bathroom window

I laid Urban in the sun shining from the bathroom window at the end of the hall. 

It's one of his favorite things to do.  I usually lay him in the dining room on the floor in the sun, but this morning I realized that Spring is really making her appearance and shining in through the bathroom.  That doesn't happen very often during the winter months.

I watched him from the kitchen while I made breakfast.  He thought his shadows were the coolest. 

 

Then I walked through the dining room to the living room and looked at that baby again.  It seems so crazy and may not make sense to you, but there was something about seeing him lying in the sun that made me so happy.

Then I walked down to the bathroom to see what he looked like from there.  By this time, he had wriggled sideways and out of the sun, or maybe the sun rose just enough to move away from him.  Either way, he was still enjoying himself.  I just loved this view.  I decided to clean the bathroom while I was there.  It was fun. 

I think I was filled with joy knowing that we have this house as a home for our babies, gold fixtures and apartment style carpet and all.  It bugs me, but to the kids, they could care less.  They love this house.

That is satisfying. 

 

~I dropped the camera again!! *GASP* What is with me?  I guess I will be posting blurry pictures from here on out....booo.  Maybe something will come to mama in the future, sometime?  We will see.~

i need a table of some sort

Last Sunday, my friend Ellen surprised me at church with a gift. 

Do you remember Ellen?

It was completely unexpected and very gracious.

She printed a book using the pictures she took of the kids for her portfolio but wasn't pleased with the quality.

Christmas happens in March!

You know, we had every intention of helping Ellen develop her portfolio solely by being models.

What a pleasant surprise. 

 

 

 

 

Now Josh needs to buy me a table, like this one!

urban and big green fern

     

Urban is 4 months old today.  Here he is at three, two, one, and birth. 

Wallpaper Talk -- Question 5

This is how we watch tv in our house.

The picture is blurry because I couldn't settle my laughing body.

Lo siento.

Ida found these glasses in Josh's office.  They are part of his 60's-afro Halloween costume and must have lost their way.

She has taken quite a liking to them.  Like, she wears them everywhere and everyday.

Fashionista people.

P.S. I think Barbie needs a new wardrobe.  I will work on that for Schmide's birthday.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What are your fears?

(Write as many or as few as you want.  Be specific or general.  Write the ones that really scare you, the ones that don't, or both.  It's up to you.)

This question is not meant to be depressing, but real.

See you next Monday to face our fears.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wallpaper Talk Shuffle

I was going to put a picture of Liz and I sharing an awesome Mexican lunch this week *right here* for your enjoyment, but I didn't snap a good shot (of me....Liz looked beautiful...it was I who was making the picture look off), so next time.

Instead, I thought this picture would bring plenty of laughs while we discuss shuffling the Wallpaper.

(Urban was drooling bubbly giggle streams uncontrollably while watching Emerson dance around on our bed.  We were supposed to be getting dressed for church during these shenanigans.  I spent a good 5 minutes laughing myself.)

Okay, back to the business at hand.  

After realizing I have put most (all) of you in the position of doing Wallpaper homework during your weekend, I am shuffling the arrangement.

This coming Monday I will post the Wallpaper question....

.....and you will have all week to think of and send me your answers, still by the following Sunday at 6:00 pm EST. 

I will then post your answers the next day on Monday....one week from when I asked the Wallpaper question.

    

At the end of our "What the Wallpaper said..." post, I will ask the next Wallpaper question.  This way you will always have a week between the time you were asked the question and when we read your answers.

Okay, hope that is clear!  See ya Monday for the next Wallpaper question.

oh dear

 Sick baby.

Tired Mom

Exhausted Dad.

Bored big sister.

School-going big brother.
ear achy big brother

Oh dear.

from frills to "straps"

Ida used to wear these girlie dresses every day no matter what she played.  It was her "wear."

(Do you notice the clothes pin in the back of her dress?  It was a wee too big.)

She doesn't wear them anymore..."they are too tight."

She likes her butterfly pocketed jeans....until they get a hole in the knee and her world is turned upside down.  I had to help, I'm the mom.  It sounds like a simple task, and it would be if I weren't helping my beautiful, very opinionated four year old.

It's very cute and very much a quality she gets from me.

I was nervous sitting at my sewing machine, hoping I could make her happy......and then I saw it through my mom's eyes.  I felt how she felt all those times she sewed for me hoping the end result would make me happy.  Gosh, I got it and I get it.

I was so relieved when she told me she liked her "strap."  Phew.

  

Then those dumb pants did it again.....and I had to sew another "strap." 

Two for two.

