Christmasy Stuff

Even though we are running behind on Christmas due to combination of a) leaving things until the last moment, and b) a horrible virus that caused us to lose an entire week of December, we've still managed to get a few Christmasy things done.

Thanks to Walmart One Hour Photo, I manged to slap together a Christmas card!


And we finally hung up the sparkly snowflakes that we glittered in early December. Yay for toddler art projects! And for finding something for this really strange, large, open window!



It's December 22! I'm still getting out Christmas decorations! Oh boy. Next year I am going to be done with gift shopping early... as in September!

How are you doing? Are you ready for the big day?

Maddie's birthday party - Pooh Bear extravaganza

Event of the season . . . that is what everyone is saying about Maddie's 2nd birthday party . . . ok, not really. But it was the event of my season at least (Jamie's birthday is technically in Summer by a few days, so that will be the event of next season), so I thought I'd show you a few pictures of Maddie's Super Sleuth / My Friend's Tigger and Pooh Extravaganza.

We had a bean bag toss, except the bean bags were these bees:

Cute, yes?

And you had to toss them into these bee hives (bee hives designed by Daddy, and bean bag toss provided by Grandma Ruby) :

My aren't we clever!

We had honey Teddy Grahams in Pooh and Friends cups . . .

And Pooh Bear giving Piglet a hug. Pooh and Piglet were tragically popped in a wrestling match featuring Maddie and Danny . . . luckily Maddie found it hilarious.

I was so excited to be able to find Winnie the Pooh tablewear at Big Lots!

And Party City had matching balloons!

Present tables are always pretty! Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Joe had tickets to a hockey game, so they came early to help decorate. Uncle Joe turned out to be quite handy with the crepe paper!

Maddie was very excited by all the Pooh decorations!

Maddie's birthday party - let them eat cake!

Cake?! Decorating a cake?!?! So not my forte!

Maddie's cake is my first real attempt, I got the idea for a green cake with flowers and Winnie the Pooh characters online. I found a "grass" decorating tip at Michaels along with frosting colorant. The flowers I found at a party store. The Super Sleuth figures Maddie got as a Christmas present from Grammy, which is why a few of them looked a bit loved. Darby proved too heavy for the cake and had to be propped up with tooth picks.

Any time, any place, the Super Sleuths are on the case!

Maddie took a bite out of the candle while I was

getting ready to put it on. I guess it looked tasty!

It took me a few minutes to get the hang of the grass, and it was a warm day (I frosted the day before the party) so I had to keep putting the piping bag into the freezer to cool. After about minutes it would get warm again and the grass strands would come out all smushy looking. I also tried to "grow" the grass in different directions so it looked more like real grass and less uniform.

Mmmmmm . . . cake.

And I did about a dozen matching cupcakes.

Maddie was a fan of the cupackes, she ate the frosting off of two. Check out her shirt, all those strawberry stains! And after the cupcakes she had green frosting stains. I spot treated and it all came out in the wash! Amazing!

Super Sleuth Pooh in his Hundred Acre Wood of cupcakes.

Easter Dress

Let's start this post off with a little Jamie cuteness shall we? He didn't get an Easter outfit made for him, but I think he is rocking these threads anyway. What a chill little monkey he is!

I barely "finished" Maddie's Easter dress in time. By "finished" I mean it was finished enough to be wearable - the zipper was only basted in and the waist ties weren't really on correctly. But hey, she was able to put it on and wear it to church, run around hunting eggs and lugging gravel around Grammy's backyard (she is obsessed with that gravel), it even made it through a hand washing afterwards so I could get it ready to rework and tidy up a few things on it. The dress did end up a lot larger than I thought it would seeing as I made it in a toddler 2 and Maddie is at the top of the weight range and over the height range for that size according to the pattern. This was my first time doing an entire dress from a pattern and I actually had fun. The pattern was a Project Runway Inspired for Simplicity and it was fun to get so many options for sleeves, skirt type, and add ons. Maybe not the best idea to pick as your first pattern one that has a collar, zipper, and is fully lined, especially when you start only a few days before the event! Oh well! I was also really thrilled with the bubble skirt, just want to make the next one shorter and puffier, although the nice thing is she will be able to still grow into this dress.

