Oh man Sunday was fun. In that nontraditional I’m-sure-some-other-moms-might-not-get-it way. The whole weekend was sort of an extended Mother’s Day extravaganza since we made time for visits to the farmer’s market and a Bon Air parade/festival with Clara and John on Saturday (Burger’s afraid of firetrucks and loud noises, so he skipped the parade). Then on Sunday, I was awakened by the bean who was holding a handmade card (she scribbled all over it with crayons- so cute) along with an equally sweet card from John and Burger. I was also given a printout that was entitled “The Tale Of Sherry’s First Mother’s Day” which explained that John tried to hunt down the gold Calypso for Target dangly earrings that he knew I had been drooling over, but they were sold out in two stores that he drove to as well as online. So he snuck onto my Pinterest boards and saw that I was also obsessed with these lovelies (found here on Etsy)…
… so he ordered them for me instead. Yes there was excited arm flapping. I love them so much. They kind of remind me of lemons which take me back to our wedding day. And I love that John thought to check Pinterest to find something I was obsessing over. Smart man.
Alas, my new lovely lemon earrings didn’t arrive in time to be handed over in the flesh, so a picture of them was sweetly included in my little First Mother’s Day printout along with news that John was also getting me a Mother’s Day massage to continue the tradition that he started last year when I was hugely pregnant and desperate for some prenatal massage relief. Wahoooooo. He intentionally didn’t book the massage for Mother’s Day (he told me to pick a later date because he knew I wanted to spend the whole day with Clara). Sweet, huh? Thanks hubs. For the Mother’s day rubs and the beautiful baubles.
Anyway, after my little wake-up slash card & gift fest, Clara and John and I went to Einstein Bagels (one of my favorite breakfast spots) where I got an asparagus and mushroom flatbread sammy (for two bucks with a coupon- haha). It was so delicious I can’t even say. John and Clara shared a muffin and a coffee cake in case you’re wondering (suddenly this play by play got very specific). Then we headed home for Clara to catch a nap and John parked me on Karl The Sectional to watch some delicious reality TV (Pregnant in Heels) while he went outside and got back to work on the patio. The plan was for him to work for two hours while Clara napped and then come in and shower and play with us for the rest of Mother’s Day.
Here’s where Mother’s Day veers of into the nontraditional realm. By about two hours into Project Patio it was apparent that John needed waaaaaaay more time to make progress, so I decided the best possible way to spend the day would be to play with Clara while daddy kept working on the pavers (what mom doesn’t want a finished patio for Mother’s Day?). So Clara and I played with blocks and puzzles and crayons and had some lunch and brought daddy some granola bars and even practiced walking a little bit (don’t worry, it was all assisted so John didn’t miss any true first steps). We even got outside for some fresh air and had fun on the patio while John worked away in the background.
Burger was especially excited to have some fun out there too, and it was cute to see both of “the kids” enjoying our new space- even before it was completely finished.
And about eight hours of hard hubby handiwork later, I had my Mother’s Day patio! John had completely cut all the edge pavers – he just needed to add sand between the cracks, which he planned to do on Monday (final “after” pics should be up tomorrow morning for ya, btw). And we had just enough time to enjoy a nice family dinner (burgers from Five Guys – mmmm) and then it was time to put the bean to bed and enjoy some sofa chillaxing (John wrote Monday morning’s post while we watched a criminally long episode of The Apprentice – seriously three hours is about two hours too many). But it was the best Mother’s Day ever.
J'Ann says
You guys crack me up, go Clara you little clapper! hehe
Carolyn says
My computer at work is really slow so the video played all choppy – which only accentuated Sherry’s arm flap! Haha. With each staggered video frame her arms moved to a different position but John and Clara stayed put. Pretty funny. I’ll have to watch it when I get home : )
Love the earrings by the way! Looks like you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Julie McDonald says
Um, Clara took a NAP after drinking coffee? She’s one mellow baby. ;)
Jane @ The Borrowed Abode says
I just rewound that Clara clapping segment several times, thanks for the great giggle at work. :) I would have cracked up just like you did…
I guess I missed the radon posts before so I’d better get up to speed. No room for aliens in my house!!
