haircuts, bravery and birthday parties....oh my!

This is a pic heavy post so ENJOY!!

We all remember Anthony's before hair and it is with great pleasure that I present to you....

and it really is adorable!!! We got it done at Sharky's where they specialize in kid's cuts and know all the tricks to keep the "clients" sitting pretty still.  It didn't take much to amuse Anthony....they just put in a movie and he was transfixed (as you can see).

Honourable mention in the haircut department is my Grandma.  We were all wowed with her new do.  I don't have a before picture but I certainly have an after photo.

 Please try to focus on the hair and not my dear child eating her locket and near decapitating her with her chain.

Now onto the bravery.  While on a walk the other day Ava scared me when she took off someones driveway to pat this....

statue of a Doberman Pinscher.  I can assure you that I almost had a heart attack!

BIrthday Party Pics

Here are some of the pictures from the birthday party that we threw last Sunday for Ava and Isaiah- my adorable nephew.  

I learned a lot during that party....

::  that 4 years flies by before you know it... and you have what appears to be a teenager dipping her feet in the pool

    ::  that a father will always do anything for his princess 

:: that my Anthony WILL melt in the heat

:: that some creations should be left to the professionals

:: that you have to keep your eye on Isaiah around cake

:: that when they tell you to take out an ice cream cake (delish) about 1/2 hour before serving, don't question just DO IT.

  

:: that birthday parties can be so exhausting

:: most of all I learned that my kids are so loved and that I couldn't ask for a better family to surround my children with.....we are lucky and I am so thankful.......and then of course...... I cried.

It's a Carnival Parade

Today was Ava's last day of school....I cried, she danced.

{last day of school dance}

       I can't believe that she has finished her first school year- with oh so many ahead of her.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I dropped her off for her first day... 

{Ava's first day of school}

  excitement in her eyes and tears in mine (do we see a theme here).  She has grown beyond belief this year.  Everyday she surprises me with something new that she has learned and I can honestly say that her teachers have been able to help her learn things that I have been working on with her forever.
          For these very special teachers Ava and I decided that they would love a set of handmade alphabet and number beanbags for their end of year thank you gift.   I was up late last night finishing these along with their drawstring bag but I really think they were worth it.  I almost wanted to keep them for Ava and Anthony.  I see myself making another set very soon.

 {they did love them by the way}

         I was thinking about posting a version of these in my shop but because of the weight of the dried bean filling the shipping is approx $45.  I think selling these locally is the way to go.

On another note, did you know that I am living with a celebrity impersonator!!!

Yes I think my mother is right.....time for a haircut!!!

i don't think your ready for this... jelly/jam

Today I tried my hand at preserves for the first time (well just freezer jam).  The kids and Sri were out of the house this morning and I had a flat of strawberries from the market
so what else was there to do.  I made a low sugar strawberry jam...NO COOKING, NO STERILIZING.... SO EASY.

I used these  jars.... they hold 2 cups of jam each.

I used  this recipe (the low sugar version) from Canadian Living.  I will have to let you know how it tastes when it sets.

I ended up with 12 cups of strawberry jam.  I am so excited about pulling one of these containers of the best smelling jam out of the freezer in the middle of winter and spreading it on toast with a TON of peanut butter......yay for urban homesteading!! and mornings of being productive in a creative way!

Introducing the graduate of 2010

Last night was Ava's graduation from pre-school.  I cried....is that weird?  Slide show, sad background music and kids singing- that sounds like a recipe for tears if you ask me.

My kids looked adorable if I do say so myself.  I am thinking about selling dresses and bow  ties together as a brother / sister combo gift - what do you think??  I made Ava's dress from a tablecloth which actually was a great idea because you already have the colour palette picked for you and you just have to pick and choose which parts of the fabric you want to use.  I will be using more tablecloths in my sewing from now on.

I have also started making Ava clothes with sayings on them.

This dress is one of my favourites.  Ava loves it because she can look at the letters on it and pretend she is reading. One day she was convinced that the dress read "Ava you can eat cake for breakfast this morning"... she uses it like a horoscope (I wish I had a psychic dress too).

{this moment}

Inspired by Soulemama (in her words)

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Have a great weekend!!

