It is finals week for us. I have one class done - grades entered into our Banner system even. Now I just need to finish the other course. I have to pick up their finals today, grade them, and finish a few last minute grading pieces (late assignments, etc).
It feels great to be almost done. I have two weeks "off" before summer starts. During those two weeks, I have to total redo one course because we are changing books. Luckily, about half of my stuff I just have to make very minor changes to (like section numbers). But, it will be nice to not have to grade for three weeks!
What are you looking forward to right now?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Dreams, etc.
AJU5 periodically has a bad night and requires someone to snuggle with. It happened Friday night and Sunday night (I didn't even hear a peep from her last night...). Friday night I went and laid with her until I realized she was ready to sleep (she was thirsty - she had refused her cup most of hte day for some reason). About four hours later she woke again, but that time AJU1 went and slept with her (it was the time he would have gotten up if it had been a work day).
So, to Sunday night... She woke and cried. I got up to get her (went downstairs to get her cup). She got quiet before I headed upstairs so I went to bed. About 30 minutes later she was screaming again. So, to her bedroom I went. I ended up having to sleep with her for the rest of the night (which means a fitful night for me). During this night, I had a kind of scary dream...
I dreamt AJU5 had a seizure and was a limp rag. She wasn't able to stand. She wasn't able to hold herself up. It was very freaky. Luckily, I soon realized it was a dream. She was fine. She was sleeping at my feet.
But then I thought of all of the people who have gone through worse things. I think of Kayleigh. I think of all of the babies that die at birth or shortly after that. I think of those who have lost a little one lately. I am blessed to have a happy, healthy little girl. Others aren't that lucky. I guess it was just a reality check for me...
So, to Sunday night... She woke and cried. I got up to get her (went downstairs to get her cup). She got quiet before I headed upstairs so I went to bed. About 30 minutes later she was screaming again. So, to her bedroom I went. I ended up having to sleep with her for the rest of the night (which means a fitful night for me). During this night, I had a kind of scary dream...
I dreamt AJU5 had a seizure and was a limp rag. She wasn't able to stand. She wasn't able to hold herself up. It was very freaky. Luckily, I soon realized it was a dream. She was fine. She was sleeping at my feet.
But then I thought of all of the people who have gone through worse things. I think of Kayleigh. I think of all of the babies that die at birth or shortly after that. I think of those who have lost a little one lately. I am blessed to have a happy, healthy little girl. Others aren't that lucky. I guess it was just a reality check for me...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Home Improvement Saturday - Countertops
Now, installing countertops may or may not be a do-it-yourself job. A lot depends on the material you are using and the situation. We have only installed small vanity tops ourselves actually. We bought the cultured marble - out of the box ones for our first house. They weren't hard to install because they were fairly small. The main tools we needed were adhesive (silcone-type glue) and caulk (to fill all of the gaps).
We were going to install a laminate top in the old house, but because it took almost a month to get it, they installed it for us for free. This was actually very nice because the walls in that house were not straight! The more curvy the walls, the harder it is to install countertops well. Plus, they had the caulk to fill the gap between the two pieces that matched fairly well. Now, if you have a fairly flat wall and a not-to-huge kitchen, laminate countertops can be a do-it-yourself job. You will need some screws to fasten it to the cabinets and some caulk (again, for the gaps in the back). If there is a bump in the wall, you might want a belt sander to make it fit better.
Now, if you are going with a solid surface like Corinan (we used EOS in this house) or stone, then it is NOT a do-it-yourself job (unless it is VERY small). The price you are quoted for the material will include installation. But, the benefit of this over laminate is that you can have an integrated or undermount sink - which is easier to clean. Also, scratches aren't seen as easily.
Hopefully that gives you a little info about countertops. If you have any questions, let me know!
We were going to install a laminate top in the old house, but because it took almost a month to get it, they installed it for us for free. This was actually very nice because the walls in that house were not straight! The more curvy the walls, the harder it is to install countertops well. Plus, they had the caulk to fill the gap between the two pieces that matched fairly well. Now, if you have a fairly flat wall and a not-to-huge kitchen, laminate countertops can be a do-it-yourself job. You will need some screws to fasten it to the cabinets and some caulk (again, for the gaps in the back). If there is a bump in the wall, you might want a belt sander to make it fit better.