Morgan S. says
How about I saw a preview for the news during a show and knew exactly what good ol’ NBC was referring to before they even said it because of this blog. Of course it turns out you guys were the ones featured, too funny! Awesome job!
Julie McDonald says
Oh man! I was so excited about my clever comment that I didn’t really read that it was coffee CAKE they shared. Frowny face.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yeah no coffee for Clara!
xo,
s
Aubrey says
1) I’m really jealous of those gorgeous earrings. 2) The video of Clara clapping is priceless. So cool you have that recorded now! :)
Rachel H. says
1. Happy Be-lated Mother’s Day!
2. Love the hair-rings.
3. The patio looks awesome.
4. I’m going to get a radon test for our rental home asap.
5. That outtake video of Clara clapping is ridiculously cute.
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahahaha, 500 YHL points for the use of hair-rings.
xo,
s
Lisa says
HILARIOUS for two reasons:
1. How did you know I am being sneaky at work!? You read my mind
2. “And I was like ‘oh my gosh’ we are going to die tonight!” made me laugh hard..because I totally would have a quote like that in the news haha
KathyG says
Happy Mother’s Day! Really it all comes down to, it’s not what you do but rather who you do it with.
Tijana says
HAHA!! Clara’s clapping is awesome. I love how you’re trying to stay focused on John but then he can’t take it anymore either and you both burst out laughing.
Amanda Wells says
So cute! I love it! Yay Clara!
http://www.amandadovewells.com/?page_id=45
Marie says
I just love the interviewer’s reaction to the clapping. It’s like this:
You guys: Sorry, she just clapped for the first time.
Interviewer: Oh my God THAT’S MONUMENTAL!! We’ll send the video!
YoungHouseLove says
He’s so nice! His name is Ryan Nobles and we love him. Just a great guy. Plus his daughter is named… CLARA! Love it.
xo,
s
Sarah says
Oh man.. I laughed so hard when Sherry yelled “Aliens!!!” in the background. Too funny :) You guys are hilarious (in a good way, of course!).
Thanks for the reminder for the importance of radon testing, btw. My Grandmother died of lung cancer (she was a non-smoker) and I really wonder whether it was decades of radon exposure that caused it. Who knows..
Courtney says
Aw, Sherry, you’re not crazy! We had a similar reaction (LOL @ “It’s like ALIENS!”) when we found out a house we were planning to buy (but walked away from, for other, non-alien-related reasons) had steeply elevated radon levels. It can be scary stuff, and more people need to know about it, so major thumbs up to you and John for educating your audience about its dangers!
Happy 1st Mother’s Day! Clara’s first-time clapping outtake is THE BEST! :-)
Ida says
ya’ll are adorable!
Rachel says
What a great write up on the news station… Internationally acclaimed blog… That is so cool!!! :-) happy late mothers day. Sounds like you had a great one!
Love the blog!
Amanda says
Internationally acclaimed indeed :) I’m from Brazil and I read everyday!! and also put my husband to read and talk about \o/
YoungHouseLove says
Wow, that makes me blush. And it makes me green with envy. Brazil must be gorgeous! Maybe we’ll visit you sometime Amanda!
xo,
s
karen says
omg…that video of clara clapping is so funny…sherry, your expression made me laugh out loud!! Your mother’s day looked perfect!!
Is it weird that I am excited for Clara’s birthday party?!?!
andrea p says
Hey guys!
Firstly, I love those earrings! Is that the same seller as your emerald necklace? Can you comment on the quality of the necklace? Has the gold turned a funny color, etc?
I’m also curious how much it cost you guys to install the radon blocker in your current house?
Thank you!! xxoo
YoungHouseLove says
I don’t think it’s the same vendor (there are lots of amazing jewelry makers on Etsy). As for my necklace, the gold still looks great and it looks amazing. As for the radon mitigation at this house, it was freee!!!! The previous owners paid for it because we tested for it during inspection. At our last house we didn’t know to do that and it was around 1,500 bucks I think. Expensive lesson to learn!
xo,
s
Short, Sweet Season says
That video is a whole lot of awesome. I like how the reporter says you’re regular people “when it comes to radon.” Hilarious!
