Imaginary Friends

Yesterday I asked Mckinlay is she wanted to go to the park. She was sitting on the stairs and she turned to her right and said:

"Do you want to go to the park?"

Then turned to me and said:

"No. My monster and I want to play here."

I asked her half and hour later if she wanted to go to the park and she said:

"No. I'm just snuggling on your bed with my monster."

About half and hour after that she said:

"Mommy, I'm ready to go to the park now."

Then, turning to her right:

"Monster and you ready to go to the park now too?"

So we went to the park.

Today she is playing with her "dinosaur"

{also named "Mckinlay"}.

She put make up on herself, her body {of course}, and her dinosaur who "looks so beautiful!"

They played and then she read her a story on the couch.

When she sat down with the other "Mckinlay" I said:

"Mckinlay did you leave enough room for your dinosaur?"

Then she asked, turning to her right:

"Do you have a small bum like I?"

Turning to me:

"Yeah."

While reading the story she turned to her right and said:

"Don't bug me!"

I'm still laughing about it.

I took a video of her talking to "Mckinlay", but she got a little embarrassed and started singing instead.

Heard some rustling in the kitchen...

and walked into find this little bum hanging out on the counter saying:

Me: Mckinlay, looks like you already got some.

Mckinlay: Oh.

I need a napkin.

Diapers, take II.

I've been thinking about diapers a lot lately.

Every time I go to Costco I think how it won't be long before I'll be picking up a box of them along with my other staples. After being diaper free for nearly a year now, that is not a very nice thought.

Poopy.

Stinky.

Expensive.

Argh.

To fix my diaper whoas, I made something to get me excited about the inevitable:

Ta-dah!

What better cure than a diaper/wipes case!?

And better still, I made it out of fabric scraps, courtesy of Happy Jo's left overs from #2's baby quilt {which I'm so excited to see!}.

I almost love it enough to want to go buy some diapers to fill it right now.

Almost.

McFam in Ohio part 2

{For some reason Blogger wouldn't let me do this all in one post...}

Cedar Point was followed by a celebration of Happy Jo's birthday. 55 and still mistaken for a nursing mother. I'd say that's pretty darn good!

Wanna make your own family Yahtzee? Click here. And the picture with Gollum--that was Tyler's birthday card to Mom. It gives me the creeps every time I look at it. In part because it's creepy, in part because that is my little girl he morphed in the picture, and probably also in part because of the lovely mustache Mom is sporting.

We also took a quick trip to B and Alli's for Eli's baby blessing. It was really neat that so many of us could be there for it and that Tyler was able to help now that he is an Elder -- who leaves in a month! So glad we got to spend time with him before he is off for 2 years.

All these thing and more made for a fabulous couple of weeks.

We love you family and we already miss you, but are looking forward to Happy Jo's return in just under 10 weeks for #2's arrival!

And lest you think the fun ended there, yesterday Ty had the day off and we spent the morning in Chagrin Falls. The weather was perfect for a picnic by the falls and then we got a little treat from the famous Popcorn Shop Factory.

It was a great way to end the weekend, especially because it started pouring rain on our drive home.

McFam in Ohio part 1

Our visitors are gone. Our house is empty. We miss them already.

We had too much fun to document it all, so here are some highlights:

Lots of playing/coloring/doing tricks/being "princess in the basement."

Lots of vinyl/sewing/decorating/home improvements. I'll do a separate post on all the fun things Happy Jo and I did around the house.

One trip to Amish Country where we ate way too much food {as you can tell by my very full belly}, loved seeing the "horsies and buggies" {which Mckinlay thought meant horses with giant bugs on them}, and lounged in "baby bear, mama bear and papa bear's rockers."

One visit to Cedar Point.

So. Much. Fun.

I can only imagine how much fun it'll be to go back not pregnant...not the the carousel and Snoopy train weren't awesome.

Been having too much fun to post...

but had to share this:

We can't stop laughing about it.

We've been busy sewing, decorating, eating and playing.

{& going to Target. Daily.}

Pictures to come soon.

I should be cleaning my house...

Have I mentioned my mama is coming this weekend!?

And have I mentioned this week is just dragging on due to anticipation!?

Not only am I excited, but it's all Mckinlay can talk about:
"When Happy Jo gets here I want her to read me these stories."
"When Happy Jo gets here can we go to the water park? And get a hot dog? And an ice cream cone?"
"Will Happy Jo jump off the balance board {diving board} with me at the BIG POOL? You can't mommy 'til your baby comes out of you."
"When Happy Jo gets here she is bringing me
decorations for my wall!"
{Happy Jo = vinyl}
"I'm calling Happy Jo now Mommy."
...
Oh and today mom, she told me she wants you to buy her and Addy Winnie the Pooh cookies from Costco.

