New Toy

No, not a new toy for Gavin. A new toy for mommy!


I was able to get my sewing maching this week. I have been waiting and waiting for this! The one I wanted went on sale this week, so I just had to get it! It turned out to be a pretty big ordeal, though. I loaded Gavin up on wednesday and headed off to the store to pick it up. There was some construction going on so I had to go a round about way to get there. I was so frustrated. It felt like it was taking forever to get there. In reality it probaby took about 7 extra minutes. When I finally got there, I had to wait in line because two other people were buying machines also. I guess it was a popular day for sewing machines! So, when it finally came to my turn she told me how much and I dug through my bag to find my wallet. I dug and dug and dug to no avail. I had to leave the store, go back to my car and search high and low for it. I knew I had grabbed it . . . or not! So, I went all the way back home and still couldn't find it. I finally told Gavin that we needed to say a prayer and ask God to help us find my wallet. So, we prayed that if someone found it that they would be honest and turn it in, or that I would be able to find it in the house or in the car. When I was finished praying, our converstaion went something like this:

Gavin: God is going to help you find your wallet?

Me: Yes Gavin, He will

Gavin: I think He is too busy, mamma. You might have to find it yourself!

Me (trying not to laugh): God is never too busy to help us out, buddy.

So, I decided to look in my bag one last time. And, of course, I found my wallet. It was with me the whole time. I was really glad that it happened that way, though. It was such a teachable moment for Gavin and I was glad I took advantage of it! So, we got back in the car and went back to the store and brought home my new sewing maching. After several attempts to get it going and figure it all out, I was finally able to sew my first project.

Drum roll please . . .

Ta Da!!

Dont look too closely - it is pretty rough.

I even included some inside pockets

And I just though I'd throw in some pics from the other evening. We drove to yet another park and then walked along lakeshore to look at the sail boats. It was VERY windy, but Gavin had a blast anyway.

Games Galore!

We walked to the thrift store yesterday and we hit the jackpot! Ryan found all of these for Gavin and they were only $1.20 each. He is loving them! We played don't break the ice for over an hour last night!

Gavin really wants the baby einstein rocketship from Target. It is really cute, but it costs $39.99. Not something I am prepared to spend on a toy that he may or may not play with. However, he talks about it all the time and will not forget about it. So, I made a chart for him to earn it. He is very excited about it and is busy doing "jobbers" for mamma to earn money for it. Here is a picture of our chart with Gavin's first dollar in it!

How long do you think it will take before Gavin earns his prize?

Going Green

Well, as mentioned on Alicia's blog, earth day is coming up. The always free Lincoln Park Zoo was having a big event called Green Apple Music and Arts Festival. It is actually the largest Earth Day event in the country. They had music and tons of booths promoting organic food, hybrid cars, organic clothing etc. We had a good time. They were handing out FREE reusable grocery bags. I went through the line to get one and when I came back I sent Ryan through! We had a fun time and there was a TON of people there!

Enormous Lollipop!

This was the stage. We didn't actually sit and listen to anyone play - we didn't recognize any of the groups/bands.

Learning all about the hybrid cars

Snack break!

Yay! It's spring!

I don't know how Eco friendly you are, but I thought I'd share some tips and tricks to easily become more "green" with little effort. A will place a * by the ones that I am going to work on doing better.


1. Turn off/unplug appliances when not in use. It reduces standby electricity loss and can save you money in the long run!

If you have a clock radio, place a battery in it instead of keeping it plugged in all the time.

If your coffee pot has a clock or anything on it that is constantly using electricity through out the day, make sure to unplug it after you've had your morning joe!

* Turn off your computer when not in use.

* consider spending a few hours each week electricity free.


2. * Walk/bike/carpool when you can.

3. Use your own reusable grocery bags

4. * Recycle and be accurate about it. Go to www.nrc-recycle.org for more info.
example: cardboard cereal box - good. greasy pizza box - not so much.

5. You can avoid unwanted junk mail by going to www.catalogchoice.org and www.greendimes.com

6. Check your cars tire pressure often. It will get better gas mileage when the tires are fully inflated. It will save you money too!

7. Grill out! Grilling is a more energy efficient way to cook.

Gavin Talk

1. I know most of you out there probably say/do what I am about to write about, but it is one of my pet peeves. Well, I guess I wouldn't call it a pet peeve, it is just something that bugs me. Just about every couple I know calls each other "babe". Because everyone does it, I refuse to do it. I know, I'm such a non conformist . . .
So, my loving Husband (who loves to make fun of me at every chance he gets, don't worry, I only pretend to hate it. I really love it) just LOVES to call me "babes". I don't know why he adds the 's' on the end, but he does. Anyway, all that to tell you this funny story about Gavin. I am sure you know what is coming by now.

