Wordless Wednesday: Dancing Queen Edition

 

 

A Purple Project Weekend

After we returned from MN, I took Sara to Home Depot to pick out some paint for her new room.  She was so excited to choose from all the colors, and we came home with a gallon of the perfect shade of purple.  Sara had been waiting to paint ever since.  Last weekend we were busy with a wedding, picking out furniture for Sara's new room, and preparing to go back to school after spring break, so painting was put off for a week.  Every evening after school this past week, Sara asked whether it was time to paint yet.  We assured her we would paint on Saturday. (Note to self: don't make promises to a three-year-old if you can't keep them.  She woke up Saturday morning ready to paint!)  It took us most of the day, but we finished the room.  The purple is a darker shade than I had anticipated, but it looks so cute.  I'm excited for Sara's furniture to arrive so we can complete the room. 

When we purchased Sara's new bedroom furniture, I purposely didn't buy her a nightstand. We have had an old, fairly heavy duty nightstand sitting in our closet for years just holding a bunch of crap we don't use extra stuff, and I thought it would be the perfect piece to re-purpose for Sara's room. I'm not a huge do-it-yourself-er (although I'd like to be, I lack the time and creativity - both key factors), but figured I could pull off a simple sand and repaint job.

 I started by removing the drawers and fixtures, and then lightly sanding the entire piece.  Then we set to work painting.  The paint we chose is a few shades darker than what went on the walls in Sara's room. 

 Steve had a race this morning, and this turned out to be a perfect Sunday morning project for Sara and me.  We ended up doing about three coats.  I used a roller for the top and sides, and smaller brushes for the front, especially where there is so much carving detail.

 I have never really paid much attention to this nightstand over the years, mostly because it sat in our closet.  But with fresh paint and silver fixtures in place of the fancy gold ones, I think it is adorable.  Even the ornate carvings that I probably wouldn't normally choose look sweet and girly.  I think this piece will be a cute addition to Sara's room.  And to top it all off, this was a fun and easy DIY project!

"I can spell RED!"

Melissa caught this gem on camera while we were in Minnesota.

So it's only a three-letter word and she's got two of them out of order ... but there's plenty of time to learn, and she's just so super cute.  I love it!

brain dump

1. It's Sunday, which means my spring break is basically over.  It's been a good one.  On one hand, I'm really ready to go back to work ... on the other, I would be really okay with not going back.

2. Iowa State lost last night to Kentucky.  We can't pretend to be surprised, but we definitely held out hope for a miracle.  I think they just got intimidated, because they certainly have the talent this year to win that kind of game.  It would have been awe-some. 

3. I had a good check-up at the doc the other day.  We find out baby's gender on April 17th.  Steve and I think it's a girl; everyone around us seems to think boy.  We'll see.

4. We're in the *slow* process of moving Sara to her new room.  The first major piece involved getting rid of the furniture that was in it, which we did this weekend.  Sara picked out purple paint, so slapping that on the walls is the next step.  We're going to put bunk beds in her room, and I have a little re-purposing project I'm going to try.  I hope it works!

5. I have completely fallen off the map when it comes to making dinner.  Between Steve, who runs a lot in the evenings, and Sara, who won't eat much of anything these days besides eggs and cereal, I feel like it's a wasted effort.  However, I really need to get better about it, and would like to start by following in the footsteps of some friends who are really good about meal planning.  Just need to do it.  I'm open to dinner ideas ...

6. "Juno" is on TV this morning; I love this movie.

7. There are only a handful (five, I think) of "Desperate Housewives" episodes left ... ever.  One is tonight.  I can't wait.  I'm still so sad that Mike died last week.  What could tonight's episode possibly hold?

8. I guess winter has officially passed us by this year.  It's mid-March, and winter just never happened.  After all the snow and cold we had last year, this feels so odd.  But now temps are in the 60s and 70s on a daily basis, so I guess the cold skipped us.  In fact, I couldn't even find the cold during our two trips to MN this winter.  Crazy.

9. Pics are from Sara's Easter cookie baking spree with Auntie in MN last week.  Easter is just around the corner, and this Easter Bunny has a lot of work to do. 

10. I love this post that my friend, Allison, shared on FB.  It's aimed at dads, but I think it's an important read for moms (especially this one), too.  It's long, but worth your time.

11. Have a great week!

Spring Break

Sara and I spent the first part of our spring break week in MN visiting Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie and Adam.  Guess who forgot to bring a camera?  That's right.  So until I get my hands on the pictures my mom took, I'll just have to tell you about our trip.  The weather was unseasonably beautiful: sunny skies, temps in the high 60s and low 70s ... this is pretty remarkable considering we're talking about a place full of people who wouldn't blink at three feet of snow in March.  We enjoyed hearing Stampede play, visiting the Como Zoo, making Easter cookies, swimming at the Y (just Sara and Grandpa ... no suits for this lady with a belly just yet), starting a new puzzle (that I sadly had to leave incomplete), and just relaxing (and possibly watching "Tangled" somewhere between four and six times) at G & G's house.

After their Christmas cookie baking spree back in December, Sara requested that Auntie make Easter cookies with her this trip.  As you can imagine, Auntie happily agreed and then promptly became responsible for the bulk of the work, but Sara enjoyed decorating and was quite proud of the finished products.  Melissa has always been the family baker, and I love it that Sara has made the association and knows it's special to spend time baking with her.

