Isabele and Titus' Monster Hat

Do we really need to say anything about these? 

Living Room Paint - Trim Not Done Yet

I got the second coat of paint finished in the living room last night.  I still have the second coat to do in the dining room, but here are a few pictures.  I do not have the trim done, so these are not final pictures, just a bit of an update.

 

Standing by the kitchen looking through the dining room and into the living room.

This is from the arch between the dining room and the living room.  The corner cupboard isn't going to stay there - but for now it's holding all the kids toys and I haven't figured out what I'm going to do with their toys.  The brighter "white" which is really cream is going to be the color of all the trim, once I get that done.

 

The view from the east wall towards the front door.

 

The view from the entry way.  The pink on the right side is really a darker red wine color - the flash just distorted the color.

Raggedy Andy and Raggedy Ann

My mother made these dolls for me for Christmas when I was 4 or 5.  I remember not liking them, which really was a shame.  They are really cool.  I like them now.  They have lived in various chairs and rockers at my mother's house throughout my life.  Most recently they were in the cradle up in her room.  We were over there yesterday "borrowing" some furniture.  Titus went upstairs with my Dad and discovered the dolls.  When I went to retrieve him, he was positioning Andy on a pillow on the floor and scooting himself in, right next to him, under the blanket.  Rather than argue, I told him we could bring Andy and Ann home.

 

Here's Titus on one of the "borrowed" chairs with Andy and Ann.  They are almost exactly the same height as he is.  I didn't know that I was getting another child, but apparently I did.  Andy had to eat dinner with us.  He had his own chair right next to Titus.  Titus talked to him and tried to feed him all through dinner.  He wanted me to get food for Andy, but I told him to just share as Andy couldn't open his mouth.  That worked.

I got some more painting done last night and moved these chairs into a couch this morning.  

 

Isabele sat next to Ann for a bit this morning, then Titus got up and had to have Andy.  He's getting ready to read a book to him.

I think that Titus has a new friend.

As I sit here typing this, Brian helped Titus read the book.  Just now Titus went walking by, helping Andy walk to his room.  I'm not sure what he's after ...

Thank-you Mother for making these dolls.  Sorry it took almost 30 years for them to be liked.

I must go now.  Andy is taking a nap in Titus' bed.

Paint

I, in my infinite wisdom, decided to let the kids help me paint the hallway this morning.  

 

Isabele is hard at work painting the tape that I put on the trim "just in case" they missed the wall a little.  Good thing, huh?.

Titus was doing a very good job.  Not too long after this, Titus started giggling.  I turned around and found that Isabele had painted her face and had a taste of the paintbrush.  Sorry - no picture of this.  But here's what she looked like after a quick cleanup at this sink and then sloppy joes for lunch.

 

She decided on the hat, all on her own.

 

Here's the finished hallway from the dining room, looking into the bathroom.  The trim is going to be a cream color and will have to wait a couple days so I can tape off the walls and then have the kids asleep as they are not going to get to help paint trim.

 

The beginning of the next room to be painted.  I was taping the ceiling in the front entry and Titus decided to help a little.  He opened the paint can on his own, poured the paint into the tray and started in on the wall.  For a 3 year old - not bad.  A little help from me and no one will ever know that it was started by a 3 year old.

Wordless Wednesday

I think I'll take this idea from the blog of one of my friends.  Thanks for the idea Angie!!

 

 

Titus' Biplane All Finished

 

Titus built this airplane with a little help from Brian.  He really enjoyed making it.

 

And the propeller spins.

 

The completion of yet another "power-dive".  Titus loves to make his airplanes power-dive and do loops. 

Isabele making Tortillas

 

Isabele was sitting in her high chair watching me make tortillas.  When I got to the last 2 (of 12), she decided she needed to help.  She patted the dough and helped with the rolling pin.  Here she's about to put the tortilla into the skillet.