Here is the most amazing thing about this dress. I already had everything I needed to make it! The pattern I got months ago for 99 cents at Joanns during one of the Simplicity pattern sales! The linen for the bodice was one of my old skirts. The gorgeous fabric I used for the skirt is from the meadowsweet line and I won that online in a giveaway sponsored by Jane's Fabrics! The lining I used muslin left over from the skirts I made for the maternity pictures last year. The tulle for the bubble skirt and the interfacing for the waistband I already had from other projects! The only thing I had to buy was a zipper! Amazing!

She really, I mean really, loves that gravel. She had a whole Easter basket with candy and a stuffed lamby inside but spent an hour carrying around the gravel in an old plastic plant container. I cannot explain it. Most of these pictures were taken with my iphone, all of the "real" pictures are on Grammy's camera, but I still don't think I got a full on picture of her looking at the camera that shows the whole dress. Well, actually I did, but she's laying on the floor in the middle of a huge tantrum, and I can't post that can I?

Girl jeans to boy shorts

What do you do when your daughter grows out of her jeans and your son is almost ready for that same size?  Pass them down, right?  But wait,  what should you do if there are thick, purple butterfly appliques at the bottom of the legs . . . too thick to cover with some fancy boy faux cuffs?

(Warning: more low-light iphone pics ahead)

Why, turn them into shorts of course!  Luckily, we live in California!

Maybe someday I will get pinking shears that work, that would be great on this hem . . . or I could get a Serger . . . ah, a girl can dream can't she?

I made them a bit long because I thought "There is no way my 8 month old is going to fit in these 24 month size jeans, (which being from Walmart run large), even if he is in 18 months currently."

I

Was

Wrong

Look everyone, a little mini "fan boy"

So, his jeans shorts are too long to be "shorts" and too short to be "bermuda shorts," but he is cute nonetheless.  

Dumbo tshirt skirt

I found this lovely tutorial for a toddler ruffle skirt from an adult tshirt by Abby from Sew Much Ado.  I love this tutorial!  This skirt was so easy to make, which is a blessing because I used it as a break from the Coca-Cola skirt I am making for Maddie which is making me want to throw my sewing machine out the window.  I needed a fun, easy, complete-able project to restore my sanity.

I used this old tshirt of mine, I got it at Disneyland ages ago, and I am pretty sure the last time I wore it was to Disneyland for my birthday almost four years ago.  How cute is Dumbo? 

The problem with this shirt is that it is black in the back, and therefore I wasn't able to get the appropriate amount of strips of the front color for two full ruffles, so I added in some black . . . unfortunately there is a black on black strip in the middle of the colored ruffle in the back, so from far away it looks like the ruffle just sort of ends on Maddie's butt.  Had I been thinking it through more I would have put more of the black in the front, but I was focused on getting the words "Walt Disney's" in the center top ruffle.  Oh well, also Timothy's head and the top of one of Dumbo's eyes ended up in the waist band, I still think it's stinking adorable.

I think it took me about an hour all told (a little bit late last night and some today).  Maddie loves it!  She twirled all around the back yard.

I see many more of these in my future!

And some Jamie pics for your viewing pleasure, aren't you lucky?  Really, could he be any cuter, and check out how blue that sky is?  There is nothing prettier than Southern California the day after it rains.

Patchwork Scarves

Here is my super secret project for someone's birthday - actually, my Mom's birthday.  It was on the 7th, but I didn't get these mailed out until last week, and then with the holiday they didn't get to her until yesterday!  I found this tutorial at Max and Ellie, which I followed for the first scarf (the blue and brown), but changed up a bit in the length and number of fleece pieces on the cream scarf.  

There was an unfortunate incident with an iron on the blue scarf (as I was ironing it Maddie started hurling things at the tv and I ran over to stop her), which resulted in a burn mark on a shoulder.  It wasn't a very dark burn considering how long the iron had been sitting directly on the fleece and it actually kept magically fading, so much so that my mom and brothers couldn't find it yesterday without very specific instructions about where to look (and under a bright light).

My Mom already wore the cream scarf out in the snow last night, so they are a pretty and useful gift!

