Finally!

Its official. As of about Monday this week, we finally have a walker. I shouldn't complain - at 16 1/2 months she is still way earlier than her brothers - but she's been working on this for a while. It's nice to finally have her off her hands and knees and on her feet.

Just Because

Just because they're cute.

Pretty Quiet on the Home Front

There's not much new around here. Summer has finally come to the great northwest, so our days have been spent playing outside and relaxing inside-reading, playing or watching TV - parked in front of our sad little window-mount a/c unit. (Whoever told us that central air isn't necessary in WA was LYING!)

I've been working on a few craft projects (hopefully pics soon), and getting my to do list ready for all of my Christmas projects. Now before you start calling me crazy - yes, I know it's July, but I also know that it will take me a while to finish all of my gifts this year (there are a few big projects in there). Plus -I like to be finished with the whole "Christmas Shopping/Crafting" thing well before Thanksgiving. It helps with my stress levels.

The boys chose to forgo swimming lessons this summer. When I asked them if they wanted to do it, Buggy responded with an emphatic, "Of course not!" So, rather than make them do it anyway, I saved myself a bunch of cash, and opened up some more free time for us. Hopefully we will be able to put it to good use.

They are signed up for soccer in the fall. I think that, plus all day school for Bug, preschool for Beef, our usual twice-a-month therapy with Sister, my piano students, and my (and my husband's) church responsibilities will make for plenty to keep us busy. It's a good thing we have some free time now to enjoy.

So, that's what's new with us. Just for fun...Here are a few shots from some recent park trips (two different ones) for your enjoyment.

Eight

Eight years ago today I was here:

With this guy:

 For this:

We were both a little younger, and thinner.  In the years since that day we've been through a lot.  Some good, some not so good, some downright sucky.  But, we've always been together.

Sometimes he drives me crazy, but I couldn't imagine ever loving someone more.

He knows what I need to hear, even when I don't want to hear it.
He knows how to make me feel better when I feel like crying.
He knows how to make me smile, and even more important - he knows how to make me laugh.
He's goofy, and crazy, and aggravating, wonderful all rolled into one.

I know eternity would be a lonely place without him.

I love you Babe!

Where in the World...

...is Jakarta, Indonesia?  Truthfully, until today I couldn't have told you (which is kind of sad, because I usually am pretty good with geography).  Anyway, I never really had any reason to know where it was. 

But, I do now.

My parents have been called to serve a mission for our church in Jakarta, Indonesia.  More specifically in the welfare coordination center there.  They are leaving in October and will be gone for 18 months.  It seems kind of crazy and unreal still (I don't think any of us could have guessed that they would be going there) but we're very excited for them, and can't wait to hear about all of the cool experiences that I'm sure they are going to have.


Oh, and to answer my question at the beginning: From what I've been able to gather, Indonesia is a group of islands that is above Australia and below Thailand, almost smack dab on the equator. (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)

Because It's Never Too Early

I know that we still have 3 1/2 months left until Halloween, and even more until Christmas, but I just couldn't resist making these cute countdown blocks now.  A friend of mine made them for a super Saturday last year, and kindly let me come peruse through her selection of very cute scrapbook paper (thanks "K"). 

Add blocks cut from bunk bed scraps, some pieces of 2x6 for the base (I did have to buy this, I've already used up all our 2x6 scraps), paint left over from various projects/rooms in my house, mod podge, and some vinyl letters cut out with my handy dandy new silhouette. (Okay, that list seemed a lot shorter in my head, but I promise they go together really easily/quickly.)

Anyway, the finished result. (Sorry about the pictures, it was kind of dark when I took them.)

Aren't they cute.  Can't wait to actually pull them out and use them!

My Newest Toy

Some of my favorite crafting blogs have been featuring this tool lately, and I must admit, It was love at first sight.  So I debated and hummed & hawwed, and talked my self out of it a million times, and tried to justify it again, (and entered a few giveaways) and finally broke down and bought it.

"It" is this:

It's called a silhouette.  For those who are unfamiliar (like I was), it's very similar to a cricut, only instead of cartridges, all of the design is run from your computer.  Very cool, it cuts paper (obviously), vellum, cardstock, etc. and my personal favorite - vinyl.  I'm a bit of a vinyl junkie, so the ability to cut my own designs, from the comfort of my couch, was too much for me to pass up.

By the way, I know this sounds like an infomercial, but I promise it's not.  I just really love this toy.  (and they're not paying me to say that)

Anyway, here is a sneak peek at a few of the projects that I've done so far.

 Welcome sign for the front door.

Sign for Sister's door.

Labels for my herb planters.

Dressing up this great picture that sits above my piano. (It's always seemed kind of lonely up there to me.)

Countdown Blocks

 

As you can see, I've been having fun with it, and you will probably be seeing a lot more soon.

Have a great day, and thanks for reading.

Six

This Kid...

...tuned 6 yesterday.  I can't believe how time flies!  It feels like just yesterday when he was a teeny tiny 5 pound preemie baby.

What a joy he is to have in our family.

We drive each other crazy sometimes, but I love you lots Bug!

Happy Birthday!

A Little Catch Up

We got back this week from our trip to Utah for the 1st Annual " 'Tano Family Reunion".  We had a great time, and wore ourselves ragged, so we've had to spend the last few days catching up (on sleep, laundry, cleaning, etc.), and staying cool.  Apparently we brought the yucky Utah heat back to Seattle with us.

I think I finally have things (sort of) under control enough to start blogging again.  I am waiting on some pictures from the reunion before I write about that,  and I also have to write about my newest toy (I'm pretty loving it) in the very near future.  Meanwhile, here are a few pics from our vacation, for your enjoyment.

 (Our flight was delayed, we spent a lot of time here.)

Cleaning corn with Grampa Grampa.

Chillin' at the cabin.

Had to try on Cousin "A's" "Do-rag"

Hooked...

Yep, my sweet husband has caught the carpentry bug.  We were out in the garage the other day, and he started looking at the scrap pile that we have left from the bunk beds (as you can imagine, it's pretty big).  He decided he was going to build some chairs (from the scraps) to go with an end table that we picked up at IKEA for $7.99.  So, he fiddled around with some plans - one of the perks of being married to an engineer - and started cutting.

The kids were asleep, so we couldn't really do any "measuring" (of the behind variety) until the next morning.  The two chairs turned out to be just right for Beefy and Baby sister, but too small for Buggy. What else could he do but go back to the scrap pile and build a Buggy-sized bench.

Now we call it our "baby bistro set".  It is super cute!  Still needs one more coat of paint, but otherwise it is ready to be taken to the boys room and played with!

The best part - the total cost was $0. (Or you can count the $7.99 of the table that they will be sitting under, if you want to get picky.) They are made entirely out of scraps that we had, and leftover screws and paint.  It makes me happy.

(In case you are interested, we figured it out, and it would be less than $20 for supplies if you were wanting to build your own.)