Saturday

It's taken me awhile to recover from my AWESOME Saturday, so I couldn't write. First of all, remember I'm fully 8 1/2 months pregnant (and measuring a week early). Second, my husband was out of town for the day. Third, the forecast was 100 degrees.

The older girls had a dance performance outside on a hot stage, at noon. I got them up, dressed, curled hair, and red lipstick on. I called for Syd to get dressed and she was mysteriously quiet. So for Syd that means either she's wet her pants or she's stuck something up her nose. It was the second.


This is not the first time something (other than a finger) has been shoved up Syd's nose. She has put a piece of batting and a thick chenille string up her nose. (See the sewing tie-in?) I was able to get them out, however, a green foam butterfly sticker proved more of a challenge. A 45 minute unsuccessful challenge.

Well, we were barely on time for the dance performance. Luckily, the girls were 3rd and 7th in the lineup, so we dance and got out of there. Sher dancing second from left. Isn't she cute?

As she did for the trip to Arctic Circle (mom deserved a big hamburger!) and the grocery store afterwards. She even fell asleep in the car.

When we returned home, I carried in (remember, super pregnant) a hot, sweaty two year old. Then, dear Sloane, wanting to help, opened the back of the car to bring in groceries. Yeah, milk, a whole gallon.

I took the rest of the groceries in, put them away, backed the car out of the garage, and hosed the now hot, partially curdled milk out of my garage.

A little while later, we headed to Uncle Chris and Aunt Marilyn's for a little professional medical intervention (he's a family practice physician and she's a pediatrician who gave birth a week ago). Jonathan joined us there while pulling into town. The doctors didn't have the correct nose-object pulling tools, but I brought along my handy serger tweezers (for threading the serger). Uncle Chris, using carefully honed nose-prying skills, was able to remove the green foam butterfly sticker.

Serger tweezers, penny (for size comparison), folded butterly sticker, nose flashlight.

What a day!

Ribbon Magic

So, here's a tease of the nursery makeover extrodinaire! I am using brown/blue/pink to satisfy a newborn boy and a 7 year old girl (we only have 3 bedrooms).

This is the crib bedskirt.
The plain stripes didn't seem peppy enough (bottom of photo), so I added polka dot ribbon on top. Plus, I'm mostly using chocolate brown, so the regular brown didn't totally fit. Doesn't the top one look better?

I fuse the ribbon with a Wunder Under product (iron on), then I sew the edges.So, what do you do with the remaining few inches of cute ribbon? Make a headband!

I tapered the edges and sewed....

I added two strips of 1/4 inch elastic, crossing them because it looks cuter (and hopefully won't cause that weird hair bump thing you get when the fabric is too thick at the nape of your neck).Is is strange that I'm matching my crib skirt? Have I gone too far?

TIP: It's good to have your children occupied while you're sewing. Invite the neighborhood over for some pillow sliding.

But watch out when one of the girls brings over the Barbie make-up kit with the green eye shadow!
Note to Revlon ColorStay: You got nothing on Barbie!

Cravings
I can't get enough of these:

I got these for my birthday:They're honey roasted chipotle peanuts, yeah, perfect mix of sweet and spicy.

I have eaten a whole bag of these:

NOTE: I did find Syd snitching on these one day, so I know I didn't eat the whole 64 oz. Costco bag myself! I did make some cookies with them, but pretty much kept the zip-top open for my convenience! I think I'll stick to buying the 12 oz. packages instead.

Between feedings, I managed to make some doll furnishings for my sister-in-law. This is a doll bed mattress made with real ticking, stuffed with commercial batting, and tacked in 10 places so it won't shift.I also made a little quilt and pillow out of cotton and star minkee with pink rick rack edging. Then, not to waste fabric, I put together another simple blanket.
I think they're cute. I love quick, easy projects. You feel accomplished, but didn't have to put in too much work or worry about perfection (too much). This only took about 1 1/2 hours including cutting, pressing, and sewing time.

I like blogging, I like to read other's blogs. So, just to share a little with you, check out some of my family's and friends' blogs:

Oh, Judy (my older sister)
Light Refreshments Served-Lisa (my older sister too-she has 5 kids, she's an overachiever!)
The Jolly Porter (her husband)
Robert & Shauna Valentine Family (my folks)
Maroon 5 Blog (comprehensive citings/interviews/pics of the band, my brother is James)
Design Mom (their friend, who I once sewed some really bad drapes for-before I was the "Sewing Friend")
C Jane Run (my sister's sister-in-law, she's a wordsmith who just had her 1st baby)
The Despain Gang (my friend w/a cute baby)
Ignore the Crazy (my sister's-and mine-friend Bek, who has a lot of life to share!)


I have other friends who have blogs, but I hesitate to list them because of privacy concerns--but if you want a link to your blog, let me know and I'll add you to the list--cause I'm always checking yours out!

I'll have to list a favorite craft blogs someday--my list is very long and I should make dinner! Check in soon because I've been sewing up a storm for the room-shifting of the children to accommodate the new baby due the end of July!

Generosity on a deck:

Some of my friends threw me a surprise baby shower. I even walked by the balloons tied to a huge box of diapers, thinking it was for something else! I got set-up in two ways. The first is the shock of a baby shower. I hadn't wanted one because it's embarrassing to have a shower for your 4th baby, even if it is your first boy. The second is by all the great gifts I received. I got outfits (onesies, shorts, t-shirts, rompers, gowns), blankets, diapers, burp cloths, shoes, socks, baby wash and lotion. All of it boy-themed and darling.

I thought I was just going to the BBQ planned for the DNA Cycling Team (Jonathan and friends) at the Pogue's house. Apparently, my husband was in on it and had to delete a couple of errantly-sent emails. The BBQ in itself would have been enough. The food was fantastic, the weather ideal, and the kids fully occupied.

