tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75080814394820556112024-03-05T06:31:57.851-08:00smiling eyes and firefliessmiling eyes and firefliesJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-73742006030540213872011-03-23T18:13:00.001-07:002011-03-23T20:06:27.789-07:00Extreme Makeover: Dollhouse EditionSo Spring Break FLEW by, and I find that I did not accomplish NEAR as much as I'd have liked. However, my house is CLEAN and somewhat gutted (as in 4 huge black trash bags, and a couple small trash bags and boxes), Annie's room is complete, my room is clear, ALL my laundry is done, and my kids are bathed, so I think I did okay.<br /><br />I started a couple projects that I'll work on finishing this weekend (fabric rosettes over a hideous shell design on my mirror, and Annie's name for her wall), but in the meantime, I'll have a nostalgic post.<br /><br />Last year my dear friend picked up an old dollhouse at a sneak-peek pre-garage sale. She got the house, and all the furnishings, for TEN BUCKS. Yes, ten. Score of the decade. I decided that since Annie already had the dollhouse (I wanted to get it for her for Christmas, but we got it too early to hide it for months), I'd renovate it for her Christmas gift. Also, since I don't own a home, and will probably not get the chance to renovate my own space for a long time, this gave me a little home renovation fix. :)<br /><br />I started with the bathroom, painting a black and white checkered "tile" floor, and lime and blue swirled wall. I added tiny little hand-drawn pictures to the wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJ-7SDjssJB7ER5lURWCyW6OIMcReIzMWWFBKWZgzHXZ1IFx9G48KOCzkfx0O4XTYUtAi0zthmiPG7Vf75r5g58g_xomfSja5c1iVu8BSvVLOWbRp1zaujVBb1wqQKCPhXahiKt_JAH-/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJ-7SDjssJB7ER5lURWCyW6OIMcReIzMWWFBKWZgzHXZ1IFx9G48KOCzkfx0O4XTYUtAi0zthmiPG7Vf75r5g58g_xomfSja5c1iVu8BSvVLOWbRp1zaujVBb1wqQKCPhXahiKt_JAH-/s400/045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587449650294950626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt2smPlFgZq8ja3IsgxkvJcDnf4PlvQCsSHhbS2Nh3yM2tWgFflsaO0GlDyBlLfE0gKLWoo91s67M_PZAeLeh94gD9yH4eM3r1qJeGrA4ugNUyedhVjQf2PQGz-k1AU7CYpts6RYGEamq/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt2smPlFgZq8ja3IsgxkvJcDnf4PlvQCsSHhbS2Nh3yM2tWgFflsaO0GlDyBlLfE0gKLWoo91s67M_PZAeLeh94gD9yH4eM3r1qJeGrA4ugNUyedhVjQf2PQGz-k1AU7CYpts6RYGEamq/s400/044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587450234539393282" border="0" /></a>Moved on to paint the "hardwood floor" in the living room,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuJKlL1NcyM5_w6qvnzcjWzm3_EfuDU9KQzx88NWwbGMQVCNgD6lGJlnwNH8C0cO3YgEAqRP745Hq9IfOk3dnk3tDzcL2L1-3M3RVSxOXBHZhmcXrejFB6OSJTwjCFmCG2QyRGs2ftNF0/s1600/048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuJKlL1NcyM5_w6qvnzcjWzm3_EfuDU9KQzx88NWwbGMQVCNgD6lGJlnwNH8C0cO3YgEAqRP745Hq9IfOk3dnk3tDzcL2L1-3M3RVSxOXBHZhmcXrejFB6OSJTwjCFmCG2QyRGs2ftNF0/s400/048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587450434843454466" border="0" /></a>And "stone floor" in the kitchen. The staircase became black with red and pink alternating steps, and could still use a little tlc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSGQvF7EJeiGk_oVa7h3_G55lufC95NdcbEW7tcWUFGzY6IG3JWH_-aVnJp_knQGkHTs2SziStTt9U__8tS-FPsPiKlqQgbrhDYfd_NeLhigM-sul32snrOieXiANYxMIxK05wfKAlSRq/s1600/049.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSGQvF7EJeiGk_oVa7h3_G55lufC95NdcbEW7tcWUFGzY6IG3JWH_-aVnJp_knQGkHTs2SziStTt9U__8tS-FPsPiKlqQgbrhDYfd_NeLhigM-sul32snrOieXiANYxMIxK05wfKAlSRq/s400/049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587450597674618082" border="0" /></a>The house was coming along, but so was Christmas! I busted out the last few details a couple days before the big reveal.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8arSymOm5sj72mO0S7ydFDLQpCo8vWtRafsBI3Jp5Umol-eFV9BK9GsCR4H6IQaJaWoaqm7SlmPk_2NO1NSLRfowxCzF0AFAOxwMB-Tvd_wwBJnZjRW53x27Q3qcMIm3kt9tabCy-LX3o/s1600/047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8arSymOm5sj72mO0S7ydFDLQpCo8vWtRafsBI3Jp5Umol-eFV9BK9GsCR4H6IQaJaWoaqm7SlmPk_2NO1NSLRfowxCzF0AFAOxwMB-Tvd_wwBJnZjRW53x27Q3qcMIm3kt9tabCy-LX3o/s400/047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587450816415947330" border="0" /></a><br />Living room wall is a blue-grey with silver sunburst. The other wall reads "relax...", and the window has little beads hot-glued into the corners. THAT turned out cute. I glued a little flower bead onto the front door as the knob.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHBQLEqiWjgwaXY7XDxC92TBVbjtVSvo2drbI0cwDL3F1kfggxERo0Z-1qJ8ufsATYf0Zgaq7AegU_Iexkh0ErwMd5LneWIzupvwA4QKJ8-53VZF787UBa4BEJo_PypEEQtT2m8AfHSOQ/s1600/062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHBQLEqiWjgwaXY7XDxC92TBVbjtVSvo2drbI0cwDL3F1kfggxERo0Z-1qJ8ufsATYf0Zgaq7AegU_Iexkh0ErwMd5LneWIzupvwA4QKJ8-53VZF787UBa4BEJo_PypEEQtT2m8AfHSOQ/s400/062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587451428405710578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiEXl85236XI64L48AhsVmOjf6RFA8qfD_HdHC9tJLW7CBQ6f133GEmVzMUGou7dU_kkgYCEgpEuvfXTPPT1cGS4we1-aQbwUOHWlxJw5TjwKbmpXz5zO3ZXP54tlMuiW07GaN1B2fF3V/s1600/068.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiEXl85236XI64L48AhsVmOjf6RFA8qfD_HdHC9tJLW7CBQ6f133GEmVzMUGou7dU_kkgYCEgpEuvfXTPPT1cGS4we1-aQbwUOHWlxJw5TjwKbmpXz5zO3ZXP54tlMuiW07GaN1B2fF3V/s400/068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587451551874705778" border="0" /></a>The kitchen wall was painted red, and I hung a little "stained glass" window in the window. "K" is for Kelly, of course. The lamp is paper i colored swirls on, hanging by beaded wire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7sBHDWIkwBAWVzTAUcce2EFAPBDaqoajfqXRQJqLsriRhBQyjplx9m_Eb-w4Cp6z8YYoUG70iSy8Utjo83wanEY2vz_cR9CrjnEfVlmRdNqvpl7iljwRIeGvJkZgUi9blh3Ru_rP7Sbe/s1600/054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7sBHDWIkwBAWVzTAUcce2EFAPBDaqoajfqXRQJqLsriRhBQyjplx9m_Eb-w4Cp6z8YYoUG70iSy8Utjo83wanEY2vz_cR9CrjnEfVlmRdNqvpl7iljwRIeGvJkZgUi9blh3Ru_rP7Sbe/s400/054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587451259381629250" border="0" /></a><br />The staircase wall is complete with some art, a "family photo", and a beaded cross. (Booo on the dark picture! It was dark outside, and a flash washed out the whole photo.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AmhSBg6Jyt3lM19DIOZK_DNN648Ft1_yiS70WtqAgKZBtnljVWQJeNOkPc_h0hfxyfqxB56w7sic2iULSxxj87MlabJBvYiE4_YTyQaRVhbvjcu1VJuNK7S5qYP-IjzTrZ2vy6RpFtp-/s1600/066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AmhSBg6Jyt3lM19DIOZK_DNN648Ft1_yiS70WtqAgKZBtnljVWQJeNOkPc_h0hfxyfqxB56w7sic2iULSxxj87MlabJBvYiE4_YTyQaRVhbvjcu1VJuNK7S5qYP-IjzTrZ2vy6RpFtp-/s400/066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587452052514587458" border="0" /></a>Added some black curtains to the bathroom (ribbon tied with sequined thread), and the bedroom got purple and blue walls (went for a Mediterranean feel. The pink and yellow design on the wall needs some serious help, but the "painting" turned out cute.), a beaded wire embellishment in the window, and got fresh carpet laid.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahgR-mGfr1i25COVw8cLi3QBIGVXzKyMgQ0FaIMVL_HDqNlawBd4x6yn3dBUOMLz5sfgDhlEkBMLg2AVGHJSOOsnpu3bWvyUyfMvcr7DYBWC8Yp22nCTWReVbjrzpDe9t6AO1H1Uu5EEf/s1600/061.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahgR-mGfr1i25COVw8cLi3QBIGVXzKyMgQ0FaIMVL_HDqNlawBd4x6yn3dBUOMLz5sfgDhlEkBMLg2AVGHJSOOsnpu3bWvyUyfMvcr7DYBWC8Yp22nCTWReVbjrzpDe9t6AO1H1Uu5EEf/s400/061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587451660914140722" border="0" /></a>Then it was on to the front. What to do... what to do? Yuck...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwNc0ioZ87id3Shs0cf6n8feCRl_fsrjKDZ9sEoe5Bk34Gz_RuQml3Nzg70OXCPv-x7mTFmbHg5lRsDdKdj2gYs_Fu9yhu0uIpLigp4dXyhQ7DtW9ZFT_97kgKdFTLZtb_rShe1PXUvFG/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwNc0ioZ87id3Shs0cf6n8feCRl_fsrjKDZ9sEoe5Bk34Gz_RuQml3Nzg70OXCPv-x7mTFmbHg5lRsDdKdj2gYs_Fu9yhu0uIpLigp4dXyhQ7DtW9ZFT_97kgKdFTLZtb_rShe1PXUvFG/s400/050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587451107996029138" border="0" /></a><br />So I added some landscaping, and painted the shutters and shingles. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZEjdmGTEbE_y_MFdSryE65936A-euA_HBVUohBGjcyX9WpKpI5ADlwDOyzy5Fn0KQO9zzV3niSSXw68RjQ1yBWqE9Qk47BpDlD4P4nWH165HshVh-GjdO9bnq7ApmuJe7lV8Zy1EJfGb/s1600/059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZEjdmGTEbE_y_MFdSryE65936A-euA_HBVUohBGjcyX9WpKpI5ADlwDOyzy5Fn0KQO9zzV3niSSXw68RjQ1yBWqE9Qk47BpDlD4P4nWH165HshVh-GjdO9bnq7ApmuJe7lV8Zy1EJfGb/s400/059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587451903174059890" border="0" /></a><br />Swirled porch corners, a red door, and a welcome mat made it HOME!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCWhgCP2mI1i9wrg7PVqSMeF5wyhP0D8Cvq4syg9hpA2X9KZWD5VGaQ0nRGztQLmyYCcBMYa0USyOeFZyfJvomUkqaZeJqTBSOYq8F_Acoo8KDqHoEYfkMCfIXDSONBKWnh1sf1xLY_0f/s1600/058.