At one point during the trip, we all Skyped with Grandma Lou.  Someone made reference to Sara "dancing up a storm" at the Stampede show, and Sara's immediate reaction was, "What storm?  What storm are you talking about?"  It made us all laugh ... she doesn't quite have a handle on her figurative language yet, but clearly picked up on a word she knows in one context but didn't understand in another.  Throughout the visit, we also laughed frequently at Sara's references to Grandpa's lack of hair.  Driving to the zoo, she was sitting right behind him and piped up with, "Grandpa, you need some ha-er."  She said hair with such a funny emphasis, and since we all laughed and repeated her, she spent the rest of the trip randomly telling Todd that he needs "ha-er" (with greater exaggeration each time) to make us all laugh.  It worked every time.

Usually for the last 24 hours of any MN visit, I have a pit in my stomach about the impending goodbye.  It always just plain sucks.  (I don't like that word, but it works here.)  At the airport today I kept thinking to myself, I hate these goodbyes.  (Also not a nice word, but it is fitting here.  Sara is really into mean and nice words right now, and she would tell me I shouldn't use it, which might be why I'm having a guilty conscience about even typing it.)  Anyway, my mind inevitably drifted to the funny - because it's easier than the sad - and remembered Lloyd.  Now show me someone who doesn't laugh at this, and I'll show you a super boring person who obviously didn't spend most of the mid-90s watching "Dumb and Dumber" on repeat (with an occasional "Clueless" viewing thrown in for good measure) with their besties.

With part of our week remaining, the following items are on the agenda: a little exercise at the rec center, a severely needed grocery run, loads of laundry, a stop at Home Depot for paint samples for Sara's new room, a visit to Charming Charlie for inexpensive-yet-cute green jewelery to wear to a St. Patty's Day wedding, a St. Patty's Day wedding (obvious?), an OB appointment, and hopefully a trip to Half Price Books.  If we're feeling extra ambitious, we might throw in a trip to Rooms to Go, but I'm not counting on that.  It is spring break, after all.  Hope you're having a good one (if you get one), or at the very least, enjoying the beautiful weather that seems to be sharing its wealth a little bit of everywhere.

Recently ...

... I've had total writer's block, as evidenced by my lack of blogging.  As also evidenced by the fact that this post will be done in bullet format.

... Life has been busy.  Not exciting-I-have-so-much-to-report-busy, but just regular too-many-hours-spent-working-busy.  The kind where the day is over before it started and you're not really sure what (if anything) you've accomplished.

... People around me are talking about all the great new shows they are watching.  I listen with envy because so many of them sound good, and previews I've seen look good, but I know I won't join in watching.  I started this season by making a commitment to four shows.  I've dropped two ("Pan Am" and "Parenthood"), we're multiple weeks behind on "The Office", and I'm just hanging on to "Desperate Housewives" because, gosh darn it, I've been in from the start.  I wish I hadn't quit "Parenthood", still want to be on "The Good Wife" bandwagon, am interested in the new show (whose name escapes me) about the man whose family is in a car accident (or some sort of accident) and he lives his life in two parallel realities in the aftermath.  There is good TV out there, so I hope someone is enjoying it.  In the meantime, I still find myself giving up precious moments of my life watching "The Bachelor" ... will it never end?

... My memory has been failing me (see the above reference to a show whose name I can't remember).  Yesterday morning I realized that it is March, and that I completely forgot to get my car inspection done in February, when it was due.  I never forget that sort of thing.  The other day it took two people helping me to think of the word discrimination.  And more frequently, I've found myself in a room for something, and I can't even begin to remember what that something might be.  I totally blame pregnancy, but I'm also currently reading a book about a woman dealing with early-onset Alzheimer's, so it's a little disconcerting.  Just kidding.  Sort of.

... Sara has really been getting into some of her more difficult puzzles.  That definitely makes her a recognized member of our family. 

... Also among her growing interests is the alphabet.  She's constantly asking, "What does ____ start with?"  We'll respond by making the sound of the letter so she can identify it.  She has a few favorites: b, t, s, c, and m.  Now after reading books before bed, Sara says, "Let's think of things that start with ____," and before I leave her room we have to name as many things as possible that begin with the chosen letter.  It's funny to me that this is an enjoyable activity for her, but as the daughter of two language-minded parents, I shouldn't be surprised.  Still, we're hoping for her inner scientist to emerge at some point.

... I booked two tickets to (paradise?) Minnesota.  Sara and I are going to head up next Saturday for a few days over my spring break.  I'm looking forward to visiting, relaxing, and just getting the heck outta dodge for a bit.  Sometimes I just need a change of scenery.

... We've been consuming our fair share of Girl Scout cookies.  It's always sad when you realize they're gone, and you won't have any again for another year (at which point I'll be dieting and will try my hardest not to indulge).

... I'm finding myself stuck in that awkward place between regular clothes and maternity clothes.  If I could wear t-shirts everyday, this wouldn't be such a problem.  Last Sunday, Sara looked at me and asked, "Mom, why do you wear those jeans everyday?" (Yes, she really asks things like this).  For the record, she rarely sees me in jeans because I usually go straight from work clothes to sweats, but in her defense, she has seen these particular jeans a lot recently on the weekends.  Why?  Because they fit.  End of story.

... Allergy season has hit, and I'm sure missing my go-to meds.  Even though they knock me out and usually only work for a few hours, they sure beat the nothing I get to take now.  Sara is feeling it, too.  I don't think I will ever get used to listening to her wheeze.  It just pains me. 

... I haven't taken a single picture, so I apologize if that's what you came here hoping to find.