Car Woes

Do you want to know the only way to make you feel better about forking over massive amounts of $$$$ for car care? Here it is:

Step 1: Take your vehicle in to your authorized dealership for it's 5th recall. (yes, 5th)
Step 2: When they ask you if you would like their free overall inspection, say yes.
Step 3: They will call you up when the car is done, and tell you aaaaaalllll the tiny things that need to be fixed "right away" on you car. Then, they will give you some crazy, confusing quote of how much each thing is going to cost you.
Step 4: Tell them you will have to call them back after you call around to get price quotes.
Step 5: Call your trusted car place and get a quote from somebody who doesn't work on commission.
Step 6: Feel all warm and fuzzy about spending 1k on your car.

Done!

Yes, I am one of those Americans who is dependent on my vehicle. I hate to be too cold. I don't like sweating profusely. If the weather were just perfect (50/60 and sunny), I would totally ride my bike everywhere. But it's not, so I don't.
I own a VW Passat. His name is Vinny. I like him. It's cozy, has a little get up, and looks nice. The maintenance has been a pain, though. VW uses "special" parts, requires the pricey gas, and not everyone can work on them. And don't get me started on all the recalls. Though, we have been fortunate enough not to have problems with the recalls, until Sunday, when we were driving to church. They had sent me all the notices and paper work, I was just too lazy to take it in. Our closest dealership is 30 minutes away, and that's driving on the [expensive] toll road. It was just not something I felt like doing. So, I waited until our maintenance light came on to remind me. When we dropped it off this morning, they asked if I wanted the free inspection. If it's free, it's for me! Later, they called up and told me all the things "wrong" with Vinny. I think the price tag came to about $1,846.00....probably plus tax. Suddenly, feeling very poor, I called up my usual car place and they gave me a quote of $1,052.57 (including tax) IF all those things really needed to be done. It's weird how I feel so good about spending that much money.

I'm sure it will hit me when I hand over the money.

You Reap What You Sew

WARNING: There are some pretty poorly taken pictures on this post, but they shouldn't be hazardous to your health.

So, I have been a crazy sewing lady these past few weeks. I don't know what got into me. I think I get tired of not being able to find what I need, so I have to make it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Most times I have to make a few prototypes (aka messups) before I get it right. Aaaaaaanyhooo, here's what I've been up to in the wee hours of the morning.

My mom made the CUTEST quietbooks for the girls for Christmas. They were quite reminiscent of the quietbooks I knew from my childhood, and for sure required an immense amount of labor and love. Our usual church bag was just a bit too small to fit them, a snack, and coloring books into without pulling a muscle, so I made us a new church bag: I'm actually glad I had a reason to use this very cute fabric. It is one of my favorites from "the Lobby," and after I made a diaper bag for my sister using it, I too needed a reason to have it in my life.

I have spent the last 4 years of my life searching for the perfect bib. I hate bibs. They get smelly, I don't like to wash a million bibs that get their velcro stuck to my clothes in the laundry, and they never keep the milk from seeping onto laps. So, since I am a DIYer, I had to make the perfect bib. I found the tutorial here, but made a few alterations to it. I made it extra long, so that it fit under her highchair try, and I sewed the bottom corners up to catch the spilled milk...which is a daily victory. Also, instead of using thick fabric, I used a thinner twill, and it was much easier to work with (this was bib #2).


Next on my list was a few belts. I had bought the webbing with the intention of making some for my sister, but I didn't have her measurements, and I found these very cute ribbons that were just begging to get used.

This one is my favorite, and I wear it as much as I can:

Finally, with my using my (his) fancy new camera all the time, I felt the need to girlify it. I LOVE the color yellow. Love it, love it, love it. I was browsing Joanns, when I happened upon some oh-so-cute yellow, black and grey print, and just had to buy it. So, using all my brain power, I came up with a camera bag.


It's not quite a perfect camera bag, but it will protect my camera for the time being. Maybe someday I will feel ambitious, and redo it. Not today.
Since I had some left over fabric, I put it to use as a new camera strap. This was actually very, very easy (find instructions here), and I love it. (Thanks, Erin, for pointing me in the right direction)

Sorry about the lame-o picture. This was the only way I could think to take a picture of it, without having to remove it. That would take time.

