how to declare your love with flags

daddy's birthday was celebrated with a patio makeover. pretty much because the thought of me eating out in that trash pit of a concrete slab was un-doable. the man likes to bbq.. and this lady loves her man and doesn't like eating in trash pits.

so the night before he was due to arrive home from camp i start thinking flags. lots of flags.
i am sure there are way easier/better tutorials on the intraweb.
i didn't check.
because it gives me a secret thrill to figure it out on my own and then halfway through rue the day i didn't check to see if someone more talented and smarter than i shared all their craftastic hints. 

i started with that big pile of fabric i already had.
then the first family sunday school worksheet made the template... i didn't measure with a ruler because i have mad geometry skills. <----lie. i was just too lazy.

trace.cut.repeat.trace.cut.repeat.trace.cut.repeat.trace.cut.repeat.trace.cut.repeat.trace.cut.repeat.trace.cut.repeat.

i sewed the fabric back to back and then sewed in some twine ties so they would be removable individually. that way i could change it up as the wild whims strike.

i wish i would have sewed the twine in as one single piece on each side of the flag.. just bent in the part you sew over instead of cut into two. i sewed them in as two strands and they kept slipping out. probably one of those craftastic tips i couldn't be bothered to look for.

the kids loved surprising daddy and showing off our hard work. don't you feel like a rock star diva when your kids proclaim in amazement.. "mom MADE all those flags!!! can you believe it??" it's like i won the nobel prize on my birthday.

the budget for this round of the makeover was $30 and the lights were $27.99...

so this patio obviously still needs help... any suggestions?? i would love some sort of vertical garden on that back wall..maybe paint a rug on the concrete..i still  need to make seat cushions that repel cat hair, and possibly a tablecloth that isn't an old sheet.. but let's not get carried away. 

we made this recipe for salmon. no words. too yummy. with tinfoil parmesan potato packets on the grill and spinach salad. the marinade can be drizzled over... i can't talk about it anymore. i want it now.

see... yummy. (thanks ari. ;))

i found this recipe for a whole wheat chocolate cake... i didn't tell nate it was 'healthy' until he had passed judgement. it passed without question as way bad for you.. which means it will be made again. :) i even felt it was better the second day.. win win.

peanut butter frosting was delish on it. the whip cream numbers were sad and melty. but i had to proclaim some how just how old he is getting and i hadn't planned ahead.

happy birthday babe. you keep getting older and hotter and sweeter and smarter and better every year. you love me well love. thank you.