Life In The Brady House

I Made These!!!! Bathing Suit, Cute Dress, And Two T-Shirts

2012-02-09T10:55:00.000-06:00

So, you know, it has been a long time since my last post (I mean besides the introduction of Heart Shell). And, I know you have been waiting on pins and needles to hear what has been happening in the Brady House. Well, Gentle Reader, we are having our floors done, and really, your ears are way to delicate to hear what I think about that particular subject. Do you know what I call the floor guy (Don't worry Mike, I am cleaning it up)? Remember Mash? Hawkeye called Major Burns "Ferret Face?" Well, replace ferret with another 4 letter "F" word. Criminy, this guy, Ole' FF has been here since the 2nd of January and the floors are still not finished. IT may have something to do with the fact that he didn't show up today until 9:45. Where did we find him? We can thank Medium Tony. Or not!

So, we have the TV set up in the basement with all of my craft supplies. So while the girls play or watch TV, I sew, or paint or eat chocolate and drink green tea, anything that keeps me sane (and no, it really isn't working). Still, a good thing is I made some stuff. Like the photo below. I made that bathing suit B is wearing. I used one of her crewcuts suits as a template, made a pattern and voila! Bathing suit. Lined and everything. What I shouldn't tell you is this is the second fabric, and the third top. And countless flower and ruffle tries. I am currently working on a suit for Charley, so hopefully, it won't take as many attempts (though, I had to cut out a second suit. The serger ate my first one.

And seriously, how cute is this one? Despite the basement surroundings!

Next up, when we were moving, I found a little beach dress of mine that was a bit too short. I used the Dixie Version of Leila and Ben's Sweet dress.

My friend Nicky and I talked about challenging ourselves to make our girls a t-shirt inspired by Boden. Nicky at Bluebird and the Boy replicated this shirt. Me? Nada, zilcho, no way. I didn't like my fabric, the tee I had chosen to work with, I just couldn't make it work. However, I saw this Boden Shirt, and thought, well, I can do that. And I did. Using my Silhouette and there fabric paint vinyl plus some Jacquard Lumiere fabric paint, I made this shirt. (If you are using a darker color, use the Lumiere, the regular colors don't show up well.) And to top it off? I mixed some Fabric Mod Podge with Martha Stewart glitter (about 1 to 1), and like magic, I glitter the pink fix and the bubbles! However, I would heat set the paint and then glitter. And don't forget, if you try this, to wash the shirt on gentle. B's shirt got mixed up with the regular laundry and some of the glitter washed off.

Since I made B a shirt, I couldn't let Charley feel left out, so at Mike's suggestion, I did a skull and cross bones for her, in the Lumiere purple. She wasn't sure about it, but add a tutu and some sparkly shoes and Charley is all over it!

I have another dress made - this one is for Charley. I used the same Dixie version of the sweet dress and some cute lady bug fabric I bought at Joann's 2 or 3 years ago. It was when B was into ladybugs. But then, for some reason, before I could make her anything, she was afraid of them.

Sorry, bad picture. In the basement you know! I used foldover elastic as the straps. I have never used it before and I don't know if I'll use it again. It is a bit slippy. Anyway, I am working on Charley's suit and hopefully will have it done by her swim lesson on Monday. I have a ton of ideas. I am trying to make all their dresses for this summer. I know I will buy stuff too, cause really, I love crewcuts and Mini Boden, but I also like the unique stuff I make too. I have a Pinterest Board for my ideas. I also want to try printing some fabric or spraying it or something. I am not a fan of ordering fabric, but the knit choices at Joann's stink! I will probably order some bathing suit fabric as well as this,

though it is spendy. I don't think I sew that well!

Introducing The Newest Member of the Brady House.....

2012-02-08T21:49:00.001-06:00

.....Heart Shell Strawberry Munch.

Yes, Heart Shell. She is either a painted turtle or a red eared slider. She may be a turtle, but she is cute. Heart Shell came to us through one of Mike's co-workers. The co-worker knew someone who wanted to get rid of their turtle, so we took her last Tuesday. Heart Shell was supposed to be for B, but she may be a bit my turtle as well. She is quite large, maybe 6 or 7 inches across her shell. She is aquatic, meaning, she spends a lot of time swimming. I think the only thing I do not like about Heart Shell (and yes, I tried to sway B to another, easier name, Lulu was my choice, Bo Bo was Charley's) is she is carnivorous. Today, she ate 12 minnows and 5 or 6 crickets. She does like strawberries though, hence, the last name Strawberry Munch.

Her tank is 75 gallons. See Heart Shell up on her backing platform?

She lays there with her neck stretched out, looking dead. in fact, the

morning after we got her, I looked in her tank and Heart Shell was underneath

the water. I thought to myself, "Oh crap, I have had this damn turtle for

less than 24 hours and i have already killed her."

I spent the better part of last week on the internet researching aquatic turtles.

What they eat, how much she Heart Shell should eat,

how long do they bask, proper temperature, how to tell

how old they are, and so on. Dogs and Cats are easy.

Turtles, not so much.

You may wonder what we were thinking, getting another pet. I do think

our heads are screwed on crooked. But B has been asking for a reptile for years.

Yes, I know she is only 5. But Heart Shell isn't a snake. She doesn't eat mice.

And besides, look at that mug. She is so cute. And when I lean over the top of

the tank, she comes swimming over. And it has nothing to do with the fact

that I am the one that feeds her.

So, long live Heart Shell Strawberry Munch ('cause really, what does a dead turtle look like?). I think we have a good start of taking care of her. But just in case, does anyone know of a turtle vet?

I Made These! Felt Flower Hair Tchotchkes

2012-01-14T20:42:00.000-06:00

I have been at a creative standstill. Selling the James Street house, packing, moving, unpacking, Christmas (you think Christmas would have motivated me to make something), now the floors; I just can't get moving. And it isn't like it is easy for me to start to begin with - I am know to stand in my own way. Not knowing what project to start, don't want to waste materials when it doesn't turn out, don't want to waste time - when it doesn't turn out. Slippery slope, you know?

I have done some little stuff, it it has been OK, but all I think about is making stuff. I have been trolling around the internet looking at everyone else making stuff. I am pinning every idea that I want to do. I had to do SOMETHING! Since Charley needed thank you notes (and I really need to write Christmas thank you's) I pulled out my L Letterpress and started practicing. I have had this since Christmas of 2009, when Lee bought it for me. I haven't done a lot with it since it takes practice. I have been reading tips for using the press, and it really made a difference. (Especially when I read I can use Goo Gone to clean off the ink - YEAH! The cleaning clothes they sell are spendy - plus mine dried out). I did get a different brayer than came with the kit. That helped too.

What I ended up doing is inking the thank you and blind embossing a doo dad. I don't have a picture of the final product. I will try to take on in the natural light. I am doing stuff at one of the kitchen islands, in the late afternoon, so the light isn't great.

Next, I took inspiration from the internet and decided to make some felt flower hair clips and headbands. Here are the blogs where I found the ideas:

http://bluebirdandtheboy.blogspot.com/2011/12/felt-flower-headbands.html

http://www.sewinginnomansland.com/2012/01/11/giant-felt-flower-tutorial/

http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2012/01/felt-dahlia-flower.html

I ordered the all wool felt from Felt on the Fly. I ordered it to make a birthday crown for Charley, but it didn't come in time. Plus, my little vagabonds need some hair help. B is in the growing out stage and well Charley, let's just hope it is growing.

Here are two - excellent picture. I really need to work on my photography. The light purple will go on a headband. I think it will be too heavy in the girls hair if it is on a clip. The little purple one is glued to a little barette. (And if you look closely, you can see the blind embossing on the thank you card - sometimes it is good to do all your work on the kitchen island - HA!)

I like this one a lot. For some reason I am loving peacock like feathers. I have plans to do a peacock shirt for B using fabric paint, mod podge and glitter. Maybe tomorrow. Cross my fingers. I am on a roll.

Weather Extremes

2012-01-12T15:47:00.001-06:00

Tuesday was a great day to be outside. After lunch I grabbed the stroller and the girls and I walked to turtle park.

Today, the bottom fell out sort to speak. It isn't a blizzard, but it is ok for the first snow of the year and really the first real snow of winter.

When we came in I made hot chocolate that only I drank. The kids at the gourmet Whole Foods marshmallows and whipped cream. Now, Charley should be sleeping but instead the girls are rolling around my bed.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sandy (and John) from Seattle and Some Random Things

2012-01-09T18:09:00.000-06:00

OK, this is the fourth time I have tried right an intro to this post! I just can't get it right! Suffice to say, one of my favorite people came into town and we got to see her (and her husband) twice. Which was great considering how busy they were while they were here.

We started with breakfast on New Year's Eve.

A little iPhone while we wait.

John and Mike looked like twins with their matching sweaters.

B is reading Sandy the book she just drew.

After breakfast, the girls and I ran to Target. B got some cheetah printed duck tape and we bought Mike a remote control helicopter. We we got home, it was art time.

B made a cheetah shirt for tennis. Remind me to hide it come this thursday or she really will be wearing it to tennis.

Mike charged up the helicopter and away it went.

Sandy and John came over for soup that evening. Aren't we rockin' party people? Chicken soup!

Sandy brought some cool things for the kids.

Sandy got some Charley love!

Sandy is the chief supplier of cool puppets. B loves this dragon! John and Sandy didn't stay too late. We filled them up with soup and rolls and sent them home to Sandy's grandchildren. I was sad to see them go, but as soon as I wean Charley, I am going to Seattle for a visit. By myself - don't tell Mike.

After they left, we headed over to Marci's house for our annual New Year's revelry. The kids and Mike played the new video thing Santa brought Marci's kids - Kinex? I think it was called.

New Years Day we spent a lot of time in our pjs. In fact, I think the kids stayed in their pjs all day. Mike had the brilliant idea to set up the jumpy house in the basement. The kids had a blast!

Mike had Monday off also (YEAH!) so the kids and I made some stuff. I made Chickie's birthday necklace and B made these:

And here is just a cute picture of my little pizza eater. She should be gaining some weight, because she is eating more - and a variety too. I have loosened the cookie reigns. I have found if you let Charley have a cookie, she tends to ask for more food. Weird huh? It is like the cookie revs up her appetite.

They are working like little bees (ANNOYING bees) on the floors. I feel displaced. With trying to sell the house last summer, then the move, then the unpacking, then Christmas, there has been little time to relax. Now this. Yes, I know we asked for it. I am just having a hard time with people in the house. That, and they are all over. We are all sitting in the kitchen right now. Oh how I am dreaming of a comfy chair and Martha Stewart on the TV.....

Charley's Birthday Weekend

2012-01-09T18:08:00.002-06:00

Well, Charley turned two on Friday. I can totally remember when she was born. I almost had a tear in my eye when I saw her sleeping, and remember how little she was that first night, all cuddled up with me. Cha Cha has grown quite a bit, and now has the vocabulary to match. She isn't using complex sentences, but she is stringing up to five syllables together, and saying things spontaneously. It is wonderful - most of the time. Her and B just chatter, chatter and scream. Life is noisy in the Brady House.

