Category Archives: projects

Playset. Part 1

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I found some plans online for a play set HERE.  I told Jon it’s what I wanted for my Birthday this year. And Christmas. AND Mother’s Day. He said o.k.

So we went a wood shopping and loaded Josh’s truck up while he watched the kiddos for us. And then we (Jon) read and re-read the plans.

Then we (again Jon) started cutting boards. We took our time. No rush. Laid back pain in the tukis project. Not really. We did take our time, but it wasn’t too terrible getting all the cuts done and boards labeled (that was my job. Labeling.)

Then came the horrendous task of sanding this gigantic puzzle and piecing it together. And of course the painting. (again. my job.)

 

Jon and Josh testing out the location to make sure the swings would have enough clearance.

Jon propped up the tower frame so I could thouroghly paint the underside of the wood. Rot prevention and all. And yes we did make sure to use the super duper supposedly impervious lifetime guarantee outdoor paint for this bad boy. We will see how the AZ sun does against it.

We started running low on our blue paint and needed more. Jon was all for changing up the color. He took Regan’s little camp lamp to Home Depot and got it color matched. I love it, but as soon as we started painting I was bummed. It needed to be Orange. But alas that realization came post purchase. So red it is.

The children were very excited/anxiously waiting for us to hang the swings.

So out came the flood lights and the boys got to measuring. They needed new measurements since I got different swings than in the plans. We also flipped the whole thing to face the opposite than in the plans. I sure am glad that the boys could figure all those numbers out and make everything work. IF it was up to me we’d still be staring at the miter saw in horror. Math and I are not on good terms.

 

BUT the boys, they are A OK with the math. Look at that tower, A frame, and swing beam!

Next up. Safety railing for the tower, enclosing the sand box, adding a roof, and oh yes, the color ORANGE!

what we’ve been up to lately

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(Regan’s second naptime in the “new” bed. The camera crapped out for his first nap so I used my cell. Those pictures are much worse quality.)

Regan: lost some more weight (just shy of a pound. boo!) – got the side of his crib changed up so it’s a toddler bed – saying lots of fun things (like “poop” when he needs a new diaper) – cutting new teeth without batting an eye – cuddly and cute as ever.

(Being super hero’s. Going to have to make her a cape I think. And a mask. Orange of course.)

(After I got done changing out the hardware on Regan’s bed and moving beds around Kaylee decided that she needed to fix her bed too. )

Kaylee: helping me do LOTS of stuff – hanging out with Carter – informing us that dogs (and ALL animals) are scary because they will EAT her (we’re working on that, but it’s nice to know why animals FREAK her out so much) – ridiculously excited about her “orange dinosaur happy birthday to me” party – feisty and sweet as ever.

This is their new room layout. It FEELS bigger this way. We love it. I moved my nursing chair into the guest room to be a reading chair. And the children’s little table into their room for reading and coloring. I also took off the turtle on Kaylee’s quilt and put ruffles on it. Regan will get the turtle on his future quilt. And since Regan is a mover and a shaker I rolled up a couple of blankets to act as a bolster to help keep him from falling out (he did not care for that experience. haha.) Keeps him in while he is sleeping, but is easy for him to climb over to get out of bed when he wakes up.

And this is Kaylee’s piñata for her party on Sat. When she saw the finished product (decorated it after she went to bed to avoid her “helping”) she said, “My eyes! It’s beautiful. Thank you SO much Mama. Let’s break it!”

Yup. TOTALLY worth the hours (really wasn’t bad. about 6ish hrs. over a few days.) I spent on this bad boy girl. She holds in her belly 2.5 pounds of sweet yummy sugary goodness.

Piñatas were always my favorite part of birthday parties growing up. So I like to have them for my children. Store bought ones look lots nicer, but I can’t bring myself to spend money on something that’s going to get beat and smashed.

This piñata was my most expensive one to make so far costing with candy a whopping $6. And that’s only because it NEEDED to be orange, and that’s only an easily found color in the fall. I ended up buying a ream of florescent orange office paper.

Usually it’s just the cost of candy (around $3-5 depending on what you buy). Much better than paying $12- 20 for an empty piñata and then still needing candy for it.

I did find triceratops (her favorite dino) piñatas online that I used as my inspiration. But to find an orange girly one. Well……… that’s a bit harder to find. All in all I am SUPER pleased with how crapstastic it turned out.

It’s SO ready to be beat with a giant stick!

***I sent e-vite’s to everyone that’s in the greater St. George area that has kiddos, but I don’t have everyone’s e-mail. So if you wanna come and beat up a piñata just let me know and I’ll send one to you with all the info.***

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Capt. Commando

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She sat on her camode all by herself during pre-potty training! Then later lost her grip (tushie in toilet) and now refuses to sit unless we help her hold on. 🙁 So I may give in and buy her a little seat. She has been running around commando style in homemade dresses and legwarmers.

She has in the last couple of days started to hold herself while doing the potty dance so I know we are making progress. I just keep reminding myself that we only went diaper free on Monday. Slow and steady people. Slow and steady. Meanwhile she really loves teaching her pee pee baby how to use the potty. I am doing LOTS of laundry and have my Bisseil Little Green ready for use at all times! So for now I am sewing some more dresses and legwarmers for little miss. Wish us luck, ’cause we totally need it.

Pee in the potty: Zero, Accidents: LOTS
UPDATE: Still no pee, but she pooped in the potty at 6ish! We are VERY excited!