Birthday Weekend Kick-Off

This morning at just after 6:30 there was a scream and a crying child in the room next to mine.  Not so different from the day she came into this world 3 years ago (at 6:43 a.m.) although I thought we were pretty much past the crying upon wake up.   We cuddled and read some books before getting ready for the day.  Layla has been looking forward to and talking about her birthday for months!

We made cupcakes for her to take to school and share with her friends.  Today was her last day of school for two weeks since Grandma and Papa got here tonight and Allie and Ryan will be here tomorrow.  Then, she is off to the lake with Grandma and Papa.

Deerfield has a summer concert series on Thursday nights.  Tonight it was "Heartache Tonight", an Eagles tribute band.  I don't think she liked it as well as the Motown band that played last week, but we still danced and sang a fair bit following our dinner at Potbelly (her choice, mostly I think because she likes the cookies).

 Cupcakes for snack with her friends!

 Yum, Cookies! and the good milk with the cute cow on the front.

 Inflatable guitars were hand-outs for the kids tonight.  They also have free popcorn, bomb pops, balloon man, and face painters.  It's quite the production for a suburban Thursday night!

Dancing with Daddy!

Rats!

A few weeks back Jason and I agreed to meet for lunch.  Jeff and I are doing some contract work for another architect and the office is only about 5 minutes from Jason's office, so occasionally we get together like the good old days.

Jeff and I arrive, order our food, and wait for Jason.  He arrives a bit flustered and the following conversation ensues:

Jason: Sorry I'm late guys, I had to stop at a jobsite.
Beth: Is everything ok?
Jason: No!  The guys were supposed to be excavating, but there was a rat!
Jeff and I look at each other, confused.  Seems like you could dig a hole, even if there was a rat.
Beth: Just one rat?
Jason: Yeah!
Jeff and I are still confused, maybe this is some construction term we don't know?
Jason: It's a huge rat! Inflatable!

Apparently, his concrete contractor pissed off the union and this is what they got:

Thankfully the dispute had nothing to do with Jason's company, but still it created a headache for him.  Also, thankfully it sounds like the client handled it pretty well.  Welcome to the neighborhood!

Bed Problems

Sunday Night

L: "Mommmmmmmmmy!" (from her bedroom where she is supposed to be sleeping.)
Me: What's wrong?
L: This bed scratched me on these two fingers (showing me two fingers which look fine to me).
Me: Kisses for each one and back to sleep.
L: I can't sleep here this bed is scratching me.
Me: This is where you sleep.  Goodnight!

Monday at bedtime

L: Mom, I'm a big girl, this is a baby bed.  I am done with this bed.   

Wenesday (approx. 5 a.m.)
L: Mommy! (semi-whispering at my bedside)
M: What's wrong?
L: My bed is full of spiders.
Me: Why don't you go potty and I will clear your room of spiders.

... a few minutes later...

Me: All set!
L: You found the spiders?
Me: No spiders. Back to bed, it's not time to get up.
L: I can't sleep in there, too many spiders.

I think we are going to have to give in and get her a new bed pronto.  Sounds like a good birthday gift!  Thank goodness we have a king size bed, since she has insisting on sleeping in it several days this week and I am too tired to protest.  I think that perhaps she won't care that this is now her brother's bed?  She will be very excited to get her own big girl bed.

Later on Wednesday morning as I am getting dressed:

Me: Go to your bathroom and go potty then come back.
... a few minutes later she returns with a ponytail....
(It should be noted that she absolutely refuses to let me put her hair up even though it's been super hot and she has pretty long hair).

Me: What a great ponytail!  I love it, who put that in your hair?
L (with enthusiasm): Daddy!
Me: That was nice of him (he also would like our kid not to be the crazy-hair kid at school).
L: Ya, he's a good guy.

House Update

We've got drywall!  As suspected, the drywall contractors did in 4 days what would have taken Jason and I two months to do.  Money well spent.  Everything was done in 5/8" firecode drywall and our new doorways were finished and old doors were covered over.  They even skim coated part of the hall outside the closet that we thought we would have to do ourselves (a very nice surprise).   Last weekend I stripped down the wallpaper in the bathroom and this weekend did an initial coat of primer.  I also spent a lot of time seeking out the millions of nail holes throughout the house and filling them, as well as the areas of the walls and ceiling that cracked where the chimney used to leak.    The bathroom will need a second coat, the walls were in bad shape underneath that wallpaper.  Jason is working on the exterior window trim and I am continuing to prime, moving on to the Kitchen and new bedrooms this coming weekend!

If you like to paint, call me, I could use a helper.  Plus, priming is so easy, no edging required!

 One window down!  We always start with this one, it's the trickiest. 

Its hard to see but there is about a dozen pieces all in flat stock, except for the sill.  The air space on the brick was unusually wide, so we used a 2x2 backband all the way around the window.  

Everything will get painted to match the trim!

 Doorway to the Kitchen is gone! 

 

Now it will be my 'pantry'.

 Door to the bathroom from the Kitchen gone!

It looks a little funny on the bathroom side, but that will get re-done [eventually] so not to worry. 

 It's just primer, but still a vast improvement over the bright pink flowered wallpaper.  Well, in all fairness the flowers were only really bright behind the mirror.  They had mostly faded to a light burgundy on the walls.  I was working hard on trying to find a good color to go with the gray and burgundy tile.  Turns out primer white looks pretty good and matches the fixtures.  The Hamline fans will love it!

Baby's Room facing west. The crib will go on the left and rocking chair in the corner on the right.

 Baby's Room facing east. That little niche is for the changing table/dresser.

 Play Room has really tall ceilings and looks so bright and big now! 

 Layla's Room looking west.

Layla's Room looking east to closet (where that corner window is).

Layla's Birthday Wish List

It's that time again: our little babe is having a birthday.  It is shocking how quickly time passes and now Layla is about to be 3!  If you are so inclined to buy her a gift, here are a few things that she would love to have:

1. Money for College (I know, it's sooo boring, but I can't see any way two architects are going to be able to pay for two kids to go to college, so throw me a bone).  Layla has a BrightStart Illinois account that makes your gift tax deductible, email if you would like the details or give me a check and I'll deduct it from my taxes :-)

2. Clothes in size 4T for the coming year, including socks!

3.  Here's a Target Wish List of a few things that she likes, but in general she is interested in:

Art (everything washable please so I can maintain my sanity) paint, paper, markers, misc. craft projects, play-doh

Books (and flash cards - don't ask me why but she loves them.  I hope that enthusiasm keeps up through college)

Baby Dolls (please no 'baby alive' or anything else that eats or pees - two kids will be enough for this mommy).  She is getting interested in playing pretend and only has 2 dolls, so another would be good with clothes and other accessories. 

Sports (balls, swimming accessories, etc.)

Puzzles

All things Dora the Explorer and Curious George!