summer

We

are

soooo

close!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

bouncing off the walls

28-week appointment highlights:

weight: 127, a 5-lb. gain over the last four weeks (beats the 8-lb. gain during the previous four week period!)

blood pressure: great

belly measurement: 28 (right on target)

fetal heart rate: great, 150s-160s

last appointment's blood work indicated serious anemia, so today I was happy to report an obvious improvement in energy level since beginning the extra iron supplement

major complaint: constant lower back pain

doctor's orders: begin daily kick count chart (shouldn't be hard considering he never really stops bouncing off the {uterine} walls)

next appointment scheduled: 32 weeks

how about a recipe or two?

I'm talking about high-energy summertime treats for kids here today.

And refreshing summertime drinks for moms here, yesterday.

words of wisdom

{i love this. i found it here.}

planning a photo wall

With a little careful, simple planning, hanging five photos- making only five nail holes {not 15}- is a cinch. I may be known to "overthink" things, but that's just how my brain works. Sorry. I am a planner. I happen to like it that way.

We are in the {seemingly forever ongoing} process of redoing the kids' room. We believe growing up sharing a room is really important, and are so glad that they still truly enjoy it. But recently, we separated the bunkbeds and are slowly giving each side of the room (boy side/girl side) its own identity. Luckily, their room is really the size of two small rooms.

After finding some fun art almost 3 months ago, I figured it was time to make use of it! So I took advantage of an Aaron Brothers sale, and bought five frames to go over each bed, as a photo wall starter for each side of the room. I'll gradually keep adding to them.

Step 1: First figure out about how much space you have, and roughly plan out your frames accordingly. After playing with them a while on the floor, figuring out a placement you like, measure the total space you'll be covering- top to bottom; left to right. I like my frames nice and close together, evenly spaced, but staggered.

Step 2: Cut this measurement out of paper (wrapping paper works well), then fold it into quarters to find your center. Horizontally, the center point should hit the center of your designated wall space. Vertically, I generally like the center point to hit 5 feet from the floor. In kids' rooms, however, I like to go a little shorter, since they're shorter! Once you've found your centers, use painter's tape to adhere the paper to the wall. Double check straigtness with a level.

Step 3: Mark the meaurement of each frame onto the paper, in its exact planned placement. If you measured correctly in step one, you should hit all four edges of the paper at some point.

Step 4: Now flip each frame over and measure from one side and from the top, to the hanging point. (For example, one of my frame hangers was 5/8" from the top, and 3 3/8" from the side.) Transfer these measurements onto the paper with a little dot to indicate nail placement.

Step 5: Hammer the nails where indicated, and hang the frames. They should sit exactly within your markings on the template. If they do, hooray! You don't have a million extra holes in your wall from estimating!

Step 6: Remove frames, pull off the template, and re-hang. Wasn't that easy? Any project including a yardstick and level = fun, in my book. {Nerd alert.}

*Please excuse the weird lighting! Most of this was done at night. And the black & white photos look way darker than they actually are. Okay, I feel better.

[Chayse's bed]

[Chloe & Camden's bed]

three tomatoes and a bell pepper

{in the garden: weeks one & two}

I have been waiting for months to get this organic veggie garden going!

It is our first Spring with space big enough for planting. Kevin made me a perfect raised bed from pressure treated wood, then completely lined it with redwood (because I'm paranoid).

I waited as close to May Day as possible to start planting. Most of the plants we raised from little baby seedlings, which came from our local Farmer's Market. The kids each got some in their Easter baskets that they are "in charge" of.

***
Lots of sun hit the first week:

***
During the second week, I added branches along the fence for the peas to climb, plus a few more of my favorite herbs in with the basil & thyme.

We officially have:

Chayse's bell peppers (orange; red)

cucumber (burpless)

hot peppers (banana; serrano)

peas

Chloe's strawberries

Camden's tomatoes (early girl; juliet; roma)

zucchini

basil

chives

cilantro

lavender

rosemary

thyme

The growth is already really noticeable:

I literally shrieked when I found this:
(as of now we have 3 tiny tomatoes and a bell pepper)

I found the coolest vintage spoon garden markers here:

The herbs are so fragrant and already in use.
I can't wait to use this basil with those tomatoes:

The peas I planted along the fence are special. I saved them from the seed packets we handed out at the Cora's Playground Dedication last September. I was so excited when they began to sprout:

I think my thumb is a little greener.

I don't like Minky.

Cute and cuddly? Yes.
Fun to work with? No.

But
I am excited about how this baby blanket turned out.

It's not for me to keep, but there is a similar one in the works for Baby C.
Minus the Minky.

Cookie Monday

Warm, gooey s'mores
(with a layer of peanut butter)
on a gray May afternoon.

Need I say more?

P.S. Dear Summer,
Please hurry up.

Vanilla Bean Buttercream

Galvanized 3-Tier Stand found here.

Here is my foolproof recipe, perfect for frosting cupcakes, squishing between two cookies, or just eating straight out of the bowl. And I'm serious. It's not the best for piping, though, because it is so thick. So get out your offset spatulas.

(Hope my OB isn't reading... next weigh-in: 12 days.)

Just use these proportions, and multiply as necessary:

1 stick unsalted butter (room temp, but not too soft):
1 lb. powdered sugar :
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract :
3 T whole milk :
pinch of salt

Cream butter & sugar; add milk, vanilla, & salt; mix until thick & creamy.
(I always add a scraped vanilla bean, because why not?)

I tripled the recipe for the 24 cupcakes for my shower, and piled it on!

showered

My baby shower luncheon was perfect.

Big, gigantic thanks to my mom & sisters and friend Audrey who created this.
I barely lifted a finger- usually impossible, but I didn't give it a second thought with my mom & Audrey in charge.

HUGE thanks to my friends who flew to San Diego just for the day, and those who drove for hours. You guys are the best.

Thank you, also, friends there in spirit, who still spoiled me with goodies.

I love that this was part of Mother's Day weekend!

Shower details to come May 19th on Oh My! Handmade Goodness,

but for now enjoy the work of my personal photographer,
the awesome Melissa Larson.

momcation

This weekend is finally here!

SO grateful for an awesome husband

who makes it happen every year.
Not sure how awesome I'll look in a bikini this time...

And speaking of Mother's Day, have you entered to win this yet?!

Off to the pool I waddle go!