My Little Projects

Here's Frankie---his expression says, "kid, you wouldn't know the first thing to do with this--it's a big boy toy."

Sometimes I get sucked into doing little projects that might be time-wasters, but to me, especially if the kids take part in some of it, it's always better than just being on my phone or computer.
   Susan has been buying vintage dolls from her childhood and she has been looking for display shelves. I was thinking she could make one, and I looked up some cool ideas. Eventually it turned into me taking Olivia shopping to get pieces to turn an ikea shelf into a doll playhouse for her :) It was fun:

 I used some scrapbooking templates for wallpaper, and got somethings at hobby lobby and the dollar store---shelf liner for tile floors, popsicle sticks for wood floors, a basin for the bath, balsam wood for counters, $1 sponges and scrap fabric for couch :) I actually put a lot of time into this and then we put the shelf in Olivia's room so she and Frankie play with it at night. The push lights were from Costco--I ended up not liking them for our kitchen anyway--and they come with a remote.

John worked nights last week and it was rough to do the night routine alone, especially with how messy both babies are. Unfortunately Eustace started this terrible habit of gagging himself with his fingers so there's always a mess at mealtimes. He is still teething and drooling so his outfits are drenched, and he will never leave bibs on--he pulls the til he has scratches on the back of his neck from the velcro :( I have been tempted to tie his freaking hands down. He has great coordination and is already starting to walk, but he's such a mess and is always hurting all of us with his grabbiness!

  Anyway, bath time I thought would be difficult because Frankie is so whiny and doesn't like them anymore, and when John is home, he is very attached to him. But he liked taking a bath with Eustace this night when John was gone, so he's never predictable!

 He laid in the empty bath patiently while I got Eusty out and dressed, and I took this pic--it reminded me of me lol.

 Here's a project that I neglected for almost a year--I was doing this when Frankie was a baby. John and I learned it ourselves one day, and I bought this one to do on my own. It's pretty complex to look at each pattern and stitch and get the right colors etc, but I think it's pretty cool looking and rewarding. I am almost done! I hope to frame it.

 Eusty sleep-eating.

I found this yarn cross-stitch kids set at the dollar store and Lucas loves it! I helped him get started but every now and then he takes it upstairs or in his room and works on it alone quietly. He has my personality. Olivia can't be alone and quiet very long--she needs people and interaction. Good thing we are having a bunch of kids because we don't get out much and she needs to be surrounded by people haha.