Kimberly’s half today has signs that summer is coming to an END. And this week we had signs of the END of a long day. And our END to a what seemed like a very short summer.
I guess all good things must END, right? On to the next good thing…
And now we have a super second-grader….
And a kickin’ kindergartener….
Although they were not feeling very cooperative this morning…
At least not cooperative at the SAME time…
Emma looks to me like she is heading off to fourth grade! She looks so old.
And once she found her BFF, she pretty much charged into the classroom and never looked back.
Addie was a little more cautious and unsure. But she was happy to have her best friend to walk to school with.
And after signing in…
And a little quiet time in the classroom with Daddy…
She was all set and ready for school.
And Mama walked back home with Daddy with dry eyes.
Yes, you heard me! The world did not implode. The hours flew by and before I knew it – it was time to walk over and pick up both my girls from school.
A good first day for all of us.
…Hello, Back-to-School Time.
Eek….we are a little late, but still squeaking CT in before Wednesday.
Most of our craftiness lately has been the out-of-necessity type or the re-fashioning type. First of all, the girls found these backpack/lunchbox/pencil kits in the Avon book while they were at Nana’s this summer. They both decided they couldn’t live without these kits for school this year. BUT, they don’t come in different colors, so I tried to talk them out of getting identical bags, but my pleas fell on very deaf ears. They both got a set.
So…I took out the chalkboard fabric (you knew that it was going to make an appearance again, didn’t you?) and made sure we can tell the bags apart.
Plus I get to leave little notes on the girl’s lunchboxes, which they still think is cool.
I have also been re-purposing all of the old leggings into bike shorts since we’ll be needing a new store of them for under skirts and dresses. And I took two of Addie’s favorite dresses that she just couldn’t part with and made them into skirts.
Crummy middle of the night photos…sorry. But I essentially just chopped off the top and moved buttons and buttonholes and now she can wear them for another few years.
And I’ve wanted to try this tutorial for many months now. Em had a brand new t-shirt that she helped paint sets with…and then leaned over one of the panels and got paint all over the bottom of said t-shirt. So chopped off t-shirt, plus birdcage fabric that I’ve wanted to use forever equals…
It turned out pretty cute. I love the birdcages and one of the birds is the exact same color of that crazy green t-shirt, so it looks good. It came together pretty easily, too – just a matter of getting some time to dedicate to it. The story of my life.
Next week I promise we’ll have some good stuff to show. I finally finished my sister’s birthday presents (yes, her birthday was in July, I realize that) so I’ll show those next week, after it gets to her.
AND, I’m sure we’ll have something to show from our Sewing Bee. I found this Million Pillowcase Challenge and thought it would be a fun thing for our Brownies to do and learn to sew at the same time. So this weekend our house is going to be converted into a sewing shop and I’ll have the proof next week. Happy Crafting until then…
-I’ve been a never-ending complaining sack of coughing lately. Sorry ’bout that. But, I think we are all on the mend. The girls are back to eating normally, my headache/neckache is (finally!) gone as of yesterday, and now all that is left is the very annoying cough.
-We are anxiously (some of us more than others) awaiting the arrival of Wednesday = back to school. I waiver between joy – the prospect of maybe having a few moments to myself and a routine again, and complete sadness. My baby is going to school. I am now the mom of two school-aged girls, not two baby girls anymore. That reality is setting in finally, and I must admit I’m teary-eyed already. Wednesday is going to be a rough day, I think.
-Emma just curled up next to me on the sofa, kissed my cheek and said “I love you, Mom.” Then promptly returned to watching iCarly. Moments like that take my breath away. I’m so very lucky to have these two sweet babies. (I don’t care what I just said – they are always going to be babies to me.)
-Besides trying to get physically well, I’m also mentally trying to get ready for all of this. School, ballet, soccer, PTA, Brownies…it is all looming next week and I just don’t feel prepared or ready for any of it. I need a few more weeks, but of course even if I had a few more weeks I’d still be saying the same thing, “just not enough time, need to find a way to create more hours in the day.”
-I’m helping coach Em’s soccer team again this year. I’m excited by it now that I have sort of developed a love for the game and I think this is the year to really get her excited about soccer, too. We have one more shot. Although what she is really excited about is the idea of trying out for the swim team. I have instituted the one sport and one other activity per week rule (although with Girl Scouts she technically stretches that rule already) so I told her she needs to wait til soccer season is over until she can try out for swim. I think it may be a very busy year.
-I think I finally wore J. down (or the guys at work did) because he is running the Catalina Island triathlon with me. I love when he gets an idea in his head because he gets a little obsessed and goes all out. He is training very hard and I’m hoping he really gets the race fever. It is nice to have someone to train with. Although, I’m going to have to step up my game a bit or I won’t be able to keep up with him.
-Speaking of races, my sis completed her 3-day walk last weekend! Thanks to those of you who donated (she made her goal!) and for all of your good wishes. I think she could feel the good energy, she did awesome.
-Let’s see, I think we have covered the lately around here. Daddy took the next few days off so we can have one more rendezvous at Disney before summer ends and school starts. So we’ll see you in a few days.
**(Yes, these are all July photos I just found. I also uploaded a bunch to flickr – there are some fun ones with the cousins, too.)
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!
We have the theme FIVE here this week with a cherry (or five) on top!
Kimberly‘s photo is sublime, isn’t it? I adore her processing and the texture!
While I was wandering around trying to decide what to shoot I mentioned to the girls that the theme was five. Addie’s face just lit up, “Oh, Mama! Can’t we use my candle? My five candle? I will hold it for you because I’m going to be FIVE!” (Yes, you have to scream that last FIVE!)
So Addie art directed this shoot for me today. I’ll have to publish the outtakes tomorrow because they are sweet indeed. Just like my almost five year old.
In the meantime, pop on over and see what everyone is up to today.
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?
…started this last night to wish my sis good luck today, and then figured my fever would be gone and I could think more clearly today and I would just finish this up in the morning.
Well…the fever rages on. Day three. I feel crummy and my head and neck only stop throbbing when they are in a horizontal position, but I really want to get this up here!
So sending a little GOOD LUCK shout-out to Meesh as she begins her 3-day walk today, although I don’t think she’ll need it – she is prepared! We are rooting for you all the way, and we are so very proud of you. Walk on, sister!
And thank you if you donated to her walk and a great cause. If you haven’t, you still can! She is soooo close. Plus, remember the deal? Still totally stands. Although it might be a few days til this fever finally gets out of town and I can get any sort of crafting done. Even if you can’t donate a lot – remember every single dollar helps.
I wish I could be there walking alongside her, but for me it is back to a fun-filled evening of piling on sweatshirts and blankets only to turn around and need to strip down to underwear because my skin is on fire. Good times, good times.
Good luck, Meesh! Love you.