As if that is not exciting enough, she'll be here for a week and then Pappio and Tyler get here!
THEN
B, Alli and crew come up here too.
{So excited to meet this li'l guy!}
THEN
{I know the mind reels there could me more!}
We all head down to their place for Eli's baby blessing.

Then I come home and feel lonely -- and probably tired.
{But we won't talk about that.}

I only wish Maddle and Jeff could be here too, then it would be a bonafide family reunion!!

Anyway,
so back to what I'm doing instead of cleaning:

Decided to whip up a couple of these.
Since Prego-Mego is tending to need her hair back just 'bout daily--it's so muggy lately--might as well have something cute to do it with, right?
Took about 5 mins.
{Way longer than I spent on my do, if you could tell.}
Hardest part was deciding on what fabric scraps to use...or maybe getting the energy to go upstairs to get the ironing board.
It's a toss up.

And while the machine was out I figured I might as well do a little repurposing with a couple of my old favorite shirts.
Tutorial found here.
{BTW, never sewing with knits again.}

Aren't these SO much better than a spotless house?
Plus I'm super pregnant. I don't have the energy to clean...
right?

I really want to wake Mckinlay up and try her skirt on...but I'll wait. She is really starting to care about what she wears and wants to do things "all by myself."

Yesterday she came up with this little number.
She walked down the stairs saying:
"Mommy Daddy..."
And she does.

Bubble print attempt

We decided this would be a fun morning art project.
And it was for about 5 mins...
until Mckinlay sucked in instead of blew.

"YUCKERS!"

That swiftly put an end to the straw usage,
then she moved on to splashing with her hands.

At least I have a squeaky clean table now
-- even if it is with multi-colored soap.

I think we'll try this again next year.

The Beach

We went to the beach yesterday!
{Yes, we are still in Ohio, we went to the beach on Lake Erie.}

It was beautiful! The water was super warm and clear and it was perfect beach weather.

Mckinlay was in heaven. She likes to "practice her swimming."
"I kick my legs and I waddle my arms!"
Me: " Mckinlay you are SO tan!"

Mckinlay:

Oh. Silly Me.

In the car on the way there she said:
"Mom, you told Dad about baby in your tummy?"

Well, hon, if he hasn't figured it out at this point, we're in trouble...
Yikes.
At least I can still see my toes.

ABC/Twinkle Twinkle Mash up

Still working on the end bit.
{although I think I like it that way}
Nursery songs can be so tricky!

5 years

It's hard to believe in 5 years we've gone from this:

to this:

and in a mere 13 weeks (+/-, hopefully -) we'll have another little Loveless.

I've been thinking about all that we've done -- the friends we've made, the different jobs we've had, all the schooling, the places we've lived, memories made...couldn't have picked a better best friend to do it all with.

love you babe!
so much.

{top photo is on our first date, at a monster truck rally, 'cause we're classy like that.
bottom photos by em.}

Chocolate + Grahams + Mallows

Now go celebrate it!
...even if it is only 8:45 in the morning.

Yo ho yo ho!

Avast me hearties! Ye be correct!
It be 3rd annual Pirate FHE at the Loveless home.

Here be our li'l wench.

This be the treasure map.

Be rain or shine, we must find the treasure!
{Mckinlay stopped to hug Papa Pirate and to say "this is fun!"}

Up the ladder to find the booty!
{pirates booty that be.}

X marks the spot where the treasure be.
Our treasure be full o' fun and games, a Pirate tale and gold coins.
{DELICIOUS "gold coins" mind you.}Of course we filled our Pirate bellies with a meal any pirate would plunder and/or pillage for.
{Please make this. It's fall of the bone delicious.}

'Til next year me land lubbers!
Crazy to think we'll have another saucy wench added to our crew then!

My big girl

got her first haircut today.
She's been so excited, it's been all she could talk about for the past week -- as you can tell by her blurry excited little toes.

Now my child no longer looks homeless, but I can't get over how grown up she is.
{Sigh}
Look at those little side swiped bangs.

Mr. Postman...

should be delivering these to your door soon!

Remember this little giveaway?
Well, I finally got my big bad self to the post office. The prizes have been done for weeks...why is it so hard to get to the post office? Oh yeah, maybe because my 2 year old thinks the stamps I buy there are stickers and that the packaging materials with Mickey Mouse on them are her birthday presents.

Hope you winners enjoy! I had a lot of fun sewing for ya.

Christmas in July

I just finished my first set of Christmas presents.

Yeah yeah, it's July, but have I told you I've had a lot of time on my hands lately? I've been doing a lot of reading {any good book suggestions would be appreciated} and a lot of sewing. I figured, why not get a jump on Christmas, right? With the baby coming in November I'm thinkin' I won't have a lot of time to make gifts and such, and homemade gifts are my fave.

