kidding around

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.

I know a lot of you dear readers will relate to this statement:
“I can’t believe my baby is growing up!”.

My first baby…the one that changed my world, made me a better person, gave a new meaning to love, filled my day with joy and yes, sometimes stress is now 10. She is wonderful and I am eager to see what the next 10 years will bring her. Thank you Elisabeth Helene for being so compassionate, forgiving and eager!

Like many of you mothers, you re-live your birth story with each of your kids on their special day. Hmmm, I think right about now I was told I was not making much progress and was given pitocin. By evening, I had my little girl in my arms and had forgotten about the contractions, pacing, pain (no epidural, THIS time), tearing, focusing…and was totally in love.

With every birthday, I try to make something for the kids. I love figuring out what I will make and then using that time of creating to reflect on them and their future. That’s what is so cool about “handmade” there IS so much more behind the actual gift! I picked this jacket up a few weeks ago at the thrift store and have one more to make for Peppy.

I did make something else that I am really proud of, but that will wait until next week. Happy weekend!

So school started this morning and we had to take our traditional “first day shot”. We had a half day which is fine, but I think it’s cruel for us to have to all wake up so early and then be tired for the rest of the day! Oh well.

Ellie is in the 5th grade and will soon turn 10 (this Friday, actually). She totally “gets school” and was less than thrilled of the routine, homework and early mornings. Simon on the other hand, was saying all day yesterday: “Today is not ending soon enough- I can’t wait for school and to see my friends!”. I’m imagining this school year we will experience a wide range of emotions and stresses.

Hate to break this to you, if you have young kids, as your children get older it gets more challenging! This summer, I concluded that I will not always be popular with my kids. Sure, as they were young I had no problems with setting boundaries and disciplining, but now we have added the foot stomp, rolled eyes and slamming of the doors. Geesh. At least I have Penelope that STILL thinks I am the best. (By the way, she is missing from the photos because of a sleepover she had with a favorite Nana.)

Anyway, I am happy to say that when it comes down to it- I am so grateful for these two kids and all their quarrels, crabbiness and back talk. They really are so great to be with…I mean, aren’t we all raising our kids so that we will enjoy them even more as adults? It’s even better when those around you enjoy their company as well- I suppose my unpopularity has paid off in this household.

It’s so nice to post again. Hopefully I will find a rhythm to my day that will include this blog.

Our summer has been full of fun. Lots of reading, friends, swimming, and game playing. I find the kids really love the extra time I spend with them playing Uno, Memory, Connect Four, or Zingo. They actually are at wonderful ages to play- hmm, maybe not all the time. Ellie and Simon still have fierce competitive spirits between the 2 of them, but they are learning!

Anyway, Ellie has been picking up fairly easy chapter books and reading them in an afternoon. Although I am happy to see her enjoying her books, I do like to socialize with this “soon-to-be 10 year old”. And I know she likes our time together as well…

So I found this great activity book at Borders a few weeks back on the clearance rack. I think this is one of my favorite children’s books I have ever purchased (and I have a lot). It’s simple, but has great ideas that are easy and just super cool. (Yes, I know this looks like a totally set-up photo…it is) As I was reading through the book, I found a game “5×5″ and it reminded me of summer evenings with my family playing around the kitchen table. Although I remember it as “categories”.

Ellie and I had a ball playing this game. Such a simple idea, but what a tremendous memory we shared.

Do any of you know this game? You create grid and going along the top you choose 4 letters. Then, down the page vertically you come up with 4 categories and you must come up with an answer using the first letter. Of course to make this all competitive you need to set a time for 3-4 minutes. Whoever has the most original answers- wins!

Recently, I’ve heard Ellie and Simon’s coversations listing all the projects they want to do over the summer. Of course one of them will have to remind the other that “we’ve got all summer, we don’t need to do it all today!” How nice to have a break and the excitement of summer days!

Today was our last day of school and I did not let the kids get in the car without our traditional school photo. Maybe some of you remember this post way back in August…can you believe how time flies?!

Ellie is now in 5th grade…her last year before middle school! She still is an avid reader (just finished the Hobbit) and is planning many sleepovers with friends.

Simon will be my 2nd grader and is quite a talented artist. His simple line drawings amaze Nathan and me. We are anxious to see what is in his future! He’s excited to go on more bike rides…do you know that he effortlessly goes on 15 mile bike rides?!

Peppy is still my Preschooler- thank goodness. We are still one another’s “bests” (a phrase she likes to use with me!). She is beginning to write her name and loves to be read to many times during the day.

I love these clowns and hope to spend some great times with them this summer. I’m not to sure what I will be doing in this corner of the blog world, but I do intend for my days to be a lot less focused and just let it unfold. You can be sure I will still post, but if you tire looking at my kids or garden than I may disappoint!

Happy Weekend!