Sewing Project

My first hurdle in becoming more "homemade" was a birthday party invite for our neighbor's little girl.  Rory and the little girl play together quite a bit and we have become great friends with this family.  We both are "not from the area" so we end up doing things together.  I racked my brain on what to get a 2 year old little girl for a birthday present but was coming up with very little.  Her family is moving at the end of the year so I didn't want to buy a bulky toy that would not move well and clothes didn't seem like a good option since the climate here does not match where they are going.  I wanted to get something special that would mean more than a toy or outfit.

Then it hit me!  Her mom and I took a sewing class earlier this year and we made aprons.  It fits in perfect with my "homemade lifestyle" journey.  So, if her Mom has an apron then she needs one to match!!  Perfect, right?!? 

I made my own pattern out of tissue paper and purchased fabric to match her Moms.  What do you think?

Rory was a willing model so here is what it looks like on...

I asked Rory if he would like one and he said "yes" but promptly said "airplanes on it."  Lemons just don't fit his style!



An American Family...

I think my fascination of the 40s-50's started when the American Girl books came out...my favorite character was Molly.  Do you remember those?  She grew up during WWII and her Dad was a doctor in the miliarty and her Mom worked rolling gauze and filling medical kits.  Women made most of what their family had and if they couldn't make it or didn't already have it they did without.  Neighbors helped each other and shared resources.  It was the day of Rosie the Riveter.

My first real experience of being a Rosie was Christmas a few years ago.  Josh was at work and I decided to put up the Christmas tree and string the lights.  He doesn't really enjoy that part and I'm very particular about how the lights look...very particular.  It's easier to do them myself rather than re-do what someone else has already done.  I was up to the very top part of the tree with two strands of lights left...plugged them in and nothing.  Tried a different outlet and still nothing.  I could have cried.  My tree wasn't finished, there were no working lights left and we really didn't have the money to go spend $20 on new lights.  So, I sat there with those strands of lights and wiggled each bulb until I figured out which was loose and within a short time I had them working!!!  I have no electrical experience but I can now change out Christmas lights on a strand like a pro!

With all that being said, I'm on a new quest to live more simply.  This world whizzes by at a crazy high technological speed and I so desperatley want to slow down.  So, I've channeled my inner Rosie and am ready to try and do new things.  I want to do this for myself but more importantly for my boys who I love so stinkin' much!

Introduction again

So, let me re-introduce myself and my family since it has been so long...way too long.  Josh and I have been married for 6 years-wonderful years!  As you can tell we were expecting a baby two years ago...well, he arrived in May of 2010.  Rory happily made his arrival a few days early and we are now the proud parents of a toddling two year old.  He keeps us hoping from day to day and I really couldn't be more happy.  We recently moved to Central Ohio last year and that has been a learning experience.  Finding a new church, meeting new people, new doctors, finding new grocery stores.  It's been over a year and I can now navigate most places without the help of my GPS.  A step in the right direction I think.

Josh's job keeps him busy and in his spare time he likes photography and watching movies.  I will share some of his great work in the future.  My newest interest is sewing.  I just whipped out a couple projects on my machine and will also share pictures.  By whipping out I mean that it took me way longer than it would take someone who could actually whip a project out.  Rory is just as happy as he can be.  He loves to jump, run, explore and figure new things out.  He seems very interested in music these days which makes my heart happy.  It's so rewarding to see him find new things and explore the things he loves.

I am hoping to use this blog as a way to share with family and friends but also use it as our family's journal.  I want to be able to look back in 5 years and see the documented amount of fun we had.

That's us in a nutshell. Stop by and visit anytime!

Epiphany!

So, I realized that I've been spending all this time reading other people's blogs when I have neglected my own.  Doesn't make much sense, right?  So, with that in mind I'm back in the blogging world.  We may not be newlyweds anymore and you may have guessed by the previous post that we are the proud parents of a 2 1/2 year old son but better a late rocky start than never?

Since we are so somewhat far away from most of our family and friends I'll do my best to keep everyone updated on our happenings. :)

Week 12 Pics

Well, I didn't think I would have to resign myself to stretchy pants so soon but I already have a bump! It's a small one right now; kind of looks like I need to hit the gym or eat smaller meals.  And  yes, I feel as exhausted as I look, but that should get better soon; or so they say.  None the less I know it's all worth it and I'm thankful for every symptom I have because I know it's ultimately a good thing.  We are very excited!

Water in Holes....

I'm our watering hydrangeas because they are looking a bit droopy. After all we haven't had much rain in the past week. So, I"m trying to be a good gardener and dragged out the hose. After watering the hydrangeas I thought....hmmm....the lilacs are looking a little droopy too!

Then....I spotted it, a "snake hole" in our yard. Well, I'm not a snake killer but I prefer they don't live in my yard. So, this is where the infinite wisdom kicks in and I think "I'll just put the hose in the hole and whoever lives there won't want to stay." Well, the owners didn't stay alright! A swarm of yellow jackets flew out to defend their territory....meanwhile I'm back to watering the lilacs not paying a bit of attention to the hole, since I have clearly solved the problem by letting gallon upon gallon of water rush down the hole.

I felt the first sting on my ankle...and let me tell you, stings don't hurt that bad right away. I assumed I stepped on a stick so I stand their like a doo-fus and continue to water the lilacs. A few seconds later my ankle starts to really hurt and swell and I noticed all these little "gnats" flying around my feet!! Ok, so this is where it gets good...I'm thinking, "gee, it's awfully buggy out here tonight." Then it his me these aren't gnats!! OH NO!!! A brave yellow jacket flew up between my tank top and running shorts and as I swatted at him me stung me!! I threw the hose up in the air and screamed like a big weenie and ran in the house. This is the gross part...the little jerk that flew up my shirt was still there and fell off in the bathroom....so I took a tissue and squished him....that will show him.

Lesson learned: don't go sticking water hose down holes.....

Our recent visitor.....

SO, I'm in the backyard quietly minding my own business reading a book when Sadie starts barking like crazy! She is after something in the woodpile. I call for Josh to tell him I think we have a snake and he should come to do something about it right away! My knight in shinning armor came out to the woodpile to take care of the problem. After removing a few pieces of wood he says, "It's not a snake...it's got hair!!" In our infinite wisdom we grabbed a flashlight and started moving more wood....and there he laid....a little baby opossum! He's been there everyday for at least 4 days....we are hoping he will move on once he realizes Sadie will bark at him every day. Anyway, he is kind of cute for a opossum.