I Should Be Putting Laundry Away - But You Know You Have Missed Me (And By Me, I Mean The Girls)

So, I should be putting laundry away (about a months worth, isn't that horrible?  I do have the kids stuff put away, but Mike's and mine?  No.) but here I am making all my Gentle Readers happy and posting some new pictures.  There are some of B and Charley, some of what we have done (sadly, not much) and some of the things I've made.  

Life in the Brady House has been a little, well, I hate to use the word rough, because, really, how rough can life be when you live in the Brady House?  If only we had an Alice......  OK, I am back.  Anyway, the weather has be weird, raining, overcast, cold, sometimes all on the same day.  We want to be outside - yeah, you're right, I don't want to be, but I want the girls to go out.  Mike and I have been sick.  Charley doesn't want to sleep, B wants to rule the world (God, let's hope it isn't in an evil way).  So, cross your fingers that the weather suns and warms up and these crazy kids can go outside and get out of my hair.  Good thing we have a fenced yard, huh?

One of the last warmish days, we went to Brookfield Zoo.  You know,I have to start bringing my camera, my phone takes OK pictures, but they are not great. 

 I sent this photo to Mike and my sister with the caption

"Chicken Laid an Egg."

 The girls and I love peacocks.  We probably stalked this one

a little too long.  He never did spread his tail.

I have done some sewing.  This is a dress I made up for B.  I should have found a pattern, it is a bit of a mess on the inside.  The material is a bit icky.  Like some polyesterish stretchy cotton jersey.  It turned out all right.  B loves it.

Below is the newest addition to the Brady house.  Introducing Two Scoops of Coco. 

 

B really wanted a new kitty and you know I am a sucker for a feline, so we adopted Scoops from HELP.  She was at Petsmart, and she is a very sweet little girl.  They called her Scoops, but really Scoops?  Of course, it fits in with all the weird names B gives out.  So, hopefully, Two Scoops of Coco will eventually turn into Coco.  TSoC is loveable, nice to the girls and uses her litterbox.  She is also camping out upstairs until she gets used to Layla the Crazy.  Here is my soapbox, there are so many kitties waiting to be adopted.  It makes me sad.  There were several at Petsmart.  Of course, one didn't come how with us because when I tried to pet her, she bit me!  She was playful though.......

Here is one of B's art projects.  I don't know if you can tell, but she built a reindeer out of who knows what. See, I am using my phone, I should pin the camera to my shirt.

Last week was Elsie Marley's Kids Clothing Challenge Week.  I did not sign up, because really, I am not going to post my meager offerings on someones Flicker board.  But I did get some cute things made.  First up is a dress that I modeled off of a dress I pinned.  I had the lime fabric and the turquoise flower trim.  I used the Valentina pattern and just extrapolated it into an aline dress.   I hand stitched the hem so it would be invisible. 

  

I also made B some bike shorts.  No picture here.  Boring.  I had a bunch last year (they are good under dresses and skirts) but I cannot find them ANYWHERE.  Note:  I may find them in the fall when I don't need them.  I finally found the hats, mittens and boots right before Easter.  Next I painted B this shirt using a stencil film and my Cameo.  The mane, tail and horn are glitter using glitter and Mod Podge Fabric.

I finished this tee last night using Made by Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern.  The sleeves and neck are cut from one of my old shirts.  Which is good, I am having issues finding good knit fabric.  I am going to order some, but really, I just want to go to a store and buy some.  Joann's has a very disappointing supply.  OK, as I say this, the owl fabric is from there.

 

The girls have been "playing with each other" machines. Thank God!!!!  They may annoy each other in purpose, but the do play.  Here, B was mothering Charley and putting her down for a nap in a basket (my dirty laundry basket for my room).  Look at the following picture where B is reading to Charley.  It almost melts me heart and makes me want to keep them instead of dropping them off at a 294 oasis.