This is my next big project. My friend who works at the children's salon gave this to me. They were redesigning their salon, and they had two of these benches that were in pretty rough shape. We're working together to make them cute and usable.
I can't wait to get started. I got my new staple gun in the mail last week, and just purchased my air compressor today. So excited to get all power-tool-fied!

Ailee, the Shaggy Kid

Maryn needed her first hair cut at 5 months old. Ailee just got her first hair cut at 18 months. Two girls, same parents, very different.
My friend, Mallory, works at a children's salon. Normally, I'm a do-it-yourselfer, but I decided that this time, it would be best for all of us, to have someone else with better skills and proper equipment (I use scrapbooking scissors to cut Maryn's hair), cut Ailee's hair. And, naturally, I had to document it. Mallory had to reassure me several times that I wasn't the only crazy lady to bring their camera in for their child's hair cut.

Not quite sure about things, but there are suckers and a movie...so maybe it's not so bad. Being extra still for the stranger. Why for the stranger? Why can't my kids be good for me, too?

All done and BEAUTIFUL!!

Maybe this place is kinda fun.

They even sprayed sparkles in Ailee's and Maryn's hair. It was pretty fun. Totally worth the dough to avoid a fight and frustration.

Fashion is a Passion, So, What the Heck Happened??

I have a rant for you today.

About clothes.

What is up, people?? Has anyone else noticed how uncute the styles in the stores are today? (and by "the stores" I mean Gap, Old Navy, Target, Kohls, even [clearance] Banana Republic--you know, stores I can afford to shop at) I don't need to impress others with my clothes, I only dress for myself, according to my moods, and tastes. Just like every other girl in the world, I don't have a perfect body: scrawny, flat chested (folks, it's no secret), stick pretzel arms, stretched out waistline from having 2 too many kids....the list could go on, but I will spare you. So, give me some clothes that work with my problems, not accentuate them. Do you think I want to wear a tent so that people can raise an eyebrow at me, wondering if I'm expecting #3? [no] What is with the giant puffy sleeves? Nobody thinks I've started a new work out routine by wearing those. And, does anybody out there look good in neons? I'm not blond, tan, and beautiful...I'm a pasty white girl who just wants to blend in, not stick out like a tourist in Cancun.

I started looking for some clothes I can wear to church. Nice, but comfy ('cause I'm in the Primary). All my cute clothes were short sleeves, short skirts, and well, I live in Colorado, so I need something with a little warmth. I think I scoured the stores and internet and came up with nothing. Nothing. Everything seems so BLAH, skanky, or very unflattering.

Could you see me chasing my kids around the park in this:

[pupupupoker face pupupoker face]

For you fashion designers out there, this is my plea to you. Give us something to work with. Us--stay at home moms with kids, and really distorted bodies. We want: Comfortable, washable, feminine, with just a little bit of flare (because staying at home can be pretty boring at times), but nothing showy or bedazzled [PLEASE], and colors that make us think of pretty things like sunsets or meadows, not caution cones. And, what happened to the square neck? I've always liked it, but it seems to have disappeared.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any suggestions as to were I should start shopping?

Snow Days, Snow Days

For Christmas, Kade bought me [him] a really nice camera. It's loaded with all sorts of confusing buttons and settings, so I've started with the most automatic settings, and I figure I'll branch out from there. It snowed last week (imagine that....more snow) so I took the girls out to take some pictures in the snow with my [his] camera. Here are my mad photography skillz:

Maryn was very compliant, and was pretty excited to have her picture taken. Ailee.....well, she could hardly hold still long enough for the camera to focus.

This snow has taken FORRREEEEVVVVEEERRR to melt. Have you ever ridden your bike on ice? I have, and I don't recommend it. Fortunately, this week has been so beautiful. 50's and sunny. I wish this weather could continue until Spring.

