Since a few of you asked so very nicely, here are the outtakes from the Five shoot. Here was the original shot I went with.

My favorite, if only I hadn’t focused on her shoulder…

Ok, maybe this one is my favorite…

…except she just looks so darn old. It makes my heart hurt a little. And this one? Her legs look so long…

Killing me with her sweetness.

Not to be outdone by the Addie the Art Director-extraordinaire, Emma set up her own shot for five as well.

Which, in retrospect, would have looked pretty awesome next to Kimberly’s five cherries.

While I was going through photos I realized I haven’t even posted these two photos from JB’s bridal shower. So as long as I’m throwing pics up…I love this one of Em and JB.

And this one. All of my gorgeous girls.

(Yep, they are all crammed into and sitting in a little box. Cheeky little monkeys.)

Oh, I have so much to tell you all, but still fighting the plague over here. This weekend I hope to get all caught up and feeling better to post more than just photos.

Happy Friday!

No…it isn’t a typo – we have no Crafty Tuesday again today. I actually do have a few things, but between fighting the feverish plague and being impossibly behind on all I need to do, I haven’t been able to prep it, photograph it, or write about it.

Yesterday was the start of sports camp for Em and Addie decided at the last minute she was going to do it as well. So I loaded them up, they went, had a great time, came home completely wiped out and asked to go to bed early. Perfect, right?

Yes, it would have been, except both of them were up all night expelling the contents of their stomachs. So I’m off to disinfect the entire house, finish loads of laundry and cater to my poor little lumps on either end of the sofa.

It’s always something. At least it is better it happens this week rather than next.

The one good thing about being confined to the house in a feverish state is that it allows for catching up on a lot of trashy TV and all of my fave programs. I know I have some fellow Project Runway devotees out there, so let’s talk about this season so far, shall we?

**Spoiler alert! If you haven’t seen this week’s episode, what are you waiting for? Go watch it! Then come back here so we can discuss.

This week’s challenge was to create something fabulous out of party supplies. No fabric, just anything they could grab from what looked to be a crappier version of Party City. I love these kind of challenges because it separates the really creative designers from the well,…let’s just say “not so industrious” designers.

And separate it did. First the bad.

What the what?

Just what is going on here yet again with our Casanova? For the third week in a row he has turned in a “piece” that is questionable in taste and just…not even remotely cool. I have to think that the judges just keep him on the show because he makes for good TV. But really, he does not. He makes for annoying TV. His pretending there is a language barrier one minute and then speaking perfectly fine English the next just angers me. He has got to goooo!

Instead Sarah went home this week. And admittedly her design was not that inspiring. Now, I’m no style maven in my Gap jeans and t-shirt, but I wish she had trusted her instincts and played with her original idea instead of listening to Gretchen and turning in this…

Which leads us to Gretchen.
Gretchen, Gretchen, Gretchen. She doesn’t fall into the bad category because her designs are bad – they are actually pretty great.

In fact she won the last two challenges. But she just needs to keep it quiet. You know the saying, “if you don’t have anything nice to say…?” Well, for Gretchen they should make a new one like, “If they don’t ask for your opinion – KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!” Nobody likes a know-it-all and she is just always spewing her opinion. It never stops. So I’m not a fan of hers. But again, she creates drama, which all good reality TV needs. I expect her to be around until the end.

Now for the good ones.

There was Andy‘s winning design…

It is very cool, and I’m glad he won if for no other reason that it wasn’t Gretchen. I really love the weaving he did with the ribbons to make the silver “ropes” down the front of the dress. And remember – there is no fabric here! Napkins, plates, ribbon, party supplies were all they could use! So impressive, yes.

My favorite one of the night was Valerie‘s. I love her designation as the Susan Lucci of Project Runway, too. Come to think of it she has kind of gotten the short end of the stick the past few weeks.

The entire skirt is made of napkins, which could also be very practical, I guess.

And my other favorite which didn’t even make it to the top three was Christopher‘s.

I LOVE this dress. Seriously I would totally wear this, it is so cute. Flattering, cool color – the more I look at this the more I want a dress just like it!

Ivy‘s dress was Em’s favorite of the night.

It was perfect on the runway, swingy and full of life. Plus there was a really cool little detail on the back of the left hip. When she came out Emma said, “Oh Mama! That is the one, it is so pretty and not too short!” (Good girl!)

