Rodeo Parade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The annual rodeo parade is one of our favorite activities for the end of summer.  Every year we go, and every year we complain about the heat.  This year was certainly no exception but in the end we all agree it was worth it and I'm sure we'll be there again next year. 

The Tooth Fairy Comes

We had a very special visitor come for the first time this summer, the Tooth Fairy.  Mama had to do some frantic last minute crafting to have a pillow ready before that first tooth came out.  How could it possibly be that she is old enough for this already?  I swear she just got all her teeth just the other day.  She certainly is growing up quickly it seems. 



 

 

 

 

She was so excited to have that first tooth fall out and so proud to be a big girl.  Mama was a little more apprehensive about the whole turning into a big girl thing but I tried not to let that show.  It was easy to get swept up into her excitement which helped quite a bit.  Such an important milestone for a (not so) little one.  

Pirate Dolls

I'm sure everyone on Facebook is probably dreading my posts lately because they seem to be taken over by doll photos.  I've been using my favorite patterns from Bit of Whimsy Dolls again to make some really fun dolls for gifts and also to do a few doll uploads to my Etsy shop this Fall. 

 

 

I'm sure a lot of people don't want to think about Christmas this early but for me it is out of necessity.  My crafting to-do list always seems to get longer the closer I get to the holidays and this year looks to be very much the same.  Last year I was working right through the week before Christmas on doll orders and I had to put some personal projects aside so I'm trying to get a head start this year. 

 

 

I have five or six uploads planned over the next several weeks including boys, girls, ballerinas, superhero boys and girls, and a few other surprises.  But this week I'm starting out with a few pirate dolls.  

 

 

Jack

 

 

Orin

 

 

Lily

 

 

Jade

 

The pirate dolls are always so much fun to make and everyone always seems to love them.  I think Orin is definitely my favorite of this upload. 

Texas Trip

One of our big Summer vacation experiences was a trip to visit some friends and family in Texas.  This was Kaitlyn's first trip (and of course Kinsley hadn't been in 3 years) so it was a pretty big deal, and a lot of fun for everyone.  Even the drive down wasn't too bad though we completely ran out of sing along songs well before we hit the state line.  

 

 

 

 

One of the highlights of their trip (besides taking a picture with the big sign...why do kids love that so much?) was a trip to the science museum in Fort Worth.  We made a full day of it with some great friends and the girls are still talking about all the fun things they got to do there.  We're even bringing some of the favorite playthings we discovered there into our home because we loved them so much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Goldfish

We have made a lot of wonderful memories this summer but we've also had to face one not so wonderful reality. We had to say goodbye to Kinsley's very first pet, her Goldfish. She won him at the small fair in town and against all odds (and under careful watch and care) he lived for nearly a year after. I know we are fortunate that this is the first experience our girls have had with losing something they loved but it certainly didn't make it any easier for them, Kinsley especially. We held a small backyard funeral for "The Goldfish of Terror", as he had come to be known, so that everyone could say goodbye. Death can be such an abstract concept for very young children and we wanted to offer as much explanation as she needed and an opportunity to process it all.

 

 

 

 

  

 

It can be hard to know what to say when a little heart is hurting so much, but I stood right with her just as long as she needed to cry and talk about her fish. We ended by talking about remembering how happy she was when we first brought him home and she suggested going swimming that evening to celebrate him and so that is just exactly what we did.

Rest in peace Goldie...

Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming out of a wonderful weekend and looking forward to a great week ahead.  Happy Monday!

 

 

 

 

This Moment

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Ballerinas

Summer is absolutely flying by for us this year with everything we've had going on lately.  It's hard to believe but dance classes for the fall have already started up again for the girls.  They were quite anxious to get started so yesterday was a really great day for them.  Especially this little one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She has spent nearly her entire life at the studio watching big sister dancing and all of the past year asking when it would be turn. Yesterday her turn finally came. She was so proud to put on all her new ballerina clothing and walk right into the studio. Daddy surprised her just before class started and I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile on her face as she ran up to him yelling "Daddy, I'm a ballerina now!" and my heart just melted. Big sister spent most of the class peeking at her under the door and giving us reports on how great she was doing and how cute she was. After class she told me all about the new moves she learned and her new very best friend. It was a big day indeed for this little one.

 

Even as a three year veteran (seriously?  How can it be that long already) Kinsley was just as excited for her class to start. She eats, sleeps, and breathes dance right now so yesterday couldn't hardly come soon enough for her. She was excited to see who would be in her class this year and is already wondering what next year's recital costume might look like.

 

 

 

 

 

These dance loving girls of mine are really happy to have an activity that they can share and already there are a lot of joint practices and recitals going on at our house. Many more are still to come and I am happy to have a front row seat for it all.