Phew again.

wannahockaloogie tribe

I ended up costuming the roadshow.

I am very glad I did.

We were so lucky to have an awesome script written by an Australian writer/actor at church to work with.

I wasn't able to see the preformance live because Josh was working, but I heard it was great-a-licious!

This is the headdress I made for the main female tribal character.

   

I watched a taping of the show and felt so proud of them.

 

 

 

 

 Now, just between us, I am done costuming for a while.

Wallpaper Talk -- Grandma's Money

Hello!

This was FUN.  I love shopping when I pretend to buy whatever I want......here we go!

(Go here if you are just joining us to read how this works.)

If your grandma sent you $1, what single item would you buy?  What would you buy with $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, $550, $1200, $5000,$10,000, $50,000, and $100,000?

(Note: Be as specific or general as you want. If you want to send pictures or links, go for it! "Single items" can also include furniture sets, field of mango trees, or cruise to the Caribbean Islands....you get the point. Have fun shopping and please, fight the urge to spend your money on your mortgage! NO ONE is going to judge you....this is pretend money!:) HA!)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alecia would buy...
$1: Cookie at Subway
$5: 3 Bags of brown rice
$10: 2 new shirts from old navy on clearance with a 30% off coupon
$25: 2 dresses for 3 year old
$50: nice dinner out
$100: new clothes for 39 year old
$550: Playhouse from Costco with all the accouterments
$1200: Play structure from Costco
$5000: Trip to Greece to visit my parents who are on a mission (first class)
$10,000: Landscaping! (incl. pond, fountain, new grass, and foxgloves everywhere)
$50,000: 2 new cars ...or IVF, one begets the other really
$100,000: Stock up and decorate a music room with grand piano, harp, cello, violin, and a flute (and fund the lessons for said 3 year old to learn to play each instrument)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If I had..........
$1 I would buy Jack a Hot Wheels car. They make him so happy.

$5 I would buy an eight pack of Diet Mountain Dew.



$10 I would buy an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.



$25 I would buy a blue hare print from Etsy.

$50 I would buy a set of dark blue stripe on white pillow cases from Etsy.

$100 I would buy the Pool Party Tunic in 'Rosebud Pavillion' for the lake. I spend almost every day in my swimsuit at the lake.
$550 I would buy our garage a new garage door.
$1200 I would buy a Bosch Pro Tankless Water Heater.

$5000 I would buy Invisalign.

$10,000 I would buy new windows for our 'wall of windows.'

$50,000 I would buy the Cadillac CTS sports wagon in black.

 

$100,000 I would pay the mortgage on our house down. Chris says we would save a ton of money every year. We could do/buy projects/dream items then. He says we could do a few a year. I would be much more comfortable buying things I really want this way.

With money we would be saving I would buy:
1. Raven oil painting on Etsy.

 

2.Pigeon oil painting on Etsy.

3.Blackbird oil painting.

4.Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch.

5. I would fix our driveway and walk with all new pavers.

 

 

6. I would reface all the cabinets in our kitchen because they are coming undone.

7. I would buy the Verona Sectional Sofa for our basement.

8. I would buy one carat each platinum diamond earrings.



9. I would redo our 40 year old wood floors.

10. I would buy 10x10 gallery wrapped canvas of Jack and John's birth announcement's.

 

11. In a few years, depending on how insecure I become, I would consider getting a breast lift. I'm also 100% sure i'm getting botox! :) I made Chris promise.
12. I would buy a Archipelago candle in currant scent.



Emily.......see ya next week!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey there WallPaper Talk!

....I would like to thank my Grandma for sending me all of these $$ to spend! (and Mellissa, for asking her to send the $$ in the first place!) Ha! Great fun!

$1.00= Lottery Ticket- As my hubby says, “You can’t win if you don’t play!”  And, if you lose, you still made a contribution to education in Michigan- A win/win:)

 

$5.00= Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks Espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint flavored syrup, topped with sweetened whipped cream and dark chocolate curls-MMMMM

$10.00= Palermo Sandwich at River’s Edge Pub in Dundee- Ciabatta bread, pepperoni, ham, salami, banana peppers, cheese, onion and Italian dressing- Need I say more?

PS: To be eaten outside at a Park on a sunny day with my hubby and kiddos!

$25.00= Bath and Body Works Soap/Lotions in “Twilight Woods”- My favorite!

