Some Sewing!

I have been able to get quite a few sewing projects done in these past couple of weeks.  This little skirt was for a very special little girls first birthday!  My own pattern and I just love how it turned out!

Amy Butler Fabric

Underskirt with ruffle. Grosgrain Ribbon finished edge.

My favorite little feature.... Adjustable waist!!!  I like the look of flat front skirts so much better than when they are all elastic.  This gives it a little more give size-wise!

 I also don't care if I see another ruffle for awhile!  That probably won't last very long!  I made a blanket for our family to use for family photos here soon.  We are going to take them in an orchard and I needed something for the kids to sit on.  It is made out of Chambray which goes with just about everything! I made it big enough so that I can use it for future shoots also.

I will use it this way for families.



And this way for just the kids.



Close up of the flowers.  Love this addition!

Now I just need the weather to cooperate so that I can get our photos taken!!!

My Birthday Weekend

We have loved the few days of spring weather that we have been having!  One of our favorite things is to take walks in the evenings.

Shaggy Camden enjoying his ride.

I got this amazing scooter at Moppet Togs for a photo prop/Keaton toy!  Showing off some tricks!



He loves it but he got VERY tired going around the entire neighborhood.

 

Tiana cruised around on the trike!

 This weekend was my birthday and I had such a wonderful weekend.  Friday night we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner.  They have baby chicks right now so the kids got to see the chicks.  We had a great time, the kids always love playing outside and seeing all the animals and of course Grandpa and Grandma!

 Saturday we spent the day catching up on sleep and things around the house.  After the kids took LONG much needed naps we decided to venture out for my birthday dinner.  We took the kids to Joe's Crab Shack and discovered that all the kids love shrimp!!!!  This was VERY exciting to us parents!!  Camden took a bite... hesitated... chewed.... then declared "mmmm chicken!".  It was one of those times that the kids were awesome and we got to really enjoy our food.  It was perfect time spend with my little family!

The cutest picture of our little love bug and Daddy.

 Right outside we had to go admire the river that is VERY high right now!  Camden kept asking for his "fishing pole!"  I guess we have a little fisherman, just like Daddy.

Taken by Keaton, a little blurry but hey, at least we are in the photo!!

Tiana dancing to the music!

 Sunday we headed out after meeting to my parents house for a birthday dinner celebrated with my Grandma (24th also), Uncle Ryan (26th), Chelsea (27th) and my birthday!!  This is the beginning of LOTS of birthdays in my family!  Tiana woke up on Sunday and ran in and said, "Happy Birthday Mommy... is it my birthday now!?!?"  We have been telling her that it will be Mommy's birthday and THEN her birthday.  I think that she was more excited about it being my birthday because then it was hers next!!!

Nana put some eggs together for the kids to have a little Easter egg hunt!  As soon as Camden found out that there was candy in them he would open each one and stuff it all in his mouth!  At one point I fished out 7.... that is right SEVEN big jelly beans!!!!!

A little Keatonism:  He was telling us how that at preschool when they race to the playground he always wins. (This isn't surprising since this kid is FAST... however who knows if any of the other kids even know they are racing ;) )  He told us that, "I go so fast I am going to just get dust all over them!"  Someone must have told him the little line that he just left them in the dust!  I love his little interpretation!

Taste good?

Me: Ummm, Sis, did you accidentally try to eat your green marker?

Tiana: NO, I didn't!  (horrified that I would even ASK)

I showed her the photos and she was very surprised!

From the button jar

On Saturday Daddy went fishing with Papa so we went over to Nana and Papa's house to hang out for the day.  Uncle Mark and Auntie Kyla were there as well as Grammy and Uncle Derek so there was lots of hands to entertain while Mommy got a little break.  I needed it so bad and it felt SO very good to get some crafting in.  I bought a bunch of vintage buttons off of Craigslist a while ago and since then have wanted to do this project.  We have a wall by our front door that I hang a wreath on during the fall and winter but the rest of the year it looked very bare.  I wrapped a canvas in burlap then took a brown ink pad to it to add some dimension.  Then I layered a bunch of buttons on in the shape of an S.  While it did use a lot of buttons it didn't even put a dent in my jar of white/off white buttons!  This is a great afternoon project!  Word of advice... do NOT use a high temp glue gun... the buttons are small and the glue is HOT! (Just ask my fingers)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  It catches the light and my eye whenever I walk by!

Grandma time

Grandma came over the other day and her and I ended up having all five of the little cousins here for the afternoon!  Yikes, talk about high volume and energy.  It actually went great until nap time came and went... that is when things got a little crazy and this Mommy got a little frazzled!  That is a lot of kids 4 and under.  In a few years it will be fun and a lot easier to have them all together.  They have fun but it is a lot of work and trying on the nerves right now trying to keep some sort of order.... and to think that next summer there will be TWO more!!!  For some reason I don't see Grandma taking all the kids for the day... or if she offers there is NO WAY I will let her do it without some serious help!  Not while they are all this little at least.

They all get along like siblings.... there is a lot of arguing and fighting... nothing serious of course but the adults are definitely referees the entire time!  There is also a lot of hugs and giggles.  I know that I definitely do NOT want FIVE kids!  That is for sure!!!!!  I couldn't do it... granted they wouldn't be this close in age!

These two cuddled, giggled and hugged the entire time during story time.

I hope they stay this close through the years!

Fun in the Sun

I think this year the biggest April Fool's joke will be the weather!  It was another beautiful 70* day and tomorrow is supposed to be 52* and rainy again!  Needless to say we enjoyed every minute of it!

We headed over for a playdate since the kids are FINALLY all well enough to attend!  They so enjoy it and of course so do us Moms!  Keaton is the oldest of the 11 kids who are usually there but not by much.  Cousin Kason was sick so we missed him but everyone else was well! It really is amazing how many kids there are about the same age.  We love it!

Keaton drew Cora a photo and was telling her all about it!

"ook it, Mommy, bue!"  Camden wants to know his colors so bad and is starting to learn them.  He loved playing with the chalk... last summer he just ate it!

All of us except little Maddie who was taking a nap inside!

Camden wanting me to trace him... right next to Keaton and Tiana's outlines.

I love how he talks about what he is drawing!

Cousin Remington and Camden are a few weeks apart in age and they are so funny together.  Neither of them are very adventurous except when they are together!  They will venture off with each other and not even think twice about it.  We had to laugh about them today because as soon as one would start doing something, the other would start to grin and do it too!  We are going to have our hands full with these two.  From the back they look so much alike since they are close in size and hair color!

Camden started smiling when Remington decided he was done sitting on the stairs!

They were throwing little rocks at us which didn't work for very long since they have decent arms on them and started pegging us pretty good!

 This evening we ate outside again and then headed down to the common area to play some baseball.  Keaton does really good with his stance and his batting!

Tiana on the other hand.........

Poses instead of having any type of stance!

And makes this face... no wonder she never hits it!

So Daddy taught her how to stand.  We then told her to look at us so she could see the ball.  She immediately pops her knee and grins in a pose!

She then took up what she is lots better at..... Cheering and Dancing!

Goofy girl doesn't look like she is going to be a softball star!