cute kids and quotes

A few days ago we celebrated sweet Kelsey's 11th birthday! I can't believe she was only 6 when I met her!

Aside from getting to see the fam and eating Grandmama's famous spice cake, my favorite part was getting to see the munchkins! 

At the party, Adelaide ran up to me and hugged my leg while she whispered " I love you." Made my day :) But seriously how could that face not make your day?!?

When Adelaide and Graham were sitting on my lap, I told Adelaide that there were 3 babies sitting on my lap to which she responded without hesitation, "No Leslie, there are two little buddies and one Adelaide."

Our son will be playing on an iPad in no time, I'm sure.

Library Lovin'

My first 2 days as a librarian:

Day 1: 

Rules & Procedures, Book Babies, This Is The Teacher (all ready for school) reading with a teacher portrait

Day 2:

Review Rules, Author of the month- Dr. Seuss, Book Readings, What is an author? illustrator?, Dr. Seuss illustrations with watercolor

Day 3:

Versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Reader's Theater practice with props

Day 4:

Reader's Theater final performance with an audience

____________________________________________

Funny things that have happened so far:

My 3rd graders just watched my belly for about 3 minutes today while Baby H wiggled and wiggled. I was trying to read a book to them but they were not able to focus since there was so much movement so we just stopped and watched. Teachable moment: Babies can hear sounds and see light even when they are inside.

Kid Comments:

"Is there a baby in there?"

"Yes."

"Just one?"

"Yes."

"I don't think so. There are a few in there. You'll see Mrs. H."

"Who can tell me the special name of someone who writes a book?"

Raised Hand

"When babies come out they have to get cleaned out 'cause they're gross."

"Who knows what's in my belly?"

"A student"

"Who knows what's in my belly?"

"Probably a baby but maybe just body stuff"

"Who knows what's in my belly?"

"Your heart."

:) So true :)

your new favorite quirky store

FishsEddy

how much do you love these random pieces? of you're a person who likes things like this, you might just be browsing past your next birthday present ;) but that's ok because I just had to share.

Yep, he's mine.

So baby Hokanson is just a tad bit active. Even the doctors have noticed that he moves quite a bit more than most babies. Great. He is so squirmy that we have started calling him Mr. Squirmy. No worries, that's not his real name ;) I feel like he will come out walking, talking, and bossing people around. 

Well this past week I fell in love. I know that I have loved him from the (surprise) beginning but this week it changed. I had kind of a scary night and morning where he didn't move much at all. I felt relief at first to have a break and then that quickly turned into quiet panic. Later that day he surprised me by trying out for Cirque du Soleil. I just suddenly fell in love with him and was so grateful for him to be there.

Although I am still getting larger by the day, and he is still squirming so much that sometimes I can't even sit up straight, I love him and can't wait to meet him.

Fruit-YES, Healthy-NO

Today has just been an off day for me. I'm in a hormonal funk and I thought the only cure was cheesecake . (I've had a lot of sweet cravings these past few days) Luckily for me, I had recently strolled across this recipe and knew I had to have it.

HEATH CRUNCH CARMEL DIP

1 8oz. package softened cream cheese

1 C brown sugar

2 t vanilla flavoring

heath bar toffee pieces

granny smith apples

1) combine all ingredients in a bowl.

2) chill.

3) serve with sliced granny smith apples.

Fab Frame

Mk, so my computer is officially working again :) 

(Hence the temporary hiatus.)

Last week I had to whip up a birthday present for a fellow August-birthdayer. 

I've had this frame sitting around forever and I know I wanted to give her a personalized family frame so... perfect! 

I just made myself sit down at my craft desk and put stuff together. 

Result...

(a book i rescued from the trash, love the antiqued look)

I wanted the wood grain to show a little so I just used a distress ink stamp.

 

Using my handy dandy circle punch I cut out some textured scrapbook paper, the text from the rescued book, and some thicker shiny cardstock.

Layer, hot glue, pearl. Result!

If you are like most crafters I know (ADD) and have delved into an assortment of craft genres, I challenge you to sit down this week and see how many you can use to create a project. I'm loving how mine turned out :)

Also, 32 weeks today! AHHH! I am more excited now than I've ever been!

reassurance

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Cake Pops!

Just say no to dry cake... FOREVER!

So super easy!

