DIY Lampshade

For Christmas Rosa Lee got me an awesome lamp base from D.I. for $3. It's a tabletop lamp with a swivel arm so that I can have enough light to do some of my drafting assignments at home. It is an awesome lamp in excellent condition. To buy a brand new lamp just like it would cost around $90... so we got a steal.

The only defect was that the finial had broken off and it's not a lamp that you can simply replace the harp and be done with it. With the help of Rosa Lee's brother, Daniel, we welded a new finial on top. Then we began the hunt for a shade...

We searched everywhere. Walmart, RC Willey, D.I. several times, Kmart, Bed Bath and Beyond... but no luck. Nothing in the size we needed had the right fitting. So... we made our own.

Here's how.

We bought two hoops from the craft store to create the form.
Then, we attached three wires to a washer in the center of one hoop. The wire is 19 gauge. I would recommend a more rigid wire, though. Also, a soldering gun would have been helpful.




Next, we cut an 8" strip of posterboard.







We cut a strip of fabric 9" wide.







We laid the posterboard on the fabric then hot-glued the edges of the fabric over the posterboard.






We rolled the re-enforced fabric around the rings to get the shape then hot-glued the end piece.






We hot-glued the rings securely inside.











And there you have it. An awesome, one of a kind lamp. And all for only $13.63!










So sexy...

Want to buy some boonedoggle?

When you live only 45 minutes away from the place where Napoleon Dynamite was filmed, you have to make a road trip. So we did! Last Saturday, we loaded Liam in the car and headed up to Preston. We made a quick stop at the Pepperidge Farm discount store (Tim Tam's $1.05 a package) and continued on to our destination.

Not that the town is big, but we decided to stop at the local DI and ask for directions to the high school. Plus, we had to buy something from the place where Napoleon shopped! No, we did not buy an dance video!!






Proof we made it!










Oh yeah, the best part was that there was a junior basketball game going so the door was open.











I couldn't miss my opportunity for a gross side ponytail picture.






The only additions that could have made this trip better would be some tater tots and some chapstick... my lips hurt real bad! Gosh!

Christmas Break

Here are a few quick looks at Liam's first Christmas.








Liam wearing one of Ryan's outfits from when he was a baby.

















Cousin Kaylee with Liam at Grandma Wilkey's Christmas party. After the nativity was finished, she just sat there staring at him.
















Santa on Santa












Jolly, young St. Nick













Christmas morning. "Why are we up this early?"












Liam loves his presents












Liam stayed up to watch the ball drop. His New Years resolution is to gain even more weight.












Promise Rock in Cannonville

















Hiking near Bryce Canyon with a view of Powell Point













Sleeping in Uncle Nate's arms















Uncle Daniel teaching Liam piano

Rolls

I guess blogging is not my strong point. Here we are 2 months later and this is the first time I've even attempted a new post. This one is worth reading. I promise.

Liam is now 4 months old and weighs 19 lbs. 8 oz.. Normal right? I guess it is a little above the curve... ok, a lot! But does he look big? I guess so. As I was watching the little girl from upstairs she pointed to Liam's arm and said, "what happened?" She was referring to the extra roll in Liam's arm in between his wrist and elbow. I explained, "that is because he drinks a lot of milk." She then said that her little brother drinks a lot of milk but doesn't have that. I had no further explanation.