Ruffly Buns...

I heart ruffles.

I heart ruffly buns even more:



Throw on a ruffly hat and you're in ruffle heaven:



Link up to an easy peasy Baby Ruffle Butt Onesie Tutorial and now you too can be in ruffle heaven right next to me...

A

The Case Of The Disappearing Produce...

I love the tomato vine smell on my fingers. You fiddle with the tomato plant a bit, pinching off suckers or draping the stems and leaves on the support wire and all day long you can catch a whiff of that yummy summer scent.

I've been looking forward to tasting that first bite of home-grown tomato goodness. I have three tomato plants currently doing their thing, trying to produce some fruit for me. They were purchased rather late in the game, costing a total of $2.50, so if I get a pound or two of fruit I'll be thrilled.

I've been watching a rather large and juicy looking clump of 6 tomatoes for a few weeks now. They're just starting to lighten and will probably be turning red soon.



However, when I checked them out this morning I couldn't find them. What the heck? Where'd they go?

The plants are up high on my back patio, surely an animal couldn't have gotten to them up there. Maybe some rascally neighbor stole them? Amanda, why would someone sneak onto your back patio in the middle of the night to steal 6 tiny unripe tomatoes? Really now.

I found no evidence of foul play, or animal presence.

What I DID find on the ground next to the back patio under the tomato plants:



A suspiciously gnawed on unripe green tomato that has the distinct teeth markings of a 31.6 pound offspring of mine.

When confronted, the culprit nonchalantly admitted fault.

Bubbalu, I hope they tasted crappy...

A

Surfin USA...

Everybody goin' surfin', Surfin' USA!



We teach em young over here.

A

Mowing The Lawn...

I have three lawns. They have grown in quite nicely, adding lovely ambiance and a splash of color to our home.

I have taken full responsibility for my lawns complete with watering, fertilizing and mowing.

Here I am mowing one of them:



See? Whoever said I don't participate in outdoor chores now has photographic evidence of my hard work.

My lawns can grow fast and quickly get out of control:



It's kinda like having a chia-lawn. It's quite fun giving my chia-lawn a mowing. More like a haircut.



Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-CHIA!

A

Precious Sunglasses...

Written Wednesday Evening...

I was all in a tizzy this morning because I lost my sunglasses.

Under the guise of picking up Bubbalu's swimsuits that I forgot at my In-Law's house I loaded the kids up in the car and drove across town to search for them.

No, I didn't find them at my In-Law's or my parent's house.

No they weren't in my car.

No, they weren't in Lance's car. (And yes, I DID call and bug him at work to search his car for them. As if you really want your dentist to stop mid-drilling to answer a phone call from his wife asking if he has seen her precious sunglasses.)

So I did what was natural and logical. I blamed Bubbalu.

Me, "Bubba, did you take Mama's sunglasses?"

Bubbalu, "Bubba, did you take Mama's sunglasses?"

*sigh*

Me, "Where did you put them?"

Bubbalu, "Where did you put them?"

**sigh**

Me, "Show Mama where you put her sunglasses."

Bubbalu, "Show Mama where you put her sunglasses."

***SIGH!***

Clearly I was getting through to him.

I searched all his normal stash locations: the toy box, under all the couches, his shopping cart full of cars and behind the computer.

No sunglasses.

I finally grabbed a pair of inferior sunglasses and pouted for the next one or three hours.

Until I found my sunglasses. In my closet.

Oh that's right! I took them off to change my shirt...which means I unnecessarily blamed Bubbalu. Whoops.

I did apologize and told him that Mommy was wrong.

It's important to fess up and apologize to our kids when we do wrong by them. We are their best teachers and they learn by watching and hearing us.

Unfortunately Bubbalu has now learned that lost sunglasses makes for a major Mama freak-out. I'm sure he'll store that bit of information in his "Things That Make Mama Freak" file to pull out and use on an especially boring day...

A

Welcome Home...

She was completely and all-encompassingly focused. You could try talking to her, but you wouldn't get far.

