Eight Years

So hard to believe that Max is 8 today. In someways it seems like only yesterday he arrived on the scene and then on the other hand it seems that he has always been in my life. Can't imagine life without him and am so proud and blessed to be his mother. We had a wonderful pool day with some of our friends - his and mine- and Grandma Sue visiting from Seattle. Five boys, three moms and a few younger siblings thrown in . .. the perfect day and we all had a great time. We had pizza and cake and Max really enjoyed himself. Love this new low key approach and the impromptu birthday party.

After dinner tonight, we had a small family celebration with a cupcake and sparkler candles. These candles make every party lots of fun! Max loved it!

He is such a sweet, fun, loving and often wild boy. Every day he attacks with a energy and zest for life. Steve and I are proud to be his parents.

Looking at this photo taken tonight, I must admit I almost don't recognize him as my baby. He is growing up so fast and I often think . . . he can't be just 8! Then we are often reminded how sweet, young and innocent he is!

Happy Birthday to Max. We love you like crazy!

Love my Birthday Presents . . . I really know what I like

After 43 years of life, I think I have this whole birthday thing down. Surround yourself with people you love and pick out your own presents! Don't get me wrong, who doesn't love an ugly t-shirt bedazzled with "World's Greatest Mom" (how could you ever let the kids pick that one out?), but this year I did the picking and wow, I LOVE everything!

So here is a little eye candy of my fabric shopping spree and while I was at the garden center, my dear husband did have a surprise waiting for me . . . check out this lovely arrangement! I guess he listens to me after all these years, "isn't it great that peonies, hydrangeas and all my favorite english garden flowers are in bloom for my birthday" - you have come along way from the grocery store spray painted carnations!

Thanks Steve!

Tufted Tweets - even better in person. I am ordering more for sure!

Such cute bikes!

Some boy stuff

Some lovelies I have had in my cart at Pink Chalk forever!

Some Kona and Linen

Our little tap dancing star from the big show last night (post to come on this soon, want to remember all the funny things she did and said)

Leaving the performance, Steve is doing great without the crutches

all three kids got new umbrella's and boots, they were thrilled for the rain last night

Finding a new normal and some sewing!

Life has been a lot out of control the last two weeks. It all seems to be calming down and getting to a new normal for us. We are dealing with the after effects of the infection that made its way from our vacation in Mexico into the bone on Steve's big toe. He will be home for a couple more weeks recovery and giving his foot time to heal. Spending a week plus with him in the hospital has been hard on all of us. The laundry has piled up. The kids haven't been getting the attention they deserve. I have had to learn to cook, mow the lawn, take care of the pool (including fishing out dead mice) and the list goes on and on. The good news is we know that Steve has diabetes and catching it early is great. Both his parents are diabetic and although he is often tested, Dr's always doubt he has it, since he was never really overweight. Well he has lost about 20 lbs. in the last two weeks . . . and yes he officially has diabetes and neuropathy in his feet. We will deal with all of these things and they are our new normal.

The first half of the weekend was spent with a great friend who was in town from Chicago to watch her high school daughter compete in the National Scholastic rowing competition. They made it to the finals and placed 5th in the country. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed my time with my friend.

Sunday afternoon finally came to be time for me! I have been itching to sew for weeks and finally got the chance. First up was starting and finishing the 3 x 6 blocks. This was actually my third attempt and with the stress I was starting to feel, I decided to create a block that wasn't overly complicated and find a less is more kind of feel. The blocks being made are amazing, sewn with persision. At first I tried a Dresdan and it was a bad failure, they just didn't lie flat. Then I attemped a flying geese and they just didn't well . . . fly. I pulled out the blocks I received from the last round and decided that if I was making a sample quilt for myself, that I would make some blocks with a big piece of solid and some splashes of color. My eyes sometimes just need a rest! With that in mind this is what I created for five of my blocks.

The last block I made I decided to try a little something different, because Tasha had asked for a block with some woodland animals . . . the fabrics I wanted to use wouldn't be showing their stuff on the 2 inch blades of the windmill portion of the block, so I did an improv block instead. I think I will also make a block to match the others, but here is the improv block. I have never made one before and loved the go with the flow kind of feel!

We finished off the weekend with a trip to see Steve's parents in Williamstown, MA and we pulled off celebrating my baby's turning three. Happy Birthday Sam! I will post all about his big day and pictures of my sweet little guy in action. He had a great day and loved his party. He is easy to please and we had his three party musts - CAKE - BALLOONS - and singing cards. What a joy and wonderful little person he is!

Our babies aren't babies anymore . . . Ellie soon to be Three

As Ellie's third birthday approaches and cards are starting to trickle in from friends and family . . . it hit me, they aren't babies anymore and in less than two months Sam will also be three. I still can't believe how blessed we are to have become their parents from the time of their birth. Not a day goes by that I don't thank the universe for putting our little family together.

I realize at age three she is not quite fully grown, but she clearly is a girl in charge of her own destiny. She knows what she likes and how she likes it. My days at Smith College taught me the importance of raising a strong daughter and I realize how lucky I am to have been influenced by two parents who encouraged and believed in me. I think we are passing that on to our kids and I see a strong confidence in each of them. Time will tell!

Okay back to the point, Ellie at three is one confident, smart, sweet and somewhat bossy little girl. She rules the roost around these parts and has both her brothers wrapped around her little finger. Ellie is crazy for dolls and loves her older friend's American Girl dolls. That is all it took for Steve's mom. She had been dying to get her one since her first birthday and we didn't think Ellie was ready for it. When we realized our baby is now a little person and loves to mother her babies, that she was ready for an American Girl doll, Steve's mom was on-line and ordering. (She has had her own doll for years, perhaps to make up for raising two sons.) She ordered the kids a set of Bitty Twins . . . a girl with dark skin and ethnic hair and a boy with brown hair and hazel eyes for Sam. They are going to love it! After looking at the cost of the matching outfits, we decided I would try and make a dress for Ellie and her doll. Just put the finishing touches on them last night and I am thrilled.

Mothering her own doll and wearing such a cute big girl dress has helped me realize that our little girl is growing up!

Dancing Girl

Plays with small girl princess dolls

Has a lot to say and has her trusty pink flip phone and purse with her always

Dresses herself . . .

This is what two looks like

Sam on the first morning of his second year of life and life is good!  We never want to forget what Sam at two looks like.  He often has a binky.

He almost always has a blanket near by.  Most often it is this one, which was a gift to brother Max from Great Grandma Ellwood when he was a baby.  It is very soft and has a crab on it.  He also loves his flannel blankets made for both him and Max by Grandma Sue.

Sam has such sweet feet.  They are wide and long.  We love him in bare feet, or as he calls them his "feets".

Every morning the only thing on Sam's mind is getting "oside".  He loves to look at the pool and thinks that every body of water, big or small, has fish in it.  We have tried to show him that  the pool, puddles, glasses of water, etc do not have fish - but we never win this argument.  He also loves bees, bugs, planes, balls and his brother and sister.  Or at least most of the time he loves his sister.  But can you blame him for the occasional burst of anger aimed at miss Ellie?  A guy can only be bossed around and micro-managed for so long before he bursts . . . 

this is the aftermath of a scene that plays out EVERY day - the tackle.  Luckily it turns into laughter, sometimes a hit of bite.  We are working on that part.

This image is what made me stop and grab the camera this morning, late for school and all, how could I miss this shot on this day.  This is Sam and this is what two looks like.