Sunday, March 29, 2009

Conquered

Sariah has conquered the stairs. Well mostly. She can now easily go up them which means watching her closer when around the stairs. And she can go down them- but forgets to turn around- still working on that part. Just another way my little baby is growing up. CRAZY!!

No- she still doesn't walk yet. I think she knows I can't handle her being that grown up yet! :) I'm sure that will happen soon though. For now I am happy to hold and enjoy her.

Sariah's Favorite

Sariah's favorite book right now is

If you haven't read it, it is a really cute book. Sariah actually makes most of the animal noises in it. She knows a sheep says baa, a dog says woof/arf, a cat says meow, a duck says quack. So she reads have the book for me! hehe It is super cute!

Friday, March 27, 2009

A need to create

This is from my friend Kiera's post! So let me know what name ideas you have! And if you want to post to this new blog we are starting!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k&feature=channel_page



A couple of months ago Sam and I thought it would be fun to start a blog we could post our ideas and creations on. After watching this I feel inspired to start the blog. Sam and I are hoping to open this blog to many many friends and ideas! If you would like to be part of this blog where you can post your creations let me hear it! We are also looking for the "PERFECT" name for our blog so let the creating begin! Share your ideas for a name and our community blog will be started on Monday!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Style

http://www.sproost.com/StyleEngine/results

I'm still trying to figure out my true style in terms of home decor. I think that I love too many styles is the real problem. But here's what the latest quiz said!

36% French Eclectic

Parlez-vous français? Even if the answer is no, you can confidently say your home does! French Eclectic somehow manages to be both formal and casual, classy and unassuming at the same time. You like your spaces to feel inviting from the moment you (or your guest) opens the front door and this feeling should continue even after you've entered your most formal room.
Even though there are French antiques here and gold details there, the rustic country elements provide a balance and warmth that seems to say, "come in, relax and stay a while." Your love of antiques leads you to flea markets, garage sales and hours of eBay hunting.

36% Classic
What's old is new again! The beauty of Classic style is how well it takes all of the beautiful forms, colors and textures of the past and reinvents them in a way that feels both fresh and inspired.
The style itself is a mix of European influences and French, English and Italian antiques and replicas are often used together. Furniture is well proportioned and comfortable and the rooms give off an air of sophistication and grace. Oil paintings depicting still-life or nature scenes and emphasizing symmetry of pairs helps maintain the traditional nature of the room. Windows are often covered with opulent fabric shades and/or drapery.
Traditional rooms give off an air of history that seems to say "I was here long before you, and will remain long after you've gone." And yet, even with this level of sophistication, the rooms are soft and inviting.

28% Nantucket Style
Oh how you love the beach! Who doesn't, right? And so your dream home is either perched in your favorite beach town, or you've brought that favorite beach town into your house.
Your art and accessories speak directly to the activities that are found at the beach. Pieces of driftwood you found here, pictures or paintings of the amazing views there. Things that remind you of the coast - surf boards or fishing boats - are found throughout the house. The feeling of the seaside is both abstract and literal in the design of your space. The fabrics are natural, cottons and linens and are light in color and touch. Much of the furniture is wood or wood framed (the lighter the better, think driftwood!) and wicker, when done right, is a must.
And since your true inspiration is the sea, the colors and textures in your home are the same that you would find at your favorite beach: white, light beiges and grays of the sand and driftwood, a variety of blues for the ocean and sky, and greens and vibrant blues of the sea glass� but the key is white! Your space should feel light and airy and give off the mood one has when at the beach: laid back!
Your furniture is comfortable and the layout is cozy. The more it reminds you of actually sitting on the warm sand, the better! And what do you do at the beach? Hang out with family and friends - and your home is just an extension of this play place. And though the space is filled with large white furniture, it somehow manages to feel both durable and casual

How the day does fly

How come the day seems to go so quickly and I feel I get so little done?

Monday, March 23, 2009

My kinda friend

Okay so James and I have a list. It is a list of people that we want to get to know better. People we want to have over for dinner sometime. Most of the time, we are lazy and don't get to it. However this weekend I decided to get prepared. So Saturday night, while James was out. I cleaned the kitchen and picked up the house. I went to the store and got hamburger and hotdog buns and some fruit. So that all we had to do was invite someone. Sunday came around and sure enough we decided not to be lazy and had a couple of families over. It was a great night. Nice weather, good food, and great company.

So here's where the title comes into play. During the night, the kids played outside. Well some mud made it onto shoes and the shoes made it into the house. Really no big deal to me. Mostly it was tracked where my carpet was already a mess from Sariah. But one of the wives mentioned that she had a carpet steamer she could bring over if I wanted. I shrugged it off as no biggie. Well she called this morning and said she felt bad about the mud and really wanted to come over sometime and help me clean it. So she came today and steamed my dining room carpet. I mean it seriously hasn't looked this good since before Sariah was born.

It was just the sweetest thing! Like I said- my kinda friend!

Friday, March 20, 2009

I can blow my nose

She even makes a noise like she's actually blowing her nose! Of
course left unattended, she then proceeds to shred the tissue into
tiny pieces.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Today

So today was an interesting Sunday. I woke up a little late. James hasn't felt great this weekend and decided to stay home sick from church. I was going to leave Sariah with him, but she woke up and I decided to take her with me. Church was really great. Just upbeat lessons the whole time that all seemed to flow together. It was just what I needed to hear. So props to all the teachers and speakers!

Then I came home and poor James has really hurt his back. He has pulled or strained something. So hopefully tomorrow it will be better. Until then pain meds are his friend!

