Happy 4th Birthday Addikins!

Posted on September 9, 2009 by carrie

Dear Addison Rose,

Yesterday was a a bit of a blur. Finishing up last minute gifts, getting them wrapped, completing party preparations, baking cakes, double-checking lists and last minute shopping, yet sitting down to write this letter to you has been the hardest task of all. I just can’t believe that today you will be four years old.

The past few weeks I keep insisting that you need to stay three – that you just can’t turn four. I’ve threatened to put books on your head so that you’ll stop growing. But every time I try to slow down time, you say the same thing to me, “No, Mama! I have to turn four. I have to.”

And that is your mantra lately…”I have to.” You are quite possibly the most stubborn and independent child known to man. You start the morning wanting to pour your own juice and you end the day choosing your own pjs, brushing your own teeth, and combing your own hair. “I have to do it, Mama,” you sigh if I so much as try to hurry you, or help you along.

The precious moments in between those early mornings (for you are still an early riser) and when you finally give in to sleep in the evenings, you can be found trying to help Mommy around the house. You love to be a “help” and try desperately to please me. I hear, “Am I doing a good job now, Mama?” “Do you think this looks good, Mama? “How do you like this, Mama?” countless times a day. And I only hope you hear in my voice too how very much I appreciate your willingness to help. Even if it is not so…helpful at times.

We also hear a lot of your singing voice lately. I admit that I have an “Addie playlist” that I purposely play in the car because I know it is songs that you and Emma like to sing. I love to hear your little voice singing everything from Coldplay to Deathcab for Cutie from the backseat. And my iPhone is now full because “I have to sing you Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Mama.” Even if you never make a dime in the music business, I know those recordings are going to be worth all the money in the world someday.

I feel this year is going to be huge for you, Addikins. I think you are going to struggle with your “have to” attitude and it is going to clash many times with Mommy’s idea of what you “have to” do.

But I also know that you are an amazingly smart girl who will figure it all out. And it is going to be a spectacular year full of growth and possibilities for you.

I feel so very blessed to be your Mommy and lucky to get to be along for the ride. And if you have to turn four, then I guess I’ll just have to let you.

Wishing you the very best year, my four-year old girl!
Happy Birthday.
I love you,
Mommy

Crafty Tuesday

Posted on September 8, 2009 by carrie

Well I have had quite a craft-a-liscious week around here. I’ve got my creative hat on and all kinds of projects in the works, but I think some of it I may wait to share until next week. Post-birthday party.

I did finish an apron for our friend Jenny as a Congratulations/Good Luck present.

Jenny just opened her store Home Ec, here in LA, and we stopped by for her grand opening last Friday. She put the apron on straight away and looked a.dor.able, as always.

But…Oh.My.Crafts. It is a wicked cool place to shop, hangout, craft. If you are in the LA area, go check it out. I didn’t get as much time as I needed to really shop, but J. and the girls managed to and they found all kinds of crafts for me to do. You know, in my spare time.

I have wanted to try needle-felting for awhile now, and of course the fact that there is a CAT on the cover, meant that the girls thought this would be a good book for me to own. It has potentially cool, little gifts. Plus is something I can do while we are watching TV. (Good TV, that is starting soon! Hooray!)

And they also found this little kit with two felt (BRIGHT PINK) deer!

20090907_0003

When I got it home, we realized that the instructions are all in Japanese. I think I can probably figure it out, but it might be a little more of a challenge.

Addie has asked me five times a day if I have her deer done yet. Which I do not.

And I do not because besides doing all kinds of graphic design projects for Em’s classroom and becoming (I’m still not sure how) the editor for the PTA newsletter, I have been preparing for the BIRTHDAY PARTY! That is TOMORROW!

Next week I’ll show the invites, the banners, the super-Addie cape (which is about 20 kinds of awesome!), and the cake. Speaking of which, Addie and I need to go make some fondant birds for her cake. (Don’t ask. I’m not sure how this cake happened, either!)

Anybody else have some craftiness today?

BSM ~ Reunited…

Posted on September 7, 2009 by carrie

…and it feels so good.

