All sorts of Crafty

My nieces birthday is coming up, and I just had a (6 year old) friend who had a birthday, so I decided to get all sorts of crafty and make them some accessories for their baby dolls. The first I made were these doll diapers found at 2 little hooligans. Stinking cute.

Next I went off of my own design and made this diaper bag for my sweet and sassy 6 year old friend.
Lined with silky, soft, pink material. Who wouldn't love that? After words I thought, "Why didn't I make one of these for me?" Oh, and this is my clinche "green" project. AKA its made out of another bag that my parents gave me from a convention. I cut that sucker up and made a much cuter and useful diaper bag :)
Ah, the model. She got sick of "modeling" real fast :)
For my niece I made another one of my own designs, a messenger bag. That my model seems to be extra excited about. ;)
It's made with a cotton material on the outside and lined with felt.
I had to make one for Emma too. It's her "if you don't suck your thumb for a month" prize. She's doing...okay at not sucking her thumb, but she's really trying so she can get her diaper bag and diapers.
I also included a softy blanket and dollar store bottle. I hope they like them. (Sorry Lis, to ruin the surprise, but now you have something to look forward to in the mail, right? :) )

zoo-cchinis

I need to write down a couple of things before I forget them. Okay, lets be honest, Tony is gone to scouts, my kids are in bed, and I have a whole downstairs waiting for me to clean (including nasty dishes), and I just really don't want to. So I'm wasting time by blogging.

Emma asked me the other day if Zucchinis live in zoo's. I think she was half joking, half serious, but she got a giggle out of me.

She also did the sign language sign for More (tapping your fingers together) and said, "this is how you say 'more, please!' in spanish." I'm pretty sure she gets the "in spanish" part from me.

A couple nights ago I punched Tony and told him not to punch me back. He gave me the "what the..." look, and I said, "I know, I'm a hypochondriac."

He replied, "You mean a hypocrite?"

"yeah, hypochondriac, that's how you say hypocrite in spanish..."

I don't think he fell for it.

Liam has suddenly come up with the inability to lie. Which is awesome because, I'm pretty sure Emma makes up for it.

Anyways, Liam got a small, blank pages, book from his teacher that he was thrilled with. As soon as he got home he ran and drew something on every page. About 20 minutes later he brought the book to me and showed me one of the pages that was crossed out and scribbled on top of. It also had little X's with arrows pointing to the scribbled out pictures. He then said, "these pictures are crossed out, because they were inappropriate."

Uh, okay? So I asked him what they were pictures of. After a few minutes of him trying to decide if he should tell me, he finally answered, "A hippo going potty and a guy going potty." I had to hide my smirk, and then my full blown laugh as I looked at the scribbles and deciphered a hippo with his tail up and a few round scribbles dropping from it's bottom, and a stick figure man with a "third leg" and stream of pee.

Seriously? Where does this kid come from?

Fox is still the biggest tease in the house, which can be hilarious/cute and annoying. Yesterday I was sweeping the kitchen and had my dirt in a nice little pile. Fox saw it and then looked straight ahead and walked through it. I thought, 'well, maybe it was a mistake,' until he turned around and walked back through it two more times.

He also will take things and run with them in the hopes that you will chase him; Stand behind me and place his head between my knees and "walk with me" while I am trying to clean or do the dishes; and nonchalantly try to still things out of peoples hands, then giggle when caught. It's awesome.

What else?... Oh! Tony got accepted to St. Ambrose University, where he will be doing his pre-med classes, the next step in our schooling journey. We are way excited! Especially because with his acceptance letter he received a notification of a scholarship because of his academic grades!! It's not full-ride or anything, but any less money we have to pay is AWESOME!! He startes this fall and is extra nervous to be going to "real school" (I guess online classes don't qualify as "real school"), but I know he's going to do fantastic!!

Well, Tony just called and is on his way home so I guess I have to stop procrastinating the dippy dishes.

