straight from the tree!

If you can't have a plum tree of your own, you really ought to have a neighbor with one, if you can at all help it.



Yummy!

Smells & Memories

So my last post has gotten me thinking. There are a few smells that automatically take me back to a specific place, just like the cut lumber. For example, one particular lotion I used to use while in college. I had never used it before or after until a few months ago. As soon as I opened that new bottle, I might as well have been back in my college dorm room!

Am I the only one? Does anyone have any Smell/Memory combos out there in blog land? I'd love to hear about them!

new (almost completed) deck

When I got home last night, Nate had gotten pretty far on the deck. It's so exciting to see things come together around our house and especially when they come together so quickly!



I helped Nate a little (ie. I went to the store to get some QuickCrete) and passed over the deck to get back into the house. As I crossed over, I caught a whiff of the new lumber and sawdust and was instantaneously taken back to my childhood. The smell was subtle, but the memory was very strong. It was the fragrance that was part of my daily life.



My Dad, along with the help of my Mom and any other relative or friend that was willing, built our house from the ground up almost entirely by himself (ie. no proffessional help). He started when I was 5 years old and we moved into the basement when I was 6. I remember the late nights that my parents spent working deep into the night with the help of can lights while my brother and I slept in sleeping bags as they framed in the house. Taking baths in a rubbermaid tub. Picking up nails for a penny a piece to help out my Dad. Climbing ladders and wearing my own tool belt complete with a hammer and nails. Roller skating around the newly enclosed interior of the house.



It's so funny how such a simple smell can bring back so many memories. My childhood was very atypical— That house wasn't finished until after I graduated from highschool—and things were a bit chaotic and stressful at times as a result. But I have so many REALLY great memories from it that honestly, I can't wish that it had been any different. Every day was an adventure and we were allowed to explore, and create, and enjoy the whole process right there with my parents and family. Of those early years, I have nothing but warm, fond memories.



So, I look forward to going home again tonight and seeing what Nate accomplished with Charlie by his side. I know that she's pretty young, but I hope that some day she'll pass some newly cut lumber and be taken back to the time she spent with her Daddy as his side kick.

xoxo—Lori

Behind!!!

So sorry for the lack of posts! I have been very busy doing and haven't been at a computer much the last couple of weeks. I have however been to Hobby Lobby everyday. EVERY day. We've been spiffing up the office at work for the arrival of some important buyers, who happen to be cloistered in the main conference room as we speak. That meant much framing of artwork that I did for a previous event and as things never go quite as planned and new needs come up each day, I spent a lot of time at the craft store buying things not for myself. So glad it's (almost) over!!!


(from Father's Day—notice the tie that Charlie made & her home-made popsicle)

At home we (mostly Nate) are working on a bunch of projects. Nate just finished an enclosure for all his tools and just had all the lumber delivered for a deck yesterday! As a bonus for us, Nate had asked for 10 foot lumber and they sent all 12 foot, which means our deck just grew 2 feet!!! It's nice having a husband in the construction industry who knows people.

I'm dabbling with a bit of sewing, tracing patterns and coming up with a few ideas of my own—now if I'd ever have time to actually complete anything in that realm, I'd be doing good!



A larger project that I'm working on is that I'm refinishing a pair of dressers for the girls. From the story I'm getting, they were Nate's as he was growing up, so they've been beat up pretty well. I'm using this dresser ( in blue) as inspiration for how I'd like them to end up. Cross you're fingers!!

I promise to have photos of all the projects soon!!

xoxo—Lori

(Not) Making the Cut

Have you seen that book out by Jillian Michaels? That trainer from The Biggest Loser? I've only ever watched maybe 15 minutes of the show so I only sort of know who she is, but her book, Making the Cut did look pretty good. It's for people who are already in moderate shape and are just trying to loose 20 pounds or less.

Along with all the talking, it has a 30 day menu plan for each of the three ways people metabolize their food as well as a 30 day work out plan. (that's what caught my eye) Every step of the work out is written out for you. No guessing that what you're doing may work. She's got it all right there.

I should have realized when I saw the fitness test to see if you are in shape enough to do the 30 day workout in this particular book. Really. How could I not have seen it coming? In the last 35 months I have been pregnant for 18 of them, not allowed to even do a sit-up for 4, and slowly attempting to get back in shape for 6 only to find out that I was pregnant again, and am now trying to get back in shape again.

