More projects.....

OK. I started working on Elerz's bedroom this week. I've got a few things done so I thought I would share some pics. My hope, goal, plan is to have her room completed for her b-day party in a few weeks.  Well, everything completed except the space on the wall over her bed.  My original plan was to use embroidery loops with different fabric, but after looking at the loops at Hobby Lobby I came to the conclusion that they just won't work for Elerz.  You see, my little Eliana Rose, is one of those types of kiddos that loves to tinker with things.  And when I say "tinker" I mean DESTROY.  She is just a curious girl that wants to know how things work.  Well, to get back to the embroidery loops, just one look at the tightening screw and I put them back.  All I could see was Elerz grabbing one of these loops off the wall and twisting the screw out and eating it.  I walked around Hobby Lobby for about 30 min trying to figure out a way to secure the loop, but could not think of any, so I'll just have to think of something else.  Any suggestions? 

OK. To get back to what I have accomplished......

I thought I would do a little artwork for her room, to add some color to the walls, WITHOUT actually painting the walls.  Let's put it this way, I do NOT miss the green walls in the old house!!  I bought these fabrics at Hobby Lobby and they coordinate with the fabrics that I already have in her room.

 I started by painting a canvas..(obviously)

 Then I mod podged the fabric on the canvas. 

 I then cut out floral shapes out of the various fabrics.  And no, I am not a master circle painter.  They are white garage sale stickers.  I know, I know, I am a cheater genius!!

 Another coat of mod podge, to seal everything. Then hot glued buttons around the top of the tree for some added texture.  And wha-la! custom artwork!!

 A little collage I pulled together.  All of this stuff was in Elerz's old room, except the frame in the top left corner. That used to be yellow and in Nat's room.  A few coats of green paint, a little sand paper and it's good as new.  I added a flower to the blue frame, basically to make it look more interesting.  I hot glued scrap paper behind the butterflies to add more color.  It's all very Eler-ishy!!!

Hopefully, I will have a few more things completed in the next few days since it is supposed to rain so we will be stuck inside!  You know the part in Wizard of Oz when Dorothy says "lions & tigers & bears...Oh my!"  My saying is currently "mod podge & hot glue & duct tape...Oh My!"

Sad, just real sad, huh?!!! 



Finished projects & purple smiley faces!!

OK.  When I comment that I am going to post an update on a project the next day I really mean......

7-10 days.  Does anyone else's life seem to work that way too?  This week has literally been one project/task/issue after another. I have been going non-stop from 6am to 10 pm most of the week.  I am soooooo glad it is Friday!!!! It has been a rainy (not stormy, just a nice rain) day!! Natalyn was excited this morning (after I dressed her while she was asleep!) because it was her first day to go to school with an umbrella. OH......the mind of a 5 yr old!  She did look very cute marching up the sidewalk towards the school with her leopard umbrella.  Very POSH!

Natalyn's teacher uses a color system for behavior issues.  I believe that everyone starts on green and if you finish the day on green, that is pretty good.  The only color better than green is purple and Nat has gotten a purple smiley face on her daily calender the past 3 days!!! We are very proud of her!!!!

Her teacher even called our house this evening, just to see if we (as parents of Kindergartner's) had any questions or concerns.  I was impressed that she took the time to do this.  I am very thankful that Nat has the teacher that she does.

OK. Back to my projects.  The pics are awful, but I had already drug the 6 ft ladder back into the garage and refused to bring it back in the house (oh- how I love being 5'2"!)  So these pics are from ground level. 

This is a dry-erase board I made.  I used a cheap Hobby Lobby Frame and scrap paper. Total cost=$4.99!!

 Candle holder- finished!  I plan to get an "S" decal to put on the plate.  Also I need to get some floral sprigs to add some color to the ivy. I already had all this stuff, so total cost was $0.00!!!

 The glass jar-thingy was my great-grandma's  (my Nannie).  I just put in some decorative wicker balls to add some color (half off at Hobby Lobby=$5.00).  I also need to find a platter with some color/pattern on it.  I had this one already, so it works for now.

 Here is the frame I had posted about yesterday last week.  I painted the white mat brown (it almost looks like it is trimmed in stained wood).  Then I duct taped (very professional, huh?) a place mat that I got from Target to the back of the mat.  And wha-la! Artwork that cost me $3.99!!  We got the vase as a wedding gift. I love it because it is just plain.  I stuffed some moss in it and some faux wild flowers.  Total cost=$2.99!!

 This was supposed to be my first picture to post, I have no idea why it ended up at the bottom.  Basically, this pic shows the pattern on the paper that I used.

 

 

Play date & Potty Time!!!!

OK. I know, I know, boring title post!! I can't think of anything snazzy (spelling?)!!!

Elerz had her first play date without Nat around.  She had Anderson, one of her church buddies, over for awhile yesterday morning.  Elerz is still having a hard time without Nat at home during the day.  She actually cried and wanted to sit on my lap for the first hour that Anderson was here, then she finally "chilled out!" Elerz is still on her kick of "every friend is named Mia." Soooo.... Mia, I mean Anderson was a good sport about it ad "entertained" Elerz's craziness!!!

Here they are eating a snack. Don't they look like such big kids!!

 Anderson had one of our old cell phones.  He is playing like he is taking my pic while I am taking his!

 On to other things.....like I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE POTTY TRAINING!!!!!! For several months, Elerz has let me know immediately after her diaper is yuck (that's what we say around here!).

