Sewing 101

I did it! I finally took a sewing class! I had great fun and learned quite a bit about my machine and basic sewing skills. I made a pillowcase! I found some fun Angelina Ballerina material and turned it into the most fabulous pillowcase ever! Reagan loves it and I am now hot on the trail to make many, many more. Choosing my fabrics for my solo mission was a mess. I was so excited to find several remnants for super cheap - but I failed to note the size of remnant cuts. I bought matching thread to all remnants AND they are final sale only. SO (SEW!), I was forced to figure out a solution. I managed to figure out a way to use most of the fabrics by combining the materials. Not the prettiest color combos, but the purpose is practice. My first solo case ended in disaster. While I didn't sew the case shut, I did managed to sew the pieces together upside down. Ugh. In my defense, the right and wrong side of the chosen fabric were identical. I kept at it and have now finished Evie's first pillowcase. She doesn't use a pillow yet, but I wanted to make one especially for her. I know she'll just love it! Ben had an awesome idea for my next Evie project. I'll keep that idea to myself, just in case I need to set up a patent! ;-) Ben's pillowcase is next. His fabric is yet to be determined. I am turning into the Crazy Pillowcase Lady. Once I feel more comfortable with my machine, I will take the next class - Sewing 201, Skirts and Shorts. Stay tuned - it should be very interesting.

Brown Trout Strikes Again!

Need I say more? She sure is cute - but (butt) there is just something about bathtime that gets her system going.

Ooops, two months have passed.

Once again, 2 months have passed and I have failed to update our family shenanigans. I really am contemplating "quitting". I enjoy blogging in spurts. Now that it is spring/summer, we are so busy and I just don't have the interest level to keep the stories up. The girls continue to do amazing things, making us laugh early and often. I just am so tired by days end that I don't feel like keeping track of anything. Here is a quick update of what is up with us - just for record keeping sake.

Reagan has officially "graduated" from her first year of preschool. We attended a graduation ceremony and it was hilarious - HILARIOUS! Reagan was so overwhelmed by the experience that she had difficulty participating in the songs, until the last few. It was adorable. Who would have ever thought that ever-animated Reagan would clam up on stage. Thank goodness we opted out of the dance recital! She has been giving us challenges and has become our little "sassbox" and we continue to be amused by her antics. She will throw these temper tantrums and Ben and I will remove ourselves and be laughing silently but yet hysterically in the next room. As long as she doesn't hurt herself, we feel she needs to learn to calm down before we will respond to her. Who knows. Seriously - WHO KNOWS what to do with this parenting stuff. Really. I mean it - who knows!?!?! :-)

Evelyn is speeding around the house now. She tries to run and isn't quite light footed yet. You hear her thumping around and giggling as she picks up speed. Inevitably, she falls and she has become tougher as a result. She is thrilled to wrestle with her sister and we rarely have to caution Reagan about her sisters small size and age. They can almost go head to head these days. She is an awesome little baby. She'll be 18 months in July and I cannot believe how the time has flown. She is a little jabber box too. Favorite words: Mommy (always), Daddy, nana (banana), cracker, cookie, juice, doggie/puppy, cat, doll, Barbie, outside, OUCH, I want, all done and so many more. It amazes us daily her ability to understand our directions and words. Watching her grow up is truly so much fun.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the past few months. Jana and Brayden came for a long weekend and it did all of our hearts good to be with them. I cannot believe that little Brayden has grown up and is now 2!! I found myself marveling at the conversations that I was having with him. The last time I saw him, he was just a baby. I need to start gearing up my "auntie-talks" about life's important decisions. :-) He and Kai turn 2 this week. It tears me up that we are missing, yet again, another birthday(s). Thankfully, we were able to have our time with them and we will be spending a week at the beach with Joel, Heidi, the boys and Mom and Dad. We can celebrate Kai-Kai's birthday then.

