Maisonnette

Went to the cutest, most inspiring little shop today... Maisonnette. Totally worth the 45 minute drive (even for my 8 month pregnant friend who took me with her). An adorable 1920's house full of amazing fabrics, patterns, notions, projects, ideas, etc. It is owned and run by a mom and her 2 daughters- one sews and one does photog. We met the one who does most of the sewing for the shop - a 19 year old seamster who seriously rocks the sewing machine- I tried to pick her brain for a bit as she worked on a couple projects in the back room. I dream about taking a class there- anyone interested in joining me?

Six Months

I can't believe that half of Leighton's first year is over, that I've been waking up to snuggle and feed her for almost 200 nights, that she just cut her first tooth, rolls over, feasts on baby food, and melts my heart every time I look at her. Happy half birthday baby!

Growing

I have been on the prowl for a growth chart for Leighton's room. Of course I found an amazing one on etsy but wasn't willing to drop the cash. Then I came across a very cute one in a magazine that I thought I would try to duplicate. I wasn't willing to drop the cash for the magazine either, so with a blurry phone pic I tried on my own. This was my first attempt at anything quilted, so don't look too close (Judy!). I also had to do a lot of embroidery on the inchmarks which was new to me so don't look too close there either (Mandy!). Over all I'm pleased, although now I realize I don't really want to see how fast Leighton is growing after all!

Special Delivery

Every so often, we get an unexpected delivery from an amazingly loving, thoughtful, and creative grandma. Today this bit of total cuteness found its way to our porch.
Thanks Grandma Judy!

Fair

We spent the day at the San Diego County Fair today. Now we all know the fair is supposed to be some agricultural showcase, a place for 4H-ers to show off their hard work in raising pigs, sewing quilts, and making jam. But let get real folks, we all know fairs are about only 2 things, rides and food. Rides for the kiddos and food for the grown-ups.

The girls each got to pick 3 rides to go on in KiddieLand (a place where you could spend a literal fortune on fishing games to win a 5 cent goldfish- you know the place).

They chose the Indian Canoe ride
(a 30 second waste of $10 in my mind- but look at those smiles!),

the Whirly Swings
(where Ellie barely passed the height requirement)

and the mother of all rides, the Ferris wheel. Now last year Brooklyn had her heart set on riding a big Ferris wheel like Fern in Charlotte's Web but totally wimped out in line and ended up on about the smallest Ferris wheel known to man. Of course she loved every minute of it- hands up and all. But this year she was not going to wimp out and insisted on the Big Daddy (her younger and slightly more adventuresome sister didn't blink an eye on this one).


And now for the food. We feasted on BBQ corn, hot dogs, corn dogs, Gyros, pita sandwiches, fried zucchini, ice cream, and shave ice. Turned down fried Twinkies, fried Oreos, fried Klondikes, fried pop tarts, and this...

Navajo Tacos

I have so many fond memories of my grandparents home in Colorado. Lots of them involve food and Grandma's kitchen. One in particular is Navajo Tacos...a labor intensive meal that Grandma always spoiled us with when we came out to visit. She would stand in the kitchen, her backside covered in flour, frying up the dough while we all gorged ourselves on the greasy goodness. We top the fry bread with homemade chili, cheese, lettuce and tomato. Then for desert we have the leftover dough with honey- sofapias we call them. And today, the tradition carried on as she and my mom spoiled us all once again with a Navajo Taco meal.

My mom rolls out the dough as my grandma gives orders
about what size/shape to make them in.

It only takes about a gallon of oil.

How many times has she done this in 80 years I'd like to know.
(I love how Grandmas wear their aprons!)

Grandma always sneaks the first one, a tester she calls it.

Delish- never mind the Debbie Mumm plate.

Happy Father's Day

I wouldn't want to share the incredible challenges and blessings of parenthood with anyone else. Happy Father's Day Brett.

Summer, Summer, Summertime

Okay, I feel like summer has arrived now. We've been at the pool for the last three days and plan on going again tomorrow. It blows me away how my girls can get an incredible tan in 3 days, with 50spf on! They have their dad's skin tone for sure. And I've actually donned the swim suit (not like I've gotten wet past my knees through- gotta love the kiddie pool). Ellie is a swimsuit fiend so she is always begging me to put mine on. I finally obliged her today and now she's got a new mission, to get me in the pool. I've said many times before, "Mommies don't get wet, daddies do".

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!!!

