BuSy, BuSy, BuSy!

What a BuSy week! Between the kids and I getting sick, family being in town and all the projects we've been trying to get done, we just haven't stopped for a second this past week!

Here's a few projects we've done...

we power-raked the lawn, then realized we had to rake up all the dead grass...

Which really, really sucked! This is just one side of the house, not including the back yard and other side!

Then after garage sale'n a couple weeks ago I came home with a couple great finds. I found this cute little person sized rocking chair. I wish I had remembered to take a before picture, it was not so cute 'before'. It was brown and chipped and had the most awful red plastic material that was in rough shape. Darren thought I was crazy for spending $10 (or anything for that matter). But when I was finished he said 'WoW! Didn't see that one coming!'

I just love it now and so does Lucas! He sits in it all the time.

I also bought this really cute old coffee table for $2. It was in perfect shape, just need to be refinished! So a little left over house paint and presto chango! I just love the pretty curves and the two tones. Now if only my couches were as cute....

And yes, I know there is more important things!

Than crafting? NEVER!

Except maybe my children.

Let me introduce you.

My name is Lucas.

I love Cars and Toy Story and mommy's cookies!

If I could be outside or in water, 24/7, I would be in heaven.

I like to color, make messes and whine for no reason.

I am my daddy's little helper, just give me a shovel.

I go to sleep in my own big boy bed and giggle with glee.

I am not a normal child because I love bed time!

I like to eat fries and ceasar salad and vanilla pudding.

I have a toy in both hands at all times and take them with me everywhere.

Usually cars or a Buzz or a Woody.

I can go pee and poop on the potty, but only if mommy takes me.

She's potty trained for me.

I'm just not ready to tell her yet.

Because I don't speak.

Ok, I say a few words, but most of them aren't English.

I do love my mammy(Nanny) and MumMum(Grandma) though.

That much I can say.

Hi, my name is Brooklynn.

I like to drool and throw up and go through 3 pairs of clothes a day.

Only because I know my mom secretly loves doing laundry.

I eat all day long.

Except when I'm sleeping.

Or pooping.

And at least I can hold my own bottle.

I'm rolling a lot now, every-which-way!

I'm so very soft and cuddly.

Mommy and Daddy are always hugging me too tight!

My eyelashes are just so long...

People are always talking about them.

I like to chew on things, especially my brothers toys.

Just give me your attention and I won't disappoint.

I've got tons of smiles and coo's just for you!

And can you say, Addiction?

My name is Niki and I'm addicted to wreaths.

I have one for just about any occasion you can think of, plus 10.

Ok, so its not like its going to kill me or anything, right?

I just think my door looks naked without one.

At all times.

I just had to show everyone this one I made yesterday.

You'll notice the blue? Nice touch, I know!

$6 and 10 minutes later... I had this.

Isn't it fabulous!

No sooner had I finished it, did I realize I had to make another!

This one, is a little slower going...

Yes, thats pinto beans.

Yes, they are from our food storage.

No, we will probably never eat them.

Waste not, want not. Right?

When all is said and done, I will spray paint it shiny white.

It will look like snake skin.

I might add some fabric flowers and a bow.

It will also be fabulous.

Yes, this is an addiction.

No, I'm not giving it up.

And TAADAA! A 'quilted quilt!'

Now, YES, I have made blankets and such before! But this is the first time I 'quilted' one all by myself! I've had people asking me to see my quilt and I thought it would be easiest to blog it. I love how it turned out, with the stars and all.

It's currently on my wall. And although I love it and am very proud of myself (mainly because it was scarier than you would think...I thought I was going to sew right through my hand!) I don't know that I will leave it on my wall for long. The colors are beautiful but just not on my green wall. It all sort of clashes with my decor.... :( So sad...

The good news is, now I get to make another one! I'll get to perfect my free motion skills and really find a pattern and the material that will go with my home! This material I originally bought for making an apron... Last minute I went with Barb to a sewing class which is where I got this pattern and learned how to 'quilt'! I needed something and so I used this.

I've already found about a million quilts I'd like to make and I'm sure I'll make one soon, so stay tuned to find out what it is...

And Blue! Who knew..

So excited to finally reveal my finished and brand-spanking new entrance!!!

As someone with self-proclaimed OCD, I tend to fall in love with something (the color green) and stick to it. Like white on rice.

Don't get me wrong, I do like a multitude of colors, especially yellow and white. But Blue? Not so much. When I went to pick out the material for my bench pillows and curtain this caught my eye and i had to use it! I am extremely pleased with how it turned out. Very summery and bright. Of course there is still green and yellow but I think the blue is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!

It has now inspired me to use it more. I've been thinking of painting my pantry door with light blue chalkboard paint....No? Well too bad, its gonna be awesome and ya'll will be jealous!

And a Minnie Me!

My mother always told me some day I'd get one. A little someone just like me that will give me what I deserve, for all the 'pain' and 'suffering' I put her through. haha

It's just my luck, what'dya know, she was right!

A little Thumb Sucking, Pink Loving, Always Smiling, Beautiful little girl, has come to bless our home!

