MUSEUM OF FLIGHT

Last Monday we had free tickets to the Museum of Flight so we thought we'd check it out. I wasn't sure if Aubrey would be interested in it, but she LOVED it! It reminded me of going to air shows as a kid.

 She sat in every plane that she could!

 They had a little kids area with little planes, hot air balloon etc. 

 There was also lots of space stuff.

Outside there were a few planes large planes you could go through, one was an Air Force One, that was pretty cool! I really wanted to go in this one (Above) but it was closed. It was so huge, I've never been in one so big.

SUNNY BIRTHDAY

 

Aubrey's birthday card to me - I'm pretty impressed with that cake and all those candles!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday. It actually turned out to be a great day, maybe because my expectations weren't very high! I woke up kind of stuffed up and fighting off a cold starting, I didn't feel like doing too much but it was a nice sunny day - finally! Jared took the car to work so Aubrey and I walked into the village for some lunch and shopping.

We went out for some greek food with a gyro and pitta bread.

 Then we walked to the park where we ran into some friends - who afterward bought us some ice cream cones!

Jared had taken the car to work so he could pick up these cupcakes for me (in lieu of a cake) on his way home. The flavors were: pancakes and bacon, cinnamon bun, strawberry, pomegranate, vanilla and chocolate.

Then we went out for dinner at Tulio's - it's an Italian restaurant really close to Jared's hotel, we had told some friends who visited to eat there and in return they got us a gift certificate.

The friend who we ran into the park was also the one who babysat for us last night so we could go out for dinner (she also brought me cookies the night before - isn't that super nice? Thanks Anna!!

The food was sooooo good. I had some sweet potato gnocci for an appetizer which was amazing and this halibut. It was the most interesting combination with pesto on top, sitting on a bed of foccacia croutons, tomato, radish, leeks and greens but it was so fresh and light and tasty.

 On our way home, it was so nice out and I thought how nice it would be to go for a bike ride while we had a sitter (since I don't have a bike seat for Aubrey yet). I hadn't really ridden my new bike yet and now was a chance. So we went home, got on our bikes and went down the bike path towards downtown and the water. It was a little scary at first (learning to ride a bike again), but it was fun!

Yes, I wore a helmet mom - just took it off for the photos :)

VISITORS

Yesterday my sis-in-law, Shelli had a weekend getaway to Seattle with a couple friends who were running the marathon here. I was able to tag along for some shopping with them yesterday and Aubrey came too. I couldn't believe how well Aubrey did. My intention was to call it quits as soon as she got grumpy but she never really did! Maybe it was because I wasn't shopping myself, so I could pay more attention to her! After shopping we waited for Jared to finish up work so we could grab some dinner and I was so impressed with how she just sat in Starbucks with me and patiently waited!

 I love walking through the market to see all the beautiful peonies - they are so pretty. I just discovered that they have a flower stand at the fruit stand I shop at, I might have to pick some of these up next time I go there. It's hard to buy flowers downtown when you are walking around with a child and a stroller and/or bags to bring them home, but the fruit stand might be an easier choice!

 She insists on having her photo taken with small girl mannequins everywhere!

Waiting in Starbucks for dad (almost an hour!) on a rainy dull day.

We found her her own umbrella today!

Also, tonight we are having Brent (brother), Tracey and Lauren come for a visit as they are out this way shopping!

NEW BIKE

I'm getting an early birthday present (hopefully Monday)! I ordered this bike last week and I can't wait for it! I found it online for more than half off the original price and I'm excited to get a child seat and go for some rides around the trails here. There's a trail that goes from our house, right downtown that we walked the other day. It will be MUCH quicker on a bike!

I have a couple friends who have bikes as well, so it will be fun to join them on some adventures, as well as being able to bike with Jared, which I'm sure he's pretty thrilled with!

I've been pretty spoiled this birthday as my mom just sent me a birthday present (waiting to open it on Wednesday) even though she already bought me art supplies for my birthday, and I went shopping today and bought some clothes (even got a babysitter)!

MAKING MORE FOOD

Tonight Jared was working, so I thought I'd make a few more miniature food items while I watched TV.

 salmon steaks + lemons

 cinnamon roll

 fish, lemons, herbs + the cutting board

turkey - it looks lonely though

BEFORE + AFTERS

I forgot to put in the before photos. I'll stop posting photos before I'm actually done the room so I don't keep posting a million photos!

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After:

Bathroom Before:

Today's additions to the bathroom: towels and decor to shelf, robe and bath tub caddy with book.

One section finished. Next section is the dining room and above it, the library/art studio.

BATHROOM PROGRESS (that sounds weird)

Today I worked on the bathroom and got it mostly completed. I just need to add a few decorating things. Sorry for the grainy photos, sometimes I just don't feel like lugging out my big camera which doesn't fit in small spaces like these rooms. The iphone was just so much easier!

 This room is so huge, I'm not sure how to fill it. I added the shelf for towels etc. and hopefully I'll add a towel rack, a bath mat and some artwork.

 I made the toilet paper holder and the thing in the corner will be to store toilet paper rolls on.

 I made it gluing together 2 buttons, a tooth pick and a bead.

 Then I spray painted it.

 Here's a couple of photos of the food actually in the kitchen.

Here's the plate cupboard I made from mat board and hung above the sink.

MINI FOOD

Tonight while Aubrey painted and colored at the table with me, I made some polymer clay food to finish off the dollhouse kitchen. I have watched a few youtube videos on how to make a few things so I gave it a try. I don't have extra money to put into this project so I've been trying to search for any and all online tutorials on how to make anything I possibly can. Surprisingly, there are quite a few!

The next room I will work on is the bathroom. It's a huge room and I don't know how I'm going to fill it, so I'll be doing some more online searching for ideas!

 

 The potatoes were fun and easy. I made the shapes then poked a pin in them and used a utility knife to peel a few scraps of skin off.  You can use chalk to color them but rubbing some chalk on a piece of paper then use a dry paint brush to pick up the chalk dust and brush it on, but the chalk I used was regular chalkboard chalk and once baked was not dark enough so I took some acrylic paint and added more color after they baked.

 Breads: I had a piece of shiny silver scrapbook paper that I made a bread tin out of. I used a pin and sandpaper to create a textured edge on the cut open sides of the baguette.

 I didn't have different color polymer clay, so I just painted it after. I also made the cake stand.

The dough was obviously easy to make. I made the cookie cutter out of the same silver/metallic paper as the bread tin.  I also made a few eggs to add to the baking scene. I'd like to make a flour sack to put under the island, on the shelf and I'll attempt to print a graphic on fabric using freezer paper - we will see how that turns out!