Strawberry

This is what I found hanging out next to our trash can.  I called Lisa over to make sure I wasn't crazy, but it sure looks like a strawberry to me!  We eat strawberries a lot here and I think probably some seeds fell out of the trashcan or something else like a random seed fell there.  Now, I didn't taste it, but it did inspire me to think about a garden someday.  Kimberly and I have been talking about doing one at her place when the kids get older.  The possibilities are endless - fruit and veggies here we come!  Would anyone like a smoothie?

Miss Madeline

I found this great new pattern that is easy and really cute.  This dress is my kind of style and looks cute on any little girl and even a big girl, if I can find one in my size.  I found it at The Handmade Dress - the Miss Madeline pattern.  I am a visual learner and it always takes me a little longer to get the pattern details down, but any sewing novice should be able to do this one.  Kate looks so cute in it!  I thought this pattern would make a great summer pattern with the fish.  They have other patterns too, that are really sweet and you can download the pattern if you can't buy it in a store.

Check It Out!

Well, I am crazy and have decided to do another blog just for photography.  Head over to my site (click on Loving Photography and Life top, right column) and you will see why I decided to waste more time in my life.  

First Smocked Dress

This is my first dress that I have ever smocked.  My friend Kristy showed me some techniques and stitches and I took it from there.  I had the pleating done, but did the rest.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I do need to let some material out or add some because it is a little tight.  I need it to fit Kate for a few more months!  I really enjoyed it.  When I was working on constructing the dress, I said to Craig, "wow, it actually looks like a dress". I am not happy with the snaps, so I am thinking of adding buttons or just make sure I do that next time and the back is a little shorter than the front, but it works and covers her up.  I am hoping to do more.  Dresses like these retail for $50 and up and I made it for about $12 or cheaper.  All it took was the fabric, thread, embroidery/DMC floss and I paid to get the pleating done.  That was the most expensive thing at $5.  More smocking and other projects to come.  I am also working on something else that I will tell you about really soon, so stay tuned!

And, on a side note, we made these cupcakes for my friend, Brooke's baby shower.  She is having a girl named Wren, so we went with the bird-theme.  Aren't they fun?!  Thanks, Martha Stewart for the idea.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

I stole this one from my friend Lisa. We both have big kids (Jack and Kayleigh) and little kids (Kate and Brian) within months of each other, so we tend to do similar things like comparing our kids to other at the same age. I loathe bath time. Don't get me wrong, I like clean kids, but at the end of the day, you just want to get them in bed. Who cares about a few mashed bananas on the shirt or some dirt in their hair, right??? Well, they do need to be clean and might as well be cute.

Here is Jack at almost 9 months in the Rubber Ducky Bath:

And, Kate at almost 8 months:

In Pottynews, Jack is doing well. He is not having any accidents with pee-pee anymore and if we could just get the poop figured out, he will be set. My motto, "patience, mom".

Potties and Smocking

We have been busy since Easter and this week is no different. We have lots of stuff this week, but in the midst of this, we have started potty-training Jack and he has done GREAT! The first few days were tough, but he has done well. It has been 7 days and today was the first day he had no accidents. He even woke up this morning (11+ hours) and was dry and his nap was dry. We will have more accidents, but overall, I am happy with what he has done and he seems to be proud of himself, as are we!

I have also done a few more sewing projects - made some burp clothes, some pillowcase dresses for my nieces for Easter and a pillowcase dress for Jack's friend, Kayleigh. I have also started to attempt to smock. I love the detail work involved and how cute it looks when done. I haven't gotten really far, but hope to be done soon...

First line of smocking (I had the pleating done for me). This will eventually be a dress.

Easter!

What a great weekend! Easter is my favorite holiday, but it means more than that. Celebrating the resurrection is so wonderful and I feel blessed to serve a living God.

Jack loved "picking" eggs as he calls it. The triplets had fun too and they were all crazy when they saw the eggs and realized they had raisins, fruit snacks and candy in them, what?! Kate mostly chewed on the eggs and watched the kids, but she seemed to enjoy herself.

My only complaint about the weekend was Kate's Easter dress. I made a matching skirt for me and was excited about having her match me in her dress. It was a jumper. I had difficulty with the pattern and that probably then resulted in the outcome. I put snaps on it when it called for buttons, which turned out okay, but not great. We got a few pictures, but the dress is now in the trash. I go to pick up Kate from nursery at church and she has her bloomers and white onesie on and not the dress. Apparently, the snaps broke and it was sharp. Thankfully, no one really noticed we matched and it was for a one-time event. Next time, skirt or pillowcase dress. It's the thought that counts anyway, right?

Now, I will embark on more sewing projects and keep enjoying our spring! Visit the kids' blog for some great Easter pictures. But, I will leave you with one great one of Jack.