Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone, from our family to yours.

I know, I know, enough with the Christmas dresses, but this is the last of them. A leopard Santa set and finally my favorite – lime green Sateen fabric with red/white polka dot trim and lots of appliqué ornaments hanging from ric rac. I found the adorable shoes and made the dress to match! I know, I’m obsessed. The ornaments took forever because they go all the way around the skirt, but they paid off in cuteness!

Gifts

Next year I will make more of an effort to give more handmade, or partially handmade, gifts. I've learned that you have to start really early - like before November! Here are two candle covers I made for Caleb and Dylan's teachers.


Next year I will make more of an effort to give more handmade, or partially handmade, gifts. I've learned that you have to start really early - like beofre Novemeber! Here are two candle covers I made for Caleb and Dylan's teachers.

Scottie Dog...

Lacey still has to wear two Christmas outfits I made her. It's been so hot I haven't been in the mood to put them on her! I think the weather will change by the weekend and I will post her other two Christmas outfits. In the meantime, I made this cute scottie dog set. She will wear this in the summer too, w/o the pants.

Thank you, Karlie!

My wonderful friend Rebecca's daughter, Karlie, is soooo sweet I could eat her! She gives Lacey everything she's outgrown. Lacey LOVES her "new" baby, stroller, and diaper bag. Thank you, Karlie! We love you!
Lacey kissing hre new baby:

Tree Trimming '07

As my photos prove, most of the "tree trimming" experience this year was keeping Lacey from "undecorating" the tree. Caleb and Dylan had to chase her down more than once for stealing ornaments. They didn't seem to mind though. Thankfully, they just think she's funny. Lacey tries to say "Christnas Tree," but she'd rather call it, Oh, bi fwower." Translation, "Ohh, big Flower!." hehe
The boys love pulling out all the ornaments they have handmade over the years. We have a definite "kid" tree - but it's beautiful to them and that's what matters. I love to hear them talking about their handmade ornaments. Each has a very special memory attached. Can't beat that!

Another Christmas dress...

I just had to do a corduroy dress when I found this soft, red at the fabric store. The trees are appliques with a cool green cord that has sparkles! All the "ornaments" and the stars on the trees are buttons. I don't care to sew any more buttons for a very long time! I have two more Christmas outfits to go and then I'm done for a Christmas!

Yellow Belts!

I'm so excited for and proud of Caleb and Dylan. They moved up from white belt to yellow last night at their graduation ceremony. Their "forms" looked great and they even broke a few boards for the audience. They learned so much in just eight weeks. Here are a few pics:

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Anyone who knows my dad knows that he loves "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." We always get togther to watch the show as a family. This being the tradition, Lacey had to have a special outfit just for grandpa! It's a pinafore dress with a crossover back, I altered a pair of jeans with an applique and ruffles at the hem.

Breathtaking...

Little girls are such much fun to dress up - ribbons, bows, ruffles, but sometimes I just look at my boys; their plain, simple, rough and tumble selves and they take my breath away. I can't believe how mature and handsome they look in this photo. They are growing up so fast.

Lil Turkey A-line

We are about to head off to grandma's for Thanksgiving lunch. Just had to sahre Lacey's turkey dress! I just love this brown corduroy! Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Splendor

This is a little fall set I made for Lacey. A dress, coordinating appliqued pants and matching applique sash. The colors in this fabric are gorgeous!

Mountain Getaway

Travis and I decided to head up to Asheville and The Biltmore Estate while the boys were away for the weekend. The weather was nice and the scenery was gorgeous. Lacey's favorite thing to do was splash in all the fountains on the Biltmore grounds. The child loves water! It was nice to have a weekend away!

Costume Parade!

I spent the better part of a month, of and on, making all these costumes - all for one night of fun. Cody decided, after spying a wig at Hallowen Express, to be Elvis. Well, Elvis wouldn't be Elvis without his bejeweled polyester cape. I spelled out "Elvis" in sequins! Caleb and Dylan wanted to be pirates. ARGH! I made their vests, pants, and red sashes for their waists. These were fun to make. Lacey was Little Bo Peep. Complete with pink gingham dress, white underdress, pants, and LOTS of white eyelet trim. She had to have her little shepherd's crook too. None of my photos are really good. Nobody was in te mood for a photo shoot!! More to come on all our Halloween festivities...

