My apology

Dearest blogworld,

So sorry for my absence.  I haven't posted to you in almost 3 months, and haven't read any other blogs in at least 2 months.  I really wasn't trying to break up with you--but I guess we were on a break.  I hope to restart regular posting as I record major milestones for Emmie and Colin.  I have been so bad for the last 18 months or so.  Let's be friends again, okay?

key west

Not quite a month ago we got to enjoy a quick trip to Key West courtesy of Scott's work.  It was a very nice time--though it would have been more fun if I weren't pregnant.  The travel was difficult for me as was all the walking in the heat with my swelling.  Nonetheless is was fun. It was actually better than I was expecting.  The history of KW was interesting, the vistas were beautiful, and the food delicious.   We didn't take many photos, but here are a few pics. 

 

the weirdest part of Key West: all the wild, roaming chickens and roosters.  so strange.  if you know me well, you know I am petrified of birds, so this was a challenge for me.  I find I'm less afraid of poultry than normal birds, but they still make me uneasy if they are close.  At one restaurant we ate, the rooster loved me and just kept getting.  A small hen at the same restaurant took a nap in a planter right next to our table.  Creepy.  We asked why there were so many, and it is illegal to kill anything with feathers on KW, so there you have it-a major problem. 

 

Mile marker 0--the most stolen road sign in FL

 

 A view of our little key

 

Pulling their weight out on our booze cruise. The female sailors needed help hoisting the sail.  It was not overly comforting.

 

 A view from the dock where we caught the boat shuttle from our Key to the main part of Key West. You had to be with it or you could really waste a lot of your time b/c it only left from each side every 30 minutes.

 

 

Waiting on the dock.  I did not have cool enough clothes for sure.  I was so hot. 

 

Riding the shuttle out--this is our key.  We stayed in the cottage to the right of the 2-story.

 

Another view

Blog apology part 221

I feel like most of the time with this blog I'm apologizing for not using it.  The whole debacle with my laptop caused lots of problems, but we got it replaced this weekend, so I'm able to easily type again. Unfortunately I have had a record low in picture taking this year.  2012 was the first year I didn't need to make more than 1 CD of all my pictures for the year.  How sad is that!  Poor C.  His scrapbook for age 4 will be pitifully small. 

I did take some pictures of my Valentine's Décor.  I'm good at taking these photos b/c I do it for my own sanity, so I will remember what to do the next year. 

As far as C goes...not so good.  He has been getting so good at riding his bike, but he needs some help with the huge hills in our neighborhood, so I don't feel like I can fiddle with a camera while he is on it.  We haven't done much exciting since Key West, and I only used my phone for photos.  I will try to pull some though. 

I have only allowed like 3 photos taken of me my entire pregnancy b/c I look like the Goodyear Blimp version of myself.  It is not cute. I know that is very vain, but there it is.

 

This garland needs some more work (extra red ribbons b/w the cards), but it's a start.  Thanks Pinterest.  All cards in the suit of Hearts

 

a mixed paper banner I made

a jar of feathers--the doily wrapped jar is an idea adapted from Pinterest as well

 

a garland for my stairs from fabric scraps

 

the stuffed hearts and runner I made 3 years ago

 

the total display on my entry table 

 

another jar inspired by pinterest and just swapping the aqua candles from my winter display for pink ones

another scrappy pennant banner

 

jar of hearts on DR table

 

mantle with another mixed paper garland and various jars filled with conversation hearts, valentine's juju candy, and feather-tipped arrows I made w/hearts in the jar as well.

 

a tiny scrappy banner for my DR

A couple of xmas photos

this was the jingle bell parade for the kids at our church family xmas party.  it was a lot of fun.  we sang fun xmas songs together, we ate potluck, and there were some skits/games.  

Our gingerbread house

Another from the church party

meeting Santa that the firemen brought to our neighborhood.  it was so cool.  

nursery reveal

We are probably 85% done with the nursery, so I thought I would share some photos.  I have made everything hanging on the walls (except the antique shoes my SIL, Laura, found for us), plus the blankie and elephant stuffed animal.  I also refashioned C's old mobile, just reusing the bones. I made the elephants for it and the coverings. We still need to recover our glider and solve our closet door dilemma, but mostly there.  My FIL is also making us a storage/shelf piece, but that will come later.

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Winter decor

I spruced up my house with some winter decor. 

 not ready to take down the Xmas cards

 hard to see b/c of the shadows, but it is a metallic silver garland hanging and a cream scarf on the coffee table.

 a scarf I made all of my own design out of bunny tail yarn and a paper wreath I tore apart and some wooden snowflakes on super clearance. 

Red Envelope Activities 10-25

I am woefully behind on blogging, but it is hard to type quickly without an h, g, or ' key, so I have to fiddle with the onscreen keyboard. So I'll keep it short. 

We succeeded in completing all but 2 of our red envelopes.  Weather, time, and crowds beat us on attempting to go to St. Charles, see the zoo lights, or view the lights at Tilles Park. 

Here is what we did though to get to te 25 activities.  Sometimes we had to do 2 in one day to make up for times that just didn't work out or C just didn't want to do.  It was lots of fun. 

10.  make a Gingerbread house and listen to Xmas music

 

11.  watch A Year Without a Santa Claus

 

12. Secret gift of Nativity to another Family

 

13.  Select our family gift to World Vision

 

14. watch xmas movie at Nana and Papa’s

 

15. exchange gifts w/ Nana and Papa and listen to Xmas music

 

16. watch Elf on a Shelf

 

17. school xmas program; read a Christmas Oranges and share a chocolate orange

 

18.  Tues, Dec 18— Make treats for  and watch How the Grinch Stole Xmas

 

19.  See firemen bring Santa to the neighborhood

 

20. Watch Prep and Landing

 

21. Trip to Petsmart to buy dogs’ Xmas gifts

  

22. Read Snowflake Bentley and paint a snowflake 


23.  hot cocoa night and xmas movie of choice

 

24. read the story of the birth and Twas the Night Before Xmas; open a special gift (jammies)

 

25. open gifts