Summer Fun Weekend 1: Monterey

We've been pretty spoiled so far and I have a feeling we've got some awesome summertime fun ahead so here is Post #1 in whats sure to be a series.

May 16th was Boz's birthday so we had our first EVER family vacation (that didn't include extended family). Short and modest, but a BLAST all the same. We went a little south to Monterey and hit up the aquarium Friday. An event so anticipated, Elyette learned about the days of the week ("Now we go to the aquarium?...Oh, what day is it...when's Friday?!"). We got some library books to study up on our sea creatures. Elyette got to teach what she learned about octopuses and sea horse...Yes, Daddy, the daddy sea horses do carry their babies in their pouches before they are born.
Elyette wanted to touch the star fish more than anything else. They were too busy to look most of the time :).
After hours and hours at the aquarium we checked into our hotel, Casa Munras. We recommend it. It was the great price, for the area, nice and we liked its proximity. There we swam for an hour before going to get some dinner. Then we got some ice cream and headed back and watched a movie the hotel had. We got some Beauty and the Beast sequel thing for Elyette-- it was HORRIBLE and we wanted to kill ourselves. Of course Elyette didn't think so :).

Saturday was a SPECTACULAR day on the beach! It was clear and 75! (not too common, especially for May). So there was no need for the sweatshirts I packed. We visited 2 beaches and a tide pool area. Jack instantly went for the water and chased in and out of waves, convincing Elyette that braving the cold water was worth it. Jack biffed it a few times, but it wasn't until he biffed it big time and got his face pretty much suction cupped into the sand that he started avoiding the water. The tide pools were a good break.

By 4pm we were pretty pooped (and a little fried-Boz and I, kids were just fine) and headed for home. We got some Jeffery's (burger place near us) and "partied hardy", as Elyette would say. (That hot pie melted those 4 candles pretty well that there was no way we were putting in all 27.) We gobbled some homeade berry pie a la mode (his bday "cake" every year) and opened presents. They were all pretty lame, but he did get a pretty sweet shirt that Elyette picked out and I painted :). Look familiar to anyone?Here's to a memorable weekend!

So Big!

So Dude's potty-trained and Elyette reads! :)

Well just kidding about Jack being potty-trained, but he at least lets us know when he has the urge to poop in the tub. He's pooped on the potty twice now thanks to that (and I do mean THANKS!). 

Elyette really is reading though, I know I'm bragging, but its really exciting to witness. We had no idea she could, but a few months ago after mastering her letter sounds in a matter of days we thought we'd get some BOB books for kicks. Welp, she breezed through the first 4 in the first 2 days of having them. Whenever we say "Elyette, you're learning to read!!!" She corrects us with "No, I can read" :). So there you have it. Exciting stuff.

Is it Too Late for an Easter Post?

Just kidding, this was actually taken today. She's been on a carrot kick lately (no complaints here!).

But, since I've been a TOTAL blog slacker, here are a few things from Easter anyway:

Elyette's Easter Dress ...oh and Little Baby's too
(Yes I know. I'm a freak, but Elyette made a specific request and I'm addicted to pleasing her via sewing. What can I say? She makes me feel like wonder woman).
To bad it was not actually worn on Easter since the poor kid was still puking her guts out :P. You can still see her little sunken eyes in these pic taken 2 weeks later. She's gorgeous anyway!

Some of Dude for good measure (and because he's just so dang cute).

And in case you weren't sufficiently uplifted Easter, here's a video clip demonstrating the TRUE meaning of Easter:


And on a happier note...and 'cause it makes him look smart :)...

Enjoy!

Salamander Slim

Last weekend we took a trip to the ranch. The weather was great so we took the wads out for a jeep ride a couple times to go frolic in the meadows. I guess I'll let the pictures do that talking. I think they clearly show what parts they liked best.

Slim and her Salamander named Sid.


Sticking wildflowers in her hair.

Little Dude just liked throwing stuff into the creek.

He also thought the dirt bike was pretty cool.

My little dorks.

Book Reccomendations?

Does anyone have recommendations for beginner readers? I'm eying these "BOB" books. Are they good (not that a story about "sam sat on cat" is very intriguing anyway :))? Any others?

Good for Something

Sewing isn't profitable ($ speaking), but if for no other reason, learn to sew for gift giving. I love being able to give thoughtful gifts, but have never had the finances to satisfy this much. Finally having a chance, and desire :),  to expand my sewing know how has helped in this department. I've even been able to make some things for others to give as gifts. These aren't new, but were personally made for the reciepients all the same. On the list of creations: 

Baby Sleep Sacks,

 Scripture totes, 

Crayon/Pencil/Marker Rolls,

and girly tiered skirts...

Anyone want anything?

Oh and if your interested that green sleep sack with birds is for sale ($15-wholesale price :)) since it has issues and some obvious and not so obvious flaws, its rather embarrassing, but still totally functional.

On a Mission

What that is, only they know...

Speaking of Jack...

The last few days I've been keeping a running list of "Jack's words" since he seems to be picking up a new word daily now. He's always been a really good communicator and we've been really quite blown away by his speaking and its clarity. He repeats most of what we tell me really well.

