Saturday, September 24, 2011

an estrogen week

Wow we've been busy around here! Scott has been gone for 9 days now and let me just say, I'm so thankful I am not a single mother. Heart goes out to all that are, with all sincerity. Even though Scott's gone all day, every single day....there is always a time he comes home and I can hand over Jane to get a few more things done, if not just have a break. More than anything I've just missed our nights together and sitting at the dinner table talking about each day. My meals (other than my sweet neighbors who each had Jane and I over for dinner) have consisted of lots of cold cereal, Kraft Mac n Cheese, and quesadillas. I always cook for Scott, rarely miss a night. But for some reason I haven't had the desire to just cook for myself. And Jane's the pickiest eater on the planet so I'm not about to go out of my way for her either!

But while Scott's been away.....I dyed my hair red. Yep, that was exciting. Scott's been begging me for 5 years now to try going red and I have denied, denied, denied. Well sure enough I was feeling so frumpy and blah that I wanted a drastic change and so I went for it. We'll just say it lasted 2 days (2 LONG days) and the poor Mr. didn't even get to see it, except via Skype! All that trouble for him and he missed out. I just insisted to him I couldn't wait another 7 days! So now I"m back to a dark, DARK brown. It was such a kick actually at all the looks I got from neighbors and friends and people trying to pretend that they liked it! I was just upfront and said, "Don't worry, I'm just being festive for Halloween. You don't have to tell me I look pretty!" I sure gave Chels a run for her money this week and all of my "hair issues". She didn't wanna do it in the first place but I insisted. Then I came crying back to her to save me! Such a good sport. These pictures don't do the red justice, it doesn't look nearly as bad in these but oh baby, you should've seen me in the sun!I have been keeping my nights busy and nap times busy by making a few things this week. I finally made this blanket/quilt I've been wanting to make for awhile. So I busted out the sewing machine (it's been almost all summer) and got to work. Here is the tutorial for this lovely blanket from aesthetic nest. I am in love with it and had so much fun making it. It is for a special someone :) You sew lots of straight lines (about 4 hours worth), but you get to make your own chenille for the back of the blanket. It's fabulous and so fun at each step of creating this quilt. My camera is lousy, which means these pics are lousy but you can get the idea. It's much more fabulous in person. I'm so proud!Here's a closeup of that yumminess on the back...I also made 2 wreaths for the door.....they've kept me awake for once while watching movies at night. This first one is out of lima beans. Lots and lots of gluing and then you spray paint it to the color of your choice. And also this candy corn wreath. So easy and so fun and different. (from Martha Stewart)and last but not least. When I was running a few weeks ago early one morning and I passed a garage sale. I saw this little rocking chair and said to myself, "If that's not gone when I get back I'll ask him how much it is. $7 later I was carrying it back home. Love this little gem, and Jane loves it too. Before...after:
Can I just say what I would give to ride up Millcreek or Emigration Canyon right now to enjoy the beautiful leaves? Every year at this time I get such an itch to be up in those big beauties. It is so beautiful here, we have trees galore and they are just on the brink of changing. But oh those mountains. I love them.

Jane is hilarious. I tell ya that girl keeps me on my feet! I remember when she was in my belly, (and as a reminder) she was feet first the whole time. My Dr. would always say, this girl is gonna come out running! And sure enough, she pretty much did. Jane still refuses to crawl and always wants to be on her feet. Quite humorous if you ask me but in all honesty, I'm getting a little worried! That girl can walk, or run for that matter, but she cannot crawl and she cannot pull herself up on anything! I have to lift her up. Yah, yah I know what you're thinking, "Just leave her and when she wants it bad enough she'll do it." Nope. That girl would sit there all day I swear before she tries to get up! Goodness gracious Jane, I sure love ya but you are a crazy one.

