shower stuff

Abbie wanted a coffee bar for the shower . . . this was before we decorated with tissue paper balls and paper lanterns.  This turned out so cute after I put pictures of Luke and Abbie on the old window.  I hope someone got a good picture of it.  I had intentions of getting more pictures than I did - but got busy.  Below are the pictures of Luke and Abbie.

This picture of Abbie is sooooo cute!!!!! 

And Luke J . . . Of course I am his mother - so I think he is cute too!

We tried to find similar pictures of the two of them . . . sort of fun how similar they were.

This kid always woke up so happy when he was little.  LOL

Christmas Abbie . . .

 . . . Christmas Luke

So I didn't get too many pictures - so hopefully others did and will send me some.  Just a few pictures that I did take.

Coffee favors . . .

 . . . with the label Luke made.  This was one of my favorite things.

Kasey turned out to be quite good at making the tissue paper balls.  I don't know what I would have done without her getting ready the night before and getting the food ready.

And what would I have done without this guy!  Three trips to the grocery store and he ended up making the fruit salad for me. 

He not only made the watermelon cradle and baby . . . but made all the melon balls.

It really turned out cute.  So funny watching him work so hard on it and making sure the ears were just right.  It was a fun day!!! 

Party favors done!

Kasey helped me put together the coffee bags last night.  I saw some small foil bags of coffee at Party Works - but couldn't really spend the $5 each that they wanted on them.  So decided to make them myself.  Isn't that better anyway?

My favorite thing about these is the label . . . Baby a Brewin'

I had asked Luke to come up with something for the label.  Originally we were looking for pictures of a baby for on them, but I like what he came up with so much better.

I am having so much fun getting ready for this baby shower . . . lot's to do today.  I better get going!

new chair cushion

I can't remember where I found this little chair.  I believe I only paid $7 for it.  I love chairs and can't walk past a cute one for $7.  I decided this one needed a new look.

It has needed a new look for quite some time - I just never got around to doing it.  I was motivated my some pretty gold fabric I found on the clearance table last week for $5.  Luke was giving me a hard time this morning about covering the chair when I had so many other things to do . . .

. . . but a little fabric and a few staples - and it looks so much better - good enough to hold a bear for Abbie's shower.  I have recovered from things going wrong yesterday and all the work it created.  When I say I have recovered - I am motivated and moving forward and not thinking about about all the things that I should have gotten done yesterday.  As far as how my body feels after all the moving furniture and cleaning that I did - I am not completely recovered.  I'm somewhat sore and moving a little slow today.  I hate that! (But I'm not going to let it stop me)

Some days are like that . . .

9:45 . . . just about done with the carpets and the hose gets plugged - so no steam is coming out  (this is what started the 4 hour process of getting it to run earlier in the morning).  We only have about a 4 foot by 5ft area left.  We decide rather that take the time to undo the whole thing (which we know how to do now), we used an upholstery cleaner to finish the last part. Finally . . . done.  10:05 . . . out of nowhere a top cabinet shelf falls and everything on it slides onto the floor (lots of glass, vinegar, and pink sprinkles).  Richard and I just looked at each other and laughed.  Luke helped me clean up the mess.  I kept thinking things like . . . at least it happened now and not Saturday while I had company . . . at least it was mostly vinegar (that is a good cleaner anyway) . . . at least it wasn't the shelf below - there would have been flour and sugar everywhere.  Sadly, the Mickey Mouse cookie jar that we have had since Luke was a baby did not survive the fall.  Since the bed was full of all the stuff that needed to get up and out of the way while we cleaned the carpets - Richard fell asleep on the floor, Luke was on the sofa (on the patio) - playing video games.  I finally laid down around 12:30.  My bed of choice - the love seat in the dining room.  I was so tired that I couldn't fall to sleep - my mind kept swirling around all the things that I have to get done today. 

Some days are like that! 

day not going as planned

This is the label that Luke made to use on our favors for the shower - the favors being bags of coffee.  I think they turned out so cute.  I had to smile when he pointed out that he made the steam from the coffee pink.  (It's all about the details)  : )  I will post another picture after I get them all put together.