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCWhgCP2mI1i9wrg7PVqSMeF5wyhP0D8Cvq4syg9hpA2X9KZWD5VGaQ0nRGztQLmyYCcBMYa0USyOeFZyfJvomUkqaZeJqTBSOYq8F_Acoo8KDqHoEYfkMCfIXDSONBKWnh1sf1xLY_0f/s400/058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587451778950468738" border="0" /></a><br />Needless to say, Annie's reaction was priceless.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TOYGyRmhbI4?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TOYGyRmhbI4?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-71300022202853628142011-03-15T00:22:00.000-07:002011-03-15T00:49:25.959-07:00Spring Break Room MakeoverProject #3 (or thereabout) for Spring Break: gut Annie's room. We loaded up a huge black trash bag full of "give away", and another of "throw away", and a couple small trash bags of "give back to people, already!"<br /><br />I really, really wish I had "before" pics of her room. She had a twin daybed with a pink and turquoise comforter, and not much of a room to speak of. Everything was in mismatched plastic storage containers, which worked for their purposes, but just made for kind of a cluttered room.<br /><br />Today we purchased<a href="http://www.target.com/ClosetMaid-Cubeicals-Cube-Organizer-Espresso/dp/B001UU0NJW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=9%20cube%20organizer&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-4&qid=1300174157&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=ClosetMaid%20Cubeicals%20Cube%20Organizer%20Espresso&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0"> this 9-cube organizer</a> and some cute bins to accompany it, along with some adorable knobs for her dresser (which needs a serious repainting - coming soon - and has been knob-less for months. Poor dresser and poor Annie. She became pretty particular about making sure those drawers never fully closed).<br /><br />We bought Annie a full-sized bed a few days ago because she was in desperate need of a mattress that didn't have springs poking out, threatening Tetanus. The full bed was only $20 bucks more than a twin, and we'd like to have a bed that company could actually use, so we went for it. The result: perfect.<br /><br />Annie is the coolest little girl. She's down for whatever, doesn't want a pink and black zebra room, doesn't care much for pastels, and is so happy for anything she receives. Needless to say, she is ecstatic. Precious, precious girl.<br /><br />The pictures are terrible quality, but hopefully you can get the gist. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx9yi4mhAxWjmqdzvBmfZXKomI9cedZORW5fnadDI0M7PAcMowYUjiGeo4SUAM4kfdTIQXGjq-5F6QvoMgQYzPKXurBbaOcad0Rfp6agLIZfVRtV8S8OIo2qiK1GQmwZQ9O51Caj8OFNN/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx9yi4mhAxWjmqdzvBmfZXKomI9cedZORW5fnadDI0M7PAcMowYUjiGeo4SUAM4kfdTIQXGjq-5F6QvoMgQYzPKXurBbaOcad0Rfp6agLIZfVRtV8S8OIo2qiK1GQmwZQ9O51Caj8OFNN/s400/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584207665404422706" border="0" /></a>A little redhead helper... :) The mirrors were $5 each at Target. I turned them into a wall mirror for use when she's modeling. :\ (Notice the paper fashion show announcement on the wall. That was our first fashion show together. It'll get a frame soon!) The corner houses her library and cute-in-a-creepy-way Hello Kitty humidifier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN6fMllN6EW5tWFFimJ5wlj7ukXh26u4JWjS_OQDS5GYhu26bIo7TsezTJyhKXHHlU4gFKzXsZGwMa6hJfc2QtlPBwmUHSZsWXOvn53q3-tlsG2HG5SZe7IJtVjVoplWUqcIfHqQGW7_0/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN6fMllN6EW5tWFFimJ5wlj7ukXh26u4JWjS_OQDS5GYhu26bIo7TsezTJyhKXHHlU4gFKzXsZGwMa6hJfc2QtlPBwmUHSZsWXOvn53q3-tlsG2HG5SZe7IJtVjVoplWUqcIfHqQGW7_0/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584207759491727170" border="0" /></a>This dresser (which will soon get a new paint job) was my sister's when we were little. Well, technically it was "ours' because we shared a room, but I think it was hers before there was even a me. It was putrid white with gold accents. I painted it black (botched that job, too) a while back, and the few knobs that it still had were misplaced. Today we found some ADORABLE ones at Hobby Lobby... on sale for half off. Yesssss. (The dollhouse is something I did for Christmas. I'll have to put that one up here, too.) Her name, which is our next project, will be decoupaged/painted and hung on this wall, I think. Its pretty bare.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvj_i8DIpG_SOSpu9GFpGwXmJQEMtpoPgjeN4dHvlGw2s7TT1P4NK9YgAJKe0GNyKJZa9A3caMZZMNrU6JsYxckqGHOKwo1v5Gn-5XObocG5zLz2FSXyrcriE9clLnWjleag-vNPTeL-S/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvj_i8DIpG_SOSpu9GFpGwXmJQEMtpoPgjeN4dHvlGw2s7TT1P4NK9YgAJKe0GNyKJZa9A3caMZZMNrU6JsYxckqGHOKwo1v5Gn-5XObocG5zLz2FSXyrcriE9clLnWjleag-vNPTeL-S/s400/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584207568704892082" border="0" /></a>And, voila. Her room is beautiful. Brown curtains and rod are from Dollar General. Sheer I already had. Green and white duvet = Target clearance endcap, along with the brown jersey sheet set. Red scarf on the bed = Dollar General. Flower painting = already had. Cube organizer = made the room. Also got a red hamper (on the floor by the cubes) = cute.<br /><br />The lamp is my favorite part of the room. I wish you could see it here. Perhaps I'll dedicate another post to the lamp that pulled this room together. :)<br /><br />Total project cost: about $150 (not including the mattress). Not bad, my dea, not bad!<br /><br />Dum spiro, spero!<br />JaiJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-75808290278416569972011-03-14T07:51:00.000-07:002011-03-14T08:19:28.271-07:00Makeover: Classroom EditionThis January I was pulled in to teach Pre-K 4 at my daughter's Catholic school. The teacher who has been doing it for years left to be a nurse, so they needed someone pretty quick. I've never taught, but after lots of prayer and conversations knew it was my gig.<br /><br />The kids adjusted really well to their new teacher, and I'm loving my job. Oh, the things that come out of the mouths of 4 year-olds! One of the first things I did was give my room a major makeover. I think that if you and your students are going to spend all day every day looking at walls, they should be awesome. So... here was my weekend project a couple months ago...<br /><br />I started with the "News Room - Weather Station" and School house (morning Math Meeting, Circle Time, and Calendar)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0NNjPXVIukYVpjhc8e2xabYcQHd5dPwUwpDfQKL98ED4AV0tY60txwo5wa3fgThAWyEWZPayM8KfhDBaastmgv8rRoeCCjkOc2yexqBsMVuFeTw2x2X_yjoPsH2zzowoRpimKDp8Bn8i/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0NNjPXVIukYVpjhc8e2xabYcQHd5dPwUwpDfQKL98ED4AV0tY60txwo5wa3fgThAWyEWZPayM8KfhDBaastmgv8rRoeCCjkOc2yexqBsMVuFeTw2x2X_yjoPsH2zzowoRpimKDp8Bn8i/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583949379901580466" border="0" /></a>Then moved to the Art Depot (where they house art supplies) and City Park (picnics and such).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJIcR195DTyFohIGocYt8Tfv4TWLbUAxq91ftxZO6N9g9R8HESLQwPcrdflLUl8R6ellhD7PeEvyDtlnft53Ksn1AjrMLb4EOnJ-934BetHph1T2Q__61NQvF8MiVLeA0x_1jxT5un8s/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJIcR195DTyFohIGocYt8Tfv4TWLbUAxq91ftxZO6N9g9R8HESLQwPcrdflLUl8R6ellhD7PeEvyDtlnft53Ksn1AjrMLb4EOnJ-934BetHph1T2Q__61NQvF8MiVLeA0x_1jxT5un8s/s400/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583949902816814946" border="0" /></a>Next you'll see Le Cafe (Kitchen Center - don't worry, someone donated a bigger kitchen!) and the Boutique (dress-up)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwpRk9ahO_MINm7R1wEvLzjOhMkDmgFwC_fVt_gjYrsH8gUp_cmQhpHQ-Qgswk-d-RpdBnm0t5Fp_2FeOJpnx1_vPCAPZsd8HdUSrIb70GTWmKVA8UZf8CHiBbuXBcqJWyad4yhs54puI/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwpRk9ahO_MINm7R1wEvLzjOhMkDmgFwC_fVt_gjYrsH8gUp_cmQhpHQ-Qgswk-d-RpdBnm0t5Fp_2FeOJpnx1_vPCAPZsd8HdUSrIb70GTWmKVA8UZf8CHiBbuXBcqJWyad4yhs54puI/s400/012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583950283788244594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYHryWY41eOdO6dufKOdNPfzUGc3YlfVJbyWO7jmugDAXg7dbsy3FjqaACvur5HQuApUtxDYn89G1Su1aiYWxg22VG96t8JypyHQ2iAhoXvv-WnEpsl1WON2LWIGrZvfxsh6JSPe5L3jA/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYHryWY41eOdO6dufKOdNPfzUGc3YlfVJbyWO7jmugDAXg7dbsy3FjqaACvur5HQuApUtxDYn89G1Su1aiYWxg22VG96t8JypyHQ2iAhoXvv-WnEpsl1WON2LWIGrZvfxsh6JSPe5L3jA/s400/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583950384602913282" border="0" /></a>then, of course, no town is complete without a Library...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8mM2WIDCRGhbQkfjHEBOUDQO89dqKnjaO9HUyQvshl_geBP1363Br_pv46TQd0hvk-33UM2tBKq57rDmuZ7CvT8bAvcAhkXzzgJX1SVpXP2UPnxHH7zWRiU2IYSS_omDZDxQhAUoMimF/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8mM2WIDCRGhbQkfjHEBOUDQO89dqKnjaO9HUyQvshl_geBP1363Br_pv46TQd0hvk-33UM2tBKq57rDmuZ7CvT8bAvcAhkXzzgJX1SVpXP2UPnxHH7zWRiU2IYSS_omDZDxQhAUoMimF/s400/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583950943843936338" border="0" /></a>and a Church, which still needs a little work. Should probably add a steeple. (Church calls us to be leaders, hence the Leader Board. My kids each have their own symbol, and their leader duties change each week by switching around their symbols, which are Velcroed on. The Line Leader is a pocket that houses all the symbols, and changes daily.