A year of practice and about a minute of dancing . . . lots of looking cute though!

Ellie started taking dance lessons this year when she was about two and a half. It started off with the older girls in her class (4-5 year olds) leading her around the classroom like their cute little doll. Finally she started to get the hang of it and started to actually dance. She loves it! She usually belts out the songs and wildly swings her leg as she works her big step - heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe.

They started practicing for the recital in about January on their routine to "There ain't nobody here but us chickens" . I really thought that we would need to not attend the recital and that it was too much for a three year old. However, it soon became apparent that she loved it and that she wanted to be a part of the big number! Even that night I thought that she might be a little too scared . . . not at all! She sat backstage with all the other girls and took it all in. She shared her lip gloss and proudly applied it before going on stage. It was a riot. When I had to leave and she left to actually go onstage, she seemed a little nervous, but held the helpers hand and went right out. We were sitting on the floor right in front of the stage, so she relaxed as soon as she saw us. Max gave her the thumbs up and she blew us kisses, yelled "hi, mommy" and was good to go. (over 500 tickets were sold for the event and it is held in a big auditorium.

Here are the photos, you can see she started off looking around and then began to dance.

Backstage waiting for their turn to dance

Was checking out the stage when they first came onstage

then looked out at all the people, over 500 tickets were sold and it was pretty full, scary for a three year old . . . then she saw us right in front of the stage on the floor watching and you could see the tension leave her . . .

Maggie and Ellie danced next to one another and they spent a lot of time smiling to each other and looking around at the start of the routine

her favorite move . . . heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe!

then some loud kicks (she loves this part!)

a little attitude and sass!

the big finish, they crouch down and then jump up with hands in the air (didn't get that shot!)

thrilled to have flowers from her brothers - loved them

leaving with their new umbrellas

sam didn't want to leave all the girls and loved playing with his umbrella

Max was very sweet to his sister. He told her how great she did, how pretty she looked and that he loved her. It was a proud moment for her to get her brother's thumbs up!

waiting for Sam who was having lots of fun in the puddles and rain! This was Steve's first big day off the couch and he was sporting some stylish footwear - lose the black sock grandpa!

kids sewing week challenge :: day two

Participating in the kids clothes week challenge sponsored by elsie marley, you can read about it here. In a nutshell, spend an hour a day sewing clothes or accessories for kids. It is amazing what a little push can do to get you going on the to sew list I have had going forever! Also the ideas that are coming up in the flickr pool is amazing and it is only the second day!

I posted this yesterday and wanted to say that it wasn't an hour, but it wasn't as time consuming as it looks. I started on Friday and finished it Sunday night, working probably 4-5 hours on it. Sandi does a great job explaining the process and the skirt really came together nicely. I used the ruffler foot set on 6 for all the gathers of each layer and also the ruffles. I ended up cutting a bit off excess off of each of the ruffle pieces once I sewed them on. It would have gone a lot faster for me if I had a serger, which I really want to get and have had funds set aside for awhile. The problem is which one to purchase and finding someone local to help me learn to use it. For that reason I will probably go with a Bernina, any suggestions on models?

Day 1 Project - Ruffle Skirt

So for Day 2, I didn't have a head start or really plan. I couldn't sleep so after Leno, I went downstairs picked up a pattern I had yet to use, grabbed some fabric and started tracing the pattern onto freezer paper. That process took the most time. The rest just flew together. I was back in bed a little after 1 pm!

Day 2 Project - Owl Top

I took this photo right after getting her out of bed, I couldn't wait to see it on her. Both the boys liked it and asked when I would make them something. So I guess I will be making some boy items in the next week! Any ideas on quick and great boy projects would be welcomed!

After dropping Max at school, we played outside for a bit. They both wanted in on the photo shoot. I have been wanting to get a shot of Sam in the pants I picked up at my favorite consignment sale, so he can remember these silly whale pants. Max keeps telling him to take them off, they are "way not cool". Oh well Sam likes them. Ellie gave me a couple quick shots and then ran off to play with Sam! Details on Ellie's new top: Fabric - Saffron Craig from Fabricworm Pattern - To Tie ForView b from oliveanndesigns purchased pattern from my LQS KC Custom Fabrics

Mirror Balls, Heather Ross, Garage Sale and Baseball - what a weekend!

Has been a crazy week and I just realized although I accomplished a lot, not much is actually completed . . . goes for sewing, the house, the kids, and getting ready for our first craft/art fair since before the holidays!  A huge accomplishment for me was cleaning the basement and realizing we just don't have the storage space for all the crafty stuff I like to hoard supplies for.  I made a mental break through, which I hope will translate to a physical one.  I decided that yes I do still love to knit, but if I knit everyday I still could never use all my stash and some items I just am not that into anymore.  For example knitting socks - with 3 kids (two 2 year olds) just not a reality anymore.  Yarn I have had to make Steve a Fisherman's Sweater he has requested for 10 plus years, not going to happen.  (actually found three sets of various gray 20 skeins each bags and partial sweaters in various boxes and bags!)  Gone!  It was a wonderful experience.  It all was put out at the garage sale and what didn't sell is going to find a good home in the next month.  Lots more to go, but it was a start.  Sold about half what I put out!

