having it all...

To tell the truth

2010-12-01T12:52:00.005-05:00

Well, my oldest, Lily, officially knows the truth about the sham that is Santa Claus (and the Easter Bunny, and the tooth fairy) and it makes me very sad. I thought it would be a relief to not have to keep up the lies anymore, but it is not. AT. ALL. I would not be lying to say I cried a little when she figured it out.

I love love love Christmas. Like, a ridiculous amount. It seems to have lost some of its shiny exterior for me though, now that Lily doesn't believe and I think it has lost even more of the fabulousness for her, which hurts my heart. She seems way less excited about the upcoming holidays and almost annoyed with me about Christmas now that she knows. Although, she has been getting a little involved in the deception for her sister's sake, when she is in the right mood.

Thankfully, I have another daughter to lie to for a few more years. Although, I fear far fewer years than I had with Lily. They grow up too damn fast. I need to figure a way to stop time for a little while so I can keep my babies all to myself a little bit longer.

I'm over it!

2010-11-16T10:43:00.008-05:00

OK, it has been forever since I updated this thing, almost a year to be exact, but I have something to share, a confession, if you will.

Here goes:
My children go to public school, go to child care in the mornings, are only involved in one extra curricular activity (at the moment), come home in the afternoons and sometimes sit on the couch, watch the Disney channel and eat processed food and I AM NOT GOING TO FEEL BAD ABOUT IT ANYMORE!

They also play outside until it is way past dark when the weather is decent, refuse to eat fast food (because it is so bad for you), are super creative and excelling in school.

I have been so stressed over the past few years about were my kids in the right schools, were we in the right neighborhood, were they in enough activities, were they learning enough, are they eating healthy enough, blah, blah, blah. I have finally had enough. I am happy with our lives, I feel my children are getting what they need in all aspects of life and I am not going to stress anymore. This is the year for trusting my instincts, avoiding the haters (those who badmouth our school for every little thing) and trying to find balance instead of making sure everything is perfect.

Seeing the trailer for this movie: "Race to Nowhere" really helped me make peace with our life.

I don't want to push my kids so hard that they don't enjoy their childhoods, I don't want them to feel stressed out about what college to go to, I don't want them to feel so over-scheduled that they have no time for fun, and most of all I don't want them to lead the life they think WE want for them instead of the life THEY want for themselves. Success can be defined in many ways and isn't always about going to the best schools and making the most money. It is about doing what you love and being happy with your life.

Don't get me wrong, if I felt that the school wasn't offering my kids a good environment for learning or teaching them what they need to know, I would be the first one to try and change that. If my kids become too inactive/lazy, I will cut off the TV and get them moving more. I always balance the junk they eat with lots of healthy food, in fact they actually prefer to eat my cooking than eat out.

I mean really, do these kids look like they are missing out??

Stuff I made

2010-01-27T13:13:00.005-05:00

Here are some of the things I made for Christmas (and after for the sweater vest) this year. I forgot to take a pic of my mom's apron, some placemats for my sister and probably many other things.

Christmas pajamas for the girls, although I think this will be the last year for those. Lily refused to wear the shirt and they were only worn that night after all my hard work. I was informed by Chloe after I made these that she no longer likes nightgowns. UGH.

Hat and scarf for Alya from the book "Last Minute Knitted Gifts". The hat was way too big even though I made a smaller size. Bummer. He seemed to like them though and wore them a lot while he was here. For you knitting nerds, I made them with Lion Brand Wool Ease.

These are a couple of the 4 wallets that I made this year. The pattern was a combination of several tutorials. I was very pleased with these and the one on the left is in my purse right now.

I made this case for Lily's MP3 player. She no longer likes the fact that it is pink, so this hides that pretty well. She seems to like it and use it often.

I made 2 sets of each of these from a pattern that I got on sale for $.99. I did not make the boots, they were bought from etsy. Aren't they adorable? I can't wait to make more clothes for their dolls. Thanks to my mom for helping me to finish these up at the last minute!

This last one was just made from this pattern: jchandmade.typepad.com/jcasapatterns/2009/10/neighborly.html It was so fast and easy. The only modifications I made were to crochet a flower instead of a button and I crocheted around the armholes instead of knitting. She's pretty cute! (knitting nerd info: I used cheap acrylic yarn I had in my stash: Caron Simply Soft to make this. I know some of you are all about natural fibers, but it is soft and washable and CHEAP, so I am happy with it)

Now I am on to Wondermommy's Stash Busting contest. I have no illusions that I will win any prizes for most things made with a full time job and 2 small kids, but the prize will be to decrease my stash and make some things that I have had planned for ages. Speaking of stash, I spent last Sunday organizing my fabric and putting all of my projects into plastic bags so they are ready to go. First up: lunch bags for me and my girls!

Break

2010-01-13T09:51:00.024-05:00

Having 2 weeks off of work and time to just be with my family was incredible. My sister (Julia) and her husband (Alya) were also here for the 2 weeks and it was so great to just hang out with them and get to know my brother-in-law a little better. It was a lot of 'togetherness' with it being so cold and not a lot of room to spread out, but I think it went remarkably well and I didn't want it to end. I especially didn't want my sister to go back to Tacoma. I hate that they live so far away. Unfortunately, Alya got to experience a bit of the Wilkin family fighting (i.e. yelling), but we tried to keep it to a minimum.

Here is the recap of the break, hopefully it won't bore you to tears.

The girls, my mom and Alya made a snowman

And Alya had a snowball fight with the girls.

We also baked LOTS of cookies, which I don't have pics of, but the tightness of my pants is a testament to it.

On Sunday, our good friends came over for some African food (YUM) and pictionary, which was pretty hilarious. We didn't have the game so one team would pick words for the other team. Some highlights include 'bat mitzvah', 'sarcasm' and 'car on a bridge'. Good times.

The next week was a frenzy (for me) getting everything ready for Christmas morn, but it all came together nicely. (I will have another post for my handmade gifts):
Some of the favorite gifts include American Girl doll (Chloe), Playmobil hospital (Lily), The Pioneer Woman Cooks (me, but everyone is benefiting), Blu-ray player (Shawn). There were many other well-loved gifts, but these have gotten the most use so far.

In the week between Christmas and New Year's we made permanent indentations on the couch, watching movies, playing the Wii and eating A LOT. We did venture out one day to bowl 'for real', as opposed to Wii bowling (which doesn't translate well, I might add). It was Alya's first time and we all scored better than we should have because the bumpers were in use. I am sure I would have scored about a 45 without them.

