Newest additions.

Well I had some free time before leaving so here are my two latest creations.

Illinois!

We're going home to Illinois for the weekend!  My parents are celebrating 30 years of marriage this weekend, so we're going to babysit for Soph.  It's a bummer that they'll be gone when we're there, but it's very exciting that they've been married 30 years!  No more crafting for me this weekend because we're going to Illinois.  So I'm ok with it.  I will be excited to come back and keep crafting!  Happy Weekend!

Robo Skirt.

Today, I feel that I've been very productive.  I've been to the auto body shop, located a new one, found a towing company that doesn't charge $500 to tow 15 miles (major plus), arranged for the car to be towed tomorrow, learned a lot about repairing cars, baked some homemade oatmeal raisin cookies (delicious, if I do say so myself), planned dinner, and made a skirt.  There are just a few more things to do today and it's tomorrow and we're headed to Illinois!  Well here's ROBO Skirt :)  I named it myself.  Pretty clever if you ask me ;)  I know I'm a dork, but I'll embrace it!

My skirt holder even stopped playing xbox for this picture!  WOW, he's a keeper :)

Lulu's Dress.

My final dress of the night.  This dress is for my friend Amanda's little girl, Lucy.  It is my favorite so far. It's just so girly!

Lulu's Dress

The light pink roses I added to the hot pink tank

I think it makes it so girly!  I just love it!

The sash

The hemline stitching 

I can't wait to make more! Hopefully I'll get better at sewing through this little extravaganza.

Sophie's dress.

Well, this one was easier, I'm not sure if that means I'm getting better or  it was easier to make a larger one.  If that is the case, then I should've started by making one for myself :)

Sophie's Dress

The sash

crafting 101? {I need practice}

 Well, here is my first attempt at onsie dress making.  I have no child to try them on on, we'll see how it goes when we actually attempt to put it on a child.  More to come!  Hopefully they'll get better as I go!!!  This first dress is intended for new baby Alana, but I don't know if anyone should be wearing this bad boy.  We'll see.  Maybe do a fashion try on next time I see her, and go from there. :)

My new wreath.

This is my project Fromm last night, my wreath made from little scraps of fabric. Its something new for spring.

100 ways to annoy your hubster.

So last night Kyle and I were talking before bed, and something silly happened to me.  I suddenly burst into silly jingles about Kyle and could not stop laughing!  Like the giggle bug took over.  So then I started to ramble on and on about things and somehow ended up giggling out  "I'M GOING TO WRITE YOU A BOOK!" then it turned into "I'm going to write a book, 100 ways to annoy your hubster!"  Kyle thought this was funny so I started telling him things that would be in my book...#1. put your finger in his mouth while he is trying to yawn. #2. make up songs about him that are funny, to tunes of "Hey Mickey" and  "Mary had a little lamb." #3...well I guess I'm a lot more brilliant at night.  I can't think of all the things I was saying last night.  At any rate it was a fabulous book!  I think it'd be a best seller!  Until my next brilliant post! XOXO

St. Patrick's Day and beyond

Well, we enjoyed our St. Pat's Day at home, playing tennis, hanging out, having dinner, and watching American Idol.  Then Kyle got a call during American Idol, and his friend from the army was going down town with his wife and wanted us to go.  We all were supposed to go to Seattle Friday-Monday, but the army didn't book our airline tickets early enough and couldn't get us return flights until Thursday.  So we went out with the Metcalf's and had a really good time.  Pauly D was DJing downtown and it was PACKED!  We had a lot of fun together and here are a few pictures from our night!

DJ Pauly D on St. Patrick's Day @ the Power and Light District

Kyle and I at the piano comedy bar

Green beer!

Friday we spent the day with the Metcalf's too.  We went to Zona Rosa an outdoor mall and walked around and enjoyed the weather!  We had lunch at applebees and spent a lot of time outside!  Love the nice weather!   Saturday, we grocery shopped in the pouring rain!  Thank goodness for Hyvee's drive up place! We also found out that Hyvee gives a 5% discount to military members!  I also tried coupons for the first time and we saved $15.50 with the coupons and $8.00 with the military discount! I was impressed!  Saturday night we watched the UFC fights at Kyle's friend Matt's house.  Sunday was another beautiful day!  We cleaned the house, worked on homework, played cribbage, and went to play with Luke and have dinner at Dan and Damara's house.  It was a lot of fun!  I don't know what's in store for today, but it's beautiful today, so it should be good!