Kristen says
Clara clapping is too darn cute!! And those earrings are beautiful Sherry!
I was curious – is Clara always barefoot? I noticed that her cute little tootsies are always out in pictures of her.
YoungHouseLove says
She always pulls off her socks. They don’t remain on for more than a second. Even if we put her in the carseat with them we see them fly into the air a minute later in the rear-view mirror.
xo,
s
Kristen says
How cute!
Ami says
lol so cute! You don’t sound crazy at all… you sound real ;).
I love the vid of Clara clapping as a new mama who is trying to teach her 9 month old to wave and clap I get how huge that is!! Bravo Clara :)
PS those earrings are AMAZING, good job John.
Joanne says
You guys are awesome and you make my day every day. I am suffering from a bad cold right now, feeling totally miserable, but those videos cheered me up and made me laugh. Not sure why they didn’t cut out the “aliens” part, but it was hilariously awesome that they left it in. :) Love your blog. :) :)
Adriane (aka The Greenhorn) says
Hahahahahaha! I love it. I also love that they spliced in some of your how-to videos with no context–just a hammer hitting wood, for example, lol. It was like a game show clue for frequent readers: BING “Oooo, that was the console distressing technique!”
I was on the news a week or so ago and was so embarrassed. The backstory of my small-screen debut is on my blog but in summary, I giggled too much and messed up the word comfortable just enough to manage “comft-turd-ble.” Yep, sputtered out “turd” on TV, awesome.
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that totally sounds like something I would do! High five!
xo,
s
Morgan says
You two are so stinkin’ cute! Seriously. Hilarious. And alien invasion, Sherry? Bwahahaha. I love it. Keep on keepin’ on, Petersiks! But only as long as you love it. : )
Meredith says
Can I just say that I like that your post titles today were “I Think I’m Possessed” and “…Proof That I’m Crazy”. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I guess I’m all about self-realism. Haha.
xo,
s
Rocky B says
the clara clapping outtake is awesome :) Both your reactions are so cute.
Megan Brewer says
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new earrings! Also, the patio looks terrific! Here’s my mother’s day present:
http://cottagebluedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-mothers-day-gift.html
I am also getting a day to myself next Saturday….ahhh heaven! How shall I spend it?
Take care and happy decorating-
Megan
YoungHouseLove says
So charming!
xo,
s
liz @ btb says
I love how y’all were looking at Clara clap like “omg, she’s clapping, don’t look!!” You can totally tell you wanted to say something right as she started. Now you have video of one of the rarely-seen ‘firsts’ for you little one!
Emily says
AAAAALLIENS! Lol, I love it.
I had some much-needed me time on Mother’s day, and I hope the spa time will become a tradition in our house! :)
Love the clapping outtake, that was too cute!
Still waiting for my Pinterest invite :(
YoungHouseLove says
Pop over to Facebook and ask someone to email you an invite! Folks seem to exchange them quicker that way. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!
xo,
s
Elisabeth@SimpleGreenishLiving says
You’re much too hard on yourself! My best friend Sarah sent me a video from her wedding (we both got married the same summer in 2004, hers in Pennsylvania, mine in Oregon)…during the video of her and her husband greeting their guests after the ceremony in their receiving line, ALL you could hear was my loud, obnoxious voice in the background saying over, and over, and OVER again, “Hi, I’m Elisabeth, I’m Sarah’s friend from Oregon.” Talk about “neurotic and loud and crazy,” I ruined my BFF’s wedding video for pete’s sake! You got nothin’ on me girl ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man that totally sounds like me. I so relate!
xo,
s
Leslie says
Wowza. No idea how my grammar got so messed up in that second sentence! Let me try that post again!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67794941/hand-painted-pendant-watercolor-pendant?ref=v1_other_2
Your absolutely darling earrings made me play around on Esty. Then I spotted this necklace, which fits your sweet bee connection. I thought you may like it! :)
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!!
xo,
s
cindy says
OMG!!!!!!! I love the clapping and how you have the video
tracy says
very cute earrings!!
