Update on my Nursery!!!

So I have been having SO MUCH FUN with my baby nursery!! I feel bad I didn't go this crazy on Afton's room. I have a ton more done so I thought I'd post a few pictures. It's not completely done--there are two things I still need:

• Blinds. They are ordered but won't be here until June 13! Urg! The room looks so UNFINISHED without them!
• Lamp Base. I cannot believe how hard it is to find a good lamp base. I made a cute lamp shade, but I just want a medium sized white lamp base to use with it, and I can't find ANYTHING that doesn't already come with a shade and is what I want. So frustrating. Trevor is actually thinking of making one. So in the pictures, the shade is just sitting there without a base.

We spent the weekend making both quilts for my babies. I took Thursday off work and made Ripley's quilt with Trevor's help. It was so fun to work together on this project. I remember when we were dating we made the cloak for Trevor's Aragorn costume together. It was such a fun day, and we even talked about one day making costumes for our future children. (I was SO excited about that conversation...)

This was just like that. We work so well together when we sew together. We just figured out the pattern together. And whereas at first I was showing Trevor how to thread the needle and stuff, by the end he was trying to show me the same stuff! He actually has a knack for sewing, and whenever it calls for something super straight and perfect, I have him do it for sure!

So here we are sewing. Trevor is working on Ripley's quilt that Thursday. We didn't finish it that day--I had to figure out how to actually "quilt" it, since I didn't want to pay $40 to have someone else do it. Luckily my awesome machine came with a walking foot, which is required in order to do the quilting yourself. It made the whole process quite easy, actually!

Though, I really suck at sewing perfectly straight lines.

When Ripley's was all finished, I was ready to start Scarlett's on Saturday. I did most of hers by myself as I watched my sister's kids. Trevor helped out toward the end when I had to match the back on with the batting. And he sewed the edges around the whole quilt because I was scared to! All in all, I'm quite happy with out it turned out, though Scarlett's didn't wash very well. I have learned my lesson to ALWAYS

wash the material before you sew with it!

This is me on Sunday morning frantically trying to finish the quilt before church. I wanted to wash it while we were gone. Yes, I know I look horrible. But I don't care! What a perfect little mother I am on Mother's day, making a quilt for my baby girl! And how happy I was to finally get it DONE! I have tons of leftover material, so I'm still trying to think of ways to use it. I might even try making some baby clothes out of it, but sometimes leftover material doesn't work because there isn't enough to cut it the right direction. So we'll see.

 Ok, here are some pictures of my baby room!

Isn't it adorable?? There's the finished quilt, and the bedding as Nicki and I made it. The picture on the wall is just something I printed off the internet, and I backed the matting with some leftover material. Scarlett's is a rose and Ripley's is a lily.

The letters of their names were really fun, and were a hybrid with digital scrapbooking. Here's how I did it.

• First, I took the letter (wood, bought it from Hobby Lobby) and traced it on a piece of blank paper.

• Then I scanned the paper into my computer and pulled it into Photoshop. I re-sized it to 8 1/2 x 11.
• Then I pulled in the digital paper I wanted to use. I used the kit Ma Bebe from Dianne Rigdon--she created this kit for me when I requested someone to help me on the Two Peas in a Bucket digital scrapbooking forum. You can read all about it on my scrapblog here.
• Then I just "punched" the letter out with the paper I wanted. Just did the magic wand tool on the scanned letter, then clicked on the paper layer and copied and pasted.
• Next I used an action to create the painted look on the edge. See, a real paper scrapper would have done this with actual paint, but I didn't trust myself to get it even, so I did it digitally!
• Then I printed it and cut it out.

• Painted Scarlett's letters red and Ripley's letters green, though really all you will see if the paint is on the sides.
• Then I used mod podge to glue the paper onto the front. After it dried, I used a light sanding block to sand the edges. I really liked how this made the edges look rough and more authentic. Then I mod podges over it again! That's it! A BIG thank you to my sister-in-law Andrea, who told me all about how to do this--I never would have known without her!
• We hung them with nails, and Trevor did a great job tipping them from side to side so they looked really cute on the wall.

