She is her Mother's Daughter

No fabric scrap is safe from Megan's scissors.

Nor is this cat safe from being dressed in a custom-made-by-Megan Valentine coat.

She laid out her fabric, placed a store-made kitty coat on top, cut around it, hand stitched a few hearts....the same simple steps I take when I want to make something and don't have a pattern.

Yes, she is her mother's daughter. I am so proud.

Poor cat.

Disclaimer: We have said Cat is not allowed in the house, and though Cat is pictured in the kitchen, he is allowed no further. He comes in to eat to avoid attracting more stray cats to our farm. We are a one farm-cat family and would like to keep it that way. :)

Sharing today for You Capture: red

All Grown Up Like

Robb was gone last week for a men's conference. Our time without him was busy. But I like it that way. Makes the time go by faster until my favorite guy is home.

Saturday night Mitchell had a birthday party sleepover, Madison had her first sleepover, and Megan had a friend sleep over here at our house. As a result, Sunday morning was quiet. Weirdly quiet. Megan didn't know what to do with herself without a brother teasing her and a sister to help with fashion advice.

So we straightened her hair. 

She loved it. 

And I realized my girl is growing up mighty fast!

A Note

Smile: Take 2

The Doll I'll Never Admit is Better

There was a rule. It was unspoken, but it grew from a childhood of scorn for all things branded. Whether it be chips, toys, or electronics, if it was a popular brand, our family probably didn't have it. Despite my attempts, I did not inherit this rule. Not me. I do not believe cheaper is better.


Not me. Really.


I have not broken this rule. I did not break the no way will anyone in our family ever own an overpriced, over hyped doll rule.

I did not let my daughter buy an American Girl doll. Not me. What a waste of money. It's just a doll.

Now, when I want to feel better about myself and my silly rules, I remind myself that at least I didn't buy it for her. Nope. She bought it herself.

~

Megan  literally vibrated with excitement while I grabbed a Starbuck's mocha (conveniently across from the store entrance) to help me survive the experience. Mocha in hand, I followed Megan as she marched in to American Girl with her wad of cash, fresh from her birthday card, hand in mine, and with a bit of prodding, approached a gentleman and asked, "Can you show me where Lanie is?"

He  led us to the middle of the store, past fantastic glass encased displays of dolls, to her choice: this year's doll that looks amazingly like my own girl. Blond with long curly hair. And a penchant for outdoor adventure. And bugs. At least, that's what the book about her says.


Megan took her time. She looked at the accessories, weighed the cost of doll plus one extra. Is the doll laptop worth $26 or is the hammock? If she had a couple hundred more dollars, would she buy Lanie's camper and where would she put it? She made a full sweep of the store, admiring doll couches, puppies, sunglasses and endless matching outfits.

She chose carefully. The doll and the hammock. Oh, the decisions of a nine year old.

She filled her big red bag and checked out, chatting comfortably with the cashier.We made our way to the van, and I clicked the light on so she could immediately open the box. She fretted that the doll's hair would be mashed in the back just like a Barbie's straight from the box. No worries. Lanie came complete with a hairnet, and bouncy hair.

For days, she's done her schoolwork with Lanie nearby, admiring each detail.

 

It turns out you often do get what you pay for. But I will never admit it. Not me.

Smile

Take a good look. This smile is about to change.

The Best Birthday Party Ever

On Wednesday I was panicked. I had agreed to throw my daughter a birthday party, but had NO IDEA what I was going to do to make it special. I had three days to come up with something. So I did what we all do now.

I Googled it.

And once again, Google came through for me. I found recipes and ideas for a spa party. One box of Epson salt and sea salt, a borrowed chocolate fountain, some fruit, a chapstick making kit, a pound cake straight from my breadmaker, a cake my mom made and graciously offered me, some bottles of fingernail polish, a few Mary Kay mirrors,  and one Papa Murphy's pizza later, I had a success of a party. Just look and see for yourself.

The girls made bath salts, lip balm, and a cucumber-parsley-yogurt face mask.

Izzy: "Well, that was an interesting experience."