I had meant to take pictures of the sale set-up.  It did take a few days, but I think it was worth it.  We got rid of lots of big items crib, changing tables, big plastic toys, baby gear, yarn, rubber stamps, linens, dishes, paper goods, etc.  This is what is left to go to charity in the am (minus the stroller which Ellie pushed over to use as a ladder to get up on the table)

Moments after the sale, it was off to watch the last game of the season for Steve and Max's team.  They had such a fun year and are looking forward to a post-season play and a game against an west-side of Saratoga team.  Great bonding for Steve and Max.  The team had tons of fun and the coaches called them the dirt devils, which judging from the dirt after washing Max's uniform was a great name.

It was a hard season for Sam and Ellie, they really didn't want to watch.  They either wanted to run onto the field to see daddy or big brother or get wet at the spray park next to the field.  They never really get too wet, just damp and then the dirt from the field really sticks to them.  Baseball for me equals bath and a VERY dirty load of laundry!

When I was taking the team photo, this is what Sam and Ellie were doing.    Sam is at the top of the frame and really just as crazy about the dirt as Ellie is here.  We are getting sand in the sandbox this week!  We were exhausted on Saturday night and everyone went to bed by 8!

Today Ellie and I went with a friend to look at all the quilts on display at the Adirondack dome in Queensbury.  We also did a little fabric shopping.  I was thrilled to find the discontinued mirror ball fabric from Michael Miller and even more thrilled to see all the yardage that was available.  I have been searching for a boy color to use as a background for a Happy Birthday banner for both boys, like the one I made for Ellie a few months back.  I didn't get around to it for Sam's birthday (last week) because I really hadn't found a fabric I loved.    I am so thrilled to have a stash of this!  It works great when you want a solid that has some zing!  I also love it for quilt backs.   Another thing I have been consumed with this week is trying to land some Heather Ross prints for a swap group on flickr.  I now have in my stash, pink bikes, pink VW vans,  blue gnomes, the dogs above and misc.  stripes and dots.  After some e-bay shopping I hope to have some of the fish and fish in the bag.  I lost a few crazy auctions this weekend and can't believe the prices on some of the munki munki stuff. I have been looking at PJ's but haven't found the deals that I am hearing some people finding on-line.  I will keep trying!

Finally I will leave you with this shot of various pink mirror balls - it is a lovely light pink, lighter hot pink and then HOT pink.  I am loving them all!  Is it crazy to be so excited about fabric?

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.

Puddle Jumping and the dynamic duo

My baby is turning two . . . he has grown up so fast and is such a sweet little boy.  We have truly been blessed with these two wonderful little people.  Right now Sam is all about the b-ball and being outside.  He cries every day to "pay" "oside".  Today even though it was raining and Ellie was wearing the dress I finished for her last night, I thought why not a little rain never hurt me.  So we did some serious puddle jumping, puddle splashing and there were some denied attempts at puddle drinking.  So fun to be a two year old and live for being outside in the rain.

Miss Ellie raced from puddle to puddle and went wild.  I had the camera out to get a shot of her in the peasant dress I just finished for her.  Even though the weather wasn't exactly summer dress weather, she had to wear it.  The cool thing is she "helped" me make it and understood that the dress was "sew".  She still likes to pretend sew with me on her wooden play machine, broken and all.  I love that she can say "mommy made" "pretty dress" and 

"sew".  What fun to have the photos to look back on of her helping me make her clothes.  I wish I was a better at it, so I could make something for the boys besides blankets/quilts.  Actually I have yet to even do that for Max, I must get back at his baseball quilt . . . stay tuned on that one!

After the jumping they were both splashing around in the puddles!

Much to my disapproval Sam moved the party to the mud and had to have a 9:45 am bath!  Oh well, he had fun!

I guess I will have to try harder to get a good shot of this dress from the front.  I love the Sandi Henderson prints from her Farmer's Market line.  Also how much do we love the pink Roxy boots, I wonder if the hot pink version comes in a size 9?

First Swim of 2009

We have had the pool open for about a week, added the salt, got the chlorine generator going and just passed the water test - so all systems go.  The weather has been AWESOME and the water has heated up to the mid-60's.  Our plan was to turn on the heater, get the temp into the 70's and we would be swimming when the sun came out later this afternoon (forecast in the 70's).  Max however took the plan to mean, get your bathing suit on before breakfast and jump right in.  We tried and tried to reason with him as we turned on the heater this am, but he just couldn't wait.  

About 45 minutes into the swim, he started to look cold.  He of course wouldn't give up until he turned blue and his lips were shaking.  He is snuggled under a down comforter now trying to warm up, so he can swim later with the rest of the family.

Sam hates being left out of the fun.  He and I put our feet in and soon he was swimming in the PJ's with Max for a few moments.  Ellie stuck her feet in, splashed a bit and declared "cold" and then went back to chasing the frogs we rescued from the skimmers.