michigan snapshots

I have been in Michigan for almost three weeks now, and have yet to see anyone on my list of to-see people. Where has the time gone?! It's cold and windy. Leaving this house outnumbered 3 to 1 is not on my to-do list... yet.  We've ventured out a few times, to get ears re-pierced, dye eggs and then find them.  Nothing more. 

Craig flys in on Wednesday. 

Craig: Whats the first thing you're going to do when you see me?

Me: Hand off a kid.

Me: JK

Him: No your not

He knows me too well. hah. Here ya go... hope you enjoyed your three weeks of peace and quiet, it's over now.

. 

They are destined to be best friends. Their moms have been BFF since the age of 3.

(nothing like the wind in your hair. hah)

(I love that they have an uncle so close in age!)

#ducklips

Watching my littles laugh with best friends littles and cousins tugs on my heart strings. Sometimes I feel like the mean one, keeping them away of future friends and family. But I know that they will grow up appreciating the time they've spent here. They will enjoy looking back at childhood summer memories of friends and cousins in this great state.

Five things to Note before Toddlerhood.

ONE. Don't walk through the peanut isle. I learned this the hard way. For the duration of our shopping trip, the only thing I heard (as did the whole store for that matter) was

"I love penis" "I want penis" or "Mom, can I have some penis?" 

Yes sweetheart, you can have some penis, PEANUTS if you will just STOP talking!!!

TWO. Don't give your child a sippy cup of apple juice. ALWAYS water it down. If you do not water it down, you will have, what a friend of mine calls Apple Bombs. It's worse than it sounds. Your child will pretty much pee shit out of his ass. FYI: It smells like roses and is a dream to clean up.

THREE. When picking up the tornado mess of toys, always pay attention to where you're tossing them. Like... never just get pissed off (because it's the 109834098 time you've picked up that toy)  and toss it behind your back. Craig learned the the hard way, when he chucked a toy over his shoulder towards the hallway and clocked Adelyn square in the chin. This was a fun topic to discuss the following day at Ballet.

"I have a booboo, seeeeeeeeeeee. My dad was angry and threw a toy at my face."

I got some amazing looks and those half-ass holy-shit smiles. My name was immediately scratched off the Playdates list. 
I think Craig missed his calling as a pitcher. 

FOUR. Note that the word knuckles sounds a lot like a really racist word when coming out of a toddlers mouth (at least my toddlers mouth). Try to refrain from giving your 2 yo knuckles in front of anyone in public. Especially an African-American family strolling through the park.

FIVE.  Caillou is a little bastard! If you let your kids watch him, they will immediately turn into little assholes. Consider yourself warned.

Have any funny toddler stories?! I love a good laugh ;)

Extra Tip: Never leave your phone on speaker, unattended while on hold!!

((current wait time 27 minutes))
Me: OK, I can do that, I'll just put it on speaker.
Adelyn: What's that noise?
Me: It's the phone, I'm on hold, don't touch it.
Adelyn, But who is it?
Me: It's no one, I'm on hold, don't touch it.
Adelyn: But what's that noise?
Me: GAH. Don't worry about. Just don't touch the phone.
...26 minutes later... (literally 26 minutes later!):
Adelyn: But what's that noise.
Me: IT'S THE PHONE, FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME. DON'T TOUCH IT.
I go into the other room and 2.5 seconds later I don't hear the noise.
I walk back into the kitchen to find Adelyn smiling.
Adelyn: I pressed end for you. I don't like that noise.
Me: (laughing hysterically to keep from crying... or strangling her!)

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geometric mobile [a trendy diy mobile]

So I found myself with 3 sleeping kids... all at once this afternoon (insert singing angels here).  We've finally transitioned Stone out of his crib... 2.5 years old... the size of a 5 year old... yea... it was time. And after the pediatrican looked at me like I was on crack because Abel was still sleeping in his rocking bassinet, I figured it was time to transition him into the crib. This meant we needed a new mobile. The Dream Catcher mobile I made for Stone is still around.. somewhere, but all the feathers have been picked apart by little fingers and I wanted something new. 

I've been totally drooling over Simon & Ruby's new line. Especially all the new geometric necklaces. The Maggie necklace was the inspiration behind the new mobile.

This was super fast and easy to put together. I promise.. if I can do it, you can too. AND it was FREE, because I had everything on hand. If you had to buy all the supplies, it'd probably cost about $10 total, at most!

Here's what you'll need:

• Felt [I used 6 different colors, you can use as many or little colors as you'd like]

• Embroidery Floss 

• Needle

• Embroidery Hoop [only the inner part]

OPTIONAL:

• Liquid Stitch [or any other fabric glue. Super glue would probable work too]

STEP 1: Cut triangles. I cut way too many! I ended up using 68 triangles. I found the most time efficient way to cut these is to draw a triangle onto cardstock and use it as a template. Then trace a line of them down the felt. Just stack up your felt, a few pieces at a time, and cut them all together.

After getting them cut out, you can lay them out to see how you want to string them. Make it random, color blocked or ombré, the choiice is yours.

STEP 2. String the triangles. I peeled away one piece of thread from the floss. Around 1 yard in length. Put three stitches in the triangle, slide it down the floss and grab the next one to be strung.

There are 7 triangles per strand. 9 strands and 1 bunting.

The bunting is done the same way, but instead of stitching through the center, you stitch a long the top.

STEP 3: Take two pieces of embroidery floss and form a +. Set your hoop over the +.  Wrap each of the 4 loose strands around where it touches the hoop a few times. Once all four pieces are wrapped, grab the 4 loose ends and lift the hoop. This will form the hanging part. Make sure the hoop is level and tie a knot at the top of the strings.

STEP 4:  Start tying the strands of triangles to the embroidery hoop. I placed one in the center. and 8 evenly spaces around the hoop. Try to gauge how long you want them to hang. This isn't that big of a deal yet, but don't make them too short!!! You can trim them up later.

Tie the bunting between two strands from the hanging part.

STEP 5: Once everything is tied up (double knotted) go through and place the triangles how you want them... moving them up or down. Once you have it how you want it, trim off the loose ends at the bottom, pretty close to the bottom triangle.

[OPTIONAL]

STEP 6:  To keep everything in place, dab some liquid stitch over the knots and stitches. There isn't really a need to do this to every triangle, as they stay pretty well. But, dabbing it along the bottom triangles would ensure no triangles fall off.

That's it. 2 hours, start to finish... tops.

Super simple, super trendy. Would make a fun handmade gift for the expectant mom! 

If you make one, I'd love to see it, share your post or link to a picture in the comments.

xoxo (i always whisper "Gossip Girl" after typing that... FYI)

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