In Anticipation...

We noticed 2 wigglie teeth the last week of school (and 2 adult teeth already coming up BEHIND the wigglie ones)... every night and every morning we have been wiggling those teeth... but as of today... no luck... I realized pretty quickly that we could be caught "unprepared" for such a monumentous occasion... so today I made Lilley-Kate a little something...



Her TOOTH PILLOW... so... when those wigglie teeth FINALLY decide to come out... she'll have something to put them in for the Tooth Fairy!!!

It's just made of felt... and blanket stitched together... the back is a bit "wonkie"... but Lilley-Kate was THRILLED...

Now... just to get those teeth to come out!

Suggestions Welcome...

Time for a new camera!!!

I currently have a SONY CYBER-SHOT 3.2 mega pixel (purchased in 2002)... I like it well enough... except for the delay in shots... and sometimes the screen will go "blank/black" in between shots too...

I have been lightly researching Canon Powershots...

Think $200-$300 price range

Any suggestions???

Easing Into It...

Well... we are into Summer "vacation" now... it always takes us a couple of weeks to "ease" into our Summer "routine"... nothing fancy... getting my Summer "To-Do" list made... setting up playdates and activities for Lilley-Kate... I like a bit of "transition time"... to casually enjoy the mornings, afternoons, and evenings at a slower pace...
Yesterday was one of those "slower paced days"... Lilley-Kate and I enjoyed some time outside doing a bit of gardening (ok... I gardened while she ran around chasing the first butterflies of the season)... then we played hopscotch... Yesterday evening we played PLAY-DOH and danced the Macarena (I had to look it up on YouTube as I never learned it the first time around... sad I know)

With Michael's new job he is home quite a bit earlier than before... so little projects are getting done... and he seems to like HIS "slower pace" of a 40 hour workweek... Nick seems to be struggling a bit with his Summer job... I keep reminding him that he only has to work until mid-August and that any situation is what we make it... but he's almost 20... enough said...

I have quite a Summer "To-Do" list... and once our "Ease Week" has ended... it's full speed ahead!

Some New "Duds"...

I'm planning on sewing up some more skirts for myself... these arrived yesterday in the mail...

Alexander Henry "Veronique", Amy Butler "Lotus" and Micheal Miller "Groovy"... I'll use the vintage Simplicity pattern I used before... and then another skirt pattern I found here .

Crowded Out...

So... a couple of weeks ago we realized we had "occupants" in a nest under the front eave right outside Lilley-Kate's bedroom window... I had Michael literally hang out the window and snap a picture...


Then yesterday we noticed little heads poking up above the edge of the nest... so once again I had Michael hang out the window and snap a picture this morning (much to the disliking of the "Mother Robin" sqwuaking" from our neighbors roof)...



Well... we get ready to head out for a little shopping and I about have a heart attack when I step off the back porch!!! The BABY ROBINS have "flown the coop" (or do only chickens do that?... anyway)... we could only find one of the babies... which seemed quite comfortable on my car and obvious had no plans to move along...

The "Mommy Robin" sat watching from our neighbors roof... seemingly torn between concern and unconcern... finally she let out a couple of "sqwuaks" and flew away... she had given her little ones love, food, and shelter...

Now it was time for them to use their wings...

Lilley-Kate was quite perplexed as to WHY the "Mommy Robin" would just fly off and leave her babies... Michael explained that that is what some animals do... later in the car she said she wouldn't want to be a bird... I asked why... and she said "Because I wouldn't want you to just leave me like that Mommy bird left HER baby"... OH... my favorite girl... THAT would never happen...

She Did It!!!

Before bathtime tonight Michael... (who has the patience of JOB)... worked with Lilley-Kate on learning to TIE... using a "tip" from another Mom... we gave her one of Michael's shoes (since the laces on Men's sneakers are EXTREMELY LONG) and SHE DID IT!!!

An Invasion...

We are being INVADED by SQUIRRELS... I THINK that the squirrels born this past Spring are now being "kicked out" of the nests... they are EVERYWHERE all of a sudden... this morning when I took the dog out I counted 13 just in our yard alone... running around like BANCHEES and acting all crazy... I am ASSUMING they are young (they are small and kinda skinny... growling and "chirping" at each other)... as they are bold enough to get "too close for my comfort" to the house and ME... UUUUUggghhhh... BATS, BIRDS (especially the big black CROWS), and SQUIRRELS... Next time I/we go out I'm takin' the broom as my "weapon"...

Stunned into Leaving...

So... this past weekend we attended my nephews HS Graduation Party... to be quite honest it was NOT something that either Michael and/or I was looking forward too... we hadn't seen or spoken Michael's family since Christmas '07 (although I DO keep in touch with my sister-in-law)... but it WAS for my Nephew and we figured there would be plenty of people there so "dancing around the BIG PINK ELEPHANT" wouldn't be that hard... everything was going FAIRLY smoothly... Michael and I were standing together when his FATHER walked up to us and said:

"I'm glad to see that Lilley has slimmed down"

WTH does THAT mean?????

We were outta there within 15 minutes...

SHOW NIGHT!!!

Tonight was the BIG NIGHT!!! What a FUN time all the girls had... and they did FABULOUS!!! Mrs. Hardt and I had fun chaperoning the group... we've never seen so many press on jewels and spray glitter in our lives!!!

Working Out The "KINKS"...

Last Night was dress rehearsal... one final chance to work out the "kinks" in the show... and each number... the girls did GREAT... and what seemed like disjointed confusion at earlier stage lessons came together smoothly for the 3 1/2 minutes they are on the stage... The Recital is TONIGHT!!!

