2 Weekends In Pictures

STAR WARS BIRTHDAY PARTY
birthday cake - chocolate cake...cream cheese chocolate chip filling...chocolate buttercream icing.



oliver and lydia...cousins and besties!



party fun...look at linus in the background




oliver gets to ride the scooter alone for the first time.



lightsaber



had to do a leia do for the occassion



art...acrylics and oil pastels...3 of them are linus'...can you guess which ones?



kitty love



ugly dress that i wore 1 time, 9 years ago...will be transformed into something lovely (or I'm going in jeans) for a wedding next month.



repurposed a skirt and made a cool tunic...this is me trying to get a picture of the back to see what alterations still needed to be made...REALLY need a dress form.



bangs!

More Figgy's For Linus

I knew if I bought a new pattern it would give me the impetus to get through some of the unfinished items in my queue. After finishing 3 of them, I rewarded myself by diving into a t-shirt pattern. Within an hour, I had 2 sizes traced, and 4 shirts cut out. Since one of the unfinshed items that I got around to was a pair of pants meant for Christmas, I decided to make a shirt to match (too late now for the intentioned turtle neck and vest).

The size 2/3 pants are still huge on my smaller than normal 3 1/2 year old, but that means they may just fit next fall too. Next is one for Oliver who when asked what embellishment he wanted, requested an "R". Confused, he clicked his tongue at me and said "well, Linus is Batman, I'll be Robin".

Packing

Steven hasn't said anything (yet), but I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy. I however, think it's a great idea. I've packed Linus and Oliver's clothes in individual ziploc bags. The reasons why I think this is practical are endless, but mainly it will make for a more peacful camping trip.



While I was packing I discovered Linus and Oliver "camping" in my closet with the lantern.



I made some travel washcloths by cutting up an old knit receiving blanket, zig-zagging and pinking around the edges.



It helps to pink over the garbage can.

This - n - That

I love getting hand-me-downs. This little lovely was given to me by my friend Anita who got a new one for Mother's Day.



This past weekend the boys practiced putting their tent up. We wanted to make sure that they would be able to do it alone. With 2 tents and a gazebo to erect...they're going to have a bit of work to do.



I created this little number (well one like it) for my cousin Amy who needed a baby shower gift with "no pink". It's created quite the buzz, and I've had a few other orders since...Thanks Amy!





I love when people put little girls (babies especially)in colors that aren't girly. To that end, I can't imagine why I still haven't sold this little number. I think I made this 2 years ago, and it's been in the store since. Someone buy this...please!



And look at the ruffles on the back of the bloomers!!!



What else....oh, I got a new camera for Mother's Day, and none too soon. I retired my old one to Noah, and the next day it went caput! These are a couple of my favorite pics taken with it so far.





Oh and speaking of patterns. I've just ordered this, and purchased yardage allowing Oliver and Linus to "help" pick out what they want. I can't wait for it to arrive and get going.

Oh, I hear Linus waking and calling for me...motherhood beckons!

Etsy Treasury Feature

Well lil' ole me made it into an Etsy Treasury. Yay!
It's a lemon-lime theme, and will get you craving lemonade. Take a look here.

Oliver Turns 5

Last Sunday we celebrated Oliver's 5th birthday. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday when he was placed on my belly and I yelled "it's a boy"! Steven and I remember the moment differently, but I know that the way I remember is the way it happened. Those moments of birth are etched into our memories in ways that men don't understand (sorry Honey).
We went to Jungle Java with cousins Lydia and Violet, and then out for pizza. Of course, a dinosaur cake was requested. It was a bit of a cop out. My plan was to do a whole scene with sculpted dinosaurs and a volcano, but time got away from me.

When we asked what he would like for his birthday, he said to surprise him (I love that). Since he's uber active, a new bike was in order. Thank goodness the weather this week has been bike riding friendly...I can't seem to get him to come in the house.







I was finally able to get a handle on the reorganization required to accomodate my new serger. I'm almost finished, but here is what things look like at this point. I used the leaf from a table that we no longer have as a shelf, and the brackets that are holding it up have lovely scrolling on the side in which sits a dowel I found in the basement to hold ribbon and my scissors. I love my new table...$20 at IKEA...can't beat that! One more trip for a new chair on wheels and I'll be really happy.



Noah and Peter seem to be having similar issues in school this year...on and off. We seem to be on a bit of an upswing again...thank goodness! So on a positive note, I thought I'd show off some of their recent work. Noah has become very interested in art and science this year. Some of his work is very abstract...but that's not surprising.



Peter spent time with his Pere Pere (Karen's dad) last Saturday who owns a metal shop. He came home proudly displaying his accomplishments.


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Sigh...they can be wonderful...can't they? The same day, they also did a bedroom remodel. I'm not pleased, but I've been told I have to let it go.

I Miss My Camera

I left my camera at my in-laws (who live 90 minutes away) about 4 or 5 weeks ago, and it's driving me crazy. Those of you who know me well, know that I go nowhere without it...it's become an appendage. It's one of the reasons there have been no posts recently. Post without a picture? No way! In tribute to my little Kodak Easyshare C330, I'm revisiting some of my favorite moments captured with it. The photo above is one of those. Is it bad to say I'm not sure if it's Oliver or Linus? I guess checking the date would solve that mystery.