With Stella's help of course - we got them printed.  Her reaction to the printer was fun to watch.  After printing one page - she would look where the paper fed in and then walk around to where the paper came out after printing.  I think Stella is too smart for her own good sometimes.  : ) 

Today isn't going quite like I expected.  Richard brought home a great carpet cleaner from work - so we should be cleaning carpets - Right? . . . The wand fell on the floor and a brass connector that has everything to do with feeding the water broke.  Just what we didn't need to happen . . . but I don't get too shook up about things like that because he can fix about anything.  It does delay cleaning the carpets though.  I have been dusting and cleaning while I am waiting for the carpet cleaner to be fixed.  Dusting and cleaning would be so much easier without all this junk that I like.  I have eliminated a lot of the clutter in my house the last few years - but there is something about a shelf filled with my favorite stuff that I like - hate the dust though! 

I can't think about everything that I have to get done before Saturday morning - and here I sit on the computer . . . time to get busy!

Just a spoon full of chocolate!

 This is the first time I've ever made chocolate spoons.  Now I want to make more of them.  Not because I am big chocolate fan . . . it is just that they were so easy and fun to make.  And with the huge selection of colored spoons and sprinkles - you could make any combination of anything.  I am going to have to find a reason to make more of them.

 Just a spoon full of chocolate . . .

. . . a little cellophane and ribbon - CUTE!

Give me a C . . .

 I finished my Charlotte pennant for Abbie's shower.  (While I was stringing the pearls through it I was wishing that they had picked a shorter name.)  I had to hang up the pennant right away in case Stella would take an interest in it and tear it up.  So I started putting up a few things for the shower.  (Instead of a diaper raffle - I included a poem with the invitations that asked guests to give Charlotte a book in lieu of a card.)   I thought it would be cute to include some books with my decorations. These are the books that Richard , Luke, and I am giving Charlotte.  Richard picked out Go Dog Go! and Luke's favorite Where The Wild Things Are.  Time to get busy . . . I have a lot to do this week!

Maple Bacon Cupcakes

I tried one of these a few weeks ago at a bakery . . . I got curious about the recipe and found one online.

They turned out pretty good - although it was getting late and I was in a hurry.  I should have chilled the frosting a little before putting it on the cakes.

But over all they were very tasty!  I will definitely make them again.  I am anxious to have someone try them to see what they think.  I picked up some cupcake papers for Abbie's baby shower yesterday.  I was amazed at the huge selection they had.  It made me want to make cupcakes - just to use all the cute paper holders . . . monkeys, hearts, flowers, princess crowns . . . way too much fun!  Now I have to look for some more tasty recipes . . . mmmmm!

love this onesie

I decided that the quilt that Abbie asked me to make needed little matching onesies.  I know I should be completing the quilt before starting these - but I had to try just one.  I haven't appliqued in such a long time - it was fun.  Tonight I am finishing up the quilt and hopefully will have time to make a couple more of these.  I want to do a star, moon, and a tree - oh and maybe a peace sign.  I may have to buy some more onesies.  I really need more hours in every day . . . but tomorrow is the last day of summer school - Then I will have some extra time!

Luke and Abbie had an appointment yesterday for an ultra-sound.  I haven't gotten copies of the pictures yet - but saw them.  Looks like Charlotte has some chubby cheeks.

shower prep . . . with Stella

I was trying to get organized this past weekend.  I had stuff for the shower that I was getting together.  Whatever I do . . .

 . . . Stella has to be right in the middle of it.  I really don't mind - just have to be sure she doesn't chew up anything or start playing with it.  Abbie and I  made some tissue paper balls the other night.  We thought it better to just put those away where she couldn't even see them.

Sunday night - I was tyring to cut some paper.  I guess she didn't want me to do that.

It is all about Stella!

chocolate fountain fun

I am going to use this chocolate fountain at Abbie's baby shower - but I thought I better give it a try first to make sure I knew what I was doing.  I had no problem getting people over to give it a test run.  We used pineapple, strawberries, pretzels - just to give it a try.

We ended up dipping ice cream cones.  Lily had more fun dipping than eating - but she did end up with a fair amount of chocolate on her face.

A little chocolate . . . a little banana . . . a little more chocolate . . . just add ice cream.

Stella Helps

I started putting together a quilt that Abbie asked me to make for Charlotte.  I am so excited about her choice of fabrics and the colors.  It really is much brighter than it looks in this photo.  I was excited when she asked me to make and it and even more excited when I saw the fabric that she had picked out.

Stella . . . as usual is right in the middle of it all.

 Just as she was when I was cutting out the invitations for Abbie's baby shower. 

Really?  She can make doing things slightly more difficult . . . but who cares.  : )

So . . . is she really that interested in what I am doing . . . or has she figured out that all this fuss if for someone that may just interfer with some of the attention she gets?  : )