The Red Couch

Recently we decided to start looking for a new couch. There wasn’t really much wrong with our old couch except that Roland liked to sit up on the tops of the couch and watch out the window. We didn’t really like this practice because it also meant that we would go crazy seeing something (people, squirrels, birds, who knows what) and then we would end up with nose prints at the very top of our windows. We thought if we got a different style couch, we could at least keep him from sitting on the tops, and from reaching the top of the windows.

So far the new couch has mostly worked. He’s not sitting up on the tops of couch because there isn’t enough space for him to do that. He still likes to sit in the window and watch the world pass but he can’t get to the top of the window anymore Now it is mostly just the bottom half of the window. I can handle that.

We found the new to us couch on Craigslist. Amazingly, we were able to get the entire thing in the back of Big Monkey’s truck with some of the cushions/pillows inside. It was a scary adventure driving  We really like it so far. We are trying to train Roland to only lay on the ottoman. It’s working…when we are home to enforce the rule. I’m pretty sure when we are not home, he’s sleeping on other parts of the couch. The new couch is a sectional so if we get tired of this set up, we can just move the pieces around a bit and have something new.

The Red Couch!

You’ll have to excuse some of the mess in this photo. Right now we are using the rug we had before….it doesn’t really go with the red couch but it will work until we find a great deal on something we want. On the back wall you can see a corner piece, seat section and another corner piece. Next to that is the ottoman in front of the window and a table. The final seat section of the sectional is next to the table and comes up by the front door. In this photo, you cannot see all of it and there are pillows stacked up on it! We were just trying to get stuff settled. (You also see Big Monkey’s backpack sitting on the middle seat section.) We are happy with it and hope to get lots of life out of it. What do you think of our red couch?

Baby Birds!

Earlier today, Little Monkey and I ran up to the store for a few things we needed for dinner and we saw these little birds. We usually see the big sand hill cranes in our neighborhood a lot but I have never seen any little baby sand hill cranes. We had just pulled out of the driveway when we spotted two adult cranes and two baby cranes. I grabbed my camera to try and get a picture. I got this one:

Baby bird!!!

As soon as I snapped this photo, I noticed two cars pulling up behind me so we had to get on our way! I really wanted to get a picture of both the little cranes but no luck. They were so cute an tiny. Hard to believe that in no time, they will be big birds like their parents.

Race Car At Lowe’s

We’re back! We headed out this morning to Lowe’s for Build & Grow, like we told you about here. Little Monkey was excited and we got there before it started so we were at the beginning of the line. It was getting busy once we arrived, so I’m glad we got there when we did.

We got right to work putting our race car together. Here is Little Monkey working on the wheels:

Hammering away.

Once we got all the parts in place, we added the stickers and Little Monkey’s favorite part- the flag. He was very proud of his new car. He also wanted me to sew his new patch on his apron right away.

Great Job!

If you have a little one, you really should check out these projects. Fun and Free! You can’t ask for much more than that.

Lowe’s Build & Grow

Today, Lowe’s is offering another Build & Grow project. Today’s project is a race car.

Little Monkey made a race car before but it was also a robot. We actually no longer have that race car/robot. (Although I don’t think Little Monkey has noticed. We are planning to go today to Lowe’s to make this one. Big Monkey is coming off shift this morning but he, along with some others from work, will be going to the hospital to visit one of their co-workers. Big Monkey’s last partner at work was involved in a bad car wreck this week and is in ICU. He is doing better and they expect him to recover okay. It is just a long road. While they are visiting J, we will go build a new car. I plan to come back and update this post (or just write a new one) with pictures from our trip.

If you have a little one with nothing to do this morning, head over to your local Lowe’s for Build & Grow. It is FREE!!!

Tag Blankets!!

I just can’t help myself! Now that the recipients have gotten their tag blankets, I can post them here. I didn’t want them to see them before they actually had them. That just ruins the surprise!

Remember this photo? Here come the two from the right side.

London's Turtle tag blanket

Maitland's Pirate tag blanket

I hope everyone likes their new tag blankets. Enjoy your babies, as they will be all too big, all too soon!

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New Haircut

Today I took Little Monkey to get a haircut. He was quite shaggy and in big need of a trim. He did a great job, didn’t fuss about it at all. He even laughed and giggled at the razor. He was supposed to get a free shampoo but after explaining it to him, he decided that he didn’t want to have that done. He was happy when the stylist offered at spiky up his hair. I managed to grab a picture of him before he got into the pool today. I had taken another at the shop but it is on my cell phone.

