Sidelica

this moment

2011-11-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

The Costumes

2011-11-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Two Beauties...

And a Beast

this moment

2011-10-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

this moment

2011-10-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Colors

2011-10-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

WOW - a whole week of beautiful fall days with temps in the seventies and even EIGHTIES at times! Maari and I took advantage of it today. October with bare legs and arms, yes I love that.

A look at some of our colors at home...

And when it is time to come in we feel so fortunate to be able to enjoy those colors from the inside too.

this moment

2011-09-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

this moment

2011-09-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

this moment

2011-09-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Nice

2011-09-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

When I'm a nice wife I get flowers from the farmer's market (smile).

Or maybe it's because I started doing all his laundry.

this moment

2011-09-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

2011-08-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

At the Beach

2011-08-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

As September creeps up upon us, this is probably one of our last days at the beach. Well maybe not our last day at the beach, but perhaps our last day in the water. That water is already chillier and as dark seems to come earlier and earlier each day we feel fall coming on. With school starting next week we thought we better enjoy ourselves!

Sandcastles, fish chasing (Connor trying to catch one for his moat, Maari just not understanding why they kept darting away from her), swimming, splashing, and just plain soaking in the warmth. With a seven year age gap between my children, I have found that this is one outing that they both really love (oh me too!)

(By the way, even though there is a seven year age gap they still manage to have their little spats...see Connor's smirk and Maari's little attitude - that was him splashing her, her not liking that one bit, her screeching, him splashing her again...)

this moment

2011-08-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Summer Sewing

2011-08-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

I did manage to make a couple little things for my Maari this summer. Both were free downloads from Oliver + S.

#1...The Popover Sundress made with linen and some fabric taken from an old apron.

#2...The Ruffled Halter in pretty pink polka dots.

Would love to figure out a way to convert both to a mommy size!

this moment

2011-08-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

End of Year

2011-01-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

Just a few family photos to end the year. Happy 2011!

Introducing...

2010-10-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

It is absolutely ridiculous how long it has been since I have written here. I have thought about it periodically and each time it saddens me! Life just got in the way. We moved to a new home, so basically THAT is what got in the way.

We are so happy and fulfilled to be where we are now, but the journey was rough. It was a short sale, which meant we got a great deal financially but with that came a great deal of stress: banks, banks, banks! Add to that the stress of selling a home in this kind of market. If that is not enough, there was also the stress in trying to box, move, and unbox EVERYTHING (I wonder how we have acquired so much STUFF and how it ever fit into our old house?) with a two year old. I guess she is not two yet but she definitely hit the terrible twos long ago! I think I used the word "stress" too many times there and my recollections from English Comp 101 tell me to switch it up a bit, but stress is exactly what it was and I can think of no better word!

All of that was not even the worst. I think the hardest part of the whole ordeal was showing the old house to potential buyers, because of course the house had to look pristine and pristine was nearly impossible with The Terrible Two! Thank goodness for my mother and her willingness to watch Maari in a pinch. I think she is the person most to thank for us being where we are today, as there is no way I could have turned chaos into pristine without her.

I am rambling on about things that do not matter anymore. Done and over, right? This particular post is not supposed to be about introducing our new home, saying goodbye to our old home, or going on and on about the road we traveled to get here. That can all wait for another day. We have something, or should I say someone, much more important to introduce!

Meet Betsy Blue!

She is our new Boxer/Spaniel/Maybe Dalmation rescue pup. I guess you can see why her middle name is Blue. I love that blue (actually 1/2 blue as I have been corrected by Connor) eye...love the brown one too! Betsy was 11 weeks old when we adopted her, last Saturday. We told Connor he could change her name if he wanted...he came up with Lizzy but then decided he didn't like it so much. So it is still Betsy Blue, usually just Betsy (or Mommy has taken to calling her Betsy Boo). We'll see if Connor comes up with something else, but if so he better hurry because she is responding to Betsy quite well. I do like the name Betsy - liked Lizzy very much so too!

More on my Baby Betsy (yes my Baby is a mama's girl as all my babies have been) and our new home when I find the time to find the picture uploader for my camera (this picture was taken by Betsy's foster mom from Homeward Bound). Yes, I write to you now as I clean dog poop off the carpet (I have done very well with the pee pee outside but her poo just comes so sporadically - can't quite figure out when she needs to relieve). And yes, I should have been in bed 2 hours ago...but so is life~

Looking Out

2010-02-26T09:38:00.000-08:00

And what is it that she is so mesmerized by?

Of course!

The Virus

2010-02-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

I am giving up on the series...we have all been a little under the weather so I have been ignoring it. Being sick is no fun as it is, but being sick and having a sick little one brings on a whole new meaning to exhaustion. First it was Connor who didn't have it too bad, then me with the three day sinus headache (by far the worst headache I have ever put up with), then Maari, now Justin with a so-far mild version.

The poor little girl has not been sleeping well. Plus, she is just so stubborn that when she wakes up (usually 2 am) she does not want to go back to sleep for a couple of hours. This makes mom + dad (and Maari too) very tired.

On a side note, our Nana turns 60 today! We gave her her first gift: our nasty little virus, just in time to celebrate her birthday. Sorry Nana!

(4) A Plaid Hat

2010-02-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

I never would have expected myself to fall for pink and purple plaid. But, this little remnant really caught my eye one day and being that it was on sale I bought it, not knowing what I would ever make out of it. After stumbling upon this pattern I knew.

The pink and purple plaid hat was made using the White Melton Hat pattern from the book Carefree Clothes for Girls by Junko Okawa. Lots of cute stuff in that book, although the sizing starts at size 4 so we have a couple years before the clothing will fit our girl. I lined the hat with really thick (and really soft) fleece so I think that is why it turned out small enough to fit her now. The strap is much too long but I left it that way in hopes that I can add another buttonhole for future use.

The other day Connor asked me if I could make a hat for his cheetah. I asked if he wanted one like this one? No, more like his Vikings hat he said...hmmm, knitting for a cheetah. Not sure if I am up for that task!

(3) A Little Sweater

2010-02-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

My first hand-knit wearable sweater! Technically, I knit my first sweater over a year ago for Maari when she was teeny tiny. It was quite sloppy and therefore deemed unwearable. This one I am much happier with.

It is the Wrap Top from Claire Montgomerie's Easy Baby Knits. It took me awhile to complete, as I am a very inexperienced knitter...but it was worth it.

I love the ribbon. And I love that it is in the back because that way the little munchkin cannot untie it, although I'm sure that eventually she will figure out a way.

Kind of like the socks...they never stay on for more than ten minutes. Hey, who needs toys when you have pretty socks!

Lucky Connor

2010-02-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

A break in my silly little series to announce something much more exciting...

Connor got to meet two MN Twins baseball players this past weekend. Pictured above are Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer and of course Connor. Being the sports fanatic that he is, he was thrilled. When Mauer walked into the room the first hand he shook was Connor's...pretty special stuff!

(2) Puppet Show

2010-01-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

A grand puppet theater, complete with tieback curtains, ball fringe, and storage case:

The pattern is from Amy Karol's Bend-The-Rules-Sewing. It hangs from a tension rod in a doorway and rolls up nicely for storing. As for now, we are more interested in using it for peek-a-boo than puppet shows!

(By the way, this is my 100th post!!!)

(1) Flip Dolls

2010-01-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

I guess I am going to do a little series here. One of the purposes, among others, of this space for me is to have a spot where I can keep track of the things I make. I like to think it will be a place I come to five, ten years from now and reminisce. Things got away from me over the last 2 1/2 months so I have some catching up to do. Many of the projects were Christmas/Birthday gifts and others were just for fun. Most were made for Maari as it is much easier to come up with ideas for a baby (I am refusing to call her a toddler) than it is for an eight year old. So anyway, each post will be a new little something.

First off, meet Lily and Grace. These were the names they came with, although I'm sure that in the next few years they will be given new names.

They are flip dolls that came as a kit from Umbrella Prints. Each has a smiley face, a laughing face, and a sleepy face. Very sweet.

I think right now I am enjoying them more so than Maari but that will likely change. Connor is also somewhat interested...the fabric on one doll boasts a cheetah (well we think it is a cheetah anyway). This proves his obsession of this animal - even a doll can catch his attention! So in a way we are all enjoying the new dolls.