So then I had this REALLY old round table that my dad made. I've been using it as a nightstand forever. It used to have a different cloth cover on it, so I thought I'd made another one that matches the room decor. It was so easy! I just cut out the cloth, hemmed the edges, then sewed on the ribbon. But I used one of my fancy stitches that my machine does to make it look more embroidered. I was so glad to use one of those features--it's the kind of thing they show you when they are trying to sell you a machine, but in actuallity you never really use it.

And last is the lamp shade. This was easy--but not as easy as I thought it would be! I bought the shade at Joanne's, and it's made for this. You just peal off the outer layer, then use that as a pattern and cut out your material. Then you just stick it on the shade, which is covered with sticky paper. It was kinda hard to get it to line up just right, but it was nice to not have to sew anything. Then I used a glue gun to glue the ribbon on the top and bottom. So easy! Much easier than finding a stupid base for it!

Here's a shot from the other side of the room. I had to get the awesome closet that my dad put in for us! And it wasn't easy--apparently this closet used to be a doorway into what is now our upstairs bathroom and used to be the closet. Well, I guess that explains why that bathroom is the size of a closet. As you can see I've already started putting up their clothes and blankets. Man, I am SO nesting right now! And I still have eight weeks to go! But I feel more and more ready for the impossible task of raising twins with every little thing I add to this room. Maybe that's why I'm doing more for this room than I did for Afton's--I'm MUCH more terrified than I was then!

My Happy Little Girl

This was my baby last night. I swear she was drunk. (But I promise she wasn't!) She gets that way when she's tired. But--it took FOREVER to get her to sleep after that, so maybe she wasn't tired. Maybe she's just obnoxious like her Momma.

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My New Obsession!

I am suddenly possessed with the desire to learn how to sew. Why has it taken me so long to do this, anyway? I know this feeling. When I get like this, I DO learn. It's like when, a few years ago, I got obsessed with digital scrapbooking. As soon as the bug really bit me, I was all over it. And now I've discovered--or I should say, re-discovered, sewing. This is my new project. Well, until the twins are born--then who knows waht I'll have time for. But they are part of the obsession--they are actually the reason for it. It's an amazing thing to just pick your fabric and do everything custom, they way YOU want to do it. And knowing that no one else in the world has the same thing you do. I want to make them clothes and fun things like that!

Yesterday was my birthday, and what I really, really wanted was my own sewing machine. This is what has stopped me from persuing this course in the past--I really wanted my own machine but they are so expensive! So we finally just bit the bullet and got one. THIS one. It's normally $400, but I got it for $300. Plus my in-laws helped pay for it so I really got it for less. Yay! Isn't it cute? I love it. Last night I was just messing with all the fun stitches it can do.

Looking back, I'm actually really surprised it took me this long to get into sewing. I showed an interest in it at about 5th grade. My mom showed me some basics, and then I was always sewing crappy Barbie clothes. I made skirts a lot--they were easy. My sister would make me some really cool clothes, and I loved them. I loved how you could use the more expensive, fun fabrics because you needed so little of it. I took sewing in 7th grade, as required in our state, and loved it. Then I took it again in high school, making an outfit that I actually wore a lot after that. So--with this interest--why didn't I just continue? Two of my sisters are very proficient seamstresses. Nicki helped me make my bedding for the twins. I am so jealous how, if she has an urge to make something, she just DOES. She can just buy a pattern or figure it out. I want to be able to do that! My other sister Cindy makes all kinds of cool stuff. She has a tutorial on her blog for making peti-skirts--I really want to learn to make them too! They are so cute! And so much better and cheaper to make yourself than to buy the crappy expensive ones in the store.

So now I am just full of ideas of what I want to try. Only--I need to learn how to read and follow a pattern! I know the basics about how to SEW, but sewing is a lot more than putting in the material and pressing the presser foot. How the crap do you follow a pattern? I look them over and it's familiar, but it's just been so long. I think I might make some simple baby clothes--then if I screw up, it's not very much material and oh well. I really ought to take a class, huh?