She stood amidst a swarm of strangers not seeing them or caring about them. It was busy and loud as families, spouses and friends were reunited. She couldn't hear them. She stood staring at the exit of the escalator waiting to see a familiar face. She was quiet. She was focused. She was waiting.

She's been waiting over a year for this moment. This moment that will forever be etched in her heart and mind.

She has a three week old precious baby girl. She has been a single parent for over a week as her husband has been gone on this journey. She is tired and emotional but eager.

Her brother whistles and motions that he can spot them coming up the escalator.

The video cameras start rolling...the cameras are turned on and ready to go.

Her heart is ready.

She first spots her husband's brilliantly smiling face. He has never smiled so brightly before...not even on their wedding day. It is a proud smile. A tender smile. A fatherly smile.

Next she spots a little dark head that he is carrying in his front pack. As he nears the top you can see two little dangling arms, two dangling legs.

She runs forward and clings to her husband and her new baby boy. They fumble with the many straps, struggle to lift him out and then finally, finally FINALLY she is at last holding him in her arms...and in her heart. She is sobbing and shaking as she holds him, the enormity of the moment overwhelming her.



She kisses her husband and turns to face her waiting family.

She walks over, shows him to us and says, "this is our son!"



He is introduced to his little sister. Their family has doubled in less than a month.



Welcome home Isaiah Melkiso. Welcome home and welcome into our hearts. You are muchly loved.



Love your Auntie,

A

We Just Stay Home And Lie Around...

Happily enjoying lying around and doing nothing today.

And by nothing I do mean cleaning the house, doing laundry, feeding and clothing two children and trying to stay cool.

I love being a stay-at-home pirate...


A

The Craft Cache Is Overflowing...

I have a ton of sewing/repurposing ideas in my craft cache. Of course, getting to them requires time, time and some more time. I don't have much spare time lying around lately. If you happen to have extra time lying around unused, feel free to donate it to this grateful recipient.

Here is just a quick sample of what is floating around the crafting blogisphere that is catching my eye and making the sewing bugs bite:

Anthropologie Top Tutorial over at My Mama Made it

Corsage Tee Tutorial over at Enchantresses Three

Ruffle Tube Top Tutorial over at Happy Together

Toddler Purple Ruffle Dress Tutorial also at Happy Together

GAH! They are all so cute and fun! Methinks Mama needs a sewing staycation as these tutorials have whet her sewing appetite.

That, and a serger...

A

Our Sleep Schedule May Be A Thing Of The Past...

Oh.

Hi there.

Yep, I'm still here...sorta.

We've been rather busy running around crazy-like.

Tell me, how does ones house manage to get trashed from top to bottom when you aren't even there? We packed up each and every morning and hung out at my Mom and Dad's house every day while my brother and sis-in-law were visiting.

And my house got trashed.

While no one was home.

It's a mystery.

I've been busy cleaning up my mysteriously trashed house and trying to regain a semblance of order.

I am currently trying to gently remind my beloved offspring that they used to have a somewhat normal sleep schedule. For the 15 pound offspring it is working quite well. Very compliant and adjustable that one.

As for the OTHER ONE.

Let's just say it isn't going so great. Let's also just say that the gentle reminder has morphed into a different kind of reminder. One that might involve tying the door shut with a scarf as the 31.6 pound offspring may have figured out how to launch over the gate blocking his doorway.

As I said, it's not going so great.

Many tears and gnashing of the teeth.

I know I know, I've got to get myself under control...

A

Off To Costco...

I'm busy getting the kiddos and myself ready to head back to Costco again, coupon book in hand. So busy, in fact, that I have time to sit and write a post. I am SUCH a procrastinator!

On the shopping list today:

• Pull-ups - $4.00 off
• Starbucks Frappaccinos - $3.50 off

Um...that's it folks. Two things on my list. Want to take any guesses how many things I'll have in my cart by the time I get to the checkout line?