I almost forgot about planning a party for the Chicken. With Christmas and my 3 week long sickness, it just about slipped my mind. I didn't have time to order an invitation, so I made my own with the Silhouette software. The sock monkey and balloon is one of the shapes you can buy and I made the little trampoline. We were originally going to go to the jumpy place for an hour and a half or so, then come back for real food and cake. But, our floors are being installed and the house is a disaster area! (Basically, the girls and I hang out in the kitchen and art room. Pretty much everything else is being worked on. So, let's hope they get finished FAST!) So, I changed the party to a place called MOnkey Bizness. A place where kids can climb on stuff, jump in a jumpy house, slide down slides. It really is a fun place, and the girls love it there.

Aren't they kind of cute?

Charley's actual birthday was Friday. She didn't have school, so on Thursday I sent her in her birthday outfit, with cookies for her class. She came home with extra cookies (yeah!) and a crown. Charley really seems to like the birthday attention, and it only got better for her. I made her shirt from the same sock monkey, but I used the Silhouette designer edition to add in the rhinestones. So, the monkey was cut from the Silhouette heat transfer material and rhinestones for the heart and number two.

I made this cute little necklace from Shrinky Dinks and Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.

Charley woke up to Dora balloons and this last minute present:

On Thursday, Charley played a little bit on B's playground. They had one of these little Fred Flintstone cars. I got it, because really, all I got her were some Polly Pocket like Dinsey Princesses and a tee shirt.

B has discovered feety pjs. Won't wear anything else. I lucked out, Target had them on clearance!

After speech, Mike took all us out for birthday lunch. Then, since we had no where to sit in the house, I took the kids to the jumpy place. Where, I found out, it is a good thing we were not going to have Charley's party there, because she doesn't like the darkness of the enclosed jumpy houses. There were a couple she played in, like below:

B went down these giant slides. I really wanted to join her, but Cha Cha wanted nothing to do with them.

Though, Charley did find a slide that was more her speed.

When we got home, I kicked the floor guys out and we opened presents.

Then we got ready to go to sushi dinner with Dorota and Medium Tony. Charley got ready by brushing her teeth with her new toothbrush (yes, that how desperate I was for presents) and putting her princesses in her "new" purse. That lion is Nala from the Lion King.

This was Dorota and Tony's first time eating sushi. I think they liked it. B and Charley really like Dorota. She comes in the house and they try to drag her up to the playroom. At dinner, B had to sit next to her.

Charley LOVES miso soup with extra tofu.

Tony, trying sushi for the first time. See the look on his face? He isn't sure. Verdict?

He likes it. But Tony liked the tuna better than the salmon.

We came home to have a little cake. Chuckie is a champ at blowing out candles!

Saturday morning B asked if we had any blueberry muffins. Yes, but no, because they had some mold on them (yes, that is gross, but wait, we turned it into something cool). So we got out the microscope to check it out.

A friend of ours gave us tickets to the Museum of Science and Industry. It is a cool place, but so much to see and explain. B like the weather wing. I like Coleen Moore's doll house. We all like the baby chicks, though, it made me want to go vegetarian again.

Sunday morning was low key. The party started at 2 and since it was at the Monkey Bizness, I really didn't have much to do. Mike picked up the balloons (we had Dora refilled) and we picked up an Edible Arrangement and chips and guacamole on the way to the party.

Charley taking full advantage of her birthday weekend.

Lee and Jeana met us there early and we set some stuff up. Lee ran and got some tableclothes. She also brought the cake. It was a stunner.

Jeana took a break from studying for finals.

Grandpa even got into the fun.

We had lots of friends there. I don't want to post the pictures of the kids, because I never asked their parents if it would be OK.

Do you love the cake?

How about the birthday girl?

Marci, Markus and (shy) Max made the drive to the party.

Here are the cute favors - chocolate covered oreos.

We brought the presents home and had fun opening them. We also had fun playing with some.

I think she had a good weekend. She is a little tired today - who isn't though! Mike and I stayed up watching the new karate kid. I want that 2 hours back!

Wait, I forgot to mention Johnson

2011-12-30T19:36:00.001-06:00

I dropped the ball on Johnson's time with us. He did a few more exciting things, but really, just getting him in a new place every morning was a challenge. Every morning the kids toured the house looking for our little elf. We enjoyed having him and were sad to see him join Santa on his sleigh for a ride back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. He left the girls a note saying he would see them next year, and to buy more chocolate!

Where Did December Go? This Is the Post With a 1000 photos...

2011-12-30T19:29:00.000-06:00

Well, not really a 1000. I would like to say that I haven't posted since the 6th or 7th because I have been as busy as my friend Johanna, but that isn't the case. I caught the funk and began getting sick on the 3rd of December. It got better and worse depending on my activity level. So the busier I was, the worse I felt the next day. I had a cold for a short time, then bronchitis. It lingered and lingered and I blew through 2 inhalers. Don't worry though, I felt better just in time to crank out some goodies and get the wrapping done (Mike helped) before Christmas - YEAH!. But Gentle Reader, I know it isn't me you have come to read about, but the two little devilish sprites that have taken up residence with me. Here we go!

This is why we are late for school. The kids play and I take pictures.

The kids broke about a third of their ornaments. They just don't understand, no matter how much they look like toys, they aren't. Still, B took care of this little bird, making it a nest.

Love the head scarf? I made it forever ago, B found it and wore it the rest of the day. Where is it now? I should make some for summer. She looks cute.

I went to Good Will to find candlesticks to paint ala Martha Stewart, and I found these. I think 8 bucks for the lot. Though Good Will was fun, I don't think I will make going there a habit. I think I could become a hoarder buying all the bargains.

B's turtle costume. This kid makes some sort of costume every day. Christmas Eve she made a Cheetah costume.

Our friends, Finn and Tripp had their birthday at Lil Monkey Bizness, and guess who showed up? The real Santa! He had a real beard, a great suit and a book with everyone's name in it. You might notice there is no photo of Charley with Santa. While she keeps talking about the "Real Santa," she wanted nothing to do with him - just he toys he brought. Yes, totally my kid.

School let out the week before Christmas. OK, should the break be after Christmas? I could have gotten a lot more done if they stayed in school that week. Anyway, I treated me and the girls to a manicure. Charley is a natural!

She even got some sparkle.

B got a snowflake.

I should mention, I finally got Charley to the pediatrician for her well visit, and found that Charley needs to eat a bit more. I know she was skinny, but she's barely gained 5 ounces in the last 4 months. the good thing is she is not anemic! My kids are just not eaters. We really need a re-vamp in the kitchen, I guess that will be a resolution. [Even I have been eating poorly - probably why I got sick. Too much sugar, not enough sleep. Maybe I need a no sugar resolution. And a no homemade potato chip resolution. I am a ton today form this place called the Labriola Bakery Cafe. Seriously addictive. I bought a bag, ate most of them then threw the rest away. I need to get on the lettuce and chicken diet.]

The pictures below are from the night before Christmas Eve. The girls are helping me make individual ice box cakes with peppermint whip cream.

Keeping them from eating some of the cookies was a losing battle.

Here is Charley, in her Ho Ho hat, in her "house." B taught her how to take the pillows and make a little fort.

Christmas Eve - on our way to Lee's. Mike can't find his sunglasses, so he wore B's.

The girls were really excited to see their cousins. In fact, Charley ran errands with me the day before and when we pulled in the drive, she said "go to Lee's." All Christmas Eve day, the girls were asking to go, go, go.

First stop was a ride around the house on a towel.

Lee's house was decorated to the nines. Here is her table. She had 5 trees, greenery, the whole bit. And I wish I had a picture of her lights outside. Lee and Joe did them and they were fantastic. Like lit gumdrops on every branch - they wrapped the lights from the trunk to the tips of the branches. It was really spectacular.

Before dinner was present time. YEAH! I mean the kids were very excited.

Charley got some Disney princesses, their matching clothes and a princess palace.

See B's sparkly shirt? It was a bribe that I hoped would get her to sing in the school sing along. It didn't work. B said the stage is not place for kids. She is weird. Gets it from Mike!

B scored with a skateboard, a guitar and a gift she really wanted.....

A dragon costume, with a tail.

Here is a little video of of B running Charley over with the skateboard and the cousins laughing over it.

The kids took a trip to Lee's basement, and Charley came up with this little doll stroller. Then she promptly said (demanded) "push me."

Dinner was great, though I spent most of my calories eating the homemade potatoes chips Lee got.

The cousins made a Charley a costume, since B had one (and maybe wouldn't share).

Lots of family pictures. Wouldn't it have been nice if I brought the camera Mike bought me for my birthday? Nope, iPhone city - baby!

After dinner it was jammy time. Well, after the peppermint icebox cake anyway. All the kids got into the act.

Well, we made it home before Santa's sleigh touched down on the roof - but just barely. We kept abreast of his location using NORAD, so we'd be sure to be tucked in before Santa came down the chimney. Morning had barely broken when a little devil dog came in to wake us up - 7:17 am is what the clock said. Mike, B and I went out to check out the scene. B was really patient, but we left her wake her sister. B was patient still while Charley had her morning "milky." So, with cups of much needed coffee, the potty and milky out of the way, we hit the stacks. OK, there really we no stacks. This was probably a tame Christmas in comparison to some we've had. The Santa sacks take the place of stockings. We have some I made, but nothing fit into them, this was, all the books, and odds and ends fit in the sacks.

The favorites were - for B - a Playmobil Dragon (that didn't need to be put together - YES!!! Last year I spent hours putting the safari together.) and for Charley, a Tiana dress and a Belle "dress" that is really a nightgown because the Belle dresses were sold out. The doll Charley is holding in the photo above is also a favorite - she is Lizzie from the Tinker Belle movie, "The Great Family Rescue."

We got ourselves showered and dressed (well Mike and I anyway) and Grandpa and Pat came over for breakfast. Pat brought a great coffee cake and Mike made eggs and this awesome black forest bacon. So good. I think the only thing B ate all ay was Pat's coffee cake. We'd ask her what she wanted to eat and the answer was always coffee cake. What did Charley eat? Trader Joe's Joe Joe cookies. I don't know what she'll do we we run out and I don't buy them again. She is addicted.

Anyway, we had a great visit with Grandpa and Pat, plus more Christmas! Mr B. always put together this tote of gifts called Dad's Dumb Gifts. The tote is filled with all kinds of necessities - all wrapped by the way. We got birdfood, kitchen towels, food storage containers, lip gloss, Goop hand cleaner, Perfect Glass spray and, well I can't remember what else. And Charley got a shopping cart. She loves to push stuff around. I think she only tried to get into it once. B received a chess set. Now we both can learn how to play. Bet she beats me!

