New Roof

We had a hail storm on July 31 and I'm thrilled we had enough damage to our roof that the insurance paid for us to get a new one!  (Something that's been looming in the back of my mind is 'how are we going to save for a new roof in the next few years', so it was such a blessing!)  Today was the day we got the new roof put on!  We are also getting new gutters and down spouts that will be put on in a few days.  Here were some pictures I took throughout the day...  If you live in Newburgh/Chandler, I'd suggest getting your roof checked too!  We used Foster Construction and would highly recommend them!

Off with the old...

Putting on the new...

All done! 

Dale Fall Festival 2012

Kevin had his annual company picnic this past weekend at Holiday World.  We've gone for as many years as I can remember and we always look forward to it.  With it being a bit chilly for the water park, we decided to just ride the rides in the main park.  After about 4 hours of waiting in lines, riding rides, and eating lunch, the kids rode about everything they could.  It was just after 1pm and I reminded Kevin that the Dale Parade started at 2pm.  I told him the kids would love it, so we packed up and headed one town over to Dale.  We got to the parade 15 minutes or so before it started and ended up finding my parents and my brother and his family. 

This was Hayden and Allie's first parade.  They were a bit timid (they didn't love some of the loud nosies), and didn't quite understand the concept of picking up the gobs of free candy being thrown at them.  After seeing many little kids jump in and grab candy in front of Hayden and Allie (& Addison, my niece), I explained to Hayden that he needed to wave at the people in the parade, and when they threw candy, quickly pick it up.  The light came on and he had it figured out.  Allie followed suit and made this former parade candy catcher proud! (Let's be honest, I would have knocked anyone over for laffy taffy or gum when I was a kid!)

After the parade we took the kids to get their faces painted.

Then it was off to get some delicious fall festival food.  I always enjoy going to the West-Side fall fest, but I LOVE the Dale one!  The elephant ears are out of this world - so is all the food they offer - and the prices are pretty reasonable. 

(caramel apples, elephant ear, and lemon shake up - baby got sugar overload yesterday!)

Kevin asked me time after time if I wanted to go watch the hog wrestling.  I really didn't have the desire to, but he just kept on asking!  I finally said, "Why do you want to go see it so bad?"  Then he told me he'd never watched hog wrestling!  Really!?  I thought everyone had watched hog wrestling - I mean he was a west-sider for a period in his life!  So we all journeyed across the street and Kevin was a kid in a candy store.  He thought it was the greatest thing ever.  

The baby I decided I needed another elephant ear so when I went for round two, I came back to see Kevin talking to a man with a huge macaw!  It was a beautiful bird and the kids loved it.  He said the bird lives 150 years or so and it was just a baby!  After a few pictures we decided it was time to head home.  It was around 5:30, Allie hadn't napped all day, and my hips were aching. 

It was a sunny drive home, and the weather (low 70s) and the day couldn't have been any better!  Thanks, Dale, for such a fun day!!!

When we got home, I did a little interview with the kids... it's a couple minute video if you're interested in watching.....

Four Gift Rule

I love this.  Last year we stuck to the 3 gifts for each child for Christmas, and this year, I think I'll use this as my guideline.  I've already got ideas for most of the gifts for my kids - just need to go buy them!

Freckles

I was snuggling with Hayden and realized he's gotten A LOT more freckles since the last time I had looked.  I just love this cutie!

#imconvicted

This article was posted on a friends facebook page.  I felt very convicted by it and thought you may too.  Kevin and I are going to be making some serious changes with when and how we use our phones....

How to Miss a Childhood

Molars, Failed Potty Training, and Nursemaid's Elbow - Oh My

An update on Allie...
Molars:  Allie is getting her 2 year molars in!  The poor girl isn't really happy about it.  Hayden didn't get his till he was at least 2 1/2, and I'm thinking it was closer to 3. She has a purple "chewy" (a teether) that has been taking the edge off the pain.  I also give her a little squirt of Tylenol before bed.  At last check, only the bottom right had broke through the gums. 

