114 months old

Lately, Britton has been super-busy!  She's gearing up for her three dance routines for the recital in May, still participates in GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) and student council, and will soon begin soccer.  She doesn't miss piano at all, and gets a kick out of seeing Barrett learn piano for the first time.  The hubs just got back from Japan, and brought back squishies, stickers, and erasers for Britton - she loves that stuff!  

Likes:  reading, our new tree swing, watching Super Bowl ads

Dislikes:  not getting to stay up and watch the entire Super Bowl

granny's Christmas quilt and pillow

When we decided to go visit the hubs' grandmother over Christmas, I knew I wanted to make her a Christmas quilt!  I had fallen in love with Bonnie and Camille's "Vintage Holiday" and Fig Tree Fabrics "Christmas Figs" fabric lines, and as you can see, they play well together.  The star pattern is reminiscent of the first Christmas quilt I made for myself.  And while the quilt is most definitely a Christmas quilt, the colors allow Granny to keep it out year-round if she likes.

The green minky backing is ridiculously soft and snuggly, but man, it is hard to quilt!  Maybe my walking foot is wearing out, but minky makes quilting so slippery.  Memaw taught me a trick with binding - when you can't decide, go with polka dot!  So I went with this red with tiny polka dots.

This quilt needed a partner in crime, so I made a pillow!  The pattern is from Amy Sinbaldi (free pattern here), and I love how the embroidery came out.  I'm not very skilled in embroidery, mostly because it takes patience and time, neither of which I'm good with!

The backing is from Bonnie and Camille (I can't remember which fabric line, I bought it years ago), and coordinated perfectly with the "Vintage Holiday" mini charm pack I used on the front.

Granny loved the quilt and pillow!  She's really an incredible woman, and has so many fascinating stories to share.  She used to quilt too, and I've got some of them in my house.

barrett: 68 months old

Back to school today!  Break is over, and while no one is happy that the days of sleeping in and lazy couch snuggles are over for now, I think both kids were excited to see their friends again and get back into the groove.  We've been entertaining ourselves with puzzles lately, and were doing one last night when the kids wanted to help.  Can you believe it?  Barrett is a natural at puzzles, and was matching up the tiny pieces (750 piece puzzle) so quickly.

Barrett had his first piano lesson today!  Britton and I were talking about Barrett taking lessons, and that incredibly smart girl goes, "I hope he loves piano like you do." And I was immediately grateful that I had followed my gut when I decided to let her make up her own mind.  Barrett was nervous, but finally warmed up to his piano teacher, and he thinks he will like piano lessons.  

Likes:  orange yogurt, dinosaurs (his new favorite)

Dislikes:  going to sleep

113 months old

Whoops!  With the holidays and school being out and me getting back to work, I completely forgot to take Britton's monthly photo.  It was actually Britton who reminded me today!  Not much to update since Christmas - the kids are enjoying the time off, playing with friends and new toys, and riding bikes around the neighborhood.  

Britton has decided to stop taking piano lessons now.  This decision was hard on my heart, since I took many many many years taking piano and I wanted Britton to be able to play well.  And she can - she's taken lessons for 2.5 years.  But she was losing interest and would not practice without threats, so I made the decision hers.  Barrett will be starting piano lessons next week!  :)

Likes:  The Rock's Titan Games, Sweet Valley Twin books

Dislikes:  going to bed on time (school next week will be rough)

did you have a merry little christmas?

It felt like Christmas was taking for.eve.r to get here, and then BOOM - it was two days before Christmas and I was completely unprepared.  I had the presents bought and wrapped, and the cookie dough chilling in the fridge, but I wasn't ready for something I had waited on for weeks to be upon me.  Because once the wrapping paper goes flying, Christmas is gone for another whole year.  Ugh, I'm so ridiculously nostalgic that it hurts my heart for Christmas to be over.  But I guess I get to relive it here, remembering how much fun we had!

Britton and her friend Lola made Christmas cookies.  We made sugar cookies, and also gingerbread cookies (from the recipe in the back of "Ninjabread Man," a kid's book!).  

Santa must have believed these kids when they swore they were good all year because he delivered!  Britton got the Shoppies Bride doll, a frog squishamal, a bucket of slime, and a scooter. Barrett got a remote control Rocky, My Little Ponies, and a go-kart.  Smiles all around!

It's getting to be more fun watching the kids open gifts than it is to focus on our own gifts!  But the hubs and I got some great things too, and even surprised each other with unique finds.

A view of us on Christmas morning, next to the Disney tree!  I hope you had a Merry Christmas too!

barrett: 67 months old

What a fun month December is shaping up to be!  Barrett had his last soccer game last weekend, and we celebrated with the team at Chuck E. Cheese.  The kids all got their trophies and team photos, and Barrett was so excited that he has been sleeping with his trophy in his bed every night!  

Tomorrow we are having breakfast at the school, then hitting up the bookstore and seeing Santa Clause.  The school puts on this Santa breakfast every year, and it's a great opportunity to avoid the mall for a Santa photo, plus I get to check out the goodies at the bookstore.  Barrett has his list ready and wants to bring his tooth fairy money to buy some books.  

Likes:  Rainbow Dash - he picked her out at Build-A-Bear at Thanksgiving!

 Dislikes:  not getting to open up his Christmas presents yet

112 months old

We had a great Thanksgiving!  The hubs' parents, and aunt and uncle, came over to eat, hang out and spin yarns.  Britton helped make the pies, and loved hanging out with us while we cooked dinner.  

Mostly, Britton loved having the entire week off of school!  She read a ton of books, slept in, rode her bike around the neighborhood, and went out with Memaw and PawPaw to the trampoline park and Build-A-Bear.  Britton just performed in her play in mid-November, so practices have stopped, but she has a piano recital coming up for Christmas.  Always something coming up, it seems!

Britton decorated the family tree this year - on her own!  She took out the ornaments, put hooks on, and decided where they would go.  Super Hero Barrett (yes, that's a tree skirt as a cape!) was her assistant.  

Likes:  apple cider, hot chocolate (even when it's hot outside), decorating for Christmas

Dislikes:  having to be patient, practicing piano