Building A Fairy House
The Finished Design
(When Kevin saw this pic, he said, "What's this pile of rubble?" Way to encourage creativity, right? Fortunately, Monica wasn't in ear-shot and I don't think she knows what "rubble" means anyway.)
Showing posts with label James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James. Show all posts
Monday, September 24, 2012
Garden Delight
On Friday, we played and explored at the local Children's Garden. The day started stormy, but became beautiful and bright by late morning. Gotta get out in the fresh air before the cold weather really sets in!
(When Kevin saw this pic, he said, "What's this pile of rubble?" Way to encourage creativity, right? Fortunately, Monica wasn't in ear-shot and I don't think she knows what "rubble" means anyway.)
(When Kevin saw this pic, he said, "What's this pile of rubble?" Way to encourage creativity, right? Fortunately, Monica wasn't in ear-shot and I don't think she knows what "rubble" means anyway.)
Monday, September 17, 2012
Sewing for James: A Dapper Bow Tie
The family and I had the opportunity to attend a wedding in Milwaukee over Labor Day weekend...which of course gave me the opportunity for fun, wardrobe-enhancing projects.
This was my first sewing project for James and has been on my list of sewing to-dos since we received the invite: a Brooks Brothers-esque bowtie. I wanted all out preppy cuteness.
While in DC with Kevin in the spring, I actually stopped in a Brooks Brothers store to look at bow ties, just to get an idea of sizing, price, fabric type and quality etc. First, Brooks Brothers does not carry a lot in 2t size range. Second, it really is a bit too expensive for my 2t kid's messy stylings. There is a reason why I frequently comment that I am raising Pig Pen incarnate.
I surfed the web looking for a good bow tie tutorial and ended up settling on this one at Prudent Baby. Apparently, the bow ties debuted in a photo shoot for the Martha Stewart wedding blog, and got enough attention that Prudent Baby created a tute. Works for me!
The only challenge for this tutorial was that I needed real bow tie hardware, which I was able to order readily on Etsy: three bowtie hardware sets for about $5 with shipping. (You bet I'll be using this tute again at Christmas...think brother/sister Christmas eve coordinates...) And, while we're on the subject of cost, this project, fabric, interfacing, hardware and all, probably cost about $5. Thrifty and fabulous!
A few notes: Sizing was definitely a trial and error experience. The tutorial sized the bow piece to be a bit large in the name of funkiness. \Honestly, it was a bit large for my preppy sensibilities and my two year old's face. I wanted to avoid anything resembling a clown bow tie. So, I took the bow tie width down an inch and kept everything else the same.
The tutorial called for double sided fusible interfacing, which seemed to totally mystify the lady at the fabric cutting table at JoAnns, so I just went with a medium weight, single sided fusible, which I fused on both sides of the piece that is folded into the bow. This provided the thickness and texture needed for the bow tie to hold its shape and resist drooping.
After making my bow piece, I also realized that I needed to be more strategic in which part of the madras pattern I cut out. Not all cut pieces are created equal, and I really wanted to pick up more of the pink and white, as opposed to the medium blue.
I ended up making the neck strap twice because the first time, it was too short, and I also made the middle connector loop twice becuase I sewed it too small the first time (I thought the tute called for a loop that was too big, turns out I was wrong! Though, I think it could be a bit more snug, so I may tack the bow to the connector at some point.) So, I ended up making the whole thing twice, with one set of pieces being not quite right. Oh well...so it goes with sewing and garment construction....
Here's the final super cute result:
This was my first sewing project for James and has been on my list of sewing to-dos since we received the invite: a Brooks Brothers-esque bowtie. I wanted all out preppy cuteness.
While in DC with Kevin in the spring, I actually stopped in a Brooks Brothers store to look at bow ties, just to get an idea of sizing, price, fabric type and quality etc. First, Brooks Brothers does not carry a lot in 2t size range. Second, it really is a bit too expensive for my 2t kid's messy stylings. There is a reason why I frequently comment that I am raising Pig Pen incarnate.