This scarf uses fabrics left over from the maternity picture skirts I made for Maddie and myself.  I love them.

This scarf uses fabrics that match the purse I made my Mom for Christmas.

One month down, eleven more to go

February is a short month, I need to keep that in mind . . . also, we are gearing up to move to God knows where . . . so trying to keep my expectations of myself realistic, so hard!

1.  Super Secret Craft that is being done for someone's birthday.

2. Valentine's Day stuff, I really want to make these from Sew Mama Sew.  I would love to make a little skirt for Mads, and onsie for James but again, being realistic.

3.  Get rid of more stuff.

4.  Finish one other project, preferably the coca-cola skirt before Maddie is too big to ever wear it.

January, when the rains come

It was January, California winter time
Wet pavements shone like streetlights in the dark

1. Finish Maddie's coca-cola skirt.

I am sad to say that this skirt is currently still in pieces . . . I undid the part that went wrong, and cut out the pieces for the second ruffle, but it hasn't been completed yet. I am actually a little concerned that it might end up being too small.

2. Get some official pictures of the babies.
Done!

3. Add some length to the Zaney quilt to bring it closer to a twin size so he can grow with it.
This is another goal that is half way done, I wasn't able to find what I wanted the last time I went to the fabric store, so the pieces I had left have been cut to the sizes I want, but I still need to get at least another 1/2 yard. Here are the pieces that have already been cut, safely put away from Maddie in their Ziploc baggie.

Because I couldn't finish the Zaney quilt, I did do a lot of work on my "first quilt" that I started at quilting class. These are my first half square triangles - looking good so far . . .

4. Submit F&L to a publisher.
Done!

5. Have a garage sale and get rid of lots of stuff!
Done! Need to have another one though!

I am glad I got the majority of my monthly goals done, but honestly, January has been kind of a hard month. Here is to the rest of 2010 being a lot better!

And to this day the California rains bring memories of you
And to this day my heart remains always and only for you

2010 goals . . .

Well, now that I have actually completed my 2009 in review post I suppose it is time to think about 2010. . . yes, I know we are already two weeks into the new year, I am just a bit slow.

Here's the deal - my life is super unsettled at the moment, I can't even tell you where I will be living next month so I am going to make my goals for the year pretty short and then kind of do month by month goals.  That will allow me to modify my goals when we move, etc.  So here are my big goals for 2010:

1.  Submit my children's book manuscript to a publisher.

2.  The Catalina Marathon, I honestly don't see how this is going to happen, seeing as it's in 7 weeks and Liz and I have been off our training schedule for a few months.  But there it is.

3.  Read through the Bible - I have this goal every year, I have read Genesis so many times ;)  

4.  Start and Finish three quilts. 

5.  Christmas stockings for Maddie and James.

I will start my monthly goal list here - we are already halfway through January so it will be kind of short.

1.  Finish Maddie's coca-cola skirt.

2.  Get some official pictures of the babies.

3.  Add some length to the Zaney quilt to bring it closer to a twin size so he can grow with it.

4.  Submit F&L to a publisher.

5.  Have a garage sale and get rid of lots of stuff!

Here is to a great 2010!

2009 in review

When I think back on 2009 I tend to only think of all the stressful , unhappy things that have been going on . . . the economy tanking (not so great when you are a small business owner), financial issues, and our housing situation being up in the air . . . I was at first not going to do a year in review post, but when I really started thinking about it, we had a pretty amazing year! I guess it is all about perspective. So here is my month-by-month review of the awesomeness of 2009! ETA: This honestly turned out to be a much longer post than I originally intended (and there are lots of pictures missing, but I am posting anyway as it is getting a little too late into 2010 to still be doing 2009 in review posts). So glad I did it though, it has really been an exercise in perspective and thankfulness.

January

My wonderful husband, Ed, turns the big 40!

I make a seat cushion and pillows for my rocking chair, I also painted it black. This was one of my first sewing projects by myself. I had received my first sewing machine for Christmas and my Mom helped me make curtains while we were back east.

This uber cute picture of Maddie trying her first pineapple while watching the January premier of Psych earns her an honorable mention in the Psych fan picture contest and Season 2 on dvd . . . pic taken with my phone.