In the early afternoon, our friends Tony and Dorota came over. B and Charley love Dorota. As soon as the poor thing walked in the door, Charley had Dorota upstairs in the play room. Tony came and offered support in the kitchen. Did he actually do anything? No, but her entertained us while we prepared for our Christmas feast of, tacos. Yes, Mike made chicken tortilla soup, we had taco dip, guacamole, margaritas, aqua frescas, beef tacos and for dessert, homemade chocolate pecan bars and malted milk ball ice cream. I was stuffed!!!! Lee and company came later in the afternoon and we ate and the cousins relived Dorota.

The girls are doing feet tricks. Lee used to do them with me.

This is Dorota, taking a much needed break from my devil dogs.

This was Charley's Christmas outfit. The Belle dress and the Ho Ho hat.

B finally changed from her pjs to her Ariel "dress." (Yes, sold of our Ariel too.)

Let's see the next day was Monday, and Mike was OFF! I don't know how much we did. The kids played and I ate leftover tacos.

Love the Tiana shoes.

Wednesday Mike took the day off and we headed over to Ikea to get some shelves for the basement. The had a special that day where the Gorm shelves were marked $9.99 down form 39.99. Bargain! Charley wore her Belle dress. When we got home, B made Charley the shoes you see below.

Yes, Charley actually wore them!

That afternoon, B made a train. That is Rafiki in the train car behind B.

Pillow fights in my bed.

Thursday morning, my little lack of sleeper (why won't this kid sleep? When (if) Charley naps, it is later in the afternoon, which leads to going to bed late. You would think that if Chuck didn't nap, she would sleep well. NO! Restless. And the sad thing is, she sleeps better with us, than she does in her bed. And that isn't saying much!) was up early and wanted to head upstairs to play in the playroom. That is the princess castle Lee gave Charley, which was a bear to put together. Disney should charge more and make it nicer. Some superglue may be holding some of the stuff together.

So, that was December in a nutshell. I happen to have another cold, but it better not turn south like the last one did. I have Cha Cha's (my Gentle Reader, this is what Charley calls herself) birthday and party next weekend, so I cannot be sick. We are having the party at a place, because my house has been taken over by the wood fairy. They have already delivered the wood for the floors and torn up some carpet. I have mixed emotions about this. 4-5 weeks for the floors. That means 4-5 weeks of more mess than we already have. But our carpets (most rooms new when we moved in) look horrible. Between our geriatric dog Shadow, Layla Belle's muddy feet, and the kids art projects, we've pretty much trashed it. We are hardwood people!

I am ready for school to start again. Our weather is stinky (cold, no snow) so we are stuck inside and that makes for crazy kids. And crazy kids make for a crazy mom. And a crazy mom makes for an unhappy Mike. I think he caller ids me when he is at work, so he doesn't have to hear me complain about our little devils. I shouldn't complain a ton, they have been playing better and better every day. Except when Charley wants something B has, and B won't share. Some day....... Peace in the Brady House. Some day.

Want To Know What's Been Happening Besides Johnspn Sitings? Here's The Skinny

2011-12-06T22:47:00.001-06:00

I have pictures all the way back from Thanksgiving! I have been meaning to do more blogging. You know, like always. But, truth be told, I am in the ho ho hum drums. No Christmas spirit. Not quite Scrooge. I don't begrudge anyone their spirit. But, Bah Humbug. I must need fudge -STAT!

So here are some photos from Thanksgiving morning. Art anyone?

I made some Shrinky Dink Donut necklaces ala Lil Blue Boo. (Please, no one remond me that they really don't look like the donuts Ashley made, these were drill free.)

B made a cheetah costume.

Mike found this outside the dining room doors. He told the girls it was a pig snout.

We had a nice Thanksgiving with my sister and her family and well as Cathie P's family. This is Charley's new gymnastic suit. Purple is the "it" color in her life.

B got a new suit too.

(Don't you love that my kids went cute then ate Thanksgiving dinner in the gymnastic suits?)

Here is Jess giving the girls a carpet rectangle ride.

So, Mike got tired of the stinky carpet in the girls room. We all know why it's stinky, right Anna and Shadow? Let me tell you, Target and my 5% off everyday Target debit are my new best friends. We got a pink fluffy rug from there the same day.

This is B with a "new" backpack. It was Charley's from the summer. B came and asked for a Barbie backpack. Excuse me? BARBIE? Where did she get that idea. Thank God, I happened to have a pink and purple backpack waiting in the wings. She was very happy.

Johnson ate all my chocolate.

Also from Target, a tree for the girl's room. (See the pink rug?) Mike put it up Sunday while I was being sickly. (I still am, just coughing to much to actually sleep.)

B made a bunch or ornaments out of clay and painted them.

Johnson in his new location!

So, we hit Target again Sunday afternoon. I don;t remember why. Maybe vitamins? Oh, and some baskets for my office. What did we come home with? A ho ho hat (Charley's words, verbatim) and this ornament tree B had to have - which is an odd hit with both kids. Charley has carried it around every day, while wearing the ho ho hat.

Johnson landed in the tree that night.

So, while at Target (it's a disease!) Mike convinced me to get another fake tree since his hands get all break-outy when he puts the lights on a real tree. (Rest assured gentle reader, there will still be live trees in the Brady house. Humbug, or no Humbug.) He set it up last night, and this afternoon the kids put ornaments on it. Does the hat kill you? She wears it all the time. Charley is almost as into Christmas as B is. Loves to see Santa, knows about the presents (is related to me and Lee you know) loves the countdown calendar. B. of course it very into it. Lots of Christmas shows and St. Nick brought some new Christmas books.

Then, this evening, inspired by No Time For Flashcards, the girls and I made a couple more glittery ornaments.

Finally, I finished a little painting for B's room. It was inspired by Lil Blue Boo (yes, I spend to much time reading her blog and buying her clothes for the girls). The painting isn't perfect (Charley actually colored on the first one I started, and on this one too). I used my Silhouette to cut
"stencils." I am working on Charley's now. The dots and paisley's match B's comforter. I will try to get a frame (no, not from Target, maybe a Ribba from Ikea?) and get it up soon.

Well, I am up too late. I will never get better unless I sleep. But how to sleep if I am coughing and can't breathe? And last night we had a dousy of a night. Me not breathing, Charley restless, Shadowing needing out (all before 3am). Then around three, Charley wet our bed, in the next second, B called out that she had to use the bathroom (and will not use the bathroom in her room, needs the one down the hall). So Mike goes in to the girl's room while I strip our bed (holding a sleeping Chuck) and steps in Shadow's accident that she had before he let he out. Total winner last night. Mike will never let me have pets again!

Goodnight.

Are you Sick of photos of Johnson yet?

2011-12-03T16:45:00.001-06:00

Everybody loved a book about dogs right?

Yesterday afternoon, B helped me make a rhinestone tee for her friend's birthday party today. We did a simple M. I wanted to do a cowboy boot, but it was too small. I love the Silhouette!

Last night we went to our town's tree lighting celebration with Grandpa and Pat. I meant to take more pictures..... We actually missed the revelry because we were still at sushi dinner. We missed it last year too for the same reason. Must eat earlier or later. We did have very delicious hot chocolate as well as chestnuts roasting on an open fire. We found dining room lights too. This was one of the milder Christmas walks, so it was a nice evening.

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Where Did We Find Johnson This Morning?

2011-12-02T13:34:00.001-06:00

Eating leftover popcorn, checking out the Playmobil catalog.

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Johnson Has Arrived!

2011-12-01T09:18:00.001-06:00

Did I mention our Elf on the Shelf last year? I think I did. Our Elf's name is Johnson and he arrived sometime while we were sleeping. We read the Elf in the Shelf book last night to remind ourselves of Johnson's job this holiday season. B also talked about what Johnson would eat and where he would be when she woke up. B found the elf in front of the TV, sitting in her Halloween goodie bag, eating Skittles. (yes, we still have candy left. B only get a treat a day, plus, all the good stuff (read Snickers and Butterfinger and 100 Grands) are gone. All morning B talked about what Johnson will eat next and he needs to take her Christmas list to Santa (I need to photograph her list. She drew pictures and spelled out the words herself.). If the Elf ends up anywhere else amusing (Johnson set the bar high on the first day) I'll be sure to let you know. Waiting on pins and needles aren't you?

Neat New Website - Craftgawker

2011-11-24T11:51:00.001-06:00

I was perusing the time suck that is Pinterest, and my friend In the Yellow House, Jennifer, pinned a cute felt flower from the website Craftgawker. So, I clicked over and it is a neat photo gallery of crafty ideas. Click the photo and you are directed to the artist's website. Check out the site if you are looking for some inspiration.

And, hopefully, I will treat you to another rendition of What I Am Not Thankful For. It seems I forgot to not be thankful last year. This year, I will try not to disappoint.

Lazy Monday in November

2011-11-21T21:44:00.001-06:00

Sunday, we celebrated my nephews 23rd birthday. So weird, I cannot believe he is so grown. Anyway, B also had a mate's birthday party to attend. Here is what she wore:

Can you believe it? The pose too? I swear, she never want me to take her photo. Anyway, she is cute. These kids, they make me crazy. They make me want to leave for Miraval and only come home when I forget why they make me crazy. But then this morning, when I was running errands, I thought about squeezing them and loving them and wishing they were with me to sing Christmas songs. (And yes, I am already listening to Christmas music. I have a love hate relationship with it. I love the zippiness of it, but like I told Mike, it depresses me at the same time. Crazy right? That's my middle name, don't you know.) I think if I got a bit more time to make things, and a little more sleep I would be a good Mom instead of the sub-par one I am right now.

**(Cue the paragraph where we skipped swimming lessons - bad mom, bad mom.)**

Yesterday morning, we were supposed to go to swimming, but with the lack of sleep and the last couple of nights being late, we skipped it and stayed in our pjs all day (well, the kids did - I showered and dressed). We ate breakfast, turned on a movie we half-watched, made art, cleaned up.

While Charley slept, I worked in my office/craft room. What do you think about the word "craft?" Does it have a good connotation? You say "craft show" to my husband, and he equates it with an afternoon that will age him 30 years. Another way to look at it is a craft is something learned, be it knitting, welding or wood-working. So, segue into B wanting to learn to knit. She found a set of knitting needles in my craft room and asked if I would teach her. "OK, let em find some yarn and needles," I said. I found the stuff, and tried to cast on. HA! I didn't remember. It has been at least two years since I have picked up knitting needles. So, I pulled out my trusty Stitch and Bitch book, with illustrations, and cast on. I showed B how to knit, but it is hard when your hands and fingers are little. So, we worked together. This is how far we got before it got boring to her.

So, I picked up the yarn and B found some books to occupy herself.