Spiky Hair!

Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs

During some of the linky parties this week that I looked at, I found this recipe. The recipe was featured over at Making Memories. She actually got the recipe from her mom, who posts over at Wives with Knives. I picked the stuff we didn’t have when we were out shopping the other day. Yesterday I finally made them.

Magic Puffs

If you check out Making Memories post, you will see that mine don’t look quite the same. I have to say that has to do with a few things. 1. My marshmallows got out of the crescents. (She warns you to make sure you get them in there good…apparently I did not.) 2. My glaze didn’t turn out right but it did taste fine. I think I made it too thin. I will be trying again for sure.

Want to make your own? Here’s how:

First you need to get your ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 8oz cans of refrigerated crescent rolls
16 large marshmallows
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 teaspoons milk      (ACK! I found my error in the glaze!!! I put 2-3 Tablespoons of milk!!! Best to read the directions closely!!!!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Take the sugar and cinnamon and mix them together in a small bowl.
Melt the butter.
Unroll the crescent rolls.
Dip one marshmallow in the butter, followed by coating it in the cinnamon and sugar mix.
Place the covered marshmallow in the center of one triangle crescent roll. Wrap it up! (Make sure there are no holes-I swear mine were all closed up….but not good enough I guess.)
Dip the entire roll in butter and place in a cupcake pan.
Continue the process until all marshmallows are wrapped up in rolls and places in the cupcake pan.

Bake in the oven for 11 minutes (until golden brown). Making Memories says  you might want to put another pan under the cupcake pan in case there is any spill over. (I did not do this…and when my marshmallows leaked out, well let’s just say it will not be fun cleaning the oven later.)
When the rolls are done baking, let them sit for a minute to cool before adding the glaze.

To make the glaze, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk well in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze over the rolls.

Enjoy!

Let me know if you give these a try. I plan to try again and see if I can get the marshmallows tucked inside better! And I’ll make sure to follow the directions for the glaze!!

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Because checking out linky parties and finding fun stuff like this recipe certainly Works-for-Me!

97cent Shirt Revival

Little Monkette and I were wondering around the Joann’s store today looking for Oilcloth (come to find out, they don’t carry it) and we came across a lot of clearance stuff! I picked up a couple of things that I thought we could use. When we got home and Little Monkette was napping, I went to work. I started with this plain t-shirt that was in my closet.

Boring plain old grey shirt

There was nothing wrong with it but I thought I could make it a little more fun. I added one of the items we got from Joann’s on clearance. It was a foil iron on. Looked cute and was only 97 cents! A little bit of ironing and few minutes of waiting was all it took.

Cute fun birdie shirt!

The iron on foil is a purpleish color. I think it is cute and gives new life to the boring grey shirt! Here is an up close look at the iron on foil.

Fun purple birdie

I am starting to wish that I had picked up a second one to make Little Monkette a matching shirt but oh well. Maybe they will still have them next time I go.

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Toy Story Mania!

No, not the game or the ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios but simply, Toy Story Mania in general. Today we went to Wal-Mart and ran right into this row:

Little Monkey is in LOVE!

Sorry for the blurry picture, it was from my cell phone and I tried to take it really fast. In fact, in this photo, you can’t even see all the Toy Story toys that are on this row! Toy Story 3 is coming out soon and it is starting to hit the stores EVERYWHERE. Little Monkey just can’t help himself. He LOVES Buzz and Woody. I can’t wait to see how he likes watching them on the BIG screen in the theater! He wanted just about everything he saw but has learned a new way of asking for stuff. Anytime he says he wants something he will say, “Mom, you get me that for my birthday? You put that on the list?” I think he picked this up from Holly’s little girl at a birthday party a few months back! I’m pretty sure he has no idea what might be on the list and well, let’s face it, neither do I!

She’s Getting Big!!!

Little Monkette is getting so big. When we went to Target Little Monkette sat in the seat of the cart without her car seat!

Such a big girl!

Most of the time now we take her out of her car seat and carry her or put her in a stroller or cart. She seems to like it too. She gets to sit up and look around at everything. Little Monkey got a little jealous it seemed and has asked to ride in the front of the cart now. Generally he is happy though riding in the big part of the cart or walking alongside. He does like that BJ’s has carts with two seats in the front, so he can ride with Little Monkette!