Em didn’t have school on Friday, so we left the smoky air in the valley and headed down to Newport to spend the day with our friends on the beach. Any day at the beach is a good day, but this one was perfect. The water was so warm, and the sand and sea just kept calling our names. The girls ran themselves silly and just enjoyed being together.

Of course we have been paying for it the rest of the weekend. We have been a bit on the lazy side, just hanging out at the pool (Addie found her swimming mojo again, thankfully!), J. took the girls to the movies, we’ve been basically just kickin’ around. But, it has been nice to just enjoy each other before we all take off in different directions again this week.

This & That Thursday

Posted on September 3, 2009 by carrie

Welcome to the first September edition of T&T Thursday. Can you believe it is Thursday already? How about that it is September? Try this one. It is only four more months til 2010. Scary, huh?

Speaking of the days flying by, Emma has been a first grader for an entire week already. She. Loves. It. No, I mean…SHE.LOVES.IT. Her recount of school includes rapid-fire blow-by-blow detail of the day and usually starts the minute we greet her at the gate. It continues across the street, down the block, up our path, across our courtyard, through the door, around the dining room, into the kitchen, while I make her a snack…and then, and only then, there is silence. If we weren’t working so hard on manners, I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t stop talking while she scarfs down her snack, either. There is just so much excitement in her new class, she can barely contain herself. Her only complaint is that she gets three recesses, but has not seen the smoke-filled light of day for any one of them. Fifteen recesses (they jumped right into some tough math problems, too!) that they have missed out on. And first-graders get to play on the BIG playground, too, no more little kindergarten playground for them. It is pure torture, I tell you.

Now, I know there are people that are worried about losing the homes and livelihoods, but trying to keep a nearly four-year old entertained INdoors? For a week straight? Especially when she is used to running, swinging, and visiting every park in a 5-mile radius – that there is my own little version of torture.

Yesterday I couldn’t take it any more and we finally biked up to the library. We were only out for about 25 minutes, but it is still very smokey and isn’t looking good up there as the fight against the fire continues.

Not to mention the air quality has seriously cut into Mama’s running. Which makes Mama very crabby. So that isn’t helping things around here.

I did however, wear a pair of “Pre-Emma” jeans this week. I remember now why I kept them as my “skinny jeans” for ‘lo these many years. They are so very comfortable and look good, too. (If I do say so myself!) I’m happy to have finally lost all my extra baby pounds. Hahahaha! I mean, my “baby” is only TURNING FOUR next week. Takes nine months to put on…forty-eight to take off. Seems about right, eh?

THEN, the very day I was becoming re-acquainted with my jeans, stupid (Oh yes, I DID say the “s” word!), STUPID Starbucks decides that it is fall, which means it is pumpkin scone time again. If you recall my love/hate relationship with the pumpkin scone, it can’t be good news for me and my jeans. I may have to just say goodbye to the jeans again, at least until January. The end of pumpkin scone season.

That January that is a mere four months away.

Must go do something productive now for fear that I will wake up tomorrow and it will be Christmas already.

Should I turn down the air conditioner a bit, perhaps?

Posted on September 1, 2009 by carrie

I promise you, I had NOTHING to do with the staging of this photo. She just found the hat and mittens in the basket. And proceeded to try them on, to see if they still fit. Which led to wearing them for a half hour while watching Max and Ruby. Which led to wanting to wear them to pick up Emma. Which led to her actually wearing them outside – in our 98 degree heat. Which led to heat stroke, I’m pretty sure.

Well, maybe not heat stroke. But being hot, coupled with being cooped up for the seventh day straight (still with the fires!) and no way to burn off any energy, it all led to a very cranky almost 4-year old this afternoon.

Crafty Tuesday

Posted on September 1, 2009 by carrie

The kitty cat skirt is complete. I haven’t been able to take many photos of it though because I had barely snipped the final thread on it and Addie had already commandeered it and put it on.

Here is the yummy fabric up close. The vintage kittys are so cute, eh?

