Rain, Snow, Sun, What? Or, Let me Complain About This.

It's been raining ALL week.  Every day, rain rain rain.  I got Ingrid a pair of (purple, naturally) rain boots, but couldn't find a rain coat for her. 

I had a rain coat for Otis but couldn't find a pair of rain boots for him.  Do you know how RIDICULOUS it is that Target, a Minneapolis based store, doesn't carry season-appropriate clothes?  In March I needed a pair of pants for Otis, they only had shorts.  March.  March.  It is snowing out in March, I need PANTS.  Now it's April, and what is that old saying?  Oh yeah, April showers bring May flowers.  IT RAINS IN APRIL!  Which means people will be needing rain boots and rain coats.  But no...none of the above at any store in the Milwaukee area unless you want to buy super expensive things like at REI or similar outdoorsy store.  Which I do not, thank you very much. 

 

I am an Amazon prime member, so I always look there when I have to order something.  Even they didn't have any size 8 rain boots for less than $40.  Otis is my last kid, there is no one to hand it down to, I'm not doing it.  Sigh...

 

Went to LL Bean today, got a rain coat for Ingrid and boots for Otis and it took me five seconds to find what I wanted.  No browsing around, no price comparison, they were cute, they were on sale, call it a day. 

 

Anyway, complaint over, I think.  Just learning my lesson that apparently you have to shop for things you'll need in April right after Christmas...

 

In other news, it has been a bit schizophrenic around these parts lately.  After a few nice days where we went out without coats on, it rained for a week.  Then this morning I looked outside and it was snowing.  Then on the way home from running errands the sun was shining so bright I was blinded.  Now it's dreary and gray again.  Come on, make up your mind.  It's making us crazy!

The other day we got hungry for something sweet.  I had gotten a few new vintage Pyrex things at the thrifts, so we put them to good use.  My favorite recipe--the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook's One Bowl Chocolate Cake.  It makes an 8" square cake, which is the perfect amount.  We also made bright pink frosting to go on top.  Ingrid wanted purple but I wasn't up to the task of mixing colors so she settled for pink.  It was delicious.

This weekend is going to be very chill I can already tell.  I don't think any of us have any motivation to do much of anything.  We got the movie Cars 2 at the library this morning and we will be sitting around watching that.  The sun needs to make its way back out!!

 

 

 

Valentine's Crafts (and Other Random Pictures)

Ugh, we're in February...This is when I hate the midwest.  I'm sick of the snow, and the cold, and bundling up in a million layers.  This was Otis this morning:

All that just to get in the damn car.  His poor little redhead's skin gets all rosy and chapped in the cold weather so I have to try to cover as much as I can.  He got in the car and it must have been cozy, he passed right out.

So, we dream of Spring.  This is Ingrid's rendition of Spring, an apple tree, a bee, a girl with a spotted dog.  I love it.

 Random shot of Otis is another wonderful vintage find--we got this from Bug and Bear Vintage.  Love.

 Have you heard of mug cakes?  Shit.  There goes any chance of lessening my ass this winter. 

 And now, the Valentine's Craft.  I just love these super simple crafts.  It keeps the kids occupied and I have to admit, I had fun making one or two V-day hearts with them today.  We simply tore up pink and red paper, drew a heart on a piece of copy paper, and then used a glue stick to stick the colored pieces on.  Simple yet effective. 

New Pals

More of the same summery goodness lately, made even better because we have made friends with the neighbors across the street.  They have a little boy six mo. younger than Ingrid and one just a couple months younger than Otis.  It's been instant BFFs around here! 

Today after nap time we had them over to play.  I'd made this paint I saw on Pinterest, which did not really turn out like paint so much.  It's simply flour, water, and food coloring, but all I had on hand was whole wheat flour, next time I'd try regular flour and hope for a better consistency.  But all in all it was a nice messy project for the kids on a hot day.

We had a pool of cold water ready to wash them up, and of course, popsicles.

