kidding around

Before you know it, that baby has now become a boy…trying to figure out just where he fits. I still pinch myself each time one of my children turn a year older…does it really have to go so quick?

And, is that really my baby out there shoveling the snow off the sidewalk to make my morning easier?

Happy Birthday Si- may you have many years!

PS- Our Mac is dead (boo), so until my superhero husband can replace the capacitors…I am using a slower, older Mac. Consequently, my patience for posting is short!

Every year I love the challenge of coming up with creative Valentines. Sometimes it’s just cut out hearts with large amounts of glitter poured upon them. Other years we make “shrinky dink” necklaces or paper airlplanes made from maps. I know this year Ellie will probably forgo the school valentines (I don’t think middle schoolers can handle it?!) and Simon will be up for anything…maybe a comic he creates.

But my key victim is Penelope Tess. She is willing to take my ideas/control and make it her own! I figure I have about 6 solid years still of Valentine making and I’m up for the challenge to come up with something every year!

Her problem? The concentration to create 30+ valentines. We have time! I can help! Hurrah for a crafter in the making!!

…last day of school photo with the beginning of the year alongside…I now have a middleschooler, a 3rd grader, and a *gulp* kindergartner! What a great school year- wonderful teachers, no divisive and cliquey girls, lots of learning and one last year I had with my baby! And time marches on…

We are in full blown summer vacation around here and it’s nice to have a different routine… and maybe not so fun to hear more squabbling, but we are working on it and I’m working on ignoring the conflicts!

One thing I am determined to accomplish this summer is to work on projects together. Enjoy the time we have and scrap my “to do” list. My kids are at such fun ages that it’s my goal to be totally present with them. I am such a focused kind of gal that I’m afraid that I may allow time to “slip by” before I know it.

First thing: a handmade beach blanket for my sister’s birthday. The kids all designed their own block and took about a day to stitch. It was so fun to sit in the living room and just work together- it wasn’t all peaceful (especially since there were lots of tangled floss ), but it was time I could tell the older kids really appreciated.

Didn’t it turn out cute?

one…

two…

three…

hello little blog.

i hope to be your friend again.

It’s been a busy week in our house, but it was lovely to take the time to celebrate our Penelope Tess. She is now 5 and I am totally stunned that my baby that took me by surprise is now a kid! I can’t imagine life without this girl- she is absolutely adorable (and a firecracker) and is one word “happy”.

On the happy note, she was thrilled to get these fairies (our first Barbie-like dolls, Ellie never paid much attention to them). It’s so much fun to shop for a 5 year old and a complete challenge to restrain oneself!

It’s become a tradition to hang photos of the birthday kid. I love looking at these shots, but it’s also very bittersweet. Seriously, how fast can time fly!

We invited 4 other kids to the party and had a ball making crafts for about an hour…where are the photos? Um, I forgot! We made fairy wands with lots of glitter, paper flowers and shrinky dink “fairy” pendants.

We also played “pin the wing on the fairy”. The girls totally loved this game and played for about 15 minutes, which is an eternity for a bday party!

I had a lot of fun planning the food and just made it simple. AND they ate…something most kids never do at a party! If I could stick it on a skewer, I did and the girls thought they were fancy. PERFECT.

Penny’s cupcakes were the best. I made them from this book again…BUY this book, it’s the best. We made the “white out cake w/ milk chocolate frosting”. YUM

I love this girl.

We all have had them and mine was last night.

Ellie participated in her school’s talent show- with over 200 as the audience! I was most proud of her confidence and calm disposition (something I know I would not have had at her age!). Plus she has only played for 18 months and never in front of anyone besides her family and teacher.

You should of heard the cheers from her fellow classmates before she played. I would have crumbled to the stage losing focus!

Way to go Ellie!

I just realized that I neglected to share what Simon made for V-Day this year. He is well known in his class to be a master paper folder. As I was walking around the craft store a few weeks back, I had a bright idea for Simon and his cards…paper airplanes! There was a sale going on which gave me a perfect excuse to browse the paper section and buy 24 pieces (and a tad more!).

He loved making the planes. I loved that it didn’t require a ton of time (remember my last post?). Hopefully his teacher won’t hate me. I can just imagine the V-Day party with airplanes flying all over…there are 18 boys in his class and 6 girls…I better hide my face tomorrow!

I also love to give the kids a little trinket for V-Day.

Nothing big and it’s usually handmade. I generally have a harder time coming up with something for Si as he gets older. I don’t know how I came across it, but I found comic strip templates on the internet and knew this was for Si. He is my illustrator and has such a way in making simple line drawings look purposeful. I just printed out the templates and stitched a front and back cover (note to self…change needle!). He will love it!

I stumbled upon this adorable fabric last week and knew immediately I needed to make Penny and my niece Tizzy matching skirts. I love that it is not so overtly “Valentiney”- my kind of seasonal fabric.

So what are you all doing for V-Day?

Funny that I get into the festivities with the kids. But as for Nathan and I, a kind note is all we really need. We may do cheese fondue or maybe an indoor picnic and oh…with the kids too…And then of course, the next day we celebrate Si’s Day which in my opinion is my Valentine every year.

I was trying to get a consensus with the kids and their Valentine-making plans. I asked if they wanted to get boxed valentines and all 3 looked at me like I was nuts. There was my answer.

Making homemade valentines is a wonderful winter project, but in the end it’s like pulling teeth to complete 25-30. There’s all the supplies and all the cutting and glue and glitter and making sure every kid gets one- times that by 3 kids and I am pulling out my hair (all with a happy face and attitude of “this is fun, right?!”)

I discovered my “Shrinky Dink” paper pack that I have had for about 3 years and knew this was the year to get out the SHARPIES and turn on the oven! My kids loved it, I loved it and look how cute everything turned out!

The charms just below are Penny’s creations. Ellie’s are above.

Ellie made necklaces for all of her girl classmates and for the boys…what do you do in 5th grade? We decided a frog magnet was funny and in Ellie’s opinion “who cares if they like it, I had fun making them”. That’s my girl!

Simon made some really cool creations too, but I will save his Valentine idea for another day. Let’s just say it involves something he is really good at and it is a frequent request from his classmates.

What are your kids doing?

Our first annual (yes, I plan to do it again!) “Ornament Making” party came and went this past Sunday- it was a success! I had the most fun planning the ornaments and then of course setting up all the stations… making sure to be ultra organized. (I actually cut out hundreds of felt circles for 3 of the 5 ornaments made! yikes!)

We invited about 20 families and all but 5 were able to attend! Our house isn’t huge and when you fill it with a tree, glitter, cookies and glue there needs to be a lot of thought BEFORE guests arrive!

The kids greeted our guests and took their coats. They also were wonderful hosts explaining the different tables and just being their nice selves. I know this was a memory they will not forget and that’s what all the planning was all about! Every single one of the parents commented on this being such a nice memory (I am not tooting my horn!)- which really was so gratifying…so often we don’t open our homes and now I think my kids friends and parents understand a little bit more about our family!

I loved how people used the trees as drying spots- completely improvised and so charming!

Sorry for the crummy photos- lighting was gloomy and terrible for “no flash” shots!

This glittery gal was quite a hit. I really wished I had more available. But not to worry, she will surely return next year! Maybe there will even a St. Nick or an elf too!

Yikes- Flash! But look at those kids…they are having so much fun. You would be SO surprised with the very little glitter clean up. I make more of a mess!

Of course, you can’t have a party without treats!

Wow- today my family and I took a nice walk in the woods and we were happy to find ourselves with some sweet photos and memories of our day together.