For New Year's, we went to a friend's house and the kids ran around like lunatics while the grown-ups chatted, ate and played a few games.

On to another decade. I have a few resolutions for the new year, I hope I can keep:

1. Do not yell at my kids so much. (It is unrealistic to say it will end completely, but I am making a serious effort to cut down, it is not good for any of us.)

2. Step out of my comfort zone and try new things (I am taking Bollyfit where I am sure to make an ass of myself, but hopefully in a fun way)

3. Be more 'in the moment' with my kids especially but in general too.

4. Work through my craft stash before buying new stuff and in the process, complete many projects that have been on the back burner (some for years!) To accomplish this goal, I am joining Wondermommy's stash busting contest starting Feb 1. I have lots of ideas in my head!

I will leave you with our friend Stuart Hambleton (aka creepy guy) ruining a perfectly nice picture of my sis and bro-in-law (this pic had us cracking up for hours):

Happy New Year!

Giving thanks.

2009-11-29T10:47:00.006-05:00

It was a quiet Thanksgiving this year, but that didn't stop me from making WAY too much food. Evidence:

Now the obligatory what I am thankful for:
My beautiful daughters who keep me laughing on a daily basis. I love to see how excited they are about Christmas this year.

My wonderful husband who found me such a perfect Christmas gift that he could not wait and already gave it to me (it was a new camera lens)!

My mother who inspired my craftiness. I am also thankful that she spent Thanksgiving with us and was able to help us decorate for Christmas. She is a Christmas junkie (wonder where I get it from???)

My sister Julia and that she found the love of her life, Alya, all the way in Africa.

My sister Patty who is a free spirit and has the kindest heart.

My wonderful friend since age 12, Kelley, who always listens to me complain about my kids, while longing for kids of her own. (and knows me better than most people in the world)

My great friend, Tina, who takes the most beautiful photos of my kids and inspires me to be a better photographer. (and loves the Twilight series as much, if not more than me)

The rest of my extended family, in-laws and friends. I am so grateful to have an awesome support system.

That my husband and I are employed in this difficult economic time.
That we have a president who wants to make sure everyone has access to affordable health care.
The internet for allowing me to be inspired my so many artists all over the world.
Coffee.
Pumpkin Pie.
Christmas, an excuse to get the whole family together every year.

I will leave you with these photos of my girls pretending to be high fashion models taken with my new lens. Forgive any blurriness because it is a manual focus lens and we haven't quite gotten the hang of it yet. (Also, don't mind the funky photo effects above, just messing around in photoshop)

hark the herald angels sing...

2009-11-13T08:45:00.004-05:00

Now that we have gotten through Chloe's birthday, Christmas crafting is in full swing. Why is it that when I have tons of projects already on my plate, I get inspired to add more to the list?? Case in point, I haven't even started the Christmas PJ's and yet I am obsessed with making lunch boxes and reusable snack and sandwich bags for the family. Do we absolutely need this right now? No, but I can't seem to think of anything else. Luckily, there is an awesome thrift store in Ann Arbor that has TONS of craft supplies. It is a thrifty crafter's heaven. I found lots of scrap fabric and 3 different colors of rip stop nylon for the lining. And the prices can't be beat!

Anyone else have this crafting ADD? I have way too many unfinished projects, some from previous Christmases. I am embarrassed to admit that the quilt I started for my husband's gift last year is still not done (I suck) and there is a scarf and fingerless mitts on the needles from 2 years ago for my sister (double suck). (Anyone want to quilt a quilt for cheap?) I am hoping to finish everything on my list this year. Wish me luck! (BTW, it makes me sick to think that I made all of that stuff last year and didn't take any pics, I am going to try and be better about that too this year)

I did make a dent in my UFO (unfinished objects) pile when I made a doll for Chloe's birthday that has been cut out since 2 years ago! By the time I make Lily's she will be graduating from high school.

If you are inspired to make gifts this year, Sew Mama Sew has posts everyday in November on things to make, they also showcase handmade items for sale and recipes and have giveaways!

If you don't want to make anything, but want to give handmade, go to Etsy. There is some really amazing stuff, I could browse there all day.

Finally, if you don't want to make anything or buy anything, you can try to win something at Rae Gun Ramblings, she is having giveaways each day counting down to Christmas. Today's gingerbread skirt is too adorable!

My precious Chloe

2009-11-02T21:42:00.007-05:00

Dear Chloe,
I am in shock that my baby is 4 years old! Wow, it seems like you were only born a short time ago. You were the sweetest baby ever. You slept constantly and rarely cried. I was in heaven.

You are growing up to be such an individual, you are truly a spirited child. Some of the characteristics that drive me nuts right now, like your stubbornness, you wanting to do everything yourself and your defiance will make you such a strong and independent woman. I think we will either be great friends or butt heads a lot.

You have such a sense of humor for a little girl and you keep us laughing all the time. You love to perform and like to have an audience. While you can definitely try my patience, you are usually such a love bug. You love to hug, kiss and snuggle and I am just savoring every moment of that.

You look up to your big sister so much, even though you like to drive her crazy at times (like cutting her American Girl doll's hair), but I think she is teaching you more than your dad and I ever could (hopefully not too many bad things:) You would sleep in her bed every night if you could.

You are making great strides academically. You know all of your letters and numbers and are starting to try and sound out words! You will definitely be ready for kindergarten next year, even though you will still be 4 when school starts.

It is a bit sad to see you growing up and you are not my baby anymore, but I am very excited for all the adventures yet to come.

You are such a joy and I am so happy to be your mama.

Love always,
Mom

The wedding

2009-10-06T12:47:00.018-04:00

So, last Christmas, my baby sister, Julia, (not really a baby anymore), decided to take a trip to Africa with a West African Dance school she had been going to. I thought the timing wasn't great, Christmas is a huge deal in our family, especially to our mom and she had had a rough year. Her partner and a very close friend both passed away and her mother was quite ill (she ended up passing on Christmas day) and I felt that our mom needed her girls home for Christmas.

Anyway, true to fashion, Julia didn't listen to me and went to Africa anyway. It is a good thing she did because she met the love of her life on her 3 week African adventure. This summer he was able to come to the states and they got married on September 6th.

