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Around here....

As you know there have been some changes in this household!


This little man has entered our lives and so far everyone is pretty happy about it.


Mom is here and I don't know what I'd do w/o her! She has helped so much w/ all of the kids and has been taking care of tons around the house. She brought our old keyboard w/ her and is teaching the kids how to read music.



Dance season is now over. E had her recital last Saturday and did great. Earlier in the year she said she' d like to try soccer in the fall instead of doing dance again. She has said this before but usually by the time the recital comes around she changes her mind. This year was no different except that we already signed up for fall soccer so definitely no dance next year! I am a little sad, but I think it will be a nice break w/ the new addition.


This was the best video I could get at the dress rehearsal..of course the sound tech turned the music off too soon...but still I was proud! She can be such a stubborn toot, but when she gets on stage she commits!







Went back to the birth center for a male procedure and was able to snap a pic of where he was born. (yes, it was in that tub!)


bath time...not loving it.


Sister is always looking on.



We took him out for some sun the other day...


and V found a little friend. Can you spot him?


This baby bird was hopping around our porch and hanging out in the comfrey.


He ended up hopping right on by the cat's (name diddle) nose, and he didn't seem a bit interested in the live meal.





V and the bird had a conversation.



and one more baby fix...

3 days

I spoke too soon...

born May 16 @ 4:25am

8lb 15oz 21 1/2"

welcomed and loved by his family

In case i don't start with hello....

I'm not officially overdue until Tuesday, but when I saw this I had a flashback to my other pregnancies. I'm gearing up.

mama's day pride

and one more to come...sigh....

toothless days

She lost her first front tooth the other night, cashed it in for .75. Yes, we do the tooth fairy. Santa is a no no, but the tooth fairy is okay. Feel free to ask me about this : p


J wanted me to take a pic of our iris'. This is probably my least favorite color, but it looks pretty here.


Last Saturday I went to a few yard sales and was unsuccessful in my search for what I wanted. However, E took some of her own spending money and found an old doll crib for $4. The deal was she had to get rid of something in her room to make room for it. SO, goodbye to Nysa(pronounced with a long 'i' sound, she made it up herself) the cat's homemade home. We made it from a diaper box and it served it's purpose well. Now to the burn pile it will go.



We took an after dinner walk this evening. This wagon was given to us from family that had moved beyond this stage. I LOVE it.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

As you can see I don't have the typical cookie baking grandma. Not that she hasn't made cookies with us, but cookies aren't what stand out when I think of her. How could they be when she's willing to go this far for a costume contest? (by the way...she won!)


She's a great sport, was an avid horsewoman, and quite the body surfer. (She's here with Mr. T, may he RIP)



But more importantly we know she loves us..


(montana campfire, angus looking on)

and she loves my kids.

But most importantly we know she LOVES Jesus.

We love you Grandma! Happy Birthday.

Baseball and stuff

J has had a couple of games now and if you ask he'll tell you that they've won them all so far. Technically they still don't keep score at this age, but you better believe that the kids do!


Batting is definitely is favorite part.


He's always ready to be a part of the action.



He actually pitched the first inning of a game. Four strikes! He really got into the form of pitching.



The other night the kids were giggling and talking way past lights out so I went in there with camera (lights still off) and aimed at their beds and this is what I found.

J couldn't handle the flash.




This was at J's baseball opening ceremonies. V pretty much calls any drink of ours that isn't water "coffee". It is actually coffee in Den's mug. Are we starting him too young?

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 :)