Pre-K Graduation

Ace absolutely loved Pre-K this year!  He made some great friends, there were many play dates,  there was lots of things learned during school.  He had a blast throughout the year and I think we were all sad to say goodbye to this chapter in his life.    Ace is now primary school bound! 

On graduation day, Ace again chose to be a fireman!
At school when asked a week or two prior he said he wanted to be an electrician.

 Another great year of theme days, fun times, and adventures! 

He was always excited to go to school, missed it when it wasn't a school day, and was always asking when he could see his friends again.     It was a great experience for him and for all of us!   We were so proud of his what he learned and how he grew this year!

So proud of my boy!!
Dad was sad to have missed graduation, but he was away on a mission.

 

Pop Pop was able to come and Ace was so excited to see him!

Some of Ace's BFFs from his class!

He met Lu on Day One and they were inseparable from the start!

Congrats, Ace!  Here is to a whole new world of adventure waiting for you in just a few short weeks when you begin kindergarten!!!

The Second Quarter of 2013 in Photos

It's been a busy second quarter for us.  Lots of life has happened and time spent with friends!  The beginning of the month was marked by saying goodbye to my dear friend Katie whose brave battle against stage four colon cancer met it's conclusion here on this earth on April 4th.   Sadness for sure but the celebration of her life was such a beautiful sea of purple and with a packed out church a wonderful testament to the lives Katie touched in her brief time we had with her.    Perhaps as a bright hello from Katie in heaven, the sun has been shining brightly - early and often for here in the NW - where normally our April and May would be quite gloomy.

The weather has been gorgeous!  So much so even on April 24th it was warm enough to break out the sprinkler (people in Cali would most certainly disagree, but eh us NWers tend to melt quicker up here so 68' is more than adequate weather for sprinklers.)   I also ventured to see the tulips for the first time after having lived here for seven years.   We went on the last day with the Playground Pack and had a blast with 9 kiddos and 4 mamas!  

May breezed past us with Mother's Day programs, birthday parties and fun!  More water fun was had and weekend wrestling with dad!

June - to say June was busy would be an understatement!    We were quite busy with the Playground Pack: a trip to the splash pad, many park visit, an outing to a flower garden, petting zoo,  last day of school, graduation (stay tuned more on this!) and the ultimate excitement the color run (a separate post on this to come too!)   Splice in time with family to celebrate Father's Day, a visit with my Uncle, more birthday parties, BBQs, bathroom remodel, and planning a baby shower  we've been busy!   

Summer is in full swing and with two busy kiddos (a kindergartner and a 2.5 year old!) life is fun and chaotic!   Many posts to come... eventually!  :)

Sewing Clothes

Yes in recent days I decided to give sewing clothing a try.   For many years now I've been cranking out the quilts and various other items from my sewing machine but I had yet to venture back into the world of clothing (I vaguely recall trying once and it being an utter disaster so I never really went back)   Well with a better machine and a bit more knowledge on the general subject of sewing I thought I'd give it a try.   

I started with the Polly Peasant Dress pattern that I had for a while that seemed super easy with a bit of a twist - I started one morning and by bedtime the dress was complete.    I had to make it a size smaller because the fabric I had wasn't going to stretch to make the 2T but that's ok - Mae is tiny! :)

I gathered all of my supplies and started piecing together the fabric.  Mae also wanted to cut fabric and so I found her some tweezers and some 'fabric' and let her 'cut'  :)  She enjoyed it and then she toddled off to go play with her brother. 

The next day I decided to use the sleeves that I had cut using the same floral fabric and made the blouse version with a straight hem using the same pattern.   It was pretty quick especially since I had tested the pattern the day before and this time I put some elastic in the sleeves. 

Ace was very much paying close attention and wanted me to make him something and so I went to Pinterest and found a very simple pattern for pajama pants!  I went to the store and got some Star Wars fabric, but I was too cheap to buy a whole yard so I only bought half thinking that would be JUST enough... it was barely enough for one leg!  So I went to my fabric closet and found some navy fabric and then went to work doing a little patch work with scraps of the fabric.  I had made the promise that I would make them "before bed" one day and I began after dinner - so they took about an hour from start to finish and they are far from perfect because I was ready for kids to be in bed. :)

Next up was the Lucy Tunic that I made reversible with pockets - Mae loves pockets! Instead of buttons I used my new Snap Source snaps that I just purchased with the attaching tools. 

She really accessorized it on this day! ;)

I have found it a fun activity and both kids are happy to model and wear my clothes. While  I certainly won't stop buying them clothes, this is a fun activity and challenge.  :)   My next few projects are going to be The Pleated Penny Dress and a baby doll carrier for Mae to tote her babies around on her. 

Mother's Day

It's hard to believe I've celebrated five Mother's Days - it's hard to believe that my 'little' guy is turning five in just a few short months.   Every moment with my kids is a joy.    My request for Mother's Day this year was to be able to sleep in, have a bacon maple bar, and do family pictures.   All my requests were answered and then some!   I have a wonderful family.  

