How I Spent My Summer "Vacation"

I am at the end of a marathon with the finish line in sight. You see, I don't care for hot weather or children with too much time on their hands, so summer is not my season. At least this summer the weather was on my side, 70's and breezy until recently, when it's turned hot just to further my excitement for fall. I am ready to retire my position as Summer Activities Director. This week my two oldest sons start school and fall is around the corner, which is to say, I've made it. I've made it.

As a special treat, and because I love to-do lists, here is the one I made at the beginning of summer. I'd like to remind you all that I have a new baby but also an ambitious 2 year old.

Scratch that! Who really wants to read my to-do list? It was only exciting in the beginning of summer. Instead, I'll give you what you really want:

Baby Photos:

Violet soaking up the sun.

Hanging out with her BFF.

The day I was taking these photos at the park (not the beach, I totally fooled you!), BFF came too and her mom just happened to have a newborn swimsuit with her in the car and I just happened to have an extra blond wig with me. I think at first her mother was -skeptical (repulsed?) by the idea of her precious daughter in a wig, but I think they were both happy with the results.

Next to show up was the girl's (beefy) friend S.W. He knew just how to position himself.


I am including this last image, that an (innocent) bystander snapped. I love how two moms are desperately arranging wigs on their newborns.

Funny, a new mom came to the park that day. She seemed ...surprised (impressed?) with babies in bikinis and wigs on a chilly day. "I didn't know they made wigs for babies..." "They don't!" I retorted, "they're medium sized dog wigs!!" (Thanks for the tip Juli.)

Recipes:

What says 'summer indoors' more than a Smore Cookie? First my friend Melinda made these and then I had to copy her like it was my original idea. They are so good it's dangerous. I can't say enough about how delicious they are. I find regular smores too sticky and frustrating.
Recipe from Martha Stewart.

Gossip:
My sister Niki came for a visit. The one you've heard about. Pictured with her is her (3rd) husband Randy. We really liked him and hope he sticks around! (Niki- call me! I forgot how to text.)
True story: her daughter Viv came too. She's six and wears Lee Press On Nails. After she left we found tiny painted finger nails all over the house, like her own little calling card.

Advice on How to Live Better:

To cheer myself up and to keep nutty busy this summer, I threw several lunch get-togethers. I won't go into the details- that's a whole post just waiting to happen.


Reality Check:

Here's where I rant about my efforts to be a fun mom and how boys don't seem to appreciate it.

Every year I buy my school age boys a new wardrobe. I consider not just how I would like them to look but their individual tastes, what is in style for their age, and what their needs will be as far as climate and comfort. And do they thank me for my efforts? Of course not.

I have been told stories of little girls who eagerly try on their new clothes with rapture and thankfulness. This year I was rewarded with a tiny morsel. When I laid out their piles of new clothes, Davy showed a little enthusiasm and even said thanks. That sentence was pay off enough to keep me shopping.

Also, I saw this great Back to School idea on ohdeedoh.com.

Perfect! I will do this the night before school starts and start a new family tradition. The kids will love it.

This looked cuter in person.

I think this (lousy) photo shows just how excited they were. They didn't even notice. Okay, again Davy did notice that 'the placemats are everyone's favorite color', but that's it. Sure there was only one written up menu, that's because both Violet and Whitman were crying. Jana tells me that when she puts any effort into setting the table her girls eww and ahhh over every detail. What would that be like?

I did a bunch of other stuff to, but it is thankfully done and over till next year. Hooray for fall!

How was your summer?

I Love Paris in the Spring Time

I thought I'd spare you the redundancy of reading about my Valentines Day. Quick summary: chocolate M&M cookies, sugar cookies, window jam cookies, homemade dipped chocolates, heart shaped pancakes, more cookies, punch-out vintage Valentines, pink bow-ties, "surprise" Daddy at work, pink and white roses, Justin sacrificing dinner out to paint a kid's room, and homemade pizza. That about sums it up.


On to a more current and pressing topic: getting ready to have a baby. In just 8 short/long weeks I'm scheduled to deliver a baby girl. Fortunately I have lots to do before her arrival. I've never delivered early and don't plan to, but it would be even nicer if we weren't beginning a painting project right when she arrives. In the case of my previous 3 births, I was sewing curtains with my mom the night before delivery. Yes, I know that you don't need hanging curtains to bring a baby home, and good thing. Nothing gets done for months after the baby is born, so it's do it now or suffer without.

Nothing makes me feel more organized and accomplished than a good to-do list, and since this must be interesting to at least three of you. Here's my
"To Do Before the Baby Arrives" (Note how much of it is really Justin's to-do):

-finish up the closets with baskets and reorganization. January was "closet month" in our house, it wasn't fun, but everyone has moved around and Justin installed shelves in all 3 kid's room closets. A few tragic closets were cleaned out and organized. (Thanks Maggen and Becky!) So glad the worst of it is over.

-Move Trevor into guest room, make it a boy room. This should be easy since we don't need to re-paint, aqua blue can work for a boy too, and we don't need new furniture. It's a matter of taking the feminine details out and adding punches of red, yellow and boy.

-Re-paint mural in what will be the "little boys" room. I realize this might not seem urgent to most of you, but the room is ready for a new look and if we're going to get it done, this is the time.

-Move Whitman in with Davy. Figure out crib situation. Pray this goes well.

-find and purchase matching small dressers to use as nightstands in the master bedroom. "I won't have another baby with this tiny nightstand!!" It's just a matter of finding a nice looking pair. It's not so easy. Hint: I would appreciate any affordable leads.

-Once all off the above is done, finally start the baby's room! See question at bottom of page for more details on this.


-cancel my gym membership. Who's kidding who?

-Stock a newborn girl's wardrobe full of pinks and soft colors in classic and/or vintage baby style. You guys, this is so hard. You don't know how I suffer. Oh and I should probably pick up a car seat.

-pick new dentist and get my teeth clean. So important.

-stock up on household supplies. Anything I buy now-toilet paper, hand soap, chocolate chips- I wonder, will I need to replenish this before the baby arrives?

-Clean out garage. This is driving me nuts, Justin.


-Finally, have the house spotlessly clean. This includes having the carpets cleaned and all the moldings clean and paint retouched if needed.

There are several other things I would like to see done (picture wall in master, crown molding put up, finally commit to a living room chair), but the above is the must-do list.


On that note: Dear Alisha,

Have you started dreaming/decorating the nursery for your little princess? Please share your ideas/progress for the curious of heart. Sincerely,
An Indulging Friend

I gave up dreaming of girl rooms two boys ago. I still have an old idea sitting around and I think I'll use it. It also happens to be my favorite thing about spring: blossoming cherry trees. Feast your eyes:


and finally, what Justin will work from...

Perfect for a baby girl due in spring! I still have to figure out how to translate all of this beauty into a room. I love pink, as those of you who visited my last house may have noticed, but it can also be nauseating when it's too much.

Here is my problem, this is my current view from the chair in the baby's room:

It looks even better in person. I still love it and I'm reluctant to slop paint over it in hopes that I'll love the next mural too.

Also, I really want an iron crib. Since this will probably be our last child, it's hard to justify the expense. Unlike a far-thinking friend of mine, I can't buy one with the plan of holding on to it for grandchildren. I may just go with something simple like this:

...or just deal with the same crib my three boys used.

Oh! Lastly, I won't ever refer to my daughter as a princess or worse, a diva. It sounds too indulgent.