Backyard Camping

We were going to go camping this weekend. But with 60% rain in the forecast we wimped out. Packing everything up just to get rained on is not my idea of fun. But on Friday night when the girls got home from school it was bright and sunny. We figured we'd take a chance and set up our tent in the backyard just in case it didn't rain. But Friday night it rained. We told the kids that if there was no rain last night we'd sleep in the tent. And there was no rain.... until we were all tucked in the tent. :)

Despite some initial worries that we were going to get struck by lightning, the girls enjoyed listening to the pitter-patter of rain on the roof and eventually went to sleep.

We made it through the night without incident-- Except one male member of our family (who shall forever remain anonymous) decided at 2am that our bed would be far more comfortable than a rapidly deflating air mattress. :)

Overall it was one of the best "camping" trips we've ever had!

Simplicity 4927 pattern review

I am always thankful when patterns turn out just like they show on the package. I'm not a good enough seamstress to really make any alterations to patterns, so what the pattern says I try to follow. Luckily this pattern was pretty much true to form. (Although with Simplicity patterns I usually round down two sizes and then adjust the length as needed.)  Emily loves her new dress and Summer has requested I make her one using the same pattern. Success!

Fun Fabric Bracelets

Yesterday I used THIS tutorial to make these bracelets. I'm planning on making more with my girls this summer. They are a fun and functional summer project.

Just Yesterday

If feels like just yesterday that I sent my sweet McKenna off for her first day of elementary school. I walked her to the bus and waved as it went by.

But yesterday I sent her off for her last day of elementary school. I walked her to the bus and waved as it went by.

Lots of things have changed over the years. But some things don't change. She'll always be my sweet McKenna girl and I'll always love her to pieces!!!!

Spring Sports

We have had an awesome time cheering for McKenna and Lydia at their games and practices this spring.

(McKenna with her good friend, Kelsie, goofing around in the dugout.)

McKenna played softball again. She was a stellar first baseman and got on base (either a hit or a walk) almost every at-bat. Watching her play makes me realize how fast she is growing up. The first year McKenna played she was on the 7/8 year old team. I remember watching the older girls play that year and being amazed at how big and fast they were. Now McKenna is one of those older girls!

(Lydia at her last soccer game)

This was Lydia's first year playing soccer and I cannot tell you how much fun it has been watching her learn. Her coach gave her the "Most Improved" award on the team and she absolutely deserves it. She went from just learning the rules of the game to being one of the best players on her team. And she has gone from being very shy and timid to being excited to try new things and meet new people.

I'm so proud of my girls. And as much fun as it's been watching them I am ready for a break. Tomorrow is our final push-- Lydia has three games and McKenna has two. Wish us all luck!

Broken

On Tuesday night Emily broke her wrist falling off a swing. But she has been a trooper about it and may even be enjoying the attention a little. :)

She chose a really cool glow-in-the-dark cast that her sisters have been excited to sign. She has to wear this long cast for two weeks and then she'll get a short cast that she can swim in. Thank heavens! I cannot imagine her going through much of the summer without being able to swim. It would be torture for the both of us.

Piggy Tails

Chloe finally has enough hair to put in little piggy tails. And miracle of miracles, she actually leaves them in for longer than 30 seconds!!

My Family Portrait

While browsing around Etsy a while ago I found THIS site that does custom portrait drawings. I fell in love with them and wanted one of my own. But I didn't have a real reason to buy one so I put it off. Then I saw THIS idea and decided that I simply had to have a custom family portrait drawing. So, armed with a pencil and a really great eraser I set out to create my own. I am NOT a very good artist (as is probably evidenced by my drawing), but I thought it would mean more if I drew it myself. I worked on it for probably way too long, but in the end I am tickled by what I created.

As silly as it is, this is a major accomplishment for me. Drawing is one of those things  I have always put on my "I can't" list. But once again I have proved to myself that I CAN.

Our Favorite Smoothie

Mix in Blender:

1 cup crushed ice

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen grapes

6-8 strawberries

1 scant cup milk

1 cup apple juice

2 scoops vanilla protein powder

Lately I've been making this as an after-school snack. It's healthy and tastes a little like strawberry ice cream.

Butterick 4722

On Thursday I made time to make McKenna a new skirt. She wore it to church this Sunday and looked beautiful.