Heading down the waterslide. Jonathan getting some boy time. Sloane being tickle-attacked by her father. Sydney (in borrowed swimshirt and shorts) enjoying the bounce house, but got a little cold.It was a great evening. No one wanted to leave. We all stood in the street talking, avoiding collecting our children, and dodging neighbors backing out of their driveways.

So, it's my birthday tomorrow, May 13th. I'm 32 years old now and you really should call me or send a card or buy me some thread.

Me, 4 1/2 months old

Being born in 1976, I am a "bicentennial baby" which must be why I am so involved in politics. I was a Young Republican in high school and have handed out more pamphlets in small Nebraska towns than I care to recall. I've even been mistaken for a candidate while driving a car in a parade--it must have been the professional wave. I attended our local caucus meeting, but only for the cookies! I have only missed voting in one election since I was 18. Still, I'm probably not as knowledgeable as I should be. So, I've taken to listening to talk radio for a little help.

Are you aware of Operation Chaos? It's hugely entertaining. Basically, Rush Limbaugh told his listeners to cross over parties (from Rep. to Demo.) and vote for Hilary Clinton to keep her in the Democrat primary even though Barack Obama has pretty much cinched up the delegate count. It's reeking havoc because Hilary thinks she's getting all these votes and has a chance, and won't drop out. This is amusing because it shows the true nature of national-level politics--pure arrogant self-promotion. (I like to think that most local politicians run to make the community better.) Now, I'm all for self-promotion, I mean, I listen to Rush Limbaugh, but I also believe in knowing your limits.

So, back to me and my birthday. As I've become older, I've realized my limits. Here's what I've discovered:
1) I can't lie well. Don't ask me something you really don't want to know. Right, Lisa?
2) I need sleep. I don't respond well to babies crying in the middle of the night. Yeah, not good for a soon-to-be mother of 4!
3) I'm not a perfectionist. I don't mind if there are crumbs on the floor, stacks of paper on the computer desk, or seams that don't line up completely. I selectively see mess.
4) I'm not as good a friend as you. I don't remember birthdays, to return phone calls, or even all your kids' names and ages. I like to think I do, but most of the time I don't even try.
5) I'm a procrastinator. I should be sewing some pillows for a friend (sorry, Kelly!), sweeping my kitchen floor, or reading to my 4 year old, but instead I'm writing this and reading other blogs.

Wow, that really sounded like a downer. I am a realist/optimist--I can only get better from here--lemons=lemonade.
Please still be my friend, I'm a good person, and hey, you have to be nice to someone on her birthday!

More Girly Skirts

My good friend, Calli, asked me to make some reversible skirts (of her design) for her girls. Simple enough, I thought. Well, a few MONTHS later I completed them. I think I need to take a pattern-making class!

Here is Abby's:

I forgot to take photos of Emmy's, but it's like Sloane's below except different fabric on both sides and a big yellow tie.

Here is a prototype for Sheridan (not reversible):

Here is a prototype for Sloane:
They're cute, but it's too bad my girls don't want to wear them! They want to wear outfits of their own design:


"Fashion Girls"

"Construction Office Secretary"



"Superhero"
Genetics? Altitude? Cooped up in the house all winter?

Fit Issues!

Because I am pregnant and NOT fat, I don't have a lot of pants that fit. In my desperation I made some only-around-the-house lounge pants and matching top. My husband refused to take a picture of me wearing them. The shirt does admittedly look very home-sewn, but the pants are great.


I haven't experimented much with knits, so that's why I took on the project. Here are the patterns I used:

For the top:
For the pants:It really was "very easy."

I added a few inches to the roll waistband to accommodate my growing girth. I also added the band of color to extend the originally ankle-length pants because the thing I hate worse than pants that don't fit are pants that don't fit AND are too short!

The reason for needing lounging clothes:

Easter Dresses

Yes, Easter is long past, but I thought I'd share the dresses I made for the girls.


I used a linen and white seersucker for the big girls' dresses and a printed linen and eyelet for Syd. I then made ties for the big girls out of the printed linen and roses out of the eyelet. I have three girls-we have to coordinate.


I almost made a skirt for myself, but thought that may be going a little too far (although since I have the fabric...)

The patterns used are the following:


This one was sized perfectly for Syd and she loved the built-in apron.


This one was huge (but my girls are small). I used size 3 for Sheridan (who will be 5 soon) and size 4 for Sloane (who will be 7 soon). They loved how "swirly" it was and spun around all day.

NOTE: I circle the size cut out on the package (patterns contain several sizes). If I plan to make 2 dresses out of a pattern, I cut the bigger size first, then the smaller OR buy two patterns (you can get them on sale for $1 or $2 most of the time.)


The dresses got some grass stains later at Grandma's for an Easter egg hunt, but the fabric washed up nicely and no more stains!

I made these in about 2 days of on/off sewing. They were simple-try one!

I made a reversible skirt for Sloane. It's been in the works for literally months (in my head!) I've been working on a pattern for a friend who had the idea (thanks, Calli!), and this is what I came up with: The top and bottom are black and red gingham, respectively and the center has embroidered ladybugs. It's very full and very girly. Now, there are only a few minor adjustments and I'll make some for her girls!

Speaking of girly, here's the girls with their new haircuts. They all loved to sit and be pampered. I really should take them more often than twice a year!

This is her first "professional" haircut. Syd before:
We had to spring up those curls! I should take a picture of the back. Syd after:
Sher before:
So demure. Sher after:
Shot at Princesses on Ice-yes, we're very girly! Sloane before:
You didn't know that I had a twenty year old? Sloane after:
Patti (our stylist) with the girls.Sloane woke up early the next day, dressed before I was out of bed, because she was so excited about her new haircut.