Trevor grumbles as he puts up the valance I made. Can't wait till the blinds come!

This weekend I made a valance for the baby room all by myself! It wasn't very hard--it was pretty much exactly the same as the dust ruffles we made, so I already had practice. But I was OH so proud of myself. Today I have a new project. I am going to cover a lamp shade with my own material. This won't require much sewing--at Joanne's you can get lamp shades that you just peel off the outside of the shade, use it for a pattern, then stick your material right on and line it with ribbon. Very easy. I'm so excited to go home and try it today! Then I'm making a simple table cloth-just a square peice, really, with hemmed edges, to go over the round table in the baby's room. And then--the quilts. I have the patterns for my quilts for the twins--but I am in NO WAY good enough to do them myself. So I'm gonna ask around for help on that one.

Recently the superintendant for another school district in my area released a statement that the new junior highs and high school in his district will not have sewing facilities. He feels learning to sew is a waste of time and isn't a skill necessary for those high-paying jobs out there--so why teach it? His exact words were:

“Our middle school students need to be spending much more time on core academics, especially science and mathematics. I do not see the benefit of requiring them to spend multiple days sewing dish-towel aprons and pajama pants.” ~Superintendant Doty

What a freaking idiot. This is a skill I am so glad that I learned. No, it may not contribute to my actual job, but it's something I can use all the time. I sure hope the new superintendant at our district is not this misguided!

A Sister's Helping Hand

You know, I'm glad I'm having two girls. I'm glad I'm forming what my sister Cindy calls "A girl herd." I'm sure boys are great and all, but having grown up with four sisters, I know the power that sisters can have. I hope that I can raise my little girls to love and respect each other the way me and my sisters are. We aren't competitive. We don't compare or have drama or get jealous. We are just genuinely happy for each other and celebrate each other's successes. How exactly this came about, I am not sure. Girls are naturally competitive and drama-filled. But somehow, we missed that memo. I hope that when my girls are grown, they will have each other for support the way my sisters are for me. It seems like each sister has their area of expertise, and when you need something, ONE of them will be able to help you.

This is what happened this last week. With the coming of my babies, I knew I needed to purchase bedding for each baby. I didn't want to re-use Afton's bedding, since I really wanted a nursery that was for THEM. (Having been the fifth daughter, I know the joy of hand-me-downs.) I wasn't sure what colors I wanted to do the room in, until we decided to name the second baby Scarlett. And then I was like--well, you can't do anything but red with a name like that, can you? But what goes with red? I did some searches online for red, green, and white baby bedding. It's a tricky color scheme because you don't want to look Christmasy. But I loved the colors. In my search I found this:

I LOVED it. But what I didn't love was the price. This sucker costs $430. And I would need to buy TWO. Not a possibility. But I couldn't find anything else remotely similar with those colors. And I really wanted those colors!

Which sister's expertise did I draw on? Well, first I went to Nicki. And she was so freaking awesome about it. Like all Nielson sisters, Nicki loves a project. We are definatley a hobby-project type of family. We all five of us have hobbies and are always working on some kind of project. Sewing is just one of Nicki's. I also talked to my sister Cindy, who is also an accomplished seamstress. Unfortunately, this time of year is rather crazy for her, since she works for the Water Conservency District AND she does consults for people's yards. Spring is crazy. So she was not able to actually help sew--though she did help me plan material and she found me the patterns to use. After Cindy and I went to a few stores, I ended up buying most of  the material online at fabric.com, and Cindy we great helping me decide which was best. I obviously couldn't match it perfectly or even very closely, but was happy with what I found.

I was just so glad though, that my sisters were so willing to help me make bedding for my girls. For sewing is NOT in my comfort zone. I have sewn before and I'm not all that bad at it, but I don't have a machine and I haven't sewn anything in years. The last project was the peti-skirts for my ballroom kids--a HUGE undertaking that Cindy took on. She made TEN of thsoe pink and black skirts, teenager size. It was A LOT! I did some of the sewing, but most was Cindy.