Now, if you are going with a solid surface like Corinan (we used EOS in this house) or stone, then it is NOT a do-it-yourself job (unless it is VERY small). The price you are quoted for the material will include installation. But, the benefit of this over laminate is that you can have an integrated or undermount sink - which is easier to clean. Also, scratches aren't seen as easily.
Hopefully that gives you a little info about countertops. If you have any questions, let me know!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Back at it Again...
Yesterday I got my second prescription medicine. This one actually works! I am so happy to be able to function again! I am not 100%, but I am definitely back in the world of the living!
I was going to post some pictures, but Blogger/Firefox/My Computer is not cooperating. I tried twice, but both times I froze Firefox. So, maybe tomorrow :)
I was going to post some pictures, but Blogger/Firefox/My Computer is not cooperating. I tried twice, but both times I froze Firefox. So, maybe tomorrow :)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Yeah, I Need to Post More Often...
I am still battle this bug. It is no fun! Luckily my doctor's office has called in a different prescription (the one I got last week was a complete failure), so hopefully I will be better ASAP!
As for happenings around the U household, AJU1 was out of town last Thursday-Sunday. It is part of the reason I didn't get a Home Improvement Saturday post up - AJU5 does not like me typing! (She is napping now)
AJU1 and 5 have been working on the back yard - trying to get grass to grow back there. Well, AJU1 does 99.9% of the work and AJU5 just enjoys being outside. But it is cute to watch her walk abound with the little garden rake (hand-held). Hopefully the seeds will grow and we will have some grass for AJU5 to play in (there is grass in the front, but there is also a drop-off into the neighbor's yard that isn't so safe...)
Well, I better take a shower and get ready to pick up my medicine while AJU5 is still asleep!
As for happenings around the U household, AJU1 was out of town last Thursday-Sunday. It is part of the reason I didn't get a Home Improvement Saturday post up - AJU5 does not like me typing! (She is napping now)
AJU1 and 5 have been working on the back yard - trying to get grass to grow back there. Well, AJU1 does 99.9% of the work and AJU5 just enjoys being outside. But it is cute to watch her walk abound with the little garden rake (hand-held). Hopefully the seeds will grow and we will have some grass for AJU5 to play in (there is grass in the front, but there is also a drop-off into the neighbor's yard that isn't so safe...)
Well, I better take a shower and get ready to pick up my medicine while AJU5 is still asleep!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Product Review Friday - Eddie Bauer Harness Buddy
AJU5 HATES holding hands. She loves her freedom! But, that isn't always safe. So, I bought her a harness buddy at Target. I wasn't sure about getting a leash for my child, but it became necessary... They coming in different animals (she picked the monkey), and they are all cute. We have used it quite a bit in the last few weeks. When we go shopping (for more than one item), I put it on her before we leave the car. She can then walk into the store if she wants. I do put her in the cart. but she doesn't like to stay there. So, I let her out periodically and walk around. The harness allows me some control of where she goes and has kept her from emptying too many things off of shelves. She doesn't cry when I put it on her, so I think he is perfectly fine with it. We have gotten a lot of comments on how cute it is!
For $12, I think they are worth it if you have an independent child. It is also a backpack, but the storage area is very small. It might keep a toy or two, but that is it. When I did a search online for them, I found other brands as well. I bet they are all about the same in terms on quality, etc.
Do you have a harness for you kid? Have you considered it?
For $12, I think they are worth it if you have an independent child. It is also a backpack, but the storage area is very small. It might keep a toy or two, but that is it. When I did a search online for them, I found other brands as well. I bet they are all about the same in terms on quality, etc.
Do you have a harness for you kid? Have you considered it?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Oh , Yeah, My Blog...
Life has been a little crazy around here. Sorry for the lack of posts! Hopefully things are calming down though... Nothing major - just the normal life busy-ness - but it is crazy enough.