The skirt is made out of the little flowered fabric, with the kitty fabric apron over the top, and a ribbon hem. I didn’t really have a pattern, kinda just winged it. I had seen these little apron skirts somewhere and decided that it was the perfect fabric to try one with.

My fashionista modeling it for us.

The only thing I’m not crazy about is that I sewed the apron to the skirt, thinking if I left them separate, the apron would only untie and fall off. But what happens is the skirt “moves” around since I made it just a smidge bigger in the waist so she could wear it longer. As the skirt moves, sometimes the apron ends up a little cock-eyed, sometimes it is completely on the side of her body. But, it would be pure torture for her if I took it apart and tried to fix it, so it shall remain. It’s slightly imperfect, but she is perfectly content with it. So we will leave well enough alone.

I have been doing some design work for Addie’s school, the PTA at Em’s school and I designed a new brochure for our church choir. I like doing all of that sort of “fun” work, but it all has been seriously cutting into my real crafting time. I have a few birthday projects lying around halfway completed, and since someone’s birthday is NEXT WEDNESDAY, I’m positive I’ll have something to show next week, too. Even if it kills me.

On a completely non-crafty related note – thanks for all of your concerns about the fires. Yes, they are very, very close. You remember when I shot the photo last year of our view of the mountain? Well, for the past week, this is all we see when we look up there.

Most of the time you can’t even see the mountain, it is just shrouded in billows of smoke. And at night it is very eerie. It just looks like the whole mountain is glowing. It is scary, not that it will make it down the mountain and to us, but fire has always been so frightening to me.

If you want to follow the details, there is a map here. Although, I check it several times a day, and the progress is not very promising. But we are safe, other than the horrific air quality from the smoke. Emma’s school hasn’t been able to go out for recess for the past week. She gets THREE recesses, but hasn’t been able to go out at all. It is killing her.

Last night our car decided to die at the recycling center, in the 106 degree heat, and we were waiting for the tow truck for about an hour. My chest hurt. My head hurt. And I could totally see why people should not be out in this smoke-filled air. And did I mention it was 106 degrees out? That isn’t helping. Yeah, good times. Good times.

Anyhow, if you would, please send up some prayers for all of the firefighters who have been fighting this crazy fire for the past week. And for the people who may have lost, or are losing, their homes. And maybe pray for a little cooler temperatures and rain, too?

Sticky Sweet ~ Best Shot Monday

Posted on August 31, 2009 by carrie

We call her “our little sugar bear.” The girl looooves sugar. She is a pretty adventurous eater and likes a lot of “good-for-her” things to eat too, but the girl has never met a sugar she doesn’t like.

And one of her favorite sugary treats is cotton candy. You know. The stuff that is basically just sugar and some lovely blue artificial coloring. It is as sweet as can be, and so very sticky, too!

How can I get my (not yet sticky enough) fingers on some cotton candy?

What if I look all innocent and sweet like this? Who can say no to those cheeks and the curl?

Success!

This is what I’m talkin’ about!

Sticky finger good.

And my favorite shot – my best shot for the week. All that sugar sure does this girl good.
She is pure sweetness.

Catchin’ Up

Posted on August 27, 2009 by carrie

I have been desperately trying to catch up over here at Chaos.

What with all that first grade excitement, squeezing in a Cubs game and Disneyland trip last weekend, plus trying to attack the laundry piles, never-ending errands and editing photos from our Michigan/Chicago trip (Have we really been back for over a week already?), I’m just left shaking my head and wondering where our entire week went already.

So before I get even further behind, I need to throw up some of my favorite photos from the first half (at least!) of our trip. I just don’t want to forget that this was the trip where…

…we were introduced to the four-wheeler. Here Em is getting some last minute instructions from Aunt Meesh.

And then, Aunt Meesh actually let her DRIVE.

In reality, she did better than Mommy and her first time driving one. And when Em got off she said to me, “Mom! That is fun. We have to get a four-wheeler!”

Uh huh.

We also spent much (but never enough) time with the cousins. Swinging together…

…or just alone. Grandma B’s house is full of fun.