A Decade in Review

So, my sister in law, Allison, did a post on her blog about what has happened to her over the past ten years. I was sitting here, trying to think if I could remember back that far. I 'spose I could give it a try. Please forgive me if I've left out any details--I'm getting old. Here goes:

2000:

-I started my 4th semester at Ricks College.

-Kade started his second semester of Dental School.

-I graduated Ricks, and went through a pretty nasty rough patch the following summer. I got a job as a dental assistant , and decided for my sanity's sake I should start attending the local single's ward in Louisville.

-Kade met the woman of his dreams.

2001:

-Kade and I went on our second date after he got back to KY from Christmas break. That night was our first kiss.

100% dork

-I made my first (and only, so far) trip to Arizona to visit my brother. From there, I made a trip to Mexico, and brought home a set of maracas for Kade.

-Kade and I got engaged in the Spring.

-I met Kade's parents and younger brother (Shad) and his wife (Allison) for the first time, when they all came to KY to get Shad and Al moved in. (note: this was AFTER I said yes to marrying him.) I still remember how nervous I was.

-Kade and I got married in August.

-Kade started his 3rd year of Dental School, and I started Dental Hygiene school.

2002:

-School, school, school

-Went to Texas to finally meet the rest of Kade's family.

2003:

-I barely passed pathology, but still ended up being 3rd in my class.

-GRADUATION!!

-Kade did OBC in San Antonio for the summer, and I got my first job as a Dental Hygienist, but at a terrible office. Thankfully, it was only for 8 weeks.

-We bought our first car, Vinny the Volkswagen.

-The US Army relocated us to Fort Campbell, at the border of KY and TN. Made some great friends there.

2004-2007:

-We sold TC (the Turbo Colt). I hope he has been treated well. We miss you, buddy!

-Again, the US Army relocated us to a small post in Budingen, Germany, where Kade was large and in charge. Well, in charge. ish.

-Found out one/both of us carried a red-hair-gene when Maryn joined our lives in June, 2005.

-My little sister, Marybeth got married 6 weeks after Maryn was born. It was only by a miracle that I was able to go and help welcome Mike into the family.

-My parents packed up and moved from our home in Kentucky to Idaho. And also, they killed our cat.

-Throughout these years, we traveled around Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Vatican (it is it's own country), Holland, Austria, Belgium, England, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Spain, Croatia, Poland, and France. (We drove through Luxemburg and Lichtenstein)

-The only people brave enough to come over and visit us were Kade's parents, and my sisters, Jill and Marybeth.

-We met lots of great people, and made lots of good friends. I'm glad we have the internet to keep in touch with them.

-In June of 2007 we packed up, and moved back to Kentucky, where Kade started his specialty training for Endodontics at the University of Louisville.

-There was an HIV pandemic. Fortunately, we were spared.

-Got my sewing machine for my birthday. I entered the crafting world.

-Spent Christmas in North Carolina with family.

2008:

-Made a last minute pre-baby trip to North Carolina and the beach, so I could show off my hugely swollen canckles.

-Ailee came along in July.

-Hurricane force winds came through town. Our power was out for 9 days. I found out how useful a propane grill is, how angry people get when there isn't enough gas to buy, and the worst time to get the stomach flu is when you don't have any electricity. I will always be grateful to those who let us use their washing machine, and take warm showers.

-Spent most of our days at the park or the zoo with friends.

-Maryn took her first set of swim lessons and discovered a love for water.

-Spent Christmas in Texas with family.

2009:

-Bad ice storm hit Louisville. Luckily our stars aligned and we didn't loose power.

-Kade ran the Derby Mini Marathon. He claims he saw a bright light at the end of a tunnel, and heard Jesus telling him to run towards the light.

-Kade completed and defended his thesis, "An Analysis of the Role of Coronal Restoration on the Survival of Teeth Following Nonsurgical Root Ca...zz..zzzzz...zzzzzz...zzz...zzzz.."

-Kade finished his program in June.

-We said our sad goodbyes to Kentucky, and moved to Colorado.

-Emily went to a family reunion in Idaho.

-Kade started his first "real job."

-Maryn started Pre-school and loves it!

-Spent Christmas and New Years relaxing, eating too much food and playing games with friends.