Given the low budget nature of our family (grins) we pretty much did everything ourselves. The wedding was held in my mom's backyard, which required some work to get it ready. Julia had her dress and dresses for me, my girls, and our other sister, Patty, made while in Africa in the summer. She ordered the supplies and made all of the centerpieces herself, we cooked the majority of the food and decorated my mom's yard. The groom's brother, Karim, played beautiful music for the ceremony on an instrument he made himself (wish I could remember the name of it). But, the piece de resistance for me was that I got ordained online and officiated the ceremony, which was a great honor. I am going to tear up just thinking about it.

The weekend was a whirlwind of activity leading up to the wedding and I couldn't fathom how we would get it all done, but thanks to so many including Julia's wonderful new sister-in-law, Sarah Lee, Julia's friend, Janet, our cousins Brett and Eric, Julia's friends Wendy and Charles, the groom, Alya and his brother, Karim, we managed to get everything ready and it was beautiful.

This wedding was a magical experience and I am so happy I had such a big part in it (even though I was rather stressed leading up to it). Lily kept saying "This is the best wedding ever!"

Alya, bienvenue à notre famille, nous vous aimons. (Alya, welcome to our family, we love you.)
(Here is the French translation for Alya (not sure if it is correct):

Ainsi, dernier Noël, ma soeur de bébé, Julia, (pas vraiment un bébé plus), décidé pour la porter à un voyage en Afrique avec une école de danse africaine occidentale était allée à. J'ai pensé que la synchronisation n'était pas grande, Noël est une affaire énorme dans notre famille, particulièrement à notre maman et elle avait eu une année approximative. Son associé et un ami très étroit passé loin et sa mère étaient tout à fait défectuosité (elle ont fini vers le haut du dépassement le jour de Noël) et j'ai estimé que notre maman a eu besoin de ses filles à la maison pour Noël.

Quoi qu'il en soit, vrai à la mode, Julia n'a pas écouté moi et n'est pas allé en Afrique de toute façon. C'est une bonne chose qu'elle parce qu'elle a rencontré l'amour de sa vie sur sa aventure d'Africain de 3 semaines. Cet été il pouvait venir aux états et ils se sont mariés le 6 septembre.
Etant donné la basse nature de budget de notre famille (grimaces) nous avons assez beaucoup fait tout nous-mêmes. Le mariage a été tenu dans l'arrière-cour de ma maman, qui a exigé d'un certain travail de l'obtenir prêt. Julia a eu sa robe et les robes pour moi, mes filles, et notre autre soeur, pâté, ont fait tandis qu'en Afrique en été. Elle a commandé les approvisionnements et a fait toutes les pièces maîtresses elle-même, nous avons fait cuire la majorité de la nourriture et avons décoré la cour de ma maman. Le frère de toilettage, Karim, belle musique jouée pour la cérémonie sur un instrument il s'est fait (souhait je pourrais me rappeler le nom de lui). Mais, le morceau de resistance pour moi était que j'ai obtenu ordonné en ligne et officié la cérémonie, qui était un grand honneur. Je vais déchirer penser vers le haut juste cela.

Le week-end était un tourbillon d'activité amenant au mariage et je ne pourrais pas sonder comment nous lui obtiendrions tout le fait, mais grâce tellement à beaucoup comprenant soeur merveilleuse de Julia la nouvelle, l'ami de Sarah Lee, de Julia, le Janet, nos cousins Brett et les amis d'Eric, de Julia Wendy et Charles, le toilettage, Alya et son frère, Karim, nous sommes parvenus à obtenir tout prêt et il était beau.

Ce mariage était une expérience magique et je suis si heureux j'ai eu une si grande partie dans elle (quoique j'étais plutôt amener soumis à une contrainte à lui). Le lis continué dire « ceci est le meilleur mariage jamais ! »

Alya, bienvenue à notre famille, nous vous aimons.

Lovely ladies

2009-10-06T12:29:00.010-04:00

We have been having lots of fall fun, despite the dreary Michigan weather. I love this time of year. Fall color, apple picking, back to school.

Two weekends ago, we ventured to Wasem's orchard with great family friends (one of whom is Chloe's future husband) to pick apples and eat fresh donuts and cider. Yum. We are still eating the delicious apples (we got a half bushel) and I hope to get around to making applesauce this week! Thankfully, my kids love apples, so even if the applesauce doesn't happen, they will not go to waste.
Last weekend, while Shawn was on a business trip, the girls and I went to hang out with my BFF, Kelley, in Cleveland. She is an awesome friend to host us (and the mayhem) for the weekend and she loves my kids "buckets". Some of the weekends activities included a Halloween party, fort making, movie watching and a fashion show. Good times.

My Sweet Lily

2009-08-18T13:56:00.004-04:00

Dear Lily,
I can't believe you have been with us for eight years! It seems like only yesterday that you came into this world and made our lives infinitely more exciting, wondrous, meaningful. (and also crazy, hectic and exasperating at times) You made me a mother and you mean the world to me. You are such a special girl, here are a few examples.

I admire your empathy toward others. You are always considerate of people's feelings.
I respect the fact that you always try to do the right thing and follow the rules.
I am in awe of your self confidence and self-awareness at such a young age. You do your own thing even if everyone else is doing something else.
You are a fabulous artist and writer.
I think it is amazing how well you pay attention to things, you can always retell an event or story with many details.
You are so sweet to your little sister, even though I know she drives you nuts sometimes.
I love that you will let her sleep in your bed, so she isn't scared or upset
I loved when you went on a field trip you used some of your tickets to get a prize for her too.
I love that you can be so patient with her in helping her learn how to do something new.
I love that you call each other 'sissy'

There are so many more things about you that are amazing. I am so grateful to be your mom and I love watching you grow and mature (although don't do it too quickly, OK?)

Love,
Mom

Thanks

2009-07-21T22:04:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who gave me input about my little hellion. I have removed the post because it doesn't feel right to have all of her bad qualities on display for the world to see. I sure wouldn't want a list of my bad qualities floating around the internet ((shudder)). Here is a pic from our recent vacation to South Padre Island, TX instead.

The fabulous Grosgrain strikes again

2009-06-25T14:26:00.004-04:00

I have been saying I need an apron for ages. Every time I cook (or eat for that matter) something ends up on my shirt. I have the fabric yet not the time to make one for myself, so I am posting a link to try and win a gorgeous, retro apron that is way cuter than what I would make anyway. Cross your fingers for me!

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Edit: My fabulous friend Chris sent me a Boojiboo apron for my birthday and I love it. Thanks Chris!