Charley took a nice nap and afterward we played in the toy room. The only bad thing about a playroom upstairs? I have to go up with them. They want to be around me (us). So, up I went. We played tea party and cars and dolls. YEAH! or not. I am not much of a player. I am a puzzle doer, or a book reader, or I do Teach me Toddler on the iPad with Charley (who, by the way, knows her shapes, colors, some letters by site, one or two by sound, and her numbers). She is working on counting, using three and four repeatedly. She is also talking a lot more. Lots of new words. Some she just says, without a prompt. It is great. Some two word statements too. She says "read book," "ready set," "love you," "thank you," and she said something else this morning, but we were super late, and my mind was elsewhere. I remember congratulating her on her language (I hate the saying "use your words") but I cannot remember what she said. However, we had school conferences today, and Charley's teachers let me know that she should be able to dress herself - including her shoes. Whoops. Funny, I potty trained her, well almost a year ago, and I never even thought that she could be dressing herself.

Charley's does have excellent fine motor skills. I love to watch her use a pencil or paint brush. Charley loves to paint.

And sometimes she even paints paper instead of herself. I would have never let B paint herself. Poor B. Back when she was little, I know a woman with a child B's age who's kid always had dirty finger nails. I hated seeing that kid's fingernails. If B's nails got dirty, it was straight to soak in the bath. I never wanted her digging in the dirt. Now? I still hate dirty fingernails, but kids learn so much by touching and digging and getting dirty. Charley gets a lot of joy painting her hands and stamping them on the paper. Same with stamp pads. These days, my kids have stained hands almost all the time. Sometimes even though they've had a bath.

B was making little impressions in paper with an embosser, then cutting them out. I had B's conferences today too. Turns out, she likes things her way. HA! That and she doesn't like to work on things that challenge her. Great. Total underachiever coming our way. Doesn't get that from me or her father. Double HA! Still, they say she is a good girl. Polite and everything. So, I did something right.

Then B wanted to paint with Charley. Then are playing more and more together. Not so much toys, but they chase each other around, jump around. Wear each other out. And they hug and kiss and worry if the other is crying (unless B made Charley cry).

The nice thing about the art room is the lack of carpet. Mike and I knew we were not carpet people before we moved in, but it has been beat into our head this last couple of weeks. I cannot imagine the type of people who have carpet everywhere (they must be so neat without kids and pets). I was worried about the dogs dragging mud onto the carpet. That hasn't happened - yet. But everything else has happened. It is crazy. I cannot wait until it is all gone. It is bad enough it stains, but it also holds smell. And even if it isn't smelling like cat urine, it still smells like the cleaner, which is almost as bad. YUCK!

Life in the Brady house is becoming a little more "regular." You know, just in time for the Holiday revelry. Charley is spending more and more time in her own bed. Mike went and bought a mattress, so she will be in a twin bed as opposed to a toddler bed. Isabel, our cat, had another round of radioactive iodine for her thyroid, so she is also keeping us up all night. Since she is radioactive, she cannot sleep with us - for another week and a half. She meows all night long. Tries to open the door. Arg! I am hoping sleep comes to our house soon. I am an angry mother to begin with, add a lack of sleep and I am a beast. It would only be worse if I ran out of green tea and chocolate.

Well, this post reads wonky, since I have been writing it for the last 24hrs. Oh well, you get the jist. I should go back and edit and move around, but dinner is almost ready. It is chicken noodle soup. Perfect for the rainy day we are having.

Brady House Pictures

2011-11-13T19:26:00.001-06:00

I took a couple of pictures of the house.

This is the view from the family room door. I was trying

to capture the snow the other day. It was really

coming down!

This is the front courtyard, right outside the dining room.

Here is the art room. It is supposed to be the kitchen

eating area. But really, who needs more than one place

to eat? We have a dining room, we'll eat there.

The kids love it. We got the shelves (Ikea) Thursday and finished putting them together on Saturday. Mike and I unpacked the supplies and the girls got right to work. Stamping, play doh, painting, markers and clay. Just since Saturday. Isn't the light cute? Ikea too. The space is nice because there is a lot of light. In the photo above, you can see the screen porch. So there are windows on two sides of the room. Hard to arrange furniture, but nice and light.

B is having a great time in the Brady House. She has made some new friends. Friends who run around outside! B played outside with them yesterday and today. They are older than her, but very sweet. The oldest is 12, so I feel comfortable with B playing without constant supervision (that and I can see the yards across the street from the kitchen and laundry room window (which I also got put away this weekend. Mud room/laundry room. Mike hung up these cute little racks for me to hang my clothes.) Back to B, the girls are great. They taught her how to jump rope! I am glad for her. The kids on James Street were younger and didn't play outside in the front like B did - plus the Brady House is on a street that is way less busy with traffic. Mostly people walking their dogs (we are in the minority - we never walk Shadow and Layla. Mostly because of Shadow. Since she is over a 100 in people years, just running around the house and yard with Layla are enough to wear her out and make her ache).

As I get more stuff put away, I will through up more pictures. You'll never see the basement. It is box city. Next up, it the play room, my office and if I ever get a mattress, the girls room. How scary can it be to buy a mattress?

Life In The Brady House

2011-11-10T14:42:00.001-06:00

So far, life in the Brady House is good. There are still boxes to unpack. Stuff to organize and put away. Mattresses to buy. Leaves to rake. Shelves to put together. Snow clothes to find (because my Brady House readers, snow fell from the sky this afternoon).

Below is the front of the house.

And that is the only picture you are getting until, you know, I unpack the boxes and organize and put stuff away. Because there is still at least one unpacked box in each room.

But other than a plethora of boxes, I LOVE OUR NEW HOUSE. Love it. I drove past the James Street house last night (a house which I also loved) and I just felt a little bad for leaving it. The Brady House has a great feeling. I don't know what it is, but I am actually calmer in this house. Now, this still means I yell at the kids and animals, but I do it less often. Unless, like yesterday, we were late (later than usual) for school, B wouldn't go to the bathroom and get dressed and Shadow couldn't find me (I was in the bathroom harassing B to go) to let her out and went both numbers on the carpet. Yes, the carpet, which as God as my witness will be history soon. You know where everyone goes to make a mess, be it urine, poop or puke? Or mud or leaves or MARKER (the second day we were here)? No, no, no, not the hardwood floor, not the tile, NOT OUTSIDE, but the very light colored carpet. We've lived in Bradyville for 2 weeks today and we have stains and, uhem, smells already.   But, as usual, I digress.

I LOVE our new house. Well, until I get the Nicor bill. About 65%% of the outside walls are giant windows with sliders. Beautiful light coming in, along with a nice chill. I just ordered blankets for the girl's beds. Girl's beds, you ask. Yes, Charley is in B's old toddler bed. Not sleeping with me. (Who is, you ask? Mike. Very weird. Two years he slept in the other room. How long do you think he'll last with my snoring?) How is it going with Charley in her own room/bed? Well, let me tell you, the bags and circles under my eyes are substantial. The past couple of nights Mike has gone to calm her, but when she rouses at 3 am, HE is sawing logs, so I go and lay with her. In. A. Toddler. Bed. OK, OK, I am not as tall as some people, but a toddler bed is really too small for Charley and I to share.   I ordered her the same bed as B's (there are sharing a room right now) but I forgot to get a mattress. It has been over a week and I still haven't gotten a mattress. Mike said I need to negotiate. Then I looked a the Back to Bed website. There are a lot of mattresses out there. Which is the right one? I am very intimidated. I don't want to get a bad one. So, because of my lack of mattress confidence, I am still sleeping part of the night in a bed to small for even Mike.

So, back to how much I love our new house. It is still close to everything. I still see people from our old neighborhood (namely Marci, Markus, Max and Madison).    Layla seems to love the larger fenced in yard. Shadow, well, Shadow loves the carpet - to POOP on. She is old, almost 15 (this January), I suppose it is a lot for a dog that is over a 100 in people years. The cats are doing well, too. Isabel has taken up residence in my bedroom. Anna, well, let's hope wherever Anna is, she isn't urinating on something I want to keep. (I say, there is a lot of excrement in our house, isn't there?)

We have had some issue getting TV, internet and phone service. We aren't having luck with Uverse, so we are trying Comcast this weekend. I just want our old phone number, HD TV and internet that works in more than half the house.

So, despite all the mess, the Brady House is great. And in a couple of years, when I am finally unpacked, we have more furniture, and maybe some window blinds, the house will be fabulous.

Halloween at the Brady House

2011-11-05T08:51:00.001-05:00

We've moved to our new home, the Brady House, as we call it. Ok, I will explain quickly. We each saw the house on the internet and when we told each other about it, we both called it the Brady House. The house is from the early 60's and is an A-frame.

Should I get to the important part? Pictures of the girls in their costumes?

B and Charley had a fun time. They went to a couple of houses around us, then we went to our old hood for a party. B went out trick or treating with all the kids. Charley stayed with me and ate soup. It was a great party. Good food, lots of kids and fun friends. Mike and I didn't dress up. We were the only ones. Our friends Marci and Markus had the best costumes. Marci was Flo from then progressive commercials and Markus was Mayhem from the Allstate ads. Marci had the winged eye liner and teased hair bump (and the white clothes and Progressive apron) and Markus had on a pink headband and a butterfly band aid at his temple. Cracked me up!

When we got home, it took a bit for the kids to chill. Even though they really didn't eat a ton of candy. We, I mean B, is slowly working through her bag of candy. Snickers and Milk Duds are mine!

We finally got Internet. So, I will take some proper photos of the house and post a post. I need to do some fancy change of address cards. Or not. My craft room (yes, a craft room. Yeah!) will be the last to get set up, so
I think I will do a combo Christmas card/moving announcement.

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Halloween Treat Bags

2011-10-23T08:29:00.001-05:00

Instead of packing, I made treat bags for B and Charley's classes.

Not my usual crazy bags, just simple white bags that I markered to look like ghosts. Filled with candy and toys. The worst part was the stinky Sanford marker. I was supposed to use it to mark boxes. Oh well....

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B's Latest Hair Style

2011-10-20T13:44:00.001-05:00

So last night, after her bath, B asked if she could cut her Polly's (as in Pocket) hair. Mike said no. Mike went on to make me some tea while did laundry in the basement. The girls were playing or so we thought. About 20 minutes later we were watching TV when I noticed B's hair looked odd. Oh my God she cut it. A lot of it.

I fixed it with some color, hair spray and a head band.

After we explained that it would take long time to grow back and that we'd have to get the mullet she had left cut off, she was a little upset. She didn't want to go to school until it grew back. Right, like next Halloween?

I have to say, I freaked. I found a pile of hair behind the kitchen set where she was hiding when she took the craft scissors to her hair (you better bet that the scissors will be up high in the new house). She looked like Carol Brady. You know, the mullet look from the later episodes. Plus, she hacked her bangs.

We were lucky Rox had an opening after school today. I emailed her last night to give her the heads up and she was still shocked at how much B cut.

Rox started cutting.

And cutting......

And finally?

(Sorry the pictures are crappy, B did not want her photo taken.)