Easter was nothing too special. I did get AJU5 some plastic eggs and two balls - but that is it. She has enjoyed opening and closing the eggs (and throwing them). The balls have joined the others - coming out when she finds them for some throwing fun and then disappearing for another day. She did get to wear her Easter dress, but no pictures were taken. She needed a bath since she didn't get one the night before, so the morning was a little rushed. Then, when we got home from church (accidentally left camera at home), she got changed quickly because (a) it was kind of chilly around here and (b) we wanted to keep the food off of it. I do have pictures of her eating a chicken leg for the first time though (still on the camera...).
Well, the semester is almost over - which means I am up to my ears in grading... so I better be off...
Easter was nothing too special. I did get AJU5 some plastic eggs and two balls - but that is it. She has enjoyed opening and closing the eggs (and throwing them). The balls have joined the others - coming out when she finds them for some throwing fun and then disappearing for another day. She did get to wear her Easter dress, but no pictures were taken. She needed a bath since she didn't get one the night before, so the morning was a little rushed. Then, when we got home from church (accidentally left camera at home), she got changed quickly because (a) it was kind of chilly around here and (b) we wanted to keep the food off of it. I do have pictures of her eating a chicken leg for the first time though (still on the camera...).
Well, the semester is almost over - which means I am up to my ears in grading... so I better be off...
Friday, April 10, 2009
Product Review Friday - Sippy Cups
So, AJU5 has had a few different kinds of sippy cups. Here I reviewed them when she was just learning to use them. But, now my feelings have changed!
I still think the silcone topped ones (Munchkin or Nubby) are great starter cups. But, as time goes by, they start to fall apart. The spout pieces can break, causing a leaky mess! So, these cups have been put away! Also, at least for the Munchkin ones, you can't buy new silcone parts (like you can buy nipples for bottles), so it can be a waste!
So, now we are using the Playtex Insulators. Since she is a sipper half the time, the insulated cup is nice. Plus, they are easy to find in stores and have interchangeable parts with the Playtex My First Sippy (which we have two of). They seem to be fairly durable and are working just fine for AJU5.
Is there a sippy cup you like? What do you like or dislike about the sippy cups your child uses?
I still think the silcone topped ones (Munchkin or Nubby) are great starter cups. But, as time goes by, they start to fall apart. The spout pieces can break, causing a leaky mess! So, these cups have been put away! Also, at least for the Munchkin ones, you can't buy new silcone parts (like you can buy nipples for bottles), so it can be a waste!
So, now we are using the Playtex Insulators. Since she is a sipper half the time, the insulated cup is nice. Plus, they are easy to find in stores and have interchangeable parts with the Playtex My First Sippy (which we have two of). They seem to be fairly durable and are working just fine for AJU5.
Is there a sippy cup you like? What do you like or dislike about the sippy cups your child uses?
Monday, April 6, 2009
And It Continues
AJU5 is still struggling with the teeth. She doesn't go to sleep until 9pm or later each night (even though we try to get her down earlier). We have resorted to allowing her to have her pacifiers at any hour to stop the crying when not held (while one of us is standing). But, there has been humor in all of this!
Last night, we put her down at 9 (since that is when we go to bed). Around 9:45, she was whining too much for me to sleep. So, I went to see if I could get her to sleep with me. Well, after a little bit, she started to play. She walked over to her night-light and stared at it. She touched it, and then came back to me. After about ten rounds of this, she started to add a little walking in circles to this. Of course, she ended up falling down some - which led to laughing. It was fun to watch! Eventually she came back over and snuggled. (So she went to bed and slept until 2:30ish - and then back to bed by 3 - and slept until 7.
Today she has been attached to me. It is making it hard to work, etc. But, I love the snuggle time! I just wish we had a tv so we could sit in front of it and snuggle!
Last night, we put her down at 9 (since that is when we go to bed). Around 9:45, she was whining too much for me to sleep. So, I went to see if I could get her to sleep with me. Well, after a little bit, she started to play. She walked over to her night-light and stared at it. She touched it, and then came back to me. After about ten rounds of this, she started to add a little walking in circles to this. Of course, she ended up falling down some - which led to laughing. It was fun to watch! Eventually she came back over and snuggled. (So she went to bed and slept until 2:30ish - and then back to bed by 3 - and slept until 7.