Nap Time

Well this morning we got a call around 7AM, and it was Damara, Kyle's cousin.  We've been "on call" this week and the early part of last week for her, because she's due to have her baby.  So we headed over to Dan and Damara's this morning and around 12:30PM she had a little girl, Alana Marie. They didn't know what they were having, so it was a nice little surprise :)  She is so cute, dark, dark hair, dark eyes, and the cutest little body.  I love babies.  I've only seen her picture on facebook, but I know she's a cutie!  While all this baby having was taking place, Kyle were in charge Luke, Alana's older brother who is 15 months old, and Vincent, the cat.  I've had a fun morning of playing and chasing. Feeding and changing. Entertaining and distracting.  And whatever else comes with a 15 month old and a cat.  Kyle had class before 9, then he had to pick up something--he didn't get back until 11:30ish.  Then he left to grab some lunch, roasted veggies weren't sounding great to him for lunch, not that they ever sound great to him...he's a meat man, not a veggie man.  Unfortunately. I guess. Well after lunch, he started trying to get my paperwork processed for Seattle, we are leaving Friday, so hopefully it gets done soon!  And after he found out the status on the paperwork, he started filling out his bracket.  All during this time, I was doing my best to keep Luke happy for the last hour before his nap.  He was very tired, and did not think any of my ideas were very great.  He wanted our phones, or the car keys--so he could set the alarm off--or anything he really shouldn't have.  It was finally nap time, and he went out like a light! He is generally a happy camper, but once he's tired, he's had it.  As for the afternoon, I'm not sure what we'll do.  I think it's getting close to 55, so maybe a nice walk around the neighborhood.  We'll have to see how he wakes up.  Kyle left for work at 1:30, so I'm all by my loansome, some would say I'm lucky to be, but I like all the action happening.  I do understand the importance of nap time though.  I can't imagine if Luke didn't get his today, he would not be his cheery ol' self.  I'm sure the rest of my day with him (or how ever long I'm with him) will provide some more good stories for the ol' blog.

Illinois: Home Sweet Home.

Home is home.  It's always so so good.  Everything is just better there.  Both Kyle and I have a really great time there.  It's always too fast and we never want to leave so soon.  It's fun and relaxing too.  We left home early, and arrived in Illinois around 1.  It was so good to be there.  We were immediately greeted by Flower, Sophie's puppy, when we got in the driveway.  We spent the day hanging out with everyone, plus Deb came over to see us too.  Kyle went to karate with Dad Thursday night and Cole had practice.  Mom and I played games and relaxed while everyone was gone.  

Friday was fun!  We went to First Wok (the restaurant that catered our wedding) for lunch.  After lunch, we had to run to the grocery store.  When we got home we just played games and got ready to for Cole's Mr. Spartan contest.  There were a lot of people going to it, and we were having them over for pizza after so, we prepared a bunch of pizzas for after.  The contest was a lot of fun, and there were a ton of us!  We took up a whole row!  We even made signs!  Unfortunately Cole didn't win, but it was a lot of fun!  Here is a video from Cole's pageant!  It's the opening dance (you can hear my mom's friend Chrys laughing the entire time :) and Sophie screaming "GO COLE!"):  

Cole in his "sportswear"

Cole's talent: What Asians do best.  EAT, MATH, & KICK BUTT.

Saturday, the boys went to karate all morning.  We slept in and mom and I made brunch for everyone.  Cole's friend Ashley came over and we played games, had dinner, and hung out together.  She is very nice. We also spent time playing with Sophie's puppy.  She is getting so big and very cute!  I taught her how to sit I while we were there, I guess.  That's what my dad said at least. 

I love her spots!

Saturday night, Kyle told me not to worry about setting the alarm on my phone ahead, so I didn't.  Our phones didn't update themselves, so we were a little late for church, but we made it :)  Later in the afternoon, we headed home.  I drove so Kyle could work on homework.  It seems to go a lot faster when I'm driving, but I hate driving.  So, I'll take a slow feeling trip over driving. :)

Stomach Ache.

Last night we were getting ready to go to bed and Kyle said his stomach hurt. I went through possible reasons why, he said no to all of them so I told him he should just come to bed. Well we were laying there, I was saying how I hoped he felt better since we were leaving in the morning and what not. I also touched on the fact that his cousin who's little boy we babysat for last week had come down with a bad case of the stomach flu the next day. He said he'd be fine. Then he says, "Oh guess what!?" I said what and he says "I got free food at work tonight!" BINGO! I was like "KYLE! WHAT DID YOU EAT!?" He then told me they were getting rid of old things from the refrigerated section and he ate an old flat bread pizza. From a GAS STATION mind you. When I told him that was the cause of his stomach ache he said "But it tasted good" Well folks there you have it my hubster eats old gas station food and can't believe it's the cause of his discomfort. I no longer felt bad for him to say the least. He woke up this morning just fine so I guess no big deal. Hopefully he learned his lesson!

