Moss Pot

I admit it, the kids and I drink far too many Slurpees.   I really got hooked on them during my pregnancy with my 3rd and the craving never stopped!  I normally toss the lids in the recycle and put the cups back in my car for the next trip to get $1 Slurpee refills, but today I decided to use a couple of the lids for a super easy Spring craft.  

Here's the tutorial:

Buy a Slurpee.  (My cups use the largest size dome lids.)  Drink it.  But not too fast or you'll get a brain freeze!

Get a pot.  I think mine are 4 inches in diameter. 

The lid should fit over the rim on the pot.  

Acquire some moss.  I happen to have moss growing in my yard, but you can buy it at a craft store if you don't have any.

Pick all of the weeds and grass out of it and shake off the dirt and bugs.  

Put hot glue on the outside of the lid and wrap the moss onto the lid, pressing firmly to adhere.  Trim off any excess to form a clean edge like you would with a pie crust.  

Put glue along the rim of the lid and place the pot onto the lid.  

Add glue to the rim and add moss to cover any exposed plastic.

Flip it over and you're done!  That's it!  Easy enough, right?  Now stand back and admire your handiwork.  

Excuse me while I go think of other ways to repurpose Slurpee lids.  Have an idea?  Share it in the comments.  

Piggy Back Rides

Watching the Space Shuttle Endeavor as it makes it's way piggy back style over Vandenberg AFB enroute to it's new home at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on October 12, 2012. 

So Happy Together

Celebrating 11 years of marriage with the best looking, hardest working, most loving man I know. 

Happy 6th Birthday, Patrick

I got to ring in Patrick's 6th birthday with him tonight.  I was decorating his room for his birthday (balloons everywhere and a birthday crown he brought home from school) and he woke up needing a drink of water.  As I tucked him back into bed, I noticed that it was 11:59pm.  We waited the 20 or so seconds for the clock to say 12:00.  I got to give him his first birthday kiss of the day.  :)  It made my heart happy.  ;)

Dear Patrick,

This past year has flown by.  I think faster than any other one so far.  In that year, you have grown up so much!  It's hard to even remember back to before you could ride a bike, read/write a sentence, climb our tree, buckle/unbuckle your own carseat, talk in a big boy voice, do math problems, eat foods you used to be allergic to, read a calendar, do the monkey bars, count to 100, take a shower independently, go to school, play baseball, dive under water, etc.  This year has been packed with new learning and new adventures and I've enjoyed being by your side as you discovered each new thing along the way.  You have impressed us with your love for school and your ability to adapt to new routines and challenges.  I love to see your passion for the things that interest you and your love for other people, especially for your family, friends, and teachers.  I pray for you to continue to develop compassion for others and a heart that responds to God.

You're super fun to be with and I can't wait to go on a mommy and son date with you for your birthday.  I love that you want to hang out with me on the day you made me a mommy.  :)

Love,
Mommy

Last week we moved Patrick out of his original carseat that he came home from the hospital in and into a highback booster.  It's amazing to see the change in 6 years!

  1 Day old

6 years old

The Garden

When we first looked at this house I knew it needed to have a veggie garden in the front yard. The spot was perfect for one. I really wanted to make the garden last year, but with a newborn there was no way it was happening. Almost 2 years of dreaming and planning and 5 or so months of shoveling dirt, setting blocks, and choosing plants has finally come to an end. The garden is finished! Now I can sit back, relax, and watch the garden grow.

Thank you to those who have helped along the way. Patrick, Kimberly, and Ryan have helped dig, plant, play, and nap so I could work on it. My dad helped me haul nearly half of the block. Chuck hooked up 2 watering stations each with a hose and a separate watering can filler. Our friends, The Erdmans, donated and helped load two huge trailerfuls of dirt that I used to level the grade of the patio and lower terraces. A stranger stopped and helped get me home when the weight of the second huge load of dirt collapsed the tongue of our trailer a couple blocks from home. Oops! Our neighbor entertained the kids when they were bored with playing while I worked, and our other neighbor came and helped pull weeds. And Chuck put up with coming home at dinnertime to find me still working on it, the house a mess, and no dinner plans. Thanks, Chuck.