I just needed a really good excuse to get out of the house and play today. My Mom was already planning on going so I invited myself and two littles along for, you know, the FUN.

My Brother and his lovely wife are in town this week and we are planning a glorious time full of Settlers, homemade donuts, clamming at the bay and laughs. Lots and lots of laughs.

Hence the need to go to Costco and stock up on vittles...

A

Nine Years Ago...

Nine years ago I married my sweetheart. Nine years ago he married his sweetheart.



Nine years later and we're still sweethearts...

A

Crinkle Crinkle...

Yesterday was once again overcast and chilly. A perfect day for soup and hot chocolate...except that it is JULY. Hello!? Summer? Wheredya go? I wasn't finished with you yet!

Because I've been getting bit by those pesky sewing bugs, I gave my husband the 'I must create something or I will freak' look and bolted upstairs to the bonus (craft) room.

I've been trolling the crafting sites recently and feeling completely inspired. However, time and prior commitments (aka children) put a damper on my project list. Every time I'm ready to turn my sewing machine on someone needs a diaper change, to be fed, or I don't know...has POOPED ON THE FLOOR...again.

Which reinforces my my thinking that I need a week or two long staycation. The first few days to clean and get back to normal...whatever that may be...then the rest of the time sewing and crafting to my hearts delight. Sounds like a grand plan to me. As long as no one poops on the floor. Cause no one likes poo on the floor.

However, I did get a few hours to play and craft yesterday. Here's what I managed to create:



Aren't they great!? Aren't they awesome? Don'tcha just LURVE what I made?

What?

Oh.

You can't tell what they are?

No, it's not just a jumbled pile of flannel and ribbon!

Here's a better look:



and:



They are Crinkle Square Taggies for itty bitty babies thanks to the crafty genius of Joy's Hope. Find the tutorial HERE and get craftin your own Taggies . These are quick, only use a teensy bit of fabric and ribbon and turn out great. Joy suggests using old wipes packages for the crinkle material. I used them as well as a super crinkly shopping bag I had. I put up to three layers in a few of them, and while it made the sewing a bit more challenging, the crinkle-age is worth it!

Lil Chick has been super grabby lately. She loves diaper wipes packages, but I have an issue with her sucking on a bag of wipes that are used to wipe up poo. Just doesn't sit right in my brain. The Crinkle Square Taggies? MUCH BETTER:



And yes, I may have gotten a wee bit carried away and made a few more than necessary.

Like seven.

But who's counting?

A

Sweet Bundle Of Pink...

One of our siblings finally managed to produce a sweet bundle of pink who joined us June 25 weighing in at a perfect 6lbs 15 oz. While this is definitely unusual for our families and we aren't quite sure what to do with a baby girl, we'll just have to suffer through it and figure it all out.

Wouldn't YOU want to be an Auntie to this darling baby girl?:



Could her lips BE any more kissable? (*Heart squeeze*)

Welcome to our family Gabriella! Congratulations Dusty and Becca!

I am predicting many hours of tea parties, dressing up, dolls and one maybe two matching outfits for Gabby and Lil Chick.

We love you already Gabby...

A

One Year Ago It Was Sunny...

One year ago Bubbalu discovered a quick and handy backyard thirst quencher at Grandma's house:



And I'm certain it was sanitary and appropriate for holding drinking water.

Really, it was. I helped Grandma scour the thing after watching Bubbalu go back for seconds, thirds and fourths. We decided that copious amounts of fungi and scum might not be grand for the digestive system of an 18 month old.

We hung out at Grandma's house that day because Bubbalu's fun older boy cousins were in town and a play day was deemed necessary.

That, and Mama was one tired and worn out preggo woman who had run out of ideas to entertain her precocious toddler.

The cousins thought Bubbalu was quite silly for drinking out of the water fountain:



But looking on the bright side, he certainly wasn't dehydrated on that scorching hot July day:



Where oh where did our July 2009 sun go? Come back, for I miss thee so. I pulled out my cozy socks and am making soup for dinner. Um...I'm not ready for fall yet. I must have at least three frazzle-inducing camping trips, two unseemly tan lines, and one tired out toddler to meet my summer quota.