The other day we stayed inside for the hot weather, and the AC must have been cool enough because we baked cookies.  I'd gotten some cookie cutters from Ikea that Ingrid desperately wanted to use, so we made moose sugar cookies.  They were delish.

Mess Making

Here's to learning through messy play!  Ingrid used to love painting, playing with rice and beans, washing dishes, and other messy activities.  Somehow I forgot about that and we hadn't done it in a long time.  But this week we have done plenty. 

I got the bowl of rice and beans out, to see how Otis would do.  He is in the shove-everything-into-your-mouth phase so I thought maybe he'd try to eat it, but surprisingly after I told him no a couple times he stopped trying to eat anything.  He loved to throw the rice and play with the guys.

Ingrid sat by and licked the beater from the cookies we were making at the time.

Yesterday Ingrid asked to do shaving cream painting so we did.  It was way messier than the first time, because I used too much food dye.  The blue was staining my hands so I had to mix more shaving cream in.  Luckily it did not stain them.  Otis was having a LOT of fun!

And then today after playing at a friend's house, we stopped by the thrift store and scored this fun toy.  Ingrid said she had it at school, and I can totally see this being in a Montessori class.  There are cards with pictures on it and rainbow foam pieces in different shapes.  You have to match the shapes up to make the pictures, it's pretty neat actually.  Ingrid loved it!  And it was only 90cents, yay!

Home

We have been spending quite a bit of time at home lately.  Days are spent doing laundry, which is never ending.  Vacuuming up after the dog, which is also never ending.  Baking scones, and having them not turn out, thus going through a bag of flour in a few days.  Reading lots of Clifford books.  Watching lots of Charlie and Lola.  Listening to Ingrid play with her new imaginary friends Dave and Julie.  (She also has a stuffed horse named Tim, where does she get these names?)  Watching Otis climb into and on top of everything.  The days actually fly by and I've been pretty happy with life.  We are going to look at four houses tomorrow and will hopefully find one that we can see ourselves in for the future!  I am so geeked that this is a reality for us now, instead of a far away daydream.  Yay Team Liddle!

Trying to use straws rather than sippies.

iPad with dad.

Still loves his horse!

Wearing her baby in a sling made from a scarf.

Memorial Day Weekend

Ahh, the sun has finally shown its yellow face around here!  After weeks of rain and cold, we had a nice, hot, sunny day yesterday! Perhaps summer really is coming?  We packed up some snacks and took a nice long walk by the lake yesterday morning, ending up at the rock beach where we sat and threw rocks in the water for a good half hour. 

When we got home, we went straight out in the backyard.  Ingrid got a new basketball hoop for her birthday, so she and Brendan played with that.  And the tball set from last year.  I sat on a blanket with Otis and marveled at how hot it was.

As soon as we stepped back inside, Ingrid passed out.  Her little cheeks were all rosy and she was just sooo tired from all that fresh air!  She slept for almost three hours, totally unlike her!  I took a nap with Otis, Brendan watched baseball, we hung out quietly, it was amazing.  I love breaks from all the chaos!

I decided to make summery things for dinner.  We grilled burgers and I made potato salad.  I also made a graham cracker crust pudding pie.  It was delish.  Ingrid has already asked for some this morning!  Otis' new spot for dinner time is his Bumbo which we set on the table.  He loves to be a part of things!

All in all a great Memorial Day.  I really love that Brendan works in industry now instead of academia.  School people don't take holidays.  They just work, work, work.  Now Brendan's job is closed on holidays!  He can't go in!  And he doesn't feel guilty about it.  Phew.  I hated holidays before because it was like pulling teeth to convince him to stay home and relax. 

Wraps, Bunnies, Cupcakes, and Other Things To Keep Us Busy.

This weekend was pretty busy and fun.  First of all, I got a Moby and am loving it.  Otis wasn't sure at first, I think his legs hanging out bothered him, since the Ergo covers them up.  But he's into it now and I love to wear him in it.

My view when wearing Otis.  How could you not want to wear your baby??

