Crazy? Maybe.
Multi-tasking? You bet! While the air conditioner is pumping through my house (thank you 90 degree weather with lots of humidity!), I hate that I can’t hear my kids playing. It’s no better than the middle of January, if you ask me.
Finished product below for my 11 year old niece. Boy, I love checking things off my list!
The newest member of our friendship circle is “Snip”, the bird! To make a long story short, we tried to care for a chickadee fledgling and the poor thing died. After consulting with the wildlife center and following their instructions, “Stripes” went to go live in the clouds. It was very sad in our home on Saturday morning, but the kids and I perked up when my husband said we need to get a bird.
We just loved hearing the little squeaks our friend made and enjoyed staring at him/her (important to NOT be partial…especially since Ellie reads my blog) hop in its’ cage. Snip is a zebra finch and is just SO cute.
The funny thing, it’s made a friend. There is a bird from the outside that flies to the screen, hangs there for a bit, investigates, and then heads over to the nearby pine tress. It’s the cutest thing, and I promise I will get a shot of that encounter to share.
On a totally unrelated note, I went food shopping today with the youngest 2 kids and I wanted to run away! Really. I wanted to leave my cart in the middle of the store and if the kids followed…GREAT, but if they decided to stay and be lunatics…even better. I am still recovering from our time and will be consulting the calendar as to WHEN I can go by myself.
With the summer looming, I will have more kids in tow. They are great individually, but a 7, 5, and 2 year old…that makes a scary equation. Although Nathan is a teacher and will have some time at home, it doesn’t mean he is here all the time. In fact, it means his schedule (teaching, comps to complete his Masters, painting for his art classes) is erratic which gets me out of my routine. Ack.
So- when I am all crazed in public with my 2 year old, I need to remember her sweet little face in this photo below. It will take me to a much happier place or perhaps I should avoid public places with her all together and stare at “Snip”.
I was so happy to find myself with some motivation to make this cute shirt and skirt for Ellie. You may remember I made a similar shirt for Penny and it is just SO fun and summery.
The pattern is Butterick 4118. The pattern also comes with a really easy pant and short pattern that I have made in the past. I’m still quite the beginner and I do need a pattern, but not necessarily the directions!
I made her another “swing” skirt…the same shape as the one Penny was modeling on Friday. I used a biased tape tp create a more finished look. This photo doesn’t really show the shape, but check out the fun sandals!
Honestly, I think the time it took me without interruptions was about an hour and a half…probably shorter, but I am really bad at estimating time because I think I always sub-consciously think of being interrupted or distracted.
Okay, well…so long. I’m off to cater a party and I predict it will be a tiring one! It’s 92 today with lots of humidity! Welcome Summer!!
The kids and I came home to our “kids music swap” package. We were all so ecstatic and now claim our CD from Blair and her kids as our favorite. They were also kind enough to include other treats as well. It was so nice to come home to a package- this could get addictive…this swap thing…
I discovered Penny rocking out on the couch with her pal Piggy. Check out the attitude!
Speaking of swaps and addictions, I am swapping with a new friend in Australia. Since their seasons are opposite, I will be making her sweet little girl copies of this skirt and pants in corduroy. I figured it will be a trial run for when winter approaches again (ugh, don’t want to think about that). But for now, I made these designs for the summer months…the pink is also just terrific too. Perfect with red, sage, brown…love it!
I don’t know about you, but I am so tired of simple clothing designs embellished with rosettes, cheap ribbon, and sequins. Why can’t we have fun designs without all the frills? I mean, I understand the fun, but I can not find anything without a “stylized something”.
Okay- why is it that my links
are not working?
Yesterday we went to the library. I love the library…I mean, I just love it and get all “butterfly feeling” when I enter the doors and greet the security guard. To me the excitement is contagious and the kids get all crazy. Often we end up leaving with 50 or so books. Sometimes more…We read each book to the point that I know when it’s time to go back when the kids are begging for new books!
Anyway, here is a shot of our bookcase ready and waiting for lots of reading and browsing. I made sure to pick up some books for the summer months- I hope to have somewhat of a schedule and hope to share them with you all. I’m not sure how much crafting will be done, but you can be sure there will be a lot reading and kid crafting…
Here is a shot of Ellie reading her picks. I actually selected some chapter books for her since she still is in school, but she was pleased with the 5 “Little House on the Prairie” books (The Little House series for 7+ year olds). Anyway, she has already finished her first one…man, she is fast!
Simon is obsessed with the Ed Emberely DVD. He has been drawing non-stop. Fortunately we have some books of his as well, so Si has been able to bring his drawing with him! I love it when my kids get really interested in something very particular.
Thanks to our fantastic library we are all fed very well! So sorry crabby librarian who snarled at me and my 57 books, we are ready and hungry.