It's not looking very good.

Only one camping trip in the works, sunless tanner is providing adequate unlined tannage and the boy is decidedly UNTIRED.

Yeesh.

A

Phanty Had An Accident...

Elephants are endangered in our house.

Remember my oh-so-crafty and colorful elephant scrappy silhouette project for Bubbalu's room? They turned out super cute and adorable while adding a bit of whimsy and spunk to his boring cave of a bedroom:



Elmer and Phanty were the perfect pair; a match made in scrapbook heaven, if you will. They enjoyed their mundane yet satisfying life squirting water from their trunks day in and day out.

Sunday afternoon I took a nap. I know, I KNOW, I don't nap. Yet this going on two week sinus infection is kicking my butt, so I actually decided to try and take care of myself and rest a bit. Not that it really worked, being that I'm starting antibiotics today, but whatever.

Anywho. Lance and his brother Shane were downstairs playing Carcassonne and having a grand and very focused time. Bubbalu was upstairs in his room supposedly napping. He is stuck in his room thanks to a gate across the doorway, enforcing the "I don't care if you actually sleep, but you MUST be in your room for at LEAST 2 hours of quiet play time" rule. Also known as the "how Mommy keeps sane" rule.

Bubbalu had his door open during his nap/quiet time, and the menfolk kept saying to each other that they couldn't figure out what Bubbalu was playing with that kept making such funny noises.

What would YOU do in this situation?

Me? I'd probably go and SEE FOR MYSELF what was going on. Ya know, check on the toddler who has a history of pooing on the floor and dancing in it , destroying a bathroom in under 5 minutes and kindly decorating the woodwork with ink pens? Yeah. That toddler.

I'm awakened two hours later by my husband yelling at me to provide First Aid to my injured child and check him over for more cuts or embedded glass.

What a LOVELY way to wake up from a deep slumber.

Bubbalu had managed to knock Phanty off the wall, smash the glass in the frame and then play with it for a good hour or so. This is all that is left of poor mangled Phanty:



Thankfully, Bubbalu sustained only a few small cuts and hopefully a lesson learned:



Mama on the other hand is still trying to calm her racing heart and convince the adrenaline that really now, the crisis is OVER and she would be glad to see it go now, if you please.

A

Proud To Be An American...

We are kinda patriotic over here.

On or about the second week in June I start listening to my Lee Greenwood CD in anticipation of the 4th of July. It reminds me that our freedom was fought for and that I AM proud to be an American.

Bubbalu is proud to be an American too:



Wishing you a happy and safe Independence day!

A

I May Be Thrifty But I'm Not Stingy With Cheese...

I made a ginormous triple thick lasagna for dinner tonight.

Go me! Go wonderful wife, mother and chef! You got your game together and pulled something off. You are awesome!

I was quite proud of myself for not only having the required ingredients but planning ahead of time for dinner. You know, to avoid the whole, "well honey, I didn't make anything for dinner so what sounds good? Burgers? Nachos? Spaghetti? Cereal?" thing. Just pop that 9x13 in the oven around 4 ish, and good to go.

After I was done I made myself a yummy lunch of mozzarella cheese quesadilla with the intent of dipping into the left over spaghetti sauce used on the ginormous triple thick lasagna.

Sat down with my diet coke over ice, mozzarella quesadilla and dipping sauce and a good book. I took a HUGE bite.

And spit it out.

The cheese was off. You know, as in turned. Moldy if you will.

Guess what cheese I had just used to create my ginormous triple thick lasagna? That's right, the very same mozzarella.

And I am not stingy with cheese.

It's still sitting on my counter. I don't have the heart to jam it down the disposal. It still looks pretty, even if it is corrupt and disgusting.

So when Lance gets home, once again it will be, "Well honey, I didn't make anything for dinner so what sounds good? Burgers? Nachos? Spaghetti? Cereal?"

A