homemade matching outfits

Let me first say that I did not make these outfits. I am not nearly talented enough with a sewing machine. I tried my hand at sewing more than ten years ago and after a summer of making one pair of pajamas, I turned in my straight pins and returned to the kitchen. I think it's a wonderful art but I am happy to pay people to do it for me, and blessed to have a several wonderful seamstresses in the family. Audrey's Grandma S. made these for Audrey for her birthday this year. She also made an outfit for Allie.

All lined up on the couch. L to R: New baby, Paige, Bitty, Lee-Middleton, Audrey and Reagan

Grandma even made purses and hats and hair bows!

Allie and Audrey in their outfits with the dolls. You can't really see Allie's. It's a pinafore and a skirt. Audrey's is a dress.

Sarah

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving, Wednesday. Note Audrey's arm. She saw me do it and then did the same right before the flash went off. So cute! 

On Thursday we went to my Grandma's. Lots of people (35) in a not to big house. It's crowded, but it's cozy. After lunch (and about 800 desserts) when the crowd thins it's craft time. This year we made candy advent calendars. Each day of December until Christmas you untie a piece of candy. We simply used adorable scrapbook paper, ribbon, double stick tape and stickers. This won't be a calendar that you pass down for generations, but it was perfect for the two hours we had to create it. 

a few of the finished products

Audrey's advent calendar

Then, on Friday, we celebrated Thanksgiving with Jeremy's family. Another big meal (it's no wonder my pants are tight as I type this) and another big day of family. Allie decided to sit in Lilahs (she's 6 months) Bumbo...without help. We found her there a lot that day. So funny!

Overall, it was a great Thanksgiving. Now, on to Christmas! 

Sarah

Happy Thanksgiving

Tonight our family sat down to a feast. Our annual, day before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving. Since we were dating and Jeremy had roommates, we've made a turkey and all the fixins the day before Thanksgiving. On the menu this year:

Oven roasted turkey
Mashed potatoes
broccoli with buttered walnuts
cranberry sauce
Pumpkin Pie with Maple whipped cream and sugared pecans

We have found it's better to fix our favorites rather than going all out since we're  celebrating on Thursday and Friday too.  I could have only made cranberry sauce and Audrey would have been happy. She announced she didn't like turkey, or potatoes or broccoli. She ate her cranberry sauce with a spoon and had a side of pumpkin pie.

Our thanksgiving celebration started back in 2003, when Jeremy and I were dating and Jeremy had roommates. I can't remember why we decided to make a turkey on that Wednesday, other than, why not?  Thus, a tradition was born. The meal has gotten more elaborate over the years and  has been tweeked to be gluten free ( no more dinner rolls and stuffing--there is a way, but it's waaayyyy too complicated for my life right now). It started as four adults,  then after we got married it was just Jeremy and I for a few years. This year was our first year with two young kids and it was by far the most chaotic meal to date. A one point we looked at each other half way through the meal and said, "maybe next year we'll eat once they're in bed!"  I started a story at least five times before I said to Jeremy, "nevermind, I'll tell you in four years." Jeremy kept trying to tell the story of the first Thanksgiving, a history buff that he is, and Audrey, full of imagination, kept telling him to stop talking and to listen to her and her stories of the pilgrims. Her stories were creative, and I'm sure not even a little bit true. I think our first or second Thanksgiving, when we sat down on that Wednesday night to watch TV in a quiet house, our Christmas lights glowing on our perfect tree that had decorations all over, not just the top half, like this year, a glass of wine in one hand and the best pumpkin pie I'd ever made in another. I'm glad we have those memories. Life isn't the same as it was then. It's a lot louder. But we are thankful for the noise. Thankful for little hands that always want to help in the kitchen and little feet that run to help unload the dishwasher (and then steal a piece of silverware and giggle with delight when they get more than a few steps away without being caught).  We are very blessed! Happy Thanksgiving!

