He's Back!!

Here's a little of what I've been soaking up for the last couple days!!
:)

Tadpole Update

I'm finding it extremely difficult to photograph camera shy tadpoles. Here is the best I could do, blurred and all. Good news, we have leg buds... at least that is what I'm calling them since they aren't big enough to be moving, but are definitely visible. We have a total of nine tadpoles and all seem to be well. We've been feeding them a leaf of lettuce every few days.

Here is a cave/tunnel Ali & I built for them.

And this is where they live... right in the middle of our kitchen table in an antique cookie jar - sans lid. We stacked books underneath since during meal times we were all 'hunched' over looking at them. Now they are at a nice convenient eye level height (or close enough).

Stay tuned for froggy leg updates. When the back legs fully develop, I plan on catching one to photograph... I know, exciting stuff!

Simple Things

In preparing for our newest little girl... yet to be named... I wanted to simplify a diaper bag for two. Especially for those times like at the church nursery when I would need to leave a bag for each of them... but don't want to haul around 2 diaper bags.

I found this tutorial and went to work. The only problem was, I couldn't find a cute & boyish place mat. So, off to dig through my fabric scraps- which secretly I like to do, but it is a hassle getting everything neatly back in its presentable place.

Nevertheless, I came across one of Dan's old shirts & a perfectly green cloth napkin that coordinated. Happy Day. I also had some left over chocolate brown edging from a Thanksgiving project I worked on last year.

So here goes (in order) my pic tutorial for the diaper/wipe carrier.

Cutting Dan's old shirt... loving the fact that I am repurposing something.

*TIP*

I also saw a long time ago on Martha Stewart that you could use men's old shirts like this to make colorful cloth napkins. Our family uses cloth for every meal and it makes fun colors for the table.

After cutting both pieces of fabric to desired dimensions... I think I made mine 14x18 or close to that, I ironed where I wanted the 'pocket' to go. I think the tutorial said 7 inches up, but mine was less... I just used my wipe case to measure.

Then, I pinned on the edging.

Sewed the edging and placed the Velcro pieces in appropriate spots... and that's it! Very simple and useful. This is it holding two diapers and a travel wipe case. It holds three with the case comfortably.



I thought about putting his name across the back in big chocolate brown letters... still may do that. But for now, I am looking forward to having this in my diaper bag for those times I need to take Ben and baby to different places.

August is Tough

August is tough.

Now in our 5th year of living on a college campus, I should know the routine enough to see it coming and prepare accordingly. My middle name is 'preparation', but nothing seems to prepare me (or my kids) for August.

* I can hear myself whining but I feel better getting this out.*

I have referred to this month as the month of single parenting. I get a taste of it for a month... and I hate it. But maybe, to remind me to be thankful that I have an amazing partner in life. (yeah, that 's a good way to look at it). On top of that, this one is probably the toughest yet, due to some foreseen and surprise issues our family is facing right now.

So, as quietness fades from the dorms, as my world turns into a 'fish bowl', as parking space stealers raise my blood pressure, and as my home becomes a 'lobby' of sorts for a while... I will be thankful for all the extra moments I get to see my hubby and our kids, their dad- as he pops his head in the door throughout the day, and all the amazing people/friends that live in our community, and that no matter where we live my kids know that we are a loving family committed to one another.

My hope is knowing that I can have joy, knowing that there is good for me, for my family in this even if it on the other side of this 'tough' time. And also that my kids are resilient and very forgiving of a cranky mommy.

And I was right, I do feel just a little better.

*Happier post to come this weekend.*

I'm working on a fun little project for my Benjamin - as long as my sewing machine keeps behaving.

7 Years Ago

We started our family.

This picture is not from back then, but one that Dan included in my sweet card today. I believe this was at Saks Comedy Club in Tampa right before Ben's pregnancy 2007... wow, time flies!

Today I am thankful. This is right where I want to be.

Friday Night Camp Out

After movie night, the kids wanted to 'camp out' in their room together.

I wasn't sure if they'd spend the whole night in there, but they both went right to sleep (after a few giggles) and didn't wake until a little past 7 this morning.

Sleeping Ben

While vacuuming this week, Ben decided to 'read' some books. I guess the loud noise put him to sleep.