On another note, she's my best friend. That girl is my bud. Recently she's been starting to throw mini tantrums and I'm like, "Woah girl, what's this about?" and I have to remind myself that although she's my best friend, she is one. That girl can be a serious sassy pants though sometimes! I just have to laugh and when the arching of the back, the kicking, then the squaling happens, I just lay her there and walk away. Any pointers you experienced mothers? Can't believe it's that time already.

We cut off Jane's mullet and it is now a little bob in the back. That girl has some hair! And that is an understatement! This is Scott's do he gave her in the tub the other night.

She still loves her car, and we walk in it every morning....and about 10 more times as the day goes on. It's been in the 40's each morning here so I have to bundle her up big time when I take her running and then of course she wants to ride in her car afterwards. She looks like a little orphan Annie when I bundle her. Yesterday she had on her pink and lime green ice cream cone jammies, I added some polka dot leg warmers, then white socks, a gray hawaiian flower old navy sweatshirt, and a red Utah Utes hat. She was stylin'. Alright I'm headed to bed....one last hoorah of hogging the bed before my other half gets home tomorrow! SO worth the sacrifice of sharing :)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Ditmar's Apple Orchard

On Labor Day we went to an apple orchard. I know we live in the city but golly we are darn close to beautiful country of wide open corn fields and rolling hills that go on forever. To me, it's one of my favorite views...wide open fields that go forever, old barns, and cows grazing in the pasture. We were in heaven at this place. A lot of it was because we were eating unlimited apples...throwing them on the ground when we found one that better suited us....yum! Yum!
First you load up on this dudes tractor and he pulls you up a big, long hill to all the yummy apple pickin': He says, "Gala's are over there, Golden Delicious are down that way, there's a delicious purple apple down yonder there, etc. Have at it and I'll be up later whenever you're ready to pick you up." Well we definitely "had at it"!We at so many apples we were sick! But we loaded up our bags to take some home, of course.
We went with out greatest buds, the Theurer's. The boys were in heaven. We had races up each hill to keep them having fun!Jane picked up this perfect little apple and she didn't let go of it all day! And you'll never guess what Jane's new favorite word is....apple.
Oh and I made this delicious apple cake with a few of my fresh apples. YUM.
It feels like Fall! LOVE it! But take your time Winter!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Black Squirrell Triathlon

Scott did his first Olympic Triathlon last week. I have such a stud husband. He has been working so hard training, waking up super early before school to swim, bike, and run. I had so much fun cheering him on!



The swim was in Lake Manawa: (the main reason I didn't do it...scary!)
He beat his goal to do it under 19 minutes! Next up, the bike. And then off to do the run to finish it off! He ran 6.2 miles and averaged a 7:30 pace.I can't even run that fast for a mile or two.He did great.....took 3rd in his age group and Ali (who also did it) rocked it and took first in hers. They are two studly studs.

Woohoo Scotty!!!! Total Time: 2:03

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Jane-bug at 1 Year



My dearest friend Chelsea is our personal photographer. She's the reason I have all the great pictures of Jane that I do. She helped me make Jane's bday cake which was a toss up between her 3 favorite foods: watermelon, black beans, and a blueberry. We ended up going with the watermelon which was a great choice, so cute. Except for the face that Jane was not interested in the least bit. Major disappointment Jane!!! So far you're not a sugar addict like your mom.

Just a few fingerprints in there. Did she last very long? Nope. Last Sunday we took Jane out under this little tree and snapped a few pictures. I promise I'm not obsessed with my child and taking pictures. Chelsea is the one that tells me what I need to do as far as "documenting" and she insisted that Jane needed some "one year pics". So glad someone else is on top of it because she makes me look like I am, but I'm not! This only took about 10 minutes and we walked away these gems. There are tons but here are a few of my faves (sorry, there's still a whole sloo of em'). (Jane always has to have something in her hands while she's walking. It's usually a stick...but this time it was this long piece of grass....do you see it? Classic Jane).....I was not prepared or planning on being in any of these but I'm so thrilled Chels snagged a few. I love this girl.