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B's 5th Birthday (plus a couple random Pictures)

2011-10-18T16:58:00.002-05:00

Well, my little girl turned 5 on October 4th. (So late with this post.) I remember when she was just a baby. She was so cute. Not terribly sweet. As I remember, she came out crying and cried unless she was nursing. Which she did, a lot. In fact, she nursed so much the first day, she had several wet and poopy diapers her first day of life. TMI? I will be sure to share that fact when she brings home a bearded boy who has a van and a motorcycle.

Here is is my baby at around 4 months (earliest I can find at the moment).

I tried to make her day extra special. She woke up to streamers covering her door.

Love the bed head.

Balloons on her chair for breakfast.

Fancy outfit with homemade rainbow shirt (rhinestone - love the Silhouette) with a number 5. New tutu skirt.

Someone else needed a skirt too...

Here is the photo they took at school.

Opening presents.

Playing with presents.

Talking to a cousin who called to wish her Happy Birthday!

Getting ready for the birthday dinner at Sushi Dinner.

Walking to sushi dinner.

Happy Birthday mochi ice cream.

Quick stop to see the fish.

KCWC Update As Well As Some News

2011-10-18T16:39:00.000-05:00

Well, I have not finished even one pair of pants. Close, but no cigar. I have Charley's about 75% done, B's are cut. There is a reason, kind of. This James Street Family is moving on down to the South Side of town. To Meadows Road. Do I need to change the blog name? Life on Meadows Road does not have the same ring as Life on James Street. What to do? How about On The Corner of Ray and Meadows? (We do like our corner lots, even though some realtor thought the corner lot was a negative!). Anyway, Mike got a dumpster and I started packing and cleaning out cabinets. Our spice cabinet alone spoke to my dis-organization. Spices (some quite old), booze (a dusty bottle of Tanqueray - probably from our last house), nail polish remover, extra invites to LAST years Christmas Tea, a baby photo of B with Mike as Santa, bag of old wine corks, candles, natural flea spray, and a three bottles or rice vinegar.

So, I am working on the pants while the kids play in the room. Packing some while they are at school. And, throwing out anything that has more than an inch of dust on it. Wish us luck, and if you have a new name suggestion, I am all ears. Which I kind of am. I truly worry I will have Martha Stewart ears when I am her age and I won't have her disposable income to buy big enough diamonds to make my ears seem normal sized. Really check out her huge ears.

B's Fancy Hair

2011-10-18T14:12:00.001-05:00

I took Charley to get her mullet trimmed and Roxanne our stylist introduce B to Color Bugs. A little hairspray, chalky Color Bug and a bit more hair spray. Instant hair color. B loves her purple hair. We also have pink and orange, so keep an eye out for those. Rox did a better job than I do. I need some practice putting on the color.

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Photo Alert

2011-10-15T14:44:00.001-05:00

Trying this Blog Press app on my phone.

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Elsie Marley KCWC - KIds Clothing Challenge Week October 10 - 17

2011-10-11T10:44:00.002-05:00

KCWC is a twice-annual event where Elsie Marley challenges me (you) to commit to sew children's clothes for an hour each day for 7 days. So, despite the mess I have left over from B's party, the ton of laundry that needs to put away and the fact the we **may** be moving on the 27th, I am going to try and use the fabric and patterns I bought to at least sew the girls some corduroy pants. I am using an Oliver and S pattern - which is really the first paper-type/non-pdf pattern I have used in a long while. I bought some grey corduroy at Joann's for B's pants and some pink corduroy from Vogue (using some of my birthday gift certificate - thanks Cathie P.). So, here it is out there, that I am doing this challenge. Now that it is public, I have to do it.

So far, I have spent my time transferring the pattern in both sizes and cutting the fabric. I have my machines all set up. I am just going to re-read the instructions and hope for the best. Wish me luck!

And I will post what little pictures I have from B's party. I worked so hard on it, and forgot to get the camera going. Yikes, where is my brain! I have a couple, and B's Grandfather took some pictures that he will hopefully email to me - Hint, Hint Mr. B).

Is This Kid Cute or What?

2011-09-29T14:37:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures I took on the way to school this week. Before you say I am favoring Charley over B, B does not want her photo taken.

Tueday

Wednesday (today)

Just so you know, Chucky picks out most of her clothes. The hat, the shoes, the dress. I wanted her to put on pants - no way. She is a riot. Of course ask me what I think when she is 12.....

The Happiest Place on Earth - No, I am Not Talking About James Street!

2011-09-28T10:55:00.004-05:00

As everyone knows, our James Street house has been on the market since July with lots of showings, but nary an offer. So, since we could burn some of Mike's vacation and because B (not me at all) wanted to go for her birthday and because Mike was afraid of the carnival birthday I was planning, we planned a spurish of the moment Disney trip.

B has been more into Disney since she started watching the Tinker Belle movies. And Charley was hugely on board because she LOVES princesses. Belle and Tiana especially. We prepared by watching movies, some Disney Travel stuff on Netflix, looking through a Disney Travel book, reading, listening to movie sound tracks. By the time the plane took off, the girls (especially B) were so excited! OK, I was too. I love Disney World. The magic, the characters, the Beach Club Pool, the french toast at the Crystal Palace, Soarin (which I missed because I had a headache). I could just live there. The kids were so well behaved, they had so much fun. Even though B's favorite part was the pool. That is OK, it was an awesome pool!

I wish I had taken more pictures ( really, in this era of the digital camera, does anyone wish they had taken less photos). But as the days went by, and we had already seen characters, and I was getting tired, it seemed more important to just stop saying, "look at me, " while I took a photo.

As I mentioned, we stayed at the Beach Club. It is an on-property hotel, where you can walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (or take a boat or bus). It is themed OK. We got a great room, on the first floor so we could just walk out, instead of going through the hotel. It was great when we went to the pool or Epcot. And, the Beach Club has the best pool. Sand bottom, with a sand bar, a little over my knee at the deepest. Just like a beach. The kids loved it. Really, we probably didn't spend enough time at the pool.

It was a little hard with Charley and her naps, though I want to go back tomorrow, I think it would be better if we didn't have the afternoon nap. It gave B a chance to swim or walk around Epcot in the rain with me, but we could have done more. I know, I know, you can't do everything, and we didn't, it just would have been nice if we all could have gone swimming. I think Charley was the only kid there who didn't fall asleep in a stroller (B did, on the way to dinner one night. Slept through dinner, woke up right afterward. Then we had to get her dinner).

The weather was AWESOME. In fact, I am hating the cold, rainy weather we have today. I really cannot say enough about the trip. It was so fantastic! Really, I am not crazy. Well, I am, but you know. And I don't remember drinking any Disney-Aid while we were there. The place is clean, the people are friendly and the kids have plenty to do. OK, the food isn't the best, even at the really good places. That is a problem, you have to spend a lot to get food that is good. But, we got the free dining planning promo, so that helped.

So, the Disney goodness started the night before when the girls unwrapped some pjs from their Fairy Godmother, who may or may not be living in B's fairy house. How do we know it was a fairy that left them? I saw pixie dust floating in the air around the presents.

B got Tink pjs.

Charley got princess pjs.

B was up and ready to go a bit after 6 am.

We left from Midway. It took us a little longer to get there than we planned. Traffic, you know. Oh, and the stop at the donut shop. Might as well start the holiday on the right culinary note. (OK, I was freaking! I did not want to miss our plane. Truth be told, we have missed the plane to Disney on two other occasions. Really.)

The plane ride was uneventful. Charley took a little nap and B watched a movie. We did run into out first issue at the airport. B will not use potty's that has an automatic flush - and 95% of the toilets at Disney are auto-flush. While that proved to be a problem, we still had no accidents the whole trip. (Thank God for Charley's portable potty - came in very helpful!)

Here they are all ready to have some Disney fun!!

First stop? Epcot. It is so close to the Beach Club and we had dinner ADRs (advanced reservations) at the Via Napoli (?).

What (or who) did we see first? Well, actually it was Mary Poppins, but no interest from my kids and, there was a line. So, up next it was Aladdin.

B was too shy. So Charley and Mike visited with him. Just a few short steps away? Aurora.

B thawed a bit and ran around with the Genie's friend.

The face characters are so good. They really talk with the children and make the meet a big deal. I really didn't expect them to be so personable. I guess in the past, we've only seen characters. They don't talk, just give hugs and stuff.

Next stop? Nemo! Then Turtle Talk with Crush. Huge hit with my kids. On our last trip, B went on Nemo every night.

Then we got the characters out of the way. I think this was the most we waited the whole trip. About 25 minutes.

Charley did not like Donald Duck. Which is strange, because the next day, she wanted a stuffed Donald. Wouldn't let it go. We bought it. She really never asked for anything else. Until we were at the Orlando airport and Charley wanted a stuffed Simba (the girl in line next to us had one) and the Disney store there did not have one. Tears and cries were loud. I felt bad, she hadn't really wanted anything except Donald.

We headed to dinner after we met the characters. And though we weren't expecting much, it was very good. The pizza was probably an 8 on a scale of 10. The salad, tiramisu and the ricotta donuts Mike got were also good. The kids soup, was meh. And it was freezing inside! Coffee was tasty too.

The next morning we slept in a bit.

We had 10:30 ADRs at the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom, so Mike went to the hotel shop and picked up up some pastry and coffee to hold us over until then.

Good thing our time was late, we barely made it!

How I love Main Street USA! I love the Castle, I love the smell, the feeling, the music. The most magical place in the world.

First stop, Breakfast. (I didn't get a lot of the pastry.) The Crystal Palace features the Winnie the Pooh characters. And really good french toast. Like, almost like a donut, fried-goodness, french toast.

We toured the Magic Kingdom that day. Came back to the room around twoish. Charley hit the sack and B and I went to the pool. We had ADRs at The Plaza - but Charley slept through those. We ate at Pecos Pete's or something. (It was - well, adequate.) First, though are photos of the fabulous pool. This is just part of it. There is a giant slide and a little kids slide (both which went unused by B). A lazy river, and regular old pool, plus some more sand. I wish this were my local pool. I can't say awesome enough.

So, we eventually got ready to go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party. My girls used the Tinker Bell outfits I made. Check out the pose below.

Charley didn't get into it nearly as much as B. She even sat cross-legged on the bus. She stayed in the wings and shoes all night.

First stop? Princesses. Minimal wait, so we thought we would take advantage.

Again, I cannot say enough nice things about these princesses. Belle was particularly nice. They were so sweet and kind and patient. Charley just about plotzed when she saw Belle.

So, no lines, no waiting. We went on a ton. B did Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We did the Carousel, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh. Gosh, I don't even know what else. We also saw lots of characters - all in costume. Charley did a dance party with Chip and Dale and Goofy and Stich. We also saw a villians show. The Shadow Man sang his "I've got Friends on the Other Side" song.

After a rather late night, we got up, well, not bright, but early - well, not too early either, we almost missed our ADR, for a princess breakfast at the Norway pavilion at Epcot. I think the restaurant is Akershus. The big draw for us was Belle. She was the lead.

We also saw Aurora, Snow White, Cinderella, and Ariel.