State Fair

We went to the fair on October 12th - I'm just WAY far behind posting any photos! I think the boys had a good time. They rode everything in sight and we all ate yummy, greasy junk food. That's what the fair is all about I guess!

Battitude

Just a little bat dress for the Halloween season. It looks much btter wth the black underdress, but it was 80 degrees outside!!

Breaking News....

I interrupt this long Blog silence with some breaking news. Lacey, my 15 month old BABY pooped in the potty last night!! Yes, you know you are a mom when poop is exciting - especially poop that can be easily flushed away. We were getting ready for a bath when I saw that LOOK on her face - all moms know what look I'm talking about. So, I put her on the toilet and BINGO. Okay, enough about NUMBER 2. hehe
My computer is finally bug/virus/spyware free so I have a lot of blogging to catch up on - an a lot of blogs I need to read! Sorry - no photos for this post!

Wax On, Wax Off....

Caleb and Dylan are LOVING karate. I can't believe how much they have already learned in just a few classes. We are certainly going to stick with it! I love that the instructor (a 6th degree black belt) also streeses the importance of respect, self-confidence and discipline. It's a great program. And yes, even the instructor likes the Karate Kid movie!

This Girl Can Twirl!

My latest Lacey creation. This outfit is actually three pieces; the full twirl skirt, the black underdress, and the sash. I made an underdress vs. an undershirt because shirts never stay tucked into skirts on busy toddlers! This skirt was a first for me so it has lots of flaws. It weighs a ton because of all that fabric! It was fun to try something new though. I also had to include a photo of Lacey's pig tails. They are so cute but she loves to yank them out so they never last long! Updates on my boys soon to come as well.....

A gift for Karlie:

My friend Rebecca's daughter turns seven on Tuesday. She is such a girly, girl. I wanted to make her something cute. So, I made the Raggedy Ann shirt. It's a white tee with an embroidered face and I sewed the ribbon hair on. Then, the tee needed a pair of coordinating jeans. Thus, the ruffles were added. This was a JOB. I love the way it turned out though. Then, to give her a few more options to wear with the gingham ruffled jeans, I got another white tee and sewed four buttons on. I made "patches" that she can change out just by unbuttoning them. A "K" patch for Karlie, a candy cane for Christmas, a heart for Valentine's Day, and cherries for any time. I stumbled across the cute matching cherry necklace and ring so I HAD to include those too! I still have to sew a belt/sash for the jeans. That's on the to-do list for tomorrow!I hope she likes her gift!!

Another new dress...

One more summer dress before fall! Actually I'll be making pants and a long sleeved shirt for this dress, so it's more for the transition between seasons. This is a stripwork jumper - four coordinating fabrics. I added the little apron and embroidered the sweet little, vintage girl. Lacey is also wearing a coordinating bracelet I made with her name on it. Can you tell I'm having fun? This was a particularly fun project because I got to use my new serger!! What a difference it made!

Something's missing...

It's Dylan's tooth! Finally at age SIX he lost his first tooth. He lost it at school. He and grandma searched his cafeteria tray but it was gone. hehe The tooth fairy still came though!

First Day of School! Aug. 20, 2007

Dylan started first grade this year, Caleb is in the third and Cody is in the Sixth. No tears, no pouting - I guess I have all big boys now! They were ready!

My Apple Dumpling

Lacey's newest dress, complete with lots of TWIRL! The little apron is detachable. I still need to make her some ruffle plants, a shirt to wear under for the fall, and the baby doll MUST have a matching outfit! I did most of this without a pattern - just made it up as I went. My model was a little reluctant today!

Vacation Favorites

Favorite way to spend the day: boogie boarding in the ocean, and Lacey LOVED getting splashed (in the face, no less!), the boys also loved the pool and the water park that was part of our resort.
Favorite restaurants: Hard Rock Café & Thorny’s
Favorite lodging: It was so great to have a house! Two bedrooms, three baths, big kitchen, living room and I never had to make my own bed!
Favorite vacation news: Caleb and Dylan learned how to swim! Lacey was hard to take photos of because she kept running to the water – she’s gonna be a fish next year!

Oh What Do You DO In the Summer Time...

We've had a great summer break so far. Tomorrow we head out to the beach for one last hoorah before school starts. I'm looking forward to some rest and relaxation - oh and some shopping.


Caleb earned his Bobcat Badge.



Lots of swimming with friends.


Hanging out in the shade!