Gabe's Book + More Stuff I Made

Here are my latest jewelry creations. They look better in person but here ya go:

Beaded Pearl Necklace.
I made the flower using fabric. It tends to curl up which is annoying.

Earrings I made.
I mainly work with seed beads, so it was exciting to work with this much metal. I tried a few neat techniques I've never used before.

A few days a ago I made Gabie a book. I've been wanting to make him a book for a long time. I am very proud of this book because a) I made it up all myself (including the rhymes), b) I made it all in a day, and c) Gabe LOVES it!

I am not very happy with the way the lettering looks. Sloppy and crooked...I should have known that permanent marker and felt do not get along very well. I would have done a few things differently (like the binding) but as long as Gabe likes it, I'm happy:

Gabe's favorite page. He loves taking off the carrots. I'm thinking of making him a book that just has things for him to pull off.

The airplanes don't really look like airplanes. I should have used a reference when making these! The mirror is Gabe's other favorite page to look at.

I sprayed the flower with some perfume. Unfortunately, it really stinks combined with the scent of glue-gun glue.

Okay...this parrot...AAckk! It looks like it is in the middle of being electrocuted. Maybe I should change "prettiest" to "Ugliest".

The baby under the blanket.

Our Weekend...

Erik gets Fridays off so its a 3-day weekend every week!

Friday we met some friends at Sunrise Mountain pool. Gabie loves swimming. When I can stop being retarded and finally bring my camera , I'll post some pics of Gabe in the pool. It is so cute that he gets so excited to swim. He has NO fear of the water. I'm not so sure that's a good thing!

Later that evening it was cow appreciation day at Chick-fil-A. If you were dressed as a cow, you got free food. I made us all cow "costumes" and we got free meals! It was Gabe's first very-own fast food meal. I think he's still too little for them because he didn't seem to know what to do with it! He was more interested in the balloons they were giving out.

Us as cows

Playing in the play area. Gabe loves his balloon.

Cute Gabie-cow


This is how Erik felt about dressing as a cow.

Saturday I thought it would be fun to go to the Glendale swap meet, since the OC swap meet we always go to in CA was awesome. Man was I wrong. I felt very out of place...it was like walking through a Mexican ghetto. There were very few stands and what was being sold looked like thrift store rejects--the crap of the crap. I was too hot and we even had to pay to get in (only a $1.50...but still). We didn't stay there long but what a waste of time! After that we went to a pizza buffet, where Gabie got yet another balloon.

Gabe is usually a dependable 6:30 alarm clock whether we like it or not, but Sunday he failed us. Usually I would be so happy that he slept in till 8:00, but not when we have 9:00 church! It is impossible to get myself and Gabe ready by 9, so we were the latest we've ever been. Why did you have to pick Sunday to sleep in, Gabe?!?

Erik does not have Monday tests anymore so it was a nice having Erik completely available on the weekends. I love that he has rotations now!

Oh yeah, I buzzed Gabie's head. You can't tell too well from this pic, but it's definitely noticeable in person!

I thought he would freak out when he saw the clippers like he did last time he saw them, but I just put a movie on for him and went a little slower and he didn't mind at all!

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July! Erik's parents came down from St. George. Gabe I think had the most fun out of everyone! He loved chasing the dog around, playing with grandpa, and getting wet out in the backyard. He loved throwing those popper-things but didn't care for the other fireworks too well. I enjoyed the break I got from having to watch Gabie every second.

On Sunday we had chicken teriyaki kabobs, hot dogs, watermelon, and Erik made a fruit salad and a carrot-cake cheesecake. Yum! Then I got to see my friend Elise who I haven't seen in forever! Independence day was also spent playing games and just relaxing.
It was a good weekend! We also got the garage door opener fixed and the water heater fixed. By fixed I mean replaced.
Here are the best pictures (I think) from the holiday:

Gabe enjoyed the slip-n-slide. I wasn't there to see it because Erik and I went out for icecream!

Taking a sip...

This is Gabie's attempt at dressing himself!


