a couple weeks ago, i was out with jamie, and i picked up this little diaper and travel wipes bag. once i saw the fabric, i knew i had to have it. i’ve also been really wanting to get out of the diaper bag, and get a new purse. so it was perfect, something to hold the essentials for dylan without being too big. i couldn’t stop there though, i went on a purse hunt, and i couldn’t find anything that i liked, (that was in my price range:) so when my good friend, toni, gave me a gift card to craft wherehouse for my birthday, i knew exactly what it would go towards…

amy butler has this darling “frenchy bag” pattern that i always look at, but had never bought it. so, i went and got it, and i also picked out some of her fabrics that would coordinate with my new little bag. i LOVE the way it turned out! now all i can think about is making more:) the pattern also comes with instructions for a handbag, it’s a little smaller, and i want one in some red funky fabric!

then comes the wallet…

i was searching etsy the other day for wallet ideas, and i found a seller with these darling little wallets in really cute fabrics, just not what i was looking for, and to my suprise, she had just listed one pattern for her wallet! anyway, i got it and put this together this morning. i had some left over fabric from my apron i had made awhile back, and it was pretty easy:) it has quite a few little pockets, a zipper pouch, and credit card holders.

now i’m all set:)

since the boys were so good while i worked this morning, i was more than willing to come up with something fun for them.

eli requested some buzz lightyear wings.

i had just gotten a print order, so there was some cardboard on the counter,

some elastic from my sewing stuff, a staple gun, some markers, and a few minutes later, they were jumping off of furniture yelling

“to infinity…and beyond!”

let’s just say i had to peel them off of a screaming “buzz” (dylan) when i said it was time for nap…

i’m thinking that i’m going to need to come up with another pair before he wakes up. eli’s the one that asked for them, but dylan seems to think everything is his.

anyway, just another crazy day around here. i’m hoping for some sun this afternoon, but it’s actually hailing right now. that’s been a daily thing around here lately…

from the never ending project that is our home:)

on saturday afternoon, the sun was shining, and we had worked the morning away. so eric and decided to take the kids out to lewisville park to barbeque, and play. we forgot a pot for the beans, so eric cooked them in the can. jamie this pic is for you:

eli trying to catch a bug..

dylan patiently awaiting his shmallow..

and then sharing it with is brother:)

the boys trying to get our favorite frisbee out of the tallest tree in the park..

it’s still there:(

eric and i taking pics of ourselves thanks to my handy dandy remote…

i’m not too good at hiding it:)

we had a great afternoon, just being together and away from the “norm”.

ben and melody (plumb) welcomed their new little one yesterday

april 16 at 11:26 pm

6 pounds 13 ounces

19 3/4 inches long

i’m SO happy they invited me to come to the hospital and take some pictures of this sweet little guy. i would have gone no matter what, but it’s an honor to be asked to document the first day of a new little life. thanks guys, and you know i love you!

now, introducing….

Koen Aurelius

and just because it’s so….them:

rocker baby

i have something that i’m working on that i really needed some pics of the boys for, and since they are typical little boys, they don’t have much patience for me and my camera.

i figured that i would try and get dylan’s done while eli was at school today, you know,

“divide and conquer”, well, it seemed to work for dylan:)

the chocolate i had in my hand may have played a part as well!

these are some of the best pictures ever of dylan, and it’s going to be really hard to choose just one, feel free to give me an opinion. i have until tomorrow afternoon to decide.

now eli, he’s always been my compliant one, but not today, unfortunately:( i took him out while dylan was sleeping (or supposed to be anyway), but i think i only got like maybe two that could work. i guess he’s growing out of the chocolate bribe. i think i’m going to have to get a little more creative with him:)

here is a small view of a somewhat finished area of the house, the only area that is even close…

can i just say that this whole remodeling thing is a BIG FAT can of worms?? every little decision leads to another one, and what was thought to be a project is now a full on remodel. not that i’m complaining…okay maybe a little. i’m so happy with the way it’s turning out, and my husband is seriously the bomb! as far as this area goes, a new couch, and some shutters, and it will be good to go. i say that like those are small things (they are definitely not:) the kitchen is even more so. the cabinets need painting, i want to tile the back splash, eric wants new countertops, on, and on, and on…

so, i might be giving little updates for quite awhile:)

we haven’t even started the floor down the hall yet…..

i wish i had taken some more before pics, but just imagine ten year old carpet, white yucky linoleum, and honey wood as far as the eye could see…not that i haven’t always LOVED our house, it is after all our home, but there’s nothing like unmasking it’s potential:)

some pics of the boys i “stole” earlier today. they weren’t up for much picture taking, but sometimes that’s when i get the best shots of them together:)

and yes…i got my haircut again. i spent two years growing it out, and it only took me a month to cut it all off. there’s just something about a new short haircut, that i just love. and when my hair spends most of the time in a ponytail cause i just don’t have time to do it, i think it’s time to chop it all off. and that’s just what i did.

for those of you that have known me, know that this really isn’t “short”. i’m really trying to resist going “sliding doors” again:) we’ll see if i can…

matt and jamie spent most of thursday with us. i always come away from our time with them feeling like i just want to pick up and move to arizona to be closer to them:) they are seriously the best! and i can’t tell you how much i love seeing eric with his big brother, it’s like they automatically transform back into these little boys, competing with and teasing one another like little kids. a look into the future of my boys. they even have this language that they don’t quite finish what they are saying before the other starts in, and they finish one another’s thoughts. i can only hope that eli and dylan will have the relationship that eric and matt do.

even living as far as we do, they are still so close:)

and jamie…..what can i say, she is one of the most genuine and truly caring people i have ever met. thanks guys for making the effort to spend your day with us. we are so blessed to have you in our lives:) and we miss you already!

since we no longer have a television (thanks to dylan:) i decided to convert our tv armoire into a workspace for myself. we don’t have a designated office space in our house, so work takes place wherever, and i’m getting to the point where i need to be able to sit and work, and also store packaging materials, and files. it’s small, but a start. and i couldn’t do it without making kinda cute…

oh, and at the top our portable DVD player has found a home, so the boys can
watch videos….

this is my new canvas that i’ve been wanting…it came by way of fed ex last friday. i’m SO excited to have it, it’s so beautiful, this picture doesn’t do it justice. it’s 16x 24 so it’s a nice size. i think this is my favorite picture of eric and the boys EVER! it’s just so….them:)

and don’t mind the unfinished wall behind it…i hope to work on the trim this week, i just bought myself a little mouse sander, eric says that the trim is my project since he has done the floor…we’ll see…