Potty Training:  She has also decided she doesn't want to be potty trained.  She went a full week, almost two, with no accidents (and was waking up dry from bedtime and nap time) so I know she can do it, but she is choosing not to right now.  I wasn't sure if I should just keep putting her in her big girl undies or put her back in diapers.  She would have no problem making a puddle on the floor and just causally telling me "I peed ober dere" or "I peed ma pants".  She has continued to do #2s in the potty, and I continue to give her special treats as a reward.  Usually 2-3 times a day she'll pee on the potty (usually Hayden announces to the world he has to go, then Allie decides she needs to go then too).

I broke down and did something I thought I'd NEVER do - I bought pull ups.  I always felt like they were a waste.  Either potty train or don't - right?  Well I changed my mind, for the time being.  The pull ups make my life easier right now (instead of peeing in the potty, then having to go to the diaper changer table to put on a diaper, she can just pee when she wants and if she doesn't then it's no big deal.)

Nursemaid's Elbow:  Several days ago I met one of my sweet friends, Deanna, for a play date.  We met at Newburgh's park for a picnic lunch and planned to let the kids play after lunch.  Things went great.  The kids played together so well, it wasn't too hot out, but we knew nap time was getting close for both our little ones.  I was pushing Allie in a swing and she was getting so slap happy because she was so tired.  Instead of pushing her, I'd grab her legs and then let them go (which she loved), then she held out her left arm - so I grabbed it, pulled, then let her go.  She immediately retracted her arm and screamed and cried.  I had no clue why she was acting that way.  Deanna works at a hospital and knows all about joints and bones and stuff I have no clue about.  She thought Allie had nursemaids elbow.  I'd never heard of it.  So she started moving Allie's arm, saying she was not really wasn't going to like it, but it needed to be fixed.  I was just sitting back letting Deanna work her magic. 

Allie cried just for another minute, but was fine (after a couple hugs she was back to playing in the rocks with the boys).  Then Deanna explained to me what had just happened.  From what I read, it's a pretty common thing for kids 1-4, girls more so than boys, and the left arm seems to be affected more than the right.  Basically the ligament at their elbow isn't fully developed and can slip out of place if you pull on the child's arm.  Until the ligament is back in place, the kids will just stop using the arm because it hurts.  Not just anyone can pop the ligament back in place, a doctor (or friend that knows what they are doing!) needs to do it.  I was SO glad Deanna was the one that was with me that day because I would have thought Allie was just crying because she was tired.  I felt like a lousy mom, but now I know what NOT to do when we swing next time!

These actions can increase the risk of injury, such as:

• Pulling a child up by the hands. Pulling on hands or forearms can put stress on the elbows. Never pick up a toddler or infant by the hands or wrists. Lifting under the armpits is the safest way to lift a child.
• Swinging a toddler by the arms. Any type of swinging by holding the hands or wrists can put stress on the elbow joint and should be avoided.
• Jerking a child's arm. Pulling a toddler along while walking or quickly grabbing his or her hand can jerk the arm, causing the radial head to slip. Remember to be gentle when taking a child by the hand.
• Breaking a fall with the arm. The natural response to falling is outstretching an arm for protection. The elbow can overextend during this action, resulting in a slip of the radial head.
• Rolling over in an awkward way. Sometimes rolling over in a crib, bed, or on the floor can cause nursemaid's elbow in infants and very young children.

Only When I'm Pregnant - 37 Weeks (FULL TERM!)

I'm sure Kevin is so over me being pregnant.  He reminded me many times this weekend that I'm impossible to please as he helped do dishes and laundry and clean up (I think he meant only when I'm pregnant am I impossible to please, and he wasn't doing things the way I do them and it was frustrating me).  Between hormones/food cravings/pains/daily commitments and responsibilities, I some days struggle just to function and get everything done!  Then I have hungry kids demanding meals be made and I go half crazy when my house is a disaster.  Have I mentioned all 4 of us have a cold?  That's just the icing on the cake.  I'm hoping we are all cleared up in time for the baby's arrival!

Hooray for being FULL TERM!!!  Dear Baby #3, you are welcome to come out any time you wish!  The nursery is put back together since getting a fresh coat of yellow paint and my hospital bag is ready to go just in case (as ready as it can be anyways).  I'm planning on being induced, but I like to be ready for anything.  My boy and girl newborn clothes are washed, and so are my new Dr. Brown bottles.  If we had the baby today, the only thing I'd have to panic about is I haven't got my pedicure yet!  No one wants to go to the hospital with ugly toes....

