A Few Random Things

I just finished reading the book, Cold Sassy Tree.  Have you heard of it?  Well, can I just say that I loved it?!  It is right up there with my favorite books.  And if you like reading, you should check this one out.  Olive Ann Burns is a very good writer.  Oh, I love reading good writing!  My dishes don't like when I'm reading good writing (they don't get washed as often), and maybe my husband doesn't either because he has to fall asleep with my lamp on because I can't stop reading.  But I sure do love a good book.

In other news, I was informed last night that Ethan's Dinosaur painting was NOT finished.  He hadn't painted all the dinosaurs in the scene that he had planned for it yet.  How dare I hang it on the fridge prematurely (much less photo it and post it here!).  I shall have to post an updated picture of it when he's through painting it. 

I gave my mom five patty pan squash today from my garden.  We will smile at our squashless dinner tonight.

Where did August go?

August's Ten Things

Time for August's 

1.  Ethan started Kindergarten.  He is doing great and loves it!

 2.  We celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday - love you Dad!!

 3.  I was able to take engagement pictures of Todd's cousin - what fun!

 4.  It's been GardenFest 2011 around here.  Zucchini central - zucchini baked, fried, casseroled, breaded, zucchini bread, cake, cookies, cupcakes . . . and blanched for later!  Not to mention other garden nummies.

5.  We've spent our afternoons with the kids swimming in the back yard and me reading on a blanket in the shade! 

6.  I bought myself four new pairs of shoes . . .

7.  My neighbor painted my toenails cute!

Which inspired me to paint my fingernails - maple syrup is the color name

8.  And speaking of painting, I sure have enjoyed watching my kids paint this month:

Ethan's "Owl in the Night"

 Ethan's "Dinosaur Scene"

 Madeline's "Birthday Streamers"

9.  I sewed a Christmas Baby Doll in one morning

10.  Tonight I get to start going to my Sounds of the Seasons Choir!!!  One of my favorite experiences from last year - Christmas music, here I come!!

Four Months Until Christmas!

I woke up this morning with a list in my head of what I was going to do while Ethan was at school.  But then, realizing that today is exactly four months until Christmas, I got this wacky idea to make a Christmas doll instead!

 Madeline helped me pick out the fabrics and I went to work.  And before long, I finished!  I am so thrilled!  This little babe is going to join the other five I made last year and sit on my Christmas tree.  And really, that will only be in THREE months.

Is that freakin' out anyone else?!  :)

After the Fun

We had quite the weekend!  Lunch at IKEA with friends, playing in the play land, bounce house parties, ward picnics with slushie makers, soft serve ice cream, cotton candy, candy cannons, bottle launchers, face painting, swimming in the back yard, and more.  And well, when all the fun is over, there's only one thing left to do:

How was your weekend?

Ethan

Today's post is all about Ethan, and I'm linking up for this one: 
Let's start at the very beginning.  Ethan started Kindergarten!  And not just started, but LOVES it!  And he doesn't just go, he rides the bus.  And he doesn't just ride the bus, he walks to the bus stop with all the neighborhood kids.  They bound down the street laughing and racing and he never even looks back to wave.  Never mind that I stay staring out the window watching until he's out of sight.  When did he grow up?!

And when I pick him up, his face is all smiles and his shirt is covered in badges he's earned by passing off the reading levels.  He says he's never had his card pulled (that's what happens when kids are naughty) and yesterday at picture day, he said they told him he was awesome with his smile.  Picture day.  My kid had a school picture day.  Oh and get this!  He said, "And guess what Mom?!  I didn't even chew on my shirt, so it was perfect for the picture!"  Now there's a proud mommy moment!  ;)

Yes, I'm feeling happy and a little proud, you could say.  This is what I wanted for him.  To love school.  To feel happy.  And to be the good kid I know he can be.  Here's to it lasting!!!

More Baby Boy Shoes

This marks the seventh pair of baby boy shoes I've made.  I suppose I will stop counting once I actually get to make a girl pair.  If I do.  Not sure. My friends and sister and sister's-in-law all seem to like having boys! But even though I've made a lot of boy ones, this new look made it anything but dull to make another pair.  I think these are my favorite ones yet!

 I gave these to my childhood bff who is about to have her first baby!  So exciting!  It was such a joy to see and chat with her.  And will be all the more exciting to see her again when she's holding her little boy.  Sigh!  :)

Engagement Photos

Todd's cousin is getting married in October, and this past weekend I was able to join in on the fun of taking her and her fiance's engagement pictures.  It was the first real photo shoot I've done that didn't involve young children, and it was quite refreshing!  Here are my favorites from the shoot:

Cupcake Tasting

My sister loves treats (perhaps even more than me, if that is possible!) And so, one evening, she went to a local cupcake shop and bought a dozen of the most yummy looking flavors and we had a cupcake tasting!

 She cut each one into fourths and we sampled a bunch of the flavors.  Madeline like the strawberry best (though that may be because it was pink)

 Ethan liked vanilla, and my favorite was Raspberry Lemonade -so good!

 And my nephew, well, his face sums up how we all felt about the cupcake fun!

 And before the cupcakes had even settled, the kids decided to end the evening rolling down the hills.

Market Skirts

Raelynn and I spent some of our time together sewing these Market Skirts for our daughters:

 I really like how they turned out.  It was a fun pattern!  The pockets really make them cute.  And the girls really really make them cute:

I love how my sister always wants to sew with me even though she doesn't like sewing that much.  It's just fun to have a project to work on together.

Giant Bubbles

One of the fun things we did while my sister was in town, was chase giant bubbles!

 It's hard to convince the kids to just watch and see how big they get.  They just like to pop them!

 But they sure are cool when they get huge.  "It's alive!"

 That was a great summer night . . .

 and we ended it with sparklers.

Ethan's First Day of Kindergarten!

Last Wednesday, August 3rd, was Ethan's first day of Kindergarten!  I am still a little in disbelief that he is actually old enough to be in school. 

He was so excited.

 And looking grown up too!

 Here he is sporting his new backpack:

 I stitched his name on a patch and sewed that over the brand label.

 I'll admit, I started to tear up as he waved at me and walked into class.  I wasn't expecting to cry, but I guess knowing myself I shouldn't have been surprised.  It was just one of those moments in life that marks a new phase.

 And today, he was brave enough to try out the bus!  He rode it for the first time and really enjoyed it.  Now he can take the bus every day, provided that we are ready by 7:55.

And what will Ethan say if you ask him if he likes kindergarten?  He'll say, "I don't just like it; I love it!"

Let's hope it stays that way!

My Sister

Raelynn, I treasured every moment we had together.  I only wish those moments weren't just once a year.  You were here almost a month, but I wish it could have lasted oh so much longer.  xoxo I love you!  

Your plane just barely left, and I miss you already.

Sisters should not live across the entire country from each other.