artsy-crafty babe

4 years old

Today my sweet boy turns 4 years old.  Happy Birthday Alex!  I've said it many times, and I'm sure I'll say it again, Alex, you are the spice in our lives!  I don't know what we'd do without you!!!

day 24 :: 7

Lily darling, you surprise and amaze me every day.  I am honored to be your mother.  Happy Birthday Sweetie - I love you!!

day 2 :: blessed

day 1 :: two

Happy Birthday, my sweet Ava Rose!!  I love you!

some sunday sewing

I am happy to report that Family Movie Night was a success, sort of.  Alex and Ava lost interest rather quickly, but they really enjoyed all the stuff we did beforehand.  We started the night with homemade pizzas that they got to top themselves, then we had popcorn, followed by chocolate chip cookies.  My living room floor needed a good vacuuming afterward, but it was worth it.  We plan to do it again, real soon.

Starting the weekend off in such a family friendly manner made me not want to do much more than just hang out with the family, which isn't a bad thing!  That's pretty much what I did until Sunday.  The youngest kidlets went to their grandparents for the afternoon, so I had some free time on my hands.  Matt was busy working on a school project, so I sewed.  I ended up making a pleated tote for Holly (I hope you like it!), a little shoulder bag from Amy Butler's Midwestern Modern fabrics, and a granny bag (is that what those bags are called?) out of a Martha Stewart kitchen towel. 

I think they all turned out pretty well.  I was pretty much experimenting with all three of them - tweaking the pleated pocket tote pattern, trying a new pattern, and just trying my hand at that granny one.  I've seen those all over the place and wanted to see if I could do it.  I like sewing like this, no plan, no pressure, just playing around.  If Holly doesn't like the pleated pocket bag, then all three will be in my shop, otherwise, the other two will get there eventually.

just in the nick of time...

Yay, I finished my sewing to-do list for the week!  The gift (the dress) and 2 custom bags - DONE.  Technically I gave myself until Friday to get it all finished, but I'm happy to be finished a day early.  As tired as I am this week, the last thing I feel like doing on a Friday night is sewing.  Now I can relax and enjoy family movie night.

I'm kind of excited about our first ever "Family Movie Night".  The menu will be easy (pizza), there will be lots of popcorn, and hopefully some good times.  I think this will be the perfect kick-off to our weekend.  Fun times.

Happy weekend, friends - enjoy :)

whirlwind weekend

It was one of those weekends where you blink and it's gone.  It was full of so much goodness I don't even know where to begin.  First, there was Matt's birthday on Saturday (Happy 38th!!), then there was the fiesta that night, followed by dancing pictures (Lily) the next day and the last soccer game of the season.  There was also a family dinner on Friday night and some girl shopping on Saturday.  Oh yeah, we also planted a tiny garden.  Cakes were baked, much food was eaten, beer and mojotis were consumed, and good times were had by all. Whew, I'm tired!  Things might be a little quiet this week - I'm trying to recuperate!! 

By the way, I only wore the hat for that photo!!

just hangin'

::working on a school project

::making lily pads out of the sofa cushions

We ordered take out, so there were no dirty dishes.  Yes, it has been a good night.

on the mend

Sorry to have disappeared for a bit, but I haven't felt much like blogging.  I blame it on the winter funk and the lingering illness that's been plaguing my little family.  On Friday afternoon I finally drug my stubborn butt to the Dr's office (after much persuading) to get some help.  I really didn't want to spend another weekend sick.  Turns out I really was sick (in my mind I thought the Dr. would laugh at me and tell me that it was all in my head).  He gave me some antibiotics, prednisone, and a good cough medicine.  After about 24 hours I felt better than I had in weeks!  Now I wish I had gone weeks ago when this all started.  Lesson learned.

Saturday was a fabulous day.  We had wonderful weather.  Lily and I were able to get out for some girl time.  We grabbed lunch at a deli then hit Anthropologie and a few other cool stores that recently opened up.  It was nice spending time with her, she's growing up so fast.

We spent the rest of the weekend just handing out, playing in the yard.  Lily finally learned to ride her bike without training wheels, so that's all she wants to do now.  Too bad we live on a busy street with crazy drivers and no sidewalks.

And look, pigtails!  Little Ava's hair is finally long enough to do something with it.  Now if only she'd leave them alone and not pull them out!!

Sunday I got a little time to myself to sew and this is what I came up with.  I have no idea what version this is, but I feel like I've beaten the "pleated" style to death!  But I don't care, I like it.  I have this one listed in the shop, if you're interested.  Being inspired by spring, I cut out a bunch more (well, 4) in this style - they look like bunch of easter eggs.  I'm hoping to have them finished and in the shop by next weekend.

Happy Monday!

prayer request

If you're the praying type, please keep my 9 yr old niece Berkley in your prayers.  Her appendix ruptured and she is in grave condition.  She is currently in ICU following a procedure to drain the abcess in her stomach. It is very touch and go at the moment.

Here's a picture of Berkley (on the right) and Lily this past summer.  Every picture I have of Berkley, Lily is right there next to her. 

This is my favorite one from a few summers ago.  Two peas in a pod, those girls.

Please pray for her.

***UPDATE 9:30 pm CST - she just came out of surgery.  they were able to get her BP stabelized, so they did emergency surgery to remove her appendix - we're now waiting on her in recovery

THANK YOU all so much for your prayers, it really means a lot to all of us. 

***UPDATE 1/4/08 - things are still pretty much as they were after the surgery.  She's still heavily sedated and in ICU.  I did find out more about the events of yesterday - she had to have the surgery when she did because she went into septic shock. 

THANK YOU again for all your continued prayers and support, I plan to print out all of your sweet comments to bring to her mother at the hospital.

***UPDATE 1/4/08 evening - things are improving.  She is still septic and in ICU, but they were able to successfully remove her breathing tube this afternoon.  She's breathing on her own, which is a step in the right direction.

Many thanks from everyone in the family!  Your outpouring of support has touched us all!!!

****As of this morning 1/5, she is off the blood pressure medication and her white blood cell count has lowered - she's improving!!!