Skinny Dipping

Sometimes you just don't have a swimsuit handy when you want to take a dip.

Place for a Playroom

I've been dreaming of a playroom for a while now. I know...I'm not even the kid, right?! But, I would LOVE to have a space to hold these multiplying toys and be able to shut the door when someone comes over instead of running around the house cramming things in baskets and on shelves in MY living area. So when my brother and sister-in-law handed down my nephew's train table for Rylin, it was the last straw. I got to scheming. See I have lots of time to scheme these days and it drives Jordan crazy. He comes home from work and I have a new "plan" every day. First our patio, the back yard, the dining room, the closet...I'm always coming up with a project. His most dreaded words, "I have an idea" bring thoughts of dollar signs to his mind. So when I mentioned my latest brilliant scheme, he just sighed. I had to reassure him that it wouldn't cost him...too much, and as with most things he agreed to just go along with it. Such a good hubby. Our house isn't too big, but we do currently have a guest room/office. You may remember when it got combined for Rylin's arrival to our family. It has been a good space for us but recently has become a little inefficient. (I'm all about using all the space you have) With the purchase of my laptop and Jordan getting his own laptop through work, we rarely use our desk top computer except for printing. Our only overnight guests (my parents and the occasional dog sitter/house sitter) only use the bed three or four times a year. So this room seemed like it was meant for such a purpose. I quickly decided that the love seat in our master bedroom could go as it was only collecting dust and helping us procrastinate with putting away the laundry, and become the new home for our desk and computer. I've become a real Craigslist nerd so it didn't take me long to find a willing buyer. I'm now trying to sell the bed to replace with a daybed trundle combo so that our guests won't be on the sofa, and then the project will be on its way. I'll chronicle my progress as I go and hope to be finished before Rylin's outgrown the toys I put in it!

Summer Bucket List

Summer is here and it is hot as usual in Dallas. I have been trying to find fun activities for us to do indoors and out and cram some learning opportunities in somewhere. I saw this great idea at over at one of my favorite blogs and decided we should start some planning too. I have these bi fold doors that I painted in chalk board paint a while back that sit in our dining room. Not that we have to do all of our list, but having some inspiration for when we have time to fill is great.

One of the items on our list...library lapsit for toddlers. Our local library is literally right down the street and offers a free story/music time weekly during the summer. Today was our second visit, and I really think Rylin loves it. At least that's what he told me in the car afterwards..."did you love lapsit, Rylin?"....."yeah". Because it falls right before or after nap time (depending on when he got up that morning), he has been more subdued. Today they got to get up and dance, and he was really showing off. Hopefully this will be a fun time for both of us and he will actually learn something!

Family Photos

We have been very busy the last few weeks. I hope to catch up on my blogging in the next couple of days. In the mean time, I had to post some pics from a couple of weekends ago. I have been thinking that we needed an updated family photo for a while now. (Maybe for another adoption profile???) This little guy looks quite different from the 6 month old in our last group shot! The problem has been finding time and money. So when my friend told me about a photographer that did mini sessions for a VERY reasonable price, I jumped. We were afraid we didn't get one good shot as Rylin was running around like a wild man for the entire 15 minutes and squealing every time we tried to slow him down, but Chera managed to catch quite a few. Here are our favorites...