Detailing

So one Sunday morning I got this hair brain idea to detail my suburban. With the enlistment of some help (well for a little while at least) and a few hours later, I had a shiny, clean smelling, vacuumed, shampooed, clean truck. Oh how I L.O.V.E. it when things are clean.

This is my only before & after picture. It's really not that dirty, right?

Well with children it gets pretty nasty. Too dirty for my tastes. Why do kids not care if it's dirty or clean? Is it really that hard to clean up after yourself? How hard is it to remember to grab your trash when you get out of the truck? I can't believe all the things I found under the seats in the back, really? Gross! Oh well, I guess that's what happens when you have children.

My little helper for a few minutes. She doesn't really enjoy getting into all the little cracks and crevices (Whoa! Flashback from childhood. Get out of my head dad!)

It's funny how now that I'm older cleaning is actually relaxing. Weird, I know. But like some would say that's my OCD coming out. Hey, at least my truck is clean. Can you say the same?

Yes, I did the whole nine yards. My carpets were all vacuumed and shampooed. Leather all scrubbed and wiped down. Every thing I could take off, move out of the way, get under was moved and cleaned.

I'm proud to say that even now after a couple months my truck is still clean and smells good. Yeah, I get on the kids every time they're in it. "Make sure you get everything you brought in out. Don't leave any garbage on the floor or in the back of the seat." And yes, I do check it when they get out. "Sora, what is this brush doing on the floor? Olivia, is that your jacket?" My poor kids.

My other little helper was happy enough to be laying in his stroller, sipping on some formula and hanging out.

I did stop to take him for a walk. How could I not? This cute little face with the big eyes.

*Pictures taken Sunday, September 5, 2010*

Grand-daughters Blanket

So I picked out some really cute material and decided to make a blanket for my newest grand-daughter, Brielle. This was really soft material so it was a little hard to pin together and sew it without the material sliding out of place. But it turned out so cute I almost want to keep it for myself. I L.O.V.E. these colors and patterns.

See all the fuzz it left on my ironing board.

I don't really have a very big room to do my projects in so I have to settle for the hallway floor.

The material on the other side is a chocolate brown with some textured little bumps. So soft and cuddly. The edging was the hardest part. Partly because the material was pretty thick and I don't really have the best sewing machine. But I managed. It toke me a couple of hours to complete on my Saturday. It always feels good when you can complete projects in a day.

So what do you think? Don't you just LOVE it? I do. Still deciding if I should give it to her for Christmas . . . I guess I have to since it has her name embroidered on it.

*Pictures taken Saturday, August 28, 2010*

Student of the Week - Sora

Sora was student of the week again at Parkridge Elementary. . . YEAH! Always proud of our girls when they do good in school.

Dad & Sora
And no Rocky did not grow his hair out and dye it. This is a hat he got and the kids at school LOVE it. Especially when he takes it out and they all go, "Whoa!" Such a fun dad!

Sora, Me and baby. His first lunch at school with his sister.

Sora & her best friend, Raelynn.

Sora and her rewards for being student of the week. She didn't get her certificate at lunch because the teacher forgot to complete it so I don't have a picture of it.

*Pictures taken Wednesday, May 5, 2010*

Student of the Week - Olivia

December 16, 2009 Olivia got student of honor. The week prior Sora received this award. This week Olivia received it. The principal presented Olivia with the award and stated that she is the only second grade student that received this award for Trust.

Principal and Dad handing Olivia her certificate.

Congratulations Olivia! We are so proud.

Olivia and I. Oh and she wanted pizza for lunch. So that's what we brought her.

Dad (with his crazy hat that all the kids loved) & Olivia

Student of the Week - Sora

12/09/09
This year Parkridge Elementary is doing their student of the week a little different. They are choosing students based on character traits. They discuss those traits the week before and the teacher decides which child they feel meets those qualities.

This week was TRUST. Sora's teacher says Sora is a very truthful person. She gives credit to others when they deserve it. She admits when she makes a mistake and tries to do better. All this makes her a wonderful student who can be trusted and who shows responsibility in all areas.

We must be doing something right as parents, right? We are very proud of her.

Students of Honor get to have lunch at the Student of the Week table and they can invite whomever they would like to join them for lunch. Sora asked us and we brought her pizza & cinnamon sticks...ummmmm!


She loves her daddy! And every time we get to spend lunch with her, she'd rather hang out with us than go play with her friends. It's wonderful having children that love to be around us.

Vegetable Garden

So here are some up-dated pictures of our vegetable garden. Things are growing so quickly that we aren't able to eat it all. So we've been giving to family and friends. It's just so cool to be able to say here is some broccoli from our own garden and it looks like it's store bought.

Corn

Cucumbers & Strawberries

Green onions, tomatoes, Corn, & Cucumbers

Broccoli

Green onions

Broccoli, Carrots, Peppers, Green Onions

My Gardens

The progression of part of my gardens.

These were taken 08/20/06

These were taken 05/28/07

These were taken 07/15/07

These were taken 05/03/08

These were taken 08/01/08

These were taken 06/11/09

I really enjoy working in my yard and making it beautiful. It's a challenge on trying to figure out what plants and flowers will work where. Especially when you need to consider sun light, soil and watering. But it's definitely something I take pride in and love doing. If only I had more time, my gardens would be immaculate. This part of the gardens has some really lovely scents as well. It's wonderful to walk through this area and smell slight hints of cinnamon and chocolate mint, along with the stargazer lilies and roses. Ummm, heaven.

The pictures don't really do it justice and looks so much more inviting in person. But you get the general idea.

I think this part of my garden has gotten to the point where I don't really need to weed it and it has flowers and greenery from spring to fall. It's only taken me three years. Now, for the rest of the gardens.