Project Life Update:: Weeks 17, 18 and 19

I've been going back and forth between the Kraft and Honey Kits.  I am loving all the bright, fun colors and patterns.

Week 17

Left Side (clearly I didn't do a good job with my clipping masks...you can see the template behind all my photos.  oops.  Good thing they are all printed out and slipped into my album pockets.

Right Side:  Waaaay too many Kenny pics, so I included an 8x10 insert as well.

Front side

Back Side

Week 18:  I used both Kraft and Honey...Stuck with the green/pink color combo.

Left Side

Right Side: Fun weekend with friends and family date day.

Week 19:

 Left Side:

Right Side: This week was mostly about Bryce and his b-day.  Lots of pictures so I made a collage, as well as a cute video slideshow on the journaling card.  

I am still loving this project, and how much easier it is for me to include the things I want using the digital elements.  It's not for everyone, but it is totally working for me!

She is THREE!

Happy Birthday to the coolest three year old on the Planet!  Sydney Claire, you are quite the handful and you challenge me every single day, but I wouldn't trade you for the world.  You are amazing...just the way you are.  We love you!

(I'm not sure why this photo is the thumbnail for the video...?)

Thankful Heart Thursday

                                               

Each Thursday, Renee at Mommaste, and writer for the Simple Moms  posts a series called "Thankful Heart Thursday".  I love the idea of slowing down and just being thankful for what I have.  I need {and want} to do more of this everyday, so this is a great way to express what I'm thankful for.

Today, plain and simple, I am so very thankful for the enthusiasm and excitement Bryce has shown  about Jesus.  (As much as a 4 year old can!)  I want to encourage this and help him grow in his relationship with the Lord.

Last year, a friend recommended this children's bible, and we got in the routine of reading one story each night before bed.

I'm not sure how much he is understanding or comprehending, but I feel that we are building a good framework for the future.  Here are some funny little quotes from the past few months (melts my heart!):

Walking outside one night, Sydney looked up and noticed all the stars in the sky and said:

S- "Mama, who made dat?  The airplanes?"

B- "No Sydney, GOD made the stars...God made EVERYTHING!"

Riding in the car the other day, he told me to look down at his shoes and asked me:

B- "Mom, know who has sandals like these?"

Me- "Who?"

B- "Jesus does."

Me (laughing)- "Oh yeah, how do you know that?"

B- "I saw it in my book...you know, my Bible"

Me- "You're right!  He does wear sandals like that!"

B- "You know who else has these?  Jimmy and Stevie. (kids in his class)"

Funny stuff.

If you want to link up your Thankful Heart Thursday post, please visit the Simple moms.

The twin bed debacle...

Now that Sydney is in pre-school, totally potty trained, and about to turn three, I decided it was time to re-do her room and get that big girl a new BIG GIRL ROOM! Woo-hoo!  I didn't want to spend a fortune, so I decided to just focus on the bed, and the rest can be re-purposed and re-used.  (more on that later!)

I was so excited to drive out to the Stage Coach Barn Sale and look for something fun.  I found a twin bed that was already painted and looked adorable.  It was only about $125, so we brought it home with us!

 {along with this super cute little baby cradle...who say no to this?!}

We weren't quite ready to start the remodel, so it sat in the garage for a few weeks.  I was feeling so confident in my new purchase...until we decided to put it together. 

Problem #1:  I did not bring home the side rails that came with the bed.  I didn't realize they were part of the bed frame, but luckily, the owner and I found each other through facebook and told me she had them.  Had to drive back out there to pick them up.  Minor set back.  No worries.

Problem #2:  Once the side rails were installed, I realized there should have been slats for the mattress to sit on...and I had no such thing.  So we improvised, bought some boards, and had them cut to size.  All is well. 

 Let's get the mattress on there and make the bed!

 Oh wait...what's that?  You sold me a Twin XL bed and neither party knew?  Oh, that's cool.  So I now have a twin mattress, and a ghetto XLong bed that looks RE-DIC-U-LOUS.  Now what do we do?

