Busy Book by Auntie Lisa

I am a novice crafter/sewer (as will be evidenced by the pictures of the finished result), but I am learning. My parents actually gave me a brand new sewing machine the night I finished this project, so hopefully I'll become a pro and the next one I make will be 10x better. But for now, the busy book/quiet book I made for my adorable nephew, Mr. Pierson:

Cover

Paint palette: the "paint" splotches are velcroed on, so they can be removed and rearranged; there is a paintbrush in the pocket on the opposite page for fun imaginary painting

my personal favorite: chicks and the barn

open the eggs and SUPRISE! little chicks!

open the barn and WHAM! cow, chicken, and pig

finger puppet barnyard animals

Hungry? Check the refrigerator. 

fruit can be removed and placed into the bowl on the opposite page

tree with removable leaves and ice cream
additional scoops of ice cream can be found in the ice cream container; scoops are attached with velcro

I predict this page will be one of Pierson's favorites; a car track complete with a car, truck, slugbug, school bus, and  *big blue* truck

monkeys and bananas (beads) that can slide from tree to tree

better check the mail, there's a letter from the best aunt ever inside :)

the admittedly creepy page: the face; other eye, nose, and mouth options are in the pocket on the opposite page; again, everything is velcroed on

opposites attract? the toolbox and counting flower

hammer, wrench, screwdriver, and saw....I think

blast off!

rocket to the moon

It was a time consuming project, but not all that difficult (once you let go of perfectionism and accept imperfection). Crossing my fingers that he loves it!

Fame

My cousin just texted me to inform me that I am a youtube superstar. Check me out.

Confessions of a Clean Carpet Enthusiast

For sharing a tiny apartment with 5 other girls, our apartment stays fairly clean. We do have one major problem: HAIR. In the shower drain, on the rug by the vanity, and all over the floor. Gross, I know. Be happy I didn't take a picture of the hairballs we clean out of the showers daily. 

This weekend we received a gift from the apartment manager that has significantly improved the hair situation: a brand spankin' new Dyson vacuum!!! Our last vacuum was old and didn't really work. Then it conveniently disappeared. When we told the manager, she offered us one of only three new vacuums for our apartment complex. Needless to say, I am completely in love with our new vacuum. My obsession has led to our floors being vacuumed daily. Megan laughs at me because I get really excited about the floors now. 

I can't make all my roommates shave their heads, but I can vacuum the floors as often as I like. Do you know what that means? I can sit on the carpet without worrying that I'll get hair on me! Best. Vacuum. Ever.

Livia. Like Olivia without the "O"

Today is this cute girl's birthday. She is ELEVEN years old! Can you believe it? It seems like just last Christmas I was begging Santa to bring me a little brother or sister, but it's been eleven years since I got my Christmas miracle.

Boy oh boy was I excited to be a big sister. I always had clothes laid out in case I needed to get up in the middle of the night to meet my cute new baby sister. I was so excited.

I still remember when Grandma and Grandpa woke me up super duper early to go to the hospital to meet Liv. It was still dark outside. Josh and Joe didn't come because they wanted to sleep, but I could not wait another second to meet her!

From the minute I first held my baby sister, I claimed her as mine. I even brought her to school for show and tell.

And now she's growing up. I would still bring her to school for show and tell, but now she could probably carry me just as well (if not better) than I could carry her.

Oh Livia. She is my favorite. I'm sure I made her life infinitely more challenging by begging for her to have an "L" name (she will  have to explain for the rest of her life that her name is Livia not Olivia). Happy birthday to my favorite girl. 8 days until 3 weeks of sister sleepovers!

B-38

Okay, epic fail on the blogging lately. Life is busy. But I didn't want you to miss out on tonight's adventures. Welcome to a normal, run-of-the-mill, average, totally ordinary night in B-38.

Sometimes we dress up in Chloe's clothes when she isn't home and take pictures with her stuff (see facebook for more).

And sometimes...well, sometimes we bounce.