I found these cute little birthday candles at a yard sale this morning. I have been looking for chubby birthday candles for a long time! For 10 cents a box, you can't go wrong!
I got these at the same yard sale for $1/all four. I'm gonna use them to organize my sewing stuff, I think.
Several weeks ago, I bought this lovely Caslon green sweater at a yard sale for 50 cents. Today I bought...
... these buttons to replace the missing button.
Finn requested that Riley (from next door) come over and play today. They helped me make the apple pie that this group...
...helped us eat. The missionaries are from Utah and we've had them over before. The Gowans are also pictured. They moved from Utah to go to dental school too. Their cute little daughter is 3 months old.
...and this is what first year dental students do when they're "studying." I like to call it "pretend studying."
Two nights ago, this was my kitchen counter leg...BEFORE (primed)
And this is it AFTER I painted over it.
This was my staircase BEFORE the priming job
And this is it AFTER. There's still some stain seeping through the primer, but hopefully it won't seep through the paint.
I am dreaming of above picture. I get excited thinking about it. Only two and a half more weeks and six of them will grace our dining room table!
"Hi. I'm about to have my first taste of rice cereal. I'm getting my tongue ready...."
"Instead of enjoying the rice cereal, I reached straight for the spoon and put it right into my mouth."
"I mean, I really liked the spoon. It felt so good to chew on something."
"Until my brother came up and pushed me and the spoon went too far back into my mouth."
Whitney gave me the recipe for the best tasting ribs I've ever had. So we made those, plus Ruth Wilson's rolls, fruit salad, corn on the cob and......
....THIS for dessert. 
Then, as I was watching an intense game of Wii tennis, I felt a hard lump on the ottoman beneath me. I dug around and found this (see above). Finnburger (as our friend Jacob calls him) found a good nesting spot for his little matchbox car. Time for a new ottoman? We'll see if the money tree has anymore left to give me.
Here's me cutting in the corners and edges of the giant wall by the staircase.
A surprise came in the mail yesterday! Finn delightfully opened what Papa and Nanna mailed. Of course he loved it so much...
He chose to tuck it in right next to him tonight at bedtime.
Kisses for McQueen and good night to Finn!
Ahhhh....I'm exhausted and am glad to say good-night too.
Now that the bare bones are in place, it's time to paint. I couldn't get to sleep very well last night. Waking in the middle of the night brought thoughts of paint. Dreams were about paint. I decided on these (trial version up on walls):
Sherwin Williams "Gray Screen": Kitchen and bathroom
Sherwin Williams "Ramie:" Living, Dining, Hallway, Kids' Room and Office 
Even though I've only known her for a few weeks, I admire Jen. She is the real deal: smart, cute, nice, business-like and stylish.
I spent some time with Jen in her cozy 1920 bungalow yesterday and asked her some questions to get to know her better. Boy, I'm glad I did!
Q. What makes a house unique or special?
A. Charm---when you can walk in and say, "This is so them." It's not necessarily that the colors and furnishings are in style, but that you know it's their style.
Jen earned a Bachelors degree in Finance and worked for five years at Novell in licensing compliance and inside sales. She now works for Tenacious Integration Services as an account executive. She also hosts a Finance Club in our ward. This lady knows her stuff!
Q. What's one topic in finance women rarely understand?
A. The whole concept of a 401K.
Q. Do you give advice very often about financial matters?
A. Seldomly. Only when they ask a specific question.
Q. What retail store to you most identify with, style-wise?
A. Pottery Barn. I love everything in Anthropologie, although practially-speaking, I'm a little too conservative for it.
Q. What's the secret to a happy, fulfilled life?
A. I'm still trying to figure it out. Being happy with where you're at and what you have.
Thanks, Jen for enlightening me and those who read this blog! I have always been intimidated by business-savvy women, for some reason, and it's nice to chat with one so down-to-earth. Next time, I'd like to learn the secret to great, toned arms!
Block Party: Saturday
Finn was all ears listening to the Cleveland Heights fireman.
He even got to sit in the seat!
The firemen raised the ladder up to a house window. Finn thought that was really neat.
Lucy made friends with Diana. Don't they have similar facial features?
I took this to the street party potluck....
...and these to the cake walk. 
The little girls liked them.
And so did Finn.
...paint heat duct grills.
Here's my other, ever-present project: Finn and Lucy.
Here's what she's thinking: 
Tongue out, as per usual these days.
A little study break treat for Mr. Fixit Sr. a la Mrs. Fixit Chocolaticus.
