Refurbishing fun and the return to sewing...

I've had a few realizations in the last couple of weeks,

1) I'm great at getting inspiration for a crafty project, finding just the right tools and starting the project with gusto (normally coinciding with Nay's nap time)...however...if it's a project that I can't finish within a 2 hour window, it's just that.  Not Finished.  So my goal this past week/weekend was to finish a few things.  Namely a dresser that I snagged for like a whopping $5 at a garage sale and had a number of different ideas for which ultimately now is in Naomi's room.  It was fun to jazz it up and Naomi was really excited about seeing it in her room for the first time, her exact words were something along the lines of, "Hey, Moooommm" kind of along the cadence of when say aww....so even though the project should have taken a weekend and ended up being a multi-weekend venture I think it was worth it!

Before:

After:

2) Since we've had that little cold snap these past couple of weeks I'm starting to feel the fall projects and hibernation mode kicking in...I sincerely hope summer isn't done but the weather did motivate me to FINALLY finish a pillowcase dress I started making for Nay a few months ago.  So...its about 2 inches too long for her right now but she will grow into it this winter I'm sure and it will look cute with leggings and a long sleeve T.

3) Last week I went with a very dear friend to look at the fabric on MEGA sale as Abbotsford Ben Franklin...boy oh boy did we get some deals which has lead me back to a Pinterest addiction issue looking for sewing projects to use said fabric for.  While we were in the store there actually were quite a few fellow shoppers - more than I anticipated for late Wednesday afternoon.  The employees of the store are so sweet, the owner was cutting the yards of fabric for my dear friend and just chatting away with us...it struck me on a sad note, I'm sure the employees and owners are looking forward to retirement but what a bittersweet time to say good bye to customers you've served for years and years.  Their presence in that community will certainly be missed...back to the fabric, I think this was my favorite of the day - or perhaps ever, it makes me think of sweet little girls and I wanted to make something for Naomi that embraces this time in her life that she would actually use so a pillow case it is!

So, here's to finally finishing a few projects and hoping that this motivation stays with me to keep working on the to-do stack!

30 Day Photo Challenge...the end

I am at a bittersweet crossroads, it's been a fun time doing this 30 day photo challenge, but it has truly been a challenge which was the point.  I am going to be taking a bit of a break from the photo challenges for a month or two in anticipation of a few other crafty projects consuming my time.  I also have a really fun plan with a couple of willing subjects but more on that later...So, here is  my final post about the 30 Day Challenge - Photograph your kids:

Day 25: In low lighting (light from iPad, TV, Fridge, etc.)

I completely stumbled upon this situation and as it turns out I LOVE the under lighting.  I find it a little daunting that my 2 1/2 year old daughter is more familiar with an iPad than I am...I have a feeling this is just the beginning of having those types of moments/feelings.

Day 26: Telling you a story...

This will be a sequence of photos because I can't pick what expression I like best, I can't really tell you exactly what she was talking about but there was something about Chloe being naughty and Ryan being silly....

Day 27: With a prop that represents them...

This was a no brainer...it's blankie or beeshee to Naomi.  This represents her in every way that a little one can be.  It's her source of comfort and confidence, keeps her warm, can be used as a cape and has truly been with her from day 1.  I was a big blankie girl myself and I know exactly how she feels about hers :)

Day 28: Helping you with a task...

This one was easy because Naomi is a happy helper...well sometimes it's helpful and sometimes not so much.  I think this day in particular taught me a lot more than just a photography lesson, it was the lesson of let the littles in your life help.  Naomi's eyes just lit up when I asked her if she wanted to help.  Then the whole time we were making the waffle batter she just kept saying over and over, "Me helping you Momma?"  super cute.  And she didn't really make much more of a mess than I did while cooking...and if we've ever cooked together you know that generally is a huge mess with a lot of utensils.  I blame cooking for a job in high school - it was the best, I could use whatever pans, mixing bowls and utensils I wanted and someone else did the dishes!  Ahh living the dream...:)

Day 29: Playing in the sprinkler/pool/beach...

Hmm...well...this one couldn't happen in the last few days because it's been COLD.  So, here is a pic from earlier this summer in place of it :)

Day 30: You and your child...

Well, here it is the last picture of the challenge.  These pics are courtesy of Ryan's hand however, I did adjust the settings and just told him to keep clicking away.  Which is the true lesson I learned in this challenge, just keep taking pictures of whatever strikes your fancy and you can capture little snippets of time.  I think it would be a fun project to do this challenge each summer as a documentary of Naomi's summers.  We shall see...

If you're looking for us...

You will most likely find us on the playground...

