Nursery!!!!

Ever since we have arrived back in Grenada after a two week trip to the states (which by the way, was WAY too short), I have been busy getting the nursery ready for little, miss ?. I still have a few little touches I want to add here and there, but the bulk of the work has been done and now we are eagerly anticipating filling it with a sweet, little newborn girl.  We are certainly hoping that the Doc was correct in his determining that it is indeed a girl cuz we brought a boat load of girl clothes, etc. back from the states. If it is a boy, all I can say is, he will either have to wear dresses or opt for the diaper only look, which wouldn't be entirely bad for our HOT climate. Anyway, because we had very limited space in which to make a nursery we finally opted to put it in the back room with Ben's desk/office & because we had no room for a changing table, we decided to take the doors off of the closet and Ben added two shelves & viola........ I do believe it will all work out just dandy. && here are a few pics....

This is a view of the middle half of the closet.....beings the office is so small and my camera lens so large, I couldn't get the greatest pics....but this is the changing area as well as my IKEA basket storage area. The lamp is also from IKEA, as well as the basket that the blankie bear is sitting on. Awesome store!!!!!!!! The top half of the closet, as you can see has a clothes rod, on which I hung all the cutsie, little dress, & the bottom half is where we store some large, ugly totes & so I used some of my excess curtain fabric (also from IKEA) and made little curtains to cover the ugliness.

 ...and the long view....

This shelf is still a work in progress... The frame with the yellowed flower picture was a garage sale find. I painted it white, and although I kinda do like the picture, I don't think it goes well with the white frame & so once the little lady arrives I am hoping to put a picture of her in there. I am also hanging a 4x6 picture frame above that one as soon as I can get some pics to put in it. The corkboard I got at a yard sale and spray paintd the edges white and covered the cork with some fabric I had laying around....hoping to add more to that as inspiration strikes. The round frame is actually an old clock that gave up the ghost...so I just put some fabric in there as well. The candles are just stuck in old salsa jars with twine wrapped around them (well, the one still needs some twine on it, but that is in the plans). And that lovely doily banner was made by my sis-in-law, Lori for my baby shower & she kindly allowed me to bring it back to Grenada to aid in the decorating.

I picked up the nest at Michael's and the little bird was part of the cake topper for my baby shower cake. He was an aqua shade of blue, so I gave him a coat of white paint to neutralize him just a tad.

And aren't these shoes just darling?  My sis-in-law picked them up at Goodwill for me & I simply can't wait to put some cute little feet into those equally cute shoes.

And the rather bare-looking corkboard...sporting only my 20 week ultrasound picture.

This old rocker sits regally in the corner of the other side of the room. ;) She got a little makeover today with some new fabric to cover up the ugly old cushions that she previously sported. Once again....it was done with extra curtain fabric. Trust me those were some large curtains. They certainly do not look like perfection in any way and so I threw a blanket over the back and a pillow on the seat to cover it up a little. I still think it looks alot better than it did before. The pillow will probably get a makeover too with some of that sweet fabric Lori used for the lovely flag banner that now hangs at the windows.

 Here you see the other corner of the room...the changing table/closet is on the right side of this pic.  Here you can kind of see the flag banners & the pack n play, which will serve as baby's crib until baby outgrows it I guess. I also made a few tissue paper pom poms to hang in the corner. ;)

  Now I know this is a terrible picture because of the blow out light outside, but at least you can see the banner and the curtains. Now I really do not like the idea of the crib being right in front of the window but it seems like my only option with the limited space I have....so we shall see if it works.

 .......and a close up of that banner....love it!!!!

The darling little dresses all hung in the closet with care.....waiting for that big day when they can actually be worn. :)

and for those of you who care & those of you who don't...here is my 33 week preggo pic. Starting to feel a little like I am busting at the seams. But I really cannot complain at all...things have been going well, but I can tell that my enery level, which was holding up so well, up until this point is starting to lack a little. Sure feels like I have one very active baby in there. She was doing so well with being calm at nights but just in the past week, I do believe she started doing her gymnastics at night when I am trying to sleep. :) But I guess maybe this is preparing me for those sleepless nights that are coming very soon.  Until next time~ Jess

..Of Octopus, Kites, & Palet Shelves

Well, hello to you all from another rainy day in Grenada. I am still wondering where dry season is but don't mind the rain as long as I have something to keep me entertained in the house. Lately I have had so many projects that I should be working on & so I have been loving this rainy weather lately!!!

Well, my husband is becoming quite the master at whatever task I put him to. :) Whether that means making me all kinds of wonderful things out of old pallets, turning closets into changing tables, & his newest venture....spear fishing!!!!! Last week he came home with this beauty!!! Well, if you can call a slimy octopus beautiful (otherwise known as calamari)!!! So, know we have to learn how to fix this baby up to make it edible....anyone want to come and be a guinea pig?? Here she is in all her glory......

