Happy Valentines Day?

The boys kept telling me that Daddy didn't have an apron...Can I just say that this was the most painful project I have worked on since I got my sewing machine - rotten pattern!!!! But I FINALLY got it done, and Andrew is just so very excited to be modeling it with his veggie grill tray.

He also was player of the week on his hockey team with two goals. Here he is posing with the Screaming Weasel (did I get that right? maybe it is Screeching Weasel) that he gets to keep for a week. I caught Seth and Gavin standing on our bed admiring it sitting on Daddy's dresser this week.
And can you say "cheap entertainment" - I froze some of their toys and a baby carrot in a bowl of ice. They spent a good chunk of time trying to get the stuff out of the ice. I am going to do this again for sure.
I have another project almost completed - it just needs grommets - but it is going to have to wait till I get back from Colorado this weekend. Speaking of Colorado... I better finish packing and get some sleep. I have a LONG drive in the morning! Back next week with pictures and stories.

Health update...

...I visited the ENT doc. I still have a severe sinus infection (since November) and he is doing one last ditch effort to cure me with drugs before I have to have a surgery to clear out my sinuses. And I get allergy tested in about a week and a half. Friday, I got a steroid shot in the butt and some heavy duty antibiotic to try and kick this thing. I told him about being so fatigued all the time, and he is pretty convinced we have a mold problem. So we are doing a mold test in the petrie dish tonight and are going to watch and see if anything grows in it. If the problem is mold, I think that means demolition in our master bath, treating that corner of the house for mold, and the attic (as my mother-in-law reminded us that there had been signs of previous mold damage up there - supposedly attended to, though), and then doing a bathroom remodel. This is one expensive sickness as we already paid a lot of $ to get the ductwork vacuumed out (but I could feel myself breathing easier right away.) So all that to say that everything is the same and we are just making a lot of guesses as to what is going on. Hopefully the next few days will at least confirm or eliminate the mold issue.

Making stuff again.

I had this bin of old t-shirts in my craft cabinet. Been carrying them around for a few moves. I was thinking of making a rug out of them or something. They had a tutorial for making rugs out of old t-shirts in the most recent Family Fun mag - using a hula hoop for a loom, no less. Even easier than what I was planning. I had enough to make a very small rug (a bunch of them would be really fun for a kids room) or a nice sized basket. Since I am in much need of digging out of the mess in the dining room (PAPER IS THE BANE OF MY EXISTANCE!) I have hatched a plan to use this and a hanging pocket organizer to bring some order to my home. I haven't made the pocket organizer - that is coming up next on my agenda this evening. Then to clean and organize my dining room and kitchen. Anyhow, here is my rainbow basket. 14 some t-shirts get a new life!

That should add some sunshine to our snowy/muddy day!

Beautiful beautiful snow.

Driving home last night in this snow was terrifying and beautiful all at the same time. Glad we made it safe. Wondering how my little crocus' are doing under their wet heavy blanket of snow. We do need the moisture here, but I am excited for warmer weather again so I can keep biking.

Making stuff.

I saw these balance boards on a blog post recently, and thought - this would be a great thing for Seth and Gavin to keep them busy and active inside. So yesterday I decided that instead of just thinking about it (or cleaning house, for that matter) we should just DO it. I got a stair tread that had been pulled off, and talked a friend into running to Menards with us to get duct tape, a dowel rod, and a smaller saw for the boys to use, and off we went. The boys got some lessons in safety and sawing (I got a great woodshop book that my Dad recommended - great info on woodworking with kids!). We clamped the board and dowel to the dining table to saw, and I think they are gonna need a workbench that is their height - the angles were all wrong for them, but they learned something, so it counts for school - right? AND the floors on that level got a good cleaning when we were done, so that is good, too! Then we duct taped the boards and dowels to our hearts delight, and then playtime. Do you know they are great for banging, also?

I think I am in love with duct tape. I wonder what else I will come up to tape up with it in the near future!?!

And we did some spelling/reading games with our alphabet beanbags that I FINALLY got finished. (Yay for finishing projects!)
Then we went shopping with friends. I don't think I can figure out a way to count that in as school today. Bummer.

Log 2 for this week.

Rode my bike to Bible study at Starbucks.
6.5 miles into a headwind the entire way.
Didn't know if I would make it.
Took 45 min.

Did it, glad that ride is done.
Now to pick my next ride.

I have to say, going somewhere, or meeting someone is really great incentive to finish a hard ride.

Log.

I know I am only supposed to be checking email, but today was... well, different. I did check some blogs and the news as well this morning, because we were in the crazy zone 30 min. after we woke up. However, I did fight back from discouragement by making a hot lunch, doing school with the boys, working on a project or two, putzing in the garden, and getting all the ductwork in our home cleaned out. I determined that even if it was raining (it never did rain) I HAD to get my first ride in on my newly tuned up bike. 12.8 miles. 1 hour 6 minutes. And there were my favorite people waiting for me at the end of the trail to cheer me on. It was very good. And Andrew discovered that one reason I don't like to work out really hard around anyone is that my face is red as a tomato. Thankfully it doesn't show too badly in my first biker chick photo. I have a LONG way to go before the big ride, but it feels good to have started. (side note: my glasses have 4 sets of lenses - dark, medium, light, and clear - they work like a windshield to protect your eyes - they look a little funny with the clear lenses in, but they worked great as I had quite a headwind for a while.)And we have the first bloom of spring in my garden today!
Not bad for a rough starting day and cloudy skies. Now, off to shower and do something non-electronic...