And Now Breathe

2010-01-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

Wow, I haven't visited this place in over 2 months...I think that is a record. We have been so insanely busy that it has sadly gotten away from me. Just in the last few weeks we have had enough life changes (some good and some no good at all) to cover five years. I will start with the good because they are just so much easier to write about...

December brings three birthdays in this household. This old mama turned thirty on the 4th of December. It is a little scary, but I take relief in what I have heard from others. Everyone seems to love their thirties - still young, but much more stable than the twenties. So thirty, I welcome you with open arms - although it is probably time to invest in a good anti-aging cream!

And as for the holiday birthdays...my first baby turned eight on the Winter Solstice. I guess at eight he is not a baby, but I still think of him as my babe.

Connor is...well Connor. He is truly one of a kind. He is uniquely sensitive and caring for his age in years. I admire his kind character more than I know how to say. Strange as it may sound, sometimes I feel as if I look toward my own child for guidance. He is oh so special to us!

Can you tell we are still obsessed with cheetahs, I think even more so than last year. It is quite possible that my son knows everything there is to know about this animal!

And, my second baby (who truly is STILL a baby) turned one on Christmas Eve. One whole year! How is it possible that it seems as though she was just born yesterday, yet also like she has been a part of our family forever?

She is quite different from her big brother. Whereas Connor's personality is comparable to a fine wine, Maari's is more like a spicy enchilada. This girl has spunk and we are loving it! She has brought so much laughter and energy into our home.

Yes, she fell asleep after cake. She woke up with a jolt, shocked to be in her highchair. I thought she would start crying, but instead looked down, saw cake crumbs, and went right back to eating.

To add to the mayhem of the holiday season, Justin started a new job on Monday. After over ten years with the same small business he decided it was time to move on. He has now entered the world of "Corporate." He went from a small close-knit company to one of the largest corporations in the Midwest. The whole move is bittersweet, but in the long run is probably for the best. It has been exciting, scary, anticipated, and just plain different. But, each day it gets a little more "normal."

For his accomplishment he was given the Special Plate...and Gooey Butter Cake for dessert, although, I made the wrong one. Apparently my family has two recipes for Gooey Butter Cake. That just seems wrong, to have multiple ways to make something that is so bad for you. Anyway, I guess it is the thought that counts. We are so proud of our Daddy, he truly is special EVERYday.

Amidst all the celebrating - the birthdays, the new job, the Christmas festivities, the New Year - our family was pained with a terrible tragedy. It breaks my heart so just to put it down in words. I watched a woman I admire lose her child. I watched another admirable woman lose her husband and best friend. I watched my husband and two dear friends lose their father. I watched my own children lose their grandpa. As if watching all these people I love hurt is not enough to break a person's heart, I have also been burdened with my own pain in losing someone very special.

Our Papa Dave was truly a unique individual and his absence is shocking and painful. We had no warning signs - it just came and we have been left to cope. Put simply, it is hard, really hard.

On a positive note, he will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. I know that is what is always said about someone after they are gone, how full of life the person was, what a wonderful parent he/she was... With Dave though it is not being said just because that is what you say. He truly was SO full of life. He had this crazy energy to him. It was the kind of energy that you see in children. But he was like a child in a good way. He was extremely hardworking and responsible. For example, he built his entire house and just about everything in it with his own two hands. His youthful qualities came out in his enthusiasm. When he told a story, no matter how mundane the topic, it was always told with huge doses of suspense, smiles, and laughter.

It is interesting that after years of knowing a person often one dominant image remains in our heads after they are gone. I picture my grandma in my childhood bedroom holding one of my dolls trying to remember the name I had given her. I picture my great grandma greeting me at her front door ready to attack me with a multitude of forceful kisses. I picture my grandpa as I sit in the back of his van (in a lawn chair!), a small smile on his face seen in the rear-view mirror. I picture another grandpa, also with a small smile on his face, sitting at the kitchen table playing cards with his family. I picture my best friend from high school lying flat on her back on her bed laughing hysterically after another prank phone call to that really hot senior soccer star that she was a tad bit too obsessed with. And now I picture Dave sitting at the head of his dining room table telling a story. I do not hear what the story is but I see the gestures: the arm movements, the giant smiles, and the hearty chuckles. I think Connor summed it up pretty well a few years ago when he told me that, "Papa David is my funny Papa."

I can't help but wonder what image of myself would stick in people's heads if I were gone. It has really pushed me to want to strive to be a better person. Who wants to be remembered as cranky, or sad, or mad? I guess if anything good can come out of this whole trauma, maybe we can realize the importance of making the effort to enjoy life and those around us, to have the childlike enthusiasm for life that to me was the core of Dave.

So in the midst of grief and tragedy, we found some happiness in our annual celebrations because that is how Dave would have wanted it. It provided some distraction from the sadness for both the adults and children. I suppose in that sense having it all happen at once is a blessing in a way. Now that the chaos is all over we can just take a deep breath and try to resume as best we can in daily life, hopefully with a better appreciation for what we have been blessed with.

And to our Papa David: We will miss you!

Trick or Treat Fun

2009-11-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

The images pretty much sum up our Halloween fun...

Gotcha

2009-10-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

To Maari,

You think you are so funny, growing up so fast on your mama. You think you can just keep on getting bigger and bigger every time I blink an eye. Those cute little clothes, outgrown so quickly. But with this little hat I have tricked you.

Seven months later and it still fits! Yes, a snugger fit, but a fit nonetheless (thank you ear flaps). You can't fool me little girl.

Lost and Found

2009-10-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have to say that Justin and I (Connor too) are not the most organized people in the world. We tend to misplace things - bills, glasses, keys, phones, bakugans... Then when I do try to put everything in its place I forget where that place is. We both lost our wallets in the same week. I was at a garage sale, put the wallet on top of the car while I buckled Maari into her car seat, and off I drove. I then spent hours walking up and down the road, emptying my car out, and driving around looking for that small piece of brown leather (all while lugging around the baby). I was lucky - a city worker found it and turned it into the police.

In a small attempt to organize myself, I made this. It is the Market-Run Checkbook Cover from Heather Ross's "Weekend Sewing."

I thought maybe if I make it prettier I wouldn't lose it. The logic here: I never lose my jewelry, it is pretty, maybe that is why I keep better track of it. So far it has worked. Several months and I have not misplaced it even once! VICTORY Now I guess I need to make something pretty to house my bills, glasses, keys...

The Dress

2009-08-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

Remember this dress? The one I found stashed inside the armoire?

Exactly one year later it fits!

It looked so big when I got it. How can it fit already?!?!

New Foods

2009-08-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

We have been having a blast around here watching Maari discover new foods. It is like a guessing game, "what is Maari going to try next?" So far her favorite has probably been bananas. At first we thought she might be a little bit of a fussy eater, but no longer. I think she was just getting used to the newness of it all. Now she eats whatever, whenever. With the new eater, come new bibs.

These two are of my own design.

And these, from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. The pear design came from a bag pattern in Zakka Sewing.

Really, I don't think you can ever have enough bibs!

We can only hope that she grows to be as fabulous an eater as her brother. That kid will try anything, which makes my life much easier and our meals much more exciting.

Dress Up

2009-08-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

I just have way to much fun dressing this child. It is a good thing I had a girl this time around! Here is the newest summer outfit:

I used a maternity shirt that I had picked up at a garage sale. Double thrifty - maternity top & baby dress all for 75 cents!

And to match, a reversible bonnet. Both patterns came from ithinksewdotcom.

The bonnet is a tad big. I am hoping it will fit better this fall, maybe next spring.

Yes, it is good to have someone to dress up. I was the little girl who spent hours and hours dressing and redressing my hoard of dolls. Even the poor cat was forced to wear doll clothes. Maari does not object quite as badly as the cat did.

Bubble Dress

2009-08-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Some new summer dresses (not that she really NEEDS anymore) that should last into fall:

They are from the Oliver + S Bubble Dress pattern. Love that poofy bubble effect. One in pretty flowers, the other in funny carrots.

The carrots?? Well, they are appropriate for the little carrot top!