Anyway, So this weekend, Nicki and I set to work. We spent to 8-hour days sewing. Mom helped out the second day by taking our kids--which was MUCH appreciated. Nicki did the hard part--figuring out the pattern, cutting the fabric, and pinning it. I did most the sewing which, it turns out, is actually the easiest part. We Ripley's bumpers the first day, and got the cording done for Scarlett's that day, too.

Nicki and I sewing like crazy on Ripley's bedding. Photo compliments of Bethany, Cindy's daughter, who saved our bacon the first day by watching our kids! We love you, Bep!

 On day 2, Mom took our kids, and Nicki and I had a quiet morning finishing Scarlett's bedding, and then working on the dust ruffles for both.

We did the bedding different for each girl, but the dust ruffle was the same.

Completed baby bedding! I admit we were hugging excitedly when we got them done! We were so pleased with how they turned out!

Scarlett's bedding after we completed the dust ruffles. Aren't they cute? Think I'll make a valance just like it!

So the next day we got Nicki's crib that she didn't need anymore, and set it up in the nursury. I like how each bed is similar, but different--that's how I want to see my girls, whether they are identical or not.

Scarlett's Bed

Ripley's Bed

There's still a lot more to do in the room before it's ready. Trevor spent a good month repainting, putting up beadboard, adding crown molding and a chair rail, and of course, putting in that awesome laminate flooring which we LOVE and is SO much cheaper and more practical than carpet!  Now my Dad is making the shelving for the closet, and my awesome sister Aundi is going to cross-stitch some wall hangings (she's SO good at it) and my sister-in-law Andrea will help me with using wooden blocks to put their names on the wall. It's going to be so cute! I love it!

Again, I am so grateful for my family. I have so much support and help. I could never have done this without Nicki, who was willing to devote two entire days during her Easter break to help me. I am truly blessed. I hope my girls love each other as much as I love my sisters!

My April Fool's Joke

So when I was a new teacher I was so freakin' cool. I did the funniest coolest things. But as the years go by I get less cool and less fun. I feel bad about that. I miss that impish desire I used to have to do fun things with my kids. I mean, I'm still fun and cool, but not AS fun and cool. But today--today I redeemed myself. Man, I am so freaking awesome. So here is the story of the most awesome and mean April Fool's joke I ever played! (Actually, I think this is the only April Fool's joke I've ever played.)

Ok. Some background. Today I had scheduled the test for Computer Basics in my 9th grade Computer Technology class. This is the most tedius section I teach, with lots of vocab like "RAM" and "Storage" and "IP Addresses." You know, stuff like that. I had the test all written and ready to go, using the UTIPS website. This site allows me to create an online test--they take the test online, then submit it to me and get an immediate score. Anyway, this morning I had an email from a parent saying how his daughter was worried about the test because she was not allowed to take home her packet yesterday (my aide was in the middle of grading them). I realized he was right--it wouldn't be fair to test them today--they really needed another day to study. I emailed the dad and said the test had been moved to Monday. But what to do today?

Then she got an idea! An awful idea! THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!

I would still give them a test today. I would just...mess with them. I then spent 30 minutes throughout the morning creating a new 25-question test. The first three or four questions were normal and exactly out of the real test. And then I did a few questions where the right answer was NOT one of the ones listed. Or where all four answers were correct. Then I found some computer vocab words that were not part of the unit and put those in. I did some really mean questions on obscure stuff that I had mentioned in class but was too nit-picky to test on. My personal favorite was, "List the six steps of the boot process."

And then it wound up with these final questions:

21. What is Mrs. Rees naming her twins?
22. Who is the coolest teacher at our school?
A. Mrs. Rees
B. Megan Rees
C. Afton's Mom (right answer)
D. The teacher formerly known as Miss Nielson
23. 200 words or less, please describe what makes Mrs. Rees so amazing, and how you would like to emulate her in the future.
24. What day is it today?
25. In 200 words or less, please explain why this test should not count on your grade.

I also had to find that girl whose dad emailed me this morning and make sure she didn't rat me out. I called her down to my room 1st period and asked her if her dad told her she wasn't taking a test today, which he had, and then I told her what I was going to do and told her to keep it quiet. She thought it was hilarious.

