I want one.....

So I've been interested in this kind of baby wrap ever since my SIL Gina had made her own for her first born. It went by a different name, but it's basically the same thing. So I'm sharing this to be entered 5extra x's in this giveaway for a moby wrap in the color of my choice! I only have a few weeks to go unti this baby comes, hopefully this will be mine soon!

She really is mine.....

You'll have to scroll down to see pics of E, but everyone tells me how she looks like my sis in law Denise. This isn't a bad thing, as Denise is GORGEOUS. But as the one who carried her and labored etc., I'd like a little credit! It is funny though, as whenever Denise and I go somewhere with our girls people match E with her and blondie Ella with me. I think my E has her daddy's and Denise's nose, but the rest is mine. (except the curls of course, still a slight mystery...perhaps from my grandma?)

*check out the cheeks on my brother, and notice my mom's back in style peep toe shoes!

Blown Away

I don't like wind...normally. But, the other night we had one of those warm winds that comes in with a storm, and I love those. So like a safety first mom, I sent my kids out to play in it. (There was no thunder or lightning...if there was I couldn't have paid my oldest to go outside) They loved it, they danced in it. It had been one of those days for me so to go outside and feel the wind blow away all the bad and watch my kids frolic in it and the few rain drops was simply glorious.

This was earlier today, but they were too cute not to share.

look at what i did!

Yes, I've been sewing and shamelessly want to share. Most of this...well all except for the last thing was for an old friend to whom I never sent any baby gifts and since her oldest is almost ten, I figured better late than never. (Disclaimer...all of this looks better in person than in my lame photos :)


This is for her youngest...baby boy 6ish months. burp cloth or blankie.


This is for the 3 year old who's name is Blaze. I made this out of a pair of pants that I'll never get into again...



Who cares what this is when you see those blue eyes, huh? BUT, it's a hat made from a sweater found in the good will bins for 75 cents. And this is for the oldest but my youngest was the only model around at the time. (I have tried it on larger heads and it works)




The bag is for their only girl. The inside is lined w/ a fabric that is the same pattern but grey w/ pink polka dots. E informed me she would like her own.


This is my fluffy, high fashion scarf. That's the story I'm sticking to anyway. Remember my disclaimer? This was cut out of a maternity shirt made from a sweater like knit. It was cute but had a paint stain.

And at last, the Easter dress! I was super pleased w/ out this turned out. I learned a lot while making it and was able to add a few things to the pattern. The white eyelet lace on the bottom to make it longer, the buttons where the straps attach in the front and...

the cuff bracelet w/ the fabric flower and...

her little hair clip. All made from a pink men's dress shirt found at good will. The brand was Ralph Lauren and E really wanted the "horse" or polo player on the dress somewhere. So I used that part for one of the pockets.

Also because credit is a big deal in the craft blog world...

bag tutorial found here

scarf inspiration here (I also was guided by here various fabric flowers, look around)
Easter dress here

Cant' remember where I found the hat idea...but it's pretty basic. The others are all me :)

Easter Recap

We have had a wonderfully warm April and I've been enjoying every minute of it. Well, not the minutes at night where I'm laying awake because I'm hot...but every other minute. I really tried to do more with Easter this year since it is THE most important day EVER. If you don't know why email or call, we'll chat :)

So a week and a half before we started something that allowed them to earn candy for their Easter baskets. I got the idea here. Some year I'd like to do the tree she suggested, but we stuck with the jars this year. On Friday we made a completely yummy and totally unhealthy snack that I found here. The kids really loved this and seemed to grasp the concept as well.




We also made our own garden and empty tomb.

Of course we colored eggs. I was proud that this year I remembered I had a coloring kit stashed, and I found it, and we used it!

This warm weather has had Vman in heaven. He puffy hearts being outside but he is so fast you really have to watch him!

He also loves our random friendly farm kitties. (this is spike, named by across the street neighbors)

Easter morn included Easter goodies from Grandma and Grandpa and their earned candy of course.

There was an Easter brunch at church, then we stopped home to pick up some thing before heading to Den's mom's for lunch. This was my brief moment to capture a pic of the 3 of them. Not ideal. Still, they were cute. Thanks mom for the boys shirts! They were going to get short changed on Easter outfits this year. But I did make E's dress!