Last up is a pair of bike shorts (can't find hers either) for Charley.   These are painted with little unicorns.  I used my Silhouette and Reynolds Freezer paper.  I also drafted the pattern and it is OFF.  They will work, but they are crooked.   I also think I need a coverstitch machine.  Barb, if you are reading, do you use yours a lot?  Was it worth it?  I would keep the serger you (Barb) gave me, but just have one set up for cover stitching?  Though, the owl tee looks pretty good where I finished the edges with the serger and used a double needle at the hems.

This little one will be trouble.  I mean is trouble.  Look at those hot dog buns!

 

So, that is it here.  The laundry is still in the basket, I haven't showered (we had swim lessons today and that is the excuse I am going with) and the dishwasher needs emptying.  The good news is my office is clean and waiting for the next thing I am going to make.  I am not sure what that is, but last night I couldn't sleep with all the ideas going through my mind.  I have trouble when my bright idea (Charley's bike shorts) doesn't quite work.  I bought some fabric spray paint and want to try and "print" fabric for a dress for Charley.  I also want to get some fabric paint/ink that isn't stiff.  I found some at Dharma Trading, just can't decide which colors to get.  It is like the knit fabric I find online.  What is the right thing to get? Questions, questions, cross your toes I sleep tonight.  I have Piloxing tomorrow morning!

Easter Egg Hunt/Easter 2012 (And Quite Possibly, A Ton Of Photos)

Easter is really not one of my favorite holidays.  Mike hates the cutesy decorations, and my sister hosts Easter at her house, so beyond dying eggs, hiding plastic ones filled with candy and the Bunny coming, I don't do a whole heck of a lot.  This year, I (stupidly) decided to invite all our friends and neighbors to our house for an egg hunt party.  What's worse, I decided this the Sunday before Easter.  The nice thing about buying decorations and plastic eggs and candy the week before Easter?  Sales.  THe party was nice because, though we've lived here for almost 6 months,  we haven't done a lot of entertaining.  This egg hunt took care of some social obligation, if you get my drift.

I think we dyed eggs on Tuesday after school.  And yes, Charley wore a Belle nightgown and crown to school.

The egg hunt was Saturday afternoon.  We lucked out, the weather was great.    Around noon, Mike and I hid 250 candy filled eggs.  We did three different areas.  One for the littles, one for the mediums and one for the larges.   It was hard.  Our yard is pretty big, but there aren't a lot of places to hide eggs.

I set the table with pots filled with Home Depot's best sod.  Trader Joe's tulips looked great in these cute little glasses I have.  Colored eggs, sparkly eggs, and egg candles helped fill it out.

The girls and I collected sticks from the yard to make the egg tree.  Those candy filled jars have to go!  Every time I walk by I filch some jelly beans.  Oh, and do I need some art for the walls?  They look so bare!

The table looked pretty good after I added the cupcakes and other sweets.  I really wanted a river rock runner down the middle of the table - oh and it would be nice if we installed the new lights we've had forever.

B and I came up with this cute garland.  Charley laid out the colors. 

What would an egg hunt be without a Bunny?

 

I bet you are wondering where I found a bunny on short notice?  When we were at swim lessons on Monday, I mentioned to Beth, (who brings Larkin to lessons) that i was having this party.  She just happens to have a Mom with a bunny suit.  And she hires out.  WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

This is Parker - isn't she a sweetie?

Here is B.  She dressed herself this day. 

Where is Cha Cha you ask?  Hiding under my skirt.

No, I am serious.  Under my skirt.

Cambria, she was the best dressed of the day.

With her brother.

 

Finn, Trip, their mom and part of Parker.

Lucas manned up and said hi to the bunny.

Violet.  She is so cute.

Finn and the bunny became good friends.

These three brothers are something else, I love them!

We called all the kids outside, and I had to drop a booming voice to get a couple of kids back onto the patio to wait for the official start.  Not to name names, but one of those kids was B.  The Bunny waved her hands and the kids were off.

Some kids brought baskets, other got colored bags

I found at Party City.

