There are things we look forward to doing with our kids. All of the special firsts and occasions and right up there with those things was teaching the princess to sew. I didn’t touch a sewing machine until I was 23.  I was practically still a newlywed and a little baby and I had developed a love for boutique clothing. It was learn how to do it myself or try and forget all of the websites that I had bookmarked for inspiration. For Christmas that year my husband bought me a Kenmore machine that served me well until last year when the tension decided it didn’t want to work ever. It refused to do a straight stitch and after a successful craft show weekend I promised myself that if I made enough cash not to pull from our general budget that I would get a new machine. Well, as luck would have it I did well and I found a machine on Amazon that would normally be way out of my price range over half off. I am not the proud new owner of a Brother SE400 sewing and embroidery machine.  I have been using my neighbors Janome memory craft and to be honest there isn’t anything about this machine that doesn’t compare to hers to be just as great.

The princess has always taken a liking to crafts and her school project was to make a large paper doll and to make an outfit for it from another country. She chose Germany and together we made a Dirndl dress. I am not an expert seamstress but I do hope that as I teach her some of the basics that she grows to love the art of handmade as much as I do.

I let the little princess get her school spirit on today! She won most spirit in her class and I win cool mom of the day by coloring her bangs for the day!

We had the duck pond set up

Bullseye!

Circus mini golf

Popcorn Toss

Squirt Gun Shootout

The body boppers! (I wish they made these for adults!)

Decorations!

and always the favorite, the waterslide!

and of course the cake smash!

It was a great time! Somehow I forgot to take pictures of the actual cake! It was a circus tent made from the giant cupcake pan. I just gave him the top to smash. I also forgot to take pictures of the adorable popcorn boxes and hot dog containers. Maybe someone else did and will send them my way, but the theme was done to the tee and for the most part pretty frugally!

Here is what I learned from they day. Life goes on even after they turn one. But, I am so thankful I will have the memories of this age forever. Secondly, if you are going to have a waterslide at your party on the first hot day of the year, the rest of the games will totally be secondary. Your grass might get ruined but you will have happy kids that sleep well that night.

I am so very proud of my son. He is an amazing kid. Smart. Funny. Spiritual. Kind. Did I mention funny? (He has his father’s sense of humor. Yes, I am screwed in trouble.)

Yesterday was T’s 9th birthday. We had the party of all parties for him on Saturday. He thoroughly enjoyed it! Not only did he enjoy it, BUT, he actually thanked me. Not just your off the cuff ‘Thanks Mom.’ It was genuine – He looked me in the eye and expressed just how much fun it was and how much it meant to him that I went through all that trouble for him.  He is an amazing child. Have I said that already??? DH & I are so tremendously proud of the person that he is becoming. He is just too good sometimes. We are so very blessed.

Since everything lately has seemed to revolve around the ‘Party’, I have not mentioned that Friday was report card day. This was always a big day for me growing up. I was (and still am) a bit of a nerd. So DH & I are trying very hard to stress the importance of a good education and effort. Effort is essential to stress because my little muffin can be a slacker. At any rate, Friday was report card day.  T once again earned straight As. So happy and proud of him and for him.

At first DH and I were not going to make a big deal of his marks. Last trimester, we didn’t. We told him it was a beautiful report card and over emphasized the ‘effort’ that went into it and did not mention the marks. Well, we are having a little trouble with T being challenged. He makes careless mistakes because he is pretty bored at school. So we thought about it and decided that we SHOULD make a big deal out of straight As. Heck, whether he had to work for them or not, it is still a big accomplishment that many kids never reach. So we have been telling him that if he gets straight As that we will take him to his favorite restaurant for Alaskan crab legs. (Yes folks, the kid has good – no great – taste.)

So since, he hasn’t been feeling so hot tummy wise, we have postponed, but soon – very soon. We will all be indulging in the succulent crab at Bob Chinn’s. Never been? Well, if you live in or near Chi town. We highly recommended it.

I am a lucky Momma. I have a really great kid. He is a joy. Truly – he is. I just hope that I am half the person he is.

Way to go kiddo! Mom & Dad love you so much!!!

The only real difference at this point is time, is that Logan is only four (photo taken in last year) and in the photo below I was six and a couple of months.  Yes, of course this means you will get a similar photo towards the end of next year when Logan will be almost six.  MY kid will be turning six in next year – that is so big!       

 Thank you to my Aunt in Cape Town for the photo of me  :)

So, here was the before. Obviously not a blank box, but I knew that I could take it apart and start new.

And the after!

Each one has the hospital id tags and hat they came home from in the hospital. Alaina’s has a cross she received the day she was baptized and her teeny bracelet that she had as a baby. Sam’s has the card from his hospital bassinet (we never had one with Alaina!) and a little Bible to symbolize that we named him after Samuel.

I love love love (did I mention love?) how these turned out. I had to admit that I got a little misty eyed touching the hats that touched their fresh newborn heads and recalling each of their births.