Today she has been attached to me. It is making it hard to work, etc. But, I love the snuggle time! I just wish we had a tv so we could sit in front of it and snuggle!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Home Improvement Saturday - Cabinets Part 2
So, last week I talked about planning and ordering cabinets. This week we will go over installation.
The difficulty factor for installation is related mainly to the amount of connecting cabinets you have. If you are only installing one cabinet (like a vanity cabinet), then it is fairly easy. On the other hand, if you have cabinets along two walls that connect, then it will be harder. Why? You have to make sure everything is level and such! If you only have one cabinet, then you just need to level it and attach it. If you have multiple, then you need to find the high/low spots and take into consideration wall bumps. If the wall isn't "flat" or the floor is like a roller coaster, making sure everything is level and the faces are smooth will be harder.
For a small base (floor) cabinet only job, one person can handle everything with a few clamps, shims, and screws. For wall cabinets or a bigger job, you will need more people. You might want to make some "dummies" to hold the wall cabinets in place (a T of 2x4s works) if you don't have a lot of muscle!
Oh, and buy lots of shims! They are very important. Unless you house is PERFECT, you will probably end up using a few shims per cabinet, if not more. It never hurts to have too many shims!
Once you get the boxes in place (take doors, shelves, and drawers out/off first - it is easier that way), you will be ready to trim. We used scribe molding in most places. It is the most basic of moldings and will cover the gaps between the walls and ceilings. You can also use crown molding at the top if you aren't mounting the cabinet right to the ceiling. You will also have some toe kick to install along with some edge molding if there is an exposed corner (to cover the edge of the toe kick).
All in all, it is a fairly easy job. It is definitely something a do-it-yourself person could do if they had a little help. I would recommend starting with a bathroom (few cabinets) and then moving to a bigger job!
TR: Merrilot Cabinets - Kitchen House 1
TM: Merrilot Cabinets - Kitchen House 1
BR: Cardell Cabinets - Kitchen House 2
BL: Cardell Cabinets - Kitchen House 2
LT: Shenandoah Cabinets - Laundry House 2
LM (2): Merrilot Cabinets - Kitchen House 1 (being installed)
LB: Shenandoah Cabinets - Master Bath House 2
The difficulty factor for installation is related mainly to the amount of connecting cabinets you have. If you are only installing one cabinet (like a vanity cabinet), then it is fairly easy. On the other hand, if you have cabinets along two walls that connect, then it will be harder. Why? You have to make sure everything is level and such! If you only have one cabinet, then you just need to level it and attach it. If you have multiple, then you need to find the high/low spots and take into consideration wall bumps. If the wall isn't "flat" or the floor is like a roller coaster, making sure everything is level and the faces are smooth will be harder.
For a small base (floor) cabinet only job, one person can handle everything with a few clamps, shims, and screws. For wall cabinets or a bigger job, you will need more people. You might want to make some "dummies" to hold the wall cabinets in place (a T of 2x4s works) if you don't have a lot of muscle!
Oh, and buy lots of shims! They are very important. Unless you house is PERFECT, you will probably end up using a few shims per cabinet, if not more. It never hurts to have too many shims!
Once you get the boxes in place (take doors, shelves, and drawers out/off first - it is easier that way), you will be ready to trim. We used scribe molding in most places. It is the most basic of moldings and will cover the gaps between the walls and ceilings. You can also use crown molding at the top if you aren't mounting the cabinet right to the ceiling. You will also have some toe kick to install along with some edge molding if there is an exposed corner (to cover the edge of the toe kick).
All in all, it is a fairly easy job. It is definitely something a do-it-yourself person could do if they had a little help. I would recommend starting with a bathroom (few cabinets) and then moving to a bigger job!
TR: Merrilot Cabinets - Kitchen House 1TM: Merrilot Cabinets - Kitchen House 1
BR: Cardell Cabinets - Kitchen House 2
BL: Cardell Cabinets - Kitchen House 2
LT: Shenandoah Cabinets - Laundry House 2
LM (2): Merrilot Cabinets - Kitchen House 1 (being installed)
LB: Shenandoah Cabinets - Master Bath House 2
Friday, April 3, 2009
Yeah, One of Those Days...