Father's Day

2009-06-22T12:01:00.004-04:00

Well, I tried. That's all I can say. I got my hubby tickets to the Tigers game with my oldest daughter, Lily, for Father's Day. Pretty good gift, right? Wrong. Lily slept over a friend's the night before and had a bit of a cold, that combined with the heat made her a cranky mess so they ended up leaving the game before the end of the 4th inning. She was apparently whining the whole time and being quite embarrassing. Great. I just wanted to yell at her "Why are you ruining this day?" but she is just a kid and it doesn't matter what day it is, if she's cranky, she's cranky. The other one was no peach either as you can see from the pic below:
I may have redeemed the day somewhat with a steak dinner and the 'best chocolate sheet cake ever'.

My husband is such a wonderful father. Having grown up with barely a relationship with mine, I am so grateful that my girls have a dad who is here and will always be here for them, no matter what. I also know that we wouldn't have the life we have without him. So, I am sorry this day wasn't the best representation of how much we appreciate you, we will try to show you everyday how much you mean to us.

My machine

2009-06-02T10:59:00.004-04:00

This post is all about my sewing machine so for those of you who don't sew or could care less about my machine, feel free to click on over to facebook or YouTube.

This meme came from Sew Mama Sew and since I recently bought a brand spanking new machine after working on a dinosaur that was made the year I was born, I had to participate.

What brand and model do you have?
Brother Innovis 40

How long have you had it?
about 6 months

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
$400

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
Mostly bags, clothing, softies

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I sew almost every day

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
Absolutely love it, it was a major upgrade from my previous machine.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?
The button hole feature is awesome. Love the auto backstitch feature as well. And the free arm which my dinosaur did not have.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Not really, but the Brother needle is offset to the left of center as the default and that took some getting used to.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
I had been sewing everything on a solid steel White machine made in 1973 that I found at a thrift store for $25. It worked well, but not up for the amount of use I was giving it. Plus, it didn't have any cool features or a free arm, so it was time to upgrade. In the 6 months or so I've had it, I have made many things including 6 tutus for a school play, many bags, and a shirt for myself.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
Absolutely. Brother makes a great product for a great price, but I would recommend going through a dealer to make sure you are getting the top of the line machines, not to mention great service. I went to Leabu's in Ann Arbor.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Think about what features you really NEED. I wanted a bunch of fancy stuff, like embroidery, but just didn't think I would use it enough to justify the cost. And really, how many decorative stitches do you need??

Do you have a dream machine?
I wouldn't mind an embroidery machine someday, but for now my Brother is perfect.

Vintage Wedding Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-05-29T13:21:00.002-04:00

As many of you probably know, my adorable sister, Julie, went to Africa in the winter with a West African dance group and wound up falling in love and getting engaged!!! Well, her hope is that he will be able to come to the states and they will get married by the end of summer. Now wouldn't this be the PERFECT dress for her??

Vintage Wedding Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

I so have to win this for her. Anyone who knows her personality and style would understand why this is awesome.

Here is a picture of her and my Lily
And one with her and her honey:

In Italian!

2009-05-02T10:09:00.003-04:00

Lily got a duo with her best friend in the spring sing in Italian! Aren't they adorable??
Lily_SpringSing_2009
Originally uploaded by magwilky

spring fun!

2009-04-19T08:44:00.013-04:00

It is FINALLY starting to feel a little like spring in these parts. Thankfully. We had a very nice Easter at my mom's in Ohio despite the fact that my girls woke us up at 5:30am to see what the Easter Bunny brought!

Shawn and I took Friday off and headed to Ohio early with a stop at the NASA research center. It was kind of a bust, nothing that cool. Oh well, it was free if you could tolerate the security searches!

On Saturday we colored eggs and found a random Easter Bunny at a garden center that Chloe would not have anything to do with. That kid is afraid of everything! Saturday night, with mom mom to babysit, we went out with a few of my friends to celebrate Kelley's birthday (no pics of that). Sunday morning started early, too early, but the kids were excited to see their candy and hunt for eggs. The Easter Bunny also made a scavenger hunt for the girls to find their baskets.

And here is my dilemma. I am starting to think that Lily is very skeptical about the Easter Bunny and Santa and it seems some of her classmates don't believe any more either. She is not the type of kid to bring it up or question me too much about it. Should I bring it up with her? I feel sort of dishonest by not letting her in on the secret, but that is the magic of the holidays and I am reluctant to take that away. Anyone out there been through this? Is this thing on?

Spring sewing
I have still been doing some sewing in my very limited free time. 2 bunnies for my girls made with scraps from this great pattern from Wee Wonderfuls. They were quite easy and I think pretty cute. Chloe has been sleeping with hers.

I also made some aprons for my girls that I have been intending to make for over a year. I made up the design myself and they seem to be a hit.

I'm working on some other things, including a shirt for myself, hopefully to enter in Spring Top Week here. I have never made myself any clothes, so hoping it turns out well.

Next weekend, one of my best buds, Amy (who moved to Florida) and I are taking the Megabus to Chicago for a girls weekend. Can't wait!

One year

2009-04-14T12:41:00.000-04:00

One year ago today.

I love making bags!

2009-03-26T09:05:00.004-04:00

Just a quick post with some bags I made for my sisters. These were Christmas presents that they didn't get until March (I suck). They are from a pattern by Sandi Henderson that I think is awesome. They went together so easily. There are 2 patterns, this is the gathered bag. I also made 2 straight bags for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law but forgot to take pics (doh!) At least theirs made it out on time. (Please don't mind my horrible photography skills)

Now, if I could just find the time to make one for myself!

Sewing and other stuff

2009-03-08T12:03:00.004-04:00

I really wish I was clever enough to come up with witty titles for my posts, but alas, I am not, so utilitarian it is.

First order of business: I got a Brand Spanking New Sewing Machine! I am so excited and have delusions that I can complete twice as many projects in half the time with this baby. I did some research on the internet and decided to go with a Brother because it was in my price range and many people thought it was a great machine. I went to an authorized dealer and tried out a few and loved the embroidery/sewing combo. Then I thought how much embroidery would I really do and is it worth the cost? So I stuck with the sewing only model, which is still a major upgrade from my 1973 White machine and didn't blow my budget. Seeing as how I have 6 (yes 6) tutus to sew for Lily's school play, it couldn't have come at a better time.

In other exciting news, Lily will be traveling with my mom to Seattle in May to visit my sister, her Auntie Juju. Unfortunately, she will have to miss a little school, which I debated for a while, but you can't replace the fun and excitement of a grown-up trip that she will remember forever. It will be hard to have her away from me for a week, but it will be a trip of a lifetime for Lily and for my mom. Although, when I told her she said, "It isn't for 2 months, oh" and went back to watching TV. I am just hoping it won't be too hard on her little sis being left behind.

