say it with a plate

thanks to pinterest I put 2 ideas together and came out with this:

I took a large serving platter and cute Christmas subway art and hand painted it (with the help of stencils) and turned it into 1 pretty awesome piece (if I do say so myself).  This was my white elephant gift for my book club Christmas party exchange and I think this was stolen 2 different times. Needless to say it was high up in the rankings amongst starbucks gift cards as far as popularity.

I also did personalized some that can be displayed or used year round.

these 2 were for my bosses/owners (my friend and co-worker Lauren did the Murphy one)

this one is for my Grandparents

For my cookie plates that I make up I took boring white ceramic plates I also used some red plates too and personalized them by painting on the recipents last initial, thus something they can display or serve food on after the holiday season. See below for a picture, I only remembered to take a picture of the red ones.

Here is a travel mug I did for one of the childcare providers where Ian goes (her name starts with "E").

 

 

 

Here's a little bit of what the process looks likes (since I was the DIY-er and photographer I have no pics of the painting process):

 

All items are dishwasher safe and safe to serve food on after a coat of toxic free shellac was applied.

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas card this year:

 

 

We took over 95 shots to get these 4. We also had to pay our model with treats as he would do everything we wanted him to do before we were ready for him to do it and since little people don't really perform on cue we did what we had to:) I love how it turned out, Marcus was the brains behind the concept and I was the putter together and wording person.

Ian Sayings

To say kids say the darnest things is an understatement.  We are constantly being entertained by what comes out of his mouth.

-While laying in bed I said we just to close our eyes and he said "my eyebrows are closing!"
-You crackin' me up
-You real funny
-I got a cough in my mouth
-Asked how he got so funny and said "its in my mouth"
-That makes me sad
-Somethin' bothering me, what's bothering you? Pee (as he is having an accident)
-I want give you a big hug
-You got your hands on driver which while in the car: you have your hands on steering wheel
-Ian talking with Jennifer (his aunt but we kinda deleted the whole aunt and uncle thing in our family) that's my daddy but my mommy calls him Marcus
-Lousy zipper (earlier in the day Poppy was having issues with his zipper so my guess is he picked it up from him)

Here are some convo's that I've had with Ian recently:
Ian Something stinky in here.
Me: what does it smell like
Ian: like dogs snoring

Ian: your car stinky
Me: what does it smell like
Ian: like crocodiles


Convo with Ian about what he did one day while at Shele's, the week before they played babysitter and Ian was found laying in a baby cradle with a bottle in his mouth and covered by his blankie Alice was obviously the baby sitter.
Me: what did you play today
Ian: we played school
Me: oh yeah that's fun we're you the teacher?
Ian: no Alice teacher I school guy I put on my pack back and say hi to people.


Ian: I love you so so much, you stay home with me?
Me: Yep tomorrow Buddy!
Ian: Yay, I like when you stay with me. Daddy stay home too?
Me: Sorry Buddy he's got to work
Ian: but I like when you and daddy stay home with me
Me: I do too, you'll get both of us this weekend though.
Ian: ok I love you good night
Me: Love you too


Ian may not tell you I love You when you walk out the door every morning but when you least expect it he will say it.  Like to his Nana who was getting his coat zipped up he leaned in and said "I love you" which hit her sweet spot instantly.  Or we could be in the living room and he will walk up to me and say "you know what I love you"

When Marcus was renovating the bathroom Ian walks in and says (with no prompting from anyone) "thanks for new bathroom daddy, I ike it"

And lets end this post with some Ian pics, because honestly pictures make reading doable at times.