It was a busy weekend; in a very good way, but I did not forget my music give away.
Above are the names that won. I realized there are 2 “Kristinas” and I had not made 2 slips. So lucky them, they both win!!
Now all you need to do is e-mail me at carolshack(at)yahoo.com with your address. I’ll be sending out the CDs, realistically in about a week.
Proof that there was no cheating! Simon helped with the drawing early this morning.
As most of you know, my sister and her husband have a great catering/retail business. This past Friday, I worked one of the more fun parties down in the city (Chicago). Every year this particular client chooses a color and everyone runs with it…My sister’s super talented friend Richard is a designer and he is the one in charge of the styling, etc. I just had to share some of the images from this fantastic night.
Obviously the color was brown…chocolate martininis were served…mini chocolate shakes…an incredible chocolate sculpture…wouldn’t you like to attend a party like this?
Yes, those are chocolate mooses (sp?)…and yes, all the decor came down after the party.
I wish I had taken more shots of the food, but I was on “spring roll duty”. This was a task I did not mind. My husband also was at the party taking footage for a short film he is making for Kim and Richard. I’ll be sure to let everyone know when it is complete. It’s going to be really cool.
Yesterday, my friend Elise and I took our kids to the Morton Arboretum. She has been many times, but this was my first visit and I was like a kid in a candy shop…or a kid riding a bike for the first time…or a kid in an airplane for the first time, you get the idea.
Here is a shot of our beautiful goddaughter, Esme’.
Recently I have had the urge to move. Somewhere different. But after going to this place, I am so glad it’s another reason why it is so great to live in the Chicago area.
There is a huge frog pond that the kids can hop from rock to rock and discover it’s beauty. Tree houses all over the place with rope bridges and ladders. A creek for kids to create dams and get their toes wet. Water pumps, tons of sand, mazes…
And then all over the park, there are trails and acres of trees, swamps, meadows…hmm, maybe I will have to move in. Do you think they will notice?
We plan on getting a membership and forgo the crowded zoo option this summer. I hope to visit this sanctuary weekly with the kids and bring sketchbooks to document the summer. Oh I can’t wait!
Don’t forget to leave a comment in my previous post…I want to give away CDs to 5 lucky readers.
I am part of the kid’s CD swap that is going on and I am just about done. Tomorrow (fingers crossed) I will mail our little bundle to Seattle to some new music friends. The photo above is the CD case I stitched.
Boy, did I have fun (Oh, the kids too.)! It totally took me back to high school and the mixed tapes I would make for my friends back in Pennsylvania…when my parents ripped me away and moved to Chicago (ha!).
So…to celebrate this new love of CD burning I want to share with 5 others! You will receive 2 cds. One is entitled “fun, fun!” and “mellow fun!”. I tried to have a nice mix of kids music and some adult. I figured it’s always nice to introduce them to other genres and hopefully this will influence their teenage years, right?
Just leave a comment and I will randomnly choose 5 winners on Saturday. Overseas friends are welcome too!
note: if you’d like to be a part of the give away, just write somewhere in your comment “count me in” or “i want one!”…then check out my blog on Saturday and if your name is listed, i’ll contact you to get your mailing address.
oh-
and I honestly think the CDs are geared for kids as young as 1-12…
really, no Barney here.
I had the wonderful surprise of seeing little green plants in Simon and I’s greenhouse. We had just planted the echinacea and shasta daisy seeds last Wednesday…and they are on their way! I love it!
I love echinacea or also known as “cone flowers”. I think that was one of the first things I noticed when we moved back to the midwest 6 years ago in August. To me, they look like they are just dripping with humidity and summer time happiness. I love how “hearty” they are…much like midwestereners (ha!).
And of course, the daisy is one of those flowers that make me just happy…they are so clean, pure and innocent. Lovely to look at and lovely to have in all corners of your home. Hopefully I will have a bun for daisy crowns in the summer.
This sweet little “germinated seed” is from Si’s preschool class. The sunflower is always an easy to seed to grow and just really surprising how tall and thick the stem can get. I plan to take shots with Simon and his flower throughout the summer. Hmmm, maybe we need to read “Jack and the Beanstalk”, huh?
This wonderful viola plant was given to us by Ellie’s Godmother. She was on her way back to California and paid us a nice visit…I love this plant…I mean I really do! Everyday I watch the way the flowers turn their heads to the window for some much needed sun and fresh air. They have a mind and life of their own…I love how nature unfolds.
Can we just stop and just enjoy these colors? Oh! Happiness, right here on my fridge…thanks Ellie for your creativity.
I have been reminded lately how precious life is and to really sit and enjoy all of it’s simplicity. From plants popping out of the soil to 16 chicks hatching at my kids’ school to my sweet Grandma’s voice. Take time.