We made a pit stop at Sourin' then we hit the Animal Kingdom. You can see how tired they look. Poor things. It was hot too! B went on Dinosaur and Charley did the flying dinosaurs. Charley and I also saw the Lion King Live on Stage. Very cool. I have missed seeing while on previous trips and it was my one must do. It is a great park.

That night we went to Epcot for dinner. Mexican pavilion. Not the restaurant inside the pyramid, the one by the water. It was good. A bit salty. Charley was up for dinner. B was not. She fell asleep in the stroller on the way to dinner.

See, Charley walked, B rode. We had to get B dinner after we ate dinner. Then we went to this little caramel shop at the Germany pavilion. Quite good.

B kept talking about Splash Mountain, so we headed back to the Magic Kingdom. While her and Mike rode in the first seat of the ride and got soaked, I took Charley to meet Tiana and Tinker Bell. She was happy to meet them, but I think she wanted to go with Mike and B on the ride. We hit lots of rides after that, so all was good.

The picture below shows B holding a love bug. They were everywhere, and B can find a bug friend wherever she goes.

(B wore this skirt when we took her to Disney World a couple of years ago.)

The Tea Cups where a big hit. B would not ride It's a Small World, so Charley and I went.

Here's where the trip gets interesting. Some people asked for a showing the morning we left for Disney. I originally said no - because we would be gone - and you know the dogs, the cat pee, the way my house looks before we leave for a trip. But it was a second showing. So, our realtor Karen, took care of the dogs while the potentials spent over an hour in the house. Which really, is kind of creepy. People you don't know, in your house, while you're not home. Anyway, they made an offer. So we had to do all that back and forth stuff while on our trip. Then we had to do all the back and forth to make an offer on the house we want. That is Mike on the phone doing the high dealin'. HA! Anyway, as long as the appraisals and the inspections go all right, we could be moving. No excitement from me until the fat lady sings. I'll keep you all updated.

That night we headed over (by boat) to Hollywood Studios to eat at The Brown Derby. Which was OK, but our ADR was at 5:50, and I bet it took almost an hour to get seated. (B found a friend to play with while we waited.) Then, while the service was fine, it was slow. By the time we finished it was close to 8:40, and the park closed at 9, so Mike took B on Toy Story and I took Charley to see the Little Mermaid Live on Stage. Then after, there was a band. Charley loved it. She is such a dancer. This time, B joined it a bit. Then , instead of waiting for the boat, we walked back to the hotel.

Unfortunately, this is where the pictures end. I must have been too lazy to get out the camera. The next day we headed over to the Animal Kingdom again. Came back for lunch and an afternoon swim then headed over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for our dinner at Jiko. This was the best of the dinners and our kids were about punked out. Charley didn't want to sit a moment longer than she had too (she had a very short nap) and wanted to explore outside. We got dessert to go. Hit the Lodge's gift shop (much better than ours - African musical instruments to try) and headed home. Where I stayed up too late watching Hawaii 5-O. Stupid right? but I got sucked into it. The next day we were heading home. Instead of going to a park, we had breakfast at the Yacht Club's Captain's Grille (our favorite breakfast - besides Winnie the Pooh's french toast at the Crystal Palace) and we spent our time relaxing at the pool. Then we came home. I didn't want to leave. It is wonderful at Disney. I actually miss it and would like to go back every month. This trip was fairly easy compared to the trip we took with B. Maybe because I didn't push us to see everything! But, we did miss a lot, but we have loads of time to go back. Just not until Charley is at least 40 inches tall, and doesn't take a nap. So maybe for B's 7th birthday. Do they frown upon children missing school? I hope not. It is Disney, doesn't that mean an automatic pass?

A Day in the Life

2011-09-12T14:18:00.002-05:00

Last Tuesday, yes a week ago, I decided to take pictures all day long. I made it part of the day. It will give you an idea of a typical day her on James Street.

This is when I woke up. Nice huh?

This was the view next to me.

The big one sleeps behind this door.

My first stop.

Anna the peeing cat.

B woke first ans came out with her Tink stuff. Shoes and wings.

This sleepy head was next.

After a quick breakfast we got dressed in clothes suitable for yoga at school.

I usually wouldn't put the kids in sweats.

Tears at drop-off. That is Chuckey's cubbie.

B in her classroom.

Home for lunch. What did I do while they were at school? I can't remember.

A little rest on the couch.

Charley takes a long time to eat.

B's fairy village.

After Charley's nap, we went to the library.

Home again, and here's my little 70's girl.

That's where I quit. Below are some pictures from the following day.

Off to school. Yes, those are socks on Charley's hands.

Playing in the afternoon.

Picture day at school.

A little sandbox time on Friday while B was at school.

Outside playing - waiting for a showing to arrive.

That's our crazy life. It is particularly crazy at the moment. Hence the lack of narrative. Everybody wants the pictures, so I guess it is OK.

Loving Sunday Art Time

2011-09-11T11:19:00.002-05:00

As I have mentioned before, art has taken a back seat since we put the non-sellable house on the market. I have been feeling horrible because I have only been encouraging non-messy art. Well, really, that isn't any fun. So this morning, I asked B if she wanted to do some art and she said she wanted to do water colors (and proceeded to pull out every bottle of water color we have). Charley pulled out the shaving cream and this is what ensued....

B quickly jumped on board. This is her work in progress.

No more photos because Charley saw fit to potty on the splat mat. She was whisked post haste into the bath. I love art - HA!

Labor Day Weekend - 2011

2011-09-07T19:24:00.003-05:00

Wait, what happened? Didn't I vow to post more? Truth be told, we haven't been doing anything too interesting. Why take another picture of the kids running down the sidewalk? Plus, Charley has been all over the board sleep wise. Bed late, up early, weird nap schedule. Plus, there was/is the runny nose. Not the cold I thought it was, because she still has it a week later. Maybe her 2 year molars? Anyway, Labor Day weekend saw us doing very little. Oakbrook for Tinker Bell wings, Johanna's house for dinner (where a tired Charley piddled on Johanna's dining room chairs, plus my thank you note it tardy (sorry Johanna and Jason)). Sunday was LobsterFest at my sister's and Cathie P's birthday celebration. Monday? What did we do? It was cold. I know I got dressed, what did we do? Played in the neighbor's sandbox and did fairy stuff with B. Wow, that is it? We are boring, boring, boring. Oh, and I obsessed about my lack of creativity.

How does one become creative? I know I am trying to foster it in the kids, trying never to shoot down their ideas and letting them (B anyway) act on her whims. I haven't really been a good foster-er this summer. With trying to sell the unsellable house, I haven't wanted to make a mess. I am not even sewing as much as I would like. Every time I take out the sewing machine, we get a showing (for them to love our house, but you know, it only has 1.5 baths). Seriously, every time. No exaggeration.

Anyway, We'll get back on the arty wagon - starting with B's birthday party. Art activities with a rainbow theme. I have the invites made, I just need to print them. I have to get to work on the decor and the activities. And think good thoughts that we have a nice day. The thought of a billion kids in my little house makes my hackles rise. See, we were supposed to be in the Brady house for B's party. Oh well.

Enough of my jabber, on to the pictures.

The Tinker Bell Costume is complete.

Well, B's is. Charley still needs wings and shoes.
I didn't buy them because she had no interest
when we were at the Disney Store. Back to Oakbrook I go.

Playing with Cousin Jeana at Lobster Fest.

The only place Charley will eat raspberries. Right
out of Dick's garden.

My sister will hate me for this, but how cute does she look.
Almost as cute as....

B wanted to keep the antenna for her collection.
I convinced her a picture will do. Can you imagine stinky
lobster sitting around the house. YUCK!

We also celebrated Cathie P's 60th birthday. Grandma
Mary looks as good as the day I met her 20 years ago. Crap. I am
the old one. I was in college when Lee moved to Gurnee.

Trampoline time. Charley was exhausted
that night. Still didn't sleep that well. Imagine that!

This is on Labor Day. Notice the long sleeves. Brrr...
And B's Tinker Bell shoes. Must get
Charley a pair that fits.

B's fairy house, complements of Cathie P. I glued
the stuff on. B hates the glue gun. Wonder why?
Aren't the canoe and oars cute? B's design.

Sandbox time.

Do I need to get this kid her own Tinker Bell stuff or what?

Lastly, a bath before bed. Getting off all the weekend grime.

I have another day in the life post to do. Of course, I took the photos on Tuesday and here it is Thursday and I am still working on the post from the weekend. (While I am supposed to be shopping at the green market for food and going to pick up birthday present and going to the endodontist. Plus, I have the Charley's Tinker Bell Dress to finish. Other dresses that are almost done, Shadow and Isabel to the vet, Charley to speech, laundry, dishes, etc, etc. And I am sitting here trying to entertain you. OK, better get a move on!

First Day of School - August 24th, 2011

2011-08-25T10:52:00.005-05:00

I know, I know, the kids have been in school all summer. But really, that was more like camp. Playing in the kiddie pool, field trips every other week, lots of time outside, no Spanish. Yesterday, it was game on! Thank God! I love school, even if my kids don't (see Charley down below).

No special outfits. Really, I kind of forgot. But they each have a pouf in their hair, whether it matches (or even looks good) or not. Charley had to wear the green one - probably because B had the pink. Oh, I better get more poufs.

B went straight outside. She hits the ground running, that one. Charley on the other hand.... She wasn't crying when I picked up up after school. That's good, right?

August is Almost Over - Can You Believe it? August 18th - 22nd

2011-08-23T13:57:00.003-05:00

I used to hate summer. The heat, the humidity, the sun. But, three summers ago (when I was pregnant with Charley, I threw sunscreen to the wind (the shame, I know) and laid in the sun. And while my skin looks worse for it, those sunny days made me love summer. I know, of all the seasons to like, why chose the shortest. (Because in the midwest, there is only winter and summer. Fall and spring don't happen. 90 degrees with 100% humidity or 28 degrees with no snow, only dampness and clouds.) But, the pools, the fruit, the tacos. I love it. It is also so easy to go out with the kids. No coats, no boots (or shoes), sometimes no shirt. Dinner alfresco (something we don't do enough) and lemonade. I love it all.

So, needless to say, I am sad summer is coming to a close. School started to day (I have some pictures to come) and we didn't go to the splash park at all! Of course, it is 91 today, and are we going to the pool? No. Too many things going on, including a napping Charley and a serger class for me!

OK, enough with my jabber, here are some shots from the past couple of days.

This is play time from last Wednesday. The little one doesn't look sick.

This was last Thursday. We went to the Green Market.
We didn't do a lot on the kids week off from school.
Charley had a sick stomach, so we stayed close to home.
But isn't my oldest just a doll in that skirt?

Those are bread crisps they are eating.
The only thing Charley ate for a couple of days.
(Damn vaccine and Monkey Bizness.
Low immunity + kiddie germ pool = sick Charley

Like the hair chatch? That little pony tail thing
is from a mermaid Barbie.

They girls were checking on the fairy house before
we went to the fairy store.

