Birthday fun!

So,I have been a total slacker lately. School and springtime has gotten the bast of me. Not really much has been new either, so I haven't had much to spout on and on about. What IS new is that Alix has turned 12!! We had a great family celebration this week, where we all enjoyed Alix's birthday dinner choice of crepes and trifle...YUMMY! She received some wonderful gifts and is growing into quite the young lady!! I am so proud.

Anna is growing up too. She has taken her first steps and although she doesn't seem too eager to do more than that, I'm sure it's just around the corner. Her new favorite trick is climbing UP her little slide outside. She is quite good at it and is keeping us on our toes since she can't quite figure out how to get down once she gets to the platform.

The basement...well, what do they say? "Slow and steady wins the race", right?! If that is the case then we are true winners ;) Dry wall goes up the first week in June, bathroom is finished a week or two later, and then it's all the finishing touches. We are using FLOR carpet tiles for the flooring, which should be interesting. I just pray it looks nice. We figure with a dog, cat, and 2 kids it is safer than regular carpet. This was just reinforced a week or so ago when Alix broke a whole bottle of red finger nail polish ALL over our living room area rug...which we had to throw out. I can't imagine what we would've done if it had been a whole room full of rug...I'll keep you updated as things come together.

Summer begins for us all on June 9th...YEA summer!! Alix is doing a week long tennis program and 2 weeks of a writing camp. Anna is going to daycare one day a week so she doesn't forget her friends over the summer. I am just going to try to work in some pool time now that Anna is old enough to get out in the sun. We all are hoping to visit the cabin more often this year than last as well...fingers crossed!!

Here are some recent pics:

I can't quite pull myself up...how about a little help Dino?

Dorky Daddy and Anna

The birthday girl...what do you think she's wishing for???

More birthday fun




Hmmm, that ended up being one BIG bag...maybe it'll be a beach bag?! I must choose those patterns more carefully.

Let's ride!

Reading is fun!

I'm cute ;)

What's happenin?

Life is busy...but good. Steve and friends/family have finished framing the basement and we are looking forward to drywall bids and the electrician and plumber returning to continue their work. It's so fun to see the rooms come into focus. It won't be a big space down there, but it should be a nice one! I am currently stressing about couches and flooring (linoleum--looks like wood, carpet, carpet squares, cork...so many choices, so few that are perfect for our space.) Steve thinks I'm crazy b/c there's no place right now to put either, but I like the pretty stuff. As for the rest of the family: Alix is getting ready to finish up sixth grade and is currently playing volleyball. She spends most of her time thinking I'm a general pain in her... It's ok, the feeling is mutual ;) Anna is still cruisin' around, chasing the dog, and laughing. As for me, I am still trying my hand at sewing. I have done a couple more pinafores, my first successful purse, a bib and burp cloth for a friend's baby, and whatnot. Little by little I am getting more proficient. I am also counting down the days to the end of the year. I had a pretty good one (especially since I was told it was going to be a nightmare) so I'm not dieing to be done, but it sure will be nice!!

The bathroom...ready to go to drywall and finishing touches!

The laundry room...backs up to bathroom...Steve's favorite place (nothing better than a laundry doing husband!! I'm so lucky!)

My first successful purse. Now that I know what I'm doing I want to make a more summery one!! Here I come Crafty Planet!!

Anna looking cute in her springy pinafore (a reject from another project I did for a friend's baby) and her cute pink flower...

Easter

Hop, Hop, Hop...Easter has come and gone and what a great day it was. A quick jaunt to Gammy's after church for some brunch (and a nap for Anna). We enjoyed spending some time with Nana and Auntie Amy as well. Then off to Steve's family gathering at the Hamer house. The girls enjoyed the egg hunt (Anna got her first egg!) and we enjoyed some yummy ham and good conversation. Anna looked adorable in her Easter outfit (made with love) and Alix looked beautiful all grown up looking and with her adorable shoes. OUr girls are so beautiful...and smart ;)

What we've been up to...

Family day at Underwater World, sewing (and ripping and sewing again), framing, cookie eating...we've been busy!


Framing Fun! We're on our way now!



Anna's first cookie...chocolate chip, YUM!

cute bag...bad advice. The interfacing is MUCH too thick (thanks lady from Joann Fabrics) and so the bag is much too stiff. Cute design...cute fabric...but all a waste since I can't even finish it due to the thickness. Ugh.

My first bag...went well up to the straps (oops, I guess I should read the directions more carefully)...next time.

Underwater world fun (watch out Anna, that giant fishie is going to eat you up!), followed by crepes...yummy! The empty plate(s) in front of Alix tell the story!





More mess ups...the first is the final product (darned adorable if I do say so myself.) But before we got there I put the "sides"on backwards...had to cut it apart at the shoulder seams. It's no longer reversible, but just as cute.

Which is Funnier...Dogs or Cats?

Which is funnier...dogs or cats? Anna will tell you about 30 seconds into the video. I know she's my baby, but I just think she's so darned cute!

