kirstencan

Garden Party

I got to go to an Art Garden Party with Thomas.  It was an end of the year activity for the kids in the integrated preschool program (delayed/autistic + non-delayed).

It was way fun - the gym walls were covered with these huge flowers, a notebook filled with photos/anecdotes of each kid + a framed painting they'd done in class.

Thomas' painting:  I swear the kid is my favorite artist.

They performed a couple of songs for the parents, and then everyone headed outside - where a ton of fun activities had been set up.  Along with bubble and rice tables, tunnels and giant balls, there was a ton of painting activities.  Had I known about the amount of paint in the vicinity I definitely would have put junkier clothes on him...

Painting with water (on the walls), on easels, with foot stamps, koosh balls, rubber band brushes, spray bottles, trucks, etc.  Of course it took all of 3 minutes for Thomas to be covered in paint...

He ran around lots and played with his friends under the giant parachute.  It was really great to see that he has friends - friends who were excited to see him and wanted to hang out with him.  It's harder for him with the neighborhood kids.

He got his face painted to look like a cat - and it was so very ticklish for him - pretty hilarious.  He had everyone around smiling - his smile is so infectious.

He had a great time, and when I was tucking him in that night he said:  "Thanks for going to my garden party with me."

I wouldn't miss it, kiddo!

(Oh, and BTW, the paint washed out!  Hoorah, that's a first!)

 

Framed

Our trip to IKEA this week was in part to pick up some frames.  Not that you need a reason to visit IKEA... but I had a stack of things I've been wanting to frame and hang.

Upstairs hallway - framed Swallowfield print.  I didn't hang this too high, so the kids can see it, too.

Also in the upstairs hallway (at least for now), my favorite new work from an up and coming new artist (Thomas).  It's called 'Dinosaur'.  I love the expressive brushwork.  It had to be framed.

In a small corner of our living room - I framed some of that folklore forest fabric I made a cushion out of.  This is a small frame, the opening is about 4" square.

Some of these Syko postcards are going to look great in the playroom.

I also picked up a poster frame for the cool poster Chelle gave me a while back - I can't wait to hang the rest of this stuff up! 

Now to find a hammer...

Oh, and by the way, my new bag is handling well - I'm sold on it.  And Princess hadn't seen it until we were getting out of the car at IKEA - she stopped short and said "Oh. My. Goodness.  That is the cutest bag I've ever seen!"

Aw, sweet girl!

Spring Bag

New bag for spring:  linen, gingham, and Japanese happy cloud canvas.

Except it's not quite done yet - I have to sew on a little linen loop and sew the covered button on...

I just haven't done it yet - For some reason I'm feeling awkward about it - too pink?

It's made like a regular tote - but the top folds over like a messenger bag.

Should I box the corners to make it a little more 3d?
What do you think?

I think I might take it on a test drive to IKEA today...

(Design inspired by this cute bag).

More Gocco Love

For my mom, for Mother's Day:

I made her some personalized flat cards.  It was fun to play with the pink ink on navy paper.

A week or two ago I was trying to make some Thank you cards  - and the screen didn't burn correctly - see the faded patches in the middle?

Frustrating - but I have a couple ideas as to what caused that, so it's all good.
And I reused my flower screen - they are worth cleaning after all! ;)

On being a Mom

I love being a mom.  I so do.

I think that society (and even sometimes, inadvertently, us bloggers who write about our daily ups and downs) give mothering a bad name.  I just want to throw this out:  Being a mom rocks.

There is nothing better.  I firmly believe there is no more important job in. the. world.  Nothing.  Nothing is more important that caring for and nurturing these amazing children.  Doing your best to ensure that they are safe and grow up to be good people.

Yes, there is snot.  And poop.  Waiting for too long at doctor's offices and trying to clean the house with your kids 'un-doing' your work right behind you. I remember getting together with a childhood friend after we were both married and Princess was a baby.  She said she was thinking of having a baby, but was concerned about stretch marks.  I was thinking 'If that's what you're worried about, you're not ready.'