Walking up town.

This is after we visited the Pink Hippo.
Puffs all around.

By Friday, Charley was feeling better so we met a friend at the zoo.
First stop, the butterfly house. So cool. Great butterflies.

Next stop, the carousel. Charley wasn't so sure,
so she rode with B.

We saw some animals (You all know what a giraffe looks
like, so I won't waste your time.) Next stop before we left?
The carousel. This time, Charley rode herself.

There may have been a small (or huge) breakdown on the way out.
Charley was crying and kicking and screaming. Egocentric B asked
if we could visit the gift shop. Really B? Did it really seem like
a good time to shop?
We made it to the front of the zoo, had some milky (aahh..
the power of the milky) and a snack. All was better.

Saturday came and with it a storm. It left some good mud at the
end of the walk (you know, where the city dug all around for the new
side walks and hasn't been back to seed or grade or anything. Just left it
a dirty muddy mess) for B to play.

Isn't it wonderful I buy her nice clothes?

A bath was in order. We went to a my cousin Barb's
granddaughter's first birthday that evening and
mud did not make an attractive accessory.

Sunday was a great day and Lee invited us up to swim
and eat ribs. B didn't think it was necessary to change out of
her jammies.

Charley was still celebrating Ellie's birthday.

And then the swimming commenced.

Notice I am not in the pool.
Too cold for this wimpy girl.

Charley jumped on the trampoline, swam, at
berries out of Dick's garden, then promptly
fell asleep on cousin Jeana. Was she tired or was she
bored of the movie Shark Tales?

Not to worry, she didn't sleep long. It was time for more cousin time.
Another reason summer ending is sad. All the cousins
go to school.

Monday was beautiful, so after swim
lessons, we went outside for art.

And some bike riding.

What? Everyone doesn't play and paint in flippers?

Next up I think I have some back to school pictures.

B's Fairy House

2011-08-20T10:30:00.008-05:00

On Wednesday, during Charley's nap (you know, when I should be doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen after lunch and SEWING), B asked me to help her make a fairy house. I had a horrible headache, but really couldn't figure out a way to get out of helping her. And, I had no ideas on how to actually go about building a fairy house.

See, it all started weeks ago, when I didn't want to watch the Incredible's again. So, I said it was Charley's turn to pick the movie. We hadn't seen the Tinker Bell movies yet, so I pushed Charley in that direction. B pissed and moaned and whined. She did not want to watch the fairies. Well, low and behold, my decision has started a new love. Now it is Tinker Bell costumes, fairy this and fairy that. Fairy houses and fairy accoutrements. AHHHH!!! What did I start?

OK, back to this fairy house. Since I was headache handicapped, I turned to my trusted friend, the internet. Well, it gave me ideas and depressed me. I don' t have the talent or at the time the where-with-all to make it look like the actual fairy house from Tinker Bell, the Great Family Rescue. However I did find a site that at least gave me the idea of how to start. Cracker boxes. Well, I had some of those, and masking tape and an X-Acto knife. With B's direction and my cutting. We made a start.

This was day one. We got as far as we could before Charley
woke up.

Here is B collecting natural stuff to put
on the outside of the house.

This is the next day. (Still had the headache, hell, still
do. Maybe I am allergic to my kids). During Charley's nap,
we built a removable roof. Made a bed and curtains, and
decorated for the fairies. Puffs to sit on and bread crisps to eat.

Put it by a tree for shelter. Much better than the middle
of the yard, where it originally was. You know, 'cause
it isn't like Layla will destroy it or anything.

OK, here is the little bike we bought from the fairy store. It is hard to see.
Fairy store you ask? Yes, just my luck, our town has a
little store called the Mossy Twig. They
have little stuff that fairies might like to use.
Did we actually buy something? Yes. Insane? Yes.

Here is the house's original position. In the middle of the yard.

Here is it, with some stepping stones, a plant
an an owl to watch over it.

Damn fairy store. The had chairs and tables and garden
equipment (I wanted to get a shovel, B did not. It was so little
and cute. Crap, now you know where she gets it from.) and even
seasonal decor. Glitter pumpkins for your fairy anyone?

Notice there is no natural materials on the house. B fought and fought not to put it on since I was going to use hot glue. I may have not mentioned, but B got a bad hot glue burn, so she is very adverse. I finally convinced her, located to glue gun, cleaned off the island, and the child who doesn't sleep enough woke up. So, I am still holding out to completely finish the house. All the natural materials (grass, sticks, bark, and leaves) are sitting on my buffet. It would be nice to find a new home for them.

Art Alfresco

2011-08-15T14:39:00.007-05:00

The art room is gone. We turned it into B's little bedroom. She loves her bedroom, but we all miss the art room (yes, that means no sewing room either). No art room means I am less apt to make the arty mess (or the sewing mess). Since today is lovely, and I feel the kids (and me) have been missing the creative outlet, I set up painting outside. OK, as I type this, I realize that B was the driving force. On the way home from swim lessons, she wanted to stop at Michael's (or the art store as she calls it) to get some of those wooden animals to paint. So, she bothered me all through lunch and finally (according to her) we headed outside. Oh, I had forgotten how art makes me crazy. Charley painting everything but the actual paper or thing she should be painting and B needing something every other minute. Still, they had fun. There may have been some playdoh involved too. B is now outside sitting at the table playing with her wooden creatures (Chuckie is asleep). So I better get cleaning the paint brushes. Enjoy the cute pictures. (I do say so myself.) Don't you like their concentration? They are totally Montessori kids.

s

Crazy B

2011-08-15T08:38:00.003-05:00

I walked in to the family room and this is what I found.

My 300th Post!

2011-08-14T19:52:00.011-05:00

First of all, I really want to post more than I do. I guess it boils down to doing other stuff. You know, B, Charley (poor Mike bringing up the rear) laundry, sewing, Pinterest. But I do want to talk more about our comings and goings. But in the interest of my constituents, here are some pictures to keep you interested.

Charley is talking so much more! She is even saying things spontaneously. Yak, backpack, tiger. It is very exciting when it happens. She is babbling more too. Just little sounds here and there. And she is doing much better in school, you know, now that summer school is over and there is a break before the regular school starts. And the potty training is pretty much done. She has some bad days. But she diaper free 24 hours a day. It is wonderful!

B, well, B is B. Making zoos, loving to be outside. Asking to go swimming every day. She is feisty and a know-it-all about animals. And she tells you what she wants, when she wants it. Ahhh!!! She is one of a kind, but such a cuddly little-big girl. Always with the kisses and hugs. Oh and we lost her glasses, below are her new ones.

Me, well, I turned 40 on August 2nd (don't expect any actual pictures of me. YIKES, I am 40 you know). It was a good day. Mike treated me for a couple of days before and both he and my sister got me great things. Mike gave me a new camera, a micro DLSR. I love it. My skills aren't any better, most of my pictures aren't good, but they are sharper and clearer.

What else? No much. I am making Tinker Bell costumes for the girls and I have a stack of fabric for some fall/winter.

Here is a cute little shirt I made for Charley using a Target tee and my Silhouette machine. Rhinestones, isn't it cute?

What else is there? I am going to try and take more pictures with my new camera (can you tell, I love it? Mike doesn't usually buy me presents, but when he does, they are great. Silhouette, the camera, ice cream maker, robo grip). I really want to post more. I think of stuff to say, like why I was able to potty train Charley at an early age - we didn't give up, despite any messes. Or, a picture of my favorite things (the yellow sandals I had on Thursday). I feel like I am not posting all the stuff I want to remember. Cross my fingers I will be better. Of course, every morning I say I will be a better parent, then before my second cup of tea is done, I am yelling at someone to finally put on their shoes.

Where, Oh Where, Has July Gone?

2011-07-22T16:34:00.003-05:00

Seriously, my last post was the 26th of June! Where have I been, and why haven't I been taking pictures? What has happened since then? Well, we had Swedish Days in our town with a parade. Went to Brookfield Zoo. Celebrated my sister's 50th (oh my) birthday. Sewed some. Celebrated the 4th of July. Friday night movies while Mike is playing soft ball. Pools, Not doing to much, but busy at the same time.

Charley is seeing a speech therapist and saying more things. Up, down, turtle, I, eyes, in, out, good, girl, good girl, hi, bye, turtle, cut, cook, help, open, door, car. Some are clearer than others. Sometimes, she says it once, then won't repeat it for awhile (like today, she spontaneously said "thank you".) Last week, we started seeing Miss Janna twice a week. She gets more out of Charley than I do, so hopefully she will progress even faster. Charley is also doing better in school. Now, she just cries when I leave (or if I am late picking up). She loves music, loves puzzles, and loves the playground. She doesn't eat much there. Knock on wood, her potty training (are we still training? When does it stop?) is going well. There is the occasional hiccup, and we had a couple of nights were she wet the (I mean, my,) bed. But she went to bed early. She can hold it a looong time.

Let's see, what is up with B? She is a smarty. Starting to read more, sounding out words, and trying to spell and write them. Swimming like a fish. B says she cannot swim, and I guess, in the conventional way she can't, but she swims under water like a champ. She really tries at Swim with Bill, so hopefully soon, she will be really swimming. B also likes summer school and spending time up at Camp Lee with her cousins. They watched the girls while Mike and I saw the last Potter.

OK, if you are still with me, here is what you've been waiting for....

We haven't been doing as much art as I would like.
We changed around our bedroom situation,
so we no longer have a dedicated art room/sewing room.
But, B has her own room which she loves.

These are from one of our zoo trips.

Our town's Swedish Days Parade.

Should this one be a model or what?
She has the pose down!
The model-y attitude too. It's all
Charley, Charley, Charley!

I made this dress for Lee's birthday party.
I made one for Charley too, just never finished them.

At Lee's for Lee's birthday. I think Lee had a good one.

I made this cake. That is "50" spelled out with candles.

This is the cake from the party Dick threw for Lee.

Random picutes on our way to the pool.

Going to school one morning. My back pack girls!

B had a school trip to Cosley Zoo.
She got to pet a snake, and a chicken.

OK, here is another kid with model attitude.

Movie night with the girls. I think we watched
Princess and the frog.

Here they are helping with the popcorn.

My kids love popcorn!

This is for all you people who think Charley
is so cute and sweet. Here is a little tantrum she had.

I started this post over a week ago. I have been a terrible blogger lately. I guess there is other stuff going on. It doesn't help that we got a new computer, but all the important stuff was on the old one and we had trouble switching stuff over. The old computer ran out of memory, so I couldn't load new software to make the transition easier. I still have some more pictures I would like to post. My bedroom was painted, it looks so nice. We had some landscaping done, and what Layla hasn't ran over looks good. You would think I have more time not that both kids are in school! I feel like I never sit down while they are gone. It's all get stuff done! OK, Charley needs me.