Summer Fun

2009-07-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

A certain someone has been keeping us on our toes all summer.

So here it is, summer through the eyes of a seven year old boy.

Baseball (we have moved on from tee-ball, Connor has had to correct me on that one all summer)

Swimming

And of course Popsicles!

And the rest of us? We are all along to enjoy the ride.

All that little boy energy can wear us out...but we all love it!

(one more sleeping baby pic because honestly is there anything sweeter?)

Kimberly for Kimberly

2009-07-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

The Kimberly bag:

How can one not make a bag with one's same name? And I absolutely love it. I hate sewing with heavy interfacing (bent pins, broken needles...), but love the end result. This bag has such great shape! The pattern is Amy Butler's Kimberly Bag. I used the leftover fabric from Maari's rocking chair. I love the length - very modern and, even given that nasty interfacing, it was fairly quick and easy to put together.

It was nice to make, or should I say actually finish, something for myself. The sewing around here has definitely centered around baby for the past year. This was a breath of fresh air.

In the Front Yard

2009-07-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

This lovely lady payed us a visit a few weeks ago.

And how do I know it was a lady - because she layed eggs (Connor counted 31) right in our garden.

We stayed our distance from her - she was a snapping turtle and we don't care to be losing any fingers around here. Also, we did not think it wise to interfere with her process.

She dug a nice hole and took her time dropping all of those eggs in. After she buried those 31 eggs she found her way back to the lake. We were a little concerned at first that she was not going in the right direction, but eventually she figured things out - instinct I suppose.

It is kind of sad to think that she will never see her babies, but we look forward to maybe catching a glimpse of them this fall.

Rainy Days

2009-06-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a little dreary around here the last week. The sun has finally made an appearance today - thank goodness! In addition to the cruddy weather, Justin and I have been a little bummed out about a house that we put an offer on. It was quite the little piece of heaven - our dreamhouse in fact. It had lots of space for this expanding family and incredible panomaric river views. The best part - we could afford it! Unfortunately in order to afford it we would have had to sell our house first - not an easy task in this market. And, someone else did not need to sell a home - so we lost :( Oh well, we are mourning (as Justin puts it, "it is like losing a girlfriend"), but look forward to another opportunity.

On a brighter note, with all the rain and cold Maari was able to get lots of wear out of her new jacket.

It is the Oliver + S Sunday Brunch Jacket. I made it in a green denim-like fabric that I had lying around.

I am happy with the way it turned out and it seems to be passing Maari's taste test.

And yes, it can be quite difficult trying to photograph a 5 month old!

Flower Picking

2009-05-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Connor said to me:

Mommy I just wanted to tell you something. I picked some flowers for you for Mother's Day and put them in my desk to hide them from you. Now they are all dead. I guess they needed water.

The flowers were these little purple wildflowers that I had actually thought of picking for myself.

So on Sunday morning I found a new bunch of purple flowers sitting next to the door. These I got into water before they wilted. They were one of my favorite Mother's Day gifts, right next to the handmade pop-up book about soccer, frogs, snails, sisters, and of course Connor & Mom.

Helper

2009-05-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here she is, my new little seamstress:

Up until about a month ago Maari would cry every time we brought her into the den/office/sewing room - yeah quite the catch-all room. We have no idea why, but it made computer time and sewing time very limited. Now, she loves it. This makes Mom very happy - I was starting to get a little worried. I lay her on the floor, turn some music on and she beams from ear to ear. She is especially pleased if I sing or dance for her. The new helper has her very own little corner in the catch-all room between Mommy's sewing machine and Daddy's closet.

As a reward for her coming around I made her this:

It is the Easy Empire-Waist Top from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones.

I somehow managed to goof on the sleeves and was too lazy to try to fix them so I just improvised instead. All and all my little seamstress and I are happy with the end result.

Now if only I could get her to cry every time I took her into the laundry room - then I would have an excuse for all those piles.

Sweets for my Sweets

2009-04-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Ever since Maari was sent home from the hospital with a stuffed bear Connor has been pleading with me to make him a bear. Not that the poor child doesn't already have a teddy bear or ten (which I pointed out to him). I happily agreed to make him a new stuffed friend trying to persuade him to choose something that I had a pattern for because of course that makes things much easier for Mom. But, he insisted on a bear.

So...

I am thinking it looks more like a cross between an owl and a squirrel but am told that it looks just like a Pokemon. He was a little shocked at first - not realizing it was the bear he had been begging for - but loves it just the same.

And for Maari I whipped up a little redheaded doll to cuddle.

Fist in mouth + babydoll in hand = happy baby girl!

Complete

2009-04-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

Our little nursery is now complete with the arrival of this...

I take no credit for this lovely, it was all Nana - although I did pick out the pattern. Yes, I made my poor mother squint at a small blurry picture I had found online - can't remember where now, it was so long ago :( Also, there was the fact that it was written in Japanese and she had to convert centimeters to inches. The end result was well worth the toil though - it is perfect!

There was so much thought put into every detail. I went over to Mom's house one day and she had five different hairstyles laid out - bun or ponytail, light brown or dark brown hair. Little did we know at the time that our little girl would have red.

She even goes all out on the back. This is truly something that Maari will treasure for many years!

Over a Week Later...

2009-04-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

Maari was baptized last Sunday morning the 29th... It was a very nice and surprisingly relaxing morning. Maari wore her great-grandpa's christening gown - eighty years old - which someone put a LOT of work into making! She did a great job of not making a mess on it. She also had grandma's baby shoes. Her little outfit had lots of sentimentality. She decided to take her morning bathroom break right as she was being baptized. After that the star of the day took an extra long snooze all the way through brunch.

A few scenes from a lovely day:

Little Birdie

2009-03-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

The finished bird mobile for the nursery (inspired by this) has turned out to be very fitting. As a newborn, Maari's noises reminded me of a little birdie. As she has gotten older the little chirps have begun to transform into coos, but those bird calls are still there, especially after she wakes from a long sleep.

The birds were oh so fun to make, trying to get them to hang evenly was not quite so fun. I wanted to use real twigs but figured that wasn't such a baby friendly thing to have hanging over the crib.

I am proud to say that her mobile is her favorite thing to watch! It makes her giggle every time. She prefers it to be "wound up" so the birds fly around all crazy. I think she is going to be a birdlover. Her first smile was not at mom or dad or big bro, but at the owl decal on her wall. It must be a thing in this family. Connor is currently fascinated by the eagles that have taken to sitting on the edges of the melting ice on the lake. I guess we are all a bunch of birdwatchers!

Munchkin

2009-03-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

Another baby knit...just couldn't resist the Gnomey Hat. It is my new favorite for many reasons. All of Maari's other hats fit nicely until I squeeze her into the carseat. Then either her ears are left exposed or the front covers her eyes (which she does not like at all). The ear flaps are the perfect solution. Second, it seems as though it will get used well into next winter, two seasons - amazing!

But the real reason I love this hat so much is that it is so darn cute on her - must be the pom poms!

Play

2009-03-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

As Maari gets older (sigh!) she becomes funner for Connor to "play" with. He has been coaxing toys into her hands, dangling action figures over her head, and introducing her to our wild kingdom of stuffed animals. The more she laughs and coos the greater his satisfaction. He keeps a daily smile tally - "That is my fourth smile today!" Too bad her hair is not yet long enough for the Princess Leia hairdo. When that day comes he will really be pleased! Hopefully she will be just as pleased to go along with it.

Cozy Pants

2009-03-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

Maari's new pants were made using the Picky Pants pattern. So soft and cozy - I wish I had a pair! I started them months ago and finished them up just in time. I thought I was smart, making them a little longer so they would last just a little longer. But, my longlegged girl fits into them perfectly right now - maybe I will have to add on. Or they could be capris!

Spring Break

2009-03-04T11:40:00.000-08:00

Swim trunks in March? No, we are not going on a tropical vaca this year - I only wish. The closest we are getting to that is the elementary all-school luau. Connor's new swimwear came just in time for the big event. And now the crabs will be packed away until June, or maybe May if we are lucky! We are spending this spring break week at home just relaxing - sledding instead of swimming.

