Later{Ali}Gator
Posted on: July 14, 2011
- In: Uncategorized
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Check out my new blog at http://lateraligatorblog.blogspot.com/ since I won’t be blogging here anymore. Thanks!
Cool Pics By a Friend
Posted on: May 29, 2011
In a card I made for my Grandma.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaM2rZozcMWLjg&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET
Spring Cleaning
Posted on: March 26, 2011
- In: Family | Home Decorating
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We’re doing a little Spring cleaning around our house, inspired by Simple Mom. Unfortunately I only found the blog a few days ago, so we’re getting into the project a little behind. We did manage to make some major headway on the playroom today though.
Before/During:
Sorry about how awful this pic is, I forgot to check the flash. But, you get the idea. 
And After:
Made a lot more room in there, by taking the slide outside for the summer (even though I had to the destroy the “club” to do it, and Owen will apparently be very mad at me). Threw out the makeshift coffee table. Bought a few boxes for those bottom shelves, and actually brought toys from the bedroom to put into them– SO SICK of the messy bedroom. Packed up toys for when Baby Arthur is ready to use them (lots of Little People) to make room for the “new” toys. Filled up the hotwheels organizer, then Lillian emptied them back out before I could take the pic.
Probably should’ve taken before and after pics of the bedroom too, but that would have required actually finishing the bedroom. With half a week for the whole project, and a 2-week-old, that was NOT happening.
I did find time to go through the kids clothes though. Packed up a whole box of L’s winter and outgrown stuff. B and Arthur only had a few things each, because I went through their stuff recently (and Arthur hasn’t been around long enough to grow out of too much stuff!). Didn’t make for very impressive before and afters though.
Looking forward to painting and redoing the floors in the playroom VERY SOON. Then we’ll have some more impressive after pics. 
Welcome Baby Arthur!
Posted on: March 12, 2011
I’m very happy to announce the birth of my son, Arthur William, on March 9, 2011. He’s a beautiful, healthy, blond, 7 lb 11 oz and 20.2 in long baby. And we love him to pieces already.
Lillian’s Quilt
Posted on: March 8, 2011
- In: Crafts | Quilting
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Here’s Lillian enjoying her newly finished quilt in her crib daybed, which we’ll soon be replacing (since the baby needs the crib). 
I started this quilt long ago, but I had her in mind all along. When I discovered these fabrics I was not a big fan of quilting, because I thought quilts just weren’t my style. They’ve come a long way since then! And I’ve changed a little too. Here’s my original post.
So, I had the top pieced together, but I still had to make the back, machine quilt, and bind. The bad thing about finishing something you made a while ago, is that I know more now and would’ve done a better job putting the fabric together and piecing it more exactly. For one thing, I hate that I used the dark brown cheapo fabric on it in the upper right corner. I think that part looks horrible. BUT overall I’m happy with how it turned out. 
And I did make a way cooler back than I’d originally planned (plain brown). I just used materials I already had stocked up too. This back picture I took before I finished the quilt, so you can’t see the quilting.
I basically followed Amy’s instructions for machine quilting in straight lines and boxes, because I think it’s pretty cool. I didn’t follow her bad binding directions though. Decided on the super quick one-step machine-attached binding, and I’m happy with that.
I think L likes it pretty well too.
January’s Update
Posted on: February 7, 2011
- In: Amy Butler | Crafts | Family | Home Decorating | Quilting
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Outside: Sunny and Cold. More snow on the way supposedly. I really haven’t minded being stuck inside though.
In My Kitchen: Made some double chocolate chip cookie sandwiches (from the Sticky Gooey book of course) over the weekend. Delicious. Found out that Kirkland (costco) vanilla icecream is creamy and delicious to go with. Also, made a delicious mango upside-down cake this past week. I didn’t have crystallized ginger, so I just used powdered.
I am wearing: A black knit dress, and a cardigan. Not really comfortable in most pants right now (at 35 weeks pregnant and huge).
Can’t Wait For: My baby boy to come! Also, my good friend Morgan to come back to KC for awhile! Happening at about the same time too.
Current Read: In January I finished the Hunger Games trilogy, which was enjoyable. Now I’m reading Deadhouse Gates Book Two of the Malazan Book of the fallen, which I wish I was liking more than I am.
I am hoping: to have more energy tomorrow than I do today. I have a lot to get done in the next month!!
Around the house: Trying to get everything cleaned out, and ready for New Baby. Chad has been getting my new laundry room ready too. Still a ways to go unfortunately. Wishing I wasn’t lugging laundry up and down two flights of stairs today.
Simple Pleasures: voluntary kisses from the kids. and Dr Pepper.
Creativity: Finishing a quilt for L that I actually started before she was conceived– it’s long overdue. Starting one for B. It’s the one on the cover of this GREAT new book I just got. Also, finishing knitting a hat for B… maybe he’ll get to use it a month before winter goes away.
Plans for the Weekend: A date night, and hopefully celebrating two of my brother’s birthdays! Hopefully that means that the one that lives out of town will be HERE.
Family Update: The big kids moved into L’s room together. So far so good! That’s one reason I’m doing the quilts. We’re going for a sort of nature theme. A very loose theme it is too. Trying to decide whether to change a couple walls (most of the room actually) from bubblegum pink to green or light brown. But that will happen after I’ve recovered from the baby a little anyway.
Lillian: Walks around constantly in a princess dress or Tutu saying she’s a princess. Although sometimes she is in disguise as a Halo Reach girl. Goody. Or a puppy that licks you.
Brendan: Is doing well in homeschool. He LOVES math. I need a little motivation in the whole school area right now though. Not exactly making it exciting, or even getting done everything I wish I were.
Pillow Monsters
Posted on: January 29, 2011
Simple Sewing for Baby has this really cute pattern for Pillow Monsters as I call them. I made up four of them for Christmas for my kids and their cousins. Got the idea for them from my friend Lori, who was making them for her kids after the went crazy for one she’d made as a baby gift. They were the perfect gift, since I already had all the supplies, and they went together fairly quickly.
I was also hoping that the monsters would stop all the talk about pillow pets from Brendan. That was shooting a little too high– the advertisers did their brainwashing job well. The kids do sleep with their new buddies though, and they make great backup pillows.