Currently, I do yoga at least once a week, but even that makes me painfully aware of how out of shape I am. I try to walk on my lunch break, but am not as successful about getting there as I plan.

So really? What was I thinking? In a 5 circuit workout that has no resting except 30 seconds between circuits, I made it a little over half way through the 3rd circuit before I fell in a heap to the floor, gasping for breath, not able to move and feeling like I was going to throw up. I haven't been that exhausted since I pushed out a 7 pound baby!

I don't think I want to be that in shape anyway. Jillian sort of looks unhappy on the cover.

So Big!!!!

How big is Peyton?



SO BIG!!!!
(please ignore the dinner all over her face!)

Little Peyton is getting not so little! In fact, her new favorite thing is to show us just how big she is!! She must know she's cute, because without any prompting she'll lift her chubby little arms up over her head, grasp her fingers together and smile at us expectantly until we exclaim "So Big!!" which is followed by her little baby belly laughs.



It's fun to watch that personality emerge. As babies, you get a glimpse of what type of kid they'll be—laid back, animated, needy, etc. But there's still a part of you that feels like you don't really know this person, you know about them, but you don't intimately KNOW them. You do stuff for them & love on them, but they don't and can't reciprocate. Now, she's entering a stage where she is starting to give kisses and grab onto me really tight. It might not be a hug, but I know that she needs and wants me! And she does things to make us laugh. Cocks her head to the side and smiles, puts her hands up in the air so we can play "So Big."

It's really fun getting to know this little person who lives at my house!

(very) quick update

So sorry to be MIA on you! I've been absolutely swamped at work and the potty training is taking quite a bit of time and energy at home!!

However, potty training is going very well. Charlie is very happy to be wearing big girl panties and seems to be catching on. Hasn't completely mastered the muscles to hold it in every case, but she's trying and it often results in some pretty funny little dances and leg crossing.

Nate even called to tell me that she told him she had to go BEFORE she went while they were outside swinging, followed by a mad dash to the house in order to make it in time!. (small victories are a big deal)

I'll have my camera unloaded soon and promise some cute pictures of Peyton and her new tricks, shots from our garden and some day very soon, a smocking tutorial—just in case, like me, you haven't tried it yet.

Potty Training

We're doing it. Jumping in. Both feet.

I'm a little nervous.

We bought a book for Charlie.



And a book for us.

We have a "big girl potty"



and a toilet ring, because, well, you never know.



Charlie picked out her very own big girl princess panties.



and some pull-ups, just in case things don't go quite like the book says (but it says every time is different and frustrating, so I guess they've got it covered).



Did I mention I'm a bit nervous? I think she's ready, but I also know this could be a very difficult weekend. So, umm, any advice, stories, or words of encouragement would be great!!!

And I'll report in later!

Popsicle Summer

Summer is in full swing at our house and Charlie has discovered popsicles. They are officially her new favorite food. The moment she wakes up, the first thing out of her mouth is "Popsicle?" and is then repeated several times throughout the day, regardless of whether or not she has already had one.

Sometimes we all have a popsicle after dinner. In this scenario she has developed the neat little trick of eating her's really fast and then asking for a taste mine. Then she takes a large bite. But I can't say no. She's just so darn cute!!

5 years ago. . . (for Nate)

5 years ago today. It feels like yesterday and it feels like a hundred years ago: We just belong together.



The journey hasn't always (or rarely) gone the way we thought it would (definitely didn't plan on being pregnant before either of us finished school!), but it's our journey and we're making it together.



You were my best friend then and you're my best friend now. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. One day, we'll look back on all the craziness of now: Babies/kids, remodeling the house, work, student loans, slugs and brown recluse spiders; and maybe, just maybe we'll smile and say "remember when?"

I can't wait to spend my next 5 years with you (and the next 10 and then 15. . .) and see what all it has in store for us. As you know, apparently we like surprises at our house and never lack for "excitement."

I love you now and always. Happy anniversary Nate.

Getting together

This weekend we got together with Nate's family over at his Dad's house. He lives out in the country on wooded acres. It's so pretty out there and relaxing. . .when you aren't slapping away the mosquitos!! I come from a really tight family, so I love getting together and watching all our kids play. (and with so many cute kids running around, perfect for some picture taking!)









I know that was quite a few, but believe me, I have more I'd love to share, but will refrain!