The Quilt

2009-02-19T08:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I have finally completed Maari's baby quilt. The plan was to have it done before she was born, but oh well. The pattern is from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. Instead of machine quilting it I just used large embroidery stitches, mainly because when I was big and pregnant it was much easier to sit on the couch than hunched over at the sewing machine. The floral fabric was a wonderful old tablecloth given to me by my aunt.

It works wonderfully as a floor quilt, nice and plush. Now, I just need to finish that quilt I started when I was pregnant with Connor - seven years ago! I am almost there.

Booties

2009-02-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

Here it is, my first knitting project for Maari - COMPLETED! Well, technically I made her a sweater, but it did not turn out quite as planned. I am much more pleased with these booties, so I will count them as number one.

The pattern is from Easy Baby Knits. They actually stay on pretty well, which is more than I can say for most of her socks. I think Maari has thin feet, not taking after her mother on that trait. And, when they do slip off the strap keeps them attached to her ankle. So, the first knitting project was a success!

Ten Joys of January

2009-01-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

1 ~ Matching handmade elephants, Christmas gifts for brother and sister. (Pattern from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson)

2 ~ Lots of rocking in this little corner.

3 ~ Gifts of food from neighbors and friends after Maari's birth (especially those weekly grocery store runs from Grandma). I have been a little spoiled lately.

4 ~ Silly spectacles on a silly seven year old.

5 ~ New bangs.

6 ~ This CD

7 ~ The snowman that never melts (now diasassembled but still here).

8 ~ Watching Polk come up with new places to nap.

9 ~ Fitting into a pair of non-maternity jeans!

10 ~ This little peanut.

Reading

2009-01-05T08:38:00.000-08:00

Reading for three now! It looks to me like someone is already fascinated by her older brother.

Maari has been adapting well to life outside the belly. She is a very easy baby, the other night she slept almost six hours. What a treat for mom! Connor has adjusted well also to life with a sibling. He is very proud and protective.>

As for Justin and I, we are ecstatic!

All is well here.

A Very Special Christmas Gift

2008-12-31T12:26:00.000-08:00

Maari Frances

Born Christmas Eve Day.

Feeling blessed New Years Eve Day on her one week birthday for all that 2008 has given us and looking forward to 2009!

(I just knew she would come on Christmas)

Practice

2008-12-18T11:34:00.000-08:00

Trying out my new birthday/early Christmas present on the belly...baby is going to need to get used to that camera. Justin's pictures seem to be turning out better than mine. After this crazy holiday stuff I am planning on sitting down for a one on one with this monster - so much to learn!

Redo for Baby

2008-11-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

Well, we have been digging stuff out of the depths of the basement for baby. Seven years down there uncovered (oops) left some things a little gross. Nothing a new slipcover can't fix.

This project was a little more difficult than expected. Maybe if I had planned and marked the old parts before just completely ripping it apart it would have made things easier. But who has time for that?

Now I suppose it would have been wiser to just wash the previous cover, but the little trees were calling to me.

For Baby

2008-10-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Wow it has been a LONG time since I have written here! I guess things get crazy... we have been adjusting to first grade and all that extra homework, juggling soccer and football games, trying to finish bathroom construction, and rearranging rooms in preparation for baby.

I have started several projects and have actually completed 2 of them!!

One baby kimono & a pair of linen shoes:

The kimono is from a Martha Stewart pattern and the shoes from the Cloth Shoe Pattern from Stardust Shoes.

In the works: a quilt, bibs, sweater...sometimes my head works harder than my hands so we will see what actually gets finished!

Finds

2008-09-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

With another person soon to arrive in this house we are having to do some rearranging. In the spirit of things I have graciously donated my closet to the new arrival. I have been attempting to stuff its contents in other spots which has proven to be a frustrating task.

We happened to be out looking for a new computer desk, when I spotted my solution, a giant beautiful old armoire for only $160!! I have always wanted one but the typical $3,000 price tags are far outside of my armoire budget. I sat and stared at it for awhile wondering if it would fit in my room, trying to decide on whether or not to splurge. Then I opened it and saw little sign.

Yes, we are going to have a little girl, 95% sure we are anyway. Connor is still holding on to that 5% chance that he will get a little brother, but I think in time he will be very happy to have a sister. When I saw this little dress sitting on the shelf of the armoire I knew I had to have both. The first of many vintage dresses and a solution to my huge pile of sweaters without a home. It was a good day!

18

2008-08-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Week 18 of Pregnancy 2 - we are having a baby!!

I am happy to be in the second trimester with much more energy and motivation, a nice treat for the end of the summer.

We are all thrilled and anxiously await the arrival of baby in early 2009. Or, if this one is like his/her brother and comes 10 days early, we will welcome a Christmas baby!

2

2008-08-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

2 years of wedded bliss. How come it feels like 20? I suppose when it is 20 it will feel like 50.

Happy anniversary to my fantastic hubby!

Sleeping Beauties

2008-07-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying all of the abundance in our gardens right now. Well, the abundance is mostly in the flowers and herbs, our vegetables are not doing quite so well. In my defense though, it was the first year I attempted to grow veggies. So I suppose it is a combination of inexperience and neglect, inexperience being the larger influence of course.

I am loving these poppies, something new this year. Justin got a bunch of seed packets as a giveaway at work so I figured I might as well give it a go. They were planted a bit late, but have been well worth the wait. They are amusing little flowers in the way that they close up in the evening and then burst open again bright and early in the morning. Flowers that sleep (although I have yet to catch them taking an afternoon nap).

Camp

2008-07-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

It looks more like the farm here, but this is Connor at Day Camp. He enjoyed all of the many activities of last week - swimming, archery, games, art, even yoga. Mostly I think he just enjoyed being outside all day with a multitude of kids. What I wouldn't have given to have been a little bird spying on all of this!

Pictured here is the "art barn" where all of the children and counselors were packed in when I came to pick up Connor on Friday. We had a terrible storm, so bad I had to pull over and wait it out in a parking lot. Nothing life threatening or anything, but I was still relieved to see my little camper, dirt mustache and all.

And here we are at home, winding down from a week of camp, if you consider whipping the Friday afternoon craft around and around as fast as is possible a form of winding down.

Parade

2008-07-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last week Connor attended an art class where he made a very handsome dragonfly all out of trash (ahem, I mean treasure). The kids also made some noisemakers out of recycled plastic bottles. Last Friday night I was serenaded by this little contraption - on and off for several hours.

And on Saturday he got to show off his art in a parade celebrating 25 years of the Phipps Center for the Arts.

It was not your typical parade - no clowns, no candy. Fire trucks did not lead the parade but rather a giant eagle that was pilaged by pirates. Yes, pirates in a speed boat.

And this guy. I am not sure what/who he was but he was my favorite, not including the dragonfly of course.

Again

2008-07-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

So just after we finished remodeling the upstairs bathroom we have mess...again. Just as I was getting used to the luxury of two functional bathrooms...bam it is taken away. And this time the bathroom we are sqeezed into has no cabinets, no closets, and no space to move.

We were not planning on this, however after a weekend away we came home to a wet basement and discovered a rotted bathroom floor. Evidentally something in the toilet was not installed correctly or had not been replaced, causing years of rotting underneath. I guess we are lucky no one has fallen through!?! (well I don't think it was quite that bad)

I have issued a timeline on this bathroom though, no two + years on this one. I am putting my foot down.

Summer Fun

2008-07-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

Weekend activities........

golf

frisbee golf, fishing, dam building, popcicles from the ice cream truck, bonfires, fireworks.....

and a little r&r

It was nice to have Dad home for the whole weekend (for both Connor and Mom)!

J&B K&C

2008-06-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

View from the backseat:

Two brothers in front spent some time on our road road trip this weekend listening to their Armin. I know, this is not quite legal, but on long rides Justin needs his music and Connor needs his movies. This was our only solution, plus they look pretty cute/silly/techie/goofy/ridiculous up there with those headphones on!

So, Connor and I sat in the back with the laptop propped between us watching movies, and season 1 of the Smurfs - love that cartoon, not so sure he does though. However, once in awhile I do get my way and due to some technical difficulties there weren't many other options. We also had some pretty great conversation. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the everyday that I forget to have these silly little talks. Eight+ hours in the car gave me a chance to do this! My favorite convo went something like this:

C: I used to be a girl.