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOXSLzTuyERfvgcH9pBJ_DN-qvdalyuSJT34PzyoqbjpMJWvXCugJXfSLgCjEfbaaqS-CSa5bbJZWmYloSU6c1BYj_fWKxwLXALM9pANLjVEKChqj3EBPue6eZ1cWaR1ZgEVV1uKcJAl1/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOXSLzTuyERfvgcH9pBJ_DN-qvdalyuSJT34PzyoqbjpMJWvXCugJXfSLgCjEfbaaqS-CSa5bbJZWmYloSU6c1BYj_fWKxwLXALM9pANLjVEKChqj3EBPue6eZ1cWaR1ZgEVV1uKcJAl1/s400/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583951303356172482" border="0" /></a><br />Behind my desk I stapled on different colored construction paper, which gave it a fun and bright effect. Nice for a bulletin board, eh? :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qCHTPinYN_H27OaTPToe8eaMYhFoiZQ6phVQ0LMTag_vl15Y79m0euCoL6IG60ySked7m6k10fEpeAmzNOnQucwcXPbpPLSDm8kO5O-xGlJVW4a-NE9OpMaC9VCIJqYmpP7ory_6bMzf/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qCHTPinYN_H27OaTPToe8eaMYhFoiZQ6phVQ0LMTag_vl15Y79m0euCoL6IG60ySked7m6k10fEpeAmzNOnQucwcXPbpPLSDm8kO5O-xGlJVW4a-NE9OpMaC9VCIJqYmpP7ory_6bMzf/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583952215501737266" border="0" /></a><br />It was a really fun project, and the kids LOVE it! (Parents do, too! I've gotten lots of great feedback.)I enjoy walking into Mrs. Kelly's Christian City every day (I forgot to take a picture of the door, which is a sky, trees, hills, and street signs. Each kid's name is a street sign, for example, Sarah Blvd. or Cory Ave.<br /><br />A couple tissue paper clouds completed the project... for now. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr-zer-NnFD6ZX8-fK7N1TMEmDUH1e3qcT1JqBw6C2QCiuHs8lYjPHIGkw6p7QTxm_YYvUsHHwsenQ9YxuAPkYFYW1JSLIQJBX-UZ4m2owSHg_D2a-leeGqhtex8SjrnfEI6NNljn5Teg/s1600/classroom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr-zer-NnFD6ZX8-fK7N1TMEmDUH1e3qcT1JqBw6C2QCiuHs8lYjPHIGkw6p7QTxm_YYvUsHHwsenQ9YxuAPkYFYW1JSLIQJBX-UZ4m2owSHg_D2a-leeGqhtex8SjrnfEI6NNljn5Teg/s400/classroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583954881341767762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dum spiro, spero!<br />JaiJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-2981528544192688782011-03-12T22:06:00.000-08:002011-03-12T23:49:10.569-08:00No more procrastinate! Tomorrow is too late!My new motto? Nah, but it's a pretty good chant. I had to run it through my head a few times today (and, not to lie, a couple times out loud).<br /><br />Let the crafts begin! I started Spring Break with a list of projects in mind. I'm not going to write them down, just going to wing it for now, but I'm excited that I've already gotten a couple things done. And it's just day one!<br /><br />Project 1: Aidan's name for his room. I mean, he IS fifteen months already. Are you kidding me?!<br />It turned out cute. I got some cheap cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby (while they were on sale for half-off, of course), some really cute scrapbook paper, and some mod podge. I decoupaged the paper onto his name, leaving the cute paper full (A, D, N), and ripping and pasting the checkered papers to the I and second A. Got some "velcro" Command strips to hang them, because they're so light, and they look so cute above his crib! Total project time: approximately 30 minutes (how stupid that I put off such a short project for so long!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74YJnzIk1Y7sKuhz28hcRZo5IitUsWLpbh_hjUMiRaCPdPKK32j2dAE23E-6VdgPop6uioLxwZbnaeDh1jFlJ6ptoOYTUs6vQ1Z8PRD6ZZ_wF_iX4SeCh2jcJKM-x6wunDzIOmT9s5ocR/s1600/AIDAN.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74YJnzIk1Y7sKuhz28hcRZo5IitUsWLpbh_hjUMiRaCPdPKK32j2dAE23E-6VdgPop6uioLxwZbnaeDh1jFlJ6ptoOYTUs6vQ1Z8PRD6ZZ_wF_iX4SeCh2jcJKM-x6wunDzIOmT9s5ocR/s400/AIDAN.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583468248856155618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(Sorry for the blurry photo. My camera is in SERIOUS need of upgrade. "A" is cute little dinosaurs, "D" is robots and rockets and outer space, and "N" is planes, trains, and automobiles. :)</span><br /><br />Project 2: A friend is having a baby soon, very soon, and I needed a cute gift to add to the package of diapers for her diaper "sprinkle" tomorrow. (Not a shower because it's her 5th baby - all boys! - but we loooove throwing parties around here, and think EVERY baby deserves a little something!)<br /><br />I started with an 8 X 10 canvas (small, but all I had on hand) that I'd already painted blue a while back. I decoupaged paper left over from Aidan's name onto the canvas...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOj_xzoMgqks6CV0OL_5EkEgJT8hnJlRkJPRJueLgPUrfxSTDkqoB-2zMufzCsFcZZckZirR7V63GddFyDzKJuFVCnCCSilzjJB4VH4E4euZBAqAmBLNt6RcvOmbmR9nrRXOyvgHzBBD9L/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOj_xzoMgqks6CV0OL_5EkEgJT8hnJlRkJPRJueLgPUrfxSTDkqoB-2zMufzCsFcZZckZirR7V63GddFyDzKJuFVCnCCSilzjJB4VH4E4euZBAqAmBLNt6RcvOmbmR9nrRXOyvgHzBBD9L/s320/033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583448025805912450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Again, sorry for the poor quality. It's night out there, and my kitchen lighting + camera = foul. Then I decided it needed a little something extra. I was going to put a big "L" on it, for the new baby's name (Levi), but decided that since he has 4 brothers, and several of them will share a room, that wouldn't be quite fair. So, instead I painted on their last name. It turned out pretty cute, but I'm torn with the layout of the name. I think names like this are hard to read, and I'm not quite sure why I did that. Meh, too late. And I know she'll like it either way. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWenjVJyXXNU2MB5ySI_RUBY4rgfvxPMDdVihU83ni5AKxbtwNOvZ-o4pMkVoJKzJBEwY36DmGjQBJOj3dIfHZ9VEJ3PR6Ta0Jb4FDJyUVu1Xzh1FPx9a9Y1Shoyh6K9G9ser_mmztK9gg/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWenjVJyXXNU2MB5ySI_RUBY4rgfvxPMDdVihU83ni5AKxbtwNOvZ-o4pMkVoJKzJBEwY36DmGjQBJOj3dIfHZ9VEJ3PR6Ta0Jb4FDJyUVu1Xzh1FPx9a9Y1Shoyh6K9G9ser_mmztK9gg/s320/034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583448741964253682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />More to come tomorrow. I promised my little Annie that we'd do her name, next. She's only been waiting 6 years for it. :)<br /><br />Dum spiro, spero,<br />JaiJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-69628270673019460382011-03-12T21:43:00.001-08:002011-03-12T22:02:32.688-08:00Spring Break, Lent, and PromiseSpring break has begun! I get to say that, because I actually get "spring break." Now that I'm teaching (pre-school at Slaton's lil Catholic school), it's like being back in school again. Late February, the itch began, and now that it's here, I couldn't be more excited! Nine full days of rest, relaxing, and Lenten promises upheld! I've decided that since New Years resolutions never really work for me, Lent will become my "new year." Forty days of preparing for a life changing event, leading into a life changing year. Sounds perfect to me!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEu8pfsi9FyJNJP_cNDbklGK5UfDFfWEdu4byb2coMiQLzRPwiT5tiZR5JOvT_qQ_OYc3IEZTe2gxrRAyxMvfe3DimcuI4vc7VbFmBdngeRBf45TjoGbpTIJTN8fEIx4YUJMeC60bDAI0z/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEu8pfsi9FyJNJP_cNDbklGK5UfDFfWEdu4byb2coMiQLzRPwiT5tiZR5JOvT_qQ_OYc3IEZTe2gxrRAyxMvfe3DimcuI4vc7VbFmBdngeRBf45TjoGbpTIJTN8fEIx4YUJMeC60bDAI0z/s200/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583440386650809314" border="0" /></a>Lenten promise #1: Serious decrease in sugar intake. I'm not going to say I'm "giving up" sugar, because my body needs to keep a few carbs a day, but no sweets, no breads, very little other carb foods, no sodas, etc. I'm doing this because I love sugar, and, in the deprived state, it leads me to prayer. Sure, the prayer may start with "Lord, please give me sugar," but it inevitably leads to a deeper conversation with the good and gracious God.<br /><br />Lenten promise #2: Pray more. Noted, and doing better day by day.<br /><br />Lenten promise #3: Take full advantage of time off, starting with Spring Break. Monday is my first day back to the gym (if I can breathe... I'm thinking my bronchitis is turning to pneumonia, but I'm going to give it my all, either way), and I'm kicking out projects left and right. I also have HUGE plans of spring cleaning and house gutting. I've got empty tubs and trash bags ready to be filled, and I've already started the tremendous task. I'm actually looking forward to it!