In This Spot

Yesterday I called my mother-in-law from our Guys Who Grill event to see if she could bring some serving spoons. Her response, "Sure- I think I have some leftover from your wedding" as if our wedding was last month, not nearly 9 years ago. September 6, 2003. Bless her heart. She came through with the spoons like a champ!

That conversation reminded me of our wedding and the fact that I have a related layout I've been meaning to share.

Here we are- newly married. )On a side note- our niece Morgan, whose face you can see, just turned 15! WHAT!)

I took this photo of the girls on Easter 2011 sitting under the arbor where Nick and I exchanged our wedding vows. 

Journaling: In this spot Nick and I were married. We exchanged our wedding vows under this arbor
at his parents house in September 2003. Fast forward eight years to 2011 and our three
daughters can be found sitting underneath it. It all started right there in that spot. 

10 Things on Thursday

1. Last Friday night we went to the Lincoln County Fair in Merrill with our friends, the Mann's. It had been FAR too long since we'd seen them. Bennet and Scout rode their first roller coaster and loved every minute. They also went on the Tilt-a-Whirl with Nick. I know it made him a little sick :) 

2. And then when we got home I surprised Bennet and Scout by taking them down to the 400 Block for the annual Screen on the Green. We were armed with popcorn, drinks and our camp chairs.  At dusk they showed The Muppets on a giant inflatable screen.  They didn't last through the whole movie (too much fun for one day) but I was glad we went. 

3. We are getting ready to start our "having a 4th child" house remodel SOON! Part of me wishes we could outsource to whole thing- but we'll get it done! 

4. Bennet Snapshot of the Week: BIG NEWS!! After a year and a half on wishing and dreaming, she has her first loose tooth. She has been diligently working on getting it out since Saturday. She spent HOURS in the bathroom last weekend trying to get it out. Nick and I have always wondered why the previous owners of our house put a mirror behind the toilet. I guess it's used for Tooth Loosening. 

5. Scout Snapshot of the Week: Has asked me to make some new reversible headbands for school. I think I can do that. I can't wait to go school supply shopping with the girls! 


6.  Ellie Snapshot of the Week:  I happened to walk by the table during breakfast the other day at school. I noticed that she ate every single marshmallow from her Lucky Charms but zero grain pieces. She does the same thing with Oreos. Licks the cream and leaves the cookie. 


7. I finished up this beast of a book (close to 900 pages!) last night. It really was an enjoyable little journey. Looking forward to the sequel in October. 

8. I made a couple of Burp Cloth sets recently. These are made-to-order to match exactly what you're looking for. $15 for a set of 3. Just email me at kari at kariann96 dot com for details. 

9.  Battled a little insomnia last night so I started this book. 

10.  This Sunday is the YWCA Wausau's 3rd Annual Guys Who Grill so both Nick (grilling) and I (organizing) are busy preparing for the event. 

WooHoo Wednesday (July 18)

Last week for Woo Hoo Wednesday we made Jolly Lollies. I had pinned the idea earlier this summer. I was looking for a low-stress, quick project last week and this fit the bill. Scout calls lollipops, "Lady Pops" and it is just adorable!

Tutorial:

The lollipops were pretty darn tasty and the kids thought they were so 'fancy'!

We also did this art project. Found here. It's similar to the Corn Syrup painting we did a couple of summers ago, but less messy. 

Half

This week I hit 23 weeks or the 5 month mark. This pregnancy is really going fast. I am consciously trying to savor all the "lasts" of it as much as I can. And as always- I am trying to get my thoughts to paper.

One For Each Girl

I've been busy sneaking some scrappy time this summer. I love getting back to it after a slow-ish spring. 

TITLE: Sept. June. 

Photos from Bennet's first and last day of Kindergarten. The changes are AMAZING! I've used this layout design before and just lifted myself. And once again I raided my scrap pile. Some of these papers are close to 5 years old. 

TITLE: Create Art
I had the chance to be a chaperone one of Scout's 4K field trips to the Center for the Visual Arts. I love the photos where she is focusing on her project. So quiet and intense. Inspired by this layout.  I love the Pink Paislee wooden letters I used for 'art'. I may need to pick up some more.

TITLE: Just Us

Just a simple layout with photos of Ellie and I that I took while playing on the pontoon. I even broke out my seldom used Stickles to add some sparkle to the sun. 

Woo Hoo Wednesday (July 11)

The girls are already getting excited for the 5th Annual Camp G&G at the end of August. This year my parents are taking all three girls (along with my niece Molly) for camp. Bennet asked if we could make a paper chain. Done! 

Nick and I will be taking advantage of a rare child-free pre-#4 weekend with a mini-vacay to Chicago so it serves as a Countdown to Chicago chain as well! 

This wasn't my first time at the Paper Chain Rodeo. I have made paper chains before and this is what I learned. A. I can never remember to take a link off every day and then I lose count and B. Scout always asks, "How many more sleeps Mom!" With that in mind I decided to put the date on each link along with the number of sleeps left until camp. Sometimes I'm a genius. 

                              

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday

The journaling tells the story:

One night your family was watching ‘The Addams Family’ movie. Your Dad looked at me at said, “How about the name Wednesday for a girl? I totally like it” I gave him a look that said - You.Are.Crazy. No way. Not gonna happen. Somehow the joke (well- to me it’s a joke. I think he’s serious) has passed onto your sisters. They are now working diligently to convince me on the name by chanting, “Wednesday! Wednesday! Wednesday!” during dinnertime. Even Ellie enthusiastically gets in the action using arm pumps. I told B, “I just don’t like the name Wednesday honey” to which she replied, “Well, what about Monday then.” Heaven help me

10 Things on Thursday

1. I made the Pioneer Woman's Pasta Carbonara other night. Totally hit the spot. Pasta good- bacon better! Recipe here.

2. White Collar (USA Network- Tuesday nights) is back! I normally don't get giddy over men but Matt Bomer is just soooo easy on the eyes. 

