Baby Girl's Cozy Corner

I put together her bassinet today.  So - she can come now - any time...

I love my bassinet, it is similar to the one my Mom used.  I hunted it down off of e-bay when I was expecting Grahm.  It is vintage/antique and you know I love anything old.  I made the cover and change out the color of ribbon depending on boy or girl.  I love keeping the babies in my room until they are a few months old (they can nap in their room, but I want them in mine at night!).

The stand Jason made works great.  I didn't want her too low to the ground or too high.  It is perfect, well it needs a cute blanket or two (but I leave that to the Great Grandma's, and Grandma).  Oh, and it needs someone to re-tie the bows, again...

Today the doctor scheduled her arrival for next Friday!  If all goes according to plan she will be exactly 8.5 years younger than Jayce, 6.006 years younger than Grahm, 6 months younger than her cousin Sailor.  These numbers are exact!!  Charlotte is exactly 6 months younger than Sailor's big sister Atalyn - so we are keeping the pattern.  However (and don't tell Jason) I am keeping all my finger and toes crossed that she will come earlier than that - he is trying to avoid an uniform inspection.

Trying to get it all done

Well, I am making some head way.  The dining/living room is painted.  The walls in the boys room, Charlotte's room, and my room are painted.  The crazy thing is that the colors all look blue even though only 1 is actually blueish all the rest are greenish.  I still need to paint ceilings, which I am dreading.  I need Jason home to move the ladder and furniture and maybe I could get it done a little quicker.

I have also been spray painting a few things for the babies room.  3 shelves, laundry basket (already done and not in the picture), bassinet stand (built by Jason just to get us by, since I don't have my cedar chest to sit it on), and a rocking chair.

The rocking chair was pulled out of a project box in my Grandpa's basement after he passed away.  I am so glad I have a husband who can build anything.  He figured out the puzzle and made any new pieces that need replaced and it has been waiting for about 5 years for me to finish it.  So, now I just need the right fabric - can't find what I want so I might just do a light pink so it doesn't fight in the babies room.

Still Here!

I have not been able to get pics of all the things I am trying to do or not do during this last week and half before baby girl arrives.  So - hopefully tomorrow I will have more to write.  I just wanted to let everyone know that I am continuing my tradition of not having babies arrive before their due date!

Growing Up/Child Labor

When did he get big enough to be real help outside?  Missing the little boy and loving the big one!

He needs to work on straight lines and his Dad needs to invest in a decent mower (something without wheels about to fall off and a little self propelling would help).  Way to go Jayce!

Nesting Cont..

I am so fed up with not having everything put away, so today I was a mess.  I debated calling my mom - but who wants to listen to a hormonally induced pity party.  So I sucked it up.  Charlotte was having a hard day too.  So at 9:30am when I couldn't handle her constant crying, I tucked her into her bed with her silky, dolly, bunny and blanket.  She actually will ask to get tucked in sometimes when she is just having a rough day.  She fell asleep about 10am and woke up about 2:15ish.  She also went to bed like a dream - so it can't just be me!!

I finished painting the Living Room and I love it.  I think once I managed to cover up all that awful almond (cream, beige) color that it stopped clashing.  It is one of my favorites - it is called Cloud Nine.  I will have to get pictures , but will have to wait until morning for some natural light and maybe with the dinning room walls done. 

The baby should be here in 2 weeks -so I will see if I can get all the painting done (not her bedroom, because the paint machine is broken again and I want pink and white). Did you hear me say 2 WEEKS - I don't even have her room unpacked and clothes found.  No wipes, no lotion, you name it - I don't know where it is or have it purchased.  Freaking out.

And this is after having worked on it for a day or two, of course in between taking care of kiddos. 

Nesting

I have finally been able to get started painting my house.  I have been patiently waiting for the paint machine on base to get fixed.  Paint out in town runs about $60/gallon.  We decided that was some expensive decorating and that I would have to wait.  Well, I finally was able to pick  up a few gallons and start. 

I had decided that this house was going to be different colors than our Milwaukee house.  I was getting tired of them after 5 years, some I still love and would do again in a heart beat - but others...

