Two Teeth...Four days

Koo lost one front tooth on a Sunday.

Lost another one on Thursday.

He pulled them himself.  Decided it was time because they'd been loose for awhile.  Still so cute to me.

Back from break...payback

The boys had such a ball during Christmas break.  Sleep in late. check.

Traveled to see cousins and get tons of loot.  check.check.

No spelling lists to copy. Triple check.

Stay in PJs all day...well no. My boys do not like to stay in jammies all day. 

Needless to say, they did not want to go back to school.  On the first morning back, I had to wake them up (usually they are up and playing by 6:30am) and they were grumpy. They complained about me waking them up at 7:30am.  It was so much fun for me b/c paybacks are a *&^%!.  My days have started at 5am since the day S.E. came out of my womb. 

Seriously thought I'd have to wait 'til middle school to see them like this.

Works for fitted sheets

Happy New Year all. Is anyone coming to this blog anymore? I have been in a funk and can't seem to write about anything.

Well. I just made this table cover and I'm excited. Why didn't I do this sooner? 

In my house, I don't have a formal dining room. Kind of glad I don't. It just seems isolated. My dining room table is one I bought from a friend of mine years ago. It's beautiful. If I had to buy it brand new, I probably wouldn't because the price would be too much.

So I want to take care of it, protect it but still let my boys not only eat but do crafts, schoolwork, and build lego structures.

I've tried to keep it scratch-free (so far so good), but I've hated all my options.  Cloth or vinyl tablecloths would cover the entire table but would slide around and ultimately, milk would be dumped at least once a week when Koo grew out of using sippy cups. 

Placemats were okay but it left too many areas of wood exposed that I had to be Nazi mom when the boys would want to play with their toys at the table.

Today, I was modifying a king fitted sheet to our queen bed (that's a future post...) and thought, why not make a FITTED tablecloth!!!! Took less than an hour.  Since I hoard fabric, of course I would have remnant vinyl fabric which I cut to size (left 3" hanging over the sides) and then sewed a 3/4" hem, stuck some elastic around it and presto...fitted tablecloth.  No slipping, no exposed wood and best of all, it cost me nothing but time.

Another Year, another gingerbread decorating party

This year, gingerbread house baking and assembling was made easier with the help of my friend M and my husband.

We were able to crank out fifteen of the traditional kind for our annual party at my house.  In addition, we made twenty-seven of the Shalet (A-frame) style for S.E.'s class Christmas party.

It was all worth it when S.E.'s class came in from lunch and recess to find gingerbread houses and plates with frosting and candy waiting for them. S.E. was pretty happy to have me there and this made all the work worth it. 

Last year, his first grade teacher didn't want parents participating in class.  So, I did most of my volunteering in Koo's class.

Making up for it this year has been a joy because S.E. is so independent and is one child who could take me or leave me showing up. 

What I've been Watching

Folks. It's another edition of What I'm Watching.  TV. So old school right?

Here at the Ramblin' On household we've been watching all the NFL Monday, Thursday, and Sunday.  In addition, any college games which happens to be on Saturday.

But here are shows I am following...

Once Upon A Time
The Mindy Project (check this out...so witty!)
New Girl
Arrow

I'm actually the worse kind of TV viewer. Besides The Biggest Loser, I don't watch shows past the second season because that's when the show runs out of topics and the plot usually nosedives.  The only exception was Seinfeld.  Still can catch it on re-runs sometimes.  Still funny. Regardless of years.

I know there are more important things to talk about (like all the stuff on Pinterest) but since being sick on and off for the last two months-I've been watching more TV than usual. 

happier subjects: transformation of free baby bag

A friend of mine gave me this bag.  It's from our local hospital.  It's lovely and would make a great swim bag or grocery bag. 

However, it has advertisement on the pocket.  We all get free stuff. We love it at the time but how many of us wished it didn't have advertisement on it?  Solution.

Unravel the stitching.  Iron on a lovely piece of fabric to cover it.  Stitch the top over and sew it back into place along the sides and bottom.  And you get a unique, repurposed bag.

Did you all vote?

I did.

I must not be on the pulse of what the majority wants because everything I voted for...did not swing my way.

First of all, the selection for the President's job.  I have to say we deserve the President we voted for and I just hope President Obama focuses on real issues and do what's truly right and not what's popular to win a popularity contest.  I felt like his whole campaign was based on he being "cooler and more  connected" than Mitt Romney.

However, I want to put it out there that Mitt won me over in the second debate when he put emphasis on parents and parenting being the number one deterrent to the gun control-not more legislation.  I admire a man who speaks what he believes.

Another measure which passed that I am totally pissed off about is the legalization of recreational marijuana.  Here's my beef.  Your main push for it is because it will bring in revenue?!  What about what's right?  The thing about smoking this crap is smoking this crap and those around you having to inhale it.  Secondhand smoke.  How many lungs and brain cells are we risking in the name of revenue?  We are an impressionable society. IF it's legal, we are more apt to try and use it.  I will go on record in saying it will cost us more to treat the residual effects of marijuana users-lung cancer, being unmotivated, and just crime.

I'm sorry to rant about these two issues. I'm just frustrated with raising my kids to be a productive and decent human beings and it's come down to who's popular and how can we make more money.  Sad.

I leave with this..."don't let other people's actions dictate your character.".