I love my crazy haired sweet princess and my joyous son who would rather be in a diaper all day than wear clothes more than I could have ever imagined. I am taken a back by not only how much I love them but how much they love each other. She kisses him almost as much as I do in a day and he smiles and laughs just by the sight of her. I still can’t get over how blessed I am to have the privledge of raising them.

The transition to two kids has been so seemless that it must have been meant to be! The little prince is seriously the most mellow baby I have ever encountered. Besides getting changed or being hungry he doesn’t cry! He is a great sleeper and has taken to nursing like a champ. It is a complete 180 from newborn life with the princess. She knew what, when and how she wanted things and we were expected to comply,but the little prince has made life easy. I also might be biased but I think he is pretty darn cute.

Not to worry about the princess, she is enjoying big sisterhood just fine! Especially, since everyone has been so kind to give her as many new gifts as Sam has gotten! Here she is enjoying one of her new gifts! A slip and slide!

Seeing the princess grow into this amazing little lady and great big sister has relieved all of my anxiety about growing our family. It is so beautiful to see her interact with him. He is the first person she runs to in the morning and can’t sleep without kissing him good  night and she has become an excellent diaper runner!

And the prince….oh he is too cute. I just can’t get over how blessed I am. Look at this little chubby face. In two words I feel: deliriously happy!

I have been preparing myself for the graduation for the last few weeks in hopes that I wouldn’t cry. Thankfully, there were no gowns and caps with tassles, but nonetheless the little princess still graduated preschool. There was no outright weeping but the tears were there, doesn’t the days of the week song get everyone emotional? The first day I dropped her off at preschool she cried and didn’t want to stay in the classroom and on her graduation day she proudly stood on the stage and sang. Preschool has been such an incredible place for her go grow.

But, growing has snuck up some other things that we could never prepare ourselves for. Yesterday she wrote a little boys name all over a piece of paper along with hearts. I showed it to her Daddy who you would of thought just had a knife put through his heart. She also announced that a boy tried to kiss her and when I asked if he did it she just blushed and giggled. Somehow she has already learned the art of not kissing and telling. Someone remind her that she is five and we are not ready for this! But, regardless of how fast she is growing up, we really couldn’t be more proud of this little princess who just puts the stars in the sky for us. Can’t believe we get to have another one to feel this way about! So, with that being said this just might be one of the last family pictures with just the three of us!

We have spent the last 37 weeks together, just you and me. It seems like yesterday that you were a figment of my imagination and a prayer on my heart. Your Dad and I prayed for years to have another child and your sister prayed every night for a new sibling. I don’t know if you will ever be able to understand what a miracle you are. You were created for a purpose that I can’t even begin to imagine.

I woke up at 3:30am to having you kick and roll around in my belly. So, for the last 2 hours I have just sat and watched you move. I can’t believe that the time of it just being us is almost over. I don’t know what you look like, but I am already in love. You have yet to take your first breath, yet you have already changed my life.  Your very existence has brought more joy and hope into my life that I didn’t think was possible.

I have such a deep and incredible love for your big sister, Alaina. She lights up every room she walks in. She makes me laugh and see the world through her eyes. Her heart is so humble and genuine. You have a lot to learn from her!  I can’t believe that as much as I love her that God has blessed me to experience this kind of unconditional and amazing love again.

You are coming into a crazy family little one. But, it is one of love. I hope you will always feel the joy that you bring to those who love you and you experience the faith that brought you into existence.

Love you, Sam. Come out soon, you have your whole life ahead of you and a lot of people who love you and who have waited a long time for you.

Love,

Your Mama

The princess is turning five this weekend! I am excited and sad at the same time. It feels like yesterday I was pregnant…oh wait…I was pregnant yesterday and still am today. But, it feels like I just had her. I remember anxiously and nervously driving her home from the hospital and taking her to church for the first time. Our struggles to perfect breastfeeding and holding our breath to see if she would say mama or dada first. (FYI, I won that!) Cosleeping, waiting for her to take her first steps and running instead, her silly “pirate” face and the her love affair with all things Wiggles. I just can’t believe how 5 years can seem so long and yet so short. She has been the light of my life and my constant reminder of how amazing God is to handpick and create this child for me to love and care for. Being pregnant again now only makes my feelings on this that much more mushy.

Here are a few of her pictures from her big five year portrait sessions. Somone hold me…time is going by too quickly!

Also, it must be some kind of record since I sewed the pants and appliqued the shirt yesterday and had pics taken the same day. I had made these pants (exactly) once before and in a matter of months she outgrew them. So, like any rational pregnant woman I cried about it and made a new pair.

Over the weekend we got to spend some time with my brother and sister in law and their kids and we got to go shopping to a mall that has one of my favorite stores Pottery Barn Kids. Labor day weekend means extra sales and when I saw these clearance sheets I knew they would be perfect for pj’s. So, tonight I whipped up matching pajama bottoms for us. I made them extra loose and lounge worthy. Perfect for fall nights and sleeping in and snuggling on the couch.

In case I haven’t eluded to it enough, I love that little girl. She just makes life so much sweeter. I am so thankful that God chose me to be her mama.