The weather was beautiful and the subjects were (mostly) cooperative and the tripod and timer were ready to go on the camera!



This is my favorite!

 

Me and my littles!

A Big Girl Bed

I have to say - I have been quite remiss in journaling Mae's journey toward independent sleep compared to how well I documented Ace's.  Perhaps because this mommy is tired after two littles who aren't huge fans of sleeping.   Nonetheless it is Mae's story and I should write her story and how it plays out. 

And so a bit of back story to go with the post.  :)    When Mae was 11 months old we got her a 'floor bed' - went a bit of the way of the Montessorri line of thinking and found her a 3" mattress and placed it on the floor.  Never having had a crib since we co-slept this was a good height to start out with.    She nursed to sleep the first night and slept the first stint of sleep in her own bed. 

This worked pretty well for a few weeks but she would wake up seemingly quicker and quicker.  I recall that Ace seemed to have trouble staying asleep in his 'bed' when it was just a mattress on the floor and so I went on the hunt for a toddler bed that was low to the ground and when she was 13 months old she got her first (mini) big-girl-bed. 

As she got older, she got wise to the fact she could get OUT of the bed and often that led to a power struggle and so one day I broke out the pack and play and she quickly went to sleep 'on her own' and with 'self soothing' - no tears required, just got bored and slept.   As a result the second half of her second year if she wasn't co-sleeping with us, she was asleep in the PnP and often she'd sleep through the night in there.   Almost always napped there.  

I decided I need to break that habit and she also was starting to grow up enough that she needed the space in her room and the PnP needed to be retired as a permanent fixture in her room and so with much hesitation mommy folded it up and returned to the disciplined efforts of Mae sleeping in her toddler bed and starting in February we started the slow process of total elimination of sleeping in our room at any point in the night.  (Very slow.)    This also meant that when she got sick in March I chose to sleep in her room so that we wouldn't lose the ground we had gained on the effort to keep her in our own bed.   It was then when I decided she needed a bigger bed so there'd be room for mommy too!

Her final nap in her toddler bed.

So the hunt was on - everything was procured and I put her bed together.  She was so excited to have a big girl bed and very much following in suit with her brother - she's slept every night (nearly) all night since she's gotten her bed.   She's growing up and is doing so great!   We are all so proud. 

 

Mae loves to climb on her bed, she's only fallen out once (we put a bean bag down below so it's a soft spot to land) and she's a quick learner to avoid it in the future.   She's adorable and I love her.   Although I already miss looking over at her and seeing her smiling in her sleep, or having her cuddle me as we sleep.   It's one more sign my baby is growing up.  Although to help me not miss it as much I can focus on moments like these that we went through.  Oh sweet girl.

My Littles

Dearest Ace and Mae,

Mommy loves you so much.  It seems impossible that you've grown so fast and that you find ways to surprise me every day.    I love being your mommy!  

Ace -  you're constantly fixated on something and have an compulsive desire to satisfy it.  Sometimes that means that you'll get into trouble for excessive pestering - you've heard the phrase 'asked and answered'  a few times in recent months.   But I love that you have drive and determination to set your mind on something and seek out multiple ways to accomplish it.    Yes, often this is finding a way to go play video games - but sometimes it's to play outside, to watch a movie, to stay up past your bedtime to read.   You are afraid to fail and I encourage you to not let that stop you.  Always try even if it means temporary defeat - see it as an opportunity to strive toward betterment on the road to greatness.   I adore listening to you learn to read.   Nothing makes my heart melt more, Ace than when you stop in the middle of life to say "Mom, I love you."  I love you too, Bear!

Mae - you're my sweet baby girl.   You have tenacity and attitude rolled up into a ball of cuteness that makes it hard to get mad at you.   Although I do wish you'd sit down in your car seat for me.    I love that you, like your brother, have a desire for books.   I love your sense of fashion and your driven purpose to dress yourself.  Mommy tries to allow you the freedom to pick your style.  It's important, even if the adults find your outfit choices to be puzzling.     You're such a tiny articulate little girl.  Full sentences, big words, bundled into your time frame is a sense of wonder for many and amusement and pride for mommy.    Your soothing comfort is to touch mommy's tummy and while I know our time for that is nearing an end, I  love it and I love you, Mae.

I love that the two of you play so well together - that you laugh hysterically at each other's antics, you tickle and wrestle, and that you Ace allow your little sister to copy you without frustration.    Sure you have your moments - often surrounding Mae wishing to 'share' something of yours Ace - but for the most part you love each other and want to spend time together.

Why do I pen this letter to you?   Because I love you and I want you (and I) to remember in years to come the little things that made you special in the now.   You two are growing so fast.   Mae, you constantly are already telling us you're three - even though you just turned 2 a few months ago.  Ace, you'll be 5 soon and starting kindergarten.   Time is so fast and yet so cherished.    You two have my heart and as I said - I love being your mommy.

Love,

Your mommy

March in Photos

Vacation, Easter, visits from friends, and a birthday party to photograph!  Lots of fun had in March!