Aside....
Oliver said something at school the other day, that amused his teacher such that she wrote it down, dated it and sent it home. He was speaking with his friend Chase and said "My mom and dad don't smoke anymore. They used to smoke in the old days. You know, back in the 1980's and the 1940's"
What?

Now this next one I had to throw in here simply because it makes me smile. Nothing says proud big brother like this big smile despite the screaming.



This is one of my favorites of all time. We were vacationing in the Upper Peninsula, did quite a bit of hiking on this particular day which was beastly hot...fun during the 7th month of pregnancy. Then came across this spot near Taquamenon Falls. We lingered and played there in the water for a long, long time. It's one of my favorite family memories. The rest are more from the same vacation.

My Son, the Potter

pottery
Originally uploaded by sunshine0216

It seems that Noah has taken a genuine interest in pottery. Although he never seemed too artistically inclined, in the last year or so he seems to have developed an interest in drawing and sketching, and art in general. He was very excited to be working with clay this semester in school, and these 2 cups are the beautiful fruits of his labor.

The VanHouten Quilt

birds.tagged
Originally uploaded by sunshine0216

My mother recently sent me a quilt that was used on my bed as a little girl. It was made by my great-great Grandmother Van Houten. After giving it a good cleaning, I could only salvage about half of it. I decided to remove the squares that could be used, and make these pretty little birds. I'm packing them up and sending them to everyone in the family so that everyone has a bit of the Van Houten family to pass on.

birds.tagged2
Originally uploaded by sunshine0216

Simple Shoes

Simple Shoes
Originally uploaded by sunshine0216

Simple Shoes
Originally uploaded by sunshine0216

I've been drooling over the shoes on this website since being introduced by my friend Harmony. Everything about their products is eco-friendly, and the bottoms of their sneakers are made from recycled car tires. The kids thought that was the coolest part.
Their prices are fair, but still out of reach for us given our current circumstances, however, they have the most awesome sales. Since Noah is a football fan, he chose these which just arrived yesterday. Shipping was free...yes, free, bringing the total cost to under $10!!!
Peter wants these ones, which are a favorite of mine as well. At full price...it will have to wait. Oh how I hope they go on sale soon!

Thrift Store Finds

Thrift Store Finds
Originally uploaded by sunshine0216

For ages I have wanted the America's Test Kitchen Cookbook. I love the show, and they've just perfected a lot of the classics. Well since it's like fifty bucks, it's out of the question. I did however, find this little gem at my favorite thrift store today. The author? Christopher Kimball from America's Test Kitchen.
And aside from having to clean off someone elses floured fingerprints, and smears of unknown foods, it's in perfect condition. Certainly the best $2 I've spent...well...this week anyway.

Thrift Store Finds
Originally uploaded by sunshine0216

This buttery soft Ralph Lauren shirt is going to be mine, mine, mine. I love the print...it reminds me of the upholstery on a chair that my grandmother had when I was little. Finally....one of those shoulder tie tunics for myslef!

Peas and Carrots

I have to laugh because I had a drama teacher in high school ~Susan Daley, what ever happened to you?~, anyway when we were onstage and had to be in the background giving the appearance of being in a conversation with someone (a silent one) she would say, don't REALLY talk, just move your mouths like your saying "peas and carrots, peas and carrots" over and over. I'm sure it looked ridiculous.
Anyway, this post is about another of my new favorite blogs. Visit Jessica, you won't regret it. She makes the most delicious bags, and has a fabric stash that makes me drool! AND as if that isn't fabulous enough, click on "giving back", and you'll see that she is a supporter of Option Ultrasound
I'm going back to look some more...

My Favorite Things

With my mother visiting, and the weather being as hot as it was, our activity choices were limited. Since we both love sewing, I suggested we head up to Haberman's in Royal Oak as I had never been, and wanted to check it out. Well, the website hardly does it justice...it was fabric love to the enth degree! The best part (well almost) was that they have a children's play area that had...get this...a big train table with all the Thomas paraphenalia Oliver could ever imagine. My sister got sick of being there before Oliver did. I practically had to drag him out. Oh, what fun!!! Can't wait to go back when I have enough money to buy more than snaps and ribbon.
And as if fabric love is not enough, I came home and found in the mail just what I had been waiting for. My friend Jennifer had told me recently that there was now a Nancy LaMott DVD. She is one of my very favorite singers, and sadly passed away in 1995. They had taken video of live performances from 1978 up to just days before she died and copiled them on this wonderful DVD. I was able to watch some of it, but I was kind of waiting until I have the TV all to myself. It's going to take a glass of wine and a lot of crying to get me through this one. Jenn....I wish you were here to watch with me!!!!
And as if that weren't enough, I got to go to the moview...a grown-up movie. Yes, that's right, no screaming children, no animation. Steven stayed home with the kids on Sunday afternoon while my sister, mom and I went to see Mamma Mia. I knew there was Abba music in it, but I had no idea that it was actually a musical. Fabulous! It was a little over the edge silly in some parts, but well done, and one I'd watch over and over. If for no other reason than to sing along with all the Abba songs that I love soooo much!