At the end of February, Lily's school had a week off (and they will have another week in April, what is up with that??) Since Daddy was in Mexico for work, I took the girls on a mini vacay to Cleveland to visit my mom and Kelley. We had a great trip, unfortunately not well documented in photos (I need to get better about this). We went to the Great Lakes Science Center, B. A. Sweetie candy store and just chilled. I also got a night out with my girlfriends. It was really great. Below are some pics from the Science Center. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of the girls with Kelley or my mom. Oops.

This is a bit of a side note, but these cake pops are incredible and I wish I had Bakerella's talent (and patience) to make these for my girls.Happy Spring!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-02-27T09:22:00.000-05:00

OK, had to add a link to this gorgeous thing as well. I could follow the instructions to make one myself, however considering I still have Christmas presents to finish, I would much rather win one!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-02-27T09:19:00.000-05:00

This thing is beautiful and it surely won't fit me, but I have a trendy sis who would definitely love it!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

Universe, you have thwarted me again!

2009-01-23T13:34:00.002-05:00

So, for some reason, it seems whenever we plan something we are excited about, there is always a last minute disaster to thwart our plans. See the following for evidence:

This summer when we were supposed to go to South Padre Island and Hurricane Dolly came along and ruined that for us. I was already packed. I hate packing and unpacking especially when you are not still on a high from the great trip you just took.
When Lily was about 2, her dad was going to take her to visit his parents and I was going to have a whole week to myself! I was giddy with excitement as were they, so many plans made. The day before they were to leave, she got an infection in the skin of her face (facial cellulitis) that had the potential to require hospitalization, so they couldn't go. Who gets that??
This weekend my fabulous, amazing, wonderful friend, Kelley, was going to play mommy to my girls for the weekend to give the hubs and I a chance to be alone for a few days (and because she loves my kids). I have the car packed and ready to go as soon as Lily is done with school. Got a call around 10, Lily threw up at school

Yup, this is my life. Could be worse, yes, but right now, I am bummed.

Catching up...

2009-01-16T21:45:00.013-05:00

Happy New Year. It is off to a frigid start in my neck of the woods. The below zero temps are a bit difficult to deal with. On the plus side, I have heard that when it gets that cold, clouds can't form so we have had many sunny days!

Clear

-8°F
Feels Like
-25°F

Christmas was kind of a bust for us this year. First of all, neither of my sisters were able to join us for the holiday, which was the first time in years, so that was a bit of a bummer. Then in the days leading up to Christmas, my grandmother got very sick and actually passed away on Christmas day. However, we tried to make a great Christmas for the girls and they really seemed to enjoy themselves, so that was a good thing.

I love this picture of my grandmother and Chloe checking each other out. I will miss you Mom mom.

Once again, I was overly ambitious with the Christmas projects and didn't get everything completed (I am still finishing up my sisters' gifts). I did however, make a lot of things, but like a dope didn't take any pictures! Doh! Anyone out there that I made something for (Mom, JoAnne, Lindsay, Kelley, Amy) can you take a picture and send it to me? Pretty please.

Here is a list of things I made that hopefully will have accompanying pics someday:

The annual Christmas PJs using a self drafted pattern for the bottoms and this tutorial for the kimono style top. I even made pants for the hubs and I, but like a dope (see above) didn't get a pic of all of us in them.

A paint smock from Amy Karol's book, Bend the Rules Sewing for my 2 year old niece. This was such an easy, fun project.
A patchwork crocodile for my baby nephew from the book Toys to Sew.
Market bags for my Mother-in-law and sister-in-law from my new favorite pattern by Sandi Henderson available here. She also makes the most gorgeous fabrics.
A lunch bag for my friend from a free tutorial from Jcarolinecreative.com. This is a smaller version of the pattern I used for my beach bag.
Oven mitts for my mom using some fabric she gave me and a pattern in Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.
I made some shoulder bags for my girls with my own pattern. I used scraps of an outfit my mom made Lily to make Chloe's bag and a great bicycle print for Lily's bag.
My newest discovery was making some super fast potholders for last minute gifts. They are useful and fun and amazingly easy.
The piece de resistance of my efforts, however, was a quilt (my first pieced quilt) that I made for the hubs. I used some t-shirts the girls had made with their handprints over the years and also some pictures of the girls and their daddy. I was tearing up making it, so I know he loved it. I must confess, that I only finished the top by Christmas morn, but I hope to finish it soon, so he can use it.

Wow! I got more done than I thought I did. I need to make these kinds of lists more often.

In other news, we discovered over the Christmas break (and had it confirmed last week) that my oldest daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, as well as every grass, weed, and tree out there. The seasonal allergies were not a surprise, but I sort of feel blindsided by the nuts. She is 7, I thought we were in the clear. It really doesn't change what we eat a whole lot and many places are now nut-free, the difficulty is making sure that everywhere she goes people are aware of her allergy. I am grateful that this came out later because she is pretty aware of what she can and can't have, I can't imagine trying to monitor everything a toddler puts in her mouth!

I will leave you with a fun picture of us sledding over the winter break, before the temps got so frigid.

Christmas craziness

2008-12-04T09:44:00.004-05:00

I haven't forgotten about this blog, really I haven't, but most of the things I am making are secret, so I have few pictures to post. Not to mention the fact that I am swamped at work, swamped at home with projects and the daily upkeep (if you can call it that) of the family and home. My inlaws are coming to visit in about 10 days and my husband had the audacity to get sent out of town for work (how dare he ;), so it is up to me to get the house presentable. We are excited to see them, though, it has been almost a year since they have seen the girls. They may barely recognize them!

I hope that the few people out there reading this had a great Thanksgiving. We had a pretty low-key time. We lost someone very special to us this year, and his presence was greatly missed, so it was a bit melancholy (that word makes me think of the Smiths), but we enjoyed ourselves and ate like pigs. I also went with my girls to spend some time in my home town with my mom and I was able to get a good bit of sewing done. My mom was such a help with the girls (thanks). I hooked up with my girlfriends and went to an old haunt (FST, now Scoundrels) that is much changed and we saw a really bad disco cover band. (I will not post the pic of Kelley with the band to save her the embarrassment). It was good for lots of laughs and a bit of a hangover the next day.