Megan @ reFind says
Totally random – but thought John might enjoy – there is a website for Kreg owners… like an online community where you can share and discuss ideas. http://kregjig.ning.com/
Enjoy!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, I’m about to lose my hubby to that message board!
xo,
s
Megan @ reFind says
OKay – now based on your post today- it might be helpful… they have free plans for a deck box (Bench w/ storage), adirondack chairs, and a garden bench. I think that John could outfit the entire patio with the Kreg!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, I don’t know if he’ll be excited at that thought or skeeeeeered. Haha.
xo,
s
Reenie says
You guys are just too cute. Love the yellow earrings. Love when the camera zooms in on the Bean. So cute of her trying to feed Burger the leaves =) Patio looks great.
Sarah says
Too funny! You’ve got me creepily laughing to myself in my cube right now. You should do a spoof on the whole “Hide yo wife hide yo kids” thing and autotune this into a song!
Melissa says
Any clue why you were talking about aliens?!?!? I’m dying to know!! :)
YoungHouseLove says
No idea! I think I was equating the odorless killer gas to an alien invasion. So so insane.
xo,
s
Megan@Dirty Dishes Daily says
Haha that is hilarious. People miss judge me at first because I come off a little shy but literally if I meet you a second time you will soon realize that is not the case at all.
Sarah says
Seriously, you guys make me so happy. Thanks for the consistent updates and being so candid and hilarious. I hope you continue to have great success with the blog and never leave me for a reality show…I so look forward to these breaks in my work day!
:)
YoungHouseLove says
Reality show? Nevvvvah! We all know I’m a freak when the camera comes out.
xo,
s
Pink Sun Drops says
Oh my goodness that video of her clapping is precious!
[email protected] says
those earrings are amazing and I would LOVE them too! BUT… that video of Clara clapping and your guys reaction was too awesome! What a great memory to have caught on camera!
elaine says
you guys are just too awesome. xo. :)
Robin @ our semi organic life says
wow don’t know what I’d do if I found out my rental apartment had radon – move?!
YoungHouseLove says
I wonder if they would consider mitigating (because I think if they know they have it they have to disclose it to potential renters and they might not want to deal with that).
xo,
s
Zoë says
Yay for clapping!! Even with three kids, I forgot that was a milestone to look forward to. Isn’t it amazing that babies can smack two of the smallest objects together no problem – ie two pacifiers in the case of my 8 month old – but have a hard time mastering the art of handclapping? My little one’s fists remain tightly closed and she just stares at me as if I’m a loon. That’s a great video that Clara will get a kick out of when she’s older.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! She’s been tapping two drumsticks together since she started music class five months ago but clapping is such a novel concept! She’s getting better by the day though. The other night I had Oprah on and everyone clapped to welcome Shania Twain and Clara stopped playing and looked up and starting clapping too. Adorable.
xo,
s
Emmalina Lolly says
Very fun to watch… you three brighten up a news report that would have otherwise been like “I know I should listen and learn but I’m bored to tears and don’t want to listen” I also love your Clara clip but it’s not helping the fact that my husband and I really want to have kids right now but I’m starting grad school! So I just live vicariously through others with adorable kiddos.
monica says
aliens? we’re all gonna die tonight? crazy clapping? that was flippin awesome! And i would totally do the same thing! we all have an insane person lurking inside of us, this person usually doesn’t make it onto the television. thanks for making the rest of us feel normal!!
Briel K. says
The reaction you guys had when Clara clapped for the first time was too cute! I could tell you both wanted to acknowledge it but weren’t sure if you should interupt the interview. haha I’m glad they caught it on tape! :)
Melody says
Those earrings are so gorgeous. I think it’s so funny that you got them, because I gave the same ones (in a different color) to my mother-in-law on Sunday. I love that shop!