I Made This!! Dixie Dress for Charley

2011-06-26T15:40:00.004-05:00

Since Mike is home on Saturdays, I have a little time to sew. Last week, I did a ruffle dress for B (I get a picture up sometime). This week, I made the Dixie Dress, which is an adaptation of Leila and Ben's The Sweet Little Dress. I didn't make it exactly as the Dixie. For one, the dress isn't reversible, because I just didn't have the right fabric to use as the reverse pattern. I used the bias tape I made for the butterfly dress. I am marginally happy about how it came out. I used both the serger and my sewing machine. (Next project is going to be stretchy knit, so I can expand my serger skills.) The are holes are a little deep. Charley did not want to try it on, so I had to estimate everything.

Isn't B's dress cute? It is Calypso from Target.

Just A Few New Pictures

2011-06-23T10:27:00.001-05:00

What has been happening on James Street you want to know? They are redoing to sewers. Dust and gravel everywhere! Big holes, big machines, oh and lots of bad weather. Why is that? Summer? I think summer has started at least by the calender. Here on James Street? 65 and rainy.

What else? Charley has started her speech therapy. Of course, she only wants to work with B and Mike. Perhaps Mommy exerts to much pressure? Speak already! Charley has also been through two weeks of Montessori. She is doing better. Now she only cries when I leave - this is opposed to last week when she started crying when I pulled in the school driveway and turned the car off. I wish I were taking pictures of her each day as she leaves, but truly, we are lucky to get out the door. One, promptness is not my strong suit and two, I have to wake Charley up every day, and some days, like this morning, she is a grump. It took 10 minutes just to get her out of bed.

Young Beatrix has turned into a swimming fool. Three weeks ago, she wouldn't put her head under the water. Now, we couldn't get her to stop if we tried. OK, and we've tried. She wants to put her head under and swim in the bath. No, our bathtub isn't big enough, especially when Charley is in the tub with B. Our outside time has been hindered by the weather (see above) so, maybe we've watched a bit too much of Danny Phantom and B's new favorite, The Wild Kratts.

Here is a neat photo I did of Charley and me using the Photobooth
program on the computer.

I love to watch Charley draw. Circles are her big thing.

Father's Day at Camp Lee.

My girls love their cousins.

All the J's (Jeana, Jess and Jordan) are so
good with B and Charley. They get B to do things she
normally wouldn't. And the food at Camp Lee
is pretty good too.

I made Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies. They were OK. I think next time I will bake them a bit less.

I am still sewing a bit. I am going to start a Tumblr to keep track of project ideas. I have a decent stash of fabric, lots of old shirts of Mike's and some of mine and my Mom's (those are earmarked for Charley, there wasn't too much meat on my Mom's bones). As I am waiting for the Uverse guy AGAIN (!), I thought I would go through my fabric and think of some projects to have on deck for the quiet times (HA) in my life.

Where O Where Has the Nice Weather Gone?

2011-06-13T14:06:00.007-05:00

Before I start, this is my 296th blog post. Yes, 300 is coming soon, I figure at the rate I am going, 300 will be in August (wait, should I time it with another milestone?).

OK, what has been going on since the last post? Both girls have started summer school, gymnastics and swim lessons. The weather has been crappy, but we are still out and about in the yard. YUCK! It has been humid and cold, all on the same day. What else? Today is niece Jeana's 16th Birthday! Happy Birthday!!!! Yesterday, we went to visit Jeana after we went to Rick Bayless's Farm Foundation Festival. We've also been working around the house. De-cluttering (have I mentioned that I am never buying anything else?), spring cleaning, LAUNDRY, WEEDING! YUCK!

Now, to what you've all been waiting for.....PICTURES!

B took the following photos:

Shadow and Layla-Belle.

Charley hating her bike. Is it because it isn't pink?
I suspect that is the reason. 'Cause she sure
wants to ride B's.

Self Portrait entitled,
"Here's My Mug."

B's wings. I finally finished them.
Good news. she likes them.
Bad news, they need to be washed.
Will they survive? I did make them you know.

Dress up time from yesterday. See, the wings are a winner.
So is the tutu Lee gave Charley for Easter.
The wings and crown were left by Santa.

Charley thinks she is all that and a bag of chips.

B is flying everywhere!

They have been playing together more and more.
YAY!!!!!

All and all, things are going OK. I want to sew more and I want to get the art room re-organized (for the 5th time this year). We all take stuff out (some may dump things on the floor) and don't put it back. The room is so small, that it only takes a couple of days and it is CHAOS! (I do love the CAPS today, don't I?) OK, Mike is de-cluttering without me, I better go toe the line. TTFN and Happy Birthday Jeana!

It's June and What's Been Happening on James Street?

2011-06-07T14:14:00.003-05:00

Lots, but nothing to recordable. We released butterflies. We've done art (yes, big shocker). Here's another shocker, we've played outside. Rain, sun, clouds. We've been out in it. We have been swimming at Lee's (Memorial Day and last Friday). Late spring cleaning (seriously, no more clothes, shoes or anything else - where did all this stuff come from?). I have been working FOREVER trying to make this dress for Charley (and I finished today. She is sleeping right now and probably going to tinkle it it). What else? B has been riding her bike (hurray for peer pressure - let's hope that is the last time I say that). I ordered Charley a Strider bike and gave her B's old helmet. That kid is hell bent on riding. We walked up town today (by the time this gets published it will be yesterday) and she whined the whole way, wanting to get down and tackled B off her bike, then sit on it, because, you know, she can't reach the wheels. I have called a speech therapist for Charley, maybe we can find out why she isn't talking. I know, I shouldn't be so worried. I believe she will cry less if she talks more. Really, I would much rather hear the annoying chatter than the constant whining and crying. You all think I am exaggerating. I am not. The kid needs to talk. Otherwise things are fine. Should I zip it and show you what you really want? Here are the pictures!

The first photos are from the butterfly release party at Peck Farm.
We have gone every year since B was one. Mike usually meets us there.
This is Charley's first year getting her own butterfly.

The thing with butterflies is you cannot touch their wings.
This year the kids got two butterflies and some help from
a butterfly expert.

How cool are B's braids? B got her hair done that morning and Roxanne
braided B's hair instead of drying it.
I am practicing so I can braid B's hair.

B is seriously cute sometimes.
Much better than with the mop she usually sports.

I really love butterfly houses. They are very peaceful.
We don't have a lot of butterflies in our yard. No sun, so not
a lot of flowers.

OK, the little one is cute too.

B got this from somewhere. I think it is a stripeasaurus.

Serious art face.

More serious art face. Charley is painting a dog.

This was rainy day play. Bath night followed.

Memorial Day at Camp Lee. Charley is a swimming fool.

So, Mike and I were burned. B and Charley were tan.
How does that work?

That hat ended up in the pool about a minute after I too the photo.

Isabel did not help with the spring cleaning. She laid around
in this bag all day.

Nice thing about spring cleaning? I found this old dress
of B's (the the black boots) and Charley loves them.

Aren't these pjs cute?

These girls love books. (that is Shadow's new bed. Layla
has not chewed it, but a cat thought it was the new litter box.
I am washing it now.)

We walked up town to get Charley a bike helmet.
None were small enough, so B got a new helmet and
Charley got her old one.

B is a biking fool. It is all thanks to the kids
down the street. They rode by this past week.
That evening, B asked for her bike (the one we've had since 2009).

This is the dress I made for Charley.
It took me more than a week. But I made my own
bias tape. And I used the serger my cousin
Barb gave me. I am using it more and more. (I put a
rolled hem on the wings I am making B.)

It looks a little bit like a hospital gown.
But I made it!

Here is the bike drama. Charley loves B's bike.
Her Strider came yesterday. I'll have photos soon.
Mostly she stands there and whines. She wants us to push her on it.
I'll have photos soon.

We have a little fish pond in town. The girls love
to visit it. We were sweaty when we got home. Especially B.
She rode to town and back. I am so proud of her!

So, not much else her. It is now Tuesday and Charley had her first gymnastics class. Her and B have class at the same time. Charley did OK. She is youngest by at least four months. Charley just wants to do what B is doing. We may be in trouble......

Mother Knows Best

2011-05-27T14:18:00.002-05:00

This morning, B insisted it was warm enough (because it was sunny) to wear shorts and a short sleeve tee (though it was only 50 degrees). I suggested she wear jeans and a tee. When we went to her haircut at 10:30, she asked for a sweatshirt. I told her she should listen to me because Mother knows best.

This afternoon, she was asking about the spider crawling up the wall. I said I didn't know what kind it was. So she says to me, " but you said Mother knows best."

I can't win.

Late May Photo Update

2011-05-25T12:03:00.004-05:00

May is coming to a close. Of course, it is cold and rainy today, more like April. I am sure June will come in with 100% humidity and 100 degree weather.

What else is new on James Street? Not much. Sewing more. Kids outside whenever possible. Layla ate Charley's Keens (well, one shoe anyway). See, not much has changed. I am sleepy today. Must have something to do with it being pitch black when I woke up at 7 am. Seriously, B thought it was the middle of the night. But now the sun is shining...... So, I will need eye shades for my nap. HA! Like I will get a nap.

On with the pictures.

Here are some photos of Charley in the dress I made.

I'll see how well I made the dress. I now have to wash it.

This is from Sunday. Building with blocks while Mike mowed
thew lawn. Like B? She wanted to sleep "like" Mike.

B built a dolphin show. A ramp with a pool at the end.
There is even a place for the dolphin to dive through a hoop.

Seriously cute right?

Here is the dress I made B out of Mike's old shirt.
(Those lovely shoes are her new "blue and green mixed together" Keens.)
You should know I was injured making this dress. I sewed through (yes, out the back)
of my finger, the yanked it and split the tip. So lovely.
I am dedicated to my craft. HA!

This is the pose B really wants you to see.....

One day B wants to be like Fancy Nancy, the next day, a weird faced, mud covered worm whisperer. Yes, she actually calls herself a whisperer. Bug Whisperer, Toad Whisperer. Oh, Mike took her to Fermi Saturday morning to hunt for toads, frogs , snakes you name it. She got to hold a toad, but they saw frogs and snakes and buffalo. She had a blast. She hasn't wanted to go to school, but wants to go with Mike to work. She is my nature lover. OK, laundry and cutting out fabric for a new dress await. Oh, and my kids too. I won't forget about them.

I Made This! Shirred Sundress for Charley

2011-05-20T17:23:00.001-05:00

OK, I hit publish before I added text. I made this cute little dress for Charley. I worked on it a bit each day. I lucked out on Tuesday and Wednesday because she took long naps. Isn't it cute? I really like my new machine. It is a Singer, which I said I would never buy, but IO like that it sews by itself, without using a pedal. This is perfect for me because it sews very slowly. That way, my lines are straight and I can see what I am doing. So, hopefully, I will be posting new stuff, sewn by me, on a semi-regular basis.

One thing I don't like about sewing. I get ahead of myself with all the things I want to make. I bought this fabric for a top I wanted to make B 3 years ago. I am trying to stop myself from ordering fabric until I use up my stash. Though, I really want to order this.