AJU5 had a terrible night:
On top of all of this, AJU1 decided that we should finish unpacking the office today. So, the room with the "TV" and all is not AJU5-proofed in any way shape or form. There are computer pieces, cables, and other random things all over the place. This is actually very little floor showing at the moment. But, with her being awake, he can't get anything done (she is a Daddy's girl most of the time)... So, maybe tomorrow this room will get back to normal (I have a little to do, but I need some space to lay things out and sort them...)
So, Product Review Friday is taking a week off...
Next week - either sippy cups of backpack/leashes...
- Went down at 6:30
- Awake by 8:30
- Cranky until 11ish
- Took her to her room and sang her to sleep
- Slept on floor of her room with me until almost 5 am - with some wake ups in there that is
- Woke up within minutes of me leaving the room
- AJU1 got her and tried to get her back to sleep (failed)
- Laid in bed with me/us until 7ish
- Demanded breakfast... so we were up for the day
On top of all of this, AJU1 decided that we should finish unpacking the office today. So, the room with the "TV" and all is not AJU5-proofed in any way shape or form. There are computer pieces, cables, and other random things all over the place. This is actually very little floor showing at the moment. But, with her being awake, he can't get anything done (she is a Daddy's girl most of the time)... So, maybe tomorrow this room will get back to normal (I have a little to do, but I need some space to lay things out and sort them...)
So, Product Review Friday is taking a week off...
Next week - either sippy cups of backpack/leashes...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Using Force
AJU5 knows how to get what she wants - cry or use force! If she wants me to do something, she just makes my body do what she wants. She pulls our fingers until we follow her. she manipulates our hands to do what she wants. She even rolled me over last night so she could snuggle in another position. She is quite strong for a toddler I think.
... okay.... where was I... AJU5 came up and bothered me... then we played... then we went to the library... then we came home and had lunch... then I caught up on some blog reading and put her down for a nap... now back to this post... yeah...
Oh, yeah...
Last night she woke around 1am. Her molars are starting to pop through, and it is making her miserable. It was too early for more motrin, so I laid on the floor with her and tried to sleep. She was all over the place forcing her little head into different spots on my body - between my chin and head, on my shoulder, on my chest - anywhere she thought might be comfortable. Around 2:30 I gave up and took her downstairs for some Motrin. She had started to play a little instead of laying down, and I was EXHAUSTED. The Motrin worked luckily and I was able to return to bed around 3.
Hopefully, the teeth will come all the way through ASAP so we can get some sleep around here!
... okay.... where was I... AJU5 came up and bothered me... then we played... then we went to the library... then we came home and had lunch... then I caught up on some blog reading and put her down for a nap... now back to this post... yeah...
Oh, yeah...
Last night she woke around 1am. Her molars are starting to pop through, and it is making her miserable. It was too early for more motrin, so I laid on the floor with her and tried to sleep. She was all over the place forcing her little head into different spots on my body - between my chin and head, on my shoulder, on my chest - anywhere she thought might be comfortable. Around 2:30 I gave up and took her downstairs for some Motrin. She had started to play a little instead of laying down, and I was EXHAUSTED. The Motrin worked luckily and I was able to return to bed around 3.
Hopefully, the teeth will come all the way through ASAP so we can get some sleep around here!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Work...
Today AJU5 and I went to my work. I had to drop of my laptop for "maintenance." Hopefully ITS won't mess it up too much! I also went ahead and dropped off my next set of exams at the testing center so I didn't have to make another trip next week.
AJU5 loves one of our secretaries! She isn't afraid of anyone in the office other than our dean (who is the only male in the office), but she will go right to E. E picks her up and lets her play with things on her desk. It is so fun just to see her interact with all of the ladies in the office actually. None of them have little ones, so they enjoy watching her grow. Our dean has two little girls (2 and 0), but they aren't as friendly as AJU5 supposedly. So, they take great pleasure in just watching her grow and play.
