Happenings Around the Ogden Home

We have been pretty busy this past week, and it seems as though the busyness will continue until school is out. Here are some snapshots of some more mundane things that have happened around our house in the last week.

First of all, I couldn't be more proud that my trumpet vine is FINALLY blooming. We planted it when we moved in, about 4 years ago. Last year it probably got 3 blooms total, but look at it now! Patience has payed off for this vine.

Next, I got a new haircut that I am really happy with. She cut it with a razor, which I think is really cool.

Next, Ryan has been using the bathroom more and more by himself. He was gone an awfully long time one night under the guise of "pooping." Here is what I discovered when I went to check on him.

I also snapped this picture of his "remorseful" look after I put him in the tub.

Today...

Today has not been my day. For whatever reason, I just couldn't get my stuff together and get in the car to go to work. I think it took me three trips to get everything into the car and on one of those "trips", due to having no equilibrium from being pregnant, I fell down. I finally thought I had everything in the car and was off to work, only to discover that I had left my lunch in the fridge. My morning at work went fine and when I went to find out if anyone wanted to come with me to get some lunch, my friends let me know there were a ton of subway sandwiches in the fridge leftover from yesterday's author visit. I thought that things were on the up and up. I had left my water bottle in the classroom, but had remembered my purse, so I bought a much needed and not often had, diet coke. I left the lounge, only to open my classroom, walk to my desk, and narrowly miss a drop of water falling from the ceiling. I looked up to see a bowed, soaked, dripping ceiling tile. I called the office to let them know, and I also remembered that my overhead light bulb had gone out in the morning, which I also told the secretary. They said they'd send a janitor over, and see if there were any light bulbs on our budget-depleted campus. (There are not, by the way.)

The janitor came a few minutes later to let me know that the air conditioner repair guy had left a hose running, and hence, my dripping ceiling. A little while later, another janitor came and replaced a ceiling tile, all while I was trying to teach my class about our literature selection of how a deaf percussionist can "hear" and play music. After the janitor left, I asked my class if they knew more about the percussionist or how to fix a ceiling tile. They said, "The ceiling tile." Sigh.

Next, a colleague needed me to watch her class, so I briefly had 41 kids in my room, while I tried to entertain her class and finish Mother's Day gifts with my class. I was so happy when I was walking my class out for dismissal. We had our usual grade level meeting after school, and everything was going well, when I got a phone call from the speech teacher letting me know that I was late for an IEP meeting. Great. And I thought I was going to be going home soon. I am now finally home, watching the special features from "Cars" with Ryan. Hopefully this evening will be a little smoother.

New Wallet

I've been wanting a new wallet forever but I've been unable to find one that is both striking in looks and functionality. I also haven't had the cash flow to spend a lot of money on a wallet. (While I've wanted a wallet, there is hardly any cash inside. Ironic, I know) Anyway, I decided that I could probably design an sew a wallet that lived up to my expectations. Below is what I came up with it. I am mostly very satisfied with it, although I would have added a little stiffer interfacing to the whole project, and probably changed the opening where I turned the wallet right side out. It stretched a little when I did that and caused a pucker when I sewed it up, which was disappointing to me.

Amy Butler's Birdie Sling

Thanks to Katie loaning me her pattern for the birdie sling, I have started another Amy Butler bag. I went to Strawberry Patches yesterday to peruse the fabric selection. Suzanne helped me find a great mustard yellow/grey combo.

Amy Butler Optic Blossom

Holly Holderman Bubbles

Amy Butler Modern Martini

The first two fabrics I bought at Strawberry Patches, but they didn't have the last one so I ordered it. I am using the Optic Blossom for the exterior of the bag, the Modern Martini for the handles and band, and the Bubbles for the interior.

I also am incapable of following a pattern exactly. I read through the dimensions of the bag and it sounded absolutely huge. I resized it and made new pattern pieces. I also decided to include a magnetic clasp, a zippered pocket, and I resized the large pocket so that I can use it for bottles or sippy cups.

Yesterday, I cut out the pieces, attached the interfacing, basted the pleats in the exterior, and sewed the pockets into the interior panels. I was really impressed with myself for making a zippered pocket because I had never done that before. I found a great tutorial on jcaroline creative that showed how to do it. Now I am stuck waiting until the Modern Martini fabric arrives, at which point I can construct the band and handles and finish the bag. I can't wait to see what it looks like.

New Purse for a Great Friend

A great friend of mine is having a birthday this week.  For her gift, I made her this bag.  I was inspired by Amy Butler's Birdie Sling pattern, but I don't own this pattern, and after sewing her diaper bag and a few other things by her, I was not excited to try another of her patterns. I searched the internet for something I'd like to try and found this pattern for free at Burda Style.  It was a little difficult to understand at first because the instructions had been poorly translated from German, but it was very simple once I looked it over.  I did add interfacing to make it a little more sturdy and less slouchy, but overall, the pattern was easy to follow.  

Easter 2009

We had a fun Easter this year. We celebrated at the Fast's house. The Voss family also came and joined us, which gave Ryan some playmates for the egg hunt. We also celebrated an Easter with Phil's mom and Don last weekend. Here are some pictures from the two celebrations.

Family Picture

Phil and Ryan being "cool"

Finding eggs in the tree

Madelyn finding eggs

Ryan hunting eggs at Grammy's

Found one!

Basket is filling up

Nursery Update

Yesterday, with a lot of help from Phil and my mom, the nursery was painted and the glider was reupholstered.  I taped off and prepped the room yesterday morning.  When Phil got home from work, he painted the whole thing.  I touched up this morning.  We are very pleased with the outcome.  

Yesterday morning and most of today, I worked with my mom on the chair.  I was scared to take apart the old cushions because I really like them still, but they just don't go.  My mom helped me get over that, and with her expertise, we now have a glider that matches.

The crib with the new wall color

Window valance

Painted nursery

Now I just need to figure out what sort of decorations to put on the walls.  Suggestions?