Just for Amusement

James
"I want to improve the invention of the automobile - this seatbelt is digging into me!"

James and William
Overheard from the back of the car: "Back up, back up, are you talking about George W. Bush or George H. W. Bush?" response "You know just the regular George Bush".

William
"Mommy, Daddy guess what sea creature I am" We guess a shark, a whale, a hammerhead shark...."wrong! I stumped you, I was an oceanic white tipped shark"

William
"Mommy I made friends with a bumble bee....he followed me around the pool all day"

Peter
"Why don't we just buy this rental home and stay here forever"

James after hours of reading Tom Sawyer
"There ain't no napkins here"

Paul
"Suz, you are the only person I know who uses more sunblock than Al, your kids look like mimes"

Paul
"Why are you hanging out in the shade"? I respond "I'm trying to bring back historic beauty trends - not only being a little plump but also very fair"

Maryanna
Well there are no audible words to recreate the memorable moment of our trip when Maryanna ran straight from the car and grabbed a cactus. It was a good thing tweezers were on my simple packing list.

Swim, Eat, Sleep

Throw in a few good books, a 1,000 piece puzzle, and a pile of dirty diapers - that pretty much sums up our trip. Very simple and very fun!

How Mommy got her Groove Back II

Paul knows just when I need a get away and has been great at planning and executing postpartum recovery trips. Last year we went to Spain. This year he found a great deal on a rental home in Scottsdale, AZ. The trip was planned and booked last Friday and within 24 hrs. the whole family was packed and in the car off to our destination.

The theme of this trip was "Simple Livin'". Each child had 1 suit, 2 outfits (with exception of the three 2 and under - 5 for the infant, 4 for the 1 year old, and 3 for the 2 yr old), 1 book, 1 stuffie, and 1 pair of shoes. Laundry was simple, pick up was simple as was our food, every meal we ate outside and literally hosed both the children and eating area down after we were through.

We even played simple games. One night we planned to watch a movie but couldn't get the complicated surround sound system to work, we played catch with a roll of toliet paper instead. The thrower asked a question and the catcher had to answer it in as many words as were dragging toliet paper squares. I was especially amused when William asked me to describe how it felt to have a baby, I had 17 squares to describe my feelings.

So even after a 15 hr travel day with our whole family I feel refreshed. I just may adopt a bit more simplicity in my daily life. Time to gut out more toys and clothes, and start eating all our meals outside.

*this magic moment was captured by our young photographer William

Baby School

Maryanna and Peter set up little chairs so they could get up close and teach their little brother all sorts of useful information. Maryanna was teaching him Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Peter said "I'm teaching Henry Math. I'm starting with 2+2 because I think he already knows 1+1."

More Simple Sewing

I call these "heirloom peasant pillowcase jammies". Emily gave me the pillowcases which I believe belonged to my Grandma and I knew I could put them to good use. I have seen many pillowcase dresses but my girls weren't in need of dresses - they needed cool comfy jammies. Then again, there is a fine line between Jammies and day clothes in our home ie. Peter's Spiderman shirt, "postpartum pajama days", and Maryanna's experimental outfits.

Last night I traced a dress pattern from a Japanese sewing book (I have quite a collection now - thanks Marie'! and will blog about it later). The actual sewing was quick except for my mistake in making the elastic too tight (twice! caution don't sew when you are over tired). Anyways, I'm happy with the outcome and especially like how they are so soft and worn in. Hopefully I won't get the urge to iron them like I do other nightgowns - there's just no time in my day for those finest of details. I'm also hoping Clara is officially over her diaper curiosity because these jammies aren't so "safe".

Summer Twirl Skirts

I love this pattern.! I purchased it last summer and had so much fun with it I had to make one for all my young nieces (that is over 20 skirts). They all wore them for the square dancing event at last summer's family reunion and now I regret not taking a picture of them all together. What makes this skirt so fun is the way it flys up parallel with the ground when the girls spin.

Maryanna out grew her skirt so it was time to make just one more. I figure I'll be making at least one a summer up until she out grows the pattern which ranges from 90-150cm.

The hardest part of this skirt is cutting it out and if you have a serger it is super quick and easy to whip up. I used contrasting fabric for the waistband and a rolled hem for the edge. The pattern is designed to have an uneven hem which I didn't like so I cut it even. This project was a great way to ease back into it - it just may be my summer of very simple sewing.

Summer Solstice

We celebrated Summer Solstice a few days late this year. Friday night Paul made an evening trip to Costco with a few of the kids and then Saturday slipped away from us - we were so busy with catch-up projects that we were almost begging for more daylight. So here we are Sunday night and this is how we celebrated:

During dinner the kids picked out different food items from their plate each representing the sun and earth. There were sliced cucumbers, strawberries, and peaches. Actually, we were informed that the scale of the items was off so James cleared his plate which became the sun and out stretched the other hand holding a miniture strawberry. He then proceeded to demonstate the rotation of the earth but got frustrated because the strawberry was irregular in shape.

There wasn't much more talk about this natural occurence until later in the evening while picking up toys we heard James shout, "quick the sun is setting". The kids sprung up from their scattered toys and raced outside (If only I could get the same quick response when I call for mealtimes). It was just before 9:00 pm and we were all gathered on the north corner of our street, a few minutes later we watched the sun sink behind Antelope Island. Maryanna said the clouds were so pretty, Clara kept running into the street, William and Peter had their eyes fixed, and James was trying to estimate the angle of the sun in relation to a near by lamp post. We then went inside and ate some rice crispy treats. On the short walk to our front door Paul informed me that I looked a little funny out on the sidewalk in my tie dyed jammies, I thought the same thing about Maryanna who was barefoot and just in a shirt and pull up.

It may not have been as eventful as last year's celebration where the boys camped out in the backyard and stayed up late playing Borderline Africa (their favorite card game), but I'm glad we paused for a few moments out of our somewhat chaotic life and reflected on the beauty of nature and passing time. I can't believe we are halfway through 2008!

I also think James is cute - still in the shirt and tie he put on at 8:30 am.