DIY Wreath

This wreath is super easy and inexpensive to make. If I can do it, literally anyone can. My crafting skills are somewhere around the level of a third grader's (sorry to any third grader's I may have offended with that comment). When I told Brad I wanted to make a wreath he gave me a skeptical look then pushed the cart around as I piled the supplies into it. When I was finished his exact words were "wow, that looks a lot better than I thought it would." I asked him if his comment was in reference to my crap crafting skills and he just smiled. So anyway, if I can make this wreath, you can too. The best part is all of the supplies cost $7 and it only took about 30 minutes to make.

What you will need:
About 50-60 ornaments (I got all of mine at the dollar store...this is what cost $7)
1 wire hanger (pick the flimsiest wire hanger you have)
Hot glue gun
Wire cutters

I suppose if you don't already have a hot glue gun or wire cutters it would cost a bit more, but I found my hot glue gun at the dollar store years ago and it works great...so still an inexpensive project. Anyway, here we go...

Step 1: Pull the ends of the ornaments and hot glue them back on. From what I've heard this step is pretty important if you don't want the ornaments falling off your wreath.

Step 2: Cut the ends of the hanger (the part that is super twisted)

Step 3: Thread the ornaments onto the wire.

Step 5: Make it circular and wrap the wire ends together tightly. Hang and enjoy!

See, easy as can be!

City Museum

On Saturday night when Erika and Derek were here we got a babysitter (thanks again Tracy!!!) and headed out to dinner at Sage (can I say DELICIOUS) and to the City Museum. At the museum we climbed, twisted, scampered and slid our way through a delightful evening of pure craziness. I think Derek summed it up best with his comment of "I can't imagine being the structural engineer who had to sign off on the stability of this place." If you haven't been there and you are a fairly agile person I would highly recommend it. Below are a few pictures of our adventures:

Transportation Museum

On Saturday we went to the Transportation Museum. Which more aptly should be called the "Train Museum" or perhaps the "Trains and 3 cars, 1 plane and 1 boat Museum." Whatever you want to call it, we had a good time.

Mike on the tug boat

Derek showing off his mad skillz (yes with a "z") on the track changer.

This is a snowplow train engine that was last used in the 1980s around Green River, Wyoming. It was pretty crazy.

The Warlick family


The lovely Winklers

Ringing the bell

Apparently the excitement of all the trains was just too much for Mike to handle.

One of the sleighs they had on display.

Crazy, custom built rocket car.

What would you do for good BBQ?

For Thanksgiving Brad's sister, Erika, and her husband, Derek flew out to spend the holiday weekend with us. After all the dishes were done and the pumpkin pie was devoured we determined that a trip to Pappy's was in order. Pappy's just happens to be by far the best BBQ in St. Louis. The line goes through the restaurant, out the door and through the entire building. People routinely wait in line for an hour or more just for their delicious food. We were lucky and only had to wait for 55 minutes.

Erika and Derek

Mike eating lemons...again.

Brad eating Mike ;)

Monday Picture

Gobble Gobble

I'm pretty sure that Mike thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed his first Thanksgiving.

Before all the action - when he was still clean:

During dinner:

Round 2 - Dessert:

Hope yours was as good as ours!

Boys will be boys?

Does this fall into the category of boys will be boys?