Amateur craftiness...

So, anyone who has witnessed me undertake a sewing project (and there aren't many of you) knows that either it never gets done, I screw it up royally, or it comes out somewhat resembling the original finished project. I always complain to myself that I'm not really good at any one thing...many one things, actually, especially anything that involves fabric and needles. Well, the only way to improve is to practice. I found the cutest pattern for a tote/purse and since I need a bigger purse to carry all the accessories that come with having two young children, I thought this would be a great project. And this is what I created- all for under $5! I'm kind of proud of myself and had to toot my horn a little. But I'm glad there were no witnesses this time because true to form, I did screw up royally (many times) but it all actually worked out in the end!

Diaper/wipes case to match

This post was more for my mom to see, who has been the one to see my fury and frustration with sewing most often. Toot, toot!

"My Husband Rocks" Friday...

My 3 kiddos

So I got this idea from a cute blog that gives tons of great cheap, romantic ideas to keep the love alive. I'm probably not going to be as consistent with it as I should, but I thought it would be fun to occasionally put into print my appreciation for my awesome husband. One of the most recent things that I've grown to look forward to is his time with the kids in the evening after coming home from school. Of course, I'm always happy to see him for myself, but it's so nice to see him have fun with the girls. Though we don't have a house bursting at the seams with rambunctious mini-male energy, Christopher and the girls love to roughhouse and wrestle. There's tons of fun to be had on both sides. I love the time I get to cook dinner without tiny hands practically pulling down my pants while trying to unsteadily maintain balance in the kitchen while another pair of hands takes advantage of my immobility and gets into everything she shouldn't. But more than that, I get yet another glimpse of Christopher doing the "dad" thing so well, even after coming home from another mentally and physically challenging day. I love you, hon...you rock!

Should I be worried?

An unarmed Cinderella; hairless, faceless, wardrobeless Belle; a beheaded stepsister- some of Kira's favorite toys (it's a little disturbing).

How much wood...

For the past (almost) two years since we've lived here in Missouri, I've seen a couple of strange things. But one of the weirdest was the sighting of this huge, beaver-looking rodent I would see escaping off the side of the road or down into a curb drain when I'd be out driving every once in a while. The first time I saw one, I was convinced it was a beaver, but the only thing I got a really good look at was its backside and it had a tail kind of like a cat. Then another time I saw one, at first I thought it was an obese cat, but it was too big for even that explanation. So here I am thinking there are mutant beavers running around Kirksville- kind of freaky. I'd told Christopher about it and while he wasn't sure what it was from my description, he totally nixed my theory. On Saturday, he and I were looking at something on the computer, which is right by the back sliding glass door, and I look up to see this staring at me!

It was standing- yes, standing- at our patio step looking straight at me just 4 feet away! A little background information: I don't do well with huge rodents, not that I've come across many in my life. Ever since watching "The Princess Bride" as a kid and being completely freaked out by the R.O.U.S.'s, chills just course up and down me when I see things like this! Especially right in front of me! Before I could start freaking out, I got Christopher's attention, telling him it was that thing I keep seeing everywhere! We tried scaring it away by tapping on the glass but it just stood there looking. I just wanted it to go away, so I cracked open the door to startle it, but instead of running, it disappeared under the step it was standing on. GREAT! I'm freaking out thinking that it's been living there under the step I sit on when we go play outside, just a few feet away from where Kira sits and colors with chalk. It doesn't help that after googling to figure out what the hey this thing is- a woodchuck/groundhog- I remember hearing about people who've had woodchucks burrow under their house and decide to have their babies right there! Animal control apparently does not work on the weekend and all I can envision is this thing digging through to the basement, where I unknowingly come face to face with it while doing laundry!! AAAHHHH! Anyway, in the end, I don't think it made our place its permanent place of residence but we still need to block off the opening some time. I've been to the Wildlife Conservatory here and they have a whole little display about groundhogs. I really should have put two and two together but I grew up in Houston where the biggest rodents around are tree roaches. And this was no tree roach! I'm sure I sound like such an idiot writing about how scary cute, little (it was NOT little) groundhogs are- I'm mean, how bad can they be, we have holiday named just for them, right? But, really, wouldn't this be a little unsettling if it happened to you? Just a little?

