Projects and Carnival

This week started out a little rough.  Joshua and Mercedes had RSV and double ear infections causing a lot of fussiness.  Our apartment served as a quarentine, and we all got cabin fever big time from being couped up for so long.  We ventured out of the apartment one night to roam the aisles of Target.  But, sadly, we were there for no more than ten minutes before Joshua threw up all over the floor and himself.  So, we bought him a new pair of PJ's (since I was unprepared) and we left.  By the weekend, we were all feeling much better, and so we decided a day at the carnival would be a fun way to cap off the week.  Joshua loved it.  Mercedes was very good and sat in the stroller without fussing too much.  In all of the pictures, Joshua has a very serious expression.  He was having a great time, but he REALLY thought he was driving the trucks and trains and cars, so his expression is one of serious contemplation and amazement.   

This is Joshua on the ferris wheel.  He was a little unsure of it at first because he has never been that high before, but he loved it in the end.  Mercedes liked riding on Papa's shoulders, notice the way she pulls on his hair for support...

This is  Joshua's first self portrait.  The x is his nose, the four dots are his eyes (I had asked him where the eyes were not knowing that he had already made some, so he drew new ones).  Notice the arms, legs, and hair.

This isn't the best picture of any of us, but we take what we can.

Finally, I have been up to many projects since the table revamp.  I bought this ugly bookshelf at a garage sale for five bucks.  I thought it was real wood.  But, I came to a very SAD realization.

I used a razor blade to scrape all of the old paint off.  It took FOREVER.  Then, I sanded the whole beast down.  Sanding took off the "wood" and what I was left with was particle board.  I was majorly mad, because I had seriously spent many hours unveiling this ugly thing, just to find out it wasn't solid wood (I have learned to look more closely).  Anyway, the whole thing ended up snapping in half, and

I hauled it to the dumpster.

Nevertheless, there is a happy ending afterall.  My dad helped me make this beautiful (solid pine) bookshelf.

And, with the leftover wood, I made this little stool/kids bench all by myself!  I even created the stencil.  Well, that's it for now.