I decided to use sea glass as my inspiration colors - so we visited the beach and collected as many different colors as we could. I narrowed it down to my favorites and then found paint colors that matched.

After getting them home, I am worried that they are all basically the same color.

I started painting the living room and I am freaking out...  I am debating stopping now or finishing.   It looks so yucky and grey!

Love the Creativeness!

When we were shopping for some school clothes I came across a section of darling baby dresses.  I was on the way to take Charlotte potty when they caught my eye.  When we headed back to find the boys we hurried over to check them out.  I was thinking they would be cute for the baby (and summery since all of Charlotte's baby clothes are winter). 

I really like the 2 on the right!

I think the red or white one could be really sweet.

When I got closer and realized they were made of terry cloth, I started thinking that they were cute/fancy swimsuit cover ups for babies.  And then I saw the sign...

Yes - these are hand towels - and rather complete dresses!

A very late UnBirthday! - with a post edit

This year Charlottes' UnBirthday was pushed back and pushed back.  We finally decided we had better have and UnBirthday Celebration before Grahm's Birthday and her real Birthday. 

So the other day we asked her what she wanted for dinner.  She was very creative - it involved lots of Strawberries and was a sandwich.  After a little coaching and meal planning help she settled on Hamburger Sliders, fries, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, confetti cake, and ice cream.

I don't think her feet ever touch the ground!

She loves her pink bike (it is easier for her to pedal than the red trike!).

Soft doll house with a bunny family of 4.

She is to the age where you don't say smile!  She also received "Japanese Jammies".

Grahm had to add to her Birthday pile and decided to give her on of his own toys - Max!

She was so excited that I went outside and picked her flowers!  The way to a girls heart is so easy - hint  - hint...

Happy UnBirthday!  We Love You!  You are growing too fast!

She told me recently that when she turns 3 she will be able to drive (oh dear!) and her car will be pink!

A Tutorial - Tumbled Marble Coasters

Since the holidays are fast approaching and it has been ages since I shared something crafty, I thought I would share how to make Tumbled Marble Coasters.  These are super easy, extremely useful, and wont break the bank.

What you need:

Tumbled Marble Tile from your local hardware store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc...). 

Permanent Ink (Craft Ink, StayzOn, etc...)

Rubber Stamps
Acrylic Sealer

Cork or felt

1.  Stamp the tiles with your stamps.  Get creative here - do a collage, a simple border, a word, etc...

2.  For mine I had to use a paintbrush and fill in my stamp to get the look I was after.

3.  Rub a little ink on the edges, to help make them Pop!

4.  Let dry in the oven - bake at 200 for 2 hours (check to see if the ink is dry - don't smudge your image!).

5.  Spray the sealer in a well ventilated area, let air dry.

6.  Apply cork to bottoms or felt (you can use the felt circles).  They need something so they don't scratch up furniture.

7.  Stack and tie up in pretty ribbon, raffia or whatever you like.

Here is a picture of a coaster that I was given as a gift.

These are great for protecting your furniture from cup rings!

Fishing on the Open Ocean

I think it is great that I have a husband who supports my blogging.  However, when he can't wait for me to post about some things - don't you think he should blog about it and not me.  So, before another day goes by - Here is a fishing post.

Last week Jason and some friends chartered a boat to go do some fishing.  Most of the Captains would not take anyone out on the ocean the day they were scheduled to go because of a Typhoon that passed by a few days earlier.  The ocean was still very rough.  They did find a Japanese Captain who was willing to take them out.  So off they went.  6 Fishermen all together - 3 fished and 3 hung their heads over the side of the boat for the entire day.

Jason said that he was a little nervous as they headed out to fish.  The waves were very high and the boat would start to stand on end and then slam down.  It took them 3 hours to get out to the fishing area, it stopped none too soon for Jason.  He says any further and he would have joined in the puke fest!

They caught Yellow Fin Tuna and Bonito.  They totalled 21 fish (Jason caught 13 - not that I am bragging).  They could have caught more, but the 3 that could fish started feeling bad for the other 3 and they headed back early. 

The fish with stripes on their belly's are the Bonito

Jason enjoyed himself despite a nice sunburn.  When will he learn to use sunscreen, after they have to remove his ears and half his forehead?  He has peeled nicely!!

