Zarina, Brien, Self-Esteem, and a Project for my DAD

I've had commentary or a serenade almost all day. Really, there has been sound coming out of Zarina's mouth 90% of the day. The quietest time is when she watched her show, Sesame Street and Clifford the Big Red Dog. It's been fun, except for minor attacks on the dog. Jack would rather be outside, but we are experiencing and exceptionally windy day, and he was afraid something would get blown into him, so he came inside.

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Yesterday, Monday, we returned from Utah. On Friday we picked Brien up at the SLC airport returning from his training in Nebraska. He decided he wanted to spend Saturday, his birthday, in Utah. Hollie insisted on watching Zarina for a few hours while we enjoyed lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and did some fun shopping. For lunch we had the Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls (yummy) and the Santa Fe Salad. We were going to get a piece of cheesecake "to go" after our shopping, but we were still full. I think it was the first time we skipped cheesecake, I'm wishing we had gone back for a piece of Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake. Maybe we'll just go and get dessert when we are in Las Vegas in a few weeks. "Fun shopping" was checking out Carter's and Fashion Place Mall before picking up a bike trailer at Taylor's Bike Shop. They had a great deal on a Burley Honey Bee 2009, so we went a little over budget so Brien could have a bike trailer he had previously only dreamed about. (The link is just so you can see it, that's not what we paid). Brien was also able to pick out some clothes at Old Navy. He was happy with his birthday, even without cake.

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Sometimes I forget how much I can do. I start to lose confidence in my abilities. It's easier to just turn "mechanical" projects over to Brien. When we came home yesterday Brien had to hurry and leave for a physical therapy appointment (he injured himself while skiing for work). After I unloaded the car (that was packed to the brim) I looked at the disassembled bike trailer and thought, "I'll just leave that for Brien, it'll be easier for him than me." I then thought about the fact that I should feel confident enough to put things together. I used to enjoy assembling things so I would know how they work. Brien returned home before I finished the bike trailer, I had him get me the screwdriver I couldn't find, but he was nice enough to make lunch while I continued working. It took about and hour, but I assembled it on my own. I understand the axles and how to adjust the angles of the rear reflectors. Projects like this remind me that I am capable, and I can be independent. (Just now I'm reminded of how much I enjoyed assembling Z's toddler bed, all by myself, although a second pair of hands would have made it so much easier). My life is more than the never-ending routine of laundry, cooking, and cleaning. I choose to do those things at this time, but that's what it is, a choice. So many of the projects I work on right now don't seem to have an end, just these continuous responsibilities. It's nice to do something that has an end. It's nice to create something useful that's a little outside of my comfort zone. I now know why so many people are in love with Knock Off Wood.

Speaking of KOW, now that it's Spring (chilly today, with predicted snow for the next week, but my tulips are inching towards blooming) I've been trying to choose which project to do. Brien hates my current bedside table, and Ana (creater of KOW) recently posted a cute little bookshelf that I think would look great with my lamp and alarm clock on it. They also have a flat wall book holder that would be handy in Zarina's room (there's also a taller wall book rack) and I desperately want to make Zarina her own picnic table and add a hole in the middle for an umbrella (and turn the support beam sideways to hold the umbrella). (Whenever I mention the picnic table Brien just says, "That's great, but where will we store it?" Perhaps I need to endeavor to build us a storage shed first?) Anyways, if I link the plans on my blog it's easier to go back and find them.

If you haven't checked out this blog yet, you really should. Especially if you're my mom (or dad) and in desperate need of bookshelves, (my dad can build awesome stuff and has lots of tools) because there are so many options, and they have FREE plans that are fully customizable and it's really cool to look at the brag board posts and flickr group to see how people have added trim and finishes to make a gorgeous, custom-made piece.

PS- DAD
Dad, I think mom needs a Mother's Day bookshelf for the upstairs, against the small wall, on the way to the sewing room, across from the railing, under the wedding pictures; you know the spot? It would look really great with a bookshelf, and I could even pick out the books with the nicest spines and some great series to put on the special shelf.

Disclaimer:
My Mom did not tell me to request a custom bookcase for her Mother's Day gift, although if she got one I would let her know that it was my idea.