cousins

growing up,

i had a cousin that was my age

and my best friend.

i'm so grateful

that my girls have the same

types of relationships with their cousins.

anthropology wanna-be

with the mirrors that we had lying around,

a couple i picked up at hobby lobby and the local antique shop,

i attempted to create a mirror collage

in the dining room

bless my husband's heart for all

the measuring, drilling, and hammering he did

it's not perfect by any means

but i like it that way

proud

bella and meredith

are both playing basketball this year.

they play through a christian organization call upward.

the league is non-competitive and requires

that kids be evaluated for their skills before the season

so that the teams can be put together evenly according to skill.

it is an awesome program

and i am very impressed with the girls' skill levels and improvement.

they are given uniforms to wear and this year's colors are green...

i love it!

everyone has the same uniform and they're reversible.

at the beginning of each game,

they turn the lights down in the gym,

run a disco light,

and play that "ready to rumble" jock jams song

as they announce each player,

just like in the NBA.

sooooo cute!

it's everything i can do to keep from jumping out of my seat,

running out on court,

grabbing my little girl and

showering her with kisses.

i am so proud of my daughters.

growing up, i never played a sport.

it wasn't that i couldn't, there were lots of opportunities.

but i just didn't have the confidence.

i was so worried about messing up,

not being good enough,

or embarrassing myself.

i'm so glad that my daughters

don't care.

that they have the ability and the confidence

to play.

i have to say that i think i enjoy it

just as much

or more than they.

watching them is amazing,

adorable, and fun.

back in the groove

i haven't sewn since before christmas

when i made 10 tissue covers,

20 checkbook covers,

2 wallets,

and 70 keychains...

hmmm...wonder why?

but, last night i was bound and determined to make something.

i've felt so lazy lately and as if i haven't done anything.

forget the fact that i'm teaching a class, planning the school carnival and silent auction,

keeping track of three little girls, laundry, and house cleaning.

so, when my girlfriend gave me heather bailey's newest pattern to make a bookbag,

i made a promise: to make the bag by the end of the weekend.

so, needless to say, last night was a late night :)

but meredith was very excited to have a new school bag this morning!

it fits her books and folders perfectly and is sooooo cute!

i used the last of my favorite jennifer paganelli fabric,

i needed to.  after a set of drapes, two pillows, two dresses and now a bookbag,

i think it's time. 

my goal today?

keep sewing!  i'm going to attempt to get some keychains and checkbook covers completed

for my girlfriend's shop. 

it's amazing the satisfaction that comes from sewing and completing a project.

i feel accomplished!

cake bosses

what to do when it's cold outside,

there's 12 inches of snow on the ground,

and the kids aren't in school?

play "cake boss"

it has to be one of the cheapest,

most fun,

and easiest things to do.

whip up some cake from .99 mix,

throw some butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar together,

add food coloring,

put in frosting bags

and let 'em at it!

i love to see their creations!

blah

it is cloudy today.  this is day, I don't know, maybe 10 of no sun, cold, slushy, foggy cloudiness. 

i feel blah!

what do i do with this feeling?

sit at the computer and look for color, beautiful, inspiring pictures...

eye candy

that'll fix this nasty feeling i have.

i want to re-do my master bedroom.  something in whites and blues.

calm, peaceful, clean.

with a little heather bailey beauty.

fresh... a pop of green.

and i have always wanted to do a mirror collage

in my dining room but wasn't sure to even begin.

on a whim, i searched anthropolgy yesterday

and found some inspiration.

now to just find the energy to get started.

i'm cleaning out

re-doing

purging

and freshening up

my home.

my baby's out of the crib

we had a couple extra kids for a week or so.  the littles had tons and tons of fun together.  you know the kids that you have over and it's almost no work because they all just play so well together?  no fights that you have to step in and referee.  it's.... nice.

all five of the kids played together, including little margo.  with school out of session and no schedule to worry about, sleep schedules were off the wall.  the kids were never in bed before 10... including little bit.  so what happens to a two year old who doesn't go to bed until after 10?  she sleep until lunchtime!

so with schedules so messed up, it was the perfect time to break down the crib (sniff, sniff) and put up her beautiful big girl bed that was found at an antique store and painted white by daddy.

i bought the bedding months ago through craig's list.  somebody had bought it at pottery barn and changed their minds.

the girls were all very excited.  actually, mere was jealous... she wants an old bed, too!

ignore the binky...please.

so after all the pink and brown and lots of white... is it just the middle of winter "spring fever" i'm feeling, or does the room need some color?