Wanna know what else is my new fave?
Kiddo aprons with matching chef hats.

Pretty darn adorable if I do say so myself.

I really want to get Mckinlay a play kitchen this year. And know that she has the apron and hat, it's pretty much a done deal.

Wanna make one too?
chef hat
apron

Now to decided which one to keep and which one to give away....

Who wants to go with me?

Ty would rather die a million deaths than go to this.
{I think it's a dislike for Julie Andrews.
He feels the same about The Sound of Music.}
But plays are so much better than movies!

There's no convincing.It's playing now through August 9th and I really wanna go!

I have a super comfy air mattress calling your name, so come visit me and we'll go together, OK?

"My favorite and my best!"

The weather said today was gonna be a yuckie weather day. We needed a plan, so I decided it was high time we had a tea party. We've been reading a lot of books about tea parties and Mckinlay was pretty excited about the idea.

She woke up saying,
"We get to have my tea party today?"

We spent the morning preparing. We showered and painted nails. Then we went to the store to get a "sparkley drink" and a special treat. We came home and got all our party food ready then went up stairs to "get fancy". Mckinlay choose my outfit and accessories and then we did our make up.

As we walked down the stairs to have out party Mckinlay says, "You look so beautiful Mommy!" Trust, me I did.
{Sidenote: I just KNEW someone was going to stop by our house, which never happens might I add, while I was dressed so lovely, green eyeshadow and "Grandma Hallstrom" orange/red lips. I was right. Luckily we had just finished out party and I had at least wiped off the lipstick already. Figures, right!?}

We had a yummy "tea" complete with finger sandwiches, fruit and lots of yummy treats. Don't worry, there was plenty of saying "cheers!" and clinking our fancy glasses of Sunkist Orange tea, I mean soda.
BTW, when did Sunkist start having caffeine in it!? Didn't realize that 'til it was too late. I might be regretting this tea party come later today!
"This tea is so good. Can I have more?"
She drank a lot.

All through the morning while we were prepping for the party Mckinlay kept saying "This is so fun!" But best of all was the chocolate moose cups. Right after I snapped the picture of her eating it she says:

"This is my favorite and my best."


Well babe, you are my favorite and my best.

It's a "double mallow day!"

1) Ty passed the Medical Boards!!!
Thank you to everyone who prayed and prayed that he would just pass!

Not only did he pass, but he did really well!
{And we were so nervous...}

That's my boy.

2) My {not so} little brother got his mission call!

Louisiana, Baton Rouge Mission
{Hooray for the deep south and the bayou!}
He reports to the MTC on October 7.
So excited for you Tyler!

And all of this good news happened on Maddle's birthday!
{Happy birthday Maddle!!!}

Mustache anyone?

Art supplies are on sale this week at Target.
We picked some up yesterday.
{Can't imagine why we'd be out of paint!?}

Today we spent the morning doing this:

{click to enlarge}

As usual was sent out a batch of drawings and painting to lucky recipients. If anyone can get me "Barbie Rapunzel's" address, I'd be much obliged.

Baby Eli.

Meet our new nephew.

What a doll.

We love you Brennan, Alli and Addy and are so excited to meet him!
Hooray that we live so close!

2 1/2 today.

This morning, while I was making breakfast, the little girlins found the birthday candles. She is obsessed with birthdays. Every time we see anything she wants {from Popsicle, to princess balloons, to rubber gloves, to toys} she says "Get those for my birthday?" If I get her all the things I've said "OK" to, we're gonna have to move to a bigger house. Anyway, so as she asked if we could use the candles for her birthday, I realized today is her 1/2 birthday!

So we had a 1/2 birthday party.

It's all she could talk about.
"Is it time for my party now?"

She pulled out a bag of "magic ribbons" so she could "get ready for my party!"

We had a lot of fun.

Happy 1/2 birthday to my little babe!
Where has the time gone!?

When you leave the house at 5am...

you call your wife at 6 am and ask her to run you a matching shoe.

At first, "the good Dr." thought one of his legs was suddenly shorter than the other,
then he realized he was wearing two different shoes.

I really should have taken a side view of these shoes, because the black hospital shoes have a slight heal on them. I can't stop giggling thinking about him hobbling around the hospital.

{Maybe I should stop blogging about it, and hurray and run him the shoe already!?}

What we do when it's raining buckets.

It all started out innocently enough...

Then she decided she was done with hand and foot prints and wanted to move on to something bigger and better.


She did it once, then I had her recreate it.
Maybe I shouldn't have encouraged her.

The final work of art.

Actually, one of many. She had enough paint on her to make several prints. Then she kept reapplying...

And you wonder why she paints in her "nakie-noodies."

Half way done...

& the baby is already drinking milk.

Only 20 more weeks to go...