The little twinkie...

"Who, us? No, we're not related at all!"

As I'm sure happens with all subsequent children, I've been feeling like Alexis has not been in the limelight nearly as often as Kira ever was at this age. It's bad enough that she seems to be growing behind my back and I wonder where all the time has gone. My baby will be a year old in less than two months! I remember there were days where I couldn't wait for Kira to crawl and walk and talk and it seemed to take forever! Time with this baby has just flown. Alexis has mastered the crawl for sure, and while she has yet to walk, she's always hanging onto something unstable and cruisin' from one end to the other. Her vocabulary is obviously limited but the other day it really struck me how much she understands. When I ask her where her binkie is or to go get a toy/bottle, she know exactly what to do. And even her "talking" is getting better. She says "mama", "dada", "sissy" (which comes out sounding more like a snake with a lisp than anything, but we get the message), "bee" (binkie), and "baa" (bottle). She kind of whispers other words that we're trying to teach her but she's doing it! And if she can't get her message across fast enough there's always high-pitched communication in the way of shrieking and squealing that always gets prompt results. She's a pretty good eater, drinks from a cup, eats table food, and likes some of the food that I could NEVER get Kira to eat. She's already weaned herself (unfortunately for me) and loves the freedom that allows.

Spaghetti vogue

She's a girl on the move, let me tell ya! Alexis has developed a great love of books. In fact, she can now "read" one without ripping it to pieces...progress! She can always be tempted with a good book- my kind of girl. And she adores her sister! Of course, there are moments when she needs some personal space but lately she and Kira have developed their own little game of tickling. When I get Alexis dressed or changed I occasionally tickle her tummy with my nose or blow raspberries on her belly. Well, Kira has taken on the role of 2nd mommy very well and likes to drill her head into Alexis's abdomen. Luckily, Alexis thinks this hilarious and now takes advantage of her turn when Kira is laying on the floor or in bed. Alexis crawls right on up, puts (bonks) her head on Kira's head or shoulder and shakes it back and forth. It's fun to see the two of them become buddies. And nothing is sweeter than this baby's laugh.When it comes to sleeping habits, Alexis takes the cake. Two naps during the day, bedtime at 6:30-7 pm, uninterrupted sleep until 7 am, all while sharing a room with an occasionally nocturnal sister. And she doesn't like to be rocked to sleep- just put her in her own bed and she'll do the rest! I so love this wide-eyed angel that has brought so much happiness and reminded us how wonderful it is to have a baby in the house again, this time without as many surprises.

Easter...

Our egg-dying station

The results

Kira's favorite (what an artist)

Easter Eve egg-hunting (at home)

...at school (the field in the background is covered in eggs)

Easter Sunday

Hair accessories are a special treat at our house

The reason for the season

Happy Easter!

Caught...

Ok, well, she wasn't exactly caught since she came downstairs to show me, but she knew she was in trouble as soon as she saw the look on my face. Kira is complimented on her long, thick eyelashes often and is told that she'll never need mascara. Though I know she'll never need it, I'm sure she'll feel one day that she can't live without it. I just didn't plan on it being at age 3. She actually did a pretty good job when she snuck into the bathroom and pulled out my make-up bag. She's done it in the past (in fact, I think I've posted about it before) but she was never able to get into the mascara because of the screw-cap. Well, not only can she open it now, but she can actually apply it pretty well. Some made it onto her lashes and only a minimal amount smeared across the bridge of her nose. She did swipe some shiny lip gloss on her arms and face but it really wasn't that bad. But I was pretty steamed at first; I was NOT anxious to clean up the inevitable mess I knew I'd find in the bathroom. But she'd actually tried to clean up after herself before coming downstairs to show me. I showed her in the mirror what she looked like and told her we were going to wash it off- no playing with mommy's make-up! Once she saw what she looked like and took in my very unhappy demeanor, this was the look she gave me. Even when I ran down to get the camera and tried to stifle the laughter (many of the photos came out fuzzy because I couldn't hold the camera still), she looked like she was waiting for me to explode and unleash total fury upon her...which only made me laugh harder. A video of her expression would have been better, but these will have to do.

Oh, Kira...

P.S. Gee- she LOVES those headbands!!