splash!

Yes, it's time for swimming lessons again!  Britton is in level 3 this summer, so by the end of class she should be swimming all by herself, with no flotation devices.  Barrett knew something was up when I started covering him and Britton with sunscreen, and he had no intention of not being invited to the pool.  Poor Barrett - his swimming lessons don't start for another month!

"Is it all rubbed in, Mommy?"

Britton's class jumped right into the pool, even though that water had to be freezing!  She did a great job, going all the way underwater, kicking with the kick board, and listening to her teachers.

After swimming, Britton and I went to a Girl Scout outdoor event.  Once we got home, it was fitting to continue our welcome to summer with a run to our favorite ice cream shop!  Kids line up to get onto this cow out front - it appears to be a requirement before you get your cone.

And Barrett never lets me wear my sunglasses for long.  Yes, he has his own, but sometimes Mommy's big shades are the only ones that will do!

the sophia quilt

Britton's kindergarten teacher is pregnant with her first baby, and through Britton I have learned: (1) that she was pregnant in the first place, and (2) is having a girl she'll name Sophia.  I realize now that I've put a lot of faith in Britton's word, as I made her teacher a quilt based entirely on Britton's assertion that she is having a girl!  Well, it's pretty gender-neutral in case Britton got the details wrong.

I had a charm pack of "30s Playtime" from Chloe's Closet for Moda, and I knew I wanted to make an Irish Chain quilt.   The fabric is all reproductions of 1930s feed sack-type fabrics, and perfect for a baby.

The backing is an alphabet print I picked up on clearance from Joanns.

The binding is a blue with red/pink flowers.  I had to pick something that tied the front to the back, and the back had no pink or purple, so that was out.  And you just know I had the perfect pink polka dot picked out!  But the blue flowered works well here.  Don't you love that hedgehog?

I straight-line stitched through each nine patch, then stitched this flower made of hearts in the middle of each white solid block.  I love how it turned out!

I'm giving the quilt to Britton's teacher at kindergarten graduation in two weeks!

day squared: mothers and memorial

In an effort to not spoil the surprises, I didn't share these other lined zippered pouches when I showed you the ones I made the teachers.  These were for the "moms" in my life, who all came here for Barrett's birthday.

For my mom, the lover of all things purple, I went with this beautiful floral I used on the back of Ben's baby quilt, and a lavender gingham and zipper.

For Jessica, who is a mom but just not my mom, and a lover of cute prints and retro style, I used some cherry print chambray, a large red gingham for the lining (from the backing of Gigi's placemats), and a bright green zipper.

And for Memaw, lover of all things vintage and cute and gingham and polka dotted, a miniature Dresden plate with seafoam gingham lining (from her placemats), and a bright blue zipper.  The Dresden plate was a tiny 5.5 inches!

And for a treat for myself, and a nod to Memorial Day and the 4th of July, a new wreath.  I spied this wreath in the "Country Door" catalogue, and knew I wanted it badly.  I also figured I could make it myself with a grapevine wreath form and a quick trip to the Joanns floral section (it's like I never venture out of the fabric section).  

It turned out pretty good!  Not as full as the original, but I did hit up Joanns during a 60% off sale for all florals, so it saved me a ton to make it myself.  And it's proudly on the door this weekend as we celebrate Memorial Day!

vogue

Britton went with me to Joanns the other day (shocker, I know), and wanted some fabric.  Instead of saying no to every $15/yd fabric she could find, I said she could pick out two fat quarters.  When we got home, she decided she wanted to make a dress.  Now, a fat quarter is a 1/4 yard of fabric - only 21" by 18", and way too small for a dress.  So she improvised, with some masking tape and a bare bottom!

And, feeling quite like a fashionista himself, Barrett put on Britton's Cinderella dress up shoes and sashayed down the hallway.  Am I the only one who loves taking these pictures, knowing they'll end up embarrassing him in the future? 

Ummm...I was just trying them on.....for a friend...

Can't beat that fierce style!

recital time!

Last Saturday, before Barrett's birthday party, we all went to the Municipal Center for Britton's recital.  Luckily, this wasn't an hours-long production with costumes and all that - it was just Britton and her class showing the parents a ballet routine, tap routine, and some tumbling.

The ballet routine was to "Let It Go," which every girl loved!  Recital outfits were whatever the girls wanted to wear, and Britton wanted to wear a rainbow tutu.  Done!

Tap was to the Olaf song "Summer," so the girls wore sunglasses for their routine.  

For tumbling, each girl got to pick two skills.  Britton showed us her front roll and back roll.

We may have had the biggest cheering section!  Memaw, PawPaw, Aunt Jessica, Cammy, and Emily and Jason joined Barrett, me, and the hubs.

After the routines, the girls got certificates for their participation in the class.  This is Amanda, Britton's teacher.  She was so patient and good with the girls, and so bubbly.

Congrats to Britton for another season of dance under her belt!  She so enjoys dance, and I love watching her improve every week and have fun at the same time.

two fun: barrett's john deere party

We held Barrett's second birthday party on Saturday, and managed to pull it all together and have a great time!  I always underestimate the work of having a party at home, but luckily Memaw pitched in on the food and Jessica brought her bouncy house to entertain the kids.  I had scoured the internet (most certainly Pinterest!) and found some cute ideas I incorporated into the food:

I laid out green and yellow bandanas, then decorated with the hubs' old John Deere tractors he acquired as a kid.  I also borrowed Barrett's little tractors to add in.  I made the Pioneer Woman's Cherry Limeade, and let me tell you - that stuff is addictive and ridiculously yummy!  Memaw let me borrow the mason jar drink dispenser, and it worked out great.

I described the cake to the bakery, and they worked up a "farm scene," and we added the tractor.

The kids had their pick of activities -the bouncy house, the sand table, the playset, and general running around and being wild.  Barrett's cousins, Emily and Jason, were there, plus Chase and Landon from Barrett's class, and Britton's friends Ali and Quinnie.  It wasn't crowded or overwhelming for the kids, and the adults could sit back and relax while the kids played.

Barrett is IN LOVE with the bouncy house

Sand + trucks = fantastic entertainment

Cammy tried on the hats (and helped me put them together the night before).

We're still working on the whole blowing-out-the-candle idea, but Barrett knew that candle needed to go out before we'd cut into the cake - the hubs helped him out.  Little did I know that Barrett loves cake, especially icing!

I didn't want to break up the fun by making the kids sit and watch Barrett open presents, so we held off until later that afternoon.  Jessica gave Barrett some stickers, which he promptly stuck all over his legs!  He received some books and tractors - his two current favorite types of toys.  And weeks ago, when Jessica told me about the power wheels John Deere tractor she was getting Jason and how much he loved it, we went in with Memaw and PawPaw on one for Barrett. He noticed it in the garage this morning and gave it a spin, but he's still getting used to the idea of a tractor that moves without needing him to scoot it along.

Happy second birthday, Barrett!  We had a great time celebrating with you, and your infectious joy for the whole day gave us all a happy day!

barrett: two years old

Today is Barrett's second birthday!  Could this kid get any happier?  Barrett is a light in our family's lives, and I love seeing him get bigger, learn more, try out new words, and always be ready to give me a hug.  

 

We started out Barrett's birthday with a present from Britton.  He took his new book to school today to show his class.  We will give him his other presents on Saturday at his party.

Aunt Jessica, Cammy, Emily, and Jason came into town this afternoon too!  They are joining us for the party, and fitting in a visit too.

It's cake time!  Barrett dived into his cake with abandon!

And we were joined by two Princess Annas!