Tales for Tuesday: In the Mailbox

Today in the mail, we got three things.  One was expected. One was disheartening and confusing. One was totally weird and unexpected.

I got the Inchbug labels that I ordered.  They are these rubberband-like things that go around baby's bottle.  As much as I love my label maker, baby needed something a little cuter for putting her name on her bottle for the church nursery.
And then I got a box from my high school.  That was weird in itself.  Turns out, it was a coffeetable book about the history and growth (from establishment to present day) of my high school.  Weird.  I wouldn't have ever guessed that I would get something like that - especially randomly.
And then we got a letter from the government about our China adoption update.  We have to update our file with the US government every 18 months.  This includes having our fingerprints taken again (why?  fingerprints don't change... AND they are done digitally.)  We sent a request for a renewal and they sent it back to us.  The office has moved several times this year, and this was the NEW location. They were trying to simplify and consolidate.  But I guess this new place doesn't know that.  Because they sent our letter back.  Kind of upsetting, because now we don't know where to send it.  Neither does our social worker.  She's working on it...  The government has confused us all.  [This does not affect our adoption.  But we have to get this renewal in ASAP or it could set us back a little.]

So happy, confused, upset, surprised and worried...  so many emotions to come out of a mailbox.  

Making on... Monday

This weekend I put some baby hats together.  I got the hat & bows on sale! I put a football on the red bow - for my black and red football team!  I also got some little baseballs and put them on the white bow - for the end of baseball season!  This is not the hat pattern that I got a few weeks ago - this was assembly only!

The bows switch out with clips on the same hat.  It was so fast and fun to put together.  I think I'm going to do more!  Maybe make more bows that I can use on hats now and just as hairbows later!  Fun!

Also, it was baby's 5 month birthday this weekend.

5 months on 10-10-10!

So I made this little sign.  I wanted just a small little celebration "something" - so I made this!

Systematic Saturday: Closet Organizing

A few weekends ago - before the stomach bug and our weekend getaway - I organized my closet.  I like to go through it several times a year, especially when the seasons change.  I was also going through it to just organize and streamline a little more, to make getting ready a little easier and faster.  It's also nice to find things that I forgot that I had.
I did some rearranging too - adding a set of drawers to the existing shelving unit.  It freed up lots of hanging space - makes it so much easier to see everything now!
In mid-project, Daniel came in, seeing stuff piled up on the bed.  He asked "You are organizing something, aren't you?"  I asked him whatever gave him that idea...  He said: "You got out of bed today!"

Feats & Fails Friday

Feat:
I started CVS-ing today!  I got $5 in extra card bucks back - so I can start paying in CVS money!  I did have to spend about $15 out of pocket, but it was stuff that I wanted and needed.  I don't think I'm going to go crazy with the weird stuff just to get the "bucks."

Fail:
Tonight's dinner of Totinos pizzas, well the fact that one of them got stuck really bad on the oven rack.  Boo!  They are supposed to be party pizzas, not so much a party tonight.  One of them was pretty bad.  Sad pizza.

Thursday Three: Fall

Fall is here!

1) I can hear the nearby high school band practicing in the afternoon.

2) The leaves are falling in full force - I love hearing the rustle of them under my feet!

3) And one of my favorite things to do this time of year... sunroof open when it's slightly cool, with the heat on - just a little bit!

Wednesday Wares: Storage containers

I found a small set of BPA free plastic storage today.  They are pretty cute AND the lids snap on to the bottom (and to each other).  So healthier and more organized storage!  I'm probably too excited about this...

Tuesday Tales(a day late): Weekend Trip

We went to the Smoky Mt area this weekend.  It was the first trip with the baby - and it went so well!  She is so laid back and adaptable.  I hope that she continues this way, at least for a little while.  And maybe some of that will rub off on me.  The first two days we were there, it was pretty warm still, and the sky was beautiful.  We got a great sunset that first night.  

The next day, the clouds started rolling in.  And the sky was filled with beautiful variations of gray - my favorite!

It rained the third day we were there, but we had planned to stay in the whole day anyway.  It was great to just do nothing and listen to the rain.  It was getting colder by then, too.  Finally it feels like fall!  We loved the change in weather!  And baby finally got to wear some of her cute long sleeve & pants clothes, instead of just onesies!  After most of the rain had passed through, the clouds settled beautifully on the hills.  The changes in weather made our view different the whole time we were there.

After all the rain, the clouds lifted a little to give us this beautiful view of the sunset.  The sky looked like it was on fire - but in a gorgeous way.  The way the trees on the hill were lit up in this window of bright reddish orange was one of the most interesting sunsets I've ever seen.

The sun did come out for our drive home, but it stayed on the cool side.  This was a great "kickoff to fall" weekend.  And a wonderful first vacation for our family of three!