I rarely win things. Okay, I actually only remember winning a contest in 5th grade for drawing an ad for the newspaper (I won 75 bucks, which to a 5th grader is awesome). But a couple weeks ago The Pleated Poppy was having a giveaway each hour for Lindsey's birthday. There were some pretty great prizes. I had my heart set on these. But was absolutely thrilled to actually win this amazing pillow from Color Me Cute. (funny enough, I have had my eye on it on etsy for months!) It was custom made for Leighton to match her room perfectly and I love it!

she's tickling the ivories

Brooklyn had her first piano lesson today (thanks Aunt Cheryl!). I was amazed at how fast she caught on and what she was able to do in such a short period of time. She has been dying to learn since we got the piano last week (when Brett and a friend hauled in the 800 pound beast at 11pm). She is very eager to practice (we'll see if she follows the same path I did, faking practice to get the candy reward from the teacher and begging my mom each week to let me quit). But for now, she's making sweet music... one note at a time.

Copycat projects

I've been really into looking on etsy and trying to make what I see. The instant-gratification-me wants to just buy them so they will be where I want them right now, but the realistic supposed-to-be-on-a-budget-me decides to try it myself. Here's the next wave of projects for me (all for Leighton's room of course).

Afloat

Ellie would like to invite you over to swim in her pool.

Toys

I was browsing ebay in search of some vintage toys for Leighton's room. And boy did I have a blast from the past. It is amazing to me how I can remember toys I played with over 30 years ago. When I see the pictures I think, hey that was mine. I always hope to get lucky thrifting and find some of the old classics. Or maybe I'll just give in and bid on ebay instead.

Could this be my ringing apple?

Could this be my first record player?

Beach

Leighton's first time at the beach

Today was our first day at the beach this year. June gloom couldn't scare us away- although it seemed to have scared lots of others away considering we were the only ones on the beach. I have to admit its always a let down when the sun is shining brightly here and I imagine a warm sunny day in the sand and waves (well, me in the sand, and the kids in the waves) and yet as we get closer and close to the coast, the skies turn grayer and grayer. Now realize for me, the beach has always been about the sun. Windy and overcast doesn't work for me. If it had been just me, I would have turned around and headed back to the pool in my sunny, warm neighborhood. But I must realize the beach is not about sun for everyone, including my husband and kids. For him, its about waves, for the girls, about playing. And that's exactly what we got today. A little surf for Brett, and lot of shell collecting, sand castle building, and burying for the girls.

RIP Orchidus Maximus

Another one bites the dust...
over-watering, under-watering,
too much light, too little light,
too much humidity, not enough humidity,
I'll never know.

You are my Sunshine

Completed project #2 this week. Lots of paper cutting and mod podge. Of course it would have taken waaaaaay less time if I had one of those high falootin' circuit cutters. It turned out to be busier than I had originally intended, a bit too circusy I think, but definitely not worth redoing.

Cousins

Brooklyn and Ellie have a special place in their heart for their cousin Adina. They adore her and ask to see her almost daily (Ellie's request is always for Disneyland and Adina, or ice cream and Adina, or swimming and Adina). Lots of times she saves part of her snack for "when Adina comes" even if she's not coming until next week.

Exersaucer pt. 2

fig. 1


fig. 2


fig. 3

Exersaucer

This is Leighton's newest form of entertainment, that is when Ellie isn't in it. I love hand-me-down baby things. This belonged to Ellie after it belonged to Brooklyn after it belonged a friend's 3 children. And its still kickin. May not be the latest and greatest, but what baby knows the difference.

Coolest house in the neighborhood

We celebrated Ellie's birthday with family this week at Nino's house. On our way there Brooklyn said, "All my friends will think Nino's house is the coolest house in the neighborhood because he has 2 pools, a trampoline, and tons of videos." The girls have a blast every time we go there and usually have to be dragged out to leave. It could be the unlimited candy stash that is dumped on the bed when they watch videos, the plethora of activities that they can jump to without having to cleanup the last one, the spontaneous trips to Toys R Us , or just the way they are treated like princesses by their great aunt and uncle when they are there. So in just a few short hours they fit in...

swimming in the pool,

thinking about swimming in the pool,

jumping on the trampoline,

corn hole game,

a soak in the jacuzzi,

swinging,

lots of watermelon,

and time in the sandbox.

I think Brooklyn is right, it is the coolest house in the neighborhood.

She takes the cake!

Grandma did it again. She always manages to pull off the most incredible birthday cakes for the girls. Ellie kept coming back to the cake for quick peeks and frosting nibbles all night. And the girls enjoyed eating the pillows, sheets, and rug more than the actual cake.