sweet dolls

For Christmas, I wanted to make something special for my kids.  I really wanted to make something with my hands {like I had imagined the elves do when I was young}, something that maybe my kids would cherish for years.  I found this pattern online and decided to give it a whirl.  I thought the finished product had that perfect balance of imperfect, sweet and whimsical.

The pattern was very straight forward for a novice and although it took me a few days to make them, they were fairly simple to make.

They seem to be just the right size for little arms and were incredibly fun to dress and make jewelry for.

I hope they will be used and loved and maybe, just maybe, cherished for many years.

celebrations

This happy birthday girl celebrated her special day with many of her sweet friends!  They bounced and ran and filled up on chocolate milk with fun toppings.  Our grand ideas of a hot cocoa bar were quickly changed  to cold chocolate milk when the temps hit 80 degrees!  Nevertheless, it was a wonderful afternoon spent with many loved ones and dear friends.

1-2-3

Our #3 is due to arrive late this summer!

This year...

This month, we celebrate you!

On this special birthday you, 

-wanted to hear about the day your were born

-you rode your bike for the first time on a walk with the dogs

-made dinner with mommy

-ate donuts with your classmates {and sister}  to celebrate your special day
-were proud to have your sister sit by you at school when we all sung "happy birthday"

-let me fix your hair different

-decorated your own cupcakes

-put your own candles in your birthday cupcake

-helped light the candles on your birthday cupcake

-really seemed to enjoy the birthday phone calls from family and friends
-were super excited to be measured on the garage wall and look to see how much you have grown since last year

-called Daddy at work to tell him that the reason you were crying so much when you were born was because you were trying to tell us that you loved us

-happily played with your sister in a cardboard diaper box

 

What is your favorite color?

purple, just purple

What is your favorite book?
Berenstain Bears

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a Mommy.

What is your favorite restaurant?
Chick-Fil-A and burger fries

What is your favorite food at home?
beans and rice

What do you like to do outside?
play with my car

What do you like to do at school?
play ice cream
where do you play that?
sandbox outside

What is your favorite thing to wear?
a dress with a bow on it...and polka dots

What are your favorite shoes?
clip clops and sparkly shoes

What do you like to do inside?
play with my sister

What is your favorite toy?
the cash register

What is your favorite drink?
fancy drink that daddy give me at dinnertime

What time do you go to bed?
seventy-eight o'clock

What time do you get up in the morning?
forty-three o'clock

Where do you like to go in the car?
to my aunt and uncle's house

birthdays

We have been knee-deep in birthday celebrations this month.  This sweet baby doll has had 6 birthday celebrations this month.  I keep asking when her birthday is but the only answer I get is, "that was just her pretend birthday yesterday.  I think today is her REAL birthday."  I am not sure how much longer I can celebrate with her...

coziness

Even though the weather has gotten quite mild, there is a chill that lingers in the house for the better part of the day.  That slightest chill seems to eat away at our little feet.  Long socks are a must to keep toes warm and cozy.  Along with cozy feet, comes cozy mornings on the couch with jammies that we can't bare to take off because they are already so warm and our clothes for the day are so cold.  Staying cozy on the couch for a few minutes with a sweet friend always seems to help start the day off on a happy note.

outdoor winter party

Earlier this winter, my big girl set up an outdoor party on a sunny and mild afternoon.  Setting up parties is her norm and I figured this would be another little party with the dollies.  When we were all invited to venture outside to attend the party she planned, I was overcome with an intense mixture of sadness and sweet joy.  The sadness was over the blooms I had nurtured all year that had been plucked as party food.  The beautiful magenta  bouganvilla flowers were floating in bowls of water with all my lush basil leaves. 

Both plants were completely bare of any leaves or blooms.  

But when I saw the sweet little celebration that my girl thoughtfully planned I quickly forgot about my precious plants and instead was drawn to the precious work she'd done.

She happily served an eager sister ,cousin and a doting great-grandmother too.  The aunts and uncles served themselves buffet-style per the request of the little party planner.

The bird dish was used for crayons and the dog dish was a serving bowl.

When I saw the heaps of beautiful blooms on our yellow outdoor plates, I couldn't help but see that my girl has an appreciation for the beautiful colors of the outdoors.  So beautifully mixed, the colors made for a beautiful end of fall celebration.  

{It did help knowing that our first freeze was just around the corner and I knew all these plants would die then.  Had it been mid-summer, I may have had a slightly different reaction to this little celebration!}

Happiest New Year Wishes!

calligraphy by Arno Kath

Wishing you all the best this year!

Holiday Happiness

snow forts, riding in a wagon just perfect for two, having a sweet sister to explore with, meeting Santa and one of his reindeer

sledding on Christmas day, snowballs, snowmen, snow-angels, snow tea-parties, being with your family

hand-written notes for Santa, reading stories by the fire, playing with a new toy you never knew you wanted, little treats left for Santa, excitement, being with sweet family, the quiet night and those bright stars

advent: day 24

SNOW!  What a wonderful gift for a curious little one at Christmastime!