Helping flip the tortilla over.  She's very aware that the pans are hot and doesn't want to get too close.  She certainly wants to be involved in everything.

Little Hands

Titus Spring of 2008.

 

Isabele January 2009.

Titus and Isabele January 2010.

Just a Few Naps

Titus sleeping in his car seat last summer after going to a meeting with me at work.  He got into my purse towards the end of the meeting and put on "mommy's lip".

 

I put Isabele in her crib to keep her safe for a few minutes while working on the house in the fall of 2009.  She cried for a while and then was quiet.  This is what I found when I went to investigate the quiet.

 Exhausted after 8 hours with the babysitter while both Brian and I were at work.  Adriane took this picture with her phone.

The results of a busy day with Nana and Grandpa at the end of January 2010.

Airplanes and Hats

Titus and Brian are working on building this airplane when Isabele takes naps.  Today they got to glue some more.  Now the plane has a propeller, the top wing and the beginning of landing gear.  I think next nap time when Brian's home they are going to paint a bit more.

 

This is the hat that I just finished for Isabele.  This makes hat number 3 in about a week.  I'm satisfied with this one even though I did make a few mistakes.  I like the pattern and will certainly make another one.  Still not sure if I'm going to rip out the ribbed border and do it again or not.  We'll see what I think in a couple days.

 

Here's a closer view of the front basket weave cable.  The back looks just the same.  I'm made this an inch shorter than the pattern calls for and it fits Isabele just fine.  Titus has tried it on, of course and it fits him great too!  The pattern has sized for adults too ... tempting ...

 

And the side view with a twist or 2 stitch cable in the center of each ear-flap.  The pattern calls for a 2 inch pom-pom on the top - not sure if I'm going to add that or not. ... Opinions?

Isabele's Purse

Miss Isabele, being herself the other day. I made the sweater for Titus for his first birthday. I think it fits Isabele a bit better than it did Titus. It was a little big on him and then I think I forgot about it until his arms were longer than what hers are right now.
I knit this purse the other evening. I got a new book of patterns that uses only one skein or leftovers from other projects. My intent was that this purse was for me, however, I think Isabele has other plans for the purse.

I know these handles are for something.

I can hold it like this.

It fits her really well. When she puts it on her shoulder the bottom of the purse falls just below her hip. She's cute. I'm not sure if she's going to keep it for herself or if I'm going to use it. I have the feeling that if I try to use it, she's going to take it back.

House pictures, finally

The dining room from the edge of the kitchen. The chimney is to the left. The kids little project table and the computer desk are now in the dining room. The china cabinet and the dining table are off to the right.
Here's the view from the living room/dining room doorway looking back at the kitchen.

Here's the counter that Brian built for me. 1x3's laminated and then another 1x3 that we steamed and bent to the curve. The double oven is just to the left - you can see a little bit of it. the microwave is on top of the oven cabinet. The dishwasher is under the counter - there was no way to put it on the other side of the kitchen by the sink without tearing out all of the counters and we don't want to do that on this remodel - maybe the next one, although after not having a dishwasher in years, it doesn't really matter where it is :-).
Here you can see the microwave and ovens and dishwasher. We aren't done with the counters by the stove - but what's there is usable while we get the wallpaper off the walls, and then work on painting.

Nothing has been painted yet - so these aren't final pictures, by any means - but a glimpse of what progress has been made so far.

Isabele at Dinner Tonight

"Mother said that it is all gone, but I think I can get a little bit more."

Is it working?

"What? You have a problem with my technique?"

"It worked. Mess? What mess? Not me."

"Now I'll just rub my hair a bit."

"Don't look at me. Look over there at Titus."

"I don't know who you thought you were watching, but it wasn't me. I'm innocent."

Sleeping

Poor girl cried herself to sleep. She was exhausted and I put her in her crib to keep her safe while we were demolishing a wall.



"I'm not tired. I'm not going to take a nap ..."