Our Decorated House.

I've mentioned, numerous times, how I truly LOVE Costco. I love that you can go into Costco ... only wanting pizza ... and leave with enough toilet paper to supply to entire block's needs for a good month. I love being enticed by the sample ladies to buy a 16 pound bag of banana chips. And I love that within the walls of Costco, my non-eating children, will eat whatever is placed before them ... as long as it is served in a plastic cup. But when the above mentioned item is taken out of the store ... and presented under normal eating circumstances ... you are left with ... well, a 15.8 pound bag of dried banana chips.

But Costco and I are about to have a few words. Because last time I checked, it was still September. A solid 100+ days before December 25th.

But there ... in front of our eyes ... was a gingerbread house.

Joshua: Can I look at that house. That house needs to be in our cart.

Me: Joshua. That's a cool house but buddy ... it's September.

Joshua: I want to eat that house.

Me: No one should be eating that house for another 90 days. And then, I'm not sure anyone should be eating it then. What is in this that it can last that long?

Joshua: Can I PLEASE have it?

We did manage to leave the gingerbread house at Costco with promises of taking it home when the calendar hits DECEMBER ... but the wheels were turning in Joshua's head. He NEEDED to make a decorated house.

And he was in luck ... because I needed an evening activity to keep the crazies occupied.

Oh ... and our Bella came over for some much needed architectural support.

I think more candy was consumed than placed on our cracker house ...

But ... that's the whole idea, right?

And the crazies were happy, happy, happy ...

To eat and eat and eat ...

And to pretend as though they couldn't see me ... taking pictures ...

Now ... if I can just avoid the toy aisle for the next 90 days ... then we'll be in good shape!

Cool Moves. Getting Dressed. The Great NorthWest.

At our house, rock concerts are a daily happening. They happen at dawn. They happen at dusk and sometimes, you'll even get serenaded with an original tune at bedtime. Those are my favorite. But is it strange that the other day, when How was practicing his music gig as I sat on the couch and watched ... he looked a bit disgruntled and said, "Why don't you have your camera?"
"Would you like me to get it?"
"Well, you'd better because I'm doing some pretty cool moves."
"And people will want to look at them." We'll start working on humility next week. But for now ... I hope "you people" enjoy looking at the moves!
And as for the other brother ... well ... he's as determined as ever ...
To accomplish the "getting dressed by yourself routine" before Joshua.
He's not particular about what clothes he attempts to get on his body. He'll snag them from just about anywhere.
I try to tell him that he's attempting to put on a shirt here ... and shirts go over your head. But he just looks at me .... and says, "No. Feet."
And it's pointless to argue. Have you ever tried to reason with a 23 month old? I wouldn't recommend it. Especially over something as concrete as shirts and shorts. Because clearly ... any limb can fit through any opening. And it's just boring to wear them the "correct" way.
Until ... well ... they figure it out for themselves!

And ... I'll be turning in my "mom keys" for the next few days. I'm off to the great NW ... to see my dear friend (and shoe supplier), Emelye. This trip was planned back in the spring ... but my spring was a bit more exciting than I had anticipated ... so we rescheduled. A whole 3 days with Em ... the beauty of the NW ... coffee shops ... antique shops ... NO SALES TAX! And I'm packing a sweater. Maybe two! I can hardly wait!!!

Like Father. Like Son.

We'll Call Him ... Nemo.

I Give You ... My Laundry Nook.

Our first house.
Our first house was yellow. And it had a green front door. I never wanted a green door, I always wanted red. But ... the one thing this little yellow house did have was a laundry room. A full on, step inside, close the door, fit a twin bed in, room to twirl around ... laundry room. And I didn't know how much I loved it ... until we moved to our second house (that, by the way, still doesn't have a red door. It's blue).
Our second house came equipped with a laundry closet. Mind you, I did have my pick of washing machines (you can see I was determined to add red into the picture somehow!!) and I was happy as a toad ... pushing buttons and making my laundry sound like a spaceship was taking off. But ... what girl wants to do laundry in a closet with tan walls?
So ... when our friend Andy came to town ... I made lavish pizza dinner promises and put the extra muscle power to good use. They removed the washer and dryer from their pedestals and set them down on solid ground. And this is what remained:
A mostly ugly laundry closet with two ... now very low to the ground washing tools.
But soon ... the tan was replaced by blue. Not CBB blue ... but a slightly darker shade.
And a cabinet door I found at IKEA for $9.99 in the As Is section. A perfect fit for my new folding surface.
And then Handy Man Mike came to the rescue ... with lots of power tools ...
And just like that ... he added an "L" shelf, sawed the cabinet door to fit and added a back.
Three months later, I regained my motivation to finish the project. With newly framed artwork (ahem ... paper from Michael's) ...
Baskets, baskets and more baskets ... and a letter "B" that still needs to find the perfect fabric ...
And a new home for my beloved silhouettes ... (and a soon to be added fabric covering that will be hiding my enormous supply of toilet paper) ...
And of course ... LABELS ... I can now forget my longings for my laundry ROOM ... and be content to wash, scrub and fold in my laundry NOOK. (I think nook sounds way better than closet, don't you?)
Oh ... and this past weekend ... I didn't get around to making that pillow but I did make this bird "painting" ... I moved the hand prints of the kiddos upstairs. That little spot just needed a bit more color!
Finally ... this project is complete.

