ISBN978-4-579-11289-0... catchy title

 I have a new sewing pattern book, It's all in Japanese, so we will quaintly refer to it as 11289.  I made Owen this snazzy reversible vest with pockets (L in size 130 for my 7-year old, pretty average sized kiddo). Looking at the pattern, and being relatively new to pockets, i didn't realize that the striped fabric I thought would be cute in the lining of the pocket, actually sticks out quite a bit.  S'alright though 'cause he loves the colorful stripes.  The inside is a white and blue ikat.

 These awesome pants are actually why I bought the pattern book.  They have a zipper and pleats.  Grace chose the fabric from a great fabric shopping trip up to Bolt.  I say great because she was a fab. fabric shopper, and came up with two beautiful pieces.  These for the pants, and a pretty offwhite for the shirt.  It's also done but I don't have a picture yet.

The shorts are "R" in size 110 for G., my slightly above average sized 3 1/2 year old and fit her perfectly if you sew the correct seam allowances (1.5cm on the outer edges.  I didn't at first and had to take them in.  I so very much want her to try them on, but unlike Owen who LOVES anything that I make for him, Grace is a bit more opinionated.  We got this for Easter, so she certainly is NOT going to wear them until then, except for the fastest try-on moment for fit.

Confessions

I kinda love Dr. Who, there I said it.

Patting myself on the back

Okay, I wish I could really do that well, I have a heck of a knot in my shoulder that is just not going away...

BUT, do you ever have a parenting moment where you are like "oh yeah, totally got that one figured out!"  Well, at this point in the game, I know that I will never have it all figured out, and that if I do, they will change, and I will have to figure something else out.  BUT, baby steps right. 

This though, this has worked for two whole months now, and I am so proud of myself that I have told everyone and am writing it down here. Grace LOVES her dresses, and if it was entirely up to her, we would just wait outside of the wash and dryer in her undies waiting for them to be clean so she could wear her two favorite(... thanks Uncle Ry) every day.  However, girlfriend has a ton of adorable clothes, some of which Grandma and I have made and we love to see her in them! 

At any rate, our strategy... hangers with clippy things.  I have six, so we put one whole outfit a day onto each hanger, and hang them up, including the Uncle Ry dresses, and she gets to choose which outfits.  The dresses always go first, but then she will happily wear the rest of the outfits without much argument (as long as they do not include jeans / jean like pants which she does not like)...she likes helping put outfits on the hangers, she gets to choose, she knows about when the dresses will be back "up", it is easier if Brian is getting her dressed, he doesn't have to worry about "outfits" and the screaming and arguing and wanting clothes that do not exist and naked running around while crying because she has changed her mind about what she wants to wear or simply about having to get dressed at all is much much reduced.  ah, breathe.

I know this isn't necessarily brilliant formative parenting, and probably par for the course for most parents.  However, for us to have a solution to a problem that doesn't involve a "toughing it out while laying down the rules" stage, or using my unnaturally calm parenting voice and the patience of a saint to face an expressive toddler whose changing desires and emotions can give a person whiplash, makes me very happy because we are all happy with the outcome. 

Now if I can only figure out the best way to have them talk in normal voices instead of YELLING (usually with enthusiasm, sometimes with frustration, or sometimes just because who knows why)... I feel like I am back in Old-Field trying to explain to Michael (German) and Gio (Italian) that being the loudest doesn't mean that you win a conversation. 

Year of the snake shirts!

 This one by Dad and the one below by Val...

 I love our N-Y tees!

 And a bag for ted's cars... happy 4th!

Finally, bug condos inspired by http://inspirationgreen.com/insect-habitats.html  ours are slightly smaller scale, but still pretty fun.  This still took us a while, I am impressed by how long those others probably took!

That other ear hoodie

 Actually, I made this one first, just didn't get a good picture of it.  The inside is a super soft and sweet flannel, the outside is a green kona cotton.

That same source as the wolf hoodie I made for Owen, and though I bought more fabric for the wolf, managed to make this scarf portion much longer.  Notes for ever making this again... the ears, make big wide base ears, wider is better, these guys are way too floppy and I didn't make enough at the base to get the nice curve.  The wolf, I tried again, but even those I think could have been wider.  Also, watch it when you put the ears on I made two "right" sides the first time.   I like 'em both though, pretty darned easy, once you put the pieces together correctly... story of my life though really.  

Messenger

 One more of the messenger bags from zaberry.  I really love how easily these go together.  Owen picked one of my favorite fabrics out of my stash... I was "saving it" for ... well must have been for this!

 Cute turtles remind me of Otis.  It was a present for his friend's birthday!  I hope she loves it as much as we do!.  I also got to try out my new soap mold Brian got me for Christmas.  I haven't used a bar mold before.  Recipe... on teh bottom, the thin natural soap book recipe... plain recipe but with a tablespoon of peppermint and a tablespoon of lemongrass the top layer (after I realized one batch was way too small) is with red clay for color (why not make a layered soap?) and ... um, maybe rosemary. Oh my, I forget.

 Pretty good, I used our miter box to cut them, I would make the soap fatter next time though, otherwise it worked pretty well.  I did have two of the bars separate on the layers when I cut them, but otherwise, pretty smooth.
UPDATE:  Okay, I keep this in the garage to cure, and yes, we had mice.  Mice LOVE to eat soap.  I heard that you could use peppermint EO to deter mice, not these hungry fellas, they totally noshed on my soap... seriously!  I am comfortable enough giving them a good rinse off and use them at home, but we cannot give these away.  It was basically the chicken feed they gnawed a hole in the bag to access... totally understandable, it is now in a metal tin..and the soap, which was delicious.  Mice are ... one ewwww, and two:  weird.

 And one more new project, cute wolf hood for Owen, I made a cute bear for grace but haven't snapped a picture yet, though love the fabric... the ears are a wee smaller than I would like, but not bad.

the bucket 2013

Well, first on the bucket list is to sit down with the family and come up with one together... what did you say?  Jan is more than half over?   I know I know....

SO... I'll at least get one sort of together late in the evening... now what should be on this... I want to be realistic, but still push a few boundaries.

Hmm....

Get passports pulled together again.  Canada is not that far away!

Take the train up to Seattle

Go on a trip... I am thinking something along the lines of taking Owen to Vegas or NYC, or meeting up with girlfriends somewhere.

Do something with the house.  We have made no significant changes since we moved in.  The paint color in the living room that I have disliked since day 1 must go.  it must.  I'd like new floors, but we'll have to see if that is do-able, our carpets must go, they are just too old and show everything.  wood?  grey carpet?  I know wood can be kept cleaner and is a great choice, but I do like carpet underfoot, and can be cheaper.  Give Grace her closet... (in other words, find a place for all of my sewing / craft supplies).

Get back on the bike, at least once a week through the spring and summer. I have basically stopped moving, must get going again... I like to eat way to much to become sedentary.

Make croissants... exercise and make croissants.

Get back in gear with the dinner guests.  At least once a month, preferably twice, we should be able to handle that.  They don't all need to be big meals.

Get into working at the food pantry.  I think more things are pointing to the idea that I should put G. into daycare full-time.  If she is in on Friday, I can make the faculty meetings that I really ought to attend, I can also volunteer at the food pantry once a month... and still would have a lot of half-days and even some full days where G and I can just hang out the two of us.  Val is also doin' Yoga on Friday mornings, joining her would help address the move your body plan.  It's hard 'cause I really really love our Fridays together, and I am loathe to give them up, I don't really want to, but there are some things that should be done for work, for my body and soul as well... hrm.  She's good for the soul too.

K.  that's what  I have for now.  Let's go team!