The rare Parrot Fox

Okay, yes this post is really about Fox but I had to start out by showing you these because they are so darn cute, and who ever sewed them is fantastic!! (What can I say? I have excellent sewing skills! And I'm a little big headed about it ;)) ...anyways, I have a baby shower to attend this week and so I created these little beauties. Cute, easy and functional, I'm brilliant :D

Okay on to the main attraction-this little dude.
Fox is now going through the parroting stage, where he starts to repeat the sounds we make. The first video is the sound that Tony taught him, that now is what every animal, person, or inanimate object says. The second is after he heard Emma cough a few times. (In this video please pardon the gob of blueberry cream cheese stuck on Fox's face, also the appearance of homelessness that my children have) Thank you. And enjoy :)

Oh and on a side note. You see how Fox is playing with shoes in the coughing video? He is obsessed with shoes! Aren't girls suppose to have this trait? He brings them to me and cries until I put them on. Then he will bring me every other pair (he's and everyone else's) in the house. I think he has a problem... :)

Green Hair Pie Tree

Okay here is some randomness that I have been think about lately, that have no rhyme or reason, but make me happy.

This last weekend when Tony and I were in Chicago they were doing their St. Patricks Day celebrating. Did you know that for St. Patty's Day Chicago dyes the river, that goes through the city, a bright green? Well, I did, because I saw it, and it was AWESOME!!

Tony was telling me a story last night that I have heard before, but for some reason didn't get the hilariousness of it before. Tony knew girl that he thought was cute ever since elementary school. In high school he finally got up the guts to call her and ask her on a date. She replied by saying that she had to "wash her hair" that night...WAHAHAHAHAHA!! Seriously so funny!! and so sad...but mostly I can't stop laughing!! I mean who really says things like that?

Yesterday we made pie for PI day. Who knew this had turned into such a large national holiday?? Crazy math people are over taking the world!! Any who- We were eating left overs today and Emma found a cherry pit in her pie. She brought it to me and told me she wanted to plant it. I said we could tomorrow. She was thrilled and a few minutes later I hear her musing to herself, "I'm going to plant a pie seed...because I like pie...and I found a pie seed." I asked her what would grow and she looked at me like I was stupid and replied, "pie." Oh. right. :)

Okay, that's all for right now. I've got some pretty hilarious videos of Fox saying his new word. I'll have to put it on here. But not right now. Right now I've got to go put kids to bed and then eat the rest of the pie without kids begging me for some :) Brilliant!!

Our 7th anniversary

Last Saturday was our seventh anniversary! Wahoo!! So we decided to leave the kids at a friends house and head out to Chicago for the weekend! Double Wahoo!! It was extra fun, and something that we haven't done (go on a vacation alone) since we have had kids. :) There are a lot of pictures down there, so I will give you a tour of our trip by pictures...

Oh the cute couple :)

Our hotel room. We stayed about a half an hour outside of Chicago in Bolingbrook, at a fancy holiday inn. Whoo, whoo, whoo!

Then we drove into Chicago and found the most fantastic, cool, bestest, sushi joint ever!! Oysy. It was awesome! It was all hip and happenin' with the modern blue glass and light beach wood tables and seats that are not the most comfortable, but they look real cool. :)

This is Tony at Oysy

And me.

My tempora. Don't ask me what the fan thing is or the leaf thing on the side. I have no idea what they were, but they tasted good :).

Tony got the "rainbow dragon roll." So cool!! (See how it looks like a dragon? hu? hu?) And yes, that's different types of caviare on top. We tried each kind, and they all tasted different (like the yellowish ones tasted citrusy, like fishy oranges, and the green tasted like fishy wasabi), pretty darn cool!

My Philadelphia roll. Yum! But not as good as Tony's. (darn Tony and his delicious food!)

Tony was very excited with his sushi

Okay, this ones in here just because he's so darn cute!! (What?! I'm allowed to put random pictures of his cuteness in here! It's our anniversary! Well, was...)

Next we went to Navy Pie...I mean Navy Pier, the "R" was just burnt out.

It's this giant pier that goes into Michigan Lake and has stores and carnival rides and stuff in it. While there we came across a stained glass window exhibit, which was pretty cool.

The next morning we went to the Field museum in Chicago, which is right by soldier field.

