My Other Project

My other project I've been working on is our landscaping.  It was overgrown.  Last year my dad helped me pull this really tall bush that was behind the evergreen bush and then transplant it on the other side of the garage.  We filled it in with a rose bush but I really wasn't liking it.

We tried several different things, ended up pulling two more ever green bushes and I was stuck so our front yard sat their ugly. 

  I really felt like I was blessed to figure out something I would like because it was driving me crazy. One of the hostas died between two of the azaelas but it should grow back.

Summer of Awesome Activities

I was a little intimidated by the summer and keeping my children entertained while I have a lower energy level.  We decided to make an activity calendar where each day we have morning work, a fun activity in the morning, and a lower key activity in the after noon.  It's helped a ton.  Rachel is my anticipator and it has helped her the most.

 Kids at the park while Rachel is at gymnastics.

 Making the tallest structure out of noodles and marshmallows.

Making sock puppets and doing a puppet show.

Lily's Growing Up

Lily's loving the big pool and this puddle jumper contraption that makes her feel like a big girl when she swims by herself.  

Lily is also wearing make-up.  (This was from a mysterious 5 minutes of quiet time.)

On top of swimming and make-up, Lily decided to potty train and is doing great!  I was waiting perhaps longer than needed to start potty training her and then one day she told me she had to go on the toilet and actually did it!  She had some accidents, but she's done really well.  Heavenly Father knew I needed that blessing.

Hannah's Recital

Hannah did a ballet and tap dance class through the city rec department.  Getting to wear this pretty ballerina outfit at the recital is what held her in it until the end.  Hannah is a performer.

Project

I thought it would help my vitality and pregnancy energy to do a project.  This woman in my ward that is from Congo, gave me this pretty sand painting for Mother's Day, but it needed a custom frame.  I priced it out and it would be about $180 ish.  I wasn't down with that so I decided to DIY it, with a lot of help from my mom, pinterest, and Joe.

 I started with dry mounting the cloth picture on foam board with a stapler.  I then cut mitered edged base boards.

 I had to use bracket hard ware since I don't have the fancy frame clamp.

 To make it so we had enough depth to put in glass I added an edge that was about 5/8" by 2 5/8".

I cut up an old diaper box to create space between the picture and the glass.  I was sad when I broke the first piece of glass and had to go get another one.  The back of the frame was bigger than the picture so I added some wood so I could slide in the picture and the glass and then I angle drilled in screws to keep it in place.

All finished.  Joe was very nice to help me a ton since my pregnancy energy dies at night when we're working on it.  I don't think I'm going to become a custom framer but it was fun to try, and save a lot of money.

And it's going to be...

another girl!

 (Lincoln sulking)

More Horses

Hannah doesn't have preschool or dance anymore so she got to see the horses too.  My friend likes to take pictures so here's some more of us and horses.