So Much to Tell...

Christmas really has felt a little like a tornado this year...it came and went in a whirlwind and left the evidence in its wake! I feel like we actually slowed it down a bit this year and enjoyed every minute, though. So...I am currently moving 2 GB worth of pictures from my camera to my computer from Christmas Week and then I will find some great ones to share with you.

But, lest you think I am slacking off on my blogging, I just want you to know that yesterday was the first day we have been home for more than an hour when we weren't hosting a party or preparing food and that was only because Morgan was throwing up all morning. It was a lovely day of relaxing and playing with toys and watching new movies and getting all of the presents out of their packaging and trying to figure out how in the world to get rid of 5 garbage bags full of recycling beyond what will fit in our bin. We were really looking forward to today being similar only without the sick part...so we spent the morning playing games and rearranging rooms to find places for toys.

In fact, that's how we found mold growing in between our lovesac and wall. We proceeded to rip out said wall, remove all interior wall that had touched mold, cut out carpet that had mold, reframe and sheetrock wall, and mud wall. Thankfully Grandma Becky came to the rescue to take the kids to lunch because it was a really long day for everyone! When you are 4 and your bedroom becomes off-limits because your mom and dad are frantically ripping out your wall, you tend to think the world might be ending.

Anyway...we now have a new mold-free wall that will be ready for more mud and paint on Thursday, Seth's next day off. Also on the agenda for Thursday...patch in carpet piece...and while we are at it, maybe we should patch in a piece where Morgan decided to practice drawing rainbows on the carpet with "washable" markers. Yippee! Sound like a fun New Years Eve to anyone else...feel free to join us! hehe.

So, today I am grateful for a handy husband...for being pretty handy myself...for a shop vac...for KSL.com (where I got rid of affected lovesac that I cut a giant hole in and removed a bunch of stuffing from)...bleach...power tools...and a one-day room makeover! Amazing how much different Morgan's room looks without a lovesac in it!

All in all, it has actually been a pretty awesome day! I love the feeling that accompanies accomplishing something and doing it right. In fact, it struck me that this little project is a lot like life. Stuff happens that is crappy and seemingly insurmountable and we have a choice: we can sit down and cry about it and feel downhearted and picked on, or we can grab the hand of the people we love the most, assure each other that we can do it, make a plan and get to work.

Project Mayhem

I am a little crazy...okay maybe more like a lot crazy. In the midst of adjusting to 3 kids, dealing with all of the doctor's visits for Brynn, getting the backyard ready for grass (yay!!!), a month of birthdays and events that I am in charge of, and the approach of finals for Seth, I have been in project mode for the last month and a half. Maybe it is my itch to be productive, maybe it is from reading too many craft blogs, and maybe it is out of sheer desperation to create a house of order amid the choas of kids, dogs and stuff in a too small house, but whatever the reason I have been motivated to take on projects.

Because I get into this mode all too frequently, I am considering creating a separate blog to keep track of all of my projects, but until I do...here is a rundown of what I have been working onare some of the completed projects.

Laundry Room Organization: I made hanging bags for each family member - one for clothes, one for socks, and I store clothes in there. I fold a different person's clothes each day of the week so it isn't so overwhelming...I hate folding clothes!

Brynn's blessing dress:
Here are the long awaited pictures...for someone who considers themself a beginning sewer with NO training whatsoever, I think I did a pretty darn good job. When I finished it, I decided I should start answering the question, "Do you sew?" with a simple "yes" instead of "I dabble, but I wouldn't say I sew."

Hooded Towells:
I made one for each of the kids and one for Morgan and Chloe to take to the pool. We are officially ready for summer swimming season! Funny story: I told the kids I was going to make these while they took their afternoon naps, so when Morgan came up from his rest time and saw that I had finished him he said, "Mom, you did a really good job making those towells! I am so proud of you!"

Bow Holder and Bows for the girls:
This turned out so so cute! Once I finished taking pictures of it after I hung it up, I put all of the bows on it and realized that the girls have a LOT of bows and I have no intention to stop or slow down making them. Gotta have matching bows for all of our outfits! :) I also made the girls a bunch of headbands, and I am working on a cute little decor/display/storage item for them, so you will have to wait on pictures of those.

Nursing Cover:
This was so easy to make it is almost rediculous! I love it!

Sling:
I didn't win that giveaway a while back and I was too cheap to spend the money on one, so I made this reversible one to fit me exactly for under $10. I also made one for Chloe, one for Morgan and one for Seth...just for fun!

Diaper and Wipes Holder:
I wanted to make one that matched the sling and nursing cover...I am still trying to perfect the design.

Blankets and burp cloths:

Just because I was feeling crazy! :)

In the works/half finished/all the materials ready to go and out in plain sight all over my house right now are:
rearranging the basement family room
refinishing/painting 2 shelves, a bookshelf, a wood filing cabinet, a time-out chair and 3 kid stools for that room
refinishing a stool for my bedroom
recovering and refinishing a glider for the Nursery
Sewing a duvet cover for Chloe's bunk downstairs
Sewing bibbies for the kids for eating, arts and crafts, etc.
A couple of baby gifts I am working on
Making headbands and bows for the girls - the project that will never end, but that's ok
Making a "dolly dresser" for the exponentially growing collection of doll stuff around here.
finishing/tweaking the scrapbook/craft corner organization project I started a while back. I thought it was finished, but apparently the open and visible organization style that works for me just isn't a good fit for a room where the kids play unattended - let your immagination run wild here...visible craft supplies (glitter, scissors, paint, ribbon, stickers, paper, etc.) + kids=very mad mommy!
Plus the usual scrapbooking...coming along ever so slowly...I am finally working on Morgan's first Christmas!

Sadly, that list looks like much less work than it actually represents! These are all in the works right now, there is a much longer list of projects that I haven't started yet. Wish me luck!