Newest crafting obsession!

Yes folks, I have been two-timing my inks and stamps with another crafting obsession. Shhhh...don't tell them, but I have started down the path of no-sew fleece blankies! Actually, I have been looking for a craft that Sarah and I could do together to make useful Christmas gifts for Nana, Grandma & Grandpa and Aunt Lori.

I think we have zeroed in on a choice!

These blankets are so easy a caveman could do it. Well, perhaps that takes it too far. Anyway, we did three test blankets (can't do just one when you have three kids!). I really like how they turned out and the girls all love that they have snuggly blankets for the couch. Just in time for our house to be set at a balmy 67 degrees for the winter.

Here are the three test subjects:

Mary's is on the left, Sarah's in the middle and Leah's on the right. I intended for these blankets to be used for couch dwelling during the winter months, but Mary & Leah have kidnapped their blankets and are holding them captive in their room.

As for the details, I made each one 2 yards (supposedly the size of an adult blanket). Each cut for the tied fringe is 5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide (because I'm lazy and wanted to get away with the least amount of labor possible). All in all, it only took me about 1.5 hrs per blanket. Not too shabby! I just hope that everyone on my Christmas list this year is prepared to receive one!

PS - First weigh-in today and lost 7.8 lbs! Yeah for water weight!

Adios Ben and Jerry!

It is time. Time to finally break down and join Weight Watchers yet again. I have done it before, with great success. Each time I got down to a manageable weight, I would get pregnant and gain 70 lbs (no seriously, I gained 70 lbs when I was pregnant).

Ever since Leah's birth, I just haven't felt the urge to take the plunge yet again. It is just so much work and that third kid just pulled all the last vestiges of energy right out of my bones.

I will be starting on Tuesday, so for the last week I have been having the farewell tour of all my favorite bad-for-you foods. I think I'm at the point where I welcome the idea of only eating fruits and veggies for a while. I think I have done some serious artery clogging this week!

So I'm saying ADIOS to Ben and Jerry. I wish it was Au Revoir, but I think I need to just come to the realization that my life will be better without you. LOL!

Better Know a Playground, Part 1

It has been requested that I share some of my playground knowledge that I have gained in my multi-part series entitled "Better Know a Playground". I can't tell you how many parts this series will have because I really don't know how many playgrounds we have tested out. It seems like a zillion, but probably more like twenty. For all you Steven Colbert fans out there, this series was indeed inspired by his 435 part series "Better Know a District".

The playground of choice for today: Northwest Park. I don't name 'em folks, I just drag my children to 'em. BTW, this is about as busy as I have ever seen it on a non-soccer day. During soccer games, the place is packed. It is located just south of Henderson Road, West of Coach Road.

NORTHWEST PARK

This is a playground we haven't been to for a while. In fact, I don't think we have been here at all this summer. The play structure is actually very tall as far as playgrounds go. I took the girls there a couple times last summer but decided it was WAY too tall for a then 2 1/2 yr old to be using. It was definitely heart-attack inducing watching Leah play on it.

Fast forward to this summer, and Leah is perfectly capable at 3 1/2 to climb over the entire structure and go down the slides without fear she will fall off the side.

Here she is demonstrating her new favorite playground equipment, the rock wall.

The slides on the main play structure are quite tall. Mary thought they were the greatest thing ever, for today.

Yes, I am one of those parents that let my kids walk up the slides.

One of the major drawbacks to this playground is the toddler area. It is seriously lacking. We have better stuff in our basement.

That is the entire toddler playground. I didn't even have to step back to take the picture.

My girls absolute favorite part of the park is what I call the Little House on the Prairie hill. They run up and down over and over and over to the point of exhaustion. It is great!

Can't you just hear that theme song in your head?

While we were perched up at the top of the hill, the girls decided to pick a few flowers. I have to say that I always appreciate photo ops that involve my kids and nature!

All in all, it is a nice playground to spend an hour, but it isn't going to keep them entertained for a long period of time. If you hit it when there aren't soccer practices or games, it is nearly empty, which is a major bonus. The walking path around the park is very long and actually connects to Burbank, so you can give it some bonus points for that feature too.

Mirror Lake

One of the things that has been on our summer to-do list for years is to have a picnic at Mirror Lake. For anyone who has never suffered of Buckeye Fever, Mirror Lake is a lovely little spot on campus at OSU. To make it extra fun, The Jessica's also have been meaning to show their girls the joy that is Mirror Lake, so we made it a picnic party.

Over Labor Day weekend we finally took the plunge and picnicked (is that a word) our brains out.

Supposedly, the water is so clear that you can see your reflection (thus the name "Mirror Lake"). I think perhaps it should be renamed to "Murky Lake". Or even better "Murky Pond". Don't think I didn't find the area beautiful. It was quite lovely. I just couldn't see my countenance in the water.

Now, you can't live here without eventually either falling in love with OSU or totally hating it. There is no in-between. I don't get the haters because OSU gives our city so much rich culture. That must be why those haters root for Michigan. They have no culture.

The OSU brainwashing starts early around these parts.

No trip to the campus is complete without dragging five kids to the newly renovated library. You know, the place where college kids are trying to do research and study and stuff? In quiet? The new library is gorgeous!

There is a fantastic look out spot on the 11th floor that has great views of the campus and the surrounding area. I had to include the west view that has what some would say is the most important part of campus. Mary says this is where they have the soccer games with Dippin' Dots. I think Woody might have turned over in his grave.

On that note, here's hoping for a very successful day on Saturday for our beloved Buckeyes! GO BUCKS!