Ryan and Gavin went to the park last night while I was cleaning up after dinner. When I was done, I headed out to meet them there. As I was walking up to the play ground, Gavin yells out in his sweetest most nonchalant voice ever, "Hey Babes!" I about died. I was laughing so hard!

2. Whenever I pull something out of the oven or microwave that is really hot I will say "hot mamma!" in a funny little voice to make Gavin laugh. A week or so ago I gave him a super pretzel that was pretty hot so I told him to give it a min. before he ate it. Well, he touched the thing and says, "Hot Gavin!" instead of hot mamma. I guess he thought since I was mamma, I say 'hot mamma' and since he is Gavin he should say, "hot Gavin!"

3. Gavin likes to pretend to be a dog a lot and sometimes he likes me to pretend to be a dog. Well, two days or so ago he asked if he could pet me. I said, 'sure'. So, he was rubbing my belly and I pushed it out as far is it could go (which, impressively, is pretty far). Gavin said, "Whoa! Are you growin' up a baby in that belly?" I was cracking up and I said, "no, no baby in there!" and Gavin said, "Well, it sure looks like it!"

4. Gavin's Bible verse that he is working on this week is Psalm 29:11 A fool always looses his temper, but a wise man holds it back. I asked him to say the first part to me last night and he says, "A fool always looses his temperature . . . "

5. He has also picked up a little slang lingo these days and he loves to use it. Every opportunity he has he will ask me something like, "Did you make me breakfast? Didja? Didja?
It's pretty cute.

6. As I am typing this he is playing with legos. He just picked up a lego guy and said, "This guy is Jesus, he's goin' on a cloud to see his Father!" His lesson last week in church was about Christ Ascension!

What funny things have your kids been saying?

A few months ago I was having a conversation with someone and they asked me if I was the type of person who made my bed everyday. I was very confused because I didn't realize that there were other adults out there who would even consider not making their bed everyday. I said, "of course I make my bed everyday!" I went home and told Ryan and he had the same response that I did. I just brought this up with my friend Anne, who is my polar opposite (which is why we get along so well) and she thought that I was the crazy one. She rarely makes her bed.

I am starting to realize that I may be the one who is in the minority on this. Of course, I know i do other things that not everyone does. For instance, when I make my bed all the lines have to run straight on my quilt and the sheet has to start at just the right spot at the top of the bed. And every day before I leave the house I have to make sure that the couch pillows are straightened and fluffed! I know that those things are probably unique to me, but just making the bed?

So, all this to ask everyone who reads this blog - Do you make your bed everyday?

Tagging is back!

So, my bff Anne tagged me and forced me into this.

Four jobs I've had:
1) Groveland Oaks Concession Stand
2) Art Van Furniture
3) Northland Camp
4) Nanny

Four movies I've watched more than once:
1) You've Got Mail
2) Holiday Inn
3) Princess Bride
4) White Christmas

Four places I've lived:
1) Holly, MI
2) Dunbar, WI
3) Dearborn, MI
4) Chicago, IL

Four TV Shows I watch:
1) Curious George
2) Clifford
3) American Idol
4) Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Four places I've been:
1) Mexico
2) France
3) Austira
4) Switzerland

Four people who email me regularly:
1) Anne
2) M - I - L
3) Marcy
4) Facebook

Four of my favorite foods:
1) Coke
2) Chocolate
3) Coffee
4) BBQ pulled pork

Four places I would like to visit:
1) Colorado
2) Seattle
3) California
4) Europe

Five things I'm looking forward to in the coming year:
1) Making Friends in Chicago
2) Buying a couch
3) Lake Michigan
4) Visits from family and friends

Four friends I'm tagging:
1) I
2) Don't
3) Tag
4) People

John Deere country

For those of you who know my husband at all, will know that this picture is so far from the truth. He is a city boy through and through. Our little Gavin can't get enough of the farm life, though.

Ban on T.V.

Up until about a month ago, Gavin could have cared less about the t.v. He was never a die hard fan of any shows (except Elmo) and really didn't ask to turn on the t.v. very often. When I did turn something on for him, he wouldn't pay any attention to it. It was actually frustrating! Sometimes you just need a break. Well, after a few bouts of sickness and several rainy and cold days Gavin is now addicted to the t.v. He LOVES it. He wakes up and asks for it on all day long. Yesterday I did this massive effort to deter him from it. We painted, played games and I even printed out some preschool worksheet and we played shcool. After each activity he would say, "can I watch a show now?" It was aweful. Gavin loves to play pretend so today when he asked for the t.v. I told him that the t.v. would ruin his imagination. That seemed to work for about five seconds and then I guess he thought that was a fine price to pay to watch Clifford. So, I guess I am going to be VERY busy the next few weeks with our T.V. detox. Thank goodness it is warm out today! I hope it stays that way!
What do you do to keep your kiddo's away from the boob tube?