Well, we went to all that trouble to get the head board and foot board to work, we figured we would just get a regular, run-of-the-mill bed frame and just attach the headboard and foot board to it.  Perfect! {except once you connect the headboard to frame, there is no where for the foot board to be connected.}  Seriously? %#@&

So...we had to load everyone back up, bring the twin matress to the store to return it and purchase the twin mattress/boxspring set.  Super simple.  Seriously, this was fun...ha!  (insert sarcasm)

At this point, our options were very limited here, and since we now owned:
1. Freakishly long twin bed
2. Twin mattress/boxspring set
3. Basic bed frame
4. Cute twin bedding that had already been washed and dried.

I WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE THIS WORK SOMEHOW.

 

So, if you could have seen our family out in the backyard this weekend...I'm happy none of us lost a limb, or an appendage.  {I am convinced we are single-handedly bringing down the property value of our neighborhood...seriously, our dead christmas tree is still back there rotting.}   Um, I digress...

I made Dan get out some form of saw and we just went to town and started cutting things.  Picture him with a hack saw (???) (that broke two blades during the cutting process) and me straddling the bed rail trying to keep it steady as he cut.  It was...interesting.  But alas...

Freakishly long bed rails are  now normal twin size.  Now we just have to figure out how we are going to get the bed together.  To be continued...

First Day of Pre-School

What in the WORLD is going on here?  I swear, I just popped these two babies out...not at the same time, but you know where I'm going.  Yes, it's only pre-school, and Yes, it's only 3 days a week, but still...from this day forward, both of my babies are in school!!!!

Bryce did so great last year on Tuesday and Thursday, I knew he would be ready for three days a week.

...but THIS ONE?!  It's funny how different I feel from last year to this year.  I was so happy/sad about sending my first born off to be in the care of strangers for three hours.  I know he was in good hands, but I felt so much angst those first few weeks.  How is he doing?  Is he having fun?  Is he making friends?  Is anyone being mean to him?

Well, nope!  Not this year.  I was so ready for these two to get out the door and get to school!  It was a long summer, filled with long days, and lots of entertaining, lots of meltdowns, and lots of chaos.  I am ready for a break!

Clearly, they are not looking forward to it AT ALL either.  :)

{and here's the awkward family squatting photo with kids who are D.O.N.E. getting their picture taken. Love it!}

Heading in for the first time!  Love the enormous back packs, the hand holding, the new school clothes and shoes.  All of it.

I am so, so, so happy the kids are able to go to school here.  This year is the first class at the new facility.  As a matter of fact, they are still working on some last minute touches now that school has started.  It is such a fun environment for them, and they come home so excited every day.

The old place was nice, but I was blown away when we went in for orientation.  Not only is everything brand new, user friendly, hands free, but it is sticking with the farm theme from top to bottom.  

First day was a success!  Here's to a great school year!  

If you need me on M/W/F...I will be at Target...BY MYSELF... with a Starbucks in my face.

Learning to ride with no training wheels!

A friend was telling me that she puts together slideshows for her family a few times a year since they are currently living out of the country.  She uses Windows Live Movie Maker because it came on her laptop and was fairly easy to work with.  To my surprise, I have the program, so I decided to test it out with some photos and videos took of Bryce riding his bike.

It was pretty easy to use!  I am going to create a QR code for the video so I can use it in my Project Life layout!  I will totally be doing this more often!

...and yes, I know this is not the most appropriate song for a four year old learning to ride a bike, but its one of his favorites!

Last day of school.

It seems like I was just freaking out about whether or not Bryce would be ok in school 2 days a week?  Would he miss me?  Would he have fun?  Would he make friends?  Now I'm counting down the days until September and both kids will be in preschool 3 days a week!  My, my how things change!  :)

Bryce finished his last day at preschool a few weeks ago, and I had to compare his first and last day pictures.  I feel like he has grown so much over these nine months.  He has gotten taller for sure!  I am surprised mostly at how much his vocabulary has increased, and just the way he talks to me now.    He is such a big boy all of a sudden.  Certainly no trace of baby left in that face.  :(

His teachers have told me what a riot he was to have in class.  He loved dancing and singing, and always gave them his signature thumbs up and wink combo.  Such a charmer.  

He is such a cool kid.

Why I don't "blog" anymore

It's been a while...