1. Make cake.

2. Cool and dump into a big bowl.

3. Drop in a tub of icing and knead the whazoo out of it. 

4. Make 1 inch balls by rolling the "dough" in your hands.

5. Refrigerate for a while.

6. Dip lollipop sticks in a lil' melted chocolate and insert into the cold cake balls.

7. Melt some chocolate and dip the cake pops into it and coat.

8. Sprinkle until your heart is content on it while warm.

9. Set up to dry by inserting the Pops into some styrofoam.

10. Enjoy the DELICIOUSNESS and the CUTENESS!

Can anyone else believe that I am actually keeping up with projects...?

Project Plain Wall

Let me start off by officially declaring that I HATE, HATE, HATE white walls. 

At our last apartment, all the walls were painted and decorated within the first few weeks of living there. I just cannot sit there and enjoy anything; watching tv, crafting, cooking, ANYTHING! while surrounded by pasty white walls. 

This condition leads often to Chris coming home and finding a whole room painted or rearranged or redecorated or all 3! He doesn't mind it at all... one of the very many reasons I married him.

What makes it a little harder now is the whole, you know, being pregnant thing. 

Choices:

1. Make myself happy and redecorate but suffer the wrath of sighs and "Leslie!'s" that my loved ones will surely dish out. 

2. Wait. Wait. Wait and be unhappy with my current home. (Which by the way, only leads to complain-y Leslie.)

As most of you know... I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS choose the former. :)

Here is yesterday's project: 

Project Plain Wall

"Blegh" I think is the only caption needed. We got new bedding a couple of months ago but the wall stayed icky and boring. Shockingly, I couldn't muster the strength to stay in there very long but unfortunately that's where my crafting desk is. 

Solution: Accent Wall

Cost: Paint=Free (left over paint)

Mirror= $19.99 @ Homegoods

Frames= $3 each at Ross

Time: 2 hours

Result:

"Mucho mejor"

Still not finished with the room but now walking into that room doesn't send my pregnancy gag reflex into a battle with my last meal. 

a project a day keeps the stir-crazy away

So we've been crafting up a storm here. There are certain days though that nothing and I repeat NOTHING happens here. In order to keep me in check I am declaring A Project A Day Keeps the Stir Crazy Away (APADKTSCA?... catchy... I think not)for August. 

Here is today's project: Baby Mobile

I'm really bad at taking pictures of the whole process but I did actually take a pic of the supplies needed.


Scrapbook paper (On hand or about 6-8 sheets (12x12))........ $3 or so
Wreath form........ $1.99
Round Hole Punches (Two sizes: 1 inch and 2 inch)....... $9.99- $14.99
Ribbon (On hand or one spool)........ $.50
Thread
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Paint
Hot Glue Gun

STEPS:
1. Cut out all the circles.
2. Sew together a line of circles in a random order. I did all blues and then all greens.
3. Paint the wreath form.
4. Glue the strands of circles to the inside of the wreath form.
5. Tie 4 pieces of ribbon to the wreath forms and tie together at the top.
6. Hang up and enjoy the cuteness :)

Variations: I was also thinking that maybe all white and cream circles that are a little bit longer hanging in the inner part of the wreath form and then color on the outside will make for a fuller looking mobile that would be neat. 

hello hormones...

and other pregnancy thoughts...

1. So hormones have officially hit this week. If you see me crying while watching The Next Food Network Star or when I can't get the magazines straight on the bookshelf or on a couch in the middle of Ikea, just ignore. (All actual events)

2. Cankles. I hate you. 

3. Baby H does not like, I repeat, does not like when I lay on my left side (you know, the one I'm supposed to be laying on). He goes berserk and shifts around like he can't get comfortable until I sit up or lay on my right side. 

4. I am so excited to meet my son and ready to not look like I have swallowed the sun.

5. Baby H is starting to get his baby fat and thankfully is starting to look more like a Pampers model and less like a Depends model.

6. I'm ready to have this baby.

I'm trying.

rotting chair re-do!

So my mom has had these chairs just rotting on the porch for years so yesterday I decided to save them! They were too structurally awesome to just let die a horrible forgotten-furniture death.

Before

After

Yeah for discounted fabric, spray paint, and a stable gun. (oh, and a willing husband to spray paint the chair since I'm not allowed to) 

Love it.

What do you think?