I was SO excited when my 5th period came in. This class has a lot of really intelligent straight-A students in it. And they were all STRESSED. They were so worried that they wouldn't pass. I played it so cool. One girl commented afterwards that she didn't suspect a thing with the way I acted. I told them to do their best, that if they thought a question wasn't fair, the software allows me to throw out any question that all the kids struggle on. And then they got started.

I tell you, I was worried. They were SO stressed. It was sad but hilarious to watch them stressing out as they took the test. To watch them deliberate forever over the answers, looking for the answer they were sure was right, but wasn't there. I was like, "Oh no! They are NOT going to think this is funny!" I wondered how they'd react once they figured it out. Here's what's funny--when the kids started to get to the giveaway questions at the end, they didn't say anything. They actually started writing the essay! I was just trying not to laugh out loud--I thought for sure SOMEONE would yell out, "Stop everyone! It's not a real test!"  But no! They laughed to themselves but let their fellow students sweat it out! Other kids started to wonder why they were laughing, but STILL no one said anything! Finally I said, "If you are still struggling, you might want to skip ahead to the last five questions," and then everyone was starting to laugh and I yelled "April Fools!"

Man, I love my 5th period. Despite what I had just put them through, they thought it was so freaking funny. We went over the test and I pointed out what I won't test them on so they don't stress. And I reminded them that if they were frustrated, that means that they really DO know this stuff. And that, of course, there would be a REAL test on Monday with 50 questions--all of them with the correct answers among the multiple choice.

So, looking over their tests, here are some of the answers to their essay questions:
 "First of all, the name Megan starts with an "M", and magnificent starts with the letter "M". So does the word "Megadeth" and " Metallica" which are pretty magnificent, too. Mrs. Rees is also amazing because she is humorous and smart and good looking and stuff. That's kind of kreepy... "

Mrs. Rees has a passion for creating a more knowledgable future of America. She does a great job at enlightening us on the joys of the computer and it's technology, while keeping us entertained.

Well, Mrs. Rees is giving us funny questions hopefully to make up for the terrible quiz that she just had us take. I'm pretty sure that I failed the test, so hopefully these weird questions will make up for it. .

"Well, She is very out going and not like other teachers! She makes class fun even if its supposed to be boring."

She is super funny and always seems to be able to turn something boring into something fun. She has questions like these and can make people laugh.

Well there are many reasons why Mrs. Rees is so amazing. One reason is the fact that the other teachers just don't compare to her. Another reason is that she teaches a decently fun class. Also she is a really funny teacher. this is shown pretty well by the test.

What makes Mrs. Rees so amazing is how funny she is. I love how she can make the subject computer tech so exciting. She's a cool teacher, with a cool personality. Like this test right here, this is what makes her so amazing. Like how awesome is that.

I love how Mrs Rees teaches. She is always giving us examples and letting us see visual examples. She's funny and she's always more than willing to help you out. She's in a pretty good mood for having twins. She's fun to be around, and she's pretty I mean computer nerds usually arn't.

This one is my favorite:

Mrs. Rees is the all knowing computer genius that is like fourty times better then other teachers in every single way. She is very wonderful and beautiful and deserves the best teacher award. By being so great she has cured cancer and aids just by walking into a room.

And this one:

Mrs. Rees is pretty epically awesome! She just is the BEST!! She knows how to really teach the leaders of the future. She's funny and supersmart. Why is Mrs. Rees so amazing? She likes me, that's why. She makes even the most boring topics fun. I know that in the future when I become president of the world (because of her) I am going to make a shrine dedicated to her! She knows how to bring computer class to life!!!!!!!!! She's just cool!!!! I am going to worship her!!


Ok, is this a little ego building? Sure. But it's friggin' hilarious.

Toys instead of Tupperware

We had a little get-together for Afton's 2nd birthday tonight. Man, that kid is just CUTE. Sorry, but she really is. I'm trying to be un-biased here. I know every mom thinks their kid is really cute. BUT MINE REALLY IS! What I loved is how she "got" it. She opened her presents, grinned when we sang to her, blew out the candles, even tried to "read" a card she got. She was just in her element. And she'd been ornery right before everyone got there. Soon as she realized this was HER day and everyone was there for HER, she just totally ate it up.

Trevor made her this cake.

I thought he did a pretty freakin' awesome job. He's never really made a cake before, but he's so detail-oriented, this kind of thing was right up his alley. I mean, how hard can it be after making a batmobile ?  And what about this shield he made for my nephew for Halloween, which, unbelievably, I never blogged about? Needless to say, a little old cake wasn't going to phase him.  I guarantee you if I made it, it never would haved looked near this cool.

And I loved how she seemed so grateful and excited about each of her presents. Even cards were appreciated. She LOVES her new doll, and is currently sleeping with it in her little bed, with this darling rabbit pillow and blanket, so soft, that her Aunt Andrea got her. She got a tricycle from my parents, and will be getting a table and chairs next week from them, too. She loved her magna-doodle, her new little board books and puzzles. And oh, she LOVES the slide we got her. I'm thinking, maybe this kid will finally play with TOYS instead of my TUPPERWARE. Maybe she'll play by herself. What a concept.

Anyway, I posted some video of her on Facebook, but it's been a long time since I put a video on my blog, and I can't access FB at work, so it's nice to have it here so I can show her off! My students love to see videos! (ok, I don't show it to ALL of them, just the fawning 9th grade girls that ask...)

The Best Years

I was talking to my mom the other day, and she was talking about a girl she knew in high school. "She's one of those people," Mom said, "whose best years were in high school." There are a lot of people like that, I suppose. It kind of throws me, because although my high school years weren't horrible, they most certainly weren't my best. It's kind of payback for us "normal" people, I guess, to see those popular kids from high school flounder when the glory is gone and they have to stand on their own two feet. But then I asked myself, "When were my best years?" And I realized--RIGHT NOW! I said as much to my mother, who also agreed that she was now in her best years.

And then it hit me--isn't that the whole secret to being happy? That no matter where you are in life, you are currently in your best years? I look back at my life, and although there are some dark spots I'd never relive, much of my life WAS my best years at the time. College was a revelation and I loved it. My mission was hard but was a beautiful experience. Being single--well that sucked. No question. But still--I wasn't miserable. I grew and learned a lot during that time, and wouldn't trade it. How glad I am that I had a chance to get to know myself and try new things and travel before I married, so I knew I hadn't missed anything.

And now I'm a young mom and soon will be busier than I've ever imagined in my life. But I'm most assuredly in my best years. When your little girl suddenly stops playing, climbs up on your lap, gives you a kiss and says, "Iluhyou!" THAT is your best years. When you watch your little twins moving around on the screen, healthy and strong--THAT is your best years. When you snuggle into bed next to the man you love more than anything, who actually, miraculously, loves you back, THAT is your best years. But then life moves on and changes. When my last child is off to Kindergarten, won't that be my best year? When I see them all off to college and Trevor and I are on our own to do whatever we please--won't THAT be our best year?

I think the secret is being happy with wherever you are, with whatever you have, and not allowing yourself to dwell too much on what you DON'T have. I caught myself thinking the other day, "Man, I'm so tired of having NOTHING." I was thinking of all the repairs and upgrades I wanted to do on my house, and how there was no way I'd ever be able to afford it for years and years. And then I just laughed at myself. I have NOTHING? Really? With my husband, my babies, and my home? I have everything. Everything that really matters.

I hope this post doesn't sound too braggy. I have my problems same as anyone. But I think we can all be so grateful with the lot we have in life. Have the courage to change what we can, accept what we can't, and just be happy with what we've got. I need to re-read this post next time I feel depressed about the looming responsibilities I am about to take on when the twins arrive--and I DO feel depressed about that, and the fact that it will be years before Trevor is through with school and we have financial security. And that I will probably always be a working mom and never stay home with my children. And that I'm kinda fat. (One thing I love about pregnancy is a 9-month hiatus from feeling guilty about being fat!) Life is good. I'm a happy woman. And I hope I always will be, no matter what happens.