Anyway, on to other things.....with April comes breezes....with breezes comes kites....with kites comes the constant sound of "singing"... :) Friday was the last day of trimester for the schools here in Grenada, leading into a two week vacation & so Friday was kite day. The students and teachers all headed out to St. David's point. The students with their kites & the teachers with their scissors & an extra bit of patience. A large part of their job is untangling string out of briars & hoisting kites into the heavy breeze. Here are just a few pics of that day.........

Jody with two of her cutesy little kindergartners.

Brandon flying his kite

Jaheem and his spiderman kite. I do not think that spiderman ever did get very high

Mr. Moses getting ready to hoist Nigel's "American" kite

...And thar' she blows....

And Ben even got in on the fun. ;)

That is one way to keep Celina quiet :)

Nigel flying his kite

                                                                              

And now for the pallet shelf. Well, I've mentioned before my love for old pallets cuz they are free & they make some pretty great signs, shelves, etc. And so this is my latest pallet makeover....

I had seen something similar awhile back & I decided that I should prolly really have one like it. So I showed my hubby a picture and he got to work cutting & hammering. I then did two coats of white wash (white paint mixed with a good deal of water). I still wanted the wood to kinda come through so I didn't want the paint too heavy. I then added a bit of stain to bring out the darker areas and then hit it lightly with the sander. Traced the reference to one of my favorite verses on the front and just colored it in with pencil.....I was just too lazy to get the paintbrushes out.....and viola...done.  Then I just took a few items I had sitting around here and there and added them to my shelf....I do believe the driftwood has to go though.

a closeup for whatever it's worth

This was another rainy day project....we have been having a lot of them lately. Took an empty can of powedered juice mix that I had been saving for a day when inspiratin struck. Modpodged some paper on, followed by some sheet music and couple fabric flowers and you have yourself a vase or whatever you want it to be. I just stuck a plastic cup in to hold the water, since the sides are cardboard & added some Carribean goodness.

Well, that is all for today.... I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

...and we had visitors

We have thoroughly enjoyed all of our amazing visitors this winter!! From pretty much January until the middle of March we have had very few days without having visitors here. Here are a few pictures of Danny & Lori's visit and Rodney & Rochelle....

Ellie with her Uncle Ben

The part of the family that came along for the visit....twas so good to see them all again.

Aidan LOVED splashing in the cool water!!!

Took a few pics of sweet, little Ellie

All us Girls :)

We stopped to visit Ms. Velma (a lady who comes to our church)...the kiddos had fun playing with all her toys.

Ellie with two little friends she made at the park. She was hilarious....everyone that passed by our house was greeted by her. Not sure if there is a person out there that she wouldn't make friends with.

And the next set of visitors...we had Ben's parents and a work crew in there too but for some dumb reason I did not get any pictures of that. :(

posing in front of the "natural water slide".....posing was as close as we got this time ;)

Rochelle relaxing on a very hard comfy looking rock..

 And now it is time for a little Monkey Business
               we took Rodney and Rochelle to Bellmont Estates, a cocoa bean plantation/ small zoo.. 
                       I get such a kick out of these monkeys. They act so human sometimes it is almost scary!!!Vernessa, our guide, was kind enough to get one of the baby monkeys out to climb all over us. Note: when the monkey is climbing on you, do not attempt to hold it, monkey will bite without reserve. (I tried it)

up the skirt he goes

trying to take the monkey for a walk...monkey opted for a ride instead

"whew!! all that climbing plumb tuckered me out."

           And now for a few updated family photos.... :) No worries, I did not give birth to a monkey..(not yet anyways)

yes, that would be my ear & no you cannot add that to your collection of stolen watches, rings, necklaces, etc

All was going well...until monkey decided to take a dump. He was considerate enough to do it on the ground right between Rodney & Rochelle & kind enough to get a minimal amount on Rodneys pants in the wiping process. Thus the end of family photos...monkey went back in pen.

And so we visited the older monkeys...the ones that don't get out as much.

A sweet treat....

A tender kiss....

And now it is down to business....a job this big takes two (i don't know that they found any fleas, lice, or such like in Rodney's hair) :)

Mr. Screechy Pants

Screechy pants getting a neck massage

And then we headed to the old "Pearl's Airport" ....to test how fast the scooters go & enjoy a picnic lunch

Posing in front of Latant Point

 Hot & Sunburned? We've got the perfect cure....ever try unthawing a pack of frozen hamburger??? Ah...sweet relief!!!

Rodney tinkering...this is what he did with every spare moment

And one last picture of our last set of visitors for awhile!!!!