Halloween 2012

After a costume change Ian was one excited little boy to be able to "scare" people!  We ventured out on Saturday 10/26  (note I started this post on 11/1) to visit with his Grammie and Papa Jim and then onto Nana and Poppy's while there we also got to see Uncle Dwayne and Andrew.  On Halloween Ian had a party at the sitters and by the end of the day he was over his costume and was more into just staying at home.  Although around 8:30 or so he said "when we go trick treating?", ahh next year buddy.

he didn't want his picture taken

playing with his farm animals

still not a fan of picture taking

party time at Michele's

roar

Dress up this season

This past week I and my sister were given an opportunity through crowdtap and Old Navy to add a new dress to our closets.  Since we live a good 24hrs (if you don't stop driving) away we had to go alone, which meant we were thankful for modern day technology of camera built into our phones as well as texting.  I did take Marcus and Ian along for the adventure but they honestly didn't care which one I picked.  So I had to work with what dresses were in stock and in my size.  Downside to going near holiday's selction is low.  So had to make due, had they had more of a selection in my size I would have gotten one I really wanted instead of settling (we did go to a different Old Navy and their selection was not any better) for the one I did get.  My sister also went solo hence the self protrait she went with Old Navy's Fit and Flare style.  And I went with Old Navy's sweater dress style.

My sister and her pic

myself and my pick

famer Ian

The other day Ian wanted to play with his tractors so we got them out and he quickly realized he needed his farmin' hat.  I had no idea we had a farming hat so I said "ok you better go get it". He came out with this hat on.  He proceeded to play with his tractors and then decided we needed to g outside for some gator time.  Oh and the coat that he has on came from friends of ours who are also apart of the Clay Fire family.  Ian wore this all day Monday, slept in it Monday night and took it off long enough to put a new shirt on under it.



Nana's Chair

Every since we have been in this house and had this table (no matter which chairs we've had) Ian considers the chair he is sitting in to be his Nana's (his Great Grandma) chair.



Pumpkin Picking

Last week it was time to get some pumpkins.  This year Poppy had a great pumpkin season so we headed over to pick. And what other way is there to pick pumkins than having to get to your destination via a tractor.



getting ready




heading down to the patch




telling Poppy which one to cut next




just some of the pumpkins






heading down further for more pumpkins







Poppy and his buddy




the loot



Mickey is all craved out in Ian's pumpkin

Ian talk

Z house funnies is now being referred to as Ian Talk.

So in this edition we have:

• tell me about it- when we ask him about something he responds with that.
• where'd you bought this from- he is forever asking where we bought things from. He asked us this past week where we bought his fingers from.
• sparking spot- parking spot
• I have lunch at Barbies- Arby's
• I can't do it I don't have big muscles- one of his many excuses or attempts for us to do something for him:)

A couple nights ago all 3 of us were in our bed "watching" a movie I say watching like that because well Marcus was on his phone and I was on mine so Ian said "I need to get my phone" he ran off to get his LeapFrog phone and hoped back into bed.  He started pushing his numbers and what not and then held the phone up to his ear and started chatting away.  When he put it down we asked who he called and he said "Grant" (his uncle) and we asked what he was doing and said "don't know left message" we followed that up with an ok.  He then said "I'll text him later". I did say he is like a parrot, but I will say I don't often as in almost never and if I really think about never have left a message and then texted the person.

As of right now he is going as Mike from Monster's Inc for Halloween, this is just one of many dress rehersals we will have.

Ian's weather forecast, he is just about as accurate as the professionals and he does his forecast without any fancy radar's or computers:

 

 

FYI: I have totally spoiled you with posts for the past couple days and I will warn I have ZERO drafts started...

Bathroom Redo

We (as usual Marcus poured the sweat into the reno while I was the gopher girl and Ian entertainer) renovated our bathroom!!


Before:

recessed toilet paper holder where a December 1994 Playboy,
toilet bowl brush and a live electrical wire were found

 

During:

 

 

re-running electrical wires so lighting can be above the mirror

a before and after of the tub area

AFTER:

curved shower curtain rod (hello elbow room)

lights above the mirror make a huge difference

 

what I'm leaning toward to for rug and towels
(got the project manager's approval!)

 

What's left:

• install hand towel bar
• recessed medicine cabinet
• install 6 panel doors
• purchase rug and new towels