Mom mom's is a fun place to run.

It's even more fun when your cousins are there.

Of course J was running about but couldn't be caught for pics as he and the rest of the boys were busy catching frogs in mom mom's pond as well as playing football and baseball. V refused to nap as there were many other things he'd rather do like take 4wheeler rides with daddy and bulldozer rides with pop pop. I prayed for a warm Easter this year and by golly that prayer was answered!! Thank you Jesus!

Sometimes...

...I feel like every post could be labeled "catching up" or "back log of pictures". Not very creative. But all of the sudden I see all the pics on my cam and realize that it's been too long since I've posted. Soooo without further ado....

This little guy and I spend quite a bit of time together. This represents an outing to the bank and an especially rare occasion where I said "yes" to the lollipop. (do you notice how long is hair is already?)

Den's grandpa's church has an annual Father Son banquet and all the boys went this year. D said that they both did great and enjoyed the magic show after the meal. E was at a sleepover so I was completely on my own..... I didn't know what to do with myself.

We had a beautiful Saturday a couple of weeks ago and J cleaned the car with some help. The reason V is so soaked is because according to E, "he got under my washcloth when I was squeezing it out." This happened several times.

J had his first baseball practice last Saturday and it was soooo cold. Supposed to be 80degrees this weekend at his next practice...woo hoo!

J wanted to take a pic of us. Did you know that true love is displayed by smashing your nose into someones cheek?

When daddy's not home we play hair dresser with V.

I just realized this was an almost all boy post!

Interview With a.......

son.

Yes. J is 5 in this pic. He is presently 8 and soon to be 9. But this boy is on the move and remembering to grab the camera and get a shot of just him wasn't happening. Besides...like the rocket on his head, time is flying and I just can't believe how quickly my first born is growing up. Gosh, he is stinkin' cute.

Favorite color: blue & brown

Favorite animal: white tail deer

If you could have any pet in the world?: fawn

Favorite book: Tuesday

Favorite movie: Phantom Menace

If you could go on a trip?: Washington DC

What is your favorite thing to do, that we do together as a family?: Play the game of LIFE together.

Favorite food: cheeseburger

Favorite drink: hot chocolate

Favorite thing to about school (in class): math

Favorite thing to play at school: basketball game

Favorite thing about... E: when she hugs me

...V: when he's always playing with me

...Daddy: when he's always wrestling with us

...Mommy:she gives me kisses and all that...when she gives me love

...Jesus: when He died for us on the cross.

What do you want to be when you grow up?: archaeologist or history professor

Who is the most beautiful person you know?: you

Who is the nicest person you know?: Ethan (cousin)

Favorite song(from church): I'll Fly Away

Favorite season: summer, because I don't have school then.

What is the saddest thing you know?: When E is mean to me.

What is the happiest thing you know of? When I went hunting with dad.

I think the 2 biggest things I've learned about my children from doing this is how small their world is, and how quickly it is changing before them. I plan on doing this once a year or so, but even if I asked these same questions next month I know that most of their answers would be different. Where is that time in a bottle?

Come sun....please....

When the weather is dreary, dull and cold, this is the kind of stuff that makes you laugh harder than necessary.


But then your brother in law throws a surprise party for his lovely wife and you have another reason to go out and laugh.

Then another brother in law makes you smile because he still refuses to eat his peas.

THEN, the sun comes out and everything looks a little better and brighter.

Your daughter puts it well when she see the flowers bloom for the first time and exclaims "this is the best day of my life!"

Then there are days of real warm weather and everyone is enjoying it.

Bike rides,

walks and wagon rides,

birds fly north to proclaim the coming of spring,

love is all around.

Baseball too.

But all that play in the sun can make you tired. So you catch a few winks BEFORE your son's cello concert.

Or you take silly pictures of you and your goofy daughter.

Then you catch your son on stage, setting up and try not to squeal with delight that he is sitting right in front of you on stage.

You also try not to laugh as he feigns seriousness while he waits for the program to start.

But you do beam with pride when he starts to play.
(this is the last piece they played, a combination of all the twinkles they learned)