Little Lola - you know, I apparently only invited really cute kids.

No golden egg or prizes, maybe when they are older.

I didn't want any hurt feelings.

Here is that little no nap stinker.  Oh, she was a bad one that day.

The Easter Bunny brought candy that he(she)

passed out along with some Playdoh filled eggs 

I found at Target. 

Here is a member of my own little Motley Crew.

I think the party was OK.  Mike made Ina Garten's beef tenderloin sandwiches with a blue cheese sauce and arugala.  I made two wonderful salads.  A broccolini salad from 101 Cookbooks and a Shaved Spring Vegetable Salad  (with tarragon vinaigrette) from Martha Stewart, this fab potato salad from Movable Feast, plus all the wonderful stuff people brought (like Keli's white sangria - yum, still have a bit stashed in the fridge).  Ooohh  and I made this grilled brie with honey and figs that Kim L. pinned on Pinterest.  Very good.  And cupcakes, and crispy peanut butter chocolate role, and Theresa's decorated sugar cookies.  Quite a bit of food.

Are there things i would do differently next year?  Yeah, start planning earlier.  As it was, I was running around and couldn't find stuff in boxes in the basement.  Oh, and I would plan some egg games for the kids too.  And not forget to inflate the bounce house.  We had over 20 kids and almost as many adults, so more organization would be key!

So, after Jennifer T. helped with with the dishes that Robin collected around the house, we got the kids off their sugar high, into their pjs and into bed.  Then I filled their eggs and Mike hid them.  Then bed.  For a minute anyway - because Charley was making all kinds of noise.  Arg.  6:40 came early the next morning - that is when B woke up.  We made her lie quietly - a true impossibility - with us until 7, then she went into egg hunting mode.  Charley slept in for a bit.

Here is the Bunny Booty.

Some more booty.  B has been waiting for jelly beans for two weeks!

What she has been wanting since before Valentines Day (when two things happened, we got the turtle and I forgot to order it) Boris Tyrannosaurus.

And a little gnome to watch over her strawberry plants.

Cha Cha finally woke up and went straight for the goods.  Pjs, a book...

and...

a Cinderella dress.

Let the egg hunt commence!

After that, we made some breakfast and started making the few things we were taking up to Lee's.  The shaved spring vegetable salad and malt ball ice cream (and I forgot the malt balls, thankfully Lee had extra candy!).  The little girls were so excited to see the big girls.  B kept asking when we were leaving.

Lee's beautiful table with her cute bunny plates.

More goods for the girls.

Jess didn't make it home (big tear) but Skyped us for the eggs hunt.

The good thing about Jess not being there (the only thing)?

Someone else has the chance to find the golden egg.

Annual Easter picture.

(Technology allowing Jess to be in it - she is Skyping on the iPad.)

Let the games begin, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Sorry about the sidewise photo.  Nothing I did fixed it.

B and Joe found the egg.

Why she wore the Belle dress instead of Cinderella,

I will never know.  I guess Belle is the bees knees.

The girls having been playing together more and more.

They squabble some, Charley pushed B's buttons,

B pushed Charley.  They'll work it out.

Lee gave B a tent.  It was a huge hit. 

Lee also gave the girls these cute water bottles.  BPA Free.

They are so light weight. This is the packaging.

 

Aren't they cute?

Lee had good food as usual.  Cabbage and noodles.  Sausage, corn casserole, two egg and sausage casserole, rolls, my salad, fruit.  It was all so good.  I swore I wasn't ever going to eat again, then I ate cabbage and noodles and a cupcake today.  ARG!!!! 

So, it was a good Easter.   Lots of fun and family and friends.  And maybe a couple of extra pounds but who is counting.  

 Here are a couple of bonus photos of the girls that I thought were cool.

 

 We get a rainbow in the same place every afternoon.   The kids love it.  Boy, the are so much better behaved in pictures aren't they?

Til next time!  You know, five weeks from now.....