Education for All Comes to an End

Today was the last day of the Education for All Scholarship drive!!! Students and staff really pulled through in the end and I am quite pleased with the over $600 we raised for a Pullman Elementary parent to use to help defer educational expenses. I look forward to sharing the results of the winner of the actual scholarship when one is chosen. We will give parents another week or so after Spring Break to hand in their applications before a panel decides on who will receive the funds. I know it will go to a worthy individual who is setting a good example for our students by being a lifelong learner!

When I look back to how this all started I'm amazed that we ever made it to the end. It's hard to believe that it was many many months ago that I received that envelope with $40 in it...and that we turned that into $600, and a sustainable schlolarship! There were ups and down along the way, and of course I have things I wish I would have done differently, but all in all I am pleased with the outcome. Next year I'll have all the basics taken care of and be able to concentrate on my goal of finding different ways to involve the Pullman Community in a deeper way.

A big thank you to everyone who read about my vision and helped it become a reality. I have such an amazing support system-- without the encouragement and donations of you all it wouldn't have been 1/2 as successful. Thank you for the deepest part of my heart!!

Homemade Easter Outfit

So, I decided I wanted to make Anna's Easter dress this year...i don't know what got into me! My mother helped me on my first ever sewing experience and if I do say so myself--it turned out beautifully! I then decided it needed some little pants (it is Easter in MN after all), so I had a wonderful lady from Etsy.com (one of my favorite shopping places...all homemade stuff!) make me a pair of capri length bloomers. The bloomers came today, so we tried it all on...pretty darned cute, huh?!

Work in Progress

I have changed the name of the blog...it might stick, it might not. What do you think of it? leave me a comment if you like/dislike it. My feelings won't be hurt...I just got too tired to think too hard about it any more. Also, the header is a work in progress. I can get the photo to fit well without being distorted...sorry it's so big right now...

Let there be Teethies!

Anna had not been eating well the past couple of days (very unusual for our own human garbage disposal) and had been a little bit irritable lately (very unusual for our little bundle of smiles). We were all a wonder about what could be wrong with our Lil Peach...then today we get the answer...Teethies!! It was very exciting to feel her first tooth poking through...and I could write more, but I am off to the baby book to record at least her first tooth before I forget. All I know is that if the all we get for teething is a little fussy and a little less hungry, we'll take it. We are SO lucky!

Getting Ready for Easter

No time to write...already past my bedtime. Just wanted to share a few recent pix of Anna as she prepares for Easter!

My lil bunny girl


Carrot Head...Anna says, "I don't think orange is my color, but I'm still cute!"


Daddy and lil bunny



More of bunny girl...

Monkeying Around

Family day...I got to pick this month, so we headed to the minnesota zoo, and oh what fun we had...well, mostly. Anna seemed more interested in the people than the animals, Alix seemed more interested in when it was over than what was we were looking at, so that left Steve and I to be interested in the animals...which we were. We saw wolves and eagles, fish and sharks, tapirs and pythons...but no lions and tigers and bears...oh my! Here are a couple of our memories. FYI, inside the zoo is not the best place to take pictures.

Steve and Anna viewing some sort of animal

Peek!

Anna--stop monkeying around!

trapsing through the jungle

Fishies are so cool!

Is that Alix actually having fun?!

Sisterly love

Update--Education for All...SUCCESS?!

So...apparently you can just go online type in a few (literally) things and get yourself and EIN (Employee Identification Number), which is what is needed by the bank to open an account that would allow me to use the name of my scholarship. Who knew that I would've wasted so much time and energy over something that could've possibly been resolved months ago with a mere 5 min., online, application. Thank goodness for Google...it saved the day. At least I think...one more trip to the Bank will tell the whole story...

Education for All--another setback

I shared my vision with PTA this past week. My goal was that they'd be willing to jump on board and help with some procedural things--namely to be a name we could use for people to write checks to when making a donation. I walked in this Monday morning to this disappointing response.

Yes, I did some research and the PTA Board discussed it as well. We feel we need to pass on running this through PTA, at least for this year. Maybe with some more documented procedures and policies we can relook at it next year.



Questions/Comments/Concerns:

This endeavor does not fit with the mission of the PTA. It is not a PTA sponsored program or student activity. It sets a good example and is educationally based, but it doesn't provide a direct benefit to the students as a whole.
Is this a personal endeavor or is it a Pullman sponsored event? Is it something that could be run through the school itself? We know the school has strict guidelines on what can be advertised for and participated in (do it for one, do it for all). Does this fit those parameters?
Each time the PTA accepts a donation and it is deposited in the bank account, it is considered PTA money and we take on any possible tax liability/implications associated with it, including the possibility of bounced checks and any fees associated with them.
It is a great idea and a worthwhile cause, but since it is not PTA-based, we feel we cannot take this on at this point.

I guess I look into making this a true non-profit and registering it with the state...honestly though, right now I just want to donate the money that we have to someone and be done with it all. Ugh!

Anna 7 1/2 mos...Alix 11, going on 16

Here's some recent pix of anna and alix...my 2 beauties!


Anna's off


She's up


success!!

Will someone please post bail already!

Peace out.

Male Perm

What people won't do for a friend. Here is a story about two friends of mine from HS. A great story of friendship standing the test of time and distance, and then becoming bonded even stronger by one very unlikely source--the male perm