This is how our weekend is looking:
Date night, an extra day off of school and work, a mini family trip somewhere (possibly Disney?),
and lots of together time.
Sounds kinda heavenly, huh? Hope your weekend is shaping up nicely, too!
You really didn’t believe me when I told you that January was birthday month around here, did you? This one wasn’t included in the seven celebrations we had last week, either.
But today we celebrate my mom (Nana – to the girls) and her birthday!
Right after the shot of our headless Nana on my camera was this shot – so I’m pretty sure it was also taken by Addikins. I think it is a great shot and there just might be hope for our little photog yet!
We are wishing you a very happy day today, Mom. I wish we could be there to spend it with you. Hopefully your package of love from California will reach you today. And, well, if not – then I guess we just have to celebrate your birthday all week long, as it should be anyhow!
Sending you hugs, kisses, love and wishes for a very Happy Birthday and outstanding year!
We love you –
J, C, E, & A
Ah jeez. Is it really already Tuesday again? The past week has kind of been a blur. So much for a nice easy start to 2010. We had seven (!) birthdays last week. Four of the birthdays were for little ones and I put together three SuperCapes and a sweet little bird dress.
And, well…I remembered to take a photo of all of the goodies…
…right after I finished wrapping all of them for the birthday parties on Saturday. Grrr…but I’ll make sure to take photos of the SuperCapes in action and Faith’s dress when I get a chance. As it was J. and I had to divide and conquer to get all of the birthday parties in, so I am just happy I was able to get gifts made, wrapped and delivered.
I did remember to take pics of the cards I sent out for family Birthdays last week. This one…
…and this one…
And I finished a little coffee cozy for Papa and one for Addie’s metal canteen. She has been asking for one with a cat on it and squealed when she opened this one. I made another one for our friend Jessica with a kitty on it for Christmas too…and forgot to photograph that one too. Ah well, whatcha gonna do?
My sweet aunt did remind me last week that I didn’t show one of my other Christmas crafts. The calendar. Each year I do a calendar for our friends and family. It is quite the production. This year I simplified it a bit by sending it out to be printed and it honestly ended up being cheaper and much less of a headache, too.
I was very happy with the quality, I think they turned out very nice. And did I mention the whole process was much easier?
You can see all of the months over here, if you would like.
I cut two more projects out last night to be put together for this week’s birthdays. Hopefully I’ll get some good crafting time today to whip them up. But I’m sure I’ll need a break later on, so show me what crafty goodness you have this week!
My friend Brandi just raised the bar for birthday parties everywhere. She and her husband are film editors, so for E.J.’s birthday party this weekend they made a mini-movie. During the birthday party.
E.J. came up with the idea for the movie, The Princesses, The Baby Wizard and the Toy, Brandi wrote the script and planned the movie down to every shot and then attempted to shoot the movie with eight children. Oh, and a baby – the “Baby Wizard,” of course. It was truly a colossal undertaking, I’m still amazed it worked out as well as it did! The actors were completely on their marks and it was heart-breakingly sweet to watch them all listening, taking direction and then doing their thing.
This was one of Addie’s closeups. She was a princess, I can’t remember if she is swooning or gasping here. She did both equally well, though.
I was the set photographer and paparazzi for the evening. It was totally fun, but I didn’t get releases from all of the actors and agents, so I can’t put up many of the photos.
While the film was being edited, (Yes, Brandi managed to edit a bit of the film so that we could have a premiere for the movie, too!) the stars all got their star and handprints on the Walk of Fame. Addie channeling Marilyn Monroe a little bit here…
There were even awards and Addie won for Best Twirler! I know that Brandi is still (rightfully so!) recovering from this huge event, but it was just so much fun.
And I think my Best Shot Monday probably made all of that chaos worth it. Just look at the glee on E.J.’s face.
We wish you that much joy and excitement all year long, E.J! Thanks for letting us share in your birthday, and for the glimpse into the filmmaking world. Although I don’t think I’ll be becoming a stage mom any time soon!
Whether he is trying to be or not…
…he is one of the funniest Papas around.
Wishing you a great birthday today, Papa! And a very healthy and happy year.
Sending you lots of love (and hugs) from your California girls.
Happy Birthday!
Love,
J, C, E & A
So how much do all of my midwest family and friends hate me tonight after that post earlier today?
Probably really going to hate it when I tell you that I had all my windows wide open this afternoon. I was sewing, listening to the shrieks from the kids playing across the street and breathing in that fresh, warm air.
(Yes. I really did have to do that.)
But I’m pulling for snow days for you all tomorrow! Be safe.
What a difference four days, a horrific drive through blizzard-like conditions, and a plane ride makes.