$50.00= Lots of New Music for my iPod- Some old, and some new(for running and enjoying! J Lo, Billy Joel and Black Eyed Peas

$100= Keurig Coffee Maker

$550= “Extreme Fraker Makeover Package” 

These are all the “beauty” processes that I would invest in if I had the $$...Teeth whitening kit from the dentist $350, and $200 for a great haircut, a spa mani/pedi, and a fabulous spray tan. I feel so frivolous just typing this!:)

$1200= Clothes/Shoes

I would buy all the ‘name brand’ things I usually tell myself are ‘too expensive’ or impractical to consider- On my list? UGG slippers and pull on winter boots, a Juicy Couture swimsuit/dress, Silver Brand Jeans, North Face jacket, ANYTHING from the Athleta catalog!

$5000= All Inclusive Getaway with my sweetie to Turks/Caicos. 

$10,000= Invest in a CD to save for the kiddos college…with all this spending I HAD to do something practical!!

$50,000= Open a local chapter of Ele’s Place

$100,000= Downpayment/build a house on a local lot we have.
PS- If I'm not allowed to save for the girls' college with the $10,000 (since it's a PRACTICAL choice)...I would instead use the money to rent an RV, and have Michael take a month off work so we could take the girls out West adventuring...I am thinking Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Mt Rushmore, Colorado mountain ranges, and eventually the beaches of Cali :)

Liz

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This one is difficult because I really want to put it towards practical things. Just in my nature I guess. I like paying things off. Ha!

$1: a 3 Muskateers Candy Bar (my favorite)
$5: New Earrings
$10:Strawberry bushes for my garden.
$25: A New Bra, we all know how much I love those!
$100:Shoes. I love shoes. Mostly flip flops, high heels and (if I had some) cowgirl boots.
$550:Books. Lots of them. I love reading. Everything.
$1200: Golf Cart. I don't golf, I just thought it would be so cool to own one. Ride around in it.
$5000:Kitchen Appliances( first and most important: a dishwasher) I know I'm being too practical, but this something that would make me feel very happy.
$10,000:New(er) Car.
$50,000: Big, Heated, Inground Pool with pretty tiling in it. I have always wanted one. My kids are water babies and we would use it every day.
$100,000: Practical side of me says: A down payment on a house with lots of land (for my new pool, right?), close to family,
......... but, the impractical side of me says: a Castle in Scotland, or a month in Hawaii.

Heather
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1- two mangos, one for me and one for Ida
$5- Sugarland CD
$10-I would buy this book NEW!:)
$25-Rosehip pillowcases

  

$50-These need to kick my butt.
$100- I would print this blog into a hard cover blurb book.  I will print three others for the kids later when grandma sends more money!:)

$550- New and first serger and industrial sewing machine so I can use them to make money and buy more stuff that grandma can't!:)
$1200-Wood floors for the house, minus the bathroom, the entry (already done), and Urban's room....possibly the kid's room.  Okay, maybe just the living room, dining room, kitchen, and hallway.  I had to stay in budget.  I am glad Josh had a flooring business because we can make the $.89 flooring look like this:

$5000-Living Room Makeover:

credenza... curtains...lamp...pillow...rug... couch

$10,000-bathroom makeover: Something like these...or a mixture?

 

 

$50,000-Amish barn raising with all the bells and whistles.  Front porch, windows, air conditioning......for my dream job.

  

$100,000-cabin Up North: All the Fraker brother families go Up North each summer.....it would be awesome to have our own place that everyone can enjoy for some summer tradition.

Mellissa
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1 - 2 Cadbury Eggs
$5 - My favorite Burts Bee's lip shimmer - champage color :)
$10 - The best running socks that save me from blisters
$25 - Dinner @ Buffalo Wild Wings with Mark
$50 - A massage with Julie @ the salon/spa down the street
$100 - Highlights and haircut that I am WAY overdue for!
$550 - A new lazy boy for our living room
$1200 - A summer roadtrip for Mark, Caleb and I out East - we've never traveled there together and can't wait to go
$5000 - An all-inclusive amazing vacation for my parents - they haven't gone on a sweet vacation alone since their honeymoon over 30 years ago
$10,000 - 6 months ago I would have said new windows for our house...but we bit the bullet and got those. 1 year ago I would have said a round of IVF...but then we got pregnant all on our own and didn't need to do it (hence, the windows purchase - hee hee). Today? Maybe a sweet home gym with treadmill, eliptical, flat screen TV, etc. so I can love to workout at home in the winter months
$50,000 - I would give this to my brother so he could move home from Florida and start fresh again...make
a down payment on a home, pay back child support, and find a good lawyer to regain custody of Ethan
$100,000 - A cabin in the woods(complete with several acres of forest and some sort of pond or lake) that is our home away from home and Mark's hunting heaven

Sarah
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------