The Way We do Things Around Here

A bunch of the same busy busy busy around here.  Keeping sane by keeping busy. Mornings are still pretty much without TV.  We do puzzles still.  Lots of coloring.  Today Otis made a ramp for his cars with the ironing board.  Anything to pass the time!

I've been pretty busy crafty wise.  I had a new consignment order for a place right across from State Fair Park, and seeing as State Fair started today, I had to get my stuff there in a timely fashion.  I also have two other consignment orders to work on, and another Maker Market is coming up September 1st.  So, busy mama.  Ingrid and I made this felt doll for a friend's birthday present.  Ingrid was too funny, "Mom, I have to play with it to make sure it works, okay?"  Apparently it was in working order.

 I went through some old photo books and found some gems.  I love that I'm taking pictures of pictures.  Here's Brendan and I the first summer we met ten years ago.  We are little kids, it's crazy!

 Speaking of little kids, there has been a bounty of little kids around our house the past week or so.  We watched a friend's girls one afternoon, here's Eleanor and Otis looking sneaky.  They found this water fountain (or "bubbler" if you want to get Milwaukee on me) and took turns seeing who could actually get to the water.  It was hilarious.  They're both just a tad too small so they were trying SO HARD to climb up!

 We also went to the zoo with our neighbors the other day.  Here they are at the barn with the cows.  I still can't believe my mom had four kids.  How do you do it?  I have it down pat now to look for each of my kids, but four?  Jeez louise.

 And here I am looking like I have long hair.  WHICH I DO.  Which if you've known me in real life you'll understand how freaking amazing this is.  I have had short hair my whole life.  Except for a short stint in middle school/early high school with a perm and some fierce bangs, I've had a pretty short hair style.  Like boy short most of the time, what feminine people call a pixie cut.  I have always just said it was short, you know, like a boy.  But now that I have money to pay someone amazing to cut my hair in a flattering way, what do you know?  I can grow it out.  It still seems so new and crazy that I can pull it back in a ponytail.  Like a normal girl.  Weird.

A Freakishly Warm Day

We have had rain and cold for awhile now, but the past couple days were WARM!  It felt good to go out without sweatshirts and coats and bundling up.  We took advantage of the nice weather by going to the park with friends while Ingrid was in school yesterday.

 Today we are back to cold and wet.  And of course right in time for Trick or Treating.  The kids are going as cowboys.  And then Ingrid is yelling in my ear "NO, mama!  I'm the SHERRIFF!!" in case I should forget who's in charge.

Chicago

Yesterday I took the kids to Chicago to visit friends.  Actually, they're in Oak Park, which is amazing, seriously!  The park we went to was gorgeous, as it should be with the tax rate there...All sorts of Frank Lloyd Wright houses there, it's like rows and rows of the most beautiful houses you've ever seen.  I'll have to go back sans children someday and walk around. 

My kids could've cared less about the houses, they just wanted to get out of the damn car.  And once we were out, they got to run around, play with baby puppy Shirley, and pester big kid Keagan.  Ingrid has a bit of a crush on Keagan, so she kept bothering him, much to his dismay. 

It was the sweatiest, stickiest day, but we managed to have a good time and it was great catching up with one of my oldest and dearest friends!  But really, next time will be without kids so we can have an actual conversation that does not include "Stop hitting!  Use your words!  Put the dog down, she does not want to be held by her neck!"

Summer

After our cold trip to Door County, we are in full on summer mode here now.  It's JUNE!  It's hot!  It's sunny!  Just like last year, Otis is sporting his collection of jonjons and rompers.  This one is from Fuzzymama, I honestly squealed when I saw it.  Otis' eyes just pop out when he wears it.  I kinda love having a blue eyed babe.

There is a park near us that we love to go to--they have a lagoon, tons of trees, a good playground, a splash pool, and an amphitheater where they play live music on Tuesday nights in the summer.  The first Chill on the Hill was last Tuesday so we took the kids.  It is so fun, even though it's right at their bedtime so they were a little squirrely.  There are food carts and tons of families hanging out on the hill, you always run into someone you know.  I was sitting there trying to avoid a meltdown from Ingrid when I saw the lovely Kristina from Kikiandjules!  It was nice to see someone I only talk to online :)

 I have gotten a TON of sewing done lately, too, which is nice.  The basement is super cold and actually not a bad place to be on a hot day.  I have a show coming up at the end of the month, and a request for more bibs for the Waxwing, so I ordered 12 yards of fabric and got to work this week. 