The weekend :: in pictures

This weekend was spent in my favourite way.... on a road trip.  We took the kids to the Fleece and Fibrefest  at Silmaril Farms.

the BEST cheese ever

it was a fantastic weekend that exhausted us all!!!

Shop update

There are two new dresses in the shop!!!  The yellow dress is a 24mths/ 2T  and the blue dress will fit 3T-4T.  Ava wears a 5T and the dress fits her perfectly (maybe just a little short) and also looks great as a tunic with shorts.  My models were a JOY to work with!!!!

May 2-4

Running through sprinklers and using garden waste bags for sleeping bags...it was a fun LONG weekend for sure.

I heart sun hats

Okay I am totally addicted to making sun hats for the kids.  They are quick, easy and the kids always look oh so cute in them.  The first one I made was for Anthony and I used this McCall's pattern that I bought from the thrift store (a real score because it had all the pattern pieces).  

The hat is made out of some old linen curtains and I hand embroidered locally grown across the front.  It fits him perfectly and he keeps it on which is super important.... I really don't like darting here and there trying to catch hats that are being flung off of heads.  Next time I think I would line the brim in a contrasting fabric and maybe use a medium weight interfacing  instead of HEAVY which has resulted in a cardboard-like brim.

My next sun hat adventure was started at 10pm last night after trying to pack for a day at Marineland (more on that another day) and realizing that my dear sweet Ava only had her precious T-ball hat to protect her head (and that hat is NOT cute) so in my insanity I made her the most adorable hat.  I bought the e-book pattern from here and got started right away.  I love this hat and the pattern was so easy to follow with great step by step pictures.  I caused the only problem.... I made it a little small (I should have read the sizing chart a little more closely).  I also didn't line the hat as it called for because I used the serger on all the seams.  Ava does not like her head to be hot so I thought the less fabric the better.  I will be starting a new hat with the same pattern but in a bigger size as soon as I finish this post.  I have big plans for my kids heads.....I'm just hoping that one day they will actually let me take a picture of them with the hats on.

Firsts

Over the last couple of weeks we have had many firsts around here.... Lord A's first steps, our first asparagus and strawberries of the season and  our first 2010 trip to the zoo but none of these firsts (well maybe the steps) were quite as exciting as Lady A's first T-ball game.
I tend towards the solitary sports myself....knitting, sewing and cooking..... so I wasn't much help, but the Mister has been waiting for this day and was prepared like no other.  He became a co- coach by default and it was a joy to watch him and Lady A in their element.
It took 2 hours to play 2 innings but I think a grand time was had by all.

Here are some highlights

First ever at-bat.....she hit the ball well and then

                                         she chased the ball and tried to grab it herself

                        once she got the hang of it she really whipped around those bases

to be welcomed by her father/coach at home plate............ the excitement and pride on her face is priceless.

I am so looking forward to many more t-ball firsts

{this moment}

inspired by soulemama

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Three gifts

I was given THREE  gifts for mother's day this year.  One that I loved, one that I am excited/scared of and one that I did not appreciate at all.

1.  The mister and lady A went to a daddy and me group and made me a concrete stepping stone for the garden which I can't say enough about.  THe creativity and thoughtfulness that went into this gift really touched me.  I LOVED IT

2. The mister bought me a Janome 1110dx serger which I am so scared of.  Of course I am excited to get using it but let me tell you the set up of the machine is overwhelming.  I will have to take the free courses offered through the store that he bought it.

3.  THe FLU....kids have been sick the last few days and today it hit me.  I spent the day in bed writhing in pain.  At first I was thinking from a positive place......like I will have a lot of time to myself.... but I was in too much discomfort to enjoy any alone time that I had.

Overall I had a great mother's day as I got to hear the kids downstairs playing with their Dad and enjoying time with him.  I could not ask for a better family to be a mother to.........I am truly lucky.

Happy Mother's Day

July 19th 2006 I became a mother.  I was given a gift (my daughter.... and later a son) that takes my breath away at every turn.  Something changed in me that day and until recently I had a very hard time putting my finger on what it was... of course I knew the obvious.... I was more responsible and softer hearted but it was something deeper than that.  One day while reading one of my favourite blogs The Blankie Chronicles I came across this post that put into words exactly what I was feeling.  It discussed the idea that as mothers we have a "desire to protect and care for not just our babies, but all children" and that we have a" protective roar that can turn the world upside down".