The big ol' cool museum

a gianormous totem pole

So the field museum has exhibits like the Bean museum in Utah, except for about 20 times what Bean museum has, but they only account for about 1/5 of the museum. Don't get me wrong. I love the Bean museum, but man was I sheltered in Utah ;) hehehe.

Tony by an alligator

Tony by my favorite thing in the museum.

This. The Pink Fairy Armadillo! I mean, who knew this fantastic animal existed!! I know I didn't! But I think it is now my new favorite animal. :D

Me by my other favorite animal, a Fox (for my baby boy Fox)

Tony as a barnacle

Tony as the Tsavo lions. ( You know, the lions that ate a whole bunch of people, that are male, but with out a mane, and they made the movie "the Ghost and the Darkness" about...look 'em up)

Then we went through the mummy exhibit

Yep, it's real.

And then the dinosaur/prehistoric life exhibit.

Me in front of prehistoric life :)

And then we were done.

Tony infront of another soldier field monument.

It was an extra fun weekend! And who wouldn't have fun spending time with this cute guy? I mean, seriously!

Disgusting!

So do you know what's disgusting? We are trying to plan a trip to Utah this summer (hear that ma? Actually, trying!! :)). We are calculating the amount of money we think we will end up spending. While calculating we put in 4 flipping buckaroos for a gallon of gas!! That's disgusting. We are hoping we are over shooting, but I don't know. I hear its suppose to get up that high. Ugh. The really disgusting part? It's still cheaper to drive 5 people at $4 a gallon then for two person to fly or one person to ride the train. Sickening.

For Lisa

So my sister Lisa has this awesome crafting blog! I learned how to make this head band. Cute, right? Any who, HERE is her blog on how to make them, if you want to join in on the awesome, knotted, crocheted head band fashion. :)

A few simple facts about Tony

So the 12th of March is Mine and Tony's (wait is that correct?), Tony and I's (clearly this is not working), OUR anniversary. 7 years, baby! I know, crazy, right? Any who... I thought I'd write down some simple, possibly little known, facts that I have learned over the past seven years of being married to the best, most hansom, most funny, most strong, most quick witted, most smart, most loving (any others, honey?) man ever! :)

1. You don't get even with Tony. You know that whole statement, "I don't get mad, I get even?" Well Tony takes that to a whole new level of, "I don't get mad, I get you worse so that you will never want to do it again..." Yeah, I think that about sums it up. :) If you teasingly drop a few drops of water on Tony from your cup, expect a teasing bucket of water on your head. If you throw an apple slice at him, expect an apple pie back. (note: this is always just playing or teasing. But you'll never win so don't play the game...:))

2.Tony does a fairly good impersonation of a mentally handicapped man and a gay man. (It's actually quite scary, funny, and ridiculous)

3. Don't ever call Tony a wuss. I was wrestling Tony the other day (and totally winning...;)) and he had me in one of his fancy, wrestling moves (?) but I could move my foot. So, since I could move, I called him a wuss. BAD IDEA. Those stupid wresting moves hurt!

4.Tony is an excellent cook. In fact, some times I wonder why I even bother. But he has never complained about my mediocre food, even though he could do much better.

5. Tony is the best dad ever! Our kids adore him. Somehow Fox has figured out what time Tony gets home, and will wait by the back door until Tony pulls up in the car. Then Fox will run and giggle and laugh watching Tony come to the door. Its so stinking cute!!

6. I have never seen Tony really, truly mad. I fear the day that I ever do see him mad.

7. Tony has managed to keep the same best friend since kindergarten (? I think). Even though they live half way across the country from each other they still remain close. In fact, Tony agreed to go to Utah this summer ($ providing) as long as we could try and talk his best friend in to coming too :). Ah, who am I kidding, I heart Dr. Tuttle too! He's the best!

8. Tony adores me. It may sound conceded, but it's just a fact that I know. And with someone adoring me like that, how can I not adore and love him back.

Mushy part skip over if you must-

Tony is everything to me. Each year, the more I learn about him, the more I love (and it always surprises me that even after 7 years there are still things I don't know about him). He's stubborn, cheesy, and sometimes gross, but I love every inch of him. He makes me extremely happy, and what else could a girl ask for.