Even though I still think she is alittle too young, it's probably time for her.  Elerz has the type of personality, that if it's her idea, she's ok with it.  So.....Sunday we headed to Wal-mart and bought a pink potty.  She has used it once each day.  WAY TO GO ELERZ!!!!!

 



A little of this & that!

Nat has done remarkably well this week (still one more day to go this week!)  This morning, I am pretty sure she was eating her cereal asleep though!!! She really seems to like her teacher, and the specialty teachers as well (i.e. PE!!) She told me yesterday that they had learned about the color red and circles.  She said that she knew all about both so the teacher told her to learn how to spell the word red, which she came home doing!! I was impressed!! She also learned her 5 digit lunch account number in one day flat.  Too bad I can't get logged into the system to add any $ to the account though!! Tomorrow is PIZZA DAY, the ONLY DAY that Nat will consider the school food and I DON'T HAVE TO PACK A LUNCH!!!!!!!!  I WILL tape $2.40 to her arm tomorrow morning if I have to!!!!!!!

I would show a pic of how cute Nat looked today, but it's late and my camera is MIA.  I may add it in tomorrow!!

Nat's BFF Mia got a hair cut from another classmate.  Per Katie, it was more of a trim than a cut-thank goodness!!  Kiddos are crazy fast with scissors!! And why is it that when you hand a young child a pair of scissors that the logical thing to do is cut someone's hair of all things?! Hmmmmm....

I am working on a few things for the kitchen, here they are:

This is an old frame that I had.  It is a kind of antique goldish color. As you can see, I started painting it before I took a "BEFORE" pic.

 I have had this basket for ages. I decided to not spray paint it (that would have required a trip to Wal-Mart),  but use red acrylic paint to distress it a bit.  I put about a million more coats on it. 

 This lonely candle stick was originally a brassy color, I just slapped on some turquoise-ish blue paint on it.

 OK. Here is layer 1 of the frame painting process.

All of this stuff is going above my cabinetry in the kitchen.  I have no more step by step pics. (Nice tutorial, huh?)  I hope to have everything completed and in place tomorrow.  I'll just have to leave you in suspense until then...............



First Day of School- Kindergarten Edition!!

OK.  I, Natalyn survived the first day of school. 

I can't believe it,but Natalyn jumped right out of bed at a bright and early 6:30am!! (Let's see if she is still doing this by Friday!ha)

She even ate cereal WITH MILK, which is a miracle in itself!!!

OH! What a big girl!!!

 Elia was all up for the excitement of the morning. She even has her very own Minnie Mouse backpack, that she insisted on wearing.

We parked a block or so away from the school and walked Nat over, the car line was at least a 45 min wait to drop off today!!!

 Nat's classroom. I am rather impressed with myself, as I DID NOT ( I repeat-DID NOT) CRY!!!

oh- and Nat was super brave too!!!

Ol' Elerz was not happy about having to go with us and not getting to stay at school with Natalyn!!!

 This last pic is of Nat and her teacher, Mrs.Maute after school. I just love the smiles on both of their faces!!! We got in the pick up line at 2:30 and got to the front of the line for pick-up at 3:20!!! (and Elerz refused to take a nap today-so it felt more like 18 hours in line!!!)

I asked Nat what she did today.  She said that she made new friends. I asked what their names are, she had no idea! Geez!!  She also said she played with dominoes, but overall she had alot of fun!!



Kindergarten Open House

OK. This morning we went to Nat's school for Kindergarten Open House.  Nat was equally scared/excited as we were walking through the doors of her new school.  There will be 8 Kindergarten classes so it took a little bit to find Nat's class.  Nat walked into the room and looked around and said "I was wanting a room with a purple wall."  Nat's room has a blue wall.  Each grade has a focal wall color.  Nat wanted to know what grade had the purple walls? I told her I have no idea, except that it isn't Kindergarten.

Here is Natalyn meeting her teacher, Mrs. Maute.  This is the only picture that I have of them, since I then started crying and had to leave the classroom and pull myself together.  How was Nat you ask? Oh, she was perfectly fine!

The teacher across the hall gave me a tissue and then almost started to cry herself. I know, I know, I am pathetic!!!  

 OK. back to Nat's classroom.  Here is her cubby.

 Nice bug eyes Natalyn!!!  Can this smile be anymore fake?!

 Nat's teacher gave her a workbook of activities.  Nat says it is her homework and she must complete the book by Monday (totally not true!)  All I keep hearing is Nat yelling at Elerz to keep her hands off her school book, it's for big girls only, not babies!!!

The principal advised us parents of Kindergartner's that there will be a "Boo Hoo breakfast" immediately following dropping our kiddos off with their teacher on Monday.  She said it will be a great place to cry on each other's shoulders.  I think this sounds more like torture, I will probably skip it!  Scott plans to take the entire day off from work on Monday to help with Elerz just in case I am mentally unable!haha



Friends-n-boots!

Yesterday my girls had their BBF's over, which are also sisters. 

Natalyn and Mia have been great friends since they were 2 yrs old.  Katie (Mia & Libby's mom) and I met at the gym way back in the day when we used to take Zumba.  Mia is also starting kindergarten on Monday but at a different school.

 The younger girls aren't so smiley!!!! Elerz just pooped and Libby Lou is snacking on a Dora map.

Overall, all 4 girls play really well together. Elerz decided that everyone's name was Mia, which was a little confusing when she was trying to tattle and such.

This morning, I moved the kitchen table to make room for my new table to be delivered this afternoon. The girls really enjoyed the empty space.  Natalyn watched Puss in Boots and decided to do a little salsa dance on her own (in her red boots of course!)