<br /><br />Lenten promise #4: USE MY TALENT! Crafts are calling, and I must answer. A part of me is missing without doing something crafty, and I feel the void. I started today, and it feels great! I was going to start a blog called "When I Stopped Procrastinating and Actually Started Doing Things I've Been Wanting to Do FOREVER", but the title was too long, and, well, I have a perfectly cute blog right here. I believe, if I'm successful at this umpteenth blog attempt, it will become my craft blog. I'm hoping I'll actually keep up with a blog this time, which leads me to<br /><br />Lenten promise #5: Return to blogging (in the evening, instead of watching mindless, after 10 pm television). I feel great doing it. I miss writing. I think I need the outlet, and I miss the clicking of keys.<br /><br />So, here is to yet ANOTHER attempt at Smiling Eyes and Fireflies. :) Peaceful Lent to you!<br /><br /><br />Dum spiro, spero,<br />JaiJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-2377414491343101772010-03-01T22:22:00.000-08:002010-03-01T22:30:53.123-08:00Jess, I think she means the bag...I'm in love.<br />I don't usually fall for things. People, yes. Things, no.<br />But I've found the thing that, if I had an extra few hundred bucks lying around, I'd be carrying.<br /><br />Introducing Petunia Pickle Bottom's Cake diaper bag:<br />Dun dun DUUUUUUNNN<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Jessica/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Jessica/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnc8t_WeEncxSboLrUk259MDbrphBM0_Mh__0qfGalW0tcoFdW-EgOjnpkdZml5iyieRnRbKw4rF8dkfYFg0uEEMeSqtDuKG18_AGG7q9iQQhXYk26UEZwVdRyh__oFob0ZafzKn6w44SD/s1600-h/perfect+bag.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnc8t_WeEncxSboLrUk259MDbrphBM0_Mh__0qfGalW0tcoFdW-EgOjnpkdZml5iyieRnRbKw4rF8dkfYFg0uEEMeSqtDuKG18_AGG7q9iQQhXYk26UEZwVdRyh__oFob0ZafzKn6w44SD/s400/perfect+bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443920057603712162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Tis' the <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod92070005&parentId=cat10120733&masterId=cat10130733&index=8&cmCat=cat000000cat5160748cat7680740cat10130733cat10120733">perfect bag</a>. Alas, I'm in love.<br /><br />We don't have a Nieman Marcus nearby. I wouldn't buy one even if we did.<br />I WOULD, however, go Breakfast at Tiffany's on it.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-53231379433848634372010-01-19T21:47:00.000-08:002010-01-19T22:57:40.358-08:002 Js and 2 As.. Yes, we are THAT family<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aidan is here!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KyBNNspO4rV7Ehsak9Sj5veJFg0B7oILu2k6KYVFSnFPV2GHVpBXrXfFHEvV5YncLWbxybBlfXClaLeyuEfz1iUXNOp9k0Iu-gQKCm_C2A3N7eHTQS-siB4c9zumVHRiJtECWjce7SXr/s1600-h/041.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KyBNNspO4rV7Ehsak9Sj5veJFg0B7oILu2k6KYVFSnFPV2GHVpBXrXfFHEvV5YncLWbxybBlfXClaLeyuEfz1iUXNOp9k0Iu-gQKCm_C2A3N7eHTQS-siB4c9zumVHRiJtECWjce7SXr/s320/041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428707393498761394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aidan Thomas Kelly was born November 24 at 8:58 p.m. He was 8lbs 4oz. Yes, big,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bAlKRG5lVIfskGj4W8syCEQWYNCm7P3EKP9VWanZgROkZcKi4brXNkiLwSxH5RDkAM7kvnezPLa9oj1ESWul1jAosfyBw_67slfK5OoaidBqsG1JWL46-hzJygRPuSZpEJZ8_1BgAhPC/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+090.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bAlKRG5lVIfskGj4W8syCEQWYNCm7P3EKP9VWanZgROkZcKi4brXNkiLwSxH5RDkAM7kvnezPLa9oj1ESWul1jAosfyBw_67slfK5OoaidBqsG1JWL46-hzJygRPuSZpEJZ8_1BgAhPC/s320/aidan+thomas+090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428701546149374754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />with a head full of beautiful auburn hair. (He gets it from his Grandma.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1n6fWxPJGwi9rtOmjSZIAK3D8pWn9xbHCmLYQrJ3qEIxe46ok_XpGglaVsb6Snj9SOykSNU4IwMqZr-xvgGskp9VAG504yOCaZMzKFTcHOmUF7HXH8tNjUeCUYg8iAko4YblM3jAwZhLN/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+124.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1n6fWxPJGwi9rtOmjSZIAK3D8pWn9xbHCmLYQrJ3qEIxe46ok_XpGglaVsb6Snj9SOykSNU4IwMqZr-xvgGskp9VAG504yOCaZMzKFTcHOmUF7HXH8tNjUeCUYg8iAko4YblM3jAwZhLN/s320/aidan+thomas+124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428704071247431426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A few days before he was born we had a "scare." My contractions started coming 5 minutes apart, so Jeff and I headed to the hospital in the middle of the night. Thank God Bee was there to stay with Annie! She'd come in to town in hopes of being here when he was born, but the little bugga was stubborn, and we missed it by a day. Annie was very happy to have her Aunt Bee here, and enjoyed some reading time.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNJ-UafPoqZr2dgd1xTJVm2bCfcAIn2X5FrvRX117LV2aiznZdBnX0EblPEuznFZ6n8l6P-e7-C5WLOQ0wfEBkRmDAb8z632ov4mjJ4eZnkgHpcTsriJMNAFRNmB4WqTlpVjBMZAuzmNE/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+055.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNJ-UafPoqZr2dgd1xTJVm2bCfcAIn2X5FrvRX117LV2aiznZdBnX0EblPEuznFZ6n8l6P-e7-C5WLOQ0wfEBkRmDAb8z632ov4mjJ4eZnkgHpcTsriJMNAFRNmB4WqTlpVjBMZAuzmNE/s320/aidan+thomas+055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428700714919503746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>It was a false alarm, but we went in for a check-up on Monday anyway. After having a "she's gone past 40-weeks" sonogram (they wanted to be sure he was comfortable enough to stay in a little longer), and getting the news that if I waited I may have a 10 pound baby if he waited much longer, we decided to go in on Tuesday to get the process rolling. I was already a few centimeters dilated, so I wasn't too concerned with the idea.<br /><br />We went in early that next morning, and Jeff and I spent a peaceful day hanging out, playing Skip-Bo and such. At about 8:00 p.m. I was dilated to 5 cm and feeling good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAWGy6YM2u3L4mC3BEs_SgEbHMPgWJcjVkzjfyOpY5STzoGvB7bN4id1CSyWczi61qozLcHuiOgQcLMq14RA6i7Xpzz2sR6uW4ilApamvPvVt5Pk6qKcKx7sNW5KWm4e-fLRoG5Wuu0lw/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+062.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAWGy6YM2u3L4mC3BEs_SgEbHMPgWJcjVkzjfyOpY5STzoGvB7bN4id1CSyWczi61qozLcHuiOgQcLMq14RA6i7Xpzz2sR6uW4ilApamvPvVt5Pk6qKcKx7sNW5KWm4e-fLRoG5Wuu0lw/s320/aidan+thomas+062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428700915638132882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then came 8:30. Nurse checked me and I was a "6." But immediately after she left the room I was in pain. Not "breathe and you'll be fine" pain, but "OMG OMG OMG" pain. Up to this point it was all good, breathing through contractions, not paining even with the Pitocin. But When that 8:30 contraction hit, there was NO WAY, I thought, that I could labor 4 more centimeters without an epidural. My thoughts were that if it hurt that bad at 6, I would die before I got to 10.<br /><br />Decided I wanted an epidural. No way I'd go 2 more hours without one. Jeff knew that I really didn't want to go the epidural route again, so he talked me down to getting some pain killer through my IV. I agreed, and they had some pain meds hooked up by about 8:35. The nurse came in, hooked on the bag, and left the room. Immediatly after her exit, I was in full-on labor.<br /><br />I yelled at Jeff to get the nurse, but he didn't even have to leave the room. She heard me. I think the whole floor probably heard me. Seconds later my doctor and the nurses were in the room, and Aidan was gearing up to meet us.<br /><br />He was born at 8:58 p.m.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q5nJuGxs4cutQ1h5YAVVAt-xJaPp6VopvaDq8g6vjHLRFoQiqs5z6eL0KEkfFD_pwf5gWtDbgKNsWTgMLasqxwRPF_OLuJhs2N2e5oxYFHhwO576VbBlu3n6wwx7rheiRJBr4Q_AUXB_/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+103.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q5nJuGxs4cutQ1h5YAVVAt-xJaPp6VopvaDq8g6vjHLRFoQiqs5z6eL0KEkfFD_pwf5gWtDbgKNsWTgMLasqxwRPF_OLuJhs2N2e5oxYFHhwO576VbBlu3n6wwx7rheiRJBr4Q_AUXB_/s320/aidan+thomas+103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428703408083686034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And it was love at first sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXtrKdOrxcp71sOZAXlozaV3y2blznV_yYpI9OYaMjQBXH1FxHApSzJG7yrqGH00JaMVq42M5hicbc-NMlMLZXNeEysZk88jAKDMA_zQCMJx-Zsi8B7TCJaJlc5HxPR3m9JmifJPz4JaP/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+179.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXtrKdOrxcp71sOZAXlozaV3y2blznV_yYpI9OYaMjQBXH1FxHApSzJG7yrqGH00JaMVq42M5hicbc-NMlMLZXNeEysZk88jAKDMA_zQCMJx-Zsi8B7TCJaJlc5HxPR3m9JmifJPz4JaP/s320/aidan+thomas+179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428704748988935730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyCsyNK96t4Tu7LQUEEtu4Fc_sk0pBoy6O-NyGmvn5hGB_KHJ_rx3UMUlJSyFqKB4V3Z5MwCxQmeWach8lHyWAyP5oW-lj8iFHeagfLaEbZXtTICUz-zgDOvHFdHuohGQWpYDWlhEXax_/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+189.