I surfed the web looking for a good bow tie tutorial and ended up settling on this one at Prudent Baby. Apparently, the bow ties debuted in a photo shoot for the Martha Stewart wedding blog, and got enough attention that Prudent Baby created a tute. Works for me!
The only challenge for this tutorial was that I needed real bow tie hardware, which I was able to order readily on Etsy: three bowtie hardware sets for about $5 with shipping. (You bet I'll be using this tute again at Christmas...think brother/sister Christmas eve coordinates...) And, while we're on the subject of cost, this project, fabric, interfacing, hardware and all, probably cost about $5. Thrifty and fabulous!
A few notes: Sizing was definitely a trial and error experience. The tutorial sized the bow piece to be a bit large in the name of funkiness. \Honestly, it was a bit large for my preppy sensibilities and my two year old's face. I wanted to avoid anything resembling a clown bow tie. So, I took the bow tie width down an inch and kept everything else the same.
The tutorial called for double sided fusible interfacing, which seemed to totally mystify the lady at the fabric cutting table at JoAnns, so I just went with a medium weight, single sided fusible, which I fused on both sides of the piece that is folded into the bow. This provided the thickness and texture needed for the bow tie to hold its shape and resist drooping.
After making my bow piece, I also realized that I needed to be more strategic in which part of the madras pattern I cut out. Not all cut pieces are created equal, and I really wanted to pick up more of the pink and white, as opposed to the medium blue.
I ended up making the neck strap twice because the first time, it was too short, and I also made the middle connector loop twice becuase I sewed it too small the first time (I thought the tute called for a loop that was too big, turns out I was wrong! Though, I think it could be a bit more snug, so I may tack the bow to the connector at some point.) So, I ended up making the whole thing twice, with one set of pieces being not quite right. Oh well...so it goes with sewing and garment construction....
Here's the final super cute result:
So cute. Totally worth the effort!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Just Beachy
I had the great privilege of growing up in a small town on Lake Michigan. I never really appreciated what I had as a kid, but now it is pure joy to share it with my children. We made it to the beach a number of times this summer, and while this last trip was not the quintessential, sunny beach day, there were enough warm waves crashing on the shore to keep Monica and James laughing.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Happy Summer!
Yowza.
It's been a while!
Summer has been very full for us: lots of sun, fun, beaching, home improvement and sewing. I *promise* I'll post more later (maybe later this evening...) but for now, here's a pic from a photog sesh in June in honor of my mom's birthday (which was in March...we like long celebrations!)
We love you Mom!
It's been a while!
Summer has been very full for us: lots of sun, fun, beaching, home improvement and sewing. I *promise* I'll post more later (maybe later this evening...) but for now, here's a pic from a photog sesh in June in honor of my mom's birthday (which was in March...we like long celebrations!)
We love you Mom!
Like the pics? Check out Kelsey Marie Photography.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
A Lesson in Jamesish
Need-to-know vocab for living with and caring for Mr. James:
deepee: diaper
pa: pacifier
shummershun: summersault
peter butter: peanut butter
Mocky: Monica
Grabba: Grandma
mooma: kiss; v, to kiss (think "mwa!")
hahpoo: apple
coppern: popcorn
puppies: goldfish-shaped cheesy crackers
shamich: sandwich
ah-bah-dees: gummy vitamins
skeeter-bike: a scooter and/or a tricycle; v, to ride a scooter or a tricycle
jabbies: pajamas
binkie: blanket
deepee: diaper
pa: pacifier
shummershun: summersault
peter butter: peanut butter
Mocky: Monica
Grabba: Grandma
mooma: kiss; v, to kiss (think "mwa!")
hahpoo: apple
coppern: popcorn
puppies: goldfish-shaped cheesy crackers
shamich: sandwich
ah-bah-dees: gummy vitamins
skeeter-bike: a scooter and/or a tricycle; v, to ride a scooter or a tricycle
jabbies: pajamas
binkie: blanket
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Catchin Up
After a long hiatus, The Good Life is back. I can't promise profundity or ready wit or more than 100 words at a time, but hey, a picture is worth a thousand words, right?
I'm going to do some back bloggin', and I only have enough energy to go back to December. I call this montage The Essence of the Holidays.
