Today was a crazy-busy day...We started with a trip to the library and the shoe store. Then on to church for a performance by the oldest two. Back home for a 12th birthday outing to Claire's in the mall. H wanted to have her ears pierced for her birthday so that's what we did. She chose simple amethyst studs and they are very pretty. The girls wandered in the mall just a bit then they were ready to head back home. I must admit I was too! The mall is not my favorite place to be, especially on a Saturday afternoon.
Once they were settled in entertaining themselves, I needed to take R to church to play bells in the evening service. This only happens once a year, but it is less than convenient.
Back home to serve cake and ice cream, clean up a little, then receive the grandparents for a short visit. They needed to be nearby tonight for something special ( well, something ELSE special), so they only had time for a short visit.
Then I had to make a last minute trip for ibuprofen since there are two little ones with fever tonight. W had 102 temp when I got home from the mall. I hope he is well enough for church tomorrow. I will put him down with a vaporizer and more meds so he can sleep well.
After all the running around, I am glad to be home and ready for a bath and a cup of tea myself :)
Sweet Dreams!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Bedroom Vignette
This is just one little area of the bedroom which is finished.
The handkerchiefs belonged to my grandmother and my aunt had them framed for each of my three girls a long time ago. They look pretty over this quilted wall hanging I made for my mother out of her father's handkerchiefs. I love the similar colors and the symbolism. The towel stand I found in the clearance at Garden Ridge last week...perfect fit for this space.
The wall to the right is the one destined to be red, but alas, I still wait on my bedding to arrive to pick paint so the tape is on the wall.....
Soon, I keep telling myself!
The handkerchiefs belonged to my grandmother and my aunt had them framed for each of my three girls a long time ago. They look pretty over this quilted wall hanging I made for my mother out of her father's handkerchiefs. I love the similar colors and the symbolism. The towel stand I found in the clearance at Garden Ridge last week...perfect fit for this space.
The wall to the right is the one destined to be red, but alas, I still wait on my bedding to arrive to pick paint so the tape is on the wall.....
Soon, I keep telling myself!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Boys and their Toys
Project #24 going on is W's room. dsB moved downstairs, which opened up the room considerably. But we needed storage. I got this 9 cube storage unit, which W and I put together ALL by ourselves, thankyouverymuch :
We decided what needed to go in it, and have allocated spaces. One of the things I knew we needed to keep there was his collection of Matchbox cars. However those little canvas drawers are not sturdy enough for the weight of them. So I looked around at wooden boxes. Those are not cheap. I went to Michael's and found a set of 3 unfinished ones for $14.99. I got two sets of these (with my 40% off coupons, of course) and used the small from each set for the cube. I decoupaged cutouts from CARS (the movie) paper after painting them, sprayed with polyurethane, and have these two adorable boxes. I chose to leave the interior unfinished since the cars will only beat it all up anyway. Here is a closeup of the one with the cars in it. I didn't even have to fashion a label!
I am currently painting one of the large ones with a camouflage pattern to store his army collection in. This is fun...and could be addictive. Think of the possibilities!
We decided what needed to go in it, and have allocated spaces. One of the things I knew we needed to keep there was his collection of Matchbox cars. However those little canvas drawers are not sturdy enough for the weight of them. So I looked around at wooden boxes. Those are not cheap. I went to Michael's and found a set of 3 unfinished ones for $14.99. I got two sets of these (with my 40% off coupons, of course) and used the small from each set for the cube. I decoupaged cutouts from CARS (the movie) paper after painting them, sprayed with polyurethane, and have these two adorable boxes. I chose to leave the interior unfinished since the cars will only beat it all up anyway. Here is a closeup of the one with the cars in it. I didn't even have to fashion a label!
I am currently painting one of the large ones with a camouflage pattern to store his army collection in. This is fun...and could be addictive. Think of the possibilities!
Monday, February 18, 2008
This Week in the Science Lab
So I am still trucking along, teaching my science classes this year. I teach half day on Monday and very long full day (5 classes, back to back) on Tuesday. Then Wed. I crash and teach my own...
This week's lessons are fun ones. In Biology, we are doing our first dissection, the earthworm. My favorite thing about this lesson is the storytime we have before launching into the actual dissection.
For those who may not know, Gary Larson, the artist and creator of the Far Side cartoons, is by first career, a Biologist. That explains the huge percentage of his cartoons about animals, don't you agree? Well, he has written the most hilarious book about ecology, all centered around the protagonists, a worm family. I read this every year and you can see the joy on the faces of these teens as they listen and laugh. Word to the wise, though...this is not a book for preschoolers. Not only would they not get most of the humor and biological references, but there are a few rated PG phrases (nothing the teens haven't heard before, though). Check it out for yourself at Amazon - There's a Hair in My Dirt, by Gary Larson.
