Mini Faux-den for Valentine's Day

The spring Mini Boden catalog came in the mail this week.  I found about 18 items I'd like to buy for Katie and Charleigh.  However, I made a New Year's resolution to not buy anything online or catalog order unless it is an absolute need and cannot be purchased at the store.  Well, too bad, I can't truthfully say I need this shirt.
Since breaking my resolution in January would be just too depressing, I decided to make my own version.

Here's the inspiration (in teeny tiny format):

And here's my not layered, less fluttery, but more weather appropriate for Valentine's Day version:

I used a shirt Katie already owned, bought on clearance last year for $3.33.  I had all the other supplies on hand, so if you don't count time as money; I saved $24.67.  Not bad, and Katie got to choose the fabric for the hearts.  This gave her some ownership over the design, which means she will actually wear it :) 

Think I'll make this one next (so little.  why?):

Hoppy Easter

I tried to teach Katie the meaning of the holiday this year. Pretty sure she missed the point somewhat. During my explanation of Christ's resurrection she chimed in with, "I like chicks." I'll keep trying.

This is the first year we have attempted egg dyeing with the Kate. Now we know she doesn't mind the taste of vinegar.



Egg dyeing at Aunt Diane's



I don't think Katie was the only one tasting the dye. Bryce was sampling it too.



The glamour girl awaits the arrival of her glamour cousins at Grandma and Granddad's.



A family photo at Grandma and Granddad's



Brisket, ham, baked potato, roll, green bean casserole, and salad



Egg dyeing round 2



Egg threats



Jon taught Katie to say, "Daddy's handsome." Yes, he is!



Strawberry-orange shortcake tart (I forgot the salt! Oops!)



After church, we drove to a scenic area to take pictures of K in her fancy ensemble. Of course she does her cutest pose in front of the parked cars!



Aaaaahhhhh!



Katie's ready for a swim - ha!



Egg hunt at my Aunt Diane's. I wonder how Katie convinced Bryce to put eggs in her basket.



Here is the best group shot of my family. A little different from our posed shot with Jon's family. Ha!

Happy Valentine's Day

in the hood

I used some of my Christmas money to buy a hoodie pattern from Lil Blue Boo. Here is my first go at it.

I can't believe she is still wearing the hood as I type this. Perhaps her head was cold and this shirt was just the thing she needed. It has a little kangaroo pouch in the front to warm your hands, or if you have Katie's inclinations, fill with gravel.

Don't Step on my Red Glitter Shoes

black velvet (leggings)...



sun studio's million dollar quartet...


Doesn't everybody's mother make them an Elvis dress to celebrate the King of Rock and Roll on his birthday?

Go Horns!

I taught Katie to say, "Go Aggies!"

She and I think it is so funny to pester Daddy this way.

Daddy is annoyed with Mommy - to say the least.

This is my latest sewing project/attempt to get back in Jon's good graces.

dadstrong

i made katie a livestrong, daddy, cheerios, bumblebee inspired dress with this pattern and a few old t-shirts. i was going to add a red segment to the dress, but decided the colors of the german flag would not go well with jon's shaved head. the one with jon's picture was a gift he gave me, size large, when we were dating. i am not sure what that reveals about how jon views my size and style!



you can't tell in the picture, but i sewed the back black panel on wrong side out! oops!



you can make fun of these wonky bell sleeves if you want. i am not sure about them myself.



how much will she hate me when she is 15 and sees i made her wear this? for the record - she chose which shoes to wear.

Tis the Season for Blood Curdling Screams

This is not the picture we had envisioned (obviously - or I would have made better wardrobe choices for myself) when we took K to see Santa.

Why are Jon and I in the picture? Shrieks of terror, loud enough to make us all jump, from the boy just ahead of Katie in the Santa line made her more than a little cautious. See the fear in her eyes in this pic below? K kept saying "Hold you, Mawhner." She just knew Jon or I would betray her and force her to sit with Santa. However, neither of us had the heart to wrench her from our arms and force her to sit in S. C.'s lap. So we have a family portrait. It'll be a fun story to share with K one day.

Memaw T gave me red and white polka dot material. I sewed it into the bubble skirt K is modeling. My Memaw Hazel would make me and my girl cousins Christmas skirts each year to wear in our Santa pictures. I'm keeping the tradition alive.

Back of the bubble.

Gobble, gobble (at least the male turkeys do seasonally when sleepy)

I made Katie some play food for Thanksgiving. She loves her roast turkey. She gives it hugs and kisses. I hope she isn't too traumatized when she finds out where turkey dinners come from.

Yes, the drumsticks detach.


Punkin' Pie


Thanksgiving morning we ran the Turkey Trot. Here's K and Daddy bundled up to race.


Mawhner/Grandma's favorite trotters.


Our racing team ready to run! Jon is not happy I used my whole neck to smile in this picture.


Can you tell what I am most thankful for? No, it's not the stroller! Guess again.


We had an early dinner at Grandma/Mawhner and Granddad's. Look Jon's "don't show the teeth smile" is possibly a family trait.


Here's Memaw T cookin' it up. You know it was good!


The feast!

Mr. Owly

Would I buy this if I saw it at a garage sale for 50 cents? Probably not.



If I spent a couple of months cutting, appliqueing, sewing, and stuffing this little owl pillow, I would keep it forever displaying it with love and pride.

I used a pattern for the cutest part, the owl. You can get it here if you want to make yourself one of these. Or you can ask me to make you one, but it'll take about 4 months!

Family Reunion - Western Style!

Here are a few pictures from our family reunion with Jon's branch of the family. It was also Founder's Day - a celebration of the town's heritage that Jon's Uncle Charlie helped to plan. The weekend was kicked off with a cattle drive. How many head of cattle does it take to be consider a drive?



Cousins, Uncles, Aunts, Oh My!
Jay, Uncle D., Aunt A., Cindy, and Aunt Nino.



These two were born for the stage. We had a coffee and donut breakfast at a little theater. Someone mentioned it was the venue for Jenna Bush's wedding rehearsal dinner. How cool is that? I sewed the skirt Katie is wearing. That explains the many seams and asymmetry.



Aunt Nino and S. getting ready for the parade.



Katie riding in style.



K LOVES horses!



Sweet! We had a bench in our hotel room just for the stuffies to sit!



Linda played the guitar for the girls. Katie and L. are letting their lights shine.



Blowing bubbles with Aunt Bev and Granddad.