I'm On A QUEST...

OK... it shouldn't be THAT hard... and I'm NOT being my usual "picky" self...

BROWN SANDALS... SIMPLE BROWN SANDALS

It can't be THAT difficult right???

FABULOUS... Like Kitchen Curtains

So I made another FABULOUSLY EASY skirt from the vintage SIMPLICITY pattern... omitted the center front seam (made the front one whole piece) and made matching bias trim for the waistband... I chose the fabric because my favorite flowers are daisies... although Lilley-Kate LOVED the skirt (my little flower lover)... Michael thought the skirt looked like kitchen curtains...

Weekend Wrap-Up...

Another weekend comes to an end... and the start of a VERY BUSY week ahead...

Friday we had Lilley-Kate's Kindergarten Carnival (see post below)... we got home after school EXHAUSTED... showered and spent the rest of the evening just relaxing...

Saturday dawned SUNNY and HOT (my two FAVORITE WORDS)... by 9am the thermometer was already reading 87*... so we knew it was gong to be a record breaking day in our area... Lilley-Kate had recital practice TWICE on Saturday... after Finale practice at noon Kylee (Lilley Kate's BFF) and my friend Mrs. Hardt picked up a pizza nad headed back to our house for lunch and relaxation between practices... we had "stage lessons" at 4:30... funny how practices seem so "disjointed" but then on "show day" everything comes together perfectly... all the girls did GREAT and are so excited about the show on Friday... Nick left for an overnight to see some old friends Saturday morning (with strict instructions to LOVE the car as it is approaching 250, 000 miles!)... We did have 2 blink and you miss them storms that came through during the day... Saturday night we ate lightly... and went to bed early...

Today I had my weekly morning chat with my sister... finished another FABULOUS and FABULOUSLY EASY wrap skirt... made our usual trip to Wallies... enjoyed some outside time and Lilley-Kate played in her pool... I caught some "rays"... and Michael tooled around the yard... Nick arrived back home safely from his trip... I made Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner (per Lilley-Kate's request)... tonight is IceRoad Truckers Season Premiere and Next FoodNetwork Star...

BUSY BUSY week ahead...school ends... daily recital practices... and prep for graduation parties this weekend and of course Fathers Day!

Hope Everyone had a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!! :o)

My first Asiatic Lily bloomed in my garden on Friday... the salvia is thriving... and the coneflowers are budding... we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the butterflies!

Carnival Fun...

Lilley-Kate had her "Kindergarten Carnival" yesterday to celebrate the end of the school year... all the kids had a fun time... bouncing in the bouncers and going to each activity station... there was face painting... balloon "sculptures"... a mini train ride... and lots of fun! I volunteered at the carnival and Michael volunteered as a class chaperone (I'll have to rethink the whole giving the camera to Michael and saying "get some good shots of the kids"... every time I saw him I would say... "Are you getting pictures?"... and he would reply "Yep... lots"... well... we ended up with 5 TOTAL)... It was REALLY HOT yesterday... but LOTS of FUN!

FABULOUS and FABULOUSLY EASY!!!...

I LOVE skirts... LOVE LOVE LOVE them... and when I find one I like... I stick with it...

Being a bit on the short side... and carrying a bit more than I would like "on the bottom"... I always look for "classic" styles and "cuts" that not only "work"... but look nice... and I have found just that in a vintage SIMPLICITY "JIFFY" pattern (#4763)... 4 total pattern pieces (plus optional pockets)... A-Line cut with a bit of "swing"... Wrap-around style for ease of "fit"... took me MAYBE 45 minutes to cut and sew (I did take a shortcut and used bias trim for the waistband and ties)... I used a FABULOUS Alexander Henry fabric "VERONIQUE" that has a nice feel and drape (I'd say it is a mid to lightweight cotton)... I will DEFINITELY be making more of these!!!

One of my FAVORITE actresses was asked in an interview once why she wore skirts so much... her answer... 'with a big bum and thick legs I just feel more comfortable and presentable in skirts'... it made me love her even more!

Choices Choices...

So I took Lilley-Kate to have her recital pictures taken... I didn't want to use the "Dance Studio photographer" so we went to our local "photography studio" and had them done... she did WONDERFUL and had a fun time getting her picture taken... out of 54 proofs... I have narrowed it down to 8 (that I will purchase) and 2/3 that I will get "packaged"... it was a fun afternoon and Lilley-Kate is really looking forward to Recital Day!

CAUGHT!!!...

We knew we had "nibblers" in our flower beds... the plants chewed down to the mulch were the evidence... but we had never caught one of the offenders... until this morning...

Race to the FINISH...

Well... we're in the "home stretch" of the school year... another full week... and Lilley-Kate's Kindergarten year will end... recital practices start in earnest this week... and will continue daily until "show day"... I want to enjoy these last few "hurrah" days... keep the schedule straight... and be where we are suppose to be... when we are suppose to be there...

WHEW... it seems like I am running the "End of the Year" race at breakneck speed this year... it'll be nice to enjoy a quiet Summer and just refuel...

An EXCITING Visitor...

After standing at the kitchen window with camera at the ready... I was able to snap a couple of pictures of a very exciting visitor to our window feeder... it was fun to watch the male cardinal knock the seed to the ground... only the male cardinal came up to the feeder as the female stayed on the ground and ate the seed... we have really enjoyed watching all our visitors to the feeder... probably one of the best purchases we have made (and the least expensive)!!!