But this picture tells only part of the story. On Thursday I was cursing this skirt and throwing up my hands as a complete failure as a seamstress. It about sent me over the edge. It's a super simple pattern, but it had a couple elements that were new to me (pleats and a zipper) and I made it out of a silky fabric that I had never sewn with before. By the time I was sewing the hem I was an emotional wreck.

But now that I've had time to step back I can see that it's a cute skirt. It's far from perfect, but through making it I gained some valuable experience. I realized that I am still a beginner and have a lot to learn.  And instead of giving up I need to take this as a learning experience and move forward.

McKenna still needs some new skirts, so I am going to pretend like I am in a sewing class and that Butterick 4722 is my course of study. Hopefully I will be able to master it and then move on to the next challenge.

My Mom is Amazing

The older I get, the better I am able to appreciate my Mom. For most of my life I just saw her as "My Mom." I knew that she had interests and talents and goals, but everything about her was distorted by a very self-centered filter. Now that I am older and am a mother myself I can better appreciate who she is. I can relate with the feelings and frustrations that she must have experienced. And the more I get to know her, the more in awe of her I become.

(My Mom and Me in 1979.)

She has so many of the talents that I desire. Her sewing skills are amazing, she serves diligently in her church callings, she is very intelligent (I would not have been nearly as good of a student without her constant tutoring!!), she is elegant and refined, selfless and hardworking.

(My Mom and Dad in 1994)

When I reflect back on the memories I have of my Mom I cannot remember her sitting down. She was always working at something-- tidying the house, folding laundry, making calls for Young Womens stuff (she served in the Young Womens organization pretty much her entire life), doing yardwork, sewing dolls or quilts. But as busy as she was, she always made time to listen to me. It was obvious that we were your priority.

(At the Portland Temple for a youth baptism trip in 1994)

Of the many things she taught and exemplified, the one legacy that has had the most impact on me is her testimony of the gospel and her faith in the Lord's plan. I remember her kneeling by her bed in the night and mornings and reading her scriptures while she ate breakfast. I remember her going visiting teaching, fulfilling her callings, and reaching out to fellowship those that were struggling. And when I had problems she always helped me to see how the gospel would help me to overcome or endure.

(Our family in 1993)

Thank you, Mom, for being everything that you are. Now, among my many blessings, one of the things I cherish most is the relationship with you. You are one of my best friends. I love you so much.

True Life

This is definitely not the best picture of my kids, but it is one of my favorites. It makes me laugh every time I look at it. It's so true to life! Dirty, fussy, happy, loving, silly little girls. I love them so much!!!

(In Lydia and Summer's defense, they are not always the ones throwing the fits. But there is usually someone throwing a fit and this picture captures it.)

Two Wheelers

Both Summer and Emily learned to ride their bikes this week. Summer learned first, and then Emily tried and did it the next day.

Now, if I ever need to find them I just look outside and see them flying around our cul-de-sac. (When I asked Summer if she felt like she was flying when she was riding her bike she said, "Mom, I don't feel like I'm flying. I AM flying.")

The good life

Spring is always a beautiful time in Georgia. But this spring has felt extra special. We have spent a lot of time at ballparks (soccer and softball) and even more time outside in our own yard. Life doesn't get much better.

Aprons are awesome

Chloe is right at the age where she wants to feed herself but is still learning how to manipulate her eating utensils. (Or in other words she makes a MESS.) Bibs just didn't quite do the job, so we pulled out the girls' aprons and now she is fully covered. Makes my life so much easier. And she looks really, really cute. :)

Beautiful to Him

Getting five little girls ready for church on Sundays requires major effort. It's fun to dress them up and put bows in their hair. And on special occasions it's REALLY fun to get them all in coordinating outfits. It's one of the perks of being the mom of all girls. But a while ago I realized that my preparations for church felt more like preparations for a fashion show instead of a worship service. I changed my perspective when I attended McKenna's New Beginnings activity. The theme for the activity was "Beautiful to Him." And since then I've made that my new Sunday morning motto. We don't dress up for church to impress others or to feed our vanity (although that was exactly what I was doing.) We dress up for church as a sign of respect and reverence for our Savior and Heavenly Father. We want to be beautiful to Him. When I put my focus on that it's an entirely new experience on Sunday mornings. Mornings are still not drama-free (and I still try to put bows in my girls' hair), but I've been able to let go of the craziness. Focusing on the Savior removes a lot of the anxiety, pressure, and stress that I used to feel getting my girls ready for church. And I'm able to arrive at church more prepared to partake of the sacrament and to serve and worship the Lord.