Here it is.

Well here's the new hair.  It's hard to take a photo of yourself, even though I have a webcam. Well, it's the best I can do for now.  Maybe more photos to come from the weekend in Illinois.

Hair no more.

Well, I have no hair.  Today more than 50% of my hair was chopped off.  It was VERY impulsive!  I've been toying with the idea for the past week, but today was the day.  Kyle and I headed to beauty brands and Jeramey my stylist chopped it all off.  It feels so weird to have no hair!  Well, when styling my hair, he over estimated how well my curl would stay in.  He pin curled my hair, hoping just for the volume, but my hair held it all.  As I was getting ready to leave...we were both laughing!  It was like retro-ish but not in the cute way.  Hopefully, I'll be able to do something cute with it.  Tomorrow's travel to Illinois day!  YAY! Can't wait to see my family!  I am especially excited to see Cole in his MR. SPARTAN contest!  Hopefully we'll get good pictures and I'll have a very comical and interesting post for you all!  Ciao!

Coming Home.

Yesterday Kyle and I watched Coming Home.  It is a new show on lifetime that premiered Sunday, but we TiVo'd it like all the other TV shows we watch.  So the show is all about military men and women who come home from deployment.  I cried just watching the commercials for the show, so the actual show...let's just say it was a cry fest.  I don't know why I cried so much watching it, it's a happy show, but I just cry and cry.  I guess it's because I am just so happy for those people and so thankful that Kyle is home already and I am done waiting for that home coming.  I really don't think I could do it again, like the wives who's husbands come and go all the time.  It is unimaginable to me, I am just not strong enough.  I really admire those who do it.  It takes a strong girl to do it.  I am so thankful that Kyle is home--even though he's only been home a few months, it seems like a lot longer.  Our lives have moved forward and we have a new life, and seems so natural.  At the same time, I can remember the day he came home like it was yesterday.  All the excitement of the day, THE day was finally here. I remember being almost nervous too. I know exactly what I did that day.  I got up, got ready, went to meet Becca--but I was too early--so I killed some time at Pier 1 and finally met Becca (her fiancée was flying in with Kyle) at Starbucks.  We visited and talked and talked and were so excited.  It was finally here, our guys were coming home!  We left Starbucks and went to Hy-Vee for some balloons and finally it was time to head for the airport.  We sat and waited and waited for what seemed eternity.  We watched other planes come and go, and finally their plane landed.  I remember feeling like I was being tortured, waiting for them to get off the plane.  They were the VERY last 2 people off the plane, but it was so perfect seeing them walk off!  I screamed or squealed and giggled and can remember falling into Kyle.  It was perfect. I remember feeling like nothing else mattered.  Waiting for luggage was no big deal because we were together and everything was perfect.  Well that was my walk down memory lane, Coming Home is on Lifetime on Sundays at either 7 or 8. Enjoy!

Different.

Well the week/weekend was different.  It was definitely not a typical week in the Nelson home.

Wednesday, we had friends come over for the afternoon/night.  It was fun to see them.  We played games, went to Zona Rosa, an outdoor mall, and ordered pizza.  It was a lot of fun to have them in town!  The weather Thursday was perfect!  We played tennis and babysat Luke!  We took Luke outside before dinner, but it made me sooo nervous!  He had fell the night before with his dad and had a big bump on his head.  I didn't want him to fall again with us!  Well, Kyle was very successful in not letting Luke fall down!  He is so much fun to be with!  His momma is having another baby and she is due this weekend. I'm so excited for her new baby! Can't wait to see what she has! We are going to watch Luke while she's having the baby, as long as we're in town.  Friday, Kyle had make up drill.  So we both got up bright and early and headed to the base.  I dropped him off and went to Sarah's house.  The girls and I got ready and went to town.  We had lunch and then went to the Nelson-Atkins art museum. Saturday I went with Sarah to babysit two little girls 2 and 6.  It was a lot of fun.  The girls loved to dance and play games.  They loved when I braided their hair too.  They were adorable.  Saturday night we went to a welcome home party for Kyle's friend.  He just got back from Iraq a few weeks ago.  It was fun, and I was glad to meet Kyle's friend.  Sunday, Sarah and I went to church. We had dinner with his family and finally came home!  It felt like it'd been forever!

I am SO looking forward to this weekend!  Kyle is on spring break right now. Unfortunately, he had his last day of make up drill today. So I'm on my own today.  It's ok though.  Thursday we're heading to Illinois!  I'm so excited.  Cole is a contestant in Mr. Spartan. It is a few of Olympia's senior boys who compete in a "beauty" contest. I think it will be a lot of fun to go to.  We are spending the rest of the weekend with my family. I'm so lucky :)