3. Finished this book over the 4th of July weekend. I recommend. 

4. Bennet Snapshot of the Week: Bennet is currently suffering from "Gotta-do-it-all-itis". She is barely done with one activity before she's onto planning or asking to do the next. Craft project, pool, ride her bike, park, paint nails, build the Empire State Building to scale- you get the picture. As a parent it gets a little exhausting, so we're trying to show her that you can't do it all, all the time. 


5. Scout Snapshot of the Week: Scout is all about about fashion this week. She has been wearing her star shaped sunglasses along with multiple bracelets and necklaces. She has replaced her normal backpack with one of my Kate Spade knock-off purses. It's kind of adorable seeing her saunter into school with a purse over her shoulder. 


6.  Ellie Snapshot of the Week: Ellie talks non-stop- barely pausing to catch her breath. And when she talks- she talks LOUD. Embarrassingly loud. But bless her heart- she is one cute chatty kid!   


7. Currently reading this book. Nick read it a couple of years ago and has been nagging me to read it. I finally got the ebook version from the library so I'm all set!

8. Officially hit the 2nd half of my pregnancy. 21 weeks! Time to start working on the house to make room. 

9.  Nick's birthday is next Monday. I REALLY need ideas. I wanted to buy him a day on the Cisco Chain with a fishing guide but it's just not in the budget this year. 


10.  We are staying home this weekend to catch up on life around the house. Perhaps do some de-cluttering prior to our remodel. 

Baby Belly Growing

I am still loving the simple, 8 1/2 x 11 format that I'm using for my pregnancy album. Plus- keeping it to a central color theme really helps streamline the process as well. I guess by the 4th kid I've lived and learned. 

TITLE: Showing

Journaling: Here I am at 18 weeks. Starting my 4th month. At my 15 week appt. I finally got to hear your heartbeat. Pounding away at 150 bmp. Thump thump. I lost 3 lbs. from my first check up but I know that the weight will come. I still wear some regular clothes but those days are numbered. My belly has definitely popped in the last month.  Last week I felt you really moving for the first time. I forgot how crazy & creepy it feels at the beginning.

TITLE: The Very Sight of You
Journaling: Besides holding you in person, there is nothing quite like seeing you on an ultrasound. Your biggest sisters Bennet & Scout joined your Dad & me for our anatomy scan. Once they realized what they were looking at they were in awe. “Mom- I see Mitten’s back! I see the heart- right there Mom! Dad- you see it?” The results show that you are 100% healthy. Nothing to be concerned about. Just how we’d hoped. June 26, 2012

Loop Da Loop

Bennet has always been our outside kid. It doesn't matter if there is a foot of snow on the ground or if the temperature is nearing 100 degrees- she wants to play outside. And when she does, she goes all out! Why would she simply run through the sprinkler when she can hula-hoop at the same time?

I used a BUNCH of older product on this layout. I love using what I have. It makes buying new so much easier :) 

Woo Hoo Wednesday- June 27

When I checked the temperature for last week's Woo Hoo Wednesday and saw that it was going to be in the 90's (HOT for Wisconsin) I knew it was time to tackle the 

Kids Car Wash Project. 

I'd seen this posted on several Pinterest boards and pinned it with the intention of making it sometime this summer. That sometime was NOW! 

Source: cassieandcompany.blogspot.com via Kari on Pinterest

I used a tutorial found here. 

SUPPLIES:

7 – ¾” x 10’ PVC Pipes

3/4″ FM x 1/2″ MIP hose adapter (See modifications) 

3/4″ x 1/2″ slip x threaded tee (See modifications) 

10- ¾” PVC elbows (without threading)

10- ¾” PVC tees (without threading)

¾” x 48” dowel (See modifications)

Spray Paint (Optional)

Hose Splitter (See modifications)

I found Menards to be MUCH cheaper than Home Depot. Across the board. I had all the PVC pieces cut at the store. I'd recommend going during the week during a slow period (early morning or noon). Chances are the staff will be more willing to cut them for you. 

Cost: 

TOOLS:

Hacksaw/handsaw

Measuring tape

Epoxy/Silicone (for dowels)

Drill and 1/16” bit

KIDS CAR WASH DIAGRAM


MODIFICATIONS: 

• Added a second section for water. I thought having only one spot for water was kind of lame. I duplicated the front arch at the second arch. I kept the second arch using (3) 30" PVC pieces and (1) 24" PVC piece. I added another 3/4" threaded tee and an additional hose connector. 
• If you add a second water spray location you will need (2) 3/4″ FM x 1/2″ MIP hose adapters, (2)3/4″ x 1/2″ slip x threaded tees, Hose Splitter, (4) 4" dowels instead of 2
• I sprang for 4 cans of spray paint ($12) and painted all the parts. It really took the car wash to a whole other level. No more ugly white PVC pipe with lettering all over it. I love how it looks! 

I really wanted the girls and I to make it all by ourselves. I'd say that we did about 90% of it. Nick helped with some cutting and drilling. Somehow when I went to put it together I lost one of the pieces. I have a feeling Ellie walked off with it. 


Here's how it turned out. I gotta say- I'm pretty darn proud of the finished product.

This is my new favorite picture. We have very few photos of all 3 girls together and this one captures who they are to a T!