Best Early Birthday Gift EVAR

September 19, 2013 8:25 pm

I went visiting teaching tonight, so Kyle was responsible for getting Heather to bed. I guess she was pretty distraught about my absence at key points in the process. But Kyle managed to calm her and get her down.

So I get home and he’s telling me about how upset she was, and I kind of wished I could go in and give her a hug and snuggle. Kyle pointed out that she was still wide awake…and then remembered he had forgotten to put an overnight diaper on her. So I went in to change her and show her that I did, in fact, come back. While I was changing her, she kept babbling something around her binkie that I could not understand at all. Kyle finally realized what it was: “Happy birthday, Mama.” He had taught it to her and told her to say that to me in the morning (but not really thinking at all that she would remember to do so). But she did! How cute is that?!

Cross Stitch Projects

July 30, 2013 2:33 pm

A couple months ago, I finished this piece I’ve been working on since around about when Kyle and I got married, so about 4 years:

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It was quite an ambitious project. It’s large and completely stitched (no blank space). And I got to do some things I’ve never tried before to fancy it up, like the beads she’s scattering, and her belt.

Sadly, I’m having a difficult time getting it framed. (I have a frame and a mat, but the opening on the mat is a wee bit too small, so now I need to see if I can get it cut to size for a reasonable price.) Anyway.

After such a large, intricate project, I felt like doing some smaller, easier things. I found the patterns for these owls and snails for free online, and used fabric and thread I already had to do them. I think they’d be cute in Heather’s room, maybe?

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Then I ordered this design, and I love it. So much.

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And here we have my final in-between project. I found the charts for these four trees online, again for free. I put them together into one design, and I am quite pleased with how it turned out!

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So yes, I’ve been busy cross stitching. Heather’s been napping so well in the afternoons (knock on wood!), and I’ve enjoyed being able to have some steady me time to do things like these! My next project should arrive today, but it’s going to be another lengthy one.

Father’s Day Craft

5:27 pm

Using an idea I found on Pinterest, Heather and I made these SUPER cool works of art for Kyle for Father’s Day:

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They are 8×10″ canvases that Heather finger-painted on. I used scotch tape to mark off the designs first, then let her have fun. After it all dried, I pulled the tape off and voilà!

I just needed to show you guys because I felt so fantastic about these. I even made my own finger paints! And I think they came out marvelous. They are now on display in Kyle’s office. Yay!

Habitot Children’s Museum

5:17 pm

We were able to get free passes (through our library) to Habitot Children’s Museum in Oakland, so we went to go see what it was all about.

There was a big fire-fighter exhibit out front:

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Heather loved this climbing wall, but got stuck at the top and couldn’t get back down again. Fortunately, they are smart and the net panels just unscrew.

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They have a great big water play area:

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And an art room. One whole wall was for painting on, so it was perfect for Heather:

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It was a fun morning. Especially for free!

And now, a bonus picture from Kyle’s birthday party. Heather’s friend Emma is tucking her into her new (to us) toddler bed. (She doesn’t sleep in it yet, it’s just out for getting used to.)

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Adorable, right? Love these girls.