Handy, Crafty, and Good Looking

Kade got it all when he got me.

When our furniture finally arrived at our new home, the first thing I wanted to to was to get the washer and dryer up and running. We had a ton of laundry to do, and I so did not want to go back to the Laundromat. The movers put the washer and dryer up in the laundry room and besides needing a new hot water hose for the washer, this is what I find:

The plug to the dryer

The outlet for the plug

Hmmm. Where's my team of rocket scientists when I need them. Fortunately, I went to the hardware store, and after some not so great advice from a 19 year old who knew, mayhaps, less than I did about electricity, I found a nice, older gentleman who instructed me on how to change the plug on my dryer. After a long phone call to my dad and a lot of worrying (am I going to get electrocuted, is my house going to burn down...etc.) I got it changed and in working condition.
I pride myself on my handiness.
Since my boxes got unpacked and my pictures hung up, I needed something to do at nights, so I found some really great tutorials online for some really cute bags. I need more bags like I need a Snuggie (useful...but unnecessary) but I wanted to see if I could make something nice. My first bag was this, and you can find the tutorial here.

I LOVE how it turned out, and since Ailee is requiring less stuff to lug around, and also, my old diaper bag was being held together in spots by duct tape, it is my new diaper bag. The instructions are great and very detailed and it took me 4 hours from start to finish. I did change the inside a bit. Instead of one little pocket, I did two big pockets . And, I found a new material to sew with: Canvas. Have you ever sewn canvas, 'cause it is wonderful?!

My next project is actually a present for my sister, who is having a baby this fall. So, Erica, if you are reading this, "SURPRISE!!!" This diaper bag, which you can find the instructions for here, turned out pretty nice. There are a few minor flaws, mostly cosmetic, because I am an impatient seamstress, and think that pinning things together before you sew them is for losers. But, it's a great bag with lots of pockets. I did use a nylon lining instead of vinyl (which I couldn't find) like it calls for, and fusible fleece instead of regular interfacing (it makes it more sturdy and soft). This bag was not nearly as easy as the first, and took me the span of several days to complete. I like how it turned out and hope it holds up past the first month of use.

I've got lots of other projects lined up, so I am sure you will hear about those at some point.

Maryn is very big in to taking pictures these days. It's interesting to see what she deems as picture worthy. I guess we just have different ideas of beauty.

Kade is such lucky man.

We're Party ANIMALS!!

Last Thursday was Ailee's first birthday. It's hard to believe that she is already a year old--it seems like it was just yesterday that Ailee delivered herself. ;) Being the nice parents that we are, we decided that a family party was in order. Maryn agreed because she wanted ice cream. Don't mind my poor excuse for a cake in the picture above. I was out of good ideas, and since I have spent 99.9% of my time this week unpacking boxes and hanging pictures, time. Those white lumps are supposed to be polka dots, and that unstable looking line on the side is supposed to be a squiggle.

I won't quit my day job.

This was Ailee's reaction to her lousy cake: Or maybe it was our singing. Who knows...she sure didn't like something.

After an apparently pathetic rendition of "Happy Birthday," we got ready for presents!! Just a few pictures of the festivities:

Ailee getting ready for some heavy duty wrapping paper tearing with some push ups. "ONE! Tubby, Tubby. TWO! Tubby, Tubby. Three! Tubby, Tubby..."

Me and my gals

This was the only picture we got during the wrapping paper disassembly process (which Maryn was good enough to take charge of...) in which anyone is actually looking at the camera.

Ailee is such a funny girl with lots of personality. She's a chatter box and loves being held. Her big brown eyes have me wrapped around her finger, and I can't get enough of her snuggles. I love it when she surprises me with funny things she's learned. A few months ago, I was asked to help conduct the music for Sacrament meeting at church. Kade wasn't there yet, so I handed her to another sister, Julie, in our ward. After the music was over, I went to pick her up, and Julie whispered to me, "She totally prays!" I thought it was just a fluke, or something, but after the closing prayer, Kade said to me, "Did you know that she folds her arms during the prayer?" I guess it was something she'd noticed, and just picked it up one day. I've tried and tried to get it on video, but with no success. Oh well, you believe me, right?

Another funny talent Ailee has pleased many audiences with is blowing spit bubbles:

(Video compliments of my bro-in-law, Mike)

Ailee LOVES cell phones, so for one of her presents, I bought her a toy phone that does not call other countries, or various people in the contacts list on my phone. (Sorry to those who've received unexpected calls from my children!!) Now if only I can limit the amount of time she spends on her phone talking to her other baby friends.

Baby 1: "Ew, did you, like, see that frumpy outfit that baby girl was wearing today?"

Baby 2: "Like, yeah! That diaper totally makes her but look so big!"

This must be the same look I give to Maryn when I say, "I am on the phone, can it wait just a minute?!"

Happy Birthday Ailee! We sure love you, and we're glad to have such a sweet addition to our fmaily.

Movin' on Up...To the East Side (of Denver)

It's official...we are moved in. This Death Star is fully operational. It has been a roller coaster of a few weeks. I'm glad it's over. I unpacked (well, opened...it's not empty, yet) the last few boxes yesterday. All the pictures are hung up. I do still need to put up a few curtains, and properly place a few things, but after a week of digging in and gittin' 'er done, I'm pleased that our house is all put together. It's kind of a shame I'll have to redo all this in a year. (we only signed a year's lease, hoping to be able to buy a home)

We like our house. Well, it's actually a duplex. It's in a quiet little neighborhood that is 10 minutes from any store you would ever need to shop at. There is a walking trail that goes right behind our backyard fence, and it is .8 miles to the elementary school that Maryn (hopefully) will be starting pre-school at in August. My only complaint is that there is a big hill blocking our view of the mountains.

I guess we can't have it all.

We've really liked it here. The sun shines a lot, but I have loved watching the thunderstorms roll over the valley. Now that our house is put together, we've got to start on making friends. A couple of the gals from the ward invited us out to the Aurora Reservoir yesterday. It was great! It was like being at the beach, but smaller, and without the fear of being eaten by a shark. I'll have to be better about re-sun screening next time...we all got sun burned.

Catchin' a few rays...eatin' a bit of sand. Life is complete.

Tryin' out those sweet goggles.

We miss Kentucky and all the friends we made there. We hope everyone is doing well there, or getting settled after moving. This was probably one of the most difficult moves we've had to make, but all good things must come to an end, right? Thankfully, no one here has asked me (yet) why I don't have a strong southern accent, or how it is that I still have all my teeth.

It's Independence Day!

Today we celebrate our independence from anyone or anything that seeks to oppress or imprison us and/or our spirits. I could insert a political rant about a certain president...I don't want to name any names, so I will just call him B. O.... but I won't. With this post, instead, I would like to celebrate a momentary independence from maturity and seriousness.

I have always had a warm place in my heart for Beaker.

We're...There

So, I apologize for my absence. It has been a CA-RAZY couple of weeks. Here's a quick summary of the happenings:
1. Packed a few boxes
2. Lots of family in town
3. Packed a few more boxes
4. Kade graduated
5. Packed a few more boxes
6. Said goodbye to family
7. Packed up a whole bunch of boxes
8. Movers came and took the boxes
9. Drove 1100 miles with husband, kids, and a plant from Kentucky to Colorado
10. We are here.
I will be back later, hopefully with photographs and perhaps details if I'm up for it. Right now I just want to have my furniture delivered.