After hanging out the the ladies for a while, we went and dropped off the exams. I put AJU5 in a chair while I readjusted my purse, and she found that the tray attached to the chair swiveled in and out. She sat there and played with the two she could reach for quite a while. While we were still sitting there, my old boss (she was the dean for a while) walked by. Her and I have had issues (didn't see eye to eye on something AT ALL), but she stopped and said hi and asked how old AJU5 was now. It is kind of weird seeing her though. I was so happy when she moved on to another position so I didn't have to see her, but then I think it might have been better if she had stayed around so we could have dealt with the issue better. But, that is all in the past...
Well, I guess I should go clean the kitchen now. We have piles of papers, etc that need to get sorted and put away. We are trying to get the down stairs looking nice, now that we have it all mostly done (still need some furniture, etc - but the main building pieces are done). But I don't know where to put the papers! My desk is a mess because I end up pushing things to the back to prevent AJU5 from getting them. So, really I need to clean my desk and sort through it, but I told me husband I would work on the kitchen... maybe I will end up bringing a box of papers up?
AJU5 loves one of our secretaries! She isn't afraid of anyone in the office other than our dean (who is the only male in the office), but she will go right to E. E picks her up and lets her play with things on her desk. It is so fun just to see her interact with all of the ladies in the office actually. None of them have little ones, so they enjoy watching her grow. Our dean has two little girls (2 and 0), but they aren't as friendly as AJU5 supposedly. So, they take great pleasure in just watching her grow and play.
After hanging out the the ladies for a while, we went and dropped off the exams. I put AJU5 in a chair while I readjusted my purse, and she found that the tray attached to the chair swiveled in and out. She sat there and played with the two she could reach for quite a while. While we were still sitting there, my old boss (she was the dean for a while) walked by. Her and I have had issues (didn't see eye to eye on something AT ALL), but she stopped and said hi and asked how old AJU5 was now. It is kind of weird seeing her though. I was so happy when she moved on to another position so I didn't have to see her, but then I think it might have been better if she had stayed around so we could have dealt with the issue better. But, that is all in the past...
Well, I guess I should go clean the kitchen now. We have piles of papers, etc that need to get sorted and put away. We are trying to get the down stairs looking nice, now that we have it all mostly done (still need some furniture, etc - but the main building pieces are done). But I don't know where to put the papers! My desk is a mess because I end up pushing things to the back to prevent AJU5 from getting them. So, really I need to clean my desk and sort through it, but I told me husband I would work on the kitchen... maybe I will end up bringing a box of papers up?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Home Improvement Saturday - Cabinets (Part 1)
So, because I am sleepy, I am going to keep this one short and do a second part to cabinets next Saturday.
The first thing you need to decide is what brand cabinets you are going to use. We have used three brands, and in general the actual construction is identical. A cabinet box is a cabinet box is a cabinet box. The difference comes in options, look, and material. Personally, we have found Shenandoah cabinets (at Lowe's) to be a really good buy. You can spend extra for KraftMaid, but the quality is almost identical between the two.
Once you have the brand chosen, you need to pick the door style. Some times the door style dictates the design and what cabinets are available. The big question normally is full overlay verses regular overlay. There are also no overlay cabinets out there, but we haven't used those (I don't think they are common here due to the humidity conditions, etc). With full overlay, you don't see the frame when the doors are closed, but with regular overlay there is a border of the frame showing.
The best thing to do is go to a design center (Lowe's or Home Depot work just fine) and look at the cabinets. We have gone with special order, but for budget projects or small projects, you might want to consider the in-stock cabinets. I would DEFINITELY get a free design/price quote of at least one special order set of cabinets, as this will allow you to compare costs AND get a design to work from.
Nest week I will talk about pieces to not forget and installation!
*I had about 4 hours of sleep last night/this morning. I didn't get home until after 2:30 and couldn't sleep until after 3. AJU5 was up just before 7, so I "supervised" her and napped a little before heading back to scrap some more (about 10-3:30). I got through Month 11 - 30 pages completed! Hopefully I can find little pieces of time here and there to do come more of it in the next few months.
The first thing you need to decide is what brand cabinets you are going to use. We have used three brands, and in general the actual construction is identical. A cabinet box is a cabinet box is a cabinet box. The difference comes in options, look, and material. Personally, we have found Shenandoah cabinets (at Lowe's) to be a really good buy. You can spend extra for KraftMaid, but the quality is almost identical between the two.
