DIY Footprint Stepping Stone

The list of advantages to marrying a carpenter is growing again. This past Mother's Day, Cody whipped out a grid of concrete forms (6" x 6"), mixed up some fine concrete and together we made a keepsake. I was originally thinking of using thow-away pie tins or bread pans as a form, from what I've read those methods work equally as well. I am so, SO happy with how they turned out, and the Grandmas are happy too! 

I 'wrote' out the details with a wooden kabob stick and within a day they were dried to cute perfection. One major factor in this project was fully rinsing and baby wiping Luke's feet in between each pressing to severely limit the skin exposure to the wet concrete. And it also makes for a cleaner footprint, but it was especially important for keeping his baby feet soft and precious! I would also recommend not writing too close to the edges, we had to a little corner repair work on this one (up by the top the of the "L"). The stones were dry enough for gift-giving after 24 hours but aren't fully cured for nearly 48 hours. Once dry, they pretty much just slide right out of the forms.We are probably going to add a wooden border to it as well, since fine mortar isn't as sturdy overall. From what I hear though, the Grandma's are happy with it indoors on a plate stand anyhow!

I think we may just have to repeat this project every few years, although the size of the stepping stones are going to become quite large if Luke continues to grow like Cody!

Ins & Outs

I really can't believe March is gone and done! Even harder to believe is my baby turned six months old! INSANE. It's been a really busy and all around great month. We've been starting up lots of projects around the house, and trying to finish other long standing ones too. 

First, we painted the house! We've got some touch ups to do around the backside, but the fronts done! We also scored a free garage door! We'll need to install a motor for it but for now, its much easier to roll up than the old wooden crazy spring loaded door we had before. Win-win. When we upgraded the front door, we also lost our mailbox. Thankfully, I have a stash of things I know will come in handy at some point. And so, a freshly painted home and a mailbox I love. Still itching to paint the front door too!

Cody raced a hare scrambles at Hollister Hills OHV Park. My dad raced as well. Cody's sister and boyfriend also came out to watch, really fun day. Although I can't wait til we can bring Luke along! Emily stepped in excitedly to babysit for us. She even made chocolate chip banana bread for us to enjoy when we got home. Talk about a sweet deal! 

Luke was spoiled once again with the cutest gear for his first Saint Patrick's Day too. Gigi (Great-Grandma) surprised us with a onesie boasting our last name and a shamrock. Brooke gave us the shamrock bib at the baby shower last summer. Perfect combo!

Cody's grandmother just flew in last week to visit with us too! Well, mainly Luke if we're being honest...! Since she was just in time for Luke's six 'monthday' and the ripening of our avocados we smooshed the two events together for an open house over the weekend. It rained pretty hard most of the day so only a handful of brave souls did the avocado picking. We figure around 15 bags were picked, and there's still more to be done when the sunny days return!

Luke with both of Cody's Grandmas!

I went for a little bit of cheesy fun factor for Luke's half birthday. Cody's sister, Sarah, lovingly frosted the cake to my imagination! Thankfully, a few family members echoed the fun and brought gifts & modified "1/2" birthday cards so I wasn't a lonely cheesehead. After the party, we zipped over to Paradise Park for a couple of nights (same place we got married!) and continued the family fun! 

And these are some more pictures of Luke (because I, for one, can never have enough). I took these earlier in the month and IAMSOINLOVE.

I'm pretty sure he's wised up to the camera now too. I feel like common sense would say its too early, but I'm telling you, he knows. In between it all, I'm still working on my quilt! Stitched remnants and broke down a fitted sheet for the backing and then hand tied the sandwich together. I just need to get mentally prepared for the binding now!

Practical Christmas Gifts

Christmas gifts are hard. I always struggle trying to think of what each loved one will truly use and appreciate. I mean, we all have everything we need! I wish Christmas was more like Thanksgiving. Just a fun time of being with family and not focused on 'whadja get?!' Shifting my shopping to handmade items and making gifts myself definitely helped me feel less, in the words of Charlie Brown, commercialized. This year we gave a blend of handmade and purchased gifts: scarves (also available in my Etsy shop), framed newborn photos of Luke for the grandparents & great-grandparents, marinade sets & cash. 

I used my extra ornaments from the time capsule ornament DIY to make giving cash more festive!

For ideas on other handmade gifts, here's our Christmas gifts from 2010 and 2011. Last year was primarily food gifts, peppermint bark & persimmon goodies. Skin pampering treats have also been received well: body butter, sugar scrubs (plain & coffee).

Little Red Wagon Baby Shower

Last weekend my parents hosted our baby shower for Luke. My mom, friends & aunties all echoed my favoritism to big bold boy colors and threw a Little Red Wagon themed party! It was totally perfect and I have to share everything they worked so hard on--so get ready for a picture overload today!

The shower was held in the afternoon, perfect timing for light snacks, lemonade & dessert. My sweet cousin Haley made 'cake pops' using donut holes, we had 'dirt' pudding in a table-top red wagon (complete with worms and shovel to serve!). Lot's of blue candy was scattered on each table & the favors were chocolate chip cookies (tied with ribbon left over from our wedding favors!) and cardboard box 'wagons' with chocolates inside. My mom also spruced up the fireplace mantle with a clothesline of all-american boy clothes: plaid button ups, blue jeans & a cowboy hat! A pocket sized Curious George wooden car and a large red "L" was the cherry on top! For games, Ashley gathered up victims for a pregnant version of twister (tape a pillow to your midsection and see how well you do!) and guests filled out the sweetest wishes for Luke to read when he's older. 

 

 

The invites were purchased through DressUpMyParty on Etsy and they turned out just as I had imagined!

(Above is the shop image for chosen invite style, click here for more!)

And now for all those thank you notes I need to write....!

Valentines Party

We hosted a little get together this past weekend for the upcoming Valentines Day. It was games, food (lots of sweets!), laughs & a campfire.

 

We gave our spouses/other's new tattoos and played couples trivia until we died laughing. I got a new full sleeve, in purple! A really fun night and the best way to spend Valentines, don't be so serious!