And in Chemistry, as we are learning about solutions and the effect of adding solutes to them, we study freezing point depression by making homemade ice cream. HERE is a previous post from when we did this last year, along with the recipe. Everyone loves ice cream, and even preschoolers can do this. Have them wear mittens to protect their little hands!
Now I'm off to prep for the other classes tomorrow. Procrastination at the blog is something I was once very good at- nice to see I haven't lost my touch :)
Happy Monday!
This week's lessons are fun ones. In Biology, we are doing our first dissection, the earthworm. My favorite thing about this lesson is the storytime we have before launching into the actual dissection.
For those who may not know, Gary Larson, the artist and creator of the Far Side cartoons, is by first career, a Biologist. That explains the huge percentage of his cartoons about animals, don't you agree? Well, he has written the most hilarious book about ecology, all centered around the protagonists, a worm family. I read this every year and you can see the joy on the faces of these teens as they listen and laugh. Word to the wise, though...this is not a book for preschoolers. Not only would they not get most of the humor and biological references, but there are a few rated PG phrases (nothing the teens haven't heard before, though). Check it out for yourself at Amazon - There's a Hair in My Dirt, by Gary Larson.
And in Chemistry, as we are learning about solutions and the effect of adding solutes to them, we study freezing point depression by making homemade ice cream. HERE is a previous post from when we did this last year, along with the recipe. Everyone loves ice cream, and even preschoolers can do this. Have them wear mittens to protect their little hands!
Now I'm off to prep for the other classes tomorrow. Procrastination at the blog is something I was once very good at- nice to see I haven't lost my touch :)
Happy Monday!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Very Stressful...
W is working on his Miquon math and he is doing multiplication by repeated addition. He counted by two for a while and then said, "I can count to 200.............but that is very stressful."
Gotta love that!
Gotta love that!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Details
So here is the wall behind that smaller couch:
I love this paint color by Glidden, called Family Legacy. In here it's paired with a deep green. In my bedroom, I'm using red toile as my main inspiration so I'll paint one wall a deep red, as soon as I get bedding to match it to. One step at a time...
The bookcases fit perfectly under the stairs. Here is a closeup of the accessories I have gotten, all bargains that look like elegant pieces :)
Notice the Galileo thermometer on the right...Walgreen's if you can believe it! And this piece will double as a lab supply when I teach density of liquids lessons in Chemistry.
Today I have been spray painting some wooden boxes to store W's little cars in. His room has been transformed too and is almost finished. I needed sturdy containers, hate plastic, and can't afford the finished wooden pieces in the quantity we need, so I checked at Michael's and they have lots of unfinished wood containers for much less than you can get them elsewhere...plus they run a 40% off coupon almost weekly. Tomorrow I hope to finish the boxes and I'll share.
I love this paint color by Glidden, called Family Legacy. In here it's paired with a deep green. In my bedroom, I'm using red toile as my main inspiration so I'll paint one wall a deep red, as soon as I get bedding to match it to. One step at a time...
The bookcases fit perfectly under the stairs. Here is a closeup of the accessories I have gotten, all bargains that look like elegant pieces :)
Notice the Galileo thermometer on the right...Walgreen's if you can believe it! And this piece will double as a lab supply when I teach density of liquids lessons in Chemistry.
Today I have been spray painting some wooden boxes to store W's little cars in. His room has been transformed too and is almost finished. I needed sturdy containers, hate plastic, and can't afford the finished wooden pieces in the quantity we need, so I checked at Michael's and they have lots of unfinished wood containers for much less than you can get them elsewhere...plus they run a 40% off coupon almost weekly. Tomorrow I hope to finish the boxes and I'll share.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
2008
Well, after lying dormant for many moons, I am encouraged to try to blog a little bit again. I am in the midst of some redesign and redecorating of my home, after many years of neglect. I love a good project, and this one is a doozy :) I began in my living room with cleaning the carpets, painting, and some new furniture. Here is a before:
And here is a middle, after the painting (taken at Christmas):
And this is a picture of it this week:
I still have to work in some accessories and get hardware to hang the curtains I already bought...but I love the new look and the new furniture. It is pleasant place to relax. The other walls in the room are a coffee ice cream color which I am extending into my bedroom. That's the room I've been working on this week.
More on that later...
And speaking of changes, I did one more thing. After 20+ yrs of long hair, I thought I'd try something else for a little while. I love it but I'll probably let it grow at least enough to make a ponytail :)
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