I can't seem to find the time to shower most days, let alone sit down at the computer and actually upload photos and write about them.  Any free time I have (which isn't really free...because I'm most likely neglecting something or someone else), I'm usually trying to catch up on my Project Life album, or a project I've promised someone.  (I've recently finished two sets of wedding invitations/reception cards/rsvp/programs for friends)  Add a needy 2.5 year old to the mix, in addition to a very rambunctious 4 year old who no longer naps, and every second of the day is spoken for.  Not a pitty party for Sara...just a little rant.  Anyone else seem to have this problem?   So...Anywho... things have been busy.

Oh...and I joined a gym.  More on that later.

Not to mention the darn chore chart that I decided to tackle. ????????????  This may have been a little aggresive.

I'm constantly overwhelmed with the idea of housework (mostly with the amount of it), so when I saw this on Pinterest, I thought I would give it a shot.  I spent nearly every day cleaning last week.  I managed to whip this place into shape, but I think this will be short lived. :)

After my most recent emotional meltdown, Dan and I decided to go ahead and join a local gym. (And when I say "we" I mean the kids and I...and when I say "Dan and I decided", I mean I freaked him out enough that he strongly encouraged I do SOMETHING to get away from my kids)

  The big selling point for me, besides the outdoor pool, was the amazing children's programs they offer.  The kids are enrolled in a 6 week gymnastics program and love it!  It hasn't even been three weeks and I already feel so much better.  The break from them is so refreshing.  An added bonus is the exercise. I've tried Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, a step class, and a crazy intense barbell weight class so far.   So fun!  I'm not gonna lie though...one day last week I did just plug my headphones in to watch Live with Kelly while I pretended to ride the bike.  It was pure bliss.  AND I GET TO TAKE A SHOWER...ALONE!  Worth every penny I tell ya.

So cleaning, exercising, what else...? Oh!   I managed to sneak a little craft real quick.

Put together this cute little potted flower plant for one of the grandma's mother's day gifts.  Oh how I love Pinterest!

I think Dan is just about finished with his Dock Season (seasonal business he runs to install and remove boat hoists, shore stations, and dock).  This spring weather has been very cooperative and they are actually finished before Memorial day.  Woo-Hoo!  We get him back on the weekends again.

We had a Mother's Day Tea Party at Pre-school on Thursday,

 Bryce turned four last Friday, we drove over to Detroit to celebrate Andrea's 50th on Saturday,

 then we had Dan's family over for B's birthday and celebrated Mother's day on Sunday.

We're exhausted!

Thank goodness I leave a week from Wednesday for the Bahamas to visit my boyfriend Kenny!

Bryce's Big Boy Room!

We have been busy with a special little boy's new big boy room makeover!  It was waaaaaay over-due, but we decided, spur of the moment, to just go for it!  

 I found lots of cool ideas on pinterest and just pulled a bunch of stuff together.  

  

First we started with a new paint color.  

 I went with (what I thought was) a basic light gray.  However, after it was primed and painted, it dried much blue-er than I thought it would be.

Grrrrrrr.....this still irks me.  Oh well, it's up there now, and its not getting re-painted anytime soon.

To cut back on costs, I decided not to get him a new bed, but instead, we were going to use an old Queen size set that we aren't using, and just gave the headboard a little face-lift.

Dan thought I was crazy for taking on this project, but I convinced him it would turn out fine.  How is it the man has no problem taking rediculous investmentl risks, but can't handle a little spray paint???
 
After some sanding, a few coats of Kilz, and MANY coats of blue spray paint, the headboard was finished.  (So are my remaining brain cells...but that is a different story)
 
 After the paint was dry, we started to tape off one wall to add some stripes.

 We were just doing a darker gray color on top of the base color, so the taping went pretty smooth.

Watching paint dry...
We still have several things to hang up on the walls, but it is coming along!

I've been waiting to take more pics, so this is the only one I have of his room so far.  I hope to get the rest of the shelves and signs up before the weekend.  More photos soon!

Bryce is loving his new room.  He looks so small in this giant bed.  He's been sleeping in it for a week now and I laugh when I get him up in the morning because he is in a different position every single time!  Must be nice to have so much wiggle room!

There's a few more projects I would like to incorporate, like this:

Source: sunshineontheinside.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

or This:

Source: pennycarnival.typepad.com via Sara on Pinterest

And maybe something like this?  I bought some chalkboard paint, so I may paint a big area and frame it with some trim???  We'll see???

Source: mysisterssuitcase.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest