ABCs

While I so wish that I could have been back in good old Glen Ellyn with my mom a couple weeks ago to celebrate her 60th, we were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate early with her when my parents visited over Easter.

Thanks to Sommer, who made a book for my birthday last year using this concept, I copied her idea and, along with the help of my brother, we created the 'ABC's of my mom and put them on the clipboards as a fun greeting for her when she arrived.

Since Sean's birthday was in early May, our clipboards are now sporting his 'ABCs' :)

Clipboard Stairwell

So, the clipboard stairwell...we ended up deciding to go for it, and we couldn't be happier about that decision.  A cheap and fun way to fill up a big space.  I ended up ordering the clipboards from a different source as my first source charged for shipping on EACH clipboard...forget that.

Putting these up was pretty funny.  It was my not-so-brilliant idea to have Sean and I do this together...I would stand back with the laser level to ensure that the angle of the clipboards would follow the angle of the banister, and Sean could take a pencil and follow the laser line.  Then, I could just nail along that line.  Horrible idea.  I consider myself to have a decently steady hand, and even with what you think is a steady hand, you still are moving, even if a little bit.  Sean was beyond frustrated with my ridiculous method, but I was as stubborn as usual, so I made him attempt the line.  It pretty much looked like one of those monitors in the hospital when you have a contraction.  Wasn't going to work.  Sean again explained his method of measuring up from the stair and then over, the same distance, every time...I was still skeptical.

I finally caved and tried his method.  It was a little time consuming, but he was right.  I definitely had to eat my words.

Before...

After...

I still need to find some better treasures for many of the clipboards, but I just tried to get something up before the Baptism...

I adore this photo of my mom hugging her grandmother on my parent's wedding day...

I purchased this old book years ago on eBay, it was written for West Point girlfriends with tips for when you visit...too funny.