M: No honey, you've always been a boy.

C: No Mommy, I really used to be a girl. I'm seeeerious. I was born a girl and then changed into a boy.

M: I remember when you were born and you were definitely a boy.

C: Mommy, I'm seeeeeeeeerious. I was a girl and then changed into a boy when I was like 1 or 2 or something.

M: Well Connor, if you are born a girl you stay a girl and if you are born a boy you stay a boy. (this comment brought some snickers from the front of the car)

C: Well not me.

M: OK Connor.

silence

C: HAAAAAA, just kidding!

Riding the Waves

2008-06-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

It has been a rough couple of weeks on Justin's side of the family. His sister left for Marine boot camp last week. She will have no communication with anyone for another few weeks. Personally, I cannot imagine having zero contact with family for that long. Not to mention, I have heard some scary boot camp stories. But, supposedly since she is in the officer's training program versus the entry level program, they are a little less rough on the enlistees (not physically but mentally).

And, right about the same time as Katie left, Justin's grandpa passed away. He had suffered from a second stroke and just could not recover from it. So, Friday we headed up to the North Shore of Lake Superior for the memorial service.

This was a hard death to deal with as Bob was such a kind man. Justin and I were talking the other night about how he was one of those people that never said anything bad about ANYONE and likewise you never heard anyone say anything negative about him. You know, there are just a handful of those people out there. That is one quality I really admire, the old "treat others as you would like to be treated." Such a golden rule.

Anyway, in addition to being a wonderful family man, Bob was a talented artist. He did drawings, woodworking, stained glass... Justin and I are lucky to have one of his infamous fish mobiles hanging in our living room. We think of him and his kindness everytime we look toward that corner of our home.

Grandpa Bob loved the outdoors. Justin told me that he did not want to lye in a hospital bed any unnecessary amount of time but would rather be pushed out in a canoe into the great lake in his back yard. When looking out over that big huge lake this past weekend I like to picture him out there riding the waves in his canoe,

smiling at all of those grandkids (and great grandkids)!

Mother's Day Recap

2008-05-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

This little mother's day gift left me with a lump in my throat.....

side1

side 2

He has just gotten so smart - I am shocked at what he has learned in only a few months time. He is actually writing his own sentences! Amazing what sponges those little brains are.

It wasn't just his intellect that made me teary eyed, but of course his sweetness too. I love that my one wish is "to go back in kinderagatin." Yes, I often tell Connor that it would be so fun to go back to Kindergarten again. Although (and this is the part I don't mention to him), if I were magically shrunk back to grade K, I know I would have to go through all 12 of those other grade too. Not so sure I would care to do that!

And I received a lovely bouquet of wooden flowers. The busy little guy also made a little painted pot holding a real flower, but we had a little accident with that one, resulting in a few tears :( but I think a little superglue might fix it.

And I spent some time with my mother on Sunday browsing through a local nursery. A beautiful sunny hour with one of my favorite people.

Justin had a good laugh at my gifts to her, only because they were exactly the same as his and Connor's gifts to me: garden plants and and a book. He even picked out the same card! What can I say, like mother like daughter, our interests are the same.

I also made her a little felt needlebook and one of those cute birds from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I didn't intend for them to match but it turned out nice that they did.

Dirt

2008-05-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

We have been having some fun in the dirt, each in our own way. Justin planted a new tree in the front, while I started some seeds in the back. Connor, he will partake in ANY activity that involves dirt, so, he helped with both the tree and the seeds.

We planted carrots, tomatoes, and sunflowers using these small planters because I am still paranoid about frost - you never know. Obviously, they will need to be transplanted, but that just means more fun in the dirt. We also started a pot of cilantro because it is my favorite, I will eat it on everything! I never cleaned out the herb pots from last year and was shocked to find that the chives came back in full force this year - I thought they were an annual plant?

I would love to plant a full vegetable garden but am scared that those pesty little forest creatures will eat away all of my hard work. We'll see, but I definitely need to add some more herbs (fresh basil rates right up there with the cilantro)!

Although Connor loved the planting, his favorite "dirt" activity this year is digging for fossils. He has this special collection box in his room with all sorts of things that he finds captivating and says that the only thing missing is a fossil. Yes, he has been pretty adament about this (to the point of trying to crack open large rocks to see if they hold any fossils inside) - hmmmmmm.

Thinking Back

2008-04-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

So I have been "reunited" with one of my dearest childhood friends. We had not spoken for years and then my mom saw her mom at Target, and well you know how that goes. It has been fun to catch up with Meghan after all of these years.

Although we remained friends into high school, our best times were in middle school. This is such an odd age I think, too old to be carefree kids and not quite old enough to be cool & mature highschoolers. We definitely leaned more to the side of crazy children than hip teens.

Japanese language class, 7th grade, complete with a double set of braces:

Anyway, this is a top I made for Meghan, the Cabo Halter by Amy Butler. I actually made the same one for myself last year, yes she picked out the same fabric as I did - did I mention she has great taste!

So here's to middle school memories - silly sleepovers, first crushes, braces, Japanese language class, and a certain good friend.

Birdsong

2008-04-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

We have officially rediscovered the back porch. It is by far the best place in the house to spend a lazy weekend morning.

We received a warm birdsong welcome back from some backyard friends: little chickadees, a beautiful cardinal couple, and an entire flock of robins. The bird feeders hang directly off the roof of the porch so we have a great closeup view. Also, our soil must be loaded with worms to attract so many robins. Connor and I tried to count them and lost track at 15 - they started to move around too much.

The song and dance of the cardinal couple is just the cutest thing to watch. Last night the female flew up to the feeder for a snack. The male stayed in the apple tree, keeping a lookout I suppose. The entire time they sang back and forth to one another and when the lady was done eating and flew off into the woods, the male followed immediately - just like every good husband should do, right?

B-Ball

2008-04-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday we were lucky to have courtside seats to the Harlem Globetrotters. You know who was so very excited (still is)! Yes, we all felt like "important people" in our prime spot.

Papa and Nana treated us to the game/show, in which the Globetrotters won their twenty-some-thousandth game against the Generals. Of course it was a very close game, with the top player injured right before halftime. Luckily though he made a miraculous comeback and led the team to victory!

So now Connor would like to be a Globetrotter when he grows up. Immediately after the game, autographed ball in hand, he bolted from the car toward his basketball hoop. And, pretty much all day Sunday was spent shooting hoops. That evening, in an exhausted tone he said, "All I did today was play basketball."

Monday and Tuesday Connor took a little break from his basketball training.

Finding a Little Peace

2008-04-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend got a little hectic, especially for a girl who is becoming more and more of a hermit! We spent one evening getting schmoozed (if that is a word?) at a hockey game, one evening at a birthday party, and almost an entire day at the elementary school's Kids' Kandyland Karnival. The latter was probably the funnest, although also the most draining especially after the sugar rush (cotton candy, mini doughnuts...) wore off.

Somehow I also managed to get some yard work done - clearing away leaves, etc. - I like to get this done (or at least started) before the plants start coming up, much easier that way. Under a pile of leaves next to the house I found this beautiful green peeking through!!

So, green outside and a little sunshine finding its way inside made for some peace in between the craziness that was this weekend.

Patchwork x 3

2008-04-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

My latest obsession - patchwork.

A messenger for Justin's mom to use as a travel bag for her spring vacation:

She liked the similar wool version in my etsy shop, but I told her that wool just wouldn't do for a SPRING vacation.

A patchwork pouch:

This one is up for grabs here.

And of course something in linen for yours truly because it was absolutely necessary that I have another purse.

This one made it through the big bachelorette party last weekend. I too managed to survive.

Now I must finish my laundry and routine Friday cleaning so that when Connor gets home from school we can enjoy the beautiful day - FINALLY a warm sunny day!!

Very Funny

2008-04-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature's April Fool's joke on us:

The sun is out now though working hard to melt it.

Connor had fun fooling his Daddy this morning. We emptied out Justin's Smart Start cereal and replaced it with cat food. Connor also dropped some marbles into his work shoes. Unfortunately Connor chose to tamper with the black ones and Daddy chose to wear the brown ones. Well, next time he wears the black ones he will find a surprise.