I will however post some pics of some of the things I am working on soon and some gratuitous photos of my kids for the grandparents. In the meantime, to see a few of the Christmas photos my very talented friend took, of my girls, go here.

Excited!

2008-11-21T10:46:00.002-05:00

I am so excited, I just won a $20 gift certificate from my favorite sewing website, Sew Mama Sew! This is great, because I have lots more fabric to buy for Christmas gifts and I know just what I am getting although I won't tell just in case the recipient is reading this (not likely).

I have been doing lots of crafting lately, but none to be posted since it is all for Christmas gifts.

Instead, here are links to other bloggers with some of my favorite holiday ideas and please check out all the other holiday tutorials on Sew Mama Sew.

Little Elephants snow globe would make a great teacher gift. Also check out the Christmas village they made with a Martha Stewart kit - I want that!
I am thoroughly obsessed with this felt food on You Can Make This.
Angry Chicken's Christmas cards are lovely.
Pioneer Woman has a ton of decadent holiday recipes.
And no holiday would be complete without Bakerella's cake pops/balls!

Grosgrain puts the fab in fabulous

2008-10-25T10:47:00.000-04:00

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

If you haven't checked out this website, YOU MUST GO THERE NOW. This woman makes gorgeous clothes and gives them away, as in for free. It is unbelieveable. And if there is any doubt of her awesomeness check at the Marie Therese dress she just gave away. Oh how I am kicking myself for missing the deadline on that one!

First posting

2008-10-08T11:46:00.002-04:00

This is a month of firsts! Sew Mama Sew is my number one source for sewing inspiration and sewing products, they have the most gorgeous fabrics and patterns ( I have a few things in my wish list right now!). They requested links to projects, I sent mine in and today my beach bag made it to their pages! I couldn't be more thrilled. The online crafting/blogging community is so fabulous, I am happy to be a part of it.

First Festival

2008-10-01T09:37:00.005-04:00

Well, my first festival was moderately successful, I think. I sold about half my stuff and it seemed like people were quite interested in my crayon roll-ups. I can use the leftovers for Christmas presents. Thank you to my wonderful friends, the Snyders, for coming to see me, buying a couple totes and taking some pictures.

I wish I had the time to do another one before Christmas, but I am too busy making Christmas gifts for my family, which I enjoy more anyway. In fact, I am slightly obsessed with coming up for something for my very hard to buy/make for hubby. I think I have an idea, but the execution may be the challenge. The ideas seem to be easy to come by, it is the skill and time to execute where I tend to struggle.

I did, however, just buy this adorable fabric (not for hubby) that is discontinued, but I had to have it anyway, don't be surprised to see this in some Christmas gifts:

Harvest of the Arts

2008-09-25T16:47:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to let anyone who may happen to come by here that I will be attempting to sell some of my creations at the Harvest of the Arts Festival this Saturday from 9-5 in Saline, MI. I will be a squatter in my friend, Claudia's booth (#21 near Michigan Ave). She makes the most amazing quilts! If you are in the area, come by and say hello!

many creations

2008-08-19T12:34:00.011-04:00

Even though I haven't been posting, I have been creating a lot this summer. Unfortunately, I sometimes don't get photos of my creations but I am trying to get better about that.

First up, some gifts for my new nephew and his big sis. Super easy "quick quilt" from jcaroline, the adorable doggie fabric is from Joann's. I am so excited to have a boy to sew for.

I also made a super simple fat quarter tote for my niece with her initial on it. I made these for my girls too, but forgot to take pics (oops!)

For our trip to the beach (that never happened), I made the girls some simple sundresses using New Look pattern #6195. Again, fabric from Joann's. My original plan was actually to make nightgowns, but Lily wanted a dress she could "wear outside". Couldn't get Chloe to pose for a pic, but Lily is always my little model.

I also created a couple of beach totes (one for me and and identical one for a friend) using the vinyl covered tote tutorial from jcaroline (can you tell I love that site). I had to wait a while for that fabric, but I am in love with it and it was totally worth the wait. The vinyl was much easier to stitch than I thought it would be.

Finally, some gifts for my sister's birthday. She is a hip girl and since retro style aprons are so in, I decided to try one for her. I also whipped up some matching oven mitts from a pattern in Lotta Jansdotter's book, Simple Sewing. Don't you just love the bird fabric?!

I made a few more things, like headbands to match the dresses, a peasant blouse for Chloe, a superhero cape for a friend's birthday and a sunhat for myself, but I don't have pictures of those. Maybe I will get around to it.

I am trying out a few creations to sell at the end of September in a local craft show. I don't know when I will find the time!

Thanks a lot Dolly!

2008-08-02T16:11:00.009-04:00

So, we were supposed to go to South Padre Island to hang out on the beach for a week with my in-laws, it has been in the works for about a year, but Hurricane Dolly came along and foiled our plans. It was a real bummer and it took a few days for all of us to accept that we would not be going to the beach this year, but we turned our time off into a "stay-cation" and it was pretty fun. We went to a local lake, the waterpark, the pool. Turns out our good friends who have children the same ages as ours were also having a "stay-cation" so we got together with them quite a bit. We also did a bit of decorating in the kids' rooms, so we spent a day of our time off at Ikea!

Here are some pics from our week, it wasn't the Gulf of Mexico, but we made the best of it:

I don't know how she does it...

2008-06-25T17:38:00.011-04:00

My good friend (and future inlaw ;), Christine Asidao, has just started her own photography business and she is fantastic! All this while working full time and raising 2 small children. She has taken many wonderful pics for us, see below for evidence.

Support a local mom and check out her site (note pics of my Chloe in her portfolio).

Broken bones

2008-06-05T08:58:00.005-04:00

I know I said I would recap Mexico (for my one reader), but first an update about our trips to the ER.

The Broken Arm that wasn't:

So here is the story on Lily's cast. I was in DC for business and I get a call from my husband that she fell on the playground trying to make a human pyramid with her friends (huh?). Apparently, they have dreams of being cheerleaders some day. Nonetheless, she was in major pain and at about 6 pm Dad decided to take her to the ER. Side note: Dad was on his own for the first time during the week and not coping so well, so taking 2 little ones to the ER on a Thursday night - not exactly a picnic. OK, back to the story, they didn't see a break on the X-ray, but splinted it just in case. Since her bones are still growing they wanted to err on the side of caution. The splint/cast was special and she kind of like showing it off for about a day, then the novelty wore off, and she was done with it. Thankfully, when I took her to the Orthopedist (is that the word?) a few days later, he said it wasn't broken and took off the splint. A summer with a cast was not a prospect I was looking forward to so I was glad. Although, she insists it was actually broken, it just healed quickly.