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyCsyNK96t4Tu7LQUEEtu4Fc_sk0pBoy6O-NyGmvn5hGB_KHJ_rx3UMUlJSyFqKB4V3Z5MwCxQmeWach8lHyWAyP5oW-lj8iFHeagfLaEbZXtTICUz-zgDOvHFdHuohGQWpYDWlhEXax_/s320/aidan+thomas+189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428706874756853522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We spent almost every moment together those two days in the hospital, a stark difference from my previous two deliveries. Annie was entirely enthralled with her baby brother when she came to meet him the next day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRObyLkEI4JUDeMsimFDAfWutShUADqzMddmbN7EDNjpcWND79psZPkMlHuDrOXPUK7bC_uaNQgkvRDU70xxgV4oQAf74c_4sE9sDx7MSdmYdLxRkSPBZlICjbCiJPq6-Zmcm7NjaEgKUu/s1600-h/aidan+thomas+153.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRObyLkEI4JUDeMsimFDAfWutShUADqzMddmbN7EDNjpcWND79psZPkMlHuDrOXPUK7bC_uaNQgkvRDU70xxgV4oQAf74c_4sE9sDx7MSdmYdLxRkSPBZlICjbCiJPq6-Zmcm7NjaEgKUu/s320/aidan+thomas+153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428703521752879970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She doesn't really like to leave his side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyZ0k2Yf-aL8uy2qUaACEDxQonBMWCNrO_0D960dOATYMd4-DI3oLi-ksnqsNW8myes975JX96u-dWah8ItnP5V8-pOQsIf-o0-ihIbbrVebQN_aMUn1KX26gSwsnIV-LTZP4-heps3Ly/s1600-h/baby+038.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyZ0k2Yf-aL8uy2qUaACEDxQonBMWCNrO_0D960dOATYMd4-DI3oLi-ksnqsNW8myes975JX96u-dWah8ItnP5V8-pOQsIf-o0-ihIbbrVebQN_aMUn1KX26gSwsnIV-LTZP4-heps3Ly/s320/baby+038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428708028167302754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We brought him home on Thanksgiving day (what a way to celebrate, eh?!). And, in true Kelly Family fashion, our car broke down on the way home from the hospital. Fortunately it waited until we'd exited Division to Slaton, and some friends happened to be driving by at the exact moment we stalled. Thanks to Michael for helping Jeff push us into the United parking lot, and to MomnDad for picking us - and all the hospital flowers and gifts and such - up. :)<br /><br />We battled a nasty bout of Jaundice for a few weeks, but fortunatley we have a big picture window where Aidan did lots of sunbathing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92i8VvbTkop01IP_FfzBG0IRYQ_1RR3r3fRGuc9ILFi5GreR1amlqV3hg13MdOUHGUmzA2c3ohh7JyeVcTPkNhtl6xXnaM0PouzCmao6ox8tTAR9j9OEV5C9pEMHdT2oj2NvWlAWb_HSX/s1600-h/baby+003.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92i8VvbTkop01IP_FfzBG0IRYQ_1RR3r3fRGuc9ILFi5GreR1amlqV3hg13MdOUHGUmzA2c3ohh7JyeVcTPkNhtl6xXnaM0PouzCmao6ox8tTAR9j9OEV5C9pEMHdT2oj2NvWlAWb_HSX/s320/baby+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428707872337790002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The weather was even nice enough for a few days that we got to spend some time outside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BJ0g4KkQSuqnpgyNn5ak5pDvrUnW1ZrmZKn8oH1TWfVFPnW3Qs2EBUNBLnjfVnhsWmNyJlk8fjTbcd3C9hETVE2oJcbjvGrADCXKqHHrk0yNZ54nrhDoaLmNs69pdCA-nRUbA1QCUQet/s1600-h/front+porch+view.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BJ0g4KkQSuqnpgyNn5ak5pDvrUnW1ZrmZKn8oH1TWfVFPnW3Qs2EBUNBLnjfVnhsWmNyJlk8fjTbcd3C9hETVE2oJcbjvGrADCXKqHHrk0yNZ54nrhDoaLmNs69pdCA-nRUbA1QCUQet/s320/front+porch+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428711093798442418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aidan is an amazing baby. He laughs and smiles every day (since he was about 3 or 4 weeks old). He coos, and imitates my sounds and mouth shapes. Yes, he is very advanced for his age ;). He doesn't really cry much, and he makes some hilarious grunt and chortle sounds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYnXWI_8cbJc76aibHb3SNWUZ34rMa0SjnmZ0fG3Kt4DuXy6Cvj3pJgzu3upR872O4NAs5GsMejpQgVCuA8JKyfGt8S3V9TOGx07PLdl-SpMQamWTfBeEfwKJd2TrGPl0CaVyKAlECFQN/s1600-h/laughing+baby.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYnXWI_8cbJc76aibHb3SNWUZ34rMa0SjnmZ0fG3Kt4DuXy6Cvj3pJgzu3upR872O4NAs5GsMejpQgVCuA8JKyfGt8S3V9TOGx07PLdl-SpMQamWTfBeEfwKJd2TrGPl0CaVyKAlECFQN/s320/laughing+baby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428710995414811986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm head over heels for this little guy. Thank God for our precious little Aidan, Annie's "Bean."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUpKRr9Datj12cQTm5Uun7mYVihPKcbzN4TGxRYBRAwLfOfVY7ESd-JJr8CJ7-FlFejo_tTabubU1EUrfOAgzI1rPWQ5UHzPnQywaSPkhHujI8JiSyqptn5mZ0uQhjDnr5lqj4zQR49Y7/s1600-h/baby+112.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUpKRr9Datj12cQTm5Uun7mYVihPKcbzN4TGxRYBRAwLfOfVY7ESd-JJr8CJ7-FlFejo_tTabubU1EUrfOAgzI1rPWQ5UHzPnQywaSPkhHujI8JiSyqptn5mZ0uQhjDnr5lqj4zQR49Y7/s320/baby+112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428708210100183474" border="0" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-69470985135745614272009-10-19T18:39:00.000-07:002009-10-19T18:59:02.021-07:00Ooh, baby BABY! Ooh baby BABY!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLV9WUyD4HM6JI8EDzw50VI5kd5_xM9IgxklMTaeXRwePV22ifUkR0R7btujizbl0E4Hlbs9ZAl61VOzoKKiWllGZLucvoFi5R_ohsyW6kH4-_KKDaFS43bqeC84Dclk7rfWf73JglhfX/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394491418513276386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLV9WUyD4HM6JI8EDzw50VI5kd5_xM9IgxklMTaeXRwePV22ifUkR0R7btujizbl0E4Hlbs9ZAl61VOzoKKiWllGZLucvoFi5R_ohsyW6kH4-_KKDaFS43bqeC84Dclk7rfWf73JglhfX/s320/019.JPG" border="0" /></a>The baby keeps a'growing,<br />and Momma keeps a'knowing,<br />that no matter where we're going,<br />it's the best we've ever seen!<br /><br />I'm 35 weeks and 2 days today! I wish I'd have been blogging this whole time, but no internet + crazy job + busy bee = big lapse! Since the last time we spoke:<br /><br />Jeffica and Annie moved to Slaton,<br />Jessica graduated,<br />We found out we were pregnant,<br />and Annie started kindergarten!<br /><br />It's been a very busy few months!<br /><br />At any rate, life is good, God is good, and family is good.<br /><br />And this BELLY keeps growing and growing and growing!<br /><br />Aidan Thomas Kelly is due November 21, but I'm not sure he'll wait until then. He's big, and a MAJOR mover! He's up to about 5 pounds, and, if he gains a pound a week, like "they" say he probably will, that will make him a 10-pounder. We're just praying that that doesn't happen. :)<br /><br />There is prety much no way Annie could be more excited. She can't wait to meet her baby brother, keeps asking to sleep in his crib, and uses all his blankets to cover up at night. She also already knows how to spell his name, and has added him to her family drawings (she's a little artist).<br /><br />Jeff and I can't wait to meet him, either. Sonograms show that he has Jeff's big nose and my big cheeks. He's going to be a pretty cute little kiddo. :)<br /><br />P.S. The picture = I don't look very happy, but I am. But that was this morning after a VERY busy weekend! Annie is also caught off guard. :)<br />In the background you'll notice the bright pink and turquoise bedding. Jeff and I revamped her bedding because little brother got a new bed and bedding, so it was only appropriate that big sister got Big Sister bedding, too! :)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-37303403780314165512009-03-16T13:46:00.000-07:002009-03-16T13:56:21.229-07:00Confession of an Internet Thief<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMasqYJy4dGS0w0FposWbJNIbs5HRWUhcIxvF8Wk_zmIhfRzfeDTTDI9lKwXuQegV7hgNfQuphUQvs-OxNWHA6YwpnCG2G7bGi5rakYvrtmUs3ox594uau3ZXyEVmPlvL6N6X76gKV_i3/s1600-h/internets.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMasqYJy4dGS0w0FposWbJNIbs5HRWUhcIxvF8Wk_zmIhfRzfeDTTDI9lKwXuQegV7hgNfQuphUQvs-OxNWHA6YwpnCG2G7bGi5rakYvrtmUs3ox594uau3ZXyEVmPlvL6N6X76gKV_i3/s320/internets.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313892238868440130" border="0" /></a><br />Is it really stealing when all you're doing is catching the internet waves that are floating through YOUR air? I mean, is it MY fault that my computer started picking up some random wireless internet?<br /><br />So, I've been, ah, mooching internet from my housal air waves for a little while. (The first step is admittance, right?)<br /><br />If you're wondering why I've been neglecting my blog (I KNOOOW all my "followers" are DEVASTATED that they've been out of my life loop for almost a month or so)...<br />it is because I got home one evening to Jeff sitting on the couch....<br /><br />"We don't have any internet."<br />"What? There must be a mistake. You're lying. I can't live without internet. Nooooo!" says I. (dramatized)<br /><br />Sure enough, all wireless internets are now set to "Security Enabled Network."<br /><br />And to add insult to injury, the once "Unsecured networks" were freshly labeled:<br /><br />"OMG HaCkeRS on StERoIDZ" and "getyourowninternet"<br /><br />Hhaahahaha. I couldn't help but laugh through my anger. :)<br />But seriously, how DARE they take away my freedom to capture THEIR paid-for internet waves as they float through MY home? Whatever. We're moving (blog to follow soon), and I suppose we WILL "getourowninternet."Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-61428896161116059392009-03-02T20:33:00.000-08:002009-03-02T21:06:19.848-08:00I <3 SaversSavers is fun. I mean, what could be better than digging through other peoples' trash and finding personal treasures? For, like, three dollars at that? (Actually, because Savers is the "department store" of thrifts, it's actually a little pricy, but still WAY cheaper than the new stuff... and it's recycling, so hey)<br /><br />Jeff found a really nice pair of jeans that we call "a tribute to auntie bee." Annie really enjoyed them, too, as you can tell by her awed gaze.<br /><a href="http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/?action=view&current=160.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/160.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I then found a pair of hot crinkly red pants (and these things made some NOISE!), and a matador-esque sequin jacket. I thought it looked quite nice. They even still had their tags, which was a SUR-PRISE to me.<br /><a href="http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/?action=view&current=161.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/161.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />(The hat is Jeff's)<br /><br />But I think the pinnacle of the shopping experience was this hot one-piece sequin short-set. I don't know what it was about it. It had a certain, oh, jene se quoi....<br /><a href="http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/?action=view&current=164.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/164.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, we didn't purchase any of these items. We did get a couple really great things, including this Texas Tech cheerleading suit for Annie (a whopping $5, about $45 less than they're sold for in stores)<br /><a href="http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/?action=view&current=180.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/180.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />(Those are my shoes. I've never worn them, because they hurt, but she loves them. They were actually a Goodwill find, brand new)<br /><br />All in all, it was a fabulous way to spend our Saturday morning, and get Jeff a couple pair of work jeans while we were at it. :)<br />Love!<br /><br /><a href="http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/?action=view&current=175.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeska_kelly/175.jpg" border="0" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-31979378854160670852009-03-01T22:58:00.001-08:002009-03-01T23:18:38.523-08:00In the interest of "just because"<div>Fun thing to do, via That cat by the bar (my sister's blog...)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Directions to create your own album cover:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1. Go to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/">http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/</a> and the 3rd picture on the screen is your album cover art.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>2. Go to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page</a> and click "Random Article" from the links on the left side. The article that comes up is the name of your band.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(My 1st result was Vallejo, an Austin band. I didn't think that would be appropriate for the name of my band because, well, they're already a band. I used the next one. :) )</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>3. Go to <a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3">http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3</a> and the last 4 to 5 words of the last quote on the page is your album title.Use photoshop or something similar to create your album cover. (I used picasa because it is free and has a text editing tool.) Here's mine:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMWoo-O12dS38y22oa0kboNjkrr7AAtLnUsnhjgKN5izuUVKrWq2Tj4PDpmRBlBhPY8cXikz1iP4Z_oqNhGKHlU9M53w_0P1sL3pNuLs1H2o5-wkRHWWmeP2eJkS63tERJutAs_Odn7ti/s1600-h/fan+control.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308486358645766450" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMWoo-O12dS38y22oa0kboNjkrr7AAtLnUsnhjgKN5izuUVKrWq2Tj4PDpmRBlBhPY8cXikz1iP4Z_oqNhGKHlU9M53w_0P1sL3pNuLs1H2o5-wkRHWWmeP2eJkS63tERJutAs_Odn7ti/s320/fan+control.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-13271718550029092512009-02-28T22:03:00.000-08:002009-02-28T22:25:45.332-08:00Lent - n - things<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O4Xg2RdeHlDZEBDEFk_GSlq8RAaIPXGXGr66ZgZcG-J-pghmUelL7x2xelV0ESQ2JLTDMyzL4X0om7wE9GqvMkt0HqZC76dsCSmQZ6Xz0bBjiVG6Fmt5EdUYs4k9smvurA8f-AKH-VZl/s1600-h/lent.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308100428390610210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 75px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O4Xg2RdeHlDZEBDEFk_GSlq8RAaIPXGXGr66ZgZcG-J-pghmUelL7x2xelV0ESQ2JLTDMyzL4X0om7wE9GqvMkt0HqZC76dsCSmQZ6Xz0bBjiVG6Fmt5EdUYs4k9smvurA8f-AKH-VZl/s320/lent.bmp" border="0" /></a> Woke up early on Thursday and cooked breakfast (for myself, it turned out. Jeff and Annie preferred cereal and frozen mini-pancakes), transferred the clothes from the washer to the dryer, showered... it was the perfect start to my Lenten "sacrifice." I'm lazy. Okay, not necessarily lazy, but I do like my sleep. A lot. And that is to stop. Starting this Lent. (I mean, not the sleeping part, but the going to bed late and sleeping late thing.)<br /></div><div></div><div><br />Went to the gym last night. Ran on the eliptical for 30 minutes (Jeff came too, and he set the time length. He's a trooper, and he helps keep me going), and cycled for about 10. Lenten promise #2 started nicely. </div><p>I'm doing okay. I'm still not eating like I will be, but okay thus far. Yay for Lent! Yay for prayerfully checking myself befo' wrecking myself! </p><div>And on a sort-of self-indulgent note: </div><div>I've got a heel spur (flip-flop disease, according to internet doctors). Possibly. It hurts to walk in the morning and at night. Bad. I limp, and I feel ridiculous... like I'm 90 or something. Ouch! I bought Icy Hot to put on it, then I stunk all day. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GNa9bGOPKeq7I7Go18sxag3mv_CBKZtmj-EOm5PTptyoALEAuLb4_y2ROzRTrlbc9GScWuqS7pJQZmDcaacY5pdGuqiol-zTsuFWPKIESDSM_a5CNIOCwMiCWkrsHKvDSBLnNdTRiJ0_/s1600-h/heel_spur_image.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308101519916569762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GNa9bGOPKeq7I7Go18sxag3mv_CBKZtmj-EOm5PTptyoALEAuLb4_y2ROzRTrlbc9GScWuqS7pJQZmDcaacY5pdGuqiol-zTsuFWPKIESDSM_a5CNIOCwMiCWkrsHKvDSBLnNdTRiJ0_/s320/heel_spur_image.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>We miss those cousins (and their parents) like CRAZY! Can't wait to see them again! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I need an art release. I feel like painting EVERYTHING. Maybe I'll add that to my Lenten list... Paint. Make time to paint. I'm going to paint something and post it by, um, Tuesday. Yes, Tuesday. Hold me to it. :)</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-46701667540211343192009-02-23T21:00:00.000-08:002009-02-23T21:10:10.813-08:00Annie Annie Bo BannieAnnie is hilarious.<br />She's growing in to this hilarious little person, who dances like a goofball when a good beat comes on, and who makes jokes and acts funny just to make us laugh.<br /><br /><br /><br />It is, well, weird watching her grow from a kiddo into a buddy. Sure, she has her little kid moments, but now, more often than not, she's just this little person who is really, really fun for hanging out and laughs.<br /><br /><br /><br />On another note, a few days ago we were driving to Savers and Annie said<br />"Mom, I need to start working on my letters."<br /><br />"Okay, sure Annie, we can do that."<br /><br />"I need to start learning to spell words."<br /><br />I was so proud of my smart little munchkin. At Savers we picked up a $3.99 half marker board/ half chalkboard, and we started working on her letters.<br /><br /><br /><br />Since then, she's spelled several words with a little help (I tell her the letter or sound it out and she writes it), but there are a couple she can do completely on her own. I'm so proud. :)<br /><br /><br /><br />"Annie, how do you spell STOP?"<br /><br />S.<br />T.<br />O.<br />P.<br /><br /><br /><br />With a big, fat, T. :)<br />(And that stuff below it is Scribble Crabble, FYI)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3iuZc-pIZefoxCeks6CPfTE5Dp-6lnzQQe3VP2dcJpQNGhlo0BNjj1MN0JANrKkb183HL3HTSgwgBes51MPrmCKOXKLncLOrTRvuddkk7m4Vuvk_0UOYllrx_DkwlYOxYiRdnVyHwApl/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306226171091228162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3iuZc-pIZefoxCeks6CPfTE5Dp-6lnzQQe3VP2dcJpQNGhlo0BNjj1MN0JANrKkb183HL3HTSgwgBes51MPrmCKOXKLncLOrTRvuddkk7m4Vuvk_0UOYllrx_DkwlYOxYiRdnVyHwApl/s320/018.JPG" border="0" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-20973251877936074122009-02-20T08:40:00.000-08:002009-02-20T08:42:18.863-08:00Help. Me.What is wrong with my blog?