Sarah

What Audrey is thankful for this year

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I've really been trying to teach Audrey what being "thankful" really means. We talk about the pilgrims and why they came to America and why we eat turkeys, but I really want her to understand and appreciate her blessings. Last night after her bedtime story, I asked her what she was thankful for. She looked at me blankly. I then asked her what makes her happy. Fully expecting her to say her Bitty Baby or her new Toy Story toys she surprised me when she said, "when Allie smiles." I smiled and clarified that she meant when her little sister smiles, that's what makes her happy. And that, melts my heart.

THEN TODAY, we made a thankful tree. We traced her hands on colored paper and used them as "leaves" on the tree that I free handed and cut out. It's not the prettiest tree but it's pretty cute. On the five leaves she had to tell me what what she was thankful for and why. This is what she said (honest, I didn't coach her at all)

1. Daddy, because he makes money so we can shop
2. Mommy, because you make me orange juice everyday
3. Allie, because I like to play with her
4. My friends
5. Bitty Baby. And Paige. And Reagan. And New Baby (her newest doll, this is not an announcement of any kind), and my Toy Story toys.

Fall Landscaping

I could pretend like I know the names of the plants in the following pictures, but quite honestly, I don't. I like the way they look in the pots (I do know that the red flowers are mums and the purple is kale). And I know that I kept my summer arrangement in the pots and just added the above and the pumpkins. Audrey placed the two little pumpkins on the side of the house. Those were hers that she would play with every time someone would come to the door. They took a beating as they were tossed and rolled and dropped. All the pumpkins lasted way past Halloween. We opted not to carve them again this year. Maybe next year. 

note Audrey's two lone pumpkins

sweet Allie. 

Sarah

Spooky Lunch

We were invited to our neighbors Spooky Lunch, although this year, it became an Appetizer Event before trick or treating as Halloween fell on Sunday. We all brought our scariest foods and the kids dressed in costume. My Cinderella lost her tiara 2 minutes before walking out the door (in which we were already 10 minutes late) and refused to wear her gloves. So, really, she just looked like a girl in a glittery blue dress. My Tulip Pixie looked adorable in her hand-me-down fairy outfit.

the kiddos, Auds and Allie, front row, far left

Cinderella, still waking up from her beauty rest

my Graveyard Dip

Wormy Orange Punch

my adorable Tulip Pixie with my friend, JoAnn who was so nice
to watch Allie so I could take pictures

Sarah

Audrey's 3rd Birthday

Can it be true that my little firstborn girl turned three yesterday?

 I love her more everyday and am so thankful God gave her to us. I'll write something sappy and meaningful in another blog, but for now, here's how we celebrated.

We invited all her little girl friends (and their brothers) to her Fancy Nancy party. Audrey fell in love with the FN books this summer while reading for the library's summer reading program. My friend Alicia made the cake(s) and I helped her decorate just one the night before the party. It took us so long to decorate the one, we decided to leave the other disassembled for easy serving. We tried to accessorize it, just like Fancy Nancy would. I think we succeeded.

The cake

the set-up. The chocolate suckers are on the far right

punch and chocolate popcorn served at the family party, alongside parfaits and cake

This was our first year attempting two parties and two parties on the same day. Her friends came from 11-1 and then family from 2-4. When the girls first arrived my SIL Hannah painted their nails and made them "fancy" with bracelets, necklaces and rings. Grandma S. then read the original Fancy Nancy book to the group. They ate pizza and carrots with dip, decorated picture frames, filled their bags with pinata candy and  made their own parfaits and ate pink cake (strawberry) with pink icing. (Audrey's request).

getting nails painted

my husband was so good to tie the tulle around the (very primary) chairs

drinking from her fancy straw

she decorated her picture frame all by herself, and did a great job.

Allie checking out the balloons

lots of purple paint at this table

story time

Audrey laughing with cousin Hannah and running around in circles before the family party (no doubt, high on all the sugar they consumed an hour before)

We attempted a group picture. Emphasis on attempted. 

Blowing out her candles on her pancake the next morning (her actual birthday)
She requested pancakes with sprinkles, bacon and orange juice. 

helping make the chocolate suckers 

Audrey loves to help in the kitchen

mommy, daddy and audrey on her 3rd birthday

Happy Birthday Mae Mae

Sarah