What we've been up to

So lately I've been on a sewing kick.  No, I'm not an experienced sewer, but I thought I'd try my hand at a skirt for Hannah.  Hannah wasn't so into the dress up and photo shoot, but after some struggling, seam adjustments, more struggling, and distractions, I finally got a couple pictures of the completed project on the model.  Don't look too closely . . . and remember it's my first time!  (Okay, I stand corrected.  I have done it before, but that was over 8 years ago!)

On another note . . . Tommy is the defender of the world!

Watch out evil-doers.

Utah Trip

This last weekend we were able to make a quick jaunt to Utah.  It was a short trip, but we were able to cram lots of things in!

GOLFING:

VISITING GRANDPARENTS:

RECONNECTING WITH OLD FRIENDS:

CAMPING PUGH STYLE:

PLAYING IN THE FLOWERS . . .

. . . WITH A FRIEND:

MAKING SILLY FACES WITH COUSINS:

We really had a blast!  We came home tired and happy.  Thanks Anna and Todd for hosting us and being our shuttle service.  It was really fun to see friends and family, especially those we haven't seen in a few years!

Oh, and . . . 

GO COUGARS!!!

PAPER

Not long after Tim and I got married, we were in need of paper.  See, I was still in college and needed some paper to print out my reports, projects, etc., not to mention the other random needs one has for a sheet of paper.  Well, we had a membership to Sam's Club, so on one of my visits, I thought, "Hey, I'll just pick up some paper while I'm here."  So, I proceeded to put some paper in my cart.  

I'll bet you're imagining me putting a ream or maybe a package containing a couple of reams of paper into my cart.  Oh, you would be wrong, dreadfully wrong.  I got a Sam's Club size BOX of paper--a BOX I could barely lift!

I brought my BOX (I have to capitalize it to emphasize how BIG it was) home, so proud of myself for having completed my errand.  Tim got home and was aghast at the amount of paper I had just purchased.

Well, this BOX of paper has been through our entire 7 plus years of marriage so far.  It has lived in four different homes with us, including a trip across the country.  It served me well in my last year of college and now serves Tommy in his school activities.

Sadly, this reliable source of paper will soon be coming to an end.  We've faithfully used it, sheet by sheet until now, of our BOX of paper, only one ream remains.

Dear BOX of paper, I bid you farewell.

Things That Make You Go . . .

AAAAAAHHHHHGGGG!!!

HA HA HA!

AHH . . .

Happy Day to You, Hannah!

Those are the words we've been hearing in our house for weeks.  Hannah has been so excited for her birthday!  The morning began with a stirring rendition of "Happy Birthday" sung by the talented vocalists, Mommy, Daddy, and Tommy.  Hannah was a captivated audience and laughed and clapped afterwards.  Here she is with the one present she got to open in the morning.  She needed a toy to play with during her "Happy Day," right?

That evening Lizzy and Jose came over to have a birthday dinner and enjoy some Olympic fever.  Go Beijing 2008!!  

Finally it was time for Hannah to blow out her candles.  Was all her blowing practice going to pay off?  She got the first one out no problem.  But the second one was a little more stubborn.  While Hannah was blowing it out, she brushed her chin against the flame.  There was no injury, but Hannah was more than happy to have Daddy help her finish the job.

Oh, and the mark on her face is not a bruise.  We went to pick up clothes at the cleaners, and the cute lady who owns it saw that it was Hannah's birthday and painted hearts on her cheek and hand.  Hannah loved it!

Then came present time!  As you can see, Tommy is more than happy to help Hannah open her presents.

I am thankful for my little girl who brings so much laughter and happiness into my life!

My Baby's All Grown Up!

Tommy had his very first day of school today.  Doesn't he look so sweet!  He has been looking forward to kindergarten for awhile now.  On meet the teacher night, we stayed the whole hour and a half because he just didn't want to leave.

This morning I walked him to his classroom and stole a shot of him in his desk before the teacher closed the door.  (Needy mom, I know.  But isn't it cute?)  He was really excited to be at school, and as much as I was anticipating this day, I found that I got a little choked up.  It's weird not having him at home all day.

Hannah really missed him too.  She cried all the way home, and when we got home she kept crying and calling his name until I put a show on to distract her.  In the middle of the show there was a knock at the door and she shouted out, "Tommy home?"  When Tommy finally was home, she loved having her playmate back.  They laughed and ran around together most of the afternoon.

When we got home from picking Tommy up, there were cookies waiting for him.  He got to eat the cookies and tell me all about his first day of school.  I learned about Eddie Bear and the Gingerbread Man.  It sounded like he had so much fun, I couldn't help being so happy for him!

Projects

On Saturday Tim and I took on what I thought wasn't a very ambitious project but which turned out to be a touch longer than I expected.  Why does painting always take longer than you think it will?

For Christmas the kids got a little playhouse for outside.  We put it together fairly soon afterwards but it's been sitting there, unpainted for months.  So, I decided it finally needed to be completed (remember my post about unfinished projects?)  Unfortunately I decided this on a hot, Arizona summer afternoon.  (I know, what was I thinking???)

Tim and I were out there for about 4 hours baking in the sun, painting, watching Hannah and Tommy playing in the wading pool.  I nearly got in there myself!

The obvious downside of this endeavor was the heat and the amount of time it took.  However, we now have a nice, completed playhouse, and the paint took only a few minutes to dry!!

Disclaimer:  The pictures of Hannah are not from our painting adventure, but from her helping Daddy with yard work a few days earlier.