And of course, they did each others hair. And mine. (No pictures of that!)

Megan declared it, "The best birthday party ever." Thank you, Google!

Gimme a Break

On Valentine's Day we went home. To my parents' home. Megan had a birthday to celebrate, as well as my aunt and brother-in-law. And of course, we shared valentine treats along with the cake. It was nice.

 My sister was there with her 6 week old Victoria. Can you say cute?

But you know what's almost cuter than a cute baby? A man holding and burping a cute baby.

My man happens to be more of a baby hog than me. At church, he'll turn around to our friends sitting behind us, and offer to hold their baby. He cuddles and coos. So I couldn't wait to see him with Victoria. Nevermind that we had words for each other on the way to my parents. I still conjured up fond feelings for my baby doting husband. :)

My dad and his three granddaughters. They're cute too.

When we were done with the cake, 

 

  and I'd found the right ratio of coffee and creamer and sugar,

  

  We sat down by the fire and chatted.

 

It's nice to go home. I relax. My husband calls it reverting. Maybe he's right. Maybe I revert to being 17. I let my mom take care of me and my kids. But it's nice.

Sara admitted something to me recently. Now that she's a mom, she understands why I come to mom and dad's and revert; why all those years I would come and lie on the couch and do nothing. I was tired, and now she's tired and comes to take a break too. And it's nice. Nice to take a break. And nice to be understood.

So thanks, mom. For letting us come and  rest, for offering us coffee or tea, or fruit shakes or pancakes or leftovers. Thanks for picking up legos and dress-ups and crumbs. For changing diapers on your daughters' daughters.

Now that my kids are older, there are more arms to go around. More hands to change diapers or pick up toys. More help to give Sara a break. And that's nice for Mom. Maybe she'll get a break now, too.

Is it a Turtle Dove?

#14 of the 25 Days of Ornaments:My daughter is turning into a mini me. Some days I'm not sure I like that. If you have kids or someone you know has kids, or you've seen other people's kids at the mall, you know children are often a reflection of their parents (is that the understatement of the year?)...the good, the bad, the angry. The crafty. Well, that last one's not so bad as a couple of the others, at least. Unless the mother is somewhat of a perfectionist and wants everything home-made to be spectacular. Oh, but that's not me... ;)

So, Megan saw this pattern and absolutely insisted I help her make it. Kinda like this time. She had never sewn before, so I was pretty sure I'd end up doing most of it. I was right. But it turned out spectacular! Isn't that what counts? OK, not really! What really counts is that we worked on a project together and the result was something to be proud of and someday she will hang it on her tree and remember all her sewing projects. Just like I do.

Alphabitty Moments:The letter F

A Megan Moment:

She thought it was her turn to be highlighted on the blog!

 Megan is much like me.

She loves projects.

She loves making things.

She is persistent and will not give up

until I sit down with her and her project.

Which is why I bought this book:

Though I have a creative mind, I also have a busy mind,

and those creative juices that used to overflow the banks of my mind

are now as a stream struggling after a drought.

Today Megan pestered me for a project.

So I pestered back.

I insisted she finish her schoolwork.

And piano.

And lunch.

And I needed a break after lunch.

And THEN I grabbed the book

and we did our project:

This is a Feel-Good Box;

To be opened only when we are in particular need

of  an emotional boost.

We are going to fill it with things that make us smile.

Robb's and my engagement photo.

Megan's grape lip gloss princess necklace.

(She says the smell calms her down!)

A small game.

A joke book.

Gum.

And of course, Chocolate!

I think the box is lovely.

How about you?

p.s. Yes, I recently acquired Photoshop Elements from the PRIME office.

I wonder what other gems Robb has hiding there...

I like Megan...

...especially when she helps me do the housework! On Wednesday I decided to give myself a birthday present: a clean house. While I cleaned, Megan decided to do the laundry - ALL of it! Can you believe it? I can't. But there to prove it is the empty, clean space where the dirty laundry used to be. My daughter made my day, maybe even my week. Now that's a great birthday present.