Gabbers sporting a tattoo modeling the jeans diapers


Gabe and I having fun at Paradise Bakery

Gabe and his patriotic gear.



Me and Elise

Cutest video ever. Omg I love this kid!!

Warsaw Concerto

If you're interested, here's the video of me playing.  I guess blogger won't upload videos that are more than a few minutes long. 

Click here to view

Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsel
Sorry the audio quality is really bad!

Piano Recital

Last Saturday I had a combined piano recital with my friend Heather. We held it at an assisted living place. It went well I think despite one student's meltdown and a few others who forgot their music or wouldn't play a song they were supposed to. I was a nervous wreck the few days before trying to get the cake made, refreshments in order, but mostly getting my own piece ready to play. It was a huge weight off my shoulders when it was all over!

Heather graciously conducted the recital :)

The crowd. We almost didn't have enough chairs!



Some of my students. The cameraman (Erik) left in the middle to get more batteries:

Heather playing her pretty peice

After the recital, Gabie going for a ride with a random (and very nice) old man

The cake. It's posted on my cake blog as well.

Okay, I'm a little wary of posting this, but here is my performance:

Sorry, it won't post right now. I'll try later.

Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsel.
My apologies for the poor audio quality.

Life update

Erik just started his rotations this past Monday. He is doing psychiatry. He basically sits in an office all day with the psych. Doctor and listens to the many problems of random people. I can't say that sounds thrilling, but hopefully he will learn a lot from it. The nice thing about rotations is when he comes home he gets to be home and doesn't have to worry about studying. Such a relief for me; I feel like I can get so much more done because Erik is there to watch Gabe.

Gabie who is now 15 months old, is getting to be a very active child but other than that he is a perfect angel. He is learning so much everyday. He just learned where his belly button is. He likes to pull up his shirt and poke it. I am thinking about shaving his head for the summer, but Erik says no.

I am busy with Gabe, making jewelry, cleaning, working on various other projects, and decorating cakes. I am not very busy with lessons however, because half of my students are taking July off and starting again in August. I am also reading a lot of books-I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia, which I can't believe I've never read before!

The house seems to be falling apart. The garage door opener broke about two weeks ago, shortly following that the air conditioner gave out. We ended up having to replace the ENTIRE air conditioning system because there were so many problems with it: leaks all over the place (one pipe was leaking carbon monoxide into the attic) the circuit board was broke, you name it, it needed repairs. We got a new one installed about a week ago. Yay for a new air conditioner that works wonderfully, boo for paying $5500. Yikes. Now the water heater needs to be replaced. The bottom has rusted out and it's got a small leak that is creating black bold. Oh yeah, we have no hot water. We're taking cold showers-or rather cool/luke-warmish showers-the water never gets cold here in AZ. I have to heat water on the stove for Gabie's baths. Fun stuff. NOT. The answering machine died last night as well (at least those don't cost a few grand to replace). Okay dishwasher, it's your turn!

CA Trip Part II-The Beach

The last day of our CA trip we went to Newport beach. The water was freezing (of course there were people swimming it it--crazies!) The sand was nice and warm though and the air was cool. Gabe loved the beach; he loved playing in the sand and putting his feet in the water.
We met up with one of my good friends at the beach and then we all went out to a BBQ restaurant. Then my friend took me to a nail place and treated me to my first EVER (sad I know) pedicure! Later we went to Downtown Disney and got some yummy stuffed churros. The next day we (my in-laws and Erik, me and Gabe) went to our favorite fish restaurant (the Crab cooker) and then we left for the drive home. Gabe was fabulous on the drive despite being soaking wet from pouring water all over himself. I'm glad he is such a good travel buddy.

Setting up on the beach

Gabie and his new beach toys. Grandma is always spoiling him with toys and clothes!

Gabe liked having his feet dipped in the water by daddy

Us and my friend and her boyfriend

So sweet!

Isn't he so adorable?!

The windmills on the drive to Aneheim. I think they're neat.

Gabe on the drive home. What a good boy!