I'm going to do some back bloggin', and I only have enough energy to go back to December. I call this montage The Essence of the Holidays.
Alright, the kiddos are cute, and they didn't fuss the whole time. They're generally happy little people.
Thanks to Arwen for encouraging me to get back to the blogosphere, no matter how humble the post. :)
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Belated, but in Reality, Totally Timeless
The UM/ND football game last weekend was glorious mayhem to the last second and enjoyed immensely in our household, at least by those who know, watch and stay awake until midnight watching Michigan football. The next day, Kevin found this little gem in the combox on MGoBlog:
When I got back to my tailgate there was a car full of dame fans next to me. As we're both packing up our respective stuff I see this guy take off his ND shirt and put it on the ground, go into his truck, pull out a bottle of some form, pour the contents on the shirt, strike a match and lights the tanker on fire,then gets in his truck and drives away leaving the smoldering shirt. I do in fact feel for ND fan right now.
Yowza. That's some serious football fan pain. While I don't feel the general hatred and vengeance that some UM fans feel toward ND, I totally got a laugh out of this one. I also had some sympathy. Let's be honest. What Michigan fan didn't feel tempted to burn some Maize and Blue after the Appalachian State debacle?
But who wouldn't feel some Michigan love after seeing Little 'Nard Dawg?
When I got back to my tailgate there was a car full of dame fans next to me. As we're both packing up our respective stuff I see this guy take off his ND shirt and put it on the ground, go into his truck, pull out a bottle of some form, pour the contents on the shirt, strike a match and lights the tanker on fire,then gets in his truck and drives away leaving the smoldering shirt. I do in fact feel for ND fan right now.
Yowza. That's some serious football fan pain. While I don't feel the general hatred and vengeance that some UM fans feel toward ND, I totally got a laugh out of this one. I also had some sympathy. Let's be honest. What Michigan fan didn't feel tempted to burn some Maize and Blue after the Appalachian State debacle?
But who wouldn't feel some Michigan love after seeing Little 'Nard Dawg?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Easing In
Oh, blog.
I've neglected you.
Life has been busy and I've signed in with great intentions, but laziness, fussing, projects, travel, or any combination of the aforementioned have kept me from writing.
That first post from a long hiatus is usually the toughest, so here goes. Pictures. It may the the easy way out, but who doesn't love to see cute little people?
Happy (Belated) Independence Day!
I've neglected you.
Life has been busy and I've signed in with great intentions, but laziness, fussing, projects, travel, or any combination of the aforementioned have kept me from writing.
That first post from a long hiatus is usually the toughest, so here goes. Pictures. It may the the easy way out, but who doesn't love to see cute little people?
Happy (Belated) Independence Day!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Happy Birthday, Son of Mine
Happy First Birthday Jamesy! It's been a great year and we're looking forward to more giggles and good times in the years to come.
We love you!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Like Mother Like Son?
I think James may resemble my side of the family...
(yeah, that's me lookin like a boy in the yellow sleeper)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
James--The Golden Age
James is currently in the Golden Age of Infancy. He likes to eat; he sleeps reasonably well; he isn't really mobile and making messes, and he needs no discipline. He is also super happy, which is so refreshing on days that Monica is tantruming and just throwing lots of challenges at us. Don't get me wrong. I love Monica more than any little girl on this planet, but 2 1/2 can be trying. God is good in giving us such a wonderful little man to cuddle.
This Golden Age of Infancy is why we ended up with two kids so close in age. When Monica was this age, we thought, "Hey! We could handle another one of these!" Enter James 9 months later. I now realize that one does not give birth to another 10 month old. There are 9 months of pregnancy and 10 months of infancy before you have that 10 month old again! (I am the master of the obvious, I know...) So, the rose colored glasses are gone and I now realize that for us, there is some wisdom in spacing children a bit more. But I will be soaking all of the baby love I can get before our little James turns into a little man.
