Winning!!!

I don't know how y'all feel about blog giveaways, but for the most part, I am a fan.  I enter in them as long as it's something I'm actually interested in winning, but really don't anticipate my name being drawn.  However, I figure someone has to win, right?

Well, the other day when My Two Red Shoes hosted a giveaway, I was quick to enter my name in the hat.  I've followed her blog for a long time... little does she know, she has helped me a lot with cloth diapering, and I'm especially partial to her son George, who has red hair just like my Jaxon.

All you had to do to enter the giveaway was leave a comment telling her what your favorite handmade item was. My response?

On Monday she announced the winner, and I may have screamed like a school girl when I saw my name announced.  Today I received the quilt in the mail.... it's absolutely beautiful.  See?

These pictures do the quilt absolutely no justice... her Mom did a beautiful beautiful job on it.

Maybe someday if I get good enough on the sewing machine (that I don't even own yet... ha!) I could give one away as a gift.  Okay, add that to my bucket list.  I need to learn how to make a quilt.

Thanks again Kathleen!

A-B-C... it's as easy as 1-2-3...

My newest addition to the boys playroom downstairs!

In love with the final product...

I was inspired originally by this image, via pinterest of course!

All of the letters were found at different places, and over half of them painted/decorated by myself.  The "C" and "O" were both gifts from our Moms.  Some I left just the way they were!

Such a fun project and Jaxon has already asked me twice to sing "the song" to him.  Hopefully one of these days he'll catch on and sing along.

If you have any questions on where I got a specific letter or how I decorated it, let me know!

I'm a DIYing machine lately, and it's only just begun....

In my head.

i had a fun weekend with a surprise visit from my sister!  it was the perfect amount of work and play, with a little grey's anatomy rerun thrown in.

did you hear about the big debate about some people in california trying to implement a law against circumcision until the age of 18?  absolutely crazy... it's fine if you're against circumcision, but seriously, do what's best for your family and leave it alone. i just don't get it.

i won a giveaway on a blog today... a gorgeous quilt!  i can't wait to share it with y'all when i receive it. 

jaxon started swimming lessons today.  i hope it will help calm some of my nightmares...seriously.

i am over this heat. and over my house not being able to vent the heat properly. after living in texas, i feel like this is the summer that will.not.end.

i go in phases with my love affair with pinterest. sometimes i wish there wasn't a "re-pin" option, i just get tired of seeing the same image so many times. 

my husband started a new schedule, working 1pm until ...well, it's supposed to be 10pm, but it's usually closer to midnight.  nights are so lonely and it's an adjustment having him home in the morning now.

i've been busy around the house and am excited to share the updates with you!

i finally upgraded to an iPhone 4. in white. i'm in love!

cohen has officially been an "outside baby" longer than he was an "inside baby".  haha, sorry i just had to use that silly term. time is flying by.

next week the boys and i are headed on another mini-vacation with my parents.  leah, part of me wishes you weren't on maternity leave because i would be calling you. 

happy monday! 

Kitchen cart makeover.

I am so happy with the way the way my kitchen cart turned out, that even though it still needs a couple touch-ups here and there, I couldn't wait any longer to share it with y'all.

First, the before shot.

And, the afters.

The bulletin board got a face lift as well... here's the before:

And the afters... 

The complete look!

supplies:

leftover fabric from curtains, for the doors

oil-based primer

5 coats {yikes!} of semi-gloss paint

aqua blue spray paint for bulletin board

i am in love with it... 

pics of the completed entry way bench coming soon!

What to do when your iPad shatters.

1. Pick your stomach up from the floor.
2. Try not to cry.
3. Try not to panic.
4. Start rehearsing how you're going to tell your husband.
5. Remind yourself that accidents happen.
6. Wonder why the iPad has a glass screen to begin with.
7. Tell yourself it doesn't matter in the end.
8. Eat an extra piece of pizza.
9. Pour yourself a glass of wine.
10. Help yourself to an extra serving of ice cream.
11. Be grateful it's a shattered screen and not a shattered child.
12. Tell yourself that everyone is too dependent on technology.
13. Remind yourself that they didn't even have technology in Bible times.
14. Wonder how people survived before Google.
15. Contemplate how to get it fixed.
16. Practice patience when your husband gets upset.
17. Order bubble wrap for all electronic devices.
18. Go to bed and dream about a world full of not-glass-screen iPads.
19. Question why you got the stupid thing to begin with.
20. Be thankful that you don't need worldly things to be happy.

Shoot.

Vacation.

Most people go on vacation to a tropical island, or Colorado, or Alaska.  As for me...  I went to Iowa.

I spent a week at my inlaws house... spending time with extended family, having bonfires, canoeing down a couple rivers {love!!}, watching the boys play, and just relaxing.  I always know I'm away from home when there's dirty clothes all over the bedroom floor I'm staying in.  I'm OCD about my own house but when I'm away.... yeah, I'm away.

The last part of our vacation was spent camping.  In July.  In the Midwest.  It was so incredibly hot that the majority of our time was spent talking about how hot it was.  My Dad and Aunt surprised us with a couple boat rentals on Saturday so thankfully we spent a good chunk of the day on the water, but seriously... I'm pretty sure that July camping date was chosen in the middle of a Minnesota winter when everyone was dreaming of a warm summer.  Overall it was a lot of fun, we had lots of laughs, deep conversations, and it was great to let our kids all play together with their family/friends they don't see often.

Also?  I've never been so thankful for a/c and a shower in my life.

It was a very low-key vacation, but exactly what the doctor ordered.

Leaving on a jet plane.

Yesterday I celebrated 6 years of marriage to the most amazing guy I know.  I am one lucky, blessed, and extremely thankful wife.  I love this man with all of my being.

I am on vacation for the next 9 days... so my posting will be seldom. Actually, lets be real. If I post at all it will be a miracle. 

Over and out!

4th of July in pictures.

 /

fireworks on tv... this is what happens when you have small children!

how was your holiday weekend? 

Freedom.

link

link

link

independence day

bbq's

stars & stripes

fireworks

let freedom ring

apple pie

sweet land of liberty

sparklers

proud to be an american

overcoming freedom we have in Christ

happy 4th of july! 

Sunday morning.

sweet boy snuggled under the blanket

2 coffee cups {necessity, hello!}

sweet husband snuggling sweet baby

such a sweet morning.