And we went to the racetrack to cheer Uncle DJ’s horse, Tallyhorsie, on to a victory. Waiting for his race…

Still waiting…

Here he comes! And we were his good luck charm apparently – he had his best race so far, and placed third!

Then we moved the party down to Nana & Papa’s house. They had a pool party with all the neighbors and family.

The girls got to hang out in the pool.

And Emma is ready to move in with Nana & Papa (and their pool!) permanently. I wonder if she realizes that you really only get to swim for about 3 months in the midwest. I’m guessing not.

And we got my eldest niece, Alexis, diving. She was persistent and just about had it down by the end of the day.

It was a super fun way to end our time in Michigan.

I’m going to use this weekend to finish catching up on everything. So I’ll throw some more from our trip at you soon. In the meantime, have a great weekend!

A primer for FIRST graders (according to Em)

Posted on August 26, 2009 by carrie

First graders are never scared.
My discussion with Em while tucking her in the night before school started…

E: I’m nervous about going to school tomorrow, Mama.
M: (Thinking this might be from discussions with a friend of hers earlier in the day) Why are you scared? What are you worried about?
E: Mmmm. I don’t know?
M: I thought you were so excited about being a first grader finally? Think of all the great things you are going to learn!
E: Hey, yeah. And first graders aren’t afraid of anything, are they?
M: I don’t think they are afraid of trying something new – and they definitely aren’t afraid of learning!
E: Ok. I’m not scared. And I think that first graders don’t need a nightlight either, Mama.

Alrighty then.

First graders are up before their alarm clocks (and parents).
Well, at least on the first day they are. We’ll see if this continues.

First graders get love notes on their way to school…

…and in their lunchboxes.

Speaking of which, first graders get to take their lunches to school!
It really was the highlight of our morning. Deciding what to take for our very first lunch, and packing it in our new lunchbox. And no, I did not even *strongly suggest* this lunchbox. But imagine my excitement when she chose this one with the cute little tree and bird applique on it. And it says I *heart* trees.

Sigh. That’s my girl.

First graders still have to wait patiently while Moms take a million photos on the first day.

First graders line up to go into their classroom.
And seem oh, so very grown-up standing in line waiting for class. And they have classroom rules – three of them that she already knows by heart. And every time they do something good, they get a cougar paw and entered into a little lottery at the end of the week. Yeah, she already got her first cougar paw today. She was also office helper and line leader. Quite a first impression that kid makes, I’m sure.

First graders wait with crossed fingers to find out if their best friend is in their class.
It was pure agony around here the past week. They didn’t post the class lists until yesterday. I’m sure the shrieks of pure joy could be heard for miles when we walked over with the girls yesterday to discover that they were in fact in the same class.

First graders get awesome little crafty treat bags from their teachers...
Seriously – how cute are these?

…And then immediately break them open to share with their little sisters when they get home.

First graders are much better printers and spellers than kindergartners.
Although Em was a bit dismayed to learn that this week (Wed-Fri) they are doing a little kindergarten review. “It was a very easy day, Mama. I already know all that stuff.”

I can tell she was definitely trying very hard to print nicely. She doesn’t print that neatly at home for Mommy!

First graders are very relieved that first grade isn’t that much different from kindergarten…

…but are certain that it is going to be a whole lot more fun!
(For Mommy, too. So different than last year!)

It is as if they know…

Posted on August 25, 2009 by carrie

I am completely at the breaking point. So tired of the constant bickering and fighting over the past week. I’ve been to that point where I would rather endure nails on a chalkboard than hear that “Moooo-oooom!” one more time.

And then I walk in the living room to this…

Although the reprieve from the fighting will be most welcome, we are going to be so lost without Emma Grace around here tomorrow.

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

BarelyControlledChaos

Chaos Controlled.Barely.

Happy 4th Birthday Addikins!

Crafty Tuesday

BSM ~ Reunited…

This & That Thursday

Should I turn down the air conditioner a bit, perhaps?

Crafty Tuesday

Sticky Sweet ~ Best Shot Monday

Catchin’ Up

A primer for FIRST graders (according to Em)

It is as if they know…