Christmas

We had a wonderful and busy Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent going to Mass and hosting our first holiday dinner with my parents and brother, Kyle. We had lots of food and Christmas music :) My dad built an awesome table for the kids (I don't know how we survived without it) and my mom brought Christmas jammies for each of them. Christmas morning was a lot of fun too. The two big girls are old enough this year to understand presents and sort of to get the whole Santa thing. Zoey woke us up by bouncing excitedly and banging on our faces, "pres, pres, Santa, room" (presents, presents, Santa, living room- for those who don't speak Zoey). We went to brunch at Zac's family's and exchanged presents with all the kids. Then home again for a quiet evening at home. Of course the chicken wouldn't thaw so my dinner plan did not happen :( But Charlotte came up with an alternative, homemade mac n cheese. And we ate at the kids table :) On Saturday we had my parents and my sister's family down for sugar cookie baking and decorating. Then we all went up to my parent's house for soup and bread :) And we got to meet the latest addition to the family. Welcome baby Konnar!!! (Joe and Olivia's new baby) And then Sunday we had Mass and another brunch at Zac's family's house since his grandfather came up to visit. And Monday we had Tilly's family here for dinner. Wow! Lots of family and visiting but I wouldn't have it any other way :) It's why we live so close to everyone :)

Charlotte figuring out her sewing block

Zoey unwrapping

The table my dad built

I finally got all the stockings made :)

This is the best shot of the girls in their Christmas dresses...

Christmas Fun

Great giveaway...

http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/2009/12/time-for-another-giveaway.html

Snow Fun

Shoes for St. Nicholas

Building a snowman with Daddy

Quotes of the day...

Charlotte: "I have to cover it or it will leak out" while painting red over green on her Christmas ornament....

Zoey: "I like those cookies" when I lifted her show her the pumpkin pancakes that I was making for dinner....

They sure make for a fun day :) We are in full blown Christmas preparation around here. The tree and decorations are up. You can never have too many :) The girls decorated the first of their ornaments today. We definitely need more of those! When I pulled out the ornaments I realized just how many were breakable. And, well, with a 3.5 year old, an almost 2 year old, a crazy cat and the ginormous dog they are not getting put on the tree. So that means we get to make some :)

In an effort to keep Christmas less stressful for the momma I am only finishing Noelle's baby quilt and making stockings this year. No staying up til midnight Christmas eve finishing for me :) Maybe next year I'll make presents but only if they are all made and wrapped by Thanksgiving...

Pattern Giveaway!

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmade-dress-patterns-guest-giveaway.html

Wouldn't these be perfect for my girlies :)

A few happy thoughts...

They grow so fast...

I don't know how it happened but Miss Ellie is already 4 weeks old!!! We are doing really well, especially compared to this point in my post- Zoey recovery ;) She is eating and sleeping really well which of course make my life easier. And the big girls are slowly realizing that the Momma is no longer completely immobile. They are quick to take advantage of any distraction though and the most trouble happens when she is nursing :) But we are working on it...

I'm mostly back to normal so we started projects and baking again. I will post pics of their fall wreaths etc soon. I let them help make cookies the other day and snickerdoodles can be translated all sorts of ways by tiny mouths. Charlotte calls them snapperdoodles or snappernoodles and Zoey calls them new news which sounds like noodle or at least what she calls noodles. Its very funny to listen to them have conversations about them. Charlotte has discovered she is tall enough to reach most of the light switches in the house (because they can't all be a standard height because that would make sense :P ) and Zoey has figured out that she can move the stool in their room to get to the light switch in there so the lights seem to constantly be the opposite of what they are supposed to be. Charlotte loves her role of biggest sister and can be a big help (most of the time) and she loves to correct people... "you said the wrong word" is a constant especially with tired parents :)

The sewing machine is back out and being put to use :) :) :) I made a doll quilt for Zoey's doll because apparently crochet doll blankets aren't good enough if your big sister has a quilt too. And I'm happy to say that it is finished and already in use. The sewing list is growing but most things on it I already have the fabric for so there is a better chance it will get done ;) I hope...

I will get a picture of the quilt tomorrow and get that up and some updated pictures of the kids up too. Sorry the pics have been lacking, its not that we haven't taken any either....

Advent Tree Giveaway!