I love you Tony Bundy, and hope that you still love me, and don't kill me after writing this post about you. :)

Topsy-Turvy

Ever feel like your life is turning topsy-turvy?

yeah, so do I...

(yes, this is the best picture of me that Tony could get. Almost makes you want to cry hu? I could only stand on head for about 5 seconds before I felt like my eyes were going to burst out of my head...Tony had to be quick, and this is what I ended up with. Dumb adultness. I remember standing on my head for longer periods when I was younger. Stupid.)

Calling all family!

(and any friends that want to participate)

Hey guys I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind helping.

Below is a list of Liam's "sight words." I wondering if you guys wouldn't mind writing letters to Liam (and Emma, so she doesn't feel left out...Fox too if you want) using mostly his sight words and simple "sound out" words. Yesterday I freaked out a little bit when he came home with a spelling test that he got 12 out of 20! What the!! (I thought he knew them all!) Needless to say today he can write every single one of them perfect (after several hours of drilling him :)). Anyways, it made me realize I needed to do more, (what!? Parents have to teach their kids too?! I thought the teachers did all of that!! ;) ) and I thought you guys maybe would want to get involved and help...:).

So if you wouldn't mind writing him letters every once in a while that he can read. (Throw in a harder word every once in a while if you want. It'll help him learn :)) You can write it to all three kids if you want, I'll just have Liam read it.

Liams sight words:

a

I

the

and

is

this

are

like

to

can

little

was

do

look

we

for

me

what

go

my

where

has

play

with

have

said

you

he

see

will

here

she

am

all of the numbers up to ten spelled out and numerical (ie. four and 4)

He also knows all of his family names and can sound out words. Thanks for your help guys!!

Jealousy

This is a subject I've been thinking about quite a bit the past few days. You know, that "green eyed monster" that you are warned about as children, and taught to never let him visit. And yet, in adulthood, we invite him in, caress him, feed him, and nurture him in to a full grown, green-eyed, supersaurus.

I have a friend who is aspiring to become a published writer. She has worked hard and has finished a manuscript for the book that she hopes to get published. It may come as a surprise, because of my awesome writing skills, but one of my life goals is to write a book and have it published. I have all sorts of book ideas bubbling around in my head that I think people might want to read...one day...

I'm excited for my friend, but as I watched her get closer and closer to becoming published, that feeling of jealousy began to creep up on me. Mind you, my said book ideas have never even been fully written down, they're in my head, if that counts for anything. But I began to be jealous that this friend may become published before I ever got published. That people would tell their friends about the author they know, and it would be her; not me.

It was stupid. I knew it as it was, but for some reason I couldn't pull myself away from my thriving new green eyed friend. Until I heard about another friend whose life was being torn apart by those that were jealous of her cultivated talents. I never realized how much my jealousy could affect the person I was jealous at. I thought my green-eyed pet -that I had groomed, loved, and cared for- would always just stay hiding in my closet. But after I heard my friends sad story, I realized that green-eyed pets aren't breed to live in the closet forever; green-eyed monsters come out and play.

Its a fact that is shown to us in the story of David and King Saul. You know- the same David that helped Saul out by slaying Goliath? David is put over Sauls army and as they are marching back from war against the Philistines the women of all the cities sing out, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." 1 Samuel, 18:7. Wa-la, a green-eyed infant is born. Sauls jealousy gets so corrupt that, although David does everything Saul asked, the king tries to kill him several times.

So do I have a lot of others to be jealous about? Absolutely. I have a sister who's having an opportunity to build her career as a dental hygienist while still in high school. Multiple siblings, friends, siblings-in-laws (pretty much everyone), that make more money than I do and are able to afford things I can't . An older sister who is better at crafty things than I am. Friends who are prettier. Acquaintances that are more likable. People who have cooler jobs and contacts.

But the point is, life is not about tearing down those who have and know things we don't. It's about celebrating what they do, being excited for the progress they are making in their life, and loving them unconditionally. Life is about relationships. If we continually tear away at those relationships with jealousy soon all we will be left with is one spoiled, overfed, needy, green-eyed pet.