February

I finish my first (and to date only) Amish Knot rug, it looks great for a few months and then I ruin it by being overly-ambitious in the washing process . . . I learned a lot though - next time thicker fabric and thicker strips. Thankfully this was made with fabric I got in a bin on freecycle.

Maddie's first Valentine's Day, what a sweet pea.

Last but not least . . . on Valentine's Day Ed, Maddie, Liz, Daniel and I went in for a gender ultrasound and found out we were having a James!

March

Maddie stands!

I made some pants for my friend's son Zane.

April

Happy Resurrection Day! Maddie's first Easter! She got The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in her basket and a love affair was born!

I made this diaper cake for a friend's shower, my first one ever.

Maddie turns one and we have a huge birthday bash - complete with Daddy's band providing entertainment. It was quite a windy day, which is why the only pictures I have of her birthday sign some of the squares are flying about in spite of being stuck down with tape.

Maddie's birthday outfit (my first skirt of any kind since Junior Girl Scouts).

Maddie goes to Disneyland on her actual birthday.

May

Maddie takes her first step at Auntie Liz's house while Mommy and Daddy are out on a date seeing T4. I don't have pictures of course! But here is a picture of her walking a month or so later . . . it is an action shot!

We had some pretty maternity pictures taken at the beach. I made a skirt for me and a top for Maddie.

Mother's Day aprons for my Mom and Grammy.

We got 3d scans of James for my Mother's Day present.

June

We finished painting the nursery (not knowing we wouldn't be living here much longer, but I digress - at least they babies have a nice nursery while they are here), and they have this blessing from Aslan above their door: "Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen."

My "July baby" makes a surprise June appearance! James is caught by Auntie Liz as he makes a speedy entrance into the world! We then had to go to the hospital (boo!), but so glad that James was born at home!

Three days after James turns 0 I turn 30!

July

Well . . . July 4th happened . . . I have no pictures because we didn't do much for it! We were still coping with doubling the amount of babies in the house.

We did watch a lot of Angel's baseball though!

Oh . . . and we made it out of the house to a Carl's Jr!

August

I repurposed Maddie's Minnie Mouse high chair cover into a pillow that was meant to be for the floor, but she now sleeps with it every night. Shockingly it washes really easily.

I actually made out of the house and to Walmart with both babies by myself, aren't these shopping carts awesome? It was on this mad dash to Walmart before church on Sunday that Maddie acquired the infamous pink Pooh sneakers. This is also on the way to Jamie's first day at church. She does actually love her brother more than it appears in this picture. . . and one of Daddy and Jamie for Jamie's first day!

Liz and I decided to start training to walk a marathon (we had a month and half off there at the end of 2009, but we are now back on the wagon) follow us at Walking Away With Ourselves.

September

Maddie got a hair cut!

We took the kids to their first Angel's game, we adopted a Rally Monkey to bring home so we could unleash the power of the monkey while we watched games at home. . . there are pictures but they are currently on my old hard drive . . .

We also went to the LA County Fair, Maddie's second and Jamie's first. While there Maddie rode a pony called Dr. Pepper.

James made it to Disneyland for his first visit. He was so good!

October

James ate his first solid food! Avocado! Maddie helped him prepare for his first bite by hugging him around the neck.

Halloween - James was Mike Wazowski and Maddie was Boo, both from Monster's Inc. I made the Mike costume the night before, nothing like being prepared.

November

My Mom visits!

James gets baptized!  There are pictures . . . just not here

My good friend Sarah gets married, I am a bridesmaids and do the flowers. I also made her an apron, the same fabric as the ones for Mom and Grammy. The picture of all the bridesmaids (the girl in black stood on the groom's side actually) is of our "sexy face" bridesmaid's picture.

Thanksgiving (only a few pictures on my phone! oops!)

December

Ed and I celebrate our 8th anniversary on the 21st with dinner at The Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland . . . we walk into Disney to buy Maddie's Winnie the Pooh at Pooh Corner, and make an unsuccessful attempt at locating a Mike Wazowski for James (again with the no pictures)!

So many projects completed during December. . .

Christmas!

So, in review, I think we had a pretty darn good year . . .