One of my new favorite blogs is Wee Folk Art. They have wonderful ideas for fun crafty things to do for the kids :) And they are hosting a giveaway for a Advent Tree kit so head on over and check it out. http://weefolkart.com/

Giveaway

Jackie over at Canton Village Quilt Works is hosting a wonderful giveaway with some goodies from Quilt Market! Go check it out and enter but if you win will you share with me???

http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/

1st Pictures

Noelle Elizabeth

Our baby is finally here :) She was born Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 9:30 am. She was 8 lbs 5.9 oz and 18.5 inches long when she greeted us with her dismay at being taken from her nice warm nap. She looks so much like her sisters. We are both home and doing well. She is a super quiet girl who loves to sleep (just like the momma). The big sisters are so very excited to have her home. From the time she wakes up in the morning Charlotte is asking to have a chance to hold her. Zoey loves pointing out her nose and toes. I am continually amazed at how much better I feel after this one, and how much quicker recovery seems. Don't worry I am still resting and taking it easy, I am not crazy gotta take advantage where I can ;) And of course there will be many pictures to come as I have not much else to do besides nurse her ;) since per doctors orders I have two weeks of no cleaning, cooking, laundry etc :)

lila tueller designs: I was just thinking...It's time for a giveaway!

Such lovely girlie fabric :) Please go leave a comment and then give the fabric to me ;)

lila tueller designs: I just thinking...It's time for a giveaway!

Countdown to baby!

We are in the final few weeks of getting ready for the baby. I am now officially full term at 37 weeks so she could try to come at anytime. The c-section is scheduled for October 6th, only 13 more days (but who's counting???). So we shall see if she cooperates... The big girls are getting very excited with preparations. We moved Zoey into the big girl room to make room for the pack n play and so far that seems to be working really well. The bags are packed and the car seat is ready :) So I guess I'm more ready than I feel... On one hand I can't wait to meet her and I'm ready to be done being pregnant for awhile but so not ready at all :)

Nesting/crafting has slowed down a lot this month. Zac dyed the slipcovers for the sofas for me...now they are light gray not white:) and no more striped pillows to look at. I will try and get some pics up. Other than that I've mostly been focusing on one project that is only half done and its a birthday present so I really can't share any details.

More news on baby and pumpkins and minivans and my sister turning "old" (she turns 30 on Friday) to come :)

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Awesome giveaway!

http://twiddletails.blogspot.com/2009/08/little-organizer-giveaway.html

Go here to leave a comment to win a great organizer. If you win can I have it?

Nesting part 2

Here are some of the other projects that I have done in the last two weeks. We are forever short on bibs, especially when we have company, so I made 8 more. I traced the ones that Zac's grandmother, Grammy, made for the girls and used some of the fat quarters that his other grandmother, Omah, gave me the last time we went to visit. Brings the total up to around 14, surely they can never all be in the wash right? Thankfully, Zac has been helping with the house stuff because its not in my nesting insticts at all :) The paintings are the hot air balloons that Tilly commissioned for Tony's room. Will paint for fabric ;) And the birds were Charlotte's idea. She saw them on the front of one of my quilting magazines and asked if we could make them. So we called Tilly to invite them to join us and for some supplies. Tilly and I spent all morning making six birds (one for each of the little girls and one for Tony) and Charlotte and Jenny got to help stuff them. Great fun! Of course there is more to come in the next few weeks, baby clothes are all washed and ready so what else do I have to do right ;)

Nesting part 1

Some people clean excessively, apparently I create more and more projects :) I've been working on some stuff to fix up the girls room. So far Charlotte is the only one to sleep there but we call it the girls room because that's where the toys are and Zoey will move in there eventually. I think everything that I want to do in there is done with the exception of Charlotte's big girl quilt. I almost have it completely tied and hope to finish the binding and get it on her bed by this weekend. I'll worry about Zoey's when we move her in. But I do have a lot of the fabric left so I can make them coordinate.

I think just about everything in there was made by a family member and I love all the colors together. I did the owl picture and Zoey's name. My sister gave us the letters and flowers all ready to go for Charlotte's name. Charlotte and I did the paper chain (yes, it goes all the way around the room). My dad built the doll bed and kitchen set. And Zac's grandfather, Opah, built the bed.

Giveaway!!!

http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/

One of my favorite fabric designers is celebrating her blogiversary with a wonderful giveaway. Check it out!

Grosgrain: Sweetie Pie Bakery Felt Cake GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Such cuteness!!!!

Grosgrain: Sweetie Pie Bakery Felt Cake GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Learning the art of pretend

Charlotte has been playing with Jenny and Zelie over the past few days. Jenny and Zelie play "Dora", ie Jenny is Dora and Zelie is Diego. So when they have Charlotte too apparently she is Swiper. Yesterday Jenny and Charlotte were playing dressup and decided that they were both Cinderella. I will post pictures because they were by far the funniest Cinderella's I have ever seen. Charlotte was just reading to her babies and Zoey and looked up at me and said "Mommy I'm Cinderella Swiper" like it was one name...

Lake pics

Family Pics

Some Summer Crafting