Gram Pam and Big Guy came for a visit as well. We simply had a blast! Gary was given a few projects, and we managed to squeeze in some fun family time as well. They are just so very cool, kind, considerate, and loving. How did we get so lucky? The girls had so much fun with them. Evie has even realized that Gram can cuddle her just like Mommy can. Pam was given a special shout out at Reagan's graduation for "furthest traveler". We hope she will shoot for that title again next year! We also had friends over for Memorial Day. I always enjoy when Pam and Gary can be with our friends. Having our worlds combined always makes our home here feel more like HOME.

We have been very fortunate to have Benny home for June. Finally. The man has vacation! It has been a long year for him, as well as the ladies at home. We made it. To celebrate, we are traveling to Florida where we will take on Disney for a bit and spend quality time with Danielle, Quinn and Layla. Then home and off to a week at the beach with the Wessman's.

And other news - Benny matched! We will be staying put for 3 more years. Bittersweet but the right choice for us (I think). I guess it is like anything, some days it feels like a great decision. On other, far more rare days, I am convinced we are crazy and clueless. ;-)

It felt good to blog again. Maybe I won't quit. We will have to see.

Evie's big day!

Evie is officially walking! Yesterday she took her first steps toward another object, other than mommy. Today - she decided that she no longer had fear! We were busy with 2 playdates and time at the Y. By evening, she had hit complete exhaustion mode and began tearing around the house. By the time I broke out the camera to video tape her walking, she was popping on her patooter right and left. Exhausted. And Adorable!

Reagan had a big day yesterday - riding her new scooter. Video is attached of that also.

Thank goodness for SPRING!!

Beautiful Day!

Oh, what a wonderful and beautiful, truly GLORIOUS day!! After 2 days of down-pouring rain, we have been given a dream day. The girls and I hit Target this a.m. with the intent of grabbing a few essential items. The list was a short one. The cart ended up being a full one. Reagan spotted a scooter. Her buddy Sam is about to get one for his birthday AND there was a lady standing right there that swore by the thing. Yes. We got it. Reagan scooted around on her scooter all afternoon. Scooted and scooted and scooted. Grand times! We did a little face painting, tennis playing and Mommy even strapped on her old Rollerblades. Grand times! Evie had fun too...still not walking by herself but sure getting there. She walked toward something today, other than her Mommy! She is talking up a storm which certainly has been entertaining. She is currently pushing her way into my lap and pulling on me. Time to sign off. More fun times ahead today. Still beautiful and the evening is quickly approaching.

Favorite food...

"Reagan, what is your favorite food?" "I like pizza, tomatoes and all the other good food God makes for us." That is our girl!!!

our first "lock in"...

Each night, Reagan and I read stories to Evelyn and then put her to bed. Before reading tonight, I needed to put Ev's clean clothes away. Reagan, fabulous helper and trusty big sister, shut the door so that Evelyn wouldn't escape while I was putting Ev's clothes away. A very sound and safe decision on her part. We all cuddled in, read some books, said our prayer and off to bed. After placing Evie in her crib, I went to leave and then realized that the door had been shut and we were locked in! The door has jammed before, but Ben was home to help that time. Reagan didn't know not to shut the door. Doors are supposed to operate correctly, one should be able to shut them if desired. I tried desperately to turn the knob - it just wouldn't budge. I don't have the greatest hand strength anymore so I had to keep taking breaks and then trying back at the knob. Nothing. No tools at hand, of course no PHONE (because I am notorious for failing to carry my cell with me), no Ben and of course, no neighbors to be found anywhere. I opened the window and yelled out hoping someone could help us. The plan would have been to use our spare key which is at the neighbors house. They could come on in and help us out from the other side of the door. While Reagan kept watch for passing neighbors, I went back to work on the door. Meanwhile, poor Evie was so tired and couldn't figure out why Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb were still in her room when it was way past her bedtime. I finally manage to loosen the knob and free us from Evie's room. It wouldn't have been tragic to remain stuck, Ben was scheduled to be home 5 hours from the initial lock-in. It sure would have been a long 5 hours and also a fun story to tell!