Connor says he is saving his fool on me for tonight...ahh the suspense!

Spring Inside

2008-03-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Snow all day tomorrow - last year at this time the temperature was 72 degrees! Yeah, March can be pretty unpredictable in the Midwest. So to help lift the spirits, a few attempts have been made to bring spring inside, since it is refusing to make an early appearance outside. It helps a little...

Connor was so excited last week for the first day of spring. It came, and then the next day we got several inches of snow. "Mommy, it still looks like winter to me."

Me too Connor!

Piano Man?

2008-03-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

My poor old piano - not getting much use these days. Its main function: dropping spot for random mail and other loose ends. The other day however, as I was finishing up some laundry I heard its familiar echo as I was coming up the stairs. And there was Connor. He had cleared away enough clutter to open the old beast up.

It shocked me how lyrically he was playing. When he was a year or so younger he loved to pound out a few tunes all at one sound dynamic - LOUD and one tempo - FAST. This time he was alternating loud with soft, slow with fast.

I have been eagerly awaiting the day that he wants to learn to play, if that day ever comes. My big parenting philosophy is not to push. I have always cringed at those parents who are so adament about little Johnny or Susie following in mom/dad's footsteps that they make the poor child frightened of failing or just plain unhappy.

So I have held myself back, but this time he wanted to try to learn so I dug out my old first book. This little lesson did not last long. I think maybe Connor figured that after 5 minutes of learning he would master a song... Maybe he is not quite old enough yet...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someday he might decide to follow in Mom's footsteps but who am I to decide that?

An Experiment

2008-03-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

I guess you would call this one a "transition" scarf - warm wool in spring yellows and greens. The yarn is hand-dyed and handspun from here. I really really love it - the colors, the varying thicknesses, the way every section looks different...

The process used to create this was a little strange. I started off knitting but preferred the way the yarn looked when it was laid out straight. So, I tried weaving, although I'm not quite sure that you would call what I did weaving, definitely not properly anyway. I used a thinner crosswise yarn that is pretty much invisible resulting in something that looks somewhat like a really big, messy, complicated braid. Random sections were left loose and unwoven. I'm not sure if any of this makes sense.

Yep, it was definitely an experiment!

Teeth and Bones

2008-03-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

Lots of talk going around here about teeth. Connor has eight loose! Hopefully he doesn't lose them all at the same time. If so, we might have to alter our meal content (applesauce and bananas?). Also, it was recently dental hygiene week at school. All the talk about teeth prompted a certain someone to decide he wanted a special pillow to put his tooth fairy teeth in. So here it is, complete with a pocket to keep those shiny whites safe:

Not my best work, but I was under some pressure with eight ready to come and the constant "is it done yets?" The tooth pillow was made using this pattern:

Toby the dog has also started losing his baby teeth. Connor thought he would try to trick the tooth fairy by putting Toby's molar under his pillow. Well, she is not tricked so easily...Connor ended up with a giant bone in his bed the next morning. He's convinced it is a dinosaur bone. The tooth fairy also left a little something for Connor to thank him for the rarity. Both dog and boy were pleased.

Welcome March

2008-03-03T10:50:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness for March. This winter has been LONG. What do we have, one month of slushy gray melting before a little green starts popping out? Sometimes I wonder why we live here and put up with it all, but I think each season makes us appreciate the next so much more.

This weekend recap:

Friday - movie night. I think I am somewhat of a jinx when it comes to movies. Every time Justin & I watch one together it ends up being a really bad flick. This could also be my requirement that the movie be less than two hours. It seems that the length of the average movie has doubled over the past few years. I can understand why some need to be three hours long for artistic purposes or whatever, but 3 1/2 hour romantic comedies......come on!! I guess I just lose interest after a certain point (unless the movie is so fantastic that it deserves taking up my whole evening).

Saturday - some friends we have not seen in so long came over - fun fun catching up.

Sunday - tiling the bathroom - Justin and my dad that is. Connor and I were a little less ambitious.

Kitchen Ramblings

2008-02-29T14:13:00.000-08:00

One thing I was reminded of this week is that we tend to take for granted the small things that make life easier. Our refrigerator went out. It is only six years old and only had a one year warranty. This kind of surprises me, but I guess a short warranty period is pretty typical. So for the past week we have been using our back porch as a temporary refrigerator/freezer. Yeah, lots of milk slush in our cereal.

Luckily the refrigerator was able to be fixed and we did not have to drop a grand on a new one. And the whole incident forced me to clean out and organize. After tackling the fridge I completed my now fully functioning kitchen by hanging my new mobile from the mobile swap I participated in. One good thing about having old banged up cupboards is that it is OK for me to pound nails into them!

The mobile is from Ellen whom I have no idea how to find out in the vast expanse of the internet. So, I hope she reads this so I can say THANK YOU - I really love it! The colors go great in my kitchen and it is so nice to have something pretty to look at while I do the dishes.

very happy with my first swap (and my new refirgerator)

Weekend Recap

2008-02-26T09:50:00.000-08:00

Friday

We went to see Justin's brother Brian play at a coffee shop. I have been such a hermit lately - the February blues I suppose. It felt good to get out. I guess I figured coffee shop music would be appropriate for Connor's age, i.e. some nice acoustic guitar. Well, I was wrong - it was so loud!! All of the tables and chairs were cleared away so it was more of a crazy college party with coffee instead of beer. I am definitely not a prude and would have stayed and enjoyed it all thoroughly, but I do not want to be responsible for my child going hard of hearing. I read somewhere that children's eardrums are much more susceptible to loud noise - I am sure that by the time he hits his teenage years he will be doing plenty of damage to those ears without any help from mom and dad.

Instead, Connor and I walked down the street to a quieter coffee house and had a piece of carrot cake by candlelight.

Saturday

We were supposed to go to a 30th birthday party on Saturday evening, but it did not work out. So Justin says, "since we are not going out I am giving the cat a bath." What an exciting alternative! He has had this whole bath thing in his head for awhile now. Being allergic to cats - I had the cat long before the husband - he thought a bath might help out a little. Polk actually did much better than expected. I thought it would be more traumatic. I was picturing drenched cat clawing frantically, hissing - even though he never hisses, having some kind of spastic outburst, but this was not the case. Polk was a little frightened at first but I think toward the end he actually enjoyed the warm water being sprayed on this back.

After his bath he took a long rest - lots of commotion for an old kitty.

He is so soft now!! We spent a good portion of the rest of the evening stroking his shiny clean coat - and he smells like "tropical breeze."

A Swap

2008-02-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

This mobile was made for Elsie's mobile swap - my first swap! Finished the day before the deadline, this procrastinator will have it shipped out right on that deadline.

The mobile is a combination of fabric, porcelain beads, wooden beads, and some pieces of potpourri (yeah that's a little strange but I really liked the way they looked against the leaves). I guess my theme here is spring - I am getting ready!! - with the leaves/flower buds.

It was fun - and a little nerveracking - making something for someone I do not know. Hope she likes!

Super Silly

2008-02-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

Poor Justin had to work late last night. So Connor and I had date night. I turned on some jazz and we did lots of dancing. I'm a big fan of twirling around the living room when no one is home, or when just Connor is home. Come on, we all do this don't we? Maybe not, but if you don't you should try it - it beats running on the treadmill. It's probably a good thing that I live at the end of a dead end road. This way I only have a couple of neighbors who think I am a complete nut.

To the dancing we added hats and silly faces which turned into a game of trying to swipe the other person's hat - a combination of dance, running, and jumping.

At one point Connor was laughing so hard that he started snorting uncontrollably. In the end he ended up doing some sort of crazy gymnastics - one sock on one sock off.

Yeah, I'm that mom - the crazy kind. It is the middle of February - I think we are starting to feel a little cooped up.

Love Day

2008-02-14T11:00:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day - what in life is better than love and chocolate? xoxoxoxo

New Dos

2008-02-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

We got some haircuts this weekend. Connor likes to keep his hair nice and short and now insists that Papa cut it with the dog clippers.

befores:

and afters:

The frog got to look in the mirror and have a sucker when the barber finished with his mohawk. Maybe it's mom's turn now - no mohawks or dog clippers for me. I will take a sucker though.