Gone Fishing.

Ben: "Carrie. Where are all those fly fishing magazines we used to get?"
Me: "I don't think we ever got a fishing magazine."
Ben: "Yes. We got it for a year or two. You didn't throw them out, did you?"
Me: Acting crushed at the the sheer nerve of my beloved - used to be non-fishing husband - accusing me of throwing something ... as special as a fishing magazine ... out! "If we still have them, they're in the cabinet upstairs."
Ben: Goes to retrieve the magazine and comes back downstairs a happy man. "See. This is proof that we got it."
Me: "And see. That's proof that I do care about those slimy little creatures and I can resist throwing things out! Barely!"
And so ... we have begun a new chapter of our lives. Family fishing outings. Ahh. The thought of the serene environment. Wind blowing through the trees. The quacking of ducks and the splish-splashing of our would be captives. Peaceful. Beautiful. Who wouldn't want to go?
And then. I remember who we're taking with us. Loud and louder. And that right above those peaceful reeds is a freeway. And the sun is blazing hot, even at 6pm. And that I forgot to bring water.
But no one seems to notice the noise ... or the heat ...
They just plop down and make themselves at home.
Spotting all sorts of wildlife ...
And trying very hard to make this little guy our new family pet.
Not caring that Mom's gourmet PB and J sandwiches got squished. Just enjoying the freedom to eat and wander.
And get back to what's really important.
Time with the crew. All of us.
And well ... back to eating.



And Ben said that he'll even get me my very own pole. And to think ... I've been worried all these years that he'd buy me a blender.

I Heart TJ Maxx. Bumps. And a little project.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, J. How has preschool which means that Eli and I must find something to do with ourselves. Translation: I rack my brain to think of stores that open at 9am and bring along organic lollipops to feed my youngest so that he is content while I stroll the aisles.

This past week, we cruised over to TJ Maxx. I tried on $200 pink sunglasses (they were on clearance but pink and I didn't get along as well as I had hoped) ... and on my way to housewares ... I found this:
Toobers and Zots. I had no idea what it was but if you know me ... you know that I can't turn down a creative looking thing ... especially if it is wearing that cute yellow clearance tag! We took them both.
Well ... it was the best $2 I've spent in a long time. How wanted to make a guitar. He wanted to have a rock concert.
He's a great musician. And what's even better ... is this guitar was silent. Ahh ... it was beautiful!
This one, however, must have been waiting for Bono himself to come through our doors because he just wasn't all that impressed with How's repertoire ...
That is ... until ...
Mr. Rock and Roll began giving his audience lessons in the "rock pose." That's right ... you hang onto your guitar, put one hand in the air and yell ... "ROCK AND ROLL!"
Oh ... and it helps if you wave to the immense crowds listening to you outside who've waited in the 100+ heat just to get within ear's shot of your talent.
I think all that excitement was worth the price of admission, don't you?
And later that night, the rock magic must have worn off because this cute head met up with the side of a table. I'm still not sure how it happened ... given that he's a good 2 feet taller than the table but with this kid ... I guess anything is possible.
I know you wanted a closer look. You're welcome.
And in bedroom news. Hmm ... that didn't sound quite right. Let's try again. And in bedroom DECORATING news ...
These three pears found a home. They're fabulous. The room needed a pinch more green and this metal sculpture thing-y was just perfect!
And with Ben on yet another trek across the country ... my inner-craft woman came out. I saw these in a magazine not too long ago and thought I'd give it a try. (Ohh ... I actually LOVE the ones in this link. I might have to try that one next year!) It's a disease. I must have a project to work on. I also organized just about every cupboard in this house. If it hadn't been used in the two years we've lived here ... it had to go.
If my cupboards are still clean in a few days ... I might just post pictures. I'll need to have it on record for a few months from now when they've returned to their former ways. Oh ... and our laundry nook is almost complete. Six months in the making. I just need a little more fabric and maybe a bird or two and it will be done. I know you're on the edge of your seats!
And ... I'm thinking of making one of these this weekend? What do you think?