That night we had grilled Bonito, it was very yummy and not too fishy.  Since then I have also made Fish Tacos, which are so yummy (I am not what I would consider a seafood lover - and I am discovering that fish cooked right is actually really yummy!!!). 

First Days of School!

I love the first days of school.  Okay, not really, I just like the change in seasons.  It means it is starting to feel like Fall and the Eastern Idaho State Fair is going on.  Oh! Funnel Cakes, Fat slices of homemade bread, Philly Beef Sandwiches, and so much more!

Okay - well back to Okinawa and our First Days of School!  First off, not feeling like fall at all.  I am wondering when to break out the fall decorations (I think I had better finish painting and unpacking first).  I miss having my kiddos with me.  Even though our summer has not been lazy and comfortable, I wish it didn't have to end.

Jayce started third grade this year - wow!  Homework the first day!  Grammar ugh!- I feel bad for him (until his whining starts and then not so much).  He is in the Japanese Partial Immersion class, so he gets some Japanese every day.  He is to ask to use the restroom and other things in Japanese.  Once a month they eat a Japanese lunch, the call it O'Bento.  Check out this blog about O'bento.  He liked school for about 3 days, now it is horrible.  But - this year - I remember how he gets at the beginning - My Mr. Hyde - and I am prepared to patiently wait it out.  Based on the name tag - you might have guessed that these are actually after school pictures.  The movers showed up at 8am and Jason was off running errands, so in the mad rush to make sure he was not late for the first day - we forgot to get pictures (And the Bad Mom of the Year Award goes tooooo.. Me).

Grahm started Kindergarten this year and he was so excited.  His first day was a week after Jayce, so he spent and entire week asking me how many more days until he his first day.  I am so glad that he is excited.  After 2 days - he still likes it!  He is also in the Japanese Partial Immersion program.  Every day they get red, yellow or green depending on how they are behaving - 2 greens!!  He looks so grown up to me!  As usual, the walk back to the car means watery eyes - I don't know if a Mom is ever ready to let go completely - The world is so mean and unforgiving and I hate it when it wins a battle.

He was doing some kind of not opening his eyes thing for these pictures, at least he was smiling!

Hah, got his eyes open!

Reading his name in English and Japanese!

End of the day and he is still smiling!

Trying to Remember

You would think that starting school, new routines, new places, new faces, etc... would bind a family closer together.  Help us appreciate each other a little more, rely on one another for companionship, understanding...

Not in this family.  Remember how I told you that I would need this picture to remind me that they do actually love and like each other most days.  Well, I am digging the picture out tonight to help me. 

My two boys are currently sharing a twin bed in order to help them feel closer to each other.  When they can cease trying to kill one another they can return to their previous sleeping arrangements, everyone in their own bed.  You know the lyrics - "love grows best in little houses"  well, I am trying tight sleeping quarters.

I think it is working, they have already joined forces to convince met that this is a completely unacceptable way for them to sleep.  They are too hot, it is too small.  I love to hear team work!!

The End of Summer!?

I can hardly believe that summer is over.  It was busy and we didn't get to do all the things we wanted to do.  The kids have been amazing, they have spent countless hours entertaining themselves with no toys.  Hours while we packed, cleaned, sorted, trashed, cleaned, painted, unpacked, sorted, etc...  Life is starting to get back to normal- they have toys again.

We accepted a friends invitation to visit the aquarium here on Okinawa before school started.  It was amazing.  The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is home to the second largest aquarium in the world.  They have huge manta rays and whale sharks.  It is amazing.  First we ate or picnic while we waited for the dolphin show to begin.  It is narrated in Japanese, but still fun to watch. 

Then we headed inside to see all the sea life. They have a "petting pool" where you can touch various forms of sea life.
 After checking out most of the tanks we stopped at the cafe for ice cream, Japanese ice cream is different than our ice cream - yummy. While in the cafe you can enjoy a view of the large aquarium, we watched them feed the whale sharks!!

I practically chased him all day, I was lucky to even get this picture of him.  He is growing up!

As we were leaving the aquarium the kids couldn't resist a quick climb on this cool climbing park.  They have the coolest parks here.