100 Days

2008-02-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Happy 100 days of school to Connor. Wow that went fast! Mrs. Rose has lots of exciting activities involving 100 for her kindergartners today - how fun! One of the teachers brought in her grandmother who turned 100 in August. All of the classes - grades K-5 - are going to take turns meeting her. What stamina - the woman is going to sit in the library for the entire day and greet hundreds of children. I get tired being around all of those kids for only two hours! My job this morning was to help the children count out their 100 snacks - pretzyls, chocolate chips, peanuts... I did my best to keep the little guy whose finger seems to be permanantly attached to the inside of his nose toward to end of the line (yeah that's a little gross).

So, on that appetizing note, here was last night's dinner! Currently, I seem to be in a cooking phase. These phases generally last about two weeks and then I tire of the whole thing. I love eating fabulous food (don't we all) but don't always enjoy the whole process that it involves. Don't get me wrong, I do like preparing meals, just not three times a day (sometimes more with a six year old's constant growth spirts), seven days a week. Last night was fun though!

The joke around here is that I should have been born Asian and Justin should have been born Mexican due to our tastes in food. When I cook it is typically Chinese, Thai, Japanese. When he cooks it is almost always tacos. Since I do most of the cooking (!!!) we eat far more Asian cuisine. I usually win when we go out to eat to.

Very tasty!!

B is for Bag. Bag is for B.

2008-02-06T12:59:00.000-08:00

That title sounds like sentences from Connor's kindergarten reading books, but this bag was made for "B" - my brother-in-law Brian. The strap broke on his backpack and he wanted to replace it with a messenger bag.

I'm not quite sure if people ask me to make them things because they really like my work or because they want to be nice. It seemed like he was really pleased with it though - so maybe he actually likes the bag and wants to be kind!

This is my first male bag and I really enjoyed working on it. It was a change of pace to focus most heavily on the the small details and pattern and not give much attention to fabric combinations. And simple is often most beautiful. Sometimes I forget that.

(I told Brian that if he didn't like the bag I would be happy to keep it for myself - no such luck!)

Noticing the Little Things

2008-02-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

So I have this one light fixture in the house that really bothers me, for Justin it is a different fixture. Since we both disagree on which is the most hideous, we will probably never change either one. Oh well, now that I think of it I never even notice it - until the other day. I was sitting on the steps waiting for Connor to get his shoes on. This can sometimes take awhile so I layed back to stretch out my back and when I looked up I saw something rather striking. That ugly light fixture makes some pretty nice shadows!

And on a completely different note, I wish my hair would decide whether it would like to be straight or curly. This is even less likely to happen than getting a new light fixture. Dual personality hair, much like the inside of the head it grows out of - hah!!

Just some random midweek meaningless ramblings and observations I guess.

Fun Inside

2008-02-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

With the subzero temperatures last week we stayed busy inside. My favorite: painting.

Some little bees. They were tricky - really really tiny, so definitely not perfect but still pretty cute.

And some play people/snowmen. You can't help but love the little wooden people! The green guy was dressed properly for the weather.

All in all it was good cozy winter fun!

(blue yo-yo = blue water, blue shirt, blue fingers, blue blue blue...)

Winter White - Feline Style

2008-01-26T21:20:00.000-08:00

I have been very inspired by Shari's winter whites , so a little winter white that lasts all year around here. Yes, that white hair of his blesses everything: my black pants, brown couch, gray couch, navy blue wool coat.......................I actually welcome him lying on my favorite white sweater that I always leave laying around because I know the damage is easily hidden. That long white hair is just so pretty that all is forgiven!

When I adopted him he was nestled on a heap of newspaper, so his hair was more of a dingy gray, but I knew he would clean up well .

So, the story of Polk (somewhat long) goes like this:

My first cat, who I got when I was five, passed away the exact same day I went faraway to college - he held on long enough to see me go. I guess I just needed a feline companion, so adopted Chicco (not Chico but Chicco), a.k.a Polk, from a woman who had 40-some kitties in and outside her home. Evidently, in Miami people think that since it is warm all year the animals can fend for themselves - she takes in these abandoneds. So, she found my cat, left by its owner, cowering underneath her car. He was the first male cat she ever had who took a liking to the baby kittens, bathed each and every one like he was their Mama.

Well, my poor white kitty was beaten pretty badly by his original owner. The first couple of months that I had him he hid from everything and everyone. He would bolt every time he heard footsteps and all of his front teeth are missing - a pretty good sign that some #?#!#!!!!! kicked him around pretty hard.

Over the years he has adjusted well. He is no longer afraid of footsteps and grows more trusting and affectionate all the time! So why Polk and not Chicco anymore? I thought he needed a new name, a fresh start. The poor thing had bad diarrhea when I got him, caused from emotional distress? bad diet?, not quite sure. A friend informed me that our late president James K. Polk had chronic diarrhea; hence the name.

Although he may look "winter white" Polk hates the winter months. Everyday he stands next to the sliding door that leads to our porch because he wants some fresh air... and everyday that I open it for him he backs away when he feels that gust of cold air. It's funny, he keeps thinking that one of these days it is going to be warm air that hits him in the face. Yes Polk, in a few months that warmth will be waiting for you. So, I saved him from abuse and 40-some others to compete with, but I moved him to a climate that just does not agree with him.

Here is Connor's portrait of Polk from art class. I love the way he attempted the side profile, pretty good for a kindergartner! Also, the attention to detail is priceless - Polk has back claws but no front claws. (I did not capture that big bushy black tail in any of my pics!)

Here's to you "Winter White Cat" - spring shall come!

brrrr

2008-01-24T11:28:00.000-08:00

It has been COLD here! We haven't had a lot of snow, just that arctic chill. We did get a little snow though on Monday. I love the way it sticks to the screens on our porch. If we get enough it feels like you are inside a little snow fort.

So, a new scarf to keep warm. I used some old wool my mom gave me for one side and an old linen shower curtain for the other. That button keeps the scarf in place which is definitely necessary in below zero weather.

This blue one is for sale here. It is made from hand-dyed wool that has been pieced together.

I used the same basic pattern for both scarves (wrap around once & button) but varied the details. Mine is made from a continuous piece of wool that is top stitched down the center while the other is a patchwork design. Can't decide which I like better but green is my color so that is the one for me! I hear the weather is supposed to improve - a high of 22 tomorrow!!

Weekend Redo

2008-01-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

I just finished up enjoying a long weekend (5 days of no work)! I did a little redecorating. I get that urge to change things around once in awhile (well probably more often than most). I have been hoarding this Nani Iro fabric for a long time. I splurged on it months ago, not knowing what I would do with it but loving it too much to say no to. Deciding that it was too amazing to cut up into small pieces I decided to frame it.

I stapled this one to a vintage frame that has been tucked away in my closet forever.

The next piece I stapled over an old piece of framed fabric. Yeah, I was too lazy to remove the old piece from the wood frame - they had it wrapped around too many times and really tight. I attached some linen leaves... just because linen leaves make everything prettier?

I never would have dreamt that I would have a purple wall in my dining room with pink artwork, or that my husband would like it! The purple is actually almost gray, if that makes a difference.
I have one more vintage frame to fill. After hanging it though I kind of liked it empty - maybe I will just hang something inside.

And, some changes to the mantel. New additions: 2 vases ($1.50 each), the "Thinking Man" ($1.99). Total cost: $5! It is even more fun when it comes so cheap (makes up for the not-so-cheap Nani Iro fabric).

To Do......

2008-01-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

Lots of projects underway! I seem to start a ton at one time and finish them around the same time. I am definitely not one to finish old before diving into new.

So, currently on the To Do List:

...ship...

...sew...

...launder...
(thanks Mary!)

...knit...

Other than the shipping task, I am in no hurry to complete anything. This is a welcome break after crazy December! Oh, and I signed up for this mobile swap - looking forward to starting on that.

Ahh, Thanks!

2008-01-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Sew, Mama, Sew for featuring my fabric basket. All of the kind comments about the basket and bookmarks put a smile on my face!