Naomi has been completely infatuated with going to the playground lately.  When we got back from our little mini-vacation in July we started going to a different park and it has a lot of fun toys and we normally get the park to ourselves or just a few other kids. One of her first questions when she wakes up in the morning is, "Park?" which actually sounds like "Parch" because she is still struggling with making "K" sounds like a a "ch" sound.  We have had a lot of fun playing at the park, she frequently pretends that the playground set is a ship and that we are fishing.

She also has become quite the little monkey and is much more brave than what she was a few months ago, she'll climb up on all of the little monkey bar things (giving me a mini-heart attack each time that it looks like she is going to fall - I have a vision of her slipping and smacking some part of her head on the bars every time.  Sheesh).  There is also this fire truck, I'm sure anyone who goes to this park with their kiddos can attest to this.  Kids LOVE this truck thing.  She makes either Ryan or I sit in the front with her then we "drive around" looking for kitties in trees, people that need help crossing the road, etc.

 Going across the "lake"

 Climbing the little rock wall

 Hmm...now WHO is the bigger kid...?

 Same question as above I guess - but these really ARE fun!  And dizzy-ing. :)

It has been a lot of fun, enjoying the cooler evenings at the park.  Sometimes we meet friends there to share in play time chasing, other times we make new park friends and yet other times we just enjoy the little family of three that we are....

 There is this little musical piano thing that is underneath the playground, every time she goes to play with it she has to press the one broken key and keeps saying, "It broke!"  Funny.

 She also likes to pretend that she is a puppy in here

 Planking?  A place for deep reflection?  Just taking a rest?

 Rescuing her from an overzealous climbing excursion.

 Giving her a lift on the monkey bars...she definitely inherited the Thomas/Ertl skin tone - her legs compared to my arms is comical!

 Diggin' with Dad

The Fair

I am a smidgen behind on keeping up on the blog/scrapbook as we have been running around a bit as of late.  Thankfully we are in the midst of a weekend at home.  Ahh...at home :)

The Taylor County Fair was a few weeks ago...there was much conversation on it this year because there were not many rides because of an alleged booking snafu....it really didn't bother our little family though because we were there for the animals - well and the cheese curds and lemonade. 

Naomi LOVES animals.  It's the typical smothering 2 1/2 year old animal love though so I'm fairly certain the bunnies were all very happy to be locked securely in their cages.  Our cat CC can attest to the perils of the smothering type of love.  While going through the animal barns Nay had to say hello to each. and. every. one. bunny.  It was pretty darn cute though, "Hi Bunny, Hi Bunny, Hi Bunny."  She didn't want to miss one!  I hope that she keeps the same be kind to everyone and include them all mentality through her life. 

At the start of what turned out to be a long time in the small animal barn :)

 "Hi Bunny...hi bunny...hi bunny...hi bunny..."

 She also thought the geese were great fun too

 I think that some of the chickens have such great coloring...

 Bunny or kitty?  Hmm...

 For some reason this picture reminds me of a dorky cheer from junior high, "How funky is your chicken, how loose is your goose - our goose is totally loose some come on now and shake your caboose."  What in the world does that really mean???  And why in the world would it just pop into my head.  Hmm another one of lifes great mysteries. 

 No bull...this calf is super cute.

 Super cute for huge, smelly pigs!

 This little lamb had a fun story, they brought the ewe to the fair and she had a baby!  

The little lamb's name is Big Surprise.

 No trip to the fair is complete without a stop by the ice cream stand!

Yum!

30 Day Photo Challenge...Days 21, 22, 23, 24...

Well the days are ticking away...I am now at the point that I have enjoyed the ideas of what pictures to take and having a photo goal but am looking forward to just shooting whatever...not that anyone is counting or grading but I'm a pretty good self motivator :)

Day 21: Hugging a loved one...

It's me! :)  I changed my settings, metered for light and...handed the camera to Ryan.  There, now that wasn't SO hard was it?  haha.

Day 22: Tiny hands at work...

Oh so many to choose from, she is going through a HUGE water color painting phase...and really she does a good job and loves to do it.  Super cute.  I love seeing her express her creative side.

Day 23...Brushing Teeth

This one was really easy because she loves to brush her teeth.  Like 5 times a day.  Like that she knows where her special toothbrush at grandmas is.  Like right after she wakes me in the morning our conversation goes like this, "Hi Nay." "Hi Mommy." "Did you sleep good?" "Me eat!? Hungry!!  Teeth please!".  She definitely is a girl who knows what she wants!

Day 24...Sneak around a corner and capture them not paying attention

This isn't nearly as devious as I thought it was going to be.  She really is a good girl and is rarely doing things that are naughty.  So we're pretty low-key in our sneakiness, as in playing with Mr. Potato head :)  Let's keep it that way for the next 30 or so years!