Chasing Charli

I had to post this video of me chasing my girl after the last post I posted because its just soo funny.

Also, Charli got some crayons and a coloring book today. She was very happy.

This is her first work of art :)

And her second, on her pillow.

This is the last post today. I'll leave everyone alone.

My baby is growing too fast!

Its been quite a summer! Im ready for fall and cool weather to get here. In fact tomorrow, Sept. 1, I'm setting out all of my fall decorations, in hopes that seeing it will trick my mind into thinking it is cool outside. Perhaps, I will even buy some fall leaves and sprinkle them in my yard, so that when I look out the window it will feel like fall.       No.      I'm am decorating tomorrow though.

Welp, I no longer have a baby. I have a toddler. At least I'm assuming that is what I have to call her now that she is toddling (walking) EVERYWHERE. The day before her birthday she just decided she was going to walk and she did. Now, I sleep very well at night because she wears me out. Luckily, the drawers and cabinet doors are older and hard to open, I won't have to baby proof those for a while!

Charli turned one exactly a week ago. Wait, is it Tues today? (pause) Nope, just checked my calender it's wed. Let me redo that first sentence. Charli turned one exactly a week and one day ago. I don't like it. My baby is growing up. (tear) We had a little party for my little girl that was duck themed and she loved it. I don't really know if she did, I don't think she knew what was going on. But, I loved it :) Here are some pics:      (unedited b/c I am lazy)

Charli's duck cake made by Dawn

The yummy cupcakes! (also made by Dawn) and ketsup

Lol not sure what face the bday girl is making.

Don't have to buy anything for Charli for a while (thumbs up)

She wasn't really into eating the cake, more so hugging and kissing it.

Until it was put into her mouth

Even the dogs wished her a Happy Birthday

There is my big girl :)

 

I'll leave you with a final picture of her toddling. She can go pretty fast when I chase her. 

Its a game, she thinks it funny.

Shoo Fly

We have had family in and out and been visiting family over the past few weeks, therefore my posts for the remainder of the summer might be sporadic.

I have been hand sewing this quilt top for our queen size bed this summer:

I don't like how it is turning out. I'm ripping it apart and starting over. I'm still going to do the star thing but just add a bit more. I'm using these things called quilt patties but, I'm not buying them, no, I'm making them. Quilt patties are a pattern that you can put the fabric over and it helps with hand sewing. Bad explanation I know. They are $20 for 50 of them, plastic ones that is. I went and got business cards that Ill cut the corners off of to make the diamond shape. There price $3.99 for 250. Ya, I think I won that one. 

On to more important things, Charli got one of her fang toothies in. And, her birthday is next month. Crazy I know. *tear. 

Here is a terribly blurry picture of Charli with her first pony tail, which blends in with the carpet. So sorry it is blurry she was too excited about it to sit still.

No she is not crying she is smiling. 

James bought me a dutch oven for my birthday :) and I made this

My first loaf of artisan bread. You know where it is hard on the out side and beautifully fluffy and light on the inside. It was amazing. But, it takes about 24 hours to make. It is worth it... sometimes. 

There is a fly in my house. 

Charli is chasing it. 

Now I'm going to kill it. 

oodles of noodles

Alright friends and family, I took a break from blogging for a bit, but now I am BACK! I know, your ecstatic.

Please read this fast like on the opening of Glee. Or you can read it slow, its up to you I suppose :)

OK, here is what you missed at the homestead...

Chelsey (yes that is myself, yes Im referring to myself in the third person to make this sound like the run down in Glee, so let me start over)

Chelsey has been baking her buns off in the kitchen (no pun intended)

Plus...

oodles of spinach noodles that FAILED because they were too thick.

Charli went golfing for the first time and didn't complain once on 9 holes.

She also got a new toy that she has been pushing around the house

Chelsey's mother found this at a garage sale for $2.

Charli can also drink from a hose now, while only inhaling the water twice.

And James is trying to sell this,

which he wants you to buy.

And, thats what you missed at the Homestead.

Homemade Bread

My first batch of Homemade bread was a success!!

I really enjoyed kneading it, surprisingly. The armoa from homemade bread was much better for my husband to come home to than cooking vinegar lol.  As quickly as we are going through both of these loaves, I might have to invest in a Kitchen Aid mixer and get the kneading attachment. Perhaps in a couple of years... There is also an attachment to grind your own grain to make fresh flower mmm. I can smell the bread cooking now. Ill get that attachment a few more years after I get my mixer. So, in about five years I could possibly be making the best bread EVER! (well, that I have ever made).

Looks beautiful eh? James takes his with butter and Ill have mine with peanut butter and honey mmmm. Ill clean the flour off the counter later.

And Charli takes hers however we give it to her! Usually toasted. 

I dont know if I will ever go back to buying bread from the store for our own little family. These two loaves have spoiled us. I think it will be a new hobby of mine.

Do any of you have any good baking from scratch recipes you wouldn't mind sharing?

Rain Drops of Drool

Today, I was laying down holding Charli up over me and flying her like an airplane. It was entertaining, we smiled at each other and she made her happy noises as she was soaring through the air. I'm watching little balls of moisture accumulate on her top lip. And the moisture accumulation continues to grow. Until the molecules split. I am then watching a giant ball of saliva descend towards my face. Not being able to set Charli down and move fast enough it lands right above my lip, spreading like a rain drop hitting dry playground equipment. And then another drop comes, and another, and another and they just keep coming and wont stop! Ok so maybe only a couple more followed the initial one. I set Charli down and as I began to wipe my face off this occurs...

Charli you can even make slobbering on my face a great experience. Thank you.

Overcoming Stairs

Our baby turned 9 months old yesterday! It is crazy how time flies!

We celebrated by having a garage sale (not yesterday but a couple of days ago)

It was not all mine, well majority of it was my parents. Most of it was sold. There are still a few things that we want to sell and some bigger items like a 3yr old stand up washer and dryer (works great, just wont fit under the cabinets in the wash closet) if anyone is interested.

Charli can climb up the stairs now.

I did want to redeem myself for the whole vinegar incident I told you about recently. I don't want it to seem like I suck at cooking, because I dont always :) ha. I made Parmesan shrimp with spaghetti last night

It was insanely good! If you are ever lucky enough to let me cook for you, I'll make this. Possibly.

The weather is suppose to be crazy today. After the Joplin tornado, Im a bit paranoid. It being that close to home made it a bit more real. We will be driving through there this month on the way to visit family, which will make it even more surreal.