Happy Friday

Sunday Skating

2008-01-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

We did a little ice skating on Sunday. Connor has been itching to try and he could not contain himself anymore. After a warm weekend, the rink was full of puddles but he was determined to make a go of it anyway. This made for some wet falls.

He did pretty well for his first time. By the end of the day he was moving around without hanging on to an arm. He took the most spills when his mind wandered away from the skating - watching passing cars, people (2 teenage girls in particular, goofing around being silly girls - yes this was very captivating for my son).

And, Justin was shocked at how good a skater his wife is. He was a little nervous about me bringing the camera out on the ice with me (yeah he snatched it away right after I laced up my skates). He was certain I was going to end up falling in one of those puddles. But I stayed up the whole time, which kind of surprised me too - it has been years since I have done this. I am very far from graceful, Connor will probably surpass me very soon, but it was lots of fun! I can see this becoming a frequent activity.

Handmade Christmas

2008-01-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

So now that all (well most) of the Christmas gifts have finally been given, here are some that I worked frantically to complete. I wanted to do the same last year but did not start early enough. If I make one for one person I feel like I must make one for everyone!

I have been wanting to try this fabric basket pattern for awhile now. It is from this book, designed by this talented lady. This one went to Katie, Justin's sister.

Some scarves (1 for Dad, 1 for my Mom-in-Law) and an embellished linen pouch for Mom. That pouch was so much fun to make - I really enjoy embroidery because I am able to get comfortable on the couch & under a blanket (not hunched over the sewing machine).

And for Grandma, a handbag with all the bells and whistles - button closure, pockets, and embroidery.

I saved the best for last! Connor and I made these bookmarks together - he drew the pictures and I put them together. I'm not sure who had more fun, he or I. We made one for all of the grandparents and great grandparents: Nana & Papa, Nana & Papa, Nanny, G-Ma, and Grammy & Great Grandpa. Isn't he a lucky boy to have so many!

Welcome 2008

2008-01-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

Already an exciting event for the new year: a new family member, well extended family member. He belongs to my parents, but as Connor put it, "Even though he lives with Nana & Papa he is still all of ours." So, meet Toby the little black poodle pup:

He just looked so cute prancing around in the snow, all black against a sea of white.

Anyway, New Year's Eve was very laid back this year. We stayed home and it felt great! Connor and I had game night (Justin had to work late :( counting inventory). Operation and Crazy Eights were the games of choice. One game of Crazy Eights lasted over an hour, I kid you not.

After games, after Connor fell asleep, and after Justin got done with work, we celebrated by breaking in a martini set we received from Justin's boss as a Christmas gift. Cranberry martinis to ring in 2008.

Happy New Year!!

Christmas Lights

2007-12-27T15:21:00.000-08:00

It comes and goes so fast. Lots of stress: driving for 2 days straight in terrible weather (cannot count how many cars we saw in the ditch including a five car + semi accident/catstrophe complete with two ambulances), being so tired that my contacts blur up every hour, last minute shopping, wrapping, baking...

But the holidays brought out lots of good: seeing old friends and distant family, eating fabulous food, and most gratifying, watching the joy of a six year old when he receives something he has drooled over for months and watching him give gifts he worked so hard on making. It was a merry time!

Six

2007-12-21T22:12:00.000-08:00

Oh...I'm late, but who cares. I know it is technically the 22nd and I should either be in bed, packing for our trip, or wrapping Christmas presents, but I choose to draw out the birthday as long as I can. Connor is six today (or yesterday the 21st)! Wow-it is so hard to believe. So, 6 things about the 6 year old:

1) Connor LOVES football (and futbol in the summer)!

A football quilt from Nana Jeani & Papa Jayson (handmade by Nana).

A new jersey from Nana Yvonne & Papa Dave.

2) Connor's favorite foods are somewhat similar to other children in that he loves mac n' cheese, corn dogs, & chicken nuggets. However, unlike lots of others his age Connor enjoys many other types of foods, i.e. seaweed (he will eat it like a french fry), cabbage (huge coleslaw fan), and Chinese dumplings (of any sort & prepared in any fashion). I am so blessed that my son lives by the kindergarten motto of "be polite and take a bite" and that he almost always enjoys his bite.

3) Connor's best friend is Bennett.

(Bennett is not wearing "jailbird" pants. They decided to play dress up before the party, hence the pirate pants)

4) Connor's favorite colors are blue, red, black, and brown.

5) He is a doodler. As I mentioned before, I can NEVER find a clean piece of paper around here. So, he will either grow up to be an artist or an NFL football player. Although, for over a year now he has told me he wants to be a mailman. They are all quite different career paths so I suppose he is just a renaissance man.

6) Quite honestly, I think Connor is unique for his age. This may sound biased, but as a person I think he has an extrodinarily kind heart and a deep soul in that he is loving, understanding, and just plain nice. For example, it is just common law around here (by his choice) that Mommy gets at least 5 hugs before bedtime. Some say he is shy, I say he is observant. He is an intense watcher (especially of older children - of course) and he remembers finite details from years ago, yes at age six. He has never done or said anything at school to make another person feel bad. For this I am extremely proud of him and feel lucky to have such a kind and loving child!

Well, I am starting to get sappy, but it is all true. This time of year always brings back memories of six years ago when I received the best Christmas gift ever.

- HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR-

Merry Christmas to Mrs. Rose!

2007-12-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

Well, one Christmas gift I can share before giving... Connor and I made this memo holder for Mrs. Rose, his kindergarten teacher. We thought it would be fun to make something for her and even more fun if we could both participate.

So, Connor drew the picture for the outside. We used the Crayola fabric crayons and Mommy ironed it on and sewed up the rest. We included a small notepad, pen, and matching paperclip. It is backed with Timtex (which my sewing machine has come to hate) so it is nice and sturdy.

Connor says he loves it, so I have one almost completed for him as a Christmas gift. He is a doodler (I can never find a blank piece of paper around the house) so I'm thinking he will love his as well.

Tradition

2007-12-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

OK, I know my birthday was two weeks ago (and I am not one to dote over my own birthday) but I am going to talk about my night out anyway. Justin and I have developed an annual tradition for my birthday - dinner at our favorite restaurant. I know this does not sound all that exciting but really it is. The food is spectacular as is the presentation, service... Just look at this, my own personalized birthday menu!

After good food, good wine, and a flaming dessert we head down to the little bar down the road. The first year we stumbled upon it because the temperature outside was below zero, it was about a block away, and we were not about to walk more than that. Again this year it was cold, but I think we went back for reasons other than that. I guess it may become part of our tradition.

Justin was feeling particularly generous that night. He was determined to find a homeless person to give our leftovers to. Yes, he approached people at the bus stop asking where he could find some homeless people to give his food to. I don't know if the people were offended by him or just plain shocked. Anyway, poor Justin may have had one too many cocktails with dinner, but really he does have a big heart. And, he did find someone at the end of the evening. The man was not homeless but was happy to take the food.

With that said I will talk no more about my birthday, until next year. It is time to concentrate on the next one coming this Friday. The birthday boy wants hot dogs, coleslaw, and baked beans. Sounds like a summer feast to me, but what he wants he will get. Oh, and chocolate cake of course.

That Time of Year

2007-12-08T10:40:00.000-08:00

It has been a little hectic around here lately, as is typical of December. This one has been even more so. In addition to Christmas we have two December birthdays. This year we also have an out of town wedding sandwiched inbetween Connor's birthday (the 21st) and Christmas. And now the other night we had to rush Connor to the emergency room due to some scary nasty hives. We have found out that he is allergic to milk. So now, amongst the busy holiday season we must also readjust our eating habits. Luckily Connor likes soy milk, although lately I have heard some not so good things about it. And although I do not like this allergy, then again who would, I am glad to know where these hives have been coming from the past two months. Another positive - they rate the allergy on a scale of 1 to 6, 1 being the least allergic and 6 being the most. He is a 1! And so he does not have to completely eliminate dairy from his diet, just cut back.

So my holiday gift making has again been put on hold. Here is some of it waiting to be cut into:

And on another note, I had a wonderful birthday. Here is my favorite gift, a serving tray built and decorated by Connor.

**See the 21 on the advent calendar - the birthday boy's day is overfilling**