I also finally made things for my kids!  Sadly, they have been neglected in all of my sewing.  I bought a couple yards of green and white seersucker last year with ideas of matching outfits for the kids, but never got around to it.  I finally made some pants for Otis out of it, and boy are they cute.  They were too short so I added a band of blue to the bottoms.  Those suckers should have been easy peasy but I was in one of those funks where nothing went right.  I put the bands on wonky at first, then I put them on the wrong side.  Finally after ripping the seams a million times I got it right.  Otis likes them.  So do I!

 Today is going to be a nice sunny at home day, where we get stuff done around the house.  I am painting the dining room.  Before and after pictures will be taken.  Stay tuned!

Cottage Time!!

On Sunday we made our first trip of the year to the cottage.  I love that we have a place like this to get away from the city for a day or a weekend.  We packed some food for lunch, a couple games and diapers for Otis, and took off. 

We had to measure the kids on the door.  Otis has grown a whole foot in the past year!  And, as always, it's fun to see the marks from the past.  Grandpa as a two year old in 1947, Daddy as a two year old in 1980.  And Ingrid as a two year old in 2008.  Family history on this door!

The kids had fun just hanging out, getting into the croquet set, coloring, and going to the parks.  It rained a bit so we made some muddy sand castles in the sandbox.  Fun!

Yesterday we had a great morning, too.  We took a nice long walk along Lake Michigan with the dog and enjoyed the sun and the sparkly lake.  Have I mentioned how awesome it is living three blocks from Lake Michigan?  Our walks are gorgeous, and the view from the park is amazing.



Teething Babies and Big Sisters

Otis has a tooth.  It's sharp.  Another one is on its way in, so he has been a basket case lately.  Nothing seems to work except nursing 24/7 and sleeping thisclose to me all night long.  Which means I am awoken by many little fists and feet thrusting their way into my face all night long.  Tired mama.  TIRED.  But to wake up to this is almost worth it.

Yesterday we went over to H&M to check out their kid's section.  I have gotten hand me downs from there that I really liked, but I have to say, I was not impressed.  They had some sweaters that were okay but nothing too great.  And the girl section sucked big time--tons of Hello Kitty and Minnie Mouse, not my cup o' tea...But they did have this hat for Otis.  He is such a little Irishman!

We went to the park yesterday morning, and it was freezing!  I am simply amazed how quickly our weather turned this past week!  Ingrid had fun on the swings and these little seats that spin around.  She looked so big on them, she's so lanky and tall and just not a baby anymore...

Today we are headed to the store to get goodies for camping!!  I'm so excited, totally not nervous like I was last time.  Well, maybe a little nervous, as Otis is having trouble sleeping.  But the fresh air will knock him right out, right?  Right?

Parkin' It.

Yesterday was the perfect day.  The weather was breezy and in the high sixties, which I would take over the scorchers any day.  If I could have a summer filled with this weather, I'd be a happy camper.  We packed up the stroller with food, drinks, a package to mail out at the post office, and the diaper bag.  Otis napped in the Moby, Ingrid talked about all sorts of nonsense in the stroller, and we made our way to the park.

This park is awesome, I'm hoping we can find a house pretty close by when we go to buy one.  It's got a playground, an amphitheater where they do live music in the summer, a lagoon with lots of ducks and people fishing, and tons of trails to wander on.  Also, the trees are ancient and enormous, which I love.  I love to look at big gnarly tree trunks and marvel at the fact they are so old.

Ingrid was pleased that there were other kids there.  She ran around chasing them, but not really playing with them.  She hasn't gotten to that point yet, I guess! 

Otis layed on a blanket and put his toes in the grass. 

I sat back and enjoyed some coffee and we stayed until lunchtime.  We came back to eat lunch and take naps, but Ingrid suddenly got a second wind so only Otis got to nap, lucky dog.  He is finally taking naps on his own, he slept for three hours!  Good kid!  Then we went back outside to the backyard, did some weeding and sweeping, and stayed out until dinnertime.  I love summer!

Our Spring Days

Oh the lovely weather puts me in such a good mood!  Yesterday we got out bright and early and went to the lake.  We threw rocks in the water and enjoyed the sunshine.  I love that no one else is around on these chilly days, we get the park all to ourselves.

Today we played out in the backyard.  We got our slide and trike out, and busted out new chalk that was supposed to go in someone's Easter basket...All the crocuses are up, the daffodils are almost here, and the tulips are making their way as well.  After a snack and coffee outside, we came in and enjoyed our sunshiney living room.  Otis was wearing an Ingrid hand-me-down, the tattoo shirt our friend Michelle made!  It has my tattoos printed on the tshirt, it's so cute.

