Summer Series: Parade

It is hard to believe that fall is already here though we are definitely ready for the cooler weather. We're wrapping up some of the summer activities around here and I'm finally getting around to posting some of the things that have gone forgotten.

The girls decided to have a parade through town to mark the end of summer. It was such a cute idea and I couldn't help but smile as I watched their excitement building as they came up with new ideas. I really wasn't sure Kinsley would feel up to the parade but she was so excited that I couldn't ruin their fun. It ended up being a pretty short parade with Kinsley's fever coming back up and the car battery running down, but they still had a great time. I do think I could have just convinced them to stop at getting their faces painted, that was their favorite part.










Hope your summer wrapped up nicely and you are easing your way into a wonderful fall season. We'll be starting an Autumn Harvest curriculum next week and gearing up for some great fall festivities.

Have you thanked a firefighter lately?

I feel like I have been sitting in front of my embroidery machine for ages, likely because I really have. This past week was spent working on some new shirts for our local volunteer firefighers. Most of the fire departments in our immediate area are at least partially volunteer and those located in our rural area are completely volunteer. These men and women volunteer their time to help protect their neighbors and community and ask nothing in return. I was more than happy to be able to put my craftiness to work to benefit them.






This is his happy face. No, seriously. It really is.




I'm really happy with the way the embroidery turned out and the guys all thought they were pretty neat too so I'd call it a success. (Though I'm pretty sure none of them actually said "neat") I have a couple more projects in the works that involve our local fire departments but I'll save those for another day.

In the meantime maybe you can find a way to show some love to your local firefighters. There are tons of ways that you can help out whether you are crafty or not. You could bake them a special treat(or pick one up at your local bakery), I know these guys would never turn down some good food. Give them a call and see if there is anything they are in need of if you are willing to volunteer your time or talents. You can even just stop by with a note or a word of thanks for everything they do. Trust me, it is appreciated.

Baby Kittens

The girls discovered our neighbor's baby kittens and are completely and totally in love. These poor little tiny babies don't have a mommy and our neighbor has been bottle feeding them. My girls have happily accepted the role of surrogate mommy and are doing a wonderful job loving on them. Kaitlyn is especially enamored with them, as she's never really seen tiny kittens before. She cuddles them and talks to them in a baby-talk voice and just adores them. It is really the cutest thing.











The only problem with them loving the kittens so is that when it is time to go home and put the kittens down Kaitlyn is heartbroken. She really tries to bring them home with her and her face when we take them away is beyond pitiful.





See what I mean? Oh that face, it is almost enough to get to keep a kitten. Almost.

Ballerina

My big girl had her very first ballet class last night. She was over the moon excited to go, though I could tell she was a little bit nervous. She kept asking me if I was sure I was going to be right there the whole time, which I assured her I would. As we pulled up outside the studio I was a little nervous for her. She has always been apprehensive with new experiences and people and I so wanted her to enjoy herself in class because she loves to dance so much. I'm proud to say that she did very well and was really excited to show me what she learned (the parents are in a waiting room just outside the dance area). But as soon as class was over she came running up to me and jumped in my lap for me to hold her for a bit. My little love, such a beautiful ballerina.

Backyard Camping

Yesterday marked the beginning of some incredibly nice weather (about 30 degrees cooler than it had been) and we promised the girls we would celebrate by setting up camp in the back yard. It was the first time Kaitlyn had ever experienced a tent. It was so funny to watch her go in and out and touch the screened windows and laughing. We spent the entire day outside, only coming in for diaper changes and potty breaks. It was the perfect way to spend a lovely lazy Sunday.

















To say that they loved the watermelon was an understatement. We finally had to take it away from Kait and one point to keep her from eating the entire thing. I think it is safe to say that they had a really great time and you know it is a successful day when your kids look like this at the end of the day...





I'm making a batch of blueberry muffins right now and then it is back outside to enjoy another day with my loves. Have a great weekend.

Summer Series: Colored Ice

I kept seeing the posts about painting with coloring ice cubes like this one at Share & Remember and this one at Chasing Cheerios. I immediately knew it would be a great activity for my girls. Turns out I was wrong. They thought the colored ice cubes were great, but had no interest at all in coloring with them. All they wanted to do was put them on the sidewalk and watch them melt. So that is what we did.





Kaitlyn was more interested in snatching them up and trying to eat them. So that is what she did.





This activity is a perfect lesson in my biggest challenge in creating with the kids...letting go. So often I find this great activity and can't wait to show it to the girls and then upon seeing it they are not interested at all. I think that is especially true of kids this age. They often have their own idea of fun and their own perspective on an activity and it is becomes my job to step back and let them create how they see fit. Afterall it isn't about the project as much as it is the process. Creating and experimenting and having fun, those are the things that count.

See this girl?

Seriously. Do you SEE her. I adore this tiny little face, dirt and all. The fact that she is 15 months old today makes me more than a little sad.

She is already starting to lose so many of her "baby" traits and is definitely a full on toddler now. Her vocabulary is growing every day right along with her personality. I love seeing which new words she picks up and how she uses them, even if her new favorite is "why". I really thought I had a bit more time before that one but oh well. It is just her inquisitive nature. She wants to know what everything around her is and how it works. It amazes me how much she really absorbs and even though she is absolutely refusing to sign (seriously, she will look at you completely stone faced) she still recognizes and responds when you sign to her.

Her level of independent play increases every day and I can not help but smile when I see her playing a game with her big sister and giggling just like a big girl.



The time is absolutely speeding by and I know that in the blink of an eye she'll be 2 and then the years will just start piling on. But for now I will enjoy the cuddles and giggles and what little baby time I have left.