So thank you mom for raising THIS little Thumb Sucking, Pink Loving, Always Smiling, Beautiful little girl, to be what I am today. A mother. Hopefully just like you.

and Voila! A new Bench!

Let me tell you a story... of a Wife on a mission for something she just had to have... and a husband who loved her and wanted to give her everything she ever dreamed of... and how they lived happily ever after... Happy Wife, Happy life! Right?

A few weeks ago we were going through show homes, our favorite saturday past time. I love to go and get design ideas. This time I sure came up with a doosie! These beautiful homes in Qaurry Park all had these pretty little built in benches and I KNEW I just had to have one!

After a week of lovingly asking (I swear I don't nag), D finally gave in. But instead of the simple afternoon task I though it would be, take the closet doors off and build a little seat, he insisted if he was doing it he was 'doing it right!' Who does he think he is, Mike Holmes?

So another week of my house being turned upside down, walls being ripped out, tons of mudding, new tile laying, bench building, and painting... I finally have my new bench and holy crap, a whole new entrance!! In the end, it was all worth it.

Man, I just love my handy husband!

Lucas is going to be a big brother!

THATS RIGHT FOLKS! We're having another baby! Doesn't feel like to long ago I was making this same announcement and now Lucas is almost 1 1/2. We are super duper excited though! We don't know exactly when the baby is due though, yet, but we'll let you know when we do! It's probably the end of November.

So the count down is on! We move in 11 days! We can hardly contain our excitement. It's been a long time coming. For everyone who doesn't know... We bought a house in Crossfield back in last December. The people we bought it from were moving to Ottawa after this school year and asked if they could rent it back from us. They have 7 kids and thought we'd be nice and let them stay. In the mean time we had already sold our Condo so we had to move in with my in-laws. They've been fantastic and we are SO greatful. BUT we can't wait to get back to normal life with our little family in our great big new house. I wish I had a picture to post for you all... Sorry. Maybe next time.

Darren also finished school last week! He went back to work this morning and he was so happy. It was funny. I never thought I'd see him so happy to go to work. lol I'm so proud of him though and how hard he worked for the past two months to get good grades. He had awful hours, from 11 to 6 every day, so we barely saw each other. I guess this is phase 1 of returning to normal life!

I ALSO just wanted to mention *becuase some people haven't been able to get to my Cakeblog for some reason* that I have one. haha Its at sweetstonecakery.blogspot.com

Its just pictures of all the different cakes I have been making. I love it so much and I am making it into a little business. If you need a cake or know someone who does, let them know about me. I'll do birthday or wedding and for good prices! I've also made a gadget on the side of my blog here with the blogsite.

The STONES

MMM Chocolate!

So I've been really bad this past week. When I say bad I mean gaining 5 lbs. OK, not that bad, but still, I was out of control! haha I don't know what else I expected, it being Easter and all.

We had a great 4 day weekend though! On friday we went for a drive up to Bragg Creek and had ice cream. MMMM Then we went to dinner at Chili's. MMMM Then we watched a movie and had more treats. MMMM SO FUN!

These are just pictures of Lucas playing this weekend. He's the cutest kid ever!

Saturday we had Easter dinner at Darren's Grandparent's house. It was delicious as always and good to see his family. On Sunday we went up to my sisters and had an unconventional Easter dinner of Roast. haha But it was the best Roast Darren has ever had. ( Straight out of his mouth! Good complement eh Sheri?) It was just Sheri, Gary, Mom and I there with our families. Everyone else was out of town. We missed you guys!

We stayed the night at my mom's house and on Monday we worked ALL DAY helping her go through boxes and organize her basement. There is still a lot to do, but shouldn't take too much longer. YAY!

Recently my in-laws have bought new appliances. The are fantastic and I'm so excited for them. haha Lucas was helping Darren and his Dad put in the dishwasher last night! So cute! He was climbing all over them on the floor. In the mean time we were watching DUKE and BUTLER play!

Tired!

This past couple of weeks have been busy, busy, busy!

Last week Darren's sister Pam (who lives in Saskatoon) was here visiting with her two children Madelynne and Noah. They are just the cutest little ones! Maddie and Lucas had soooo much fun playing together. They would run in circles around the house chasing each other. Their favorite thing to do was hide in the kitchen drapes and wait for someone to find them and tickle them. They would just giggle and giggle. It was so much fun to see them playing. We took some videos of them together but I can't get them on this computer. SORRY!

This week on Tuesday my mom came to Calgary and took me home with her. Lucas and I spent a few nights with her and she brought me home this morning. We helped her set up her new living room furniture. It was very nice! We also helped her start going through some boxes in her basement. Its going to be a lot of work to get through it all, but we sort of made a dent.

The first day I was there we had to take Lucas to the hospital. I was really really sick and just wouldn't stop crying. It turned out he had a bad ear infection and a cold and a yeast bum rash. He is also teething. The poor thing was in so much pain!! So we got him drugs and now he's doing SOOOO much better. He's back to normal and sleeping through the night. Good thing too, cause I was starting to go mad!

I'm pretty sure Darren missed us, so I figured it was time to come home. haha PLUS, I have my cake class tonight. I will take a picture of the wedding cake I'm making and try to put it on here for you all too see.