Motherhood is about being selfless.  It is putting your children before yourself.  You give up a lot of your time and energy, but it's worth it.  Refocusing your priorities, especially while your children are young, is so important.

Dealing with bodily functions (and occasional whining), fumbling with strollers and chasing down kids at the park is all outweighed by the hugs and sloppy kisses, the handfuls of dandelions picked just for you.  The dance recitals, watching the wonder of them learning how to read, pretending to be pirates (even you), and rocking out to the Ramones (or the Star Wars soundtrack). The snuggling, sharing of your favorite books, and watching them develop amazing personalities all their own.

It's awesome.

And so I just want to put this out there, especially for anyone reading who doesn't have kids yet. And to my sisters, who see me sometimes stressed, exhausted, the house messy, and dealing with two newly potty-trained boys.

It's all worth it.

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there, and I urge you to share your feelings about motherhood with the girls around you, especially your daughters.

p.s.  In between attempts at writing this post I: fixed a Lego castle (broken by a brother), built a blanket fort, stopped one kid from getting into my makeup (too late!), and read a Curious George story to another kid, who was patiently waiting.  Just another morning in this family!

 

Finally Warm?

Please tell me we're done with snow.  Please.  It was about 80 yesterday - a beautiful warm day.  Today is looking great.

Finally warm enough for Princess to wear that skirt we thrifted a while back. Sweet!

This year she has a stack of 'bike shorts' to wear under her skirts - I should have done this last year but oh well.  We thrifted knit leggings and hemmed them at above-knee length.  Also work well as summer pj's.

There's been scraped knees a plenty around here - so when I saw fun bandaids on sale I stocked up.  Stupid fun bandaids really make getting 'owies' much easier to handle.  So if anyone knows where I can get Star Wars ones, I'd like to buy a case! ;)

I think I'll buy some Bactine, too, this year.

You can tell it's warmer when my laundry moves outside.  Ahhh.  Gotta love it.

I love hanging my laundry out.  It is so nice to have an excuse to take a quiet minute outside under the trees - lovely. And I fold the clothes as I take them off the line, so when they come inside they just need to be sorted and put away.

My only problem is our cottonwoods go through 'stages' where it's really inconvenient to hang dry.  Right now it's the sticky yellow pod-things that stick to everything and stain clothes and carpet.  Fun.

Also I tend to lose clothespins.  Where do they go?  I buy more every year.

Next:  pedicures (probably DIY), sandals + flip flops for the kids, a tall lock for the front door, since Thomas finally figured out the heavy door.  And yardwork.

Oh, and maybe a 'Slip'n'Slide'.

Summer Clothes

Sorry it's been rather boring here of late - we're just busy.  Life never seems to slow down, only pick up!

I've been thinking of summer clothes, even though yesterday it was SNOWY.  On May Day!

Anyway, this is a made-over skirt for Princess.  It used to be mine, but I don't wear it anymore.  I saved it, hoping to make a cute top for her (cut down + add straps) but she really wanted it to be a skirt.  So, a quick 2 minute makeover and she is very happy.  She's such a skirt girl.

She's wearing it over her dance clothes - hence the pink, but she has cute white and brown tshirts to wear with it, too.

(It really would have made a super-cute top, huh?)

Here are two 'enhanced' hand-me-down shirts for Monkey.  He was so excited to see the robot: "I have TWO robot shirts now?!"

And band shirts for the boys (freezer paper stenciled).  Thomas' is the drums.  He is such a wanna-be drummer.  Some of his favorite music right now (besides Arcade Fire) is Taiko drum music.  He LOVES it.  He loves to listen to it or watch youtube vids (here's one). I really wish the drummers would come to the library again.

Also on the summer clothes list:  turn Thomas' torn pants into shorts (actually, my mom does this for me, her machine has the best stitch for it), make cropped pants for the boys, and linen skirts for me!

Do you have any summer sewing projects on your list?