Growin' Up

Why is it that as parents, we are fully prepared for the first smile, step and word but the rest of the really big firsts completely blindside us? I cannot believe I just sent my middle dd off to a semi-formal dance with a young man in a suit who brought her flowers!! When did this happen?

I am so thankful for friends who willingly offer to loan dresses, fix hair and do make-up without a breath or second thought. Thanks to a mother-daughter friend pair, R left the house looking stunning and feeling beautiful.

Summer Fun

I'm one of those terrible, old-fashioned mothers who thinks children should be outside all day, every day when the weather permits. Today we decided we needed a princess tent, not the regular old real camping tent the older girls adore. What better to use than "fancy" sheets with eyelet edging over the clothesline with a few pins and props? I even let her have a comforter for "carpet". Nary a peep from the princess E since I proclaimed it finished. Well, except for "WOW, Mama. You are terrific."

Now maybe I can accomplish some sewing this afternoon.

Is There A Sewing Gene?

This weekend was filled with fibery fun for the youngest duckling. For some time now, she's been pestering for lessons with the 'slow machine'. Pestering me to the brink of losing my mind. All I can say is thank goodness for older sisters (R) who spent an entire paycheck on a variable speed machine last year and is willing to share with E. I know, she's giving me that look in this shot, but believe me, she was/is all about the sewing.
Every day, she greets me not with "good morning, mama" but "CAN I SEW RIGHT NOW?" A large box of 6.5" squares has kept her occupied for days now. She can almost sew a perfectly straight line after 3 days of practice and I'm finding that sewing machine time is a powerful motivator with that child. Her grandmother and I have shared several laughs over her new-found obsession. We both cannot wait to see her in a quilt shop now that she understands how much fun we have.
One of the first things she designed and made on her own: a skirt for Barbie. I'm amazed with how she can just create like that without a pattern. R has that ability as well. I'm jealous. I admit it. Over the weekend, she has created numerous pillows and "blankets" for barbie and her merry band of cohorts. It made no difference that she already has a box full of this stuff...stuff I'd made for Christmas one year. Barbie now has pillows everywhere! I love it.

Thanks for falling in love with sewing so young, E. Practice often, long and love the art. I have no doubt you will soon surpass me.

Reason #2 Why I Love My Children

This morning, Miss E presented me with this portrait. While I love how much detail she put into this picture (shoes that tie, striped shirt, curly hair), what I love the most is she drew me SKINNY and SMILING. View of a mother through her child's eyes, it's a touching thing.


Crafting news:
Clessidra is now waiting for the Knitpicks order to arrive. Placed Friday AM, we'll see how long it takes this order to travel the 2 hours from the warehouse to my house. Once the yarn arrives, Clessidra and Mariah will be dueling needles I suspect.

A pair of boring, stockinette kid's socks will finish up before dinner today. The intended recieptent is the parish sock drive in the fall. I used E's foot as a guide and just knit to use up the last of this simple stripe I had. Hopefully between socks and mittens, I'll be able to use up the odd ball remenants of fingering yarn AND the parish drives will benefit too.

This afternoon has been spent finish up 3 little tops for a friend's daughter. Pictures are forthcoming. I used stash fabrics, a favorite pattern from E's toddlerhood and bias binding. A rather fast project if I'd have sat down and done them at once instead of dwadling about.

Lightbulbs

This morning while reviewing this week's lessons with E, the subject of Thomas Edison came up. Which brought about this earthshaking revelation from a 7yo history buff:


"Mama, flashlights were invented AFTER the lightbulb. Wanna know why? Cuz it's impossible to invent something without all the parts!"


Just another of the many reasons I love my girls.

Overheard

This afternoon while fixing lunch, I overheard this.

J: E, if we could bottle your farts as poison for the goverment to use throw in the caves as bombs while searching for Bin Laden, we'd be rich and he'd be dead. The insurgents would beg for mercy and our troops would crown you the Queen. It's just that potent.


Girls...way more into bodily functions than boys and proud of it.

Just another example of cabin fever gone horribly wrong.

Snowy Day

When we have snow! I feel the urge to make Vermont Cheddar Bread
along with potato soup (this bowl is missing the cheese and sour cream!)

as well as some slightly burnt Magic Cookies bars, minus the coconut and nuts.
And of course, a snow day means lots of goofy around as shown by J&R. Isn't it shocking how much they look alike?

I finished another sock tonight along with weaving the ends in the last pair. I know, I need pictures but never seem to get knitting until after dark. Maybe later this evening yet, who knows?