After seeing her little brother in it and hearing stories of her being held in one, Ingrid just had to see if Mama could still hold her in the wrap.  Do you know that I could?  That thing is amazing!

I also made more bunnies.  Easter is coming up, guys!  Do you really want to put sugary sweets in your kids' baskets when you could have a one of a kind wonky bunny instead?  Just look how many different kinds to choose from!

Haha, okay, enough advertising!

Hmm, what else kept us busy this weekend?  Ingrid used  her desk to color and the sun was coming in from behind her.  She just looked so peaceful talking to herself and coloring.  Those moments are what balances all the screaming and whining.

And cupcakes.  Cupcakes in a rainbow.  I finally tried this and they turned out super cute!  And were much easier to make than I'd thought.  For those who haven't seen these, it's easy!  Make a white cake batter, split the batter up six ways and dye the batter with food coloring in the colors of the rainbow.  The dollop each color in each cupcake cup and they come out looking like this!  So awesome. 

We also got a new rug this weekend for our living room.  Little by little our apartment is turning into home.  Things are hung up on the walls, we have curtains, it's great.  We've been here almost a month and I'm feeling pretty settled.  Whew!

Snotty Snow Days

There was supposed to be a huge storm hitting us a couple days ago, but luckily we got spared most of the snow.  That doesn't mean we can't stay in and have a snow day, though!!  We lit a candle, played music, read books, colored with Ingrid's new mega crayons, and made Valentine sugar cookies.  It made me laugh because lots of friends were all excited about a cozy snow day off work, staying inside with their families, and I get to do this every day!  Lucky me :)

Yesterday Ingrid was very snotty and sickly, so we stayed in pajamas all day long.  We played with Otis and watched a lot of TV. 

I'm hoping today is a little less snotty, and that we actually get out of the house.  Library books are overdue, and food supplies are running low...

So Busy. So Tired.

Yep, I've been busy.  I got a bee in my bonnet to make a lot of stuff for the etsy shop, so I have been working on burp cloths and cloth wipes like no one's business.  And I made a couple baby quilts. 

Ingrid has been a huge helper.  She keeps asking to sew with me, which means she wants to throw away my scraps.  Seriously, it kept her occupied for a half hour the other day!  I pink the edges of the cloth wipes and she throws each piece away seperately.  And giggles the whole time. 

We have also done a lot of raking.  And baking.  And being into the fall weather.  And snotting everywhere (she was sick, mine is just damn allergies that will not go away even with medicine I'm not even sure I'm supposed to take while being pregnant...)  And giving the state of Michigan massive amounts of money for expired license plates.  And watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which is less annoying than I thought it would be.  And looking through catalogs that have come in the mail (wow, American Girl dolls are expensive!!!)  And playing with these Max and Ruby paper doll cutouts (those were a huge hit!)  Just being mellow and keeping busy.

Oh, and being tired because I'm 26 weeks along and Otis is karate chopping me throughout the night.  And when I do fall asleep, Ingrid wakes up screaming for mama to come put her blanket on.  For a little one that has to do everything by herself you'd think she could manage to put her damn blanket back on herself at 2am.  Good thing she's so cute:

These cute Toughskin overalls courtesy of Heather over at 3RingCircus.  Cutest vintage stuff ever!!

Cupcakes, or How I Gained 10 Lbs Today

This pregnancy I have had a major sweet tooth.  I like me some salty things, but man, the sweets just hit the spot!  Usually our trips to the grocery store end up with donuts, cookies, brownie mix, or ice cream going in the cart.  Today cake mixes were $1 and frosting was on sale as well, so that is what we made.  Yum.  Chocolate fudge cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and topped with candy corn we got on a whim at Target yesterday. 

I gave Ingrid a little bowl of frosting and some candy corn and let her at it.

Inevitably she just licked the knife and started to eat the cupcake.

A couple did get decorated, though.  This one by her:

This one by me:

Can I just say it one more time--YUM.  I don't know why I even have to take the stupid glucose test in a couple weeks--I eat so much sugar that this baby and I would be in a coma if I were diabetic...