This Golden Age of Infancy is why we ended up with two kids so close in age. When Monica was this age, we thought, "Hey! We could handle another one of these!" Enter James 9 months later. I now realize that one does not give birth to another 10 month old. There are 9 months of pregnancy and 10 months of infancy before you have that 10 month old again! (I am the master of the obvious, I know...) So, the rose colored glasses are gone and I now realize that for us, there is some wisdom in spacing children a bit more. But I will be soaking all of the baby love I can get before our little James turns into a little man.
Oh James, how do we love thee?!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
"Eeeeeek!" and Other Happenings
Monica is just so two-and-a-half right now...in good ways and challenging ways. We're having a lot of fun doing projects together, like coloring, making birthday cards and baking bread. Like most toddlers, she's really curious and loves to touch and taste everything, as evidenced by the picture of her below, after she got into the whole wheat flour and decided to eat handfulls of it...weird. 
This time is also challenging because she is becoming a lot more verbally creative and also a lot more creative in her defiance. Yet, I'm frequently reminded that she still needs to mature in communication skills. We still experience some really cro magnon-like moments. Lately, in our house, when the going gets tough, the tough get screaming. Monica's been a shrieker since she was four months old, and we're going through one of those phases again. Whether she needs to transition out of playing with a toy, to eat, to sleep or just can't get her slippers on, there is often ear-piercing, blood-curdling screaming. We're working on directing her toward other frustration-outlets, but it is a process, and it seems pretty slow sometimes. Monica has also taken a lot more interest in James lately, probably because he has taken a lot more interest in her toys! He is still not crawling or scooting, so he can't do a whole lot to defend himself when she comes at him to take whatever he has, besides screaming and waving his arms. And he does a lot of that while Monica is putting him in one of her vice-grip hugs around his head or neck. (Another skill to work on: appropriate and gentle affection.) But just the other day, we were at the local hands-on museum and I realized how quickly she is growing and changing. The way she can run and jump and play now, compared to even just after James was born is amazingly more complex. I am so grateful and humbled to be a part of my children's lives, even in the tensest of shriek-laden moments. 
This time is also challenging because she is becoming a lot more verbally creative and also a lot more creative in her defiance. Yet, I'm frequently reminded that she still needs to mature in communication skills. We still experience some really cro magnon-like moments. Lately, in our house, when the going gets tough, the tough get screaming. Monica's been a shrieker since she was four months old, and we're going through one of those phases again. Whether she needs to transition out of playing with a toy, to eat, to sleep or just can't get her slippers on, there is often ear-piercing, blood-curdling screaming. We're working on directing her toward other frustration-outlets, but it is a process, and it seems pretty slow sometimes. Monica has also taken a lot more interest in James lately, probably because he has taken a lot more interest in her toys! He is still not crawling or scooting, so he can't do a whole lot to defend himself when she comes at him to take whatever he has, besides screaming and waving his arms. And he does a lot of that while Monica is putting him in one of her vice-grip hugs around his head or neck. (Another skill to work on: appropriate and gentle affection.) But just the other day, we were at the local hands-on museum and I realized how quickly she is growing and changing. The way she can run and jump and play now, compared to even just after James was born is amazingly more complex. I am so grateful and humbled to be a part of my children's lives, even in the tensest of shriek-laden moments. 
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Jim Dinosnore
Up until a few nights ago, no one was sleeping very well in our house except Buck and Monica. James had back-to-back colds, and being a mediocre sleeper in the best of times, he was up A LOT over the past couple of weeks, which means that Kevin and I were up A LOT over the past couple of weeks. Fortunately, this last bug is on its way out and we hope to have a reprieve for a little while. I took these pictures and look at them frequently to remind me that :
1. James is a precious little bundle!
2. Time moves quickly and James' babydom will be over before we know it.
3. Assuming #2 is true, Kevin and I will sleep again!
1. James is a precious little bundle!
2. Time moves quickly and James' babydom will be over before we know it.
3. Assuming #2 is true, Kevin and I will sleep again!
Monica calls this outfit "Jim's dinosnore clothes"
Friday, December 17, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Trick or Treat!
Here are some pics of the kiddos in their Halloween garb. Monica had a great time and is still saying "Trick or Treat!" just for the fun of it. I'm pretty sure they're the cutest lady bug and peapod ever.
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