WAC Attack

Now that Elsa is 6 weeks old and today proved to be a beautiful day, we decided that it was due time to introduce our girl to some modern art. So it was off to the Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center.

Here we are at the Two-way Mirror & Hedge Labyrinth. We couldn't resist a family photo.

These benches are all engraved with different sayings. Since Elsa cannot yet read, she took the opportunity to burn around in her buggy inside the sculpture. Here is a photo of her taking a quick rest.

Newest sculptural addition to the garden: Elsa Sandwich. Very modern, very contemporary.

This guy insisted on taking Elsa for a spin around the park. Because we are into the whole "Minnesota Nice" thing, we couldn't say no. Elsa said this guy smelled funny, like an old dude. I told her that sometimes people smell like that.

Toddler food, what to do?

As a first time mom I am quickly becoming very confused about what sort of food to feed a toddler. I've been going mental trying to figure out what to make for him, how often I should make it, how much should he have to eat, is it too fatty, is it healthy, is it tasty? Etc. Etc. What he eats now could determine his eating habits for the rest of his life. Talk about pressure. So I do like all good moms, and buy a book.

These ingredients above will so be turned into "Lily Pad Pancakes" a recipe I find in The Toddler Cafe.

These green mounds quickly turn into semi-delicious sweet pea flap jacks, mmm.

Golden brown brown get around I get around.

It looks o-fish (aka official): this kid loves 'em.

Auntie Hen Parties

Saturday afternoon I brought Elsa over to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a visit. When I arrived I was surprised to find all of my Aunts gathered around the dining room table, painting bird houses.

I am not exactly sure who's idea this was but it was certainly a good one! Surprise craft parties are always awesome!

Here we are, getting started. Jill and Margy discuss color schemes and the history of bird house architecture in early America. A riveting conversation indeed.

Auntie Kathy has settled on a red house with a yellow foundation and roof. She is going for a Scandinavian themed house. These birds probably shop at IKEA and eat lutefisk and lefse.

My Aunt Gina contemplates decking her house out with a theme but decides to go with what moves her. She is slightly inspired by the purple dogbird house sitting in front of her.

I love these houses!

Here they are! These bejeweled and bedazzled bird houses will be sure to make some lovely bird family so happy!

Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers

In preparation for the arrival of my little baby chicken, Elsa, I decided that I was going to make bumpers for her crib. During a trip to my favorite fabric store with Scoops, I found this pretty pretty fabric by Heather Bailey.

I had found some patterns for bumpers and based my bumpers on them. I did decide that these bumpers NEEDED some piping to spiff 'em up a bit. I have never done anything like this before so I conferred with the best source ever for things of this nature, my Grandma. Over a slice of pie, after Easter dinner, she explained to me how to whip up some piping. So that is what I did! I had some left over fabric so I made a matching blanket for this little Babe.

Elsa seems to enjoy her crib and she certainly won't be hitting her head or getting her arms stuck anytime soon.

Here are some more photos of Elsa's nursery. It is such a cozy and relaxing room, I sure hope Elsa thinks so!

We got this rocking chair from the Highland Park Guy on Craigslist. It is so great for feedings and reading bedtime stories. The blanket Auntie Scoops made looks super dope on the back of it too.

A Ripple Afghan for Finn

I've finally finished Finn's ripple blanket and just in time for the cozy fall months too. I started this project in March thinking it would take a few weeks... a few months later I was still working on it and hoping I would finish it in time for his 1st birthday. I didn't make the birthday deadline but I did make it before the summer was over, a whole 6 months later.

I was originally going to be way too ambitious and try and make the afghan so that it could be used as coverlet on a twin sized bed, instead its ended up being big enough to cover a crib mattress, and maybe eventually could be folded across the end of his twin bed.

Eames chairs making everything look better.

My new dining room table and chairs

I've been hunting craig's list for months waiting for someone to post an affordable, good looking, mid-century dining room set and it finally happened. I had never realized how torturous it was going to be to have to decide on a table within hours of seeing the listing. Things move so fast on that internet machine that you have to choose to buy something asap or it might be gone asap. This was not the table of my dreams, but fit a lot of my criteria, and now that I have it home I'm thinking it's pretty cool.

The man I purchased the table from turned out to be the original owner. He has had the set since the early 60's, and it seemed like he was having a hard time parting with it.

The cushions are covered in an ugly floral fabric. I'll have to add recovering my new chairs to my to do list..

South Minneapolis Tornado, what?

I was just having a peaceful afternoon at home with the swine flu when all of a sudden the skies open up and the rain comes down. The news is trying to tell me that there was a tornado 10 blocks away from my house, I don't believe it, I was here all afternoon and I never saw a tornado. Jeff goes out to investigate and returns home with the photographic proof. What a crazy thing.

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A homemade wedding present for Erik & Jenn

It's always hard to find the right wedding gift, especially in the age of wedding registries. It's easy to order something online but it's difficult to make it from the heart or personalized. Being that this is a special wedding I decide to make Erik & Jenn some hand made embroidered napkins. These guys love their cats a ton, so a napkin for each cat it is.

This is my 2nd attempt at embroidery, and again, as with all projects it takes me 10 million times longer than I expect. It's a good thing I had tons of time to kill in that hotel room.

Tango is a tiger cat.

Boo is a black and white cat with a crotch on his chest.

2 1sts

Last week we went on vacation, we spent 5 days at Matt's cabin where Finn attempted his first dip in northern Minnesota waters.

Then we head to Boston for Erik and Jenn's wedding where Finn also attempts a dip in the east coast oceans (this is probably not really considered the ocean, but the water is still salty, so it counts, right?)

Last Minute Kitchens

The first logical thing to do when you are 2 months away from giving birth is to completely gut and remodel your kitchen. So we did just that. Aaron and my Dad (who is the best Dad EVER and so much better then your Dad. Sorry, I'm sure your Dad is very nice but....) took an afternoon this past May and removed the kitchen you see in the photo below.

I liked this kitchen. I really did. It was charming and had character. Unfortunately, it was not all that functional. The cupboards wouldn't stay closed, there wasn't much storage or counter space. Something needed to be done.

Before, the day before demo.

After.

This kitchen was completed 3 days before Elsa came. Aaron and I were tiling and grouting up until the very last minute. Rip is good at kitchen remodeling. Do tell him you think so the next time you see him!

Little Baby Chickens: An Update From Colz

Elsa Mary Jane Ripplinger was born on 7/16/09 at 3:56 in the afternoon. She is AWESOME! No joke. Our days have thus far been filled with some activities that we were not, but now are, accustom to. These activities include, but are not limited to baby gazing for hours on end, having one sided conversations, coming in contact with human waste and not being too bothered by it, making up songs about babies and things that rhyme with Elsa or baby and having my boob hang out more often then not. She's a real peach of a girl and I just can't help but gush over her!

Stay tuned for more news on Elsa and for updates on all of the crazy things I have been putting together!

Missed you!

Much Love,

Colz