The Broken Collar Bone that was:

On to my other daughter, Chloe, aged 2.5. Last Sunday, the kids were outside playing, next thing we know, Chloe starts wailing. Lily was swinging very high (like she always does) and Chloe walked right in front of her. Lily tried to stop, but it was impossible, she hit Chloe on her left side. We didn't think a whole lot of it, she wailed pretty hard and then fell asleep, it was naptime. When she woke up, she was really wincing a lot about her right shoulder. Well, I didn't want to go the hospital twice for unbroken bones, so my idea was just to wait it out and see. Dad said, better safe than sorry, let's just take her in. I gave in. Sure enough, her collar bone was fractured, not broken in two, so no surgery (was that an option?!), but a 'green stick' fracture. Think of bending a green stick, it breaks apart at the top while the bottom stays intact. They gave her a figure 8 brace and told us it will heal really well. Yeah, but try living with a toddler in pain!

Finally, I want to give a shout out to St. Joe's pediatric ER. So quick and efficient, we were able to get out of there in time to get the kids to bed at a decent hour.

Back to crafting

2008-05-23T10:55:00.005-04:00

After the last post, I think it is time to return to all things crafty. I have been working on lots of things lately and have even finished a couple projects. A purse for Kelley and one for myself using a free pattern from jcaroline

A cast cover, for the broken arm that wasn't.

I also went back to knitting group last week after a looooooong hiatus. I am working on a gift for my soon to be born nephew, so I will wait to post a pic until it is sent to my sis-in-law.

I have also been working on knitting Coppelia for Chloe and I am LOVING the look. I modified the yarns quite a bit because the Berroco Tutu is about $15 a skein and I need 6! I wasn't sure how it would work out, but it is great and I might have enough leftover to make a skirt for my Lily.

So, I decided to make some simple nightgowns for my girls for the summer, but Lily has decided she wants a dress to wear outside, so now I am trying to figure out how to make one with the limited fabric I have. I am probably going to wing something without a pattern similar to this, wish me luck.

In the next post, I will recap our wonderful trip to Mexico. Stay tuned.

Mark

2008-04-27T19:45:00.018-04:00

On April 14th, my mom's partner, my (almost) stepdad, and a wonderful grandpa to my kids, suddenly passed away leaving a giant hole in our hearts.

He always had his arms open to hold a child.

He was more than willing to change poopy diapers.

He looked up science experiments on the internet to do with my kids.

He starved so he could take my mom on a date.

He waited up for me and my sisters.

He was teaching Lily how to ride without training wheels.

He was a fantastic writer and I wish I had saved more of his e-mails.

He was a dog walker, dog trainer, and dog groomer.

He loved gardening and was my mom's "lawn boy".

He was always reading and knew facts about any topic.

He was always so grateful and appreciative for what he had.

I will miss him immensely.

Brush with greatness

2008-04-12T08:50:00.002-04:00

The Yarn Harlot (aka Stephanie Pearl-McPhee) came to speak in Ann Arbor last night and I convinced a non-knitter friend (Thanks, Megan!) to go with me to hear her speak. We got there an hour early and there was no seating in the main room, in fact some people got there at 11:30am for a 7 o'clock talk! That's dedication. We sat in an overflow room, which also filled up, and got to see her on a big TV.

Her talk was quite interesting, about how knitters are viewed by non-knitters and why knitting is not a "mindless, waste of time activity" (which knitters already know). I waited in line for 1.5 hours to have some of her books signed, which seemed excessive, but I got to meet some great people while waiting. In fact, that may have been the best part about the whole thing, getting to be together with such a large group of knitters and meeting some great people.

Ravelry

2008-04-10T21:48:00.002-04:00

I am finally on Ravelry, yippee! Most of you (2 people that read this blog) are like "WTF is Ravelry and who cares", but it is a very cool knitting community and a great way to keep track of your knitting projects and see what others are up to. I am a dork, I know, but what can I say the website is beyond cool. No more scouring the net for the "just right" pattern, I can find it in Ravelry. It only took me an hour to figure out how the put the button on my page (yes, I am a dork who knows nothing about HTML) (look to the right), so if it doesn't link, my name is magwilky, not original, but easy to remember.

Hope to see some of my knitter buds on there soon and maybe make some new ones.

Jon and Kate + 8

2008-04-10T21:08:00.003-04:00

This show makes my life look calm. Thank you for that.

April fools???

2008-04-02T15:05:00.009-04:00

Well, it's April and hovering around the freezing mark, gotta love Michigan. There was snow on the ground for Easter, 2 years in a row now! I thought I took a picture, but I think I was far too depressed.

I will leave you with some adorable pics of my girls on Easter Eve and Easter. Despite the snowy weather and illnesses, we had a lovely holiday.

I'm baaaack!

2008-04-01T16:26:00.002-04:00

Wow, I cannot believe it has been almost a year since I have posted anything. Yikes, so much has happened. I signed up for Ravelry and am waiting for my invite, so I figured I'd better get back on the blog. I would love to become a part of the internet community of crafters that I lurk around in on a daily basis.

I have been crafting like a fiend, my new love has been sewing, but knitting, I haven't forgotten you! I will hopefully get a Flickr finished objects doohickey on here whenever I can figure out how.

Speaking of Flickr, I got a new camera (Yay!), a digital SLR, which I love, love, love, so I will be posting pics of my kids ad nauseum (grandparents won't mind at least) and probably other random items as well. If only I could photograph as well as Dooce!

8 random things

2007-05-24T09:34:00.000-04:00

Tag, I'm it! I have no idea what to put on these things, thanks Kim! ;)

1. My husband and I eloped in Reno and had a wedding 3 months later. Most people did not know we were already married. (I was not pregnant, by the way)

2. I was on the high school gymnastics team in the 9th grade.

3. I used to have a nose ring.

4. I was an AmeriCorps volunteer for one year.

5. If I were trapped on a desert island and could only have one food for the rest of my life, it would be macaroni and cheese.

6. I am such a white girl, but I love Kanye West, Jay-z, Common, Mos Def and other hip hop artists with a conscience.

7. I despise doing the laundry.

8. I can be a perfectionist about anything I produce: work, sewing, scrapbooking, knitting etc.

There you have it, 8 random things about me that you might not have known. Is your life richer for that?? I hope so.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

2007-05-18T17:11:00.000-04:00

Happy Belated Mother's Day! I love Mother's Day, the one day that I don't have to feel guilty about thinking about me first.