Once you have the brand chosen, you need to pick the door style. Some times the door style dictates the design and what cabinets are available. The big question normally is full overlay verses regular overlay. There are also no overlay cabinets out there, but we haven't used those (I don't think they are common here due to the humidity conditions, etc). With full overlay, you don't see the frame when the doors are closed, but with regular overlay there is a border of the frame showing.
The best thing to do is go to a design center (Lowe's or Home Depot work just fine) and look at the cabinets. We have gone with special order, but for budget projects or small projects, you might want to consider the in-stock cabinets. I would DEFINITELY get a free design/price quote of at least one special order set of cabinets, as this will allow you to compare costs AND get a design to work from.
Nest week I will talk about pieces to not forget and installation!
*I had about 4 hours of sleep last night/this morning. I didn't get home until after 2:30 and couldn't sleep until after 3. AJU5 was up just before 7, so I "supervised" her and napped a little before heading back to scrap some more (about 10-3:30). I got through Month 11 - 30 pages completed! Hopefully I can find little pieces of time here and there to do come more of it in the next few months.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Project Review Friday - Munchkin Suction Cup Bowls
I had seen the Munchkin Stay-Put Suction Bowls on their webpage, but I hadn't seen them in the stores until I went to Wal-Mart (for a totally unrelated purchase - I HATE the Wal-Marts near use because they are a ZOO and not very clean). I thought I would give them a try. I had wanted to get something like this for AJU5 so she can work on her spoon usage (no way am I giving her a bowl that is not attached to her tray!). They are working okay. She can pull them off, but it takes a lot of effort and time. So, all in all, they meet our needs. She gets her morning cereal in them now, and seems to like them. She still uses her fingers more than the spoon, but now I don't have to feed her the cereal! It is making it easier for me to eat at the same time for sure (she insists on having the same things we are having these days).
So, overall, I will give these a B. They say they won't budge (which is a lie), but only a persistent child will get them loose.
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Cart Packed.
Everything Ready.
A Night of Scrapbooking Is Coming.
Pray for AJU1 has he has AJU5 duty until midnight!
So, overall, I will give these a B. They say they won't budge (which is a lie), but only a persistent child will get them loose.
********************************************************
Cart Packed.
Everything Ready.
A Night of Scrapbooking Is Coming.
Pray for AJU1 has he has AJU5 duty until midnight!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
New Method
AJU5 has found a new way of getting what she wants. She takes her baby or a stuffed animal and gets us to cooperate with that. Then, she requests the same treatment for herself.
She has used this to:
She has used this to:
- Get to sit in my lap
- Get picked up and carried
- Get put in her spot on the sofa (it is a reclining love seat - and she gets the middle high spot)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Some of the Collages for the Scrapbook
In the Hospital (0-7 days old)
3 Months Old (March 15-April 13, 2008)
Birthday Cake (December 14, 2008)
Christmas Presents at Home (Late December 2008)
Another Party Idea
This Friday/Saturday our church is having a Ladies Slumber Party (slumber optional). There will be lots of scrapbooking going on over the two days, as well as some eating and fellowship. This is my idea of a girls-only party - food, friends, and crafts. I am a big craft person, but I rarely have time to do it. I actually haven't even started AJU5's scrapbook. Luckily for me, she wrote a letter every month for the first year and then one at 15 months. This is going to make it easier for sure!
Another thing I have done is create a collage (using Picasa) for each month a major event. I am having 28 (8x10s) of these printed a Costco (I pick them up this afternoon). I still need to go through here and pull of all of the major milestone dates (as well as emails of these as well). Hopefully I will be able to at least get a good start on the scrapbooks this weekend!
Do you scrapbook? Are you crafty? How far behind are you on your kids' baby books?
Another thing I have done is create a collage (using Picasa) for each month a major event. I am having 28 (8x10s) of these printed a Costco (I pick them up this afternoon). I still need to go through here and pull of all of the major milestone dates (as well as emails of these as well). Hopefully I will be able to at least get a good start on the scrapbooks this weekend!