The baby swing will get moved into the family room as soon as baby gets home.  My sis also suggested Mr. Giraffe gets a box or platform to stand on so he's showcased more... all we need to do is add touches of red if it's a girl or blue if it's a boy.  And maybe go buy the giraffe picture I've had my eye on...

I had my weekly check up yesterday.  I had told myself not to expect that my body had made any progress, because I didn't want to be disappointment if everything was still the same.  Surprisingly, I was 1cm dilated (I wasn't dilated at all last week) and I'm 50% effaced (I was 20% last week).  The baby is very low and the doctor predicted I would not have the baby this week, but maybe next week.  She said if baby isn't here by 39 weeks we'll induce then.  Soooo I think that means the baby may be here as late as the 19th or 20th!  That seems so soon! 

Great Quote

Baby Garland/Bunting

Maybe everyone knows what a baby bunting is, but I hadn't heard the term "bunting" until this past week... so I like calling it baby garland :)

I had leftover material from my big brother/big sister shirt project.  I was wanting to make something for the baby with the left over material, but had a hard time coming up with ideas.  Then, one of my new favorite blogs, MADE, posted a tutorial on baby buntings.  The one she gave a tutorial on was a scalloped bunting, which I really like, but I've also seen several with the pennant shape, and decided I'd try that.  I found a great tutorial at Homemade & Happy and I used it as a guide to make a mini version. 

 

I traced and cut 3 layers of material at a time - it definitely is important to pin, and pin a lot!  I just drew and cut out my triangle pattern from the top of a Donut Bank box :)

I did as suggested, and sewed the pennants one after the other, with just a few stitches of thread between each.  Great idea if you don't want to waste a lot of thread!

My biggest mistake - I decided I wanted my point extra pointy, so I cut off lots of material.  I didn't realize that when I went to flip it, I would bust right through my material... so after cutting 60 little pennants like this, I definitely had some words for them.  Instead of getting mad (I was feeling pretty defeated), I just put the project down for the night and went to bed... I tossed and turned all night (mainly because I'm so pregnant) and wondered if I should just scrap the whole idea.

The next morning I decided to add another stitch or two to the pennants.  It took an extra 2 hours, but I'm glad I didn't give up!

The end result!

I'm looking forward to making a full sized fall bunting to hang across my mantle.

Things I learned or would change....
1.  Follow directions - even if you think you're smarter than the person that posted them, your short great ideas won't work and you'll end up doing more work....
2.  Cotton fabric worked best.  It's nice because it has a definite front and back.  The plaid material I used was more difficult to work with (no front/back, and easily frayed).
3.  Play around with spacing the pennants (or scallops).  I wish I could have done mine close together looking back at it now.  Maybe if I'm bored one day I'll take it apart and move them closer....
4.  A thinner bias tape would be cuter with mini pennants.  I'm sure it would be harder to work with, but it wouldn't swallow the pennants.
5.  Don't give up if you want to scrap the project!  When it's all done, even though there are things you'd change, it will still be adorable!

Now, the last thing I need to decide... do I want to put it on the baby's crib at the hospital, or use it to decorate my hospital room door.... decisions, decisions!

Inside Tent

Sunday morning was a cloudy, drizzly morning.  We really had no where we needed to go (we went to Saturday night church) and Kevin had the grand idea of building a "tent" inside.  I told him to go for it and he and the kids excitedly moved the couches and opened up every blanket in sight.  I took a break from my sewing to find this...

Hayden kept talking about the pretend stars and moon.  It was really cute.  I was getting hungry (imagine that) and thought I'd make some oven s'mores to go along with the tent theme!  They were a big hit with me and Allie, but Hayden wanted a plain marshmallow and Kevin let me know he likes his s'mores with out chocolate (um really?!  I wasted a good mini Hershey bar!  How did I end up with someone that doesn't adore chocolate like I do?)

My marshmallows were broiling...

Yummy!

A little messy, but I had wet wipes on hand.

Our tent experience wouldn't have been complete without an appearance from Harry!

We all had a good morning and we'll have to get in the habit of making more tents.... as long as my control freak personality stays in check and I can look past my house getting destroyed.  Maybe more chocolate would help? :)