The Happy Happy was sleeping in, breakfast in bed and cards and gifts (necklace, DVD, things Lily made at school) from my beautiful girls and hubby.

The Joy Joy was the satisfaction of working in the yard with my family. We purused a few garden centers and finally ended up with some annuals for the front and a flowering cherry to add to the back. I am not in love with yard work or the landscape planning, but I do love the feeling when you plant something and watch it grow. Can't wait to see the new tree in bloom next spring.

To cap off a perfect Mother's Day we made snowcones and enjoyed them on the patio while admiring our new tree.

This is the life!

Surprise!

2007-05-16T10:10:00.000-04:00

So, I had been planning a surprise party for my mom's 60th birthday with her boyfriend, Mark, for months and it was not easy keeping it a surprise, but I think we actually may have pulled it off. She really seemed shocked!

The best part for me was learning how much she means to everyone. Every single person we invited said they would definitely be there without hesitation. My sisters came in from the West coast, her siblings came from Maryland with their families and all her friends were there.

The weekend was capped off with a trip to the zoo the next day with my husband and girls, my sisters and my mom's brother, Mike, and his family.

Does it look like they are having a good time?

Here are a few more pics from the shindig.

My mom said it was her best birthday ever! Ahhh!

Dilemma

2007-04-24T09:08:00.000-04:00

I have a confession: my house is a mess and I really don't want to clean it. I could do it, but I'd rather go to a knitting group, take my kids to the park, read a good book or have a nap than scrub toilets or mop floors. Am I wrong?

The dilemma: I am thinking of hiring a cleaning service, but it seems so extravagant. We are not rich, far from it, in fact, we have 2 kids in day care in Ann Arbor, a mortgage and I only work part time, but I feel it would be worth a bit of sacrifice to have more time for other things. SO why this guilt? Am I taking something away from my kids? Actually, no I will be giving them more of my time, which is more precious than anything money can buy. I guess I was raised with the mentality of "why pay for something you can do your self?"

Thoughts, anyone? Anyone in the Ann Arbor area have a good cleaning service recommendation?

Update: In the end, we decided we're going to clean the house ourselves, boo hoo. I think we just prefer to spend the money on other things and live in a dirtier house, so be sure not to come over unannounced!

Knitting? Who has time for knitting?

2007-04-10T09:01:00.000-04:00

Well, actually I have lately. I have begun my first garment, a sweater dress for Chloe. Previously, I have only made a few scarves and hats, but I am not one to waste time practicing, I go straight for the hard stuff. So what if I create a garment that is lopsided or have to frog the whole thing?

The yarn came first, Berroco lullaby in the Down Dilly colorway (which is just Berroco suede in kid's colors), then came the pattern, Meg. When we were in Maryland for my grandma's birthday, my mom and I braved the freezing rain to check out a yarn shop in Cumberland, Millicent's yarns and more and they had an adorable jester's hat knitted out of the Lullaby and I had to have it. So, my wonderful mom bought me 5 skeins as an early birthday gift (thanks mom!)

I have only made it to the armhole shaping on the back, but I will try and get some pictures soon. The lullaby is making the most lovely looking and feeling fabric.

I, of course, have many more ambitious ideas in mind and have already bought the yarn for them, such as this Coppelia pattern for Lily, but I think I'd better stick to one at a time, for now.

Is it Christmas or Easter?

2007-04-09T11:10:00.001-04:00

Those of you here in the midwest know what I mean. Snow on Easter in April? Lily had to wear a winter coat, hat and gloves to do an egg hunt with her neighbor, what is up with that?

We had a great time, though. My mom and Mark arrived on Saturday and we colored eggs and grilled burgers in the snow.

Lily was SO excited for the Easter Bunny to come that she got up at 6:45am on Sunday to find her basket and eggs. If any of you are familiar with my children, or any of my family, you know we like our sleep, so this was quite unusual. The Easter Bunny didn't let her down, of course, and brought all kinds of goodies - stuffed animals, stickers, Charlotte's Web DVD, and, of course, candy. Chloe could have cared less about her basket, but she did try to eat some jelly beans with her 4 teeth (choking hazard!). I had to put goldfish crackers in a few eggs for her.

We ate a big dinner at noon, which set us all up for a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. Ahhhh! I love the holidays, but they are tiring and there is nothing better than a nap on a Sunday afternoon (see what I mean about the sleep thing?)

Hope everyone else had a Happy Easter.

New additions

2007-03-14T14:51:00.000-04:00

I don't have too much to write, nor do I have much time, so this post will be photo heavy. Enjoy!

First, the latest and greatest addition to our home is this fancy princess bed for our Princess Lily, thanks to the wonderful Ikea (curtains by moi). I want one of these!

Pretending to sleep, pretty convincing, eh?

The other addition to our home is the Crayola artwork by our sweet baby Chloe:

Now our walls have been covered in a super-washable (we have already tested this out) lovely shade of green, but I am sure they won't stay pristine for long!

Other new additions are Chloe's top teeth, FINALLY!

Finally, I would like to leave you with a picture of young love: Chloe and Owen (possible future son-in-law). His big sister is Lily's best friend. This week, Ginny's (our daycare provider) husband is having open heart surgery so we are trading babysitting the kids. Get well soon, John!

Family Update

2007-03-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

Kind of like the Christmas newsletter, but I can update regularly.

Most recently we got a visit from Lindsay and Turk with our new niece, Payten. What a sweetie! It was extremely cold and windy (read: Michigan in February) so we were in a lot, but it was really nice visiting with them.
"Chloe be gentle!" As if a 16 month old has any concept of that! I will say she did OK, but she did try to climb on top of Payten and poke her in the eyes more than once.

Lily also built a snowman the same weekend.

Coming up next weekend we will travel to Western Maryland for my grandmother's 85th birthday celebration. 7 hours in the car with a cranky toddler - can't wait for that.

Trying this thing out

2007-03-03T16:53:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems everyone has a blog or myspace page and since I am too old and too married for myspace, so here I am. I am trying to "have it all" (whatever that means) as the title says, but many days I don't feel like I am too successful at it. This page is a place for rantings, sharing stories and photos and, hopefully, sharing ideas with those with similar interests, of which I have many (to include knitting, reading, scrapbooking, stamping, sewing, cooking).