Emmy could not be happier about trading in her boots for flip flops. And I could not be happier about giving up the constant negotiation with little Addikins. Seems the girl doesn’t think she needs to wear a coat. And well, I don’t need to tell you how that just doesn’t work in nine degree weather. Yeah, it was NINE…before the windchill.
I know this isn’t new news to most of you, since you are living in it at the moment, but whew…my blood has thinned. I think I can truly be classified as a California girl now.
This is the bounty we picked from our garden yesterday afternoon. Snowballs or lemons? Hmmm…it is a tough decision. (BTW, a box of avocados and lemons are on their way, Mom and Meesh!)
Thankfully we made it back home in time for all the festivities. Apparently all of our friends and most of our family decided to be born this week.
(Wishing you a very happy Birthday today, Aunt Vicki!)
While I worked on some birthday cards and crafts yesterday morning, Addie wiled the morning away working on cards (I think she ended up with four or five of ’em?) for her very bestest friend, E.J. who celebrated her big 5 birthday.
And she insisted that we pick roses for E.J., too. (Check out how she signs her name – on the envelope. The way she makes her “d’s” kills me. They look like little cherries!)
A little bit of California sunshine and flowers for you on this lovely almost summer-like Thursday.
I did not forget this week! I haven’t touched my sewing machine or any of my craft materials since before Christmas, but I can show those Christmas gifts that I got to deliver last week.
Well, actually…I can show a few of them. You’d think I would do a much better job of remembering to take photos of the projects. And remember to take them during the daylight in a nice well (natural) lit spot. But I did neither of these. Again.
I made my niece a messenger bag.
Complete with a little bird applique. Of course. And birdie material for the lining.
I guesstimated her height (ah, as tall as me?!!) just about right and it hits on her hip. I was pleased. And I think she liked it.
And I made a bag for my sister, too. I’ve had this pink/brown bird fabric for months and months just waiting for a good project to use it on. I really like it with the brown.
Alexis modeling for me, again. I made Meesh’s bag a little bit longer to hold her laptop or file folders, etc. (Or I suppose diapers and baby toys, too?)
And I finished my mom’s bag at the very last minute as well – and then never took a pic of it. I’ll have to bug her or Dad and see if they’ll send me a photo of it. I made hers deeper so that she could carry 12×12″ scrapbooking papers and stuff for when she goes to her card classes. It is a khaki color with an awesome natural print for the lining. And an initial C in the contrasting fabric. I also really liked hers. I think I finally got the proportions right on hers. It would also make a good shopping bag.
I’m anxious to get to the list of projects that I’d like to work on, but we have three birthday parties on Saturday, and all the kids are getting SuperCapes. So guess what I’m doing this week?
How about all of you? It is safe to show all the Christmas goodies now!
This is the time of year that, like most, I try to make some sort of resolution. Although I really don’t like to call them resolutions because if I think of them as resolutions, I think they tend to not get accomplished.
Last year, besides the usual vow of trying to “get healthier,” I resolved to be a little nicer to myself and try to cut myself some slack. I think I kind of succeeded. I know that I am in a much happier place than I was even last year. And I did a pretty good job of accomplishing everything I wanted to, although I’m still struggling with that saying “no.”
When I really sit and have a look at it all, I have realized that having a nice long to-do list, volunteering at all the school events, helping out at church, having a little crafty business, running a Daisy troop – it all adds up to one big, chaos-filled life. But man, it is a fun and very good life. I really do love every minute of it.
So no resolutions this year. I’m going to just go with the flow. Continue on as we have been doing and see where this year takes us.
My new camera has become a fun toy for everyone who runs across it.
It has been in Addie’s hands (and camera strap FIRMLY around her neck) nearly as much as it has been in mine. Last night she was shooting portraits, and she had some pretty good shots. She took this one of Papa…
And this one of Nana…
Oops. Well, 99 out of 100 isn’t too bad. Actually after she took this one she looked at the display and said, “Oh, no. I forgot Nana’s head in this picture!”
Then, Nana decided to get behind the camera instead of getting her head cut off. And she captured some sort of sugar rush craziness that had enveloped my children. They were right there on the floor in the middle of the circus at Nana & Papa’s house…
The girls and I have decided that enough is enough. We need to get out of here before we all turn into snowmen…
(Photo also by Nana)
We actually really are heading out today. J. left yesterday for a quick trip to the east coast and the girls and I are getting ready to drive back to Chicago to catch an early morning flight on Monday. Then we’ll meet back up with J. in good ‘ol, sunny, warm, LA.
We just might be thawed out after the five hour flight.