You may want to start saving your pennies now because I am pretty sure this masterpiece will be worth big bucks some day. The princess titled it Smiles (yes, she named herself) and painted it as a birthday present for her Opa. He is a lucky man to be the owner of such fine artwork.

Age four snuck up on us quickly and it is leaving just as rapidly. If you ask the princess how old she is she uses her hand to show you four petite fingers but out of her mouth she says, “almost five”. She knows how to give here mama heart palpatations. Next week she starts the first of her “big girl” life according to her. Her first soccer practice is next week and we have been practicing at home.

and while she is quite good for never playing I think she is going to take after her mommy…

and would rather pick the flowers!

Beyond her new status of a soccer player, she will also start preschool this month. Time went way to fast.

Me: “Would you like yogurt?”

the princess: “You got me yogurt!!!! Thank you Mommy, Thank you! I love you”

Me: “I love you, too!”

the princess: “You are amazing”

Me: “Thank you, baby”

the princess: “Mommy, you are so wonderful, I love yogurt”

Yesterday, we had her party which ended up being a crossover of two themes. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to be a pirate or a princess so we had a pirate and a princess party. The whole family played along and wore our silly pirtate hats and let her be the true princess of the day. Even I jumped on the pirate ship and wore a hat! (you can even see the new hair do and color underneath my hat)

A party would not be complete without cake and presents. Especially when it involves an ice cream cake to which no one in my house can resist!

As the party was coming to a close and the treasure hunt was over and the little ones were back to playing Princess Alaina made one more birthday wish with her wand in which she tried to make a rainbow. No one could have ever guessed that the sun would have peeked out from the afternoon of rain to deliver this gorgeous rainbow.

When everyone left I pulled Alaina up into my lap and asked her if she enjoyed her birthday and she enthusiastically said that she couldn’t wait to turn 5. (Trust me beloved, mommy can wait a year…three went by way to fast!) I asked her what her favorite part was and she looked at me so innocently and said her birthday rainbow. I told her that God makes rainbows and that they were a promise from him just like he gave to Noah. To which my sweet child looked at me and said, yes but this rainbow was made by my magic wand and birthday wish. I decided that maybe it was best to leave that argument alone and let her go to bed knowing all of her birthday wishes came true.

Ok, now I am all teary. How quickly the time flies!

I just put my sweet daughter to bed for the night and just breathed in the scent of her freshly washed hair as I laid next to her as she drifted to sleep. I remember the day I found out I was pregnant with her I had taken the test and rocked relentlessly in my chair for the 2 minutes it would take for the test to work. I wanted time to go so fast.  Throughout her time inside me I lovingly patted my belly counting the days until she would join our family. Fast forward to this evening in which I gaze at my sleeping daughter who is  just shy of turning four and wish for time to slow down so that I may enjoy this age and time with her. She adds so much joy to my life and seeing the world through her eyes has exposed me to so much that I was taking for granted.  Who knew that in parenting her that I would take away more lessons from my daughter, the littlest teacher.  Thanks for indulging this sappy mommy moment. I would take a picture of her but I don’t want to wake her so I will share two of my favorite pictures of the little princess sleeping.

(notice her tiny tiara….sleeping princess, indeed)

Lainey: Mommy, I am reading my Bible!

Mommy: That is great, Baby! Is that a new Bible?

Lainey: Yes, Yes!

Mommy: Who gave you a new Bible?

Lainey: I got it from my Papa!

Mommy: That was nice of Papa!

Lainey: Oh yes, my Papa is real nice and real fine!

I couldnt control my giggles after the real nice and real fine! She was so cute and so sincere. It sounded straight out of Mayberry in a repeat of the Andy Griffeth show! The southern drawl she used made it even sweeter. She doesn’t have a southern accent but a weekend in Tennessee brought out a sweet little twang in her words.

The first was for the patchwork swap. We had to make a patchwork item and to send off 30-40 scraps. Here is a picture of my swap package! I hope she likes it! I included some of my favorite yummy scraps from old projects, some fat quarters that didn’t get used, remainders of charm packs and even a little yardage of the super popular euro mermaid fabric!

Here is the patchwork item I made! It is a fabric covered journal using Moda’s Summer in the City fabric line. I saved enough scraps of this for me to make one for myself as well!

Lastly we had a church event tonight that had a 50′s theme. Well, we have no poodle skirts and I didn’t have enough time to get that ball rolling today so a pettiskirt and a custom initial top had to do the trick. She was a hit at church this evening and I was a proud mama as she must have thanked me a dozen times for her “A” shirt. Everyone else could have hated it (thankfully they didn’t) but to have her appreciate it is always a stellar mommy moment!

Make way for a new little artist! I cut up lots of my scrapbook paper scraps and let her pick out her base page and gave her gluestick and she went to town. This little project kept her occupied for almost 2 hours since she wanted to make several of them! Mama is beaming with pride that her kiddo just might have inherited the love of craft!

Hopefully I will have my craft of the day finished this evening to share. Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday