Can it still be the weekend?

We are very tired here on Lankford.  Not only has Little Man decided not to eat, but now he has also decided not to sleep.  This weekend needed one more day.

Oh, and thanks to my dad, I have a new-to-me camera!  Forgive me while I play.

The World's Cutest Garden Gnome

He quickly discovered the balloons and got busy.

A Rainy Day

Also known as "Be Extra Creative" Day or "Take 18 Blurry Pictures" Day or "How Many Ways Can One Child be Cranky" Day or my all-time favorite "PBS Kids, I Love You" Day.  I decided pretty early this morning (and, yes, it was early, because that's what time you wake up when you have a child who refuses to eat supper) to make some play dough.  I came across this link on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago and thought today would be a good day to try it.  You may now proceed to the blurry, under-lit photo section of this post.

Making the dough was very easy.  Kneading it was very fun.  Completely over-taken with joy sure that Little Man would love this, I beckoned him into the living room.  If Little Man could speak in complete sentences, I'm pretty sure this is what he would have said:

What is it?

Do I have to touch it?

But, my hands are getting dirty!

Am I allowed to throw this?

Can I just stand here and look at it?

If it's so great, why don't you do it?

Maybe it's not so bad...

Hmmm...

I really don't want this on my hands!

Please take this away!

I would like to go now.

It's looking at me!

If I can't see you, then you're not there!

Today's saving grace: the leaves are changing colors!

What Matthew Wouldn't Do: 2

When you pull up carpet that's not original to your house, expect to have some extra work to do.  Like installing quarter round and painting the baseboards.  We here at Lankford are hosting Thanksgiving this year, and, as such, our quarter round budget has been redirected to turkey and all of the yumminess that goes along with it and makes the holiday what it is.  However, I couldn't bring myself to host Thanksgiving for 12 people with my base boards looking like this:

Grungy nastiness.  So at (see below time) last night, I decided to tackle this project.

Maybe my next post should be titled, "Love note to a Wooster Brush."  I mean, really, this thing is the bomb-diggity.  Notice my damp rag for mess clean-up.  That's right.  I painted right next to my newly uncovered wooden floors without a paint guide.  Note to reader:  Matthew is ridiculously, hopelessly, meticulously obsessive neat.  I did, however, put a plastic bag under my paint can.

I painted in my pajamas.

Let us now take a look at What Matthew Wouldn't Do:


WMW{n't}D:  Wait until 10:39 p.m. to paint baseboards.  

WMW{n't}D:  Paint baseboards.  Love you dearly, Matthew, but we both know this is true.


WMW{n't}D:  Live in a house with grungy baseboards.  Karen is much more thorough than that.   And by thorough, clearly I mean "she would have thought through this process better than I did."


WMW{n't}D:  Post photos of himself doing a project he wouldn't do.  


WMW{n't}D:  Post photos of himself in pajamas.  


WMW{n't}D:  Fall in love with a paint brush.


WMW{n't}D:  Use a paint brush.


WMW{n't}D:  Paint without tape or a guide.


WMW{n't}D:  Paint. (Are you seeing a theme here?)


WMW{n't}D:  Leave small traces of paint on the floor even though they will be covered later.


WMW{n't}D:  Take photos of a coffee maker so he'd know what time it was.  


WMW{n't}D:  Take photos of a coffee maker (unless, of course, he had just made some really awesome coffee that spewed forth peace, happiness, and rainbows).

At 11:36 I found myself done with the first touch-up coat and ready for bed.  I also found myself host to way-faring company (read: my in-laws) who found it very funny that I was in the floor painting at 11:30 at night.

Much better, yes?  Now all that's left to do is the second coat and then feel free to bring on the turkey.

His Treat Bag

This Friday, Little Man's school is having a Fall Fest (in place of Halloween, which is good because I am a Halloween grinch), and he needs a costume and treat bag.  Of course I used this as an opportunity to de-stash!  Now, judge thee not, but the fabric I used for the lining actually came from these:

These used to be Blair's boxers.  The elastic was shot, but the fabric was fine.  I started by cutting them in half.

Then I got out the burlap that was leftover from my chair makeover.  I love when I can get more than one project done out of something (note to self:  this is probably why the stash is so large...).

I sewed down the cut side of the fabric and then across the opening at the leg (even though the Halloween grinch inside of me really just wanted to leave it open so all the candy would fall out).

Little Man kept busy with his 1990's Talking Computron.

And by busy, clearly I mean non-stop movement.

After getting the lining stitched, I took the burlap and cut it down to the right size.  I hemmed the edges, stitched the side and across the bottom and trimmed the excess.  I left it wrong side out so I could attach the lining to it.

After turning the lining right side out, I tucked the burlap down into it, folded the top over, and stitched it down.

Oh, and I broke my needle.

Still busy.

The bag is finished, just in need of handles.

Too bad they won't be filling this with fruits and vegetables...

Little Man decided my knitting needles needed organizing.

I attached some ribbon for handles, and the bag is done!

I'm making a vest for Little Man from this pattern, and I'm going to put a bow tie on him with this hat I made him for him last year (when this picture was taken) for his birthday,

Please do ignore this TERRIBLE photo of me and focus on the serious cuteness taking place instead.

and he'll be going as a garden gnome.  I know.  Does it get any cuter?

On a side note, my previously fabulous camera seems to have forgotten how to take fabulous photos.  I have not changed any settings.  What's the deal?