Great job Jus!

Today marks the last day of the semester for Justin, and I have to give him props. Most of you probably know that he's taken some classes over the last year, prereqs for a future pursuit... and today he took his final final. Since this is our blog and I can write whatever I want, it seemed like this would be a good opportunity to publicly declare how proud I am of him!

In the fall Justin took two classes, both with labs... and we quickly realized what an adjustment it is to get back into "student mode" after five years off. (Side note, how has it possibly been five years already?! Don't get me started on that!) Anyway, he worked his tail off and did great in both classes. This semester he took THREE, and again, two were with labs--eight class periods a week, in addition to work, City Mission, me, life, etc (I know I'm super low-maintenance, but I did still require some attention once in awhile... haha). The back-and-forth was a big commitment, but the time spent studying, laboring over homework, and meeting for group projects was the real killer. But he did it, and nailed it!

I'm encouraged knowing there will never be another semester like this, at least with as great a time commitment. The work will get more difficult, but time-wise, we've gotten over the biggest hurdle, which is a great feeling. Today Justin's head is filled with knowledge neither of us could have imagined nine months ago. He now knows crazy things about biology and anatomy that have made me realize I'm not quite as smart as I used to believe! :)

So anyway... (in case he ever happens to read this--he keeps saying maybe he'll write something sometime, but I'm not holding my breath)... you're the best, bud, and I'm so proud!  

Weekend project and popcorn coma

As I think I've said, this will be our third spring/summer in this house, and despite the nice deck and big backyard, we'd yet to get any patio furniture.  This is mostly because we couldn't find anything we really loved, within reason... and also we refinished the deck last summer and thought we should wait until after that was done to put furniture out there.  Anyway, my parents offered us an old set of theirs, which had been green and pink flowered 10 years ago and is now super faded green and pink flowered. :)  Not exactly what we were looking for... especially since our house is on a corner, so a lot of people go by the backyard each and every day.  However, after much looking around both in stores and online, we found chairs and an umbrella we liked, and finally decided to take the green metal table from my parents and do a little painting project.  Exhibit A:

A bit of sanding, three cans of spray paint, and two hours later, ta-da:

And now, the new and improved deck:

Finally!  We love it... it turned out so well.  Although, note to self: spray painting can be hard work, specifically on the digits holding down that little trigger!  My fingers are still a little numb.  But the paint matches perfectly... thank you Lowes!

A little side story... for St. Patrick's Day this year, one of our print vendors (Shamrock Solutions, hence why the occasion is celebrated with gifts) sent us a tin of popcorn.  Now, my job does not come with a lot of perks, but every once in awhile something like this will show up and bring a little joy to the day.  Anyway, upon receipt of this tin, we expected it to be filled with those predictable three compartments of cardboard-y tasting plain/cheese/caramel popcorn, but we opened it to find something even worse: all plain.  Until we took the first handful.  It tasted like perfect movie popcorn!  And even better... seven weeks later it STILL tastes like perfect movie popcorn!

I'm not normally a snacker during the day, especially in the morning, but let me tell you that every day since it arrived, at exactly 11am, I've stopped for a little popcorn break.  Elliot's had a bit here and there, and so have Kyle and a few sporadic visitors.  But by and large, I've eaten this entire tin by myself.  I even wore all the paper off the twist tie, down to just a little metal string.  It gives me a real sense of accomplishment--or maybe that's just guilt.  Anyway, here is a picture taken last Friday:

Woo!  Nailed it!

Logan is here!

Finally!  We're so excited that sweet Logan is here safe and sound.  Erin was a rock star and went through her entire labor at home, in the middle of the night, with no medication, after being sent home from the hospital at midnight.  By the time she and John went back in at 5am, she was (unknowingly) fully dialated and ready to deliver!  Logan was born at 6:14am, before ANY other family could even get to the hospital.  When I arrived at 8am, he and Erin were both all cleaned up and relaxing in the room.  So quick!

He is precious as can be, teeny at 6lbs 2oz and 19.5 inches long.  While Erin was pregnant he was pretty calm... never much moving around... and he kept that up today.  He just slept and slept, no wiggling or fussing or crying or anything.  The only time we heard him make a peep was when a nurse took his blood, and even though it was just for a minute--it was the sweetest cry ever.

Here is a rare instance of open eyes... this was right after the blood taking (at only four hours old!).  Oh, and there is a FULL head of dark hair under that little cap!

Doesn't Erin look great?!

Great-grandpa holding Logan for the first time...

Justin bonding...

And me with my new little bud!

It was quite an exciting day for all of us!  Crazy how you wait and wait and wait, and then the day just comes and here he is with us, forever.  It really is such a miracle.

In other news... there actually isn't much, because we've been purposely keeping things low-key in anticipation of this arrival.  But in case you're wondering about our opinions on certain things, we're relieved that the Tigers finally won a game, thrilled that our favorite Office buddies were back to entertain us tonight, and not happy at all that Michael Johns was just sent home on American Idol!

Opening Day

...in more ways than one.  First, yesterday was actually Opening Day, of course... a day Justin recently told me he gets more excited about than Christmas.  He is so funny when he talks about the Tigers.  I think the loves in his life go in this order... God, me, baseball, everything else. But during baseball season, that list might change order a little bit... although I think God always remains at the top.  You can guess how the others are rearranged. :)  Anyway, he had a lot of fun, and even though the season is now off to 0-2, Team Remsing is still preparing for a World Series title come fall.

This is a picture from last year, because this year I forgot to take one before he left.  Taking "opening day pictures" makes me feel nostalgic about the first day of school, when every year my mom took pictures of us in our new dresses my grandma would make. Seriously, that really happened.

Bringing up my grandma and the dress-making is a good transition into the second meaning of opening day... Opening Day of Spring in the Remsing house.  My grandma was a fabulous seamstress and taught me how to sew by making babydoll outfits, handkerchiefs, and clothing over the years.  These days I'm more interested in making things for my house, specifically curtains and pillows, and I've been sewing like crazy for the past week.  The quest for the light, airy feel of spring is now accomplished:

I didn't make the curtains (but on that note, only $9.99 at Ikea for the pair... can't beat that!), but the pillow covers were a feat.  The work was worth it, because I love them, and shocker... Justin loves them too. :) He keeps saying, "wow, it really is different in here," followed by, "I can't believe you actually made these."  It's not exactly "I love them" outright, but the sentiment is definitely there.

I also got springy new rugs:

And put this fabric down, covered by plexiglass, in the tray.  I really love this idea because it can be changed all the time at almost no cost!

Anyway, that's about it for now.  Today is a beautiful day, and with the sunlight streaming through those sheer linen curtains, it feels a lot like spring.  It's a little deceptive, actually... I don't think 45 degrees is quite warm enough to take a book out to the hammock, but now my house is tricking me into thinking it's time. :)