Pinterest: Flower Canvas

Michelle and I made some artwork out of some scrapbook paper, a canvas, some paint and hot glue. They were really easy to make and a lot of fun. I think picking out the paper was the hardest part!

Happy First Birthday, Ryan

It amazes me that a whole year has come and gone since we welcomed you to our family! 

Here are a few words that remind me of you, Ry-Guy:

Mellow- You are such an easy-going baby.  You are content on car rides, in stores, and at restaurants.  It makes it fun to take you places knowing you'll have a good time and not scream the whole time.  I can't imagine taking any other baby out to a fancy Italian restaurant for his 1st birthday.  You play well on your own with toys and books and also play well with your brother and sister.  It amazes me how quickly you've picked up on how to play games like roll-back, peek-a-boo, hide and seek, and chase.

Small- You are by far the smallest of all your little friends (granted your two closest buddies are off the charts in the other direction).  As of a week ago you weighed 21 lb, 2 oz., but you were sick, and I'm sure you've gained back at least a pound by now.  They didn't measure you at the appointment, but you have the shortest little legs.  So short, in fact, that you can easily crawl on your hands and feet and your bottom doesn't even stick up in the air when you do it.  It's so cute!  You are around the 25th% for height and weight.

Smiley- You are the smiliest baby I've ever met.  Everywhere we go people love talking to you because you always have a smile to give.  You are so approachable that I've had several strangers ask to hold you; one was a little old lady at the grocery store that said it had been years since she had last held a baby.  Holding you made her day/week/year! 

Sick- You have had so many illnesses!  I think you're prone to them anyway, but having a big brother and big sister loving on you all the time certainly doesn't help matters.  Thankfully your ears seem to clear themselves between infections though, so tubes don't seem necessary, yet.  Even when you're sick, you're a sweetheart.  I'll never forget you saying "All done, all done, all done" to the nurses as they did your blood draw last week. 

Active- While your personality is mellow, your activity level is certainly not.  You are always moving: squirming, twisting, dancing, speed crawling, and climbing.  You seem like you're about ready to take your first steps any day now.  Lately I have been having to remind you to be careful so you don't fall and bonk your head.  I know you're getting the idea because now you hit your head with your hand when you are starting to do something dangerous to show me that you know.  You seem like you'll be a quick learner and follow us without doing much challenging when we direct you.

Attached- You love being with me, which I love.  From about 9 months until just this last week you've wanted no one else but Mommy.  Which, of course, I love.  :)  But, this week you seem like you're starting to get over the attachement a bit because you have been seeking out Daddy more when you know I'm busy and can't hold you.  Daddy is loving it!

I look forward to watching you learn and grow over the next year.  I think I'm most looking forward to seeing you walk and hearing you talk more.  You have a great deep voice just like your big brother. 

Ry-Guy, I love you. I am so blessed to be your Mommy.

Poor Baby

I'd say we've had more than our fair share of stomach bugs for the Winter. Besides the normal colds and ear infections, we've had 3 stomach bugs make the rounds since Thanksgiving. This latest one hit Kimberly and Ryan the hardest. The doctor said it was adenovirus.

Ryan had it so bad that we were having a difficult time keeping him hydrated. He'd bring up everything as soon as he tried to sit up from eating or sleeping.

When we took him into the doctor he was showing signs of dehydration: lethargy, dry mouth, excessive sleepiness, and losing over 10% of his body weight. He was sent to the hospital to have his electrolytes checked and then we waited to find out if he was going to be admitted and put on IV. He loved the little
heating packs they used on his arms before the blood draw. I actually got a few smiles out him between his waves of nausea while we waited for his turn.

Thankfully his levels came back just high enough to avoid needing to stay. His sodium was 133 and they would have kept him at 130 or lower. His oxygen, sugar, and potassium were all fine. The doctor ordered lots of Pedialyte for 24 hours. Finally after 3 days of vomiting, he was able to keep the fluids down yesterday. And then the rash and fussiness came today. I know Kimberly said the rash was really itchy when she had it so I'm sure Ryan is feeling miserable still.

Here's to hoping Patrick doesn't bring home anything else from school for awhile. We could use a break from being sick.