Converting Bumgenius to snaps

Yes, I'm writing another post about cloth diapers. Yes, I'm still in love with them. :)

So, originally I bought 6 Bumgenius one size diapers (from Kelly's Closet). I think when I was choosing my first diapers I was a little unsure about snaps. I thought the closer to disposables, the better they would work. So I chose velcro. Because I only had 6 diapers I washed them every day and it was winter so I dried them in the dryer. After a few months the velcro was looking worn and it wasn't long before the velcro was just falling apart. As I added more diapers to my stash I set these aside to repair some day. Well that day had finally come for these lucky diapers!

I found instructions here on how to convert Bumgenius to snaps. I got snap pliers and 200 snaps from KAMsnaps.com for about $30. If you want them to look really nice, after you remove all the velcro you can use a sweater shaver to get rid of all the pilling and snags that the velcro caused. I know I'm nuts.

The tutorial shows how to make a little template to mark where to put the snaps. I didn't do that, I just laid my ruler over the diaper like in the picture above (after the velcro has been removed). I could center it really nicely this way and marked about 1 inch down every inch across.

Putting the snaps on the tabs is pretty easy with the pliers, but the snaps on the front are much harder. You can get to the snaps by starting at the pocket opening in the back and feeding all of the liner fabric into the pliers. This is definitely pushing the limit on how much fabric can fit into the pliers and it gets hard to maneuver the pliers and the snap pieces, but it is doable.

Update: You don't really have to feed all that fabric into the pliers, just get the snap pieces into place and clamp the pliers around all of it! Super easy, it just took me a few diapers to realize it!!

The end result is a great diaper that Leo can once again wear. I just hope that's a washable crayon ;)

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Octodogs

We had octodogs for lunch today! I first learned about these on Lunch in a Box (a very fun site) and Jesse always enjoys it when I make them. Both boys have been grumpy today so I thought this would make them smile. Jesse temporarily cheered up, Leo threw his on the floor.

You cut the hot dogs in half, then slice little legs and boil them.

These guys got little seaweed faces :)

Jesse's ocotdogs enjoyed some fun little theater before being eaten.

Leo usually loves hot dogs and has eaten these in the past, but I think he must have forgotten. Anyway, for once, Jesse ate more than Leo.

Have a great day!

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To Jesse

Jesse Owen

September 23, 2005

8 lb, 6 oz

Happy 4th Birthday

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Happy Birthday Jesse!

Jesse's 4th birthday is on Wednesday! We had a fun family celebration on Saturday. In the morning I fixed the boys pancakes with syrup (which they've both had many times) and they both got a little red break out on their cheeks?! Leo gets little rashes from many things that I haven't identified yet, but Jesse never does. They didn't seem bothered, so on to opening presents!

Jesse loves Geotrax!

My friend Veronica made this awesome cake and the little sidekick cake from the extras!

It was as delicious as it was cool!!

Jesse said he doesn't like wishes so he got straight to blowing out the candles.

I think he was just very eager to "clean" off the cars so he could play with them.

Jesse enjoyed the cake and ice cream, but he is fairly neat and reserved. You know, as far as kids and cake go. :)

Leo, on the other hand, never hesitates to dig in!

I know what this little cutie wants for his birthday next month!

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More Carpet Gone :)

Well, I'm posting these out of order. Before we tackled the boys' room, we did ours. I don't have a before picture. Just imagine the same ugly carpet and red walls. And a giant mess! Again, I love wood floors!! We moved their book case into our room. I thought it would have better chances of getting straightened up regularly.

The bed on the floor is really nice for having the kids in our room. This makes a nice area for reading, already the kids have been more interested! I like that I don't have to be so worried about Leo's safety in here. The headboard and foot board were too large for this space and made it hard to arrange nicely with the windows. They also had sharp edges for little heads. Before we put the house up for sale, we will probably raise the bed up on a frame.

Apparently Jesse has the tongue rolling gene :)

And we also have new blinds for the windows that will get put up someday!

We have quite a large art collection in our basement, so it's fun when we re-decorate to select new art for the walls. I love that these pictures work in this room because they are watercolor paintings by my grandpa, Jene Burns. He passed away a couple years ago, and it makes me happy to look at these pictures :)

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Good Bye Carpet!

I guess I haven't been much in the mood for blogging lately. I have been in the mood for re-decorating! In the boys room we removed the old carpet. It's amazing what that can do! Our goal here is to get our house ready to sell. I am trying to eliminate a lot of clutter and spruce things up. Here is the before picture.

We did not paint this room, I'm afraid it will bother the boys to paint over the tree. I will paint the trim, Jesse went through a paint peeling phase that I never fixed :)

If it will help sell the house, I will happily paint over the mural right before we put it up for sale. What do you think? I know it is not a critique of my work, just a matter of selling a house. I will not be offended!!

I really like their room set up this way and love getting rid of the carpet!

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