<br />Why doesnt "enter" make the text go down?<br />Why, when I add pictures, does it put a million miles of space between photos and text?<br /><br />Someone blutor me (blog-tutor, in case you didn't get the gist).<br /><br />Much love.<br />JesJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-44755647939885174202009-02-19T23:27:00.000-08:002009-02-20T08:40:14.446-08:00The Origin of Scribble CrabbleMy daughter, the artist.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div>She dressed herself for school on Wednesday. I had her in jeans and a long sleeved t, which I thought was appropriate for the day, but she had something else in mind. She disappeared into her room and called for me a few minutes later. Upon entering, this is what I saw...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8wtu4VPNEhyXHZ9VdxC1XAlhco5Rhmxx_zly_dvdLV8I2ppADNaoeDXcEIieVNPWGgRE6yOuYyuV1hkvvkL2PiVtm_s59QNzv8T9e17G_m6oRlv7Eje1uxuzm5fsomVcaWRyLwVwrDN0/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304784037728235554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8wtu4VPNEhyXHZ9VdxC1XAlhco5Rhmxx_zly_dvdLV8I2ppADNaoeDXcEIieVNPWGgRE6yOuYyuV1hkvvkL2PiVtm_s59QNzv8T9e17G_m6oRlv7Eje1uxuzm5fsomVcaWRyLwVwrDN0/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8wtu4VPNEhyXHZ9VdxC1XAlhco5Rhmxx_zly_dvdLV8I2ppADNaoeDXcEIieVNPWGgRE6yOuYyuV1hkvvkL2PiVtm_s59QNzv8T9e17G_m6oRlv7Eje1uxuzm5fsomVcaWRyLwVwrDN0/s1600-h/002.JPG"></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>You'll notice a pink flowered shirt, red skirt, purple argyle tights and bow-y shoes. You'll also notice I hadn't yet brushed her hair for the day. Let me give you a close-up of the important part...<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQhtRFEoNmsAuSfSW7l_H3lgHcDfgUEFNj0cGAXWcNmbyXNBwSJzP2zTQpfdxVpvRkKjYdDSOPWXOlNEKZKJgVr2qeWo0BXLWiHb2VwJiiiBuEq0dMhAzwLe4MmNTy9WQuN13q9wgRqao/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304784784842465570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQhtRFEoNmsAuSfSW7l_H3lgHcDfgUEFNj0cGAXWcNmbyXNBwSJzP2zTQpfdxVpvRkKjYdDSOPWXOlNEKZKJgVr2qeWo0BXLWiHb2VwJiiiBuEq0dMhAzwLe4MmNTy9WQuN13q9wgRqao/s320/004.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Those shoes are Tinkerbell "high heels." And she wasn't done.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVCWzip_BCpogtz4XPykIyoAveeEC5EVd4BAJhL3OSPDz36cpRI5bcuV337rDG8EU9TCQqWaxRoX1FIeQoxiz8ZzlqCF88PX5-owWZTGnoaKLkMntH2B9tfAKPkXgA_57hmHpotRBvkJ6/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304785831496262882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVCWzip_BCpogtz4XPykIyoAveeEC5EVd4BAJhL3OSPDz36cpRI5bcuV337rDG8EU9TCQqWaxRoX1FIeQoxiz8ZzlqCF88PX5-owWZTGnoaKLkMntH2B9tfAKPkXgA_57hmHpotRBvkJ6/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /> </div><div>Until she added a sparkly silver belt, of course (and changed into "school shoes" per my request). We talked about it as we brushed our teeth. </div><div><br /></div><div>Me: "You look cute. Do you match?"</div><div>Annie: "No."</div><div>Me: "Do you want to match?"<br />Annie: "Nope."</div><div></div><div>She is her mother's daughter. :)<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Annie dresses in bizarre get-ups without regard for reason, and she's got a real knack for mixed-media art. See what I mean: </div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIARiHz9BYWn8uBOkijo_hem8_PxTjptB7MTkfvgChwan3huyyG1mn552nB_8YkrXEpC7femyMd37Np8fOsJayOE5Vqf-dZsU1r8IwRwZ0_QDKfBOuURbEAtZ7oFK8tH3Z_9skjYPcNe9/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304790138747723698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIARiHz9BYWn8uBOkijo_hem8_PxTjptB7MTkfvgChwan3huyyG1mn552nB_8YkrXEpC7femyMd37Np8fOsJayOE5Vqf-dZsU1r8IwRwZ0_QDKfBOuURbEAtZ7oFK8tH3Z_9skjYPcNe9/s320/015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /> </div><div>This is me, surrounded by a glue heart, complete with flowers in my hand (and one on my skirt), white yarn hair that was "painted <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blond</span>", and... get this.... <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pantyhose</span>. :) Yep, she even threw on pantyhose, though I rarely, if ever, wear them.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfIeBrefi25hd12s0fIog3D-ahM0xRTF5a3BDbutP7LoMeSP8-4G5GuAc8fTzYwJKrcjSb52DCiekdNo0zqp8zZr039OzlxGK_GwZbQP8mlIYQ5KPtHp_AgdBrofzcxgiYpe9M2tlUyge/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304790145987171042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfIeBrefi25hd12s0fIog3D-ahM0xRTF5a3BDbutP7LoMeSP8-4G5GuAc8fTzYwJKrcjSb52DCiekdNo0zqp8zZr039OzlxGK_GwZbQP8mlIYQ5KPtHp_AgdBrofzcxgiYpe9M2tlUyge/s320/017.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9Du50YqwBwtuheZJAEsVPyPhR6yNRvR59a0KqvYTe0n0yZ96i9dYUmDT8avJj63Ske6bewvNIBcMWQkX1xnZiK1tKJNymyrvFUCo3cSJnck4LNYepGh7zZM4SfqbxcZawPKncAUkgatR/s1600-h/016.JPG"></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div></div><div> </div><div>This is a costume she made at school. It's cuter when it's on her. The material she glued on to it was apparently donated, and an old work in progress. It came complete with about a dozen pins sticking out in random places. Thankfully Laura realized it before Annie was forever scarred of costumes. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9Du50YqwBwtuheZJAEsVPyPhR6yNRvR59a0KqvYTe0n0yZ96i9dYUmDT8avJj63Ske6bewvNIBcMWQkX1xnZiK1tKJNymyrvFUCo3cSJnck4LNYepGh7zZM4SfqbxcZawPKncAUkgatR/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304790135079211122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9Du50YqwBwtuheZJAEsVPyPhR6yNRvR59a0KqvYTe0n0yZ96i9dYUmDT8avJj63Ske6bewvNIBcMWQkX1xnZiK1tKJNymyrvFUCo3cSJnck4LNYepGh7zZM4SfqbxcZawPKncAUkgatR/s320/016.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>This is a garden Annie put together. She is the short flower, and I'm the taller one. The really tall one, which was a car sticker before she cut it out, was Jeff. The small car, the one she separated with a line and circle (which was really profound without her knowing) is Will. Crazy, eh? (Yes, the "eh" is Canadian).</div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1852mVKblMvNRez1lc04bbywFN-UFluFeeGz8hKkM2nTcTtnGiN8RENstBcjWf-v6frDk6wA-ZP7QO6NDJEP4VEw6rl-b3alWcvhufh5_5lmIP0uQihkPP16EZcnTmNG9mdT1EIemRqV/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304793245481199106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1852mVKblMvNRez1lc04bbywFN-UFluFeeGz8hKkM2nTcTtnGiN8RENstBcjWf-v6frDk6wA-ZP7QO6NDJEP4VEw6rl-b3alWcvhufh5_5lmIP0uQihkPP16EZcnTmNG9mdT1EIemRqV/s320/019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I call this one "Glitter and glue on paper." She told me that it sort of looks like a butterfly. </div><div></div><div>I'm telling you, that girl is an artist. :)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ka7f8R2Mlsy3qtoZAUfVefFnW_dSEWkK31pAQokYQNzKAex_yN91bmFIYGvj02JYm2C4WfoJlG4lTgQ0mwaSxsk65ND2q4CtvkbNSUkgheNqEdVs4QcYURw2zyOdM0Ja56z1AI5-iubz/s1600-h/018.JPG"></a></div><div>And so, this leaves the question about scribble <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">crabble</span>. I don't have a picture off hand, but Annie sometimes creates random drawings... scribbles, if you will. This also occurs sometimes when she's coloring. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>She's an artist. And, though she respects and appreciates the lines that keep her in bounds, she's also not afraid to venture out of them to see what happens. And, many times, the result is something <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">beautiful</span> and unique. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>And what does she call this rebellion?<br />Scribble <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Crabble</span>. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I thought it was a good idea at the time. It's still growing on me. :)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>P.S. I hate this blog setup. Don't think I haven't noticed that pictures and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">captions</span> post all sporadically. It's a big pain, and I don't understand why it's doing this. But I'm tired, I'm done with messing with it, and I'm going to bed. Happy Birthday to me, thanks Mom for bringing me in, and good night. </div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508081439482055611.post-4870193692779208572009-02-16T20:48:00.000-08:002009-02-16T21:51:42.327-08:00Blog One, third time 'round...So, yes, I'm back on the blog wagon. Too much to say, nowhere to say it? Nah. I just like to write. And ramble. I'm thinking of this as my, um, ramble du jour of sorts. So, without further ado, my first blog of my third attempt at blogging. :)<br /><br /><div><br /><div>_________________<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Dinner Series!!!