backyardigans

5/9
soccer time...

playset time...

trampoline time...

springtime. ♥♥♥

dr who?

our old tunnel got destroyed a couple of years ago, but a friend recently handed another one down to us.  the boys love it...

5/8

but this perspective totally gives me an old school doctor who moment:

thinking inside the box

the boys have been watching a lot of Pinky Dinky Doo recently, which involves a girl making up stories in her "story box".  so when i saw the huge box for a new biological safety cabinet at work, i *had* to claim it for them... which amused some of my coworkers since our commuter car is a prius.  however, i managed to get it broken down and into the car yesterday, thankyouverymuch, and the husband brought it in for them this morning.

there really is no greater toy than a big cardboard box.  forget Toys R Us~ i think this year our holiday shopping will be at the dumpster behind Appliance Solutions!

"i made this!"

until last night, i'd only used a machine to sew one thing in my life, and it was a pair of shorts for the husband right after we got married...  in 1998.  and i didn't realize that i was supposed to fold the hem, so they were all frayed at the legs.  he loved them, though, and wore them until they fell apart.  such a supportive man.
<3 <3 <3

anyway, last night i attended a Singer "Sew Very Easy" house party at my friend Tara's house.  the house party was to demo Singer's Confidence Stylist machine, which Tara says is a decent mid-range model.  i should probably point out that Tara is a sewing guru.  i've joked that she has been my personal seamstress for a few years now, having done a number of projects for me.  one of the main projects has been upcycling wool sweaters i'd bought at Goodwill into cloth diaper coverings (mostly longies) for the younger son and baby girl.

Tara still had a couple of the sweaters that she had yet to work with, so after we made our own goodie bags out of old t-shirts, she encouraged me to make a wool soaker instead of the "assigned" party project.  she printed off a pattern and instructions, and cut the pieces, then i pinned and did the sewing.

i have to say, i am so very proud of myself~  check it:

finished product

modeled by baby girl~ it FITS!

i still need to lanolize it before putting it into the cover rotation, but i am really happy with how well it turned out.  every time i look at it, i think:

now i'm inspired to actually pull out the hand-me-down machine from MIL and try whipping up a few more soakers (maybe trying this pattern), then eventually some skirts and dresses (with matching capris?), and maybe even a pair or two of shorts for the husband. 

baby deathbutt action girl

armed with her semi-automatic water pistol and knobby ball of justice, she is a force to be reckoned with...

"i'm cuttin' teeth and kickin' ass!"

backup and guidance provided by the mothership, through a state of the art communication bracelet system that was newly installed, just in time for mother's day:

"your mission, should you choose to accept it: go to sleep!!!"

baby deathbutt action girl^TM costume from Wild Child Woolies

mothership communication bracelet from sugartreecreek

boys and balls

Amy, the husband and i took our kids bowling today to take advantage of a free game coupon i had gotten in the mail. it was lots of fun, even with the elder boys taking an extended break in the middle of our game.  i think we may actually take advantage of the free summer bowling program this year!

jump!

hey you!

who said that?

baby, how you feel?

you say you don't know

you won't know

until you begin...

i just love her expression in that second photo.  although she's not really jumping there, but twirling around.  

and check out those awesome chunky thighs.  mama's milk rules.

oh, and the shirt she's wearing is one that has graced all three of my kids~ on it is a picture of darth vader, with the caption "sith happens".  love it.  

jump lyrics by van halen

music man

the eldest, singing while playing super mario brothers for DS:

if you want the full effect:

(our video camera bit it last year and we have yet to replace, so we're stuck with crappy phone video until we finally get around to grabbing a flip camera...  or getting one as a gift.  hint hint, family.)

anticipation

our boys are anxiously awaiting the opening of our pool at the end of this month.  apparently, so is baby girl...

5/1

thoughtful

4/28

i've been on a little hiatus this last week, and may be a bit sporadic while i take some time to ponder what's behind my mind funk.  

that's why this is the 365-ISH project.