We also did some painting.  I found a paint with water book at the thrifts, completely untouched!  It's so much less messy than any other painting.

While Otis was sleeping, Ingrid and I had quality time together, building block towers just like old times.  She was very happy about having mama all to herself!

Tomorrow is another lovely day of having no plans.  It's supposed to be nice again, so I'm sure we'll find something to do outside.  And most likely coffee will be involved.  I love spring.

Gramma's Here!

My mom came Thursday afternoon on the train.  I sure wish our train system was better here in the US because it's so much easier than driving...My mom got to relax in a cushy cabin and meet some new friends, which is what she's so good at.  Every time I've picked her up from the airport or when she took the boat over here, she always has made a couple friends on the way.  Such a social butterfly!  Instead of having to deal with super high gas prices and driving through Chicago, my mom got to just cruise on into Milwaukee and be welcomed by a jumping little girl screaming "Gramma!  Gramma!"

It started out slightly nice this weekend, nice enough to go to the park.  It's so nice having a great park three blocks away that looks out over Lake Michigan and has a great view of the city.  I am SO loving being back in Milwaukee, and especially Bay View!!

Friday morning was Minnie Mouse pancake day, which Ingrid loved.  Grammas are awesome.

Otis enjoyed a snuggle with Gramma here and there, when he wasn't crying for me.  Sigh, he's way more attached to me than Ingrid ever was, I feel like!

Brendan and I had to go to a work party last night, which is why we had Gramma come over this way.  We stayed at the hotel where the party was, so when it got boring for me (I didn't know anyone and Brendan sat all night talking chemistry--yawn.) I got to go up to the room and take a nice hot bath and watch a stupid movie on HBO while laying in a king sized bed.  Aaaaahhhh, relaxation!  We came home to find Otis crying for Mama and Ingrid bouncing off the walls.  I missed my little bubs, but it was nice to sleep last night!

An Ingrid Weekend.

This weekend was pretty fun, even though we didn't do anything for New Years.  We just hung out and enjoyed time with Ingrid, visited Otis, and did laundry, of course.  The weather was amazing on Saturday so we actually got out to go to the park!  It has been SO LONG since we've done that!!  Ingrid had a great time, but Brendan found out the merry go round makes him puke...

And might I share a nerd joke my husband made??  I said boy that merry go round is rusty.  Brendan said "It's a ferrous wheel!  Get it?"  Oh, chemistry jokes are just the best, aren't they??

Something else cool about this weekend, Ingrid has really gotten into drawing actual objects.  Instead of just scribbling, she likes to do smiley faces, and now has even gone into drawing legs and arms.  Today she drew what looked like Oswald the octopus, and when I said that, she immediately drew his sidekick Weenie the dog.  How clever!!  I know I sound like such a mom, proud of a stick figure her kid has drawn, but it's so cool to see her learning stuff right in front of my eyes!

A Day Outside, a Day Inside.

Yesterday Ingrid and I had the best day.  We went to the park and brought lots of snacks so we could stay for however long we wanted, we ate lunch outside, I even folded laundry outside while Ingrid was off in the trees in her own little world.  It was crisp and cool and sunny, totally fallish.

Then today we woke up to rain.  I'm not necessarily against going out in the rain, but it makes it way harder for me to get the motivation to do anything outside.  Luckily Brendan had it in his head that he was going to take the car in to get new brakes, and he was going to take Ingrid.  You can tell he doesn't have to run errands with her very often because he thinks of it as an adventure rather than a chore.  Bless him.

So, while they were out, I put on some music and started cutting up the new fat quarter bundle I got for half off at Joann's the other day.  I have always wanted to buy one but it was the first time I ever have.  I just love how they match up the colors and all the prints go together nicely.  I looked at the LOTUS BRICK PATH pattern on the Amy Butler site and made my own version.  It turned out really cute, and it's backed in pale green fleece so it's super comfy! 

I was going to make this for another pregnant friend but I got selfish.  I just couldn't stop looking at it, I loved it so much!!  So it's for Otis.  The first thing I have made for him.  I made Ingrid a quilt when I was pregnant for her, too, but I wasn't nearly as good at sewing as I am now, so it's kinda crappy.  Oh well, she's got other blankets I've made, and it's a nice keepsake for her.

I also watched the movie Babies today.  How cute!  It was really good, and Ingrid liked to watch it with me for awhile.  I'm very thankful I don't live in Nairobi, where they wipe their baby's poo on their bare knee and then rub it off with a corn cob...Anyway, both good days, one out and one in.