say bye bye?".

"Feefs do you want Mommy to leave?" I asked, sure I knew the answer would be no.

"Yep."

{Knife through the heart.}

Needless to say, she had a blast.

She even brought home a haunted house.

Grandma and Auntie did their best to convince her it was inedible.

Their efforts were futile and it quickly went from this.

To this.

On Sunday as Jeff and I were having a leisurely morning with Cedric, Jeff says:

"We really need to start utilizing this sleepover thing more often."

Right you are sir, right you are.

Equipment {AKA Before You Came Into Our Lives We Missed You So Bad}

It's here!

We have all the equipment in.

We are now arguably the best equipped auto body shop in town.

Frame Rack

This is what allows us to do framework on site.
We are now officially a full auto body repair shop.
{insert applause}

Velocity Max

With this we can measure the condition of your vehicle's frame including body openings.
It will tell us exactly what needs to be done to return it to it's original state.
We can also give you printed documentation of this information.

 

Welder

The ProSpot i4 can handle the most difficult to weld materials.
It includes an OEMprogrammable feature with detailed repair illustrations and customized weld programs.
Translation {for those with my level of knowledge}: Super amazing welder, fix good.

If you want more detailed info visit the Shield website.

Pinterest: Keep it and Kill it {again}

Keep it:

This is absolutely genius.

It's a growth ruler that you actually want in plain view.

No hiding this baby behind doors.

I pinned this from a website that sells them and thought it looked easy enough to do.

I bought a 6 foot 2"x6" from the hardware store and a paint pen and stencils from the craft store.

Stained it with some leftover stain then measured out the 1" marks and stencilled the numbers.

{If you make this don't forget to start at the 6" mark so you can hang it off the ground.}

Lastly I used some leftover varnish to protect it and give it a finished look.

I later found out that there are DIY links for this project but was glad I worked it out on my own.

 Sorry the pics are so dark, electrical is not the best in our 1914 home.
Perfect segue to...

Kill it:

Our house was built in 1914.

I love the character but one thing I could do without is the lack of outlets.

Outlets in 1914, not so important.

Outlets in 2012, essential.

The outlet shortage stuck us with this awkward charging arrangement.
The cord is currently sitting on a stool at our kitchen island.
Right where my daughter has breakfast every morning.
But doesn't it get in the way and doesn't Fiona play with it?
Yes and yes!

I loved this pin as soon as I saw it.

                                                                             Source: teamimhoff.com via Cheryl on Pinterest

It seems so simple, how could it go wrong?

Well, the problem I have is that my counters are all too thick for these clips. 

I either need thinner counters or bigger clips.

I'm killing this one because I feel like bigger clips would stick out too far and get knocked off.

Good idea but not for this household.

I'm Not Ready

It's 9:30pm.

I'm sitting downstairs listening to a very wide awake toddler.

She was in bed talking to herself and has now sucked Daddy into a conversation.

I think...

I don't even want to say it.

 We might be approaching the end of napping.

Sigh.

I'm in denial.

Fiona has always been my sleeper.

{As evidenced above.}

I've so enjoyed those days when I manage a tandem nap.

I get so much done for the home and shop when both kids are sawing logs.

But we really can't have her up until 10pm.

I'm not giving up yet but I've started on the path to acceptance.

Snow Day

I know, I know, it's all over Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and blogs.

I can't help it though.

The first snow is always a little exciting.

Don't hate me just yet, I'm not praying for a dump or anything.

I just love watching my kids experience the snow.

This was Cedric's first glimpse of the white stuff and suffice it to say he was puzzled.

It was also the first year that Fiona could really enjoy it.

She's steady enough to run through the flakes screaming "I's gots snow on a my nose Mommy".

And how is it that kids instinctively open their mouths to catch snowflakes?

Now I'm just looking forward to making snowpeople and snowangels.

{Ok, maybe I'm hoping for a bit of a dump.}