We Grew a Thanks Tree

My blog buddy Abbie posted this on her site and because I think that she and it are totally fabulous I copied her.

For FHE this week we planted a tree. A tree of thankfulness. Sadie and I gathered the leaves. I got my craft on. Ryan got doused in glue (what a good sport for putting up with my crazy ideas, because who ever thinks it is a good idea to give your 2 year old a bottle of glue and a paint brush?) Here is the finished product:

We glued the leaves to the paper, wrote our names next to the leaf and then on the back made a list of things we are thankful for.

This is what Sadie is thankful for:
Binkies
Juice & Milk
Toys
Tinkerbell on the TV
Slides
Bubbles
By the way, she is not thankful for the park or the dog. She made that very clear while we were giving her ideas

I am thankful for:
Babysitters (I am dying without one right now!)
Good friends
comfortable beds
a warm house
good hugs

Ryan is thankful for:
Families
computers
work
play time
Fun movies

I displayed our finished product on our kitchen table so that every time we see it we can remember how much we have to be thankful for. We are truly blessed.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Random Thoughts on Daddies, Driving and the Big-D

I have a freaking awesome husband. And Sadie has a freaking awesome dad. A couple weeks ago, in passing conversation, I mentioned to Ryan that it would be really nice if Sadie had a toy shelf in her room. (Previously, the toys have been stored on our bookshelf in the living room...right in the entrance and walkway to our house. Now, I don't have a problem with a little mess here and there in my house. I do have a problem with the toy tornado being front and center on display every time we answer the door).

Anyway, Ryan had the day off for President's day and this is what the handyman came up with:

FABULOUS!!!!!

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Here's a movie for your viewing pleasure. Let's just say we are very glad that there is a good 14.5 years before Sadie is allowed behind the wheel of a car. On second thought, is 14.5 years long enough?

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So, Sadie is on her second round of antibiotics for her stupid ear infection THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY!!!! The Dr. did mention something about this kind of medicine causing diarrhea. His warning was quite massively understated. Enough said.

Things to Consider Before You Start a Home Project

• Always estimate the time you think it will take you to finish your project before you start... and then multiply that time by 42.
• While completing a long-planned-for-but-never-started-home-project seems like an awesome fathers day surprise present, that CD he asked for would be just as, if not more, appreciated and a heck of lot less work.
• Always estimate the cost of the home project before you begin... and then multiply that cost by 3.
• It helps to understand the law of diminishing returns: Given a fixed amount of some input, when ever more amounts of the variable input are added, eventually, the marginal product declines. In other words, the longer it takes you to complete said project, the less you care about the quality of the work you perform and the outcome of said project.
• Realize that this law also applies to your home's previous owners. When you realize this fact you will need to consider either scrapping the whole project or starting over completely from scratch. In any case, multiply your current estimated time and cost by 5.
• Never, under any circumstances, set aside time or plan time to work on your project. It will rain. Always.
• Girls that can handle a power tool are sexy.
• When working with old and weathered wood expect to get massive splinters in your fingers and toes.
• Flip flops probably aren't the best shoe choice when working on a home project.
• There is actually a pretty significant difference between wood screws and deck screws. Namely, the top of wood screws break off when you are using them to assemble a deck.
• If you are using 2x4 pieces of wood and then you run out of 2x4s, it does little good to buy 2x5 pieces of wood.
• "Redwood" deck stain is really, really red.
• When cutting on an angle is needed, remember to measure it once, then measure it twice, then measure it again BEFORE you make the cut.
• If you are a girl and you go to Home Depot by yourself, expect to be ignored and then treated like you are completely stupid.
• Brothers come in handy when it come to home projects.
• Skilsaws and electric sanders are awesome!!! And the neighbors won't mind a bit when you are using them until 10pm multiple times a week.
• Doing a home project by yourself is completely overrated. Hire a professional.