Then I went up to see my dad at KU Med with my mom and 2 of my sisters. He was feeling pretty crummy when we first came. But then they got him some pain meds for his headache and after that he perked up. It was good to see him for me.

Then back home and James' parents stopped by for a quick chat on their way home to Maryville. It was so fun. Sariah can be pretty sassy and anti social when she wants to in terms of not wanting people to hold her. But she went and sat with Grandma and Grandpa tonight- which I loved!

And that was my day. I know not the most witty or dynamic blog post. But it was my day none the less! hehehe

Friday, March 13, 2009

Helping Mommy Sew

While doing the curtains, Sariah really wanted to help. So she took
over the pushing every button on the sewing machine job! :)

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Sariah's Curtains

So I bought fabric months ago to add this decorative top to Sariah's curtains. This idea came from Angela Muir. Who should us how to make curtains and I loved the sort of fake valance idea. A few weekends ago, I had started the project but only got about half way into it. I forgot to take completely before pictures but this is half way.


So here comes the completion. In my wanting to do a project last night, I decided to finish this one. Sorry it was hard to get a good picture this morning with all the light coming through, but you get the idea...


I even made some tie backs out of the same fabric.





Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Project needed

So lately, I've been busy with the hub bub of life. And yesterday I realized what I'm missing. A good project. It has been so long since I have gotten to really do anything crafty or a project around the house. I'm missing it. So I decided tonight I'm going to find a project to work on. I have many in my head and a few in process. So I just want to feel crafty again! Look tomorrow to see what I worked on! I promise to post something!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Playing

Here's Ryan and Sariah playing a serious board game. They were having
so much fun!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Crazy bath hair

I love to mess with Sariah's hair. She doesn't usually like it as much
as me. But in the bath she humors me- mostly because she is having too
much fun with her bath toys to care. Here's a picture from today.

Too close?

She loves Word World.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Life

Okay I keep thinking I'm going to get back on the ball and start blogging everyday. I mean that is part of my purpose to keep up and journal my life. But then life gets crazy, I don't have anything that exciting or funny to write about, I haven't downloaded any pictures, etc etc. And then I just don't post anything for a week. And then I get frustrated and put up like 20 posts in one day.

Also I've had a lot weighing on my mind, but I've been unsure if I want to post it in a public forum. But time and time again, people keep saying don't airbrush your blog let it be you. So here's me. Yes this will be a long one! If you think it is too much then stop reading. :)

Life- Life right now has been a whirl wind of emotions. I think everyone who knows me at all well, knows that my dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer last year. If you don't know about this type of cancer, 10 sec on google will let you know that it isn't pretty. My dad has done awesome! I mean I really don't know how he does what he does. He is super sick and lately has been more sick. But he still is positive and tries his best to be his best. I love him and respect him for that.

It has been hard for me to talk about it all, because many times I don't know how I feel about it all. I am faced with the two parts. One being positive and hopeful and trying my hardest to enjoy every minute I have with him. Two being sad and knowing that the reality is that he is dying and time is what we have. Knowing that Sariah will not remember him has been especially hard. This last week she even started saying Grandpa. And she just love him so much. It has opened my eyes and I cherish seeing the two of them together. I don't think I would be as observant if this wasn't the situation.

I run for my dad. So I love to run. I know many of you think that is weird. But it relaxes me and helps me de-stress. So since my dad has been sick, when I run I often think about him. It motivates me. I tell myself that I am alive and I have good health and I shouldn't waste that. That I should push myself to live and live to the fullest. I have also started listening to "The Last Lecture" book while I run. If you are curious about that book- it is really good and you should check it out. But last week while running, my thoughts where on my dad. And I realized that I'm at a new stage of thinking with it all. I am tired. Tired of seeing him sick and hurting so much all the time. I have finally accepted that I don't want him to be sick anymore even if that means that he doesn't stay here on earth with me. For a long time, I was selfish and just wanted him here no matter the cost. But not anymore. I want him to be free from all of this and I can't be selfish. I also had the thought that I should prepare myself for him to get worse. NOTE: He isn't actually getting worse as far as I know. This is a personal thought. I think that God likes to warn me sometimes when he knows I need more time to prepare for something. So this could be way down the road and I need the heads up now for me personally. I just know that it will come sooner than I want and I need to start accepting that.

So Friday, dad went in for an endoscopy to check to see if they could find anything that could be contributing to his nausea. I had taken him thinking it was a routine thing and Sariah and I would just hang out that day and then take him home. Well after words he wasn't doing well. He threw up after the procedure but while he was still under and aspirated some of it. Then the couldn't get his O2 to come up and so they decided he needed to go to the ICU. I called James to pick up Sariah on his way home so that I could stay. Later that night they decided he had enough of the signs and was starting an infection so they decided to also treat that. It was just a crazy night- is the short version. He is still at KU Med, but not in the ICU. He is doing much better.

But all of that made me know I'm not quite ready. I don't know that I will ever be ready to have him go. I know that he will be in heaven kicking butt and helping people! That is just who he is. I have no doubt ever that my dad is awesome and I KNOW where he will be after this life. I know I will be with him again. It is the in between time that will be hard. So for now I will straddle the fence- between enjoying every minute of him and grieving for what is to come. Some days I accept it and know it is there and others I say nope not today I'm going to pretend it isn't happening today. And I think that is okay for now. We don't have to be happy all the time or find joy in every thing. We can let ourselves be sad and mad. We just can't let that rule out in the end.

And if you have read this far- go you! I know I am rambling and I'm sorry!