Pre-party Party!

Steve was in town for a few days and we all got together at Heather's for some BBQ and an early birthday celebration! Steve got to meet Sadie. She bit him.

My brothers and children. There's always a flying lesson!

It was such a fun evening! Thanks so much Heather and Eddie!

Birthday tutu

A little someone I know is going to have a birthday soon and I wanted to send her a little gift. I started out with the idea of making an outfit that began with this onesie. I made a little party hat and appliqued it onto the onesie. Then I proceeded to make a skirt to match without a pattern. Well, I tried it on a model friend, and well, it was too small. Sooooo, I made a tutu to go with it. It will be fun for pictures and maybe she'll dress up in it when she gets bigger! It probably won't arrive on her doorstep for a couple more days, so I won't say who it's for!! Last night, we had dinner with Steve, Heather, Mom and Eddie. Pictures to come soon! Thanks Auntie Feather for the birthday cake, Maleah loved it!

Just a couple of things I made

Through a lot of trial and error, I finally figured out what size pants to make from this pattern for Ella! This is the 3rd pair of these cute pants that I made for her. The other two would fit BABIES!! I love how they turned out though. This cute dress gave me a run for my money. But I like how it turned out anyway! I will definitely make more of these. I want to make a shorter one for Maleah to wear with leggings or her little bike shorts. Hopefully, I will be able to share a picture soon!

Ok, I know it's been a while, but...

We've been busy! Here's the rundown.
We got our toes sandy in Gulf Shores, Alabama. While we were there, we had some fun with swim diapers,

we visited Fort Morgan,

visited with family,

tooks lots of pictures with family,

rested a little,

met a couple of cute new babies! Here's one,

here's another!

We visited with some babes we already knew,

and some little mermaids too!

(Sorry, I didn't know that was going to rhyme, but I'll go with it.)

We had some fun in the ocean,

picked up a few shells,

and we made some cool tye-dyed duds!

But before that, I had another birthday,

Greg and Maleah learned to bowl really well...

on the Wii.

We had a fun visist with Grampa,

with a dance recital at home,

after a big show "for real life!"

So, when I ask myself, "Where did the month of June go?" Here it is, in a blogshell.

Happy Birthday Greg! 37! For a brief 9 days, the number between the two of us only differs by 1. Next week, I will get all the riff about being two years older. Here are some photos from the celebration. Ella couldn't keep her eyes open at lunch. She downed some fries and then this happened! Cousins are so fun!

Get ready Daddy for the goods!
All of the kids always gather around opening gifts, right?

How do those babies look? Chocolate with peanut butter chips! Mmmm!

The Last "Nastics"

Ella had her last day at gymnastics (she doesn't know it was her last) and she had a great time, as usual. Here she is with her teacher, just so proud to get her little ribbon. This thing was one of her favorite things to play with. Sometimes it would be laying down and she'd be like a little jack in the box. Maleah came with us since she was out of school. She was dying to go and see what it was all about.

The bars were always a big hit with her too. Lots of fun!

Look out Miss Juanita and Miss Angela! Ella will be all over the ballet and tap dancing come fall!

Girly Things

Okay, so in April, we went to the Bluebonnet Festival. It was really fun, you know sausage on a stick, fresh hot kettle corn, who could ask for more? Well, Maleah could have. She asked for this dress, it cost around $30. Ok, she didn't ask, she begged, she was like Veruca on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "I want it now DADDY!" Well, I chime in and say, "Maleah, I can make that dress for you! We are not buying that dress!". So here we are more than a month, 3 sewing needles, 2 zippers, some lost hair, and I'll probably need a new seam ripper later. The dress she wanted at the festival, made by me. I told her she better wear it A LOT. I won't make another! She loves it though, so it was all worthwhile. :)

This is just how I found Ella when I went in to get her out of bed. She got those glasses in her Christmas stocking a year and a half ago. They have made quite the comeback. She sleeps with a little Barbie backpack with all of her monsters in it and the glasses as well.

Of course, she was reading and told me to come back when she was done. Can you believe that? I can't.

That's Ella!