Do you scrapbook? Are you crafty? How far behind are you on your kids' baby books?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Partying Some More!
So, this has been a weekend of partying!
Saturday, AJU5 was invited to a 2 year old's birthday party at Chucky Cheese. It was CRAZY! But, she seemed to really like it. She loved playing with the balls (Skee Ball) and riding some of the rides. She even left the group (while I was turning in our tickets) to play skee ball on her own (luckily we found her quickly). We lost one other kid- he was hiding in the tunnels while Chucky was on stage (he is aftraid of Chucky). Luckily, after about 5 minutes of looking, he came down (as Chucky was done on the stage).
Yesterday was AJU1's 30th birthday. I ordered him a cake Saturday and had a friend pick it up so we could have it at church. It was good to surprise him! He didn't want anything for his birthday (he had already bought himself stuff a few weeks earlier), so that was all we did. But, it was fun none the less.
Have you done any real partying during the Ultimate Blog Party?
What is a perfect party for you?
Saturday, AJU5 was invited to a 2 year old's birthday party at Chucky Cheese. It was CRAZY! But, she seemed to really like it. She loved playing with the balls (Skee Ball) and riding some of the rides. She even left the group (while I was turning in our tickets) to play skee ball on her own (luckily we found her quickly). We lost one other kid- he was hiding in the tunnels while Chucky was on stage (he is aftraid of Chucky). Luckily, after about 5 minutes of looking, he came down (as Chucky was done on the stage).
Yesterday was AJU1's 30th birthday. I ordered him a cake Saturday and had a friend pick it up so we could have it at church. It was good to surprise him! He didn't want anything for his birthday (he had already bought himself stuff a few weeks earlier), so that was all we did. But, it was fun none the less.
Have you done any real partying during the Ultimate Blog Party?
What is a perfect party for you?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Home Improvement Saturday - Grout
Well, last week a took a week off from the Home Improvement posts to ski. Can you blame me? There was no home improvement going on at the house, so I didn't post about any of the projects we had completed. But, it is back again!
The last two posts have been about tiling. The last step in tiling is grouting (and sealing). Grout it the stuff between the tiles. For really small grout lines, you use unsanded grout. But, we have only used the sanded grout since we have stuck with the larger grout lines (all floor tile should have sanded grout). The first thing you have to do is decide the color of the grout. There are lots of options! One thing you might want to do is see if the brand/color comes in caulk as well, as it may come in *handy in the future.
Now, for how to grout. First you have to mix the stuff with water (and the big beater bar you used when you mixed the thin set). The bag will give you proportions. BUT, I recommend not adding that much water to begin with. It is a lot easier to add more water as you go until it gets to the right consistency. You want something that is a brownie or cake batter consistency - something that you can move around but isn't too thin. Once you have it mixed (and waited and mixed again according to the bag directions), then you have two options for application. You can put the grout into a bag and squeeze it into the cracks like a pastry bag or you can use the grout floats and just cover the floor. Personally, I like to just cover the floor. But, if you are doing a small area (like an entry), it might be easier. Either way, the goal is to fill the grout lines so that they are level with the tile. Then you want to let it dry a LITTLE. Once a haze appears on the tiles, you can start cleaning them. Use a tile sponge - removing as much water as possible before wiping the tiles. Move diagonally across the tiles so you don't remove too much out of the grout lines. For the first pass, you just want to smooth the grout lines out and get some of the excess off the top of the tiles. Then, once another haze appears, you can focus on getting the tiles a little cleaner. Rinse the sponge out more often and replace the water more often to get a fairly clean looking tile (it will still have a haze though). Let it dry for a few hours and then go back over it again. After 3-4 sponging ones, you can mop it with a fairly dry mop.
The grouting itself isn't hard. But the cleaning can take a long time! It can be a fun party activity though! Just make sure your guests don't like to throw mud...
Up next: Cabinets!
* We are using the caulk where the new floor meets the tile to fill the gap. We also used it in the bathrooms around the tub, etc.
PICTURES TO COME LATER (my computer is fighting a nasty Trojan, so getting to the files is a pain).
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