       This was the change that I had felt...it was the overwhelming feeling that I wanted to protect all children....the ones I saw without proper winter clothing, those that were getting publicly screamed at by their parents, those that were too young to be playing out on the street late at night and the list goes on and on.      

       This mother's day brings much appreciation for my two wonderful children and the joy and excitement that  they bring to my life everyday.  This mother's day I am also thankful for the awareness of this feeling  that I am part of larger whole.... a force of MOTHERS....who can collectively change the world with their "roar".  I am going to work hard to harness this "roar" in my community to make a change...a change that will hopefully make a difference in the lives of the children who really need it.  

Thank you Kate for the inspiration and Happy Mother's Day to you and all the other mothers out there!!

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

yay

yay....my first ever etsy sale and guess what...... it was not from a family member or friend.  I am above and beyond excited.  I am so motivated to get this little business going.  HEre is a picture of the tote bag that I sold.

I also made a hand embroidered thank you card which I totally fell in love with.

I am going to learn how to use photoshop and make some wonderful postcards from this card.  Oh the possibilities are endless.

What to do.....what to do

For the first time in a year and a half I spent the morning all by myself today.  Mister was at a walk-a-thon and the kids were at my moms.  I spent most of the morning wondering where to start and how to make the most of my time alone.
I wasted my morning.
I am trying to see the positive in this but am having a very hard time.
I will have to plan better next time I am given this gift of a morning.

A bee in her bonnet

Each Easter I make Lady A a dress and matching bonnet.    I love making them because they are so easy and look totally adorable on everyone....including my husband.   My darling child never wants to wear her bonnet and always kicks up a royal fuss just before we have to leave for Easter dinner.  Every year she ends up looking adorable and my family always talk about how comfortable it would be to wear a bonnet and how Little House on the Prairie it would be of us to start sporting these 

in our daily lives.  My cousin Laura suggested making one for Lady A with a bee in it.  It took me a while to get the joke...ha ha ha a bee in her bonnet.   So of course I decided it had to be made.... so I made one for Laura.  Above is a picture of Lady A modelling a too big for her unfinished bonnet (she was making all attempts at getting out of going to bed and knows the way to her mama's heart is to say" can I just try it on so you can "camera" me ").

The little bee on the brim is especially cute and I think can also be interpreted as "queen bee" on days when Laura doesn't have a "bee in her bonnet".

Here's hoping she loves it because I am mailing it off today.

Finally some sewing content

I have been spending my free time making these sweet pea pilot caps (as modelled Sylvia, Lady A's doll) by Meg for both of the kids.  While completely adorable I have been having  a really hard time getting them to fit properly.  The ribbing at the back always looks a little wonky (technical term).... I think I am stretching the ribbing out of shape when I am sewing it on.  Perhaps keeping my eye on the sewing and not on reruns of Project Runway would help.  I think it must be time for me to get a serger (save save save save save).    The machine I have my eye on is the Janome 1110DX...the slogan for the machine is "so advanced, so quick, so easy to thread"....that sounds like the stuff dreams are made of.  For now I am off to master the mock overlock stitch on my machine........perhaps playing with needles and tension will help my cause.

Any Ideas????

I finally got a moss terrarium for Christmas this year and I promptly realized that I hadn't a clue.  We have over-watered it, neglected it, strewn it with Playmobil figures, knocked it over and lord only knows what else.  The other day we sat down for breakfast and out of the corner of my eye I spotted a mushroom growing through the moss.  OH how we quickly took the lid off to examine it...touch it...smell it and I think I may have seen a certain little 3 year old LICK it.   My husband made quick work of letting us know that we didn't know what kind of mushroom it was and BLAH BLAH BLAH so we should be very careful.  THe mushroom has since been squished by little hands but I was able to get a couple of pictures of it.....for identification purposes of course.  That is my mission for tonight.  I also wonder if we are supposed to have mushrooms growing in our terrarium or am I doing something wrong (unheard of).