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLVaI0N4Yr4vqTp8thXKIdiFG3ioiR2tMggw_E9BoNaO3Y5qM7EOIFvNxvC3sf1Hh5Jcy1_8Hz2ioozXSA2itaOA35KNmKEgBxG1qTC6ZX5zhqMWpCusuC3Ri2sw39uDdImp4cBAd-MxC/s1600-h/dinner+series+8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303633214058786130" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLVaI0N4Yr4vqTp8thXKIdiFG3ioiR2tMggw_E9BoNaO3Y5qM7EOIFvNxvC3sf1Hh5Jcy1_8Hz2ioozXSA2itaOA35KNmKEgBxG1qTC6ZX5zhqMWpCusuC3Ri2sw39uDdImp4cBAd-MxC/s320/dinner+series+8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>My dinner series was a success! I mean, it was even more than that. As a requirement for my degree plan, I had to host a dinner at Texas Tech's restaurant, Skyviews. </div><br /><br /><div>The plan: create a theme and menu (and have it recreated by Chef), and get one hundred people there. </div><div>The catch: get one hundred people there who are willing to pay $30 bucks a person. </div><div>The crap: I was lucky enough to draw #1, meaning that I had essentially three weeks to pull it together (decorations, menu, theme, guests). </div><div>The crappier: I was gone for a week to Canada (another blog later), so I had TWO weeks to plan it. </div><div>The crappiest: my partner was a guy. Who didn't really know what to do without me. :) (But who, to his credit, was a great sport when I told him what to do and freaked out on him once. Okay, twice.)</div></div><br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMEp32xQZpwVhXQAJsu1gG14NVNH0H-J3ANumTO8wRaIh1hm-ZJtLUJkYqbQ5DQtqaadCHGqZpa5kSogPyGbooY-C5anSBKz92b4XCCCGl81hBXSDChtkdyrqNe4LcUclzDg7Kj8Aox3E/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303634015102686034" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMEp32xQZpwVhXQAJsu1gG14NVNH0H-J3ANumTO8wRaIh1hm-ZJtLUJkYqbQ5DQtqaadCHGqZpa5kSogPyGbooY-C5anSBKz92b4XCCCGl81hBXSDChtkdyrqNe4LcUclzDg7Kj8Aox3E/s320/024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>The theme was "Opposites Attract" (Our idea was Dinner for Two in a Bottle of Brew, where we'd do beer foods, but the other days tweaked it a little. All good. I still threw in a beer bottle to the table deco.)</div><div></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0iyHWtoiJseW0_ydwUmeFiJQucpojIav_8IvZiz9fLTS1YelmCOyi39beasmqT3RNfQdOA3u7tCdpwnebcriWuBA5U7DmdZ5MHwrsfvlJxXiQ6JBTilDoeLMA0aEp8ziwJDP19sZPm1z/s1600-h/021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303626311753596866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0iyHWtoiJseW0_ydwUmeFiJQucpojIav_8IvZiz9fLTS1YelmCOyi39beasmqT3RNfQdOA3u7tCdpwnebcriWuBA5U7DmdZ5MHwrsfvlJxXiQ6JBTilDoeLMA0aEp8ziwJDP19sZPm1z/s320/021.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>We pulled it together in about two weeks, and it went flawlessly. My family rocks. My community and friends are fabulous. And God was on my side. We (I) got 104 people there, with the help of a couple "secret donors" and a lot of word of mouth.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mnc8UJVIkNOBm-PnqA-IE0u5_uzXAhtjKk_7-xtSNsKsDHr3uhAM9zYNVEcxwmFzpSxlY-T2e0frp1KMe5FRa1nrAiMt6yXdt2NhjKnDGkSL26TwNRFfnH0eWpt12ujgd2gIF9tGYLCg/s1600-h/dinner+series.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303629511151697762" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mnc8UJVIkNOBm-PnqA-IE0u5_uzXAhtjKk_7-xtSNsKsDHr3uhAM9zYNVEcxwmFzpSxlY-T2e0frp1KMe5FRa1nrAiMt6yXdt2NhjKnDGkSL26TwNRFfnH0eWpt12ujgd2gIF9tGYLCg/s320/dinner+series.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />(My ten minute creation: I call it "Paint on a Used Canvas")<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My Slaton community and my Lubbock peeps seriously pulled through. They all came out to eat a gourment crab and avocado pizzaiola, spicy cheddar beer soup (YUM), four other foods made somehow with beer, and an ice cream trio featuring, get this, wasabi brown sugar lime ice cream. You'd just have to try it to make up your mind. It was like, in the words of my friend Savanna, edible art.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r4k9pDrqYG4NygECpAdu9FsNxN_5BMBQuZWIl4DDmksiYlRo7jg2j1zM4jvcNN-YYfNiuN3uN9QazqBzFV7nw25zgHEnags_tQnCc2DGiP7GcvKUjptU0OEbrPh3-BBQrpYFjAZtziWs/s1600-h/dinner+series+5.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303635700012100610" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r4k9pDrqYG4NygECpAdu9FsNxN_5BMBQuZWIl4DDmksiYlRo7jg2j1zM4jvcNN-YYfNiuN3uN9QazqBzFV7nw25zgHEnags_tQnCc2DGiP7GcvKUjptU0OEbrPh3-BBQrpYFjAZtziWs/s320/dinner+series+5.bmp" border="0" /></a><br />(The Slaton crew)<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZVBL-rUbfgJM9DVNcWaqy4yd3avB4KfwJoMke3uutHZxBWgW81PaQtnSvFoI3AdCgh6g3-aeIMlwa452LRx6RRV3c3zENOso85ssgaJN-sxFfO2LKY6bLG2GtCcPhAKuk0SbVfv1ERdL/s1600-h/dinner+series+7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303638284999522434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZVBL-rUbfgJM9DVNcWaqy4yd3avB4KfwJoMke3uutHZxBWgW81PaQtnSvFoI3AdCgh6g3-aeIMlwa452LRx6RRV3c3zENOso85ssgaJN-sxFfO2LKY6bLG2GtCcPhAKuk0SbVfv1ERdL/s320/dinner+series+7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />(My precious with her Chef-delivered dinner of chicken, fries, and strawberries) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeBkFK_eNTtFaZ2Tn2Qzbq6P21G7Rgyn0xRQENM5mggqoBHZOyZrkjrLWjmu9W5loMjgb5sixjDcUIb70oheD8cKmKTKiSOLFjxDsRXnCgUY24f_IBaSdRnrnuBwwnBmGkZRWD9vzLzBd/s1600-h/dinner+series+4.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303629516443396050" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeBkFK_eNTtFaZ2Tn2Qzbq6P21G7Rgyn0xRQENM5mggqoBHZOyZrkjrLWjmu9W5loMjgb5sixjDcUIb70oheD8cKmKTKiSOLFjxDsRXnCgUY24f_IBaSdRnrnuBwwnBmGkZRWD9vzLzBd/s320/dinner+series+4.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>(Clockwise: Roasted pepper, cucumber, and tomato salad with poached shrimp and Guinness viniagrette, Monte Cristo chicken with raspberry Shiner glaze, Spicy cheddar beer soup, Ace Pear Cider beer puff with pear and brie, and Blue Moon glazed blue cheese balls rolled in walnut and bacon - that was the weird one) </div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdK9b-pnPE5wxfqnFT5JBg0d97BALXXy0LPQofOSlk6-zdTA-1TBkFOQjyNM_0KSxQ61lGyB65w1uaKiMnMS1Zg_y4va4vq6sqJtUUNWZjst9GAXt4jHyhr3b1-OGv6J_DgayeEzdmvF1/s1600-h/dinner+series+3.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303629515654898018" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdK9b-pnPE5wxfqnFT5JBg0d97BALXXy0LPQofOSlk6-zdTA-1TBkFOQjyNM_0KSxQ61lGyB65w1uaKiMnMS1Zg_y4va4vq6sqJtUUNWZjst9GAXt4jHyhr3b1-OGv6J_DgayeEzdmvF1/s320/dinner+series+3.bmp" border="0" /></a><br />(From left: Raspberry peppercorn, Black and Tan - Chocolate ice cream with Guinness and Bass Pale ale with vanilla, layered, with an edible orchid, and the infamous wasabi brown sugar lime ice cream)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, my dinner was fabulous. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all those who came to support me (especially my BEAUTIFUL sister who came from Austin just to be at her lil sista's dinner! And Laura, my little helper who kept me on the edge of sanity that day). And a special thank you to those who couldn't come but supported me anyway! </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmK_x3yrDCWR4CvxAXxXN6quchYRKuyiv1mUT9nqOwCgkzChm8ruW84PlrY85aYUw92LKemIK0AK0JVn2-TqRnuAegpX3XJ8bqHyThxpELwxUvWG0dgn4flixmu7p24YdJHQ_IMrT9MLL/s1600-h/dinner+series+2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303629512445806466" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmK_x3yrDCWR4CvxAXxXN6quchYRKuyiv1mUT9nqOwCgkzChm8ruW84PlrY85aYUw92LKemIK0AK0JVn2-TqRnuAegpX3XJ8bqHyThxpELwxUvWG0dgn4flixmu7p24YdJHQ_IMrT9MLL/s320/dinner+series+2.bmp" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>(Me and my lovely sister. No, I'm not on her lap. We're squatting as to reduce the hereditary double chin picture-face.) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34p31z8VL7aJQlrF9v53SFyiOew1UHoW3_RqCGEe1hBD7YEeVRHsNIXfjauG2n5Mrl90BdCZNO17TRdR1Q8vdzctkZhg2k766gC0Dic71plbY3r9csjI-s0jv0M6_BkEt7ydDKfeCqFZT/s1600-h/dinner+series+6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303635291926262450" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34p31z8VL7aJQlrF9v53SFyiOew1UHoW3_RqCGEe1hBD7YEeVRHsNIXfjauG2n5Mrl90BdCZNO17TRdR1Q8vdzctkZhg2k766gC0Dic71plbY3r9csjI-s0jv0M6_BkEt7ydDKfeCqFZT/s320/dinner+series+6.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>(The prophets, the priest, and the parents. :) )<br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Yesssss. Another check off my "about to graduate" list! Whoop! </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x4tiIduTa42JE9B701pc-K5rcWnlkh0Gp5ErBHuydV9l2PHPvNuAPN_ygD1pvd8Zr6IT4EzDPCE2c-1-tH3wHi-tn_25PMXcqheGejWEfpnlP7AGrd8J6KGObZRnOMNU4onQAT_1CMKc/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303634629055361458" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x4tiIduTa42JE9B701pc-K5rcWnlkh0Gp5ErBHuydV9l2PHPvNuAPN_ygD1pvd8Zr6IT4EzDPCE2c-1-tH3wHi-tn_25PMXcqheGejWEfpnlP7AGrd8J6KGObZRnOMNU4onQAT_1CMKc/s320/038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />(El fin)<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Okay, off to study for a test in Legals manana.<br />Weech me luck. </div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07299811735368540596noreply@blogger.com7