Couldn't resist...

Random pics that I love...

Grandma U. I can't seem to get my blogger to function and post videos...so there is a picture of Isaac RUNNING! Yes, he has skills. He runs, climbs on top of things, chases you, you name it.

Our cousin Laura Otto brought her dog Riley to Thanksgiving festivities. Isaac had a lot of fun with him! Also, who knows what Isaac actually ate over the holiday. He was always reaching onto tables to grab food...you would think we starved him...

Candy Cane Discovery

Isaac helped me decorate the tree tonight. As I finished putting up the garland I noticed that he had taken off a candy cane, removed the wrapper, and smiled at me with a wet sticky candy cane in his hands. My first impression was, "I should take that a way." Then within the same instant I figured I didn't want to squelch his discovery. How did he know that it was an edible thing? How in the world did he remove the wrapper? Why is he so dang cute? I think I won the coolest mom award tonight...

(Isaac always makes those circular lips with an "ooh" when he is excited about something)

Halloween 2009

Jonathan was in San Fransisco while Isaac and I celebrated Halloween. I found a cute monkey costume at the consignment shop for 3 dollars. It looked too cute and vaguely familiar. It was only later that night that I realized it had been the same costume Charlotte wore one year. Jackson was also going to be this monkey. So, the boys were identical monkeys this year. We were invited to a party at the Gray's house. We had a bobbing for apples contest and a donut eating contest. I came in first place for the girls (I was the only one who participated) and I should have been first for the donut contest. I was second to last, although I didn't know that. And I had eaten the most of anyone before it fell off. If Jonathan was there to stick up for me, I am sure I could have won first place.

The day before Halloween I went to the library storytime and trick or treating down Main street. It was a lot of fun. I used the opportunity to teach Isaac how to say please in sign. It didn't seem to be clicking two weeks ago but this week, he is starting to get the idea. If he says please he will get something he wants...usually. I also made Isaac a black felt trick or treat bag with a ghost on it. It is really cute.

Halloween was a blast.

Sans Isaac

The last time I ran in a race was over two years ago at the Air Force Marathon in Dayton Ohio. This of course was before I was a mother. (it was a relay marathon, 6 miles) Unfortunately, I have only run a handful of times since then.

My friend Natalie and Jonelle were talking about upcoming races at my house on Sunday. They were thinking of running the CowTown Marathon in Fort Worth. I immediately got excited because my little sister lives there and I thought it might be motivating for both of us to train and get back into shape. (She just had her baby girl three weeks ago) So this week, with some motivation, I have already run 7 miles. 4 of which I ran with Isaac. (With my old, awful, veer to the left jogging stroller.) I was initially going to attempt a full marathon. However, with Michigan winter approaching, and Eliza's recent physical demands, we decided to run the half instead.

I am so excited. I have never run anything greater than an 8k race. While it isn't a marathon, I still feel like this will be an ambitious goal that I will have to work hard to achieve. It will also get me into shape and I will be able to run a race with my sister!!!

To die for...

I was looking through my pictures and fell in love with these! I LOVE THEM! So I thought I would share. We were still living in Omaha so Isaac was about 10 months old. He has had this outfit since he was 6 months old and he is still wearing it! We sure got our money's worth out of it.

Fall activities

Isaac loves to be outside. He always finds a stick to play with, throws rocks, and walks up and down the side walk outside our house.

When we went to the pumpkin patch he was adorable! He was so excited about all of the orange pumpkins. He probably thought they were balls...

He throws fits...

Yes, he only does this with his mother. Even when I don't respond to the fit, he continues to do them. Poor little boy. And no, the bump on his forehead is not from his fits. He had a head on collision with the coffee table...

Dinosaurs, packages, and fire!

Well, it was quite the project making Isaac's cake for his birthday. I underestimated how long it would take to make homemade fondant, color, and decorate it. I think we wiped the floors and counters a half a dozen times and mopped twice... Sticky stuff. We initially celebrated Isaac's birthday during Labor Day. Then, we had a kid party on his actually birthday. Here is the picture of the dinosaur cake. He almost touched the fire on the candle when he was supposed to blow it out.



The slideshow is the sequence of events that took place to open Charlotte and Jackson's present. Thanks guys. It was hilarious watching him hoard the fruit snacks in his hand.

Sick of Curtains?

I am. I would rather show off a handsome blondie! We went to South Haven, MI for Labor Day. My parents rented a vacation home on the shore and it was breathtaking! We had so much fun. Isaac had an aversion to sand. He couldn't bear to touch it at first. By the third day it was tolerable enough to stand on and maybe quickly grab a stick. I hope he doesn't have sensory issues!

Project- #2

Before and After pics...with some of Isaac in between.





CURTAINS!!!

Close up of Fabric and Finials!






I got great deals on the fabric and hardware. I spent less than $100 bucks for all of my window treatments. It has been so fun.I am changing the second window. I am going to spray paint the hardware from gold to black and put rings up like in the other. I just haven't had time today.

In the dining room, I used the back side of the fabric because I liked the contrast. I also like how it works with my yellow gold chairs. I made fabric rings of the chair fabric as well. (That was a pain, but doable!)

If you don't like something about your house. Change it. Buy fabric, paint. It will be so worth it!!!

Projects- Post #1

Here are some pics of my finished black chairs with new upholstery! They are so much better than the brown with black 'pleather" seats. I will paint the table legs this week, I have a fun idea for the table top!

The chair fabric is hard to get up close. There are textured squares with white dots. I love them!!!

A Creative Flare

I have been preparing for our move back to Ann Arbor. I have a lot of time on my hands, and have a thousand thoughts in my head about how to have a more design flow in my home. I am grateful for all of the contributions we have received/gathered over the years. Especially, since we have been going through grad school for three years and have two years left. Money is tight. Despite my feeling of gratitude, I usually come home, look around, and feel frustrated. "nothing goes together" Well, I have researched, perused decorating blogs, copy and pasted tutorial links for projects, and am ready to go.

Here are some of the things I would like to accomplish in August:

Refinish my dining room table and chairs

Make curtain rods (the cool kind with finials and all)

Upholster my dining room chairs

Refinish the coffee table

Paint the nursery and determine an accent color for the wall in the living room


These projects will hopefully allow me to feel less frustrated in my home.

P.S. Does anyone know a good home organization blog? I need some ideas.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Yesterday we went to the Omaha Zoo. Supposedly it is quite famous and the #2 zoo in the country. We packed a lunch and got everything ready to go. So, maybe Saturday wasn't the best time to go. I have never seen so many lines! Parking, admission, exhibition centers. At first it was pretty bad but then as people began to spread out throughout the zoo it was better. Isaac of course was a little young to appreciate all of it. However, when he did manage to fix his sight on an animal he would watch it for awhile. It was really sweet. We had fun doing something together just as a family.