The best is when we overhear Elyette, of whom clarity is not one of her many strengths :), getting Jack to repeat words. "Jack say 'fow'-'wa' (flower)...good" and he repeats just as she asks. :). His favorite sounds are G, L, K and S and of course, speaks jibber jabber all day long. You can often tell what he means by his "tone of voice" :). Without further ado, here are the words/phrases Jack uses regularly without coaching as of March 22, 2009, in no particular order:

Thank you- I think I'll be able to add "please" the list too in a few days.
Cinderella- This would be one of your first words if you lived with Elyette too.
Oh No Look- hahaha, I love the way he says this... so concerned.
Look

"D"- said in reference to any letter he sees (his sister is trying to teach him the alphabet).
Shoes
Mine- not our favorite
Help- said in a pathetic, weepy little voice that is irresistible :).
No, make that NO!
Don't
Doggy- most of his favored stuffed animals get this name, if fact I hear him called for "doggie" from his bed right now.
Daddy
Mum

Elyette- its really hard to tell he's saying this one, but I think I'm starting to catch on that he says it all time.
Papa- Grampa
Mama- Gramma
Book
Airplane- when he hears a plane he looks up and say "uh oh", its kinda funny. He says "Au pain" a lot of the time too
Umbrella- again, if you lived with Elyette, you'd know this one.
Nuh Night
Bub Bye or Bye
Hi
Uh Oh
Oops or Oopsies
Ouch- said quietly under his breath much of the time (like "outs"). Also pretty funny.
Ow- said much like "ouch", but mostly used when daddy if rough housing with him :).
Amen- with a lot of zeal!
All gone- with hands out, of course.
Car- used interchangably with "truck"
Pooh-
Tigger- Eeyore is sometimes said, but he usually has to be reminded what to call Eeyore.
Water- sometimes says and means Milk.
Yes- not often used
Yeah- used OFTEN, with much enthusiasm.
K- if you end a statement/question in "Ok" he will always respond "K".
Where are you- used mostly when watching for daddy at night.
Yay
Go!
Here ya go
Cool- he thinks he is pretty cool too.
Stinky- while pinching his nose. He started using this one really soon thanks to pooping at least 4 times a day :P.
Nose- he's pretty good at picking it.

whoa :)

Two, Three- always skips "one"

Banana- he loves them

Ball

Duck

Elyette's Quilt

This is an overdue post since Elyette graduated from toddler bed to big girl bed mid January, but I've failed to get a good final picture of it, but this will have to do. I bought the fabric way back in June 2008. I didn't know what pattern scheme I wanted at the time so I didn't know just how much of each to get. You can tell I've NEVER done quilting before so I way over did it. Extra is always welcome though.

I was really freaked out at first because I was finishing the quilt by our energy bulbs (that give that green hue to everything) and thought I HATED IT, but thank goodness I saw it by natural light the next day and it grew on me again... big relief.

Anyway, so here's what I have to say about quilting :). For all those that keep saying, "oh, I can only do straight lines, I can't do clothes..." etc. BULL! I've pieced things before, but nothing this big. Its far from perfect. Quilting, in my opinion, requires much more precision, exactness, and patience than clothing and if you flub it up, its less forgiving. I also cheated and just used buttons in the small squares to dart it down. There was NO way I was going to attempt sewing each piece down or do a free hand pattern or anything like that.

While I enjoyed watching it come together, quilting's just not for me (at this point in my sewing exploration). I think mostly because I'm an instant result kind of gal. Working on anything little by little is hard for me. I want to see the result in a matter of days not weeks/months. So to all those with so much more perseverance and patience for fine crafts than myself, my hat goes off to you!

I will say that quilting did help me pick up several technique's and tricks that have been super valuable in making my ideas actually work out into reality, even if they aren't quilts ;).

He's Well Read.

Like many of us do, Jack likes to read in his bed so we always allow him to have a few books in bed, but this is just ridiculous! :)

The explanation: He simply was reaching for them last night so Elyette helped him out :). With 37 books! How someone can sleep with all those is a mystery to me.

Third Generation Cellist?

If a violin counts as a cello for a 3 year old :)It's in her blood...

New song

It's been quite some time since I put a song up here. That is because it's been quite some time since I've recorded a new song. Well, this week the wife and wads were out of town, so I pretty much parked myself in front of the computer and recorded this song all weekend. It will eventually be completely re-recorded, but I think the recording quality of this is good enough to show. Oh well, at least I was proud of the fact that starting from scratch, I got the song done in four days. I don't expect that to happen again for a while.

There is one spot where the guitars and bass just stop for a couple measures and the drums play on their lonesome. I couldn't for the life of me think of a good riff to put there, so I'll fill it in later if something good ever comes to me.

Now to find someone who can sing. Hmmmm.

Download Here: http://www.bozrecords.com/mp3s/riffs/megaBoz6.mp3

Before and After

So I've had our room "made over" since September (it was my bday present to myself), but I finally got around to taking "after" pics (sadly the before pics look better, it was a cloudy day today). I feel rather deceitful on this one, this is not what our room looks like on a typical day. Picture more toys, books, thread, fabric, iron and such strewn about and there you go. . .

Before- BLAH

Spent less than $300 on ceiling and table lamps, hardware, fabric for curtains, bedding, organizational shelves and drawers for closet and my sewing junk and got:

After- Ta da!

I wouldn't call it completely done. I'd still like a little more color here and there maybe. Any suggestions?