so we painted a dresser.  margo and i.

she was so proud of herself.  she did some drawers and then i gave her the extra special job of painting the back of the dresser.

i have yet to buy the glass knobs that go on the front.  target is out and i haven't made it to home depot. 

so after the dresser, i think i went a little crazy.  i painted a picture frame, mirror frame, decoupaged some letters, added fabric to a loom.  and i'm a little concerned i did too much.

i want the room to be a little funky and fun.

i thought it'd be fun to have the mirror be where margo could see herself. 

regardless, she likes it.  i still need to touch up the walls, change the baseboards and paint the trim.

overall, i like it.  it's a happy room.

and margo's been sleeping like (sniff) a baby in it.  even though, she isn't anymore.

she tells everyone that she's a "big girl now."

snowed in

the kids have had about three weeks off from school.  they were supposed to go back for the first time tomorrow.  as of now, we are experiencing blizzard conditions and are expected to have -20 to -30 wind chills.  so much for school.  so much for a clean house, a schedule, catching up on sewing or any other home project.  everything's on the back burner for now.

and you know what?

i'm kind of enjoying it.

while most moms are pulling out their hair and cursing mother nature, i've kind of enjoyed having my kids around, being forced to "slow down" because, this is like snowstorm number,

 i don't know, 4(?) since they've been on "break." 

we took down christmas decorations the day after and immediately put up valentine ones.  people have teased me. i think i'm just on a roll.  it starts with halloween, you take those down and then it's thanksgiving, clean up from that to decorate for christmas, and then... i need another "celebration." 

surely holidays aren't over.  valentine's day is right around the corner, so i decorate.

nothing big... just subtle decor.  a banner, some red candles, a hurricane of conversation hearts.

and since we are snowed in, we've done some valentine crafting.  the kids did a word search today.

we've made several batches of these.  and i bought a bunch of wooden hearts that the kids painted today.

i also continued the boredom busters that i used this summer and did one for the next couple of days.

the kids love to run over and check the list for fun things to do.

i just type up a list of things that they enjoy:

color, read a book, watch a movie, eat a healthy snack, do a word search,

do a dot-to-dot, have a fashion show, bake cookies, go on a scavenger hunt, etc.

the scavenger hunt was a blast for them.  i just typed up a list of random things for them to find around the house: paperclip, gray sock, pink crayon, webkinz, marble

i had them meet with their partner, come up with a team name, estimate the time it would take them to complete the "hunt" and look over the list.  they had a blast and were so dang cute doing it.

i'm finding that it doesn't take a lot of money to create great memories for these kiddos,

thank goodness. 

sewing

i have sewn a lot this year. from skirts to dresses, bedspreads, pillows, burpcloths, checkbook covers...

you name it.  i think that i sewed more this year than i ever have before. and i enjoyed it.

my problem is that i'm very impatient, maybe a little adhd... i need instant, or pretty quick,

gratification.  so the best sewing projects for me are the quick and easy ones.

i'm excited for the projects that this year will bring.

i've already got some in mind.  i really want to make this, this,

and i'm going to "encourage" little margo that having a flower

birthday party would be sooooo fun so that i can make these.

vacation

the children have been on holiday break for... a while now.  the days start running into one another... especially with all the snow we have gotten.  i love having them home and just hanging out together.  i also love to see the things they come up with to amuse themselves.

here they are dancing to our new favorite song by taylor swift "the best days"

then lunch was served by the waiter, daddy in the hallway.

he took their orders and quickly "whipped" it all up.

and afterwards, it was time to take every single pillow from around the house and make a path to walk on.  seriously... every... single... pillow. 

they had a blast and i enjoyed watching.

when i say the days run into one another, i mean it.  their bathing schedule is off. like, i can't remember the last time i bathed them.  as i was watching them brush their teeth last night as they got ready for bed, i sniffed the air, looked at mere and she giggled.  "it's me," she said.

 "what's you?"

more giggling... "i haven't changed my pants since sunday."

we all cracked up and then i seriously stopped.  really?  no way. that would be like, a week.

so today (sunday) has been declared "bath" day.

welcome 2010

it was a good year

a year of good health, a new cousin, new friendships,

a broken arm, starting a new grade, soccer, basketball, cheerleading,

the zoo, the lakehouse, two wii birthday parties and an elmo one, 

lots of sewing projects, and a new job.

but, I'm ready to start a-new...

a new year with hopes of continued

good health and happiness

i have a good life