And let’s just throw an honorable mention out to Peach, the older “Mom” of the bunch. The past two weeks I was a little worried for her. I really wanted to like her, but her dresses were just frumpy and matronly…even for this mom of 2. This week however, she redeemed herself…

So cute and fresh and…young! So now we know that she can do young. Another outfit I’d totally wear.

Well, if I had supermodel crazy long legs, and someone to hot glue the outfit onto me.

So tell me what you are thinking about this week. This season?

I think I may still have some jetlag. Is that even possible after five days? All I know is that it is 9:00pm and I am trying to decide if I can just sleep on the sofa so I don’t have to make the trek upstairs. Just so tired.

And Miss Addie’s apparent allergic reaction to her mosquito bite? After a trip to the ER, a doctor visit and an appointment with a dermatologist it has been decided that she will not be scarred for life, and her face/neck/arms are nearly cleared up.

We got to spend a nice long afternoon with friends complete with lots ‘o swimming. Very good for worn out kids. Not very good for my to do list…including the pile of photos and recaps of camping, London and Michigan.

But none of that is going to happen tonight. I think we can score this evening: jetlag – 1, Carrie – 0.

Daddy has hooked us up with a little vacation – a “family getaway,” if you will. Or a recovery from having house guests and a little family time before we all go our separate ways again next week, whatever you want to call it, we are at a sweet resort in Carmel Valley for the weekend.

I know, I know! I owe you all the dirt on how we survived six kids – SIX KIDS – for a week, and also a whole slew of fun photos of the girls and their sweet cousins. And I promise, I’ll get right on that…when we return.

For now, Happy 4th! Be safe, have fun and we’ll see you when we get back. That is…if we make it back. This place is ah-MAZE-ing. We might just stay for a few more days…

(Sign courtesy of Em & Ad when they were playing restaurant in the playroom a few weeks ago. Even better was the one they put on the other door that leads to the bathroom!)

No CT today…we are too busy soaking up the last few hours with our cousins…and celebrating Madey Mac Munchie Mo’s 7th birthday!

We have a few fun things planned, so we’ll be back to tell you all about it tomorrow.

In the meantime sending out huge wishes and kisses to one of my favorite nieces! Hope your 7th birthday is the best yet, Mo!

We love you!

I have just one little thing to show you today, and just five minutes to put it up.

I’ve been wanting to try Sew A Straight Line’s domesticated skirt for a while now. Turns out it is super easy, very fun and looks amazing on my Domestic Goddess friend, Jamie, who celebrated a birthday last week. Is it a skirt? Is it an apron? It’s both! And reversible, too…
I’ll have to get a pic of her modeling it for us, since this is one time the skirt most definitely does not look better on the hanger.

I may have enough fabric for one for me, too, yippee!

Although it most definitely will not be completed this week – I have six littles (well five littles and one almost teen) running around the house. We have the chaos controlled (barely) for now, but we’ve only been down two adults since yesterday morning. Hopefully Meesh & DJ are having an amazing, relaxing time in Hawaii.

Hmmm….I think someone needs a diaper change. I’m off.

…giving the best tickles.

…being silly.

…sharing.

…exploring.

…and loving with all our hearts.

The thing that constantly amazes me with good Daddies is their need to protect and take care of their family.
I admire that so much in my own Dad and now see it between J. and the girls.
Thank you to my Dad and to J. for being such great Daddies and taking good care of all of us.

Happy Father’s Day.

We love you,
~ C. (Bean), Em & Ad

I miss you all and I miss blogging, but I feel a return to our regularly scheduled programming is coming soon. Really soon.

Today is the last day of school. (Wheew!) And Saturday the Daisies bridge up to Brownies. If I can get through all of that…we are set.

And I’ll be back. I promise.

You really are not going to believe this. Kimberly picked SYMBOL as our theme for the week and said she had “something in mind.” I did not.

But I started thinking about symbols in my life…and realized that my favorite symbols remind me that I was put on this Earth to be a Mom to two amazing girls. And I wear those symbols proudly on my favorite necklace, every single day.

And then Kimberly’s symbol is a form of a necklace, too? It is almost too surreal. I promise you absolutely NO consulting was done. No cheating. No peeking. I shot my necklace after lunch so I could shoot in natural light for a change, and Kimberly sent me hers first. We are so in-sync it is frightening.

And I have a feeling I know what her necklace symbolizes, too. Pop over there and offer her 75 hugs! She deserves it.

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