Happy Birthday to Sophia (and me)

Before I had kids I didn't realize how quickly they grow up, I don't mean physically I am referring to the mental growth of a toddler. The look on Sophia's face in this picture says it all.


Sophia turned 3 this week and we got her a "big girl" bed. Steve painted the single bed that his dad made for him and it looks fantastic in her room. The reason that this gift made it on to my blog is the quilt. This quilt has been a labour of love on and off for almost two years. I could not be happier with how this quilt turned out and how fantastic it looks in her room, and the addition of the purple pillow really makes the quilt look great!



Sweet Dreams Sophia...

Oh, to be 2 again.....

I think I was very successful in bringing Sophia's purple butterfly/fairy/princess costume to reality this Halloween. When I decided to make costumes for the girls I couldn't have even hoped that they would turn out as well as they did. Sophia wore her costume all day. A girl has to accessorize though and Sophia needed to add a magic wand, some necklaces and bracelets to complete the look, and when we gave Sophia her "bat" loot bag she treated it like a purse and carried it around the house. And if you look close you can see that Layla is following in her sister's footsteps and is sporting a very fashionable pair of 3-D glasses.


The old joke about having to make Halloween costumes in Canada that fit over top of snowsuits held true this year. As Steve and Sophia carved the pumpkins we saw our first snowflake of the year. I have been busy working on the girls Halloween costumes for the past 2 weeks and all of my hard work paid off today seeing the girls parade around the house, and then the street in their "made to order" costumes.


I wasn't the only one busy today though, Steve and Sophia made some really great pumpkins for the porch.




Happy Halloween! And if anyone needs a little sugar fix we have a LOT of leftover candy!!

It's About Time!

It has been months in the making but I am finally finished. Layla's window seat is complete. The pillows turned out beautifully and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to sew an "L" onto one of the large pillows. I know the seat looks a bit full of pillows but Sophia spent a lot of time arranging them (I wonder who she gets that from) so I thought I would show off her work as well.


If you look out the window you can see that I'm not the only one that has been busy, look at all those houses!

Now that I am back at work I have been neglecting my blog, but not my sewing. I will try to stay on top of it and update everyone on what I have been making.

Happy Birthday Layla!

Layla turned one last week and we had a great family birthday party to celebrate with her on Sunday morning. As you can see she enjoyed her cake.


I recently decided to take a cake decorating class so that I could make some fun cakes for the girls birthdays. Layla absolutely loves teddy bears so it couldn't have been any more perfect of a cake. I know if she could talk, she would have chosen this cake...

...and this outfit. I had to embroider the butterfly on it, what a cutie!


Steve and I now have a one year old and a two year old, I can't believe how fortunate we are to have our beautiful girls.

A Year Gone By....

Well the time has come for me to go back to work. The bags are complete and packed for the girls for their first day with Oma and Opa. It has been a fantastic year for me, watching Sophia grow physically and mentally. Layla has taken her first steps and is starting to let go of the wall to walk to me, so the last item on my "to do" list can be crossed off. What an adventure.

I did a bit of shopping today to get ready for my first day back tomorrow. I'm sure that in no time it will seem like I never left. I can't even begin to recall all of the things that I have done with the girls in the last 12 months. I'll try to do a better recap on Thursday, Layla's birthday.


Such a busy week...first day back to work, 8 year anniversary and Layla's first birthday, and party. No better way to celebrate the end of the summer!

oh and let's not forget about the other girl that I'm leaving when I go back to work...what ever will she do without us???

stickers

This image looks innocent enough until you get a closer look at Layla.



I walked in to Layla's room and Sophia turned to me and said "Mommy, putting stickers on Layla's head." In this instance I'm not sure what the proper protocol is...do I yell at her and once again remind her that Layla is NOT a toy, or do I run downstairs and grab my camera. I think we all know what my reaction was this morning.

As my time at home gets close to an end I'm just grateful that these are the lasting memories I will have with me as I go back to work.

Never thought I'd see the day...

I have heard the myth of babies falling asleep in their highchairs but until today I didn't realize it could actually happen.

Well, I guess I knew it could happen!

Can anyone see the resemblance?

Sophia fell asleep after a long morning at the pool in Mexico, Layla fell asleep after a long morning watching Opa. Apparently both are very tiring activities.

beatin' the heat

There isn't much to do outside during this recent heat wave, but Sophia needed a little cool down after doing a loop around the street on her bicycle.

Don't forget your helmet!

Steve and I recently decided that Sophia was ready for a bigger bicycle. She pedals around the street on her tricycle so well that we figured she could try out a two-wheeler (with training wheels). I can't believe how well she can already pedal her new bike. Unfotunately, with the weather as hot as it is, doing one loop this morning was making us sweat. Her first attempt with her new "pink bicycle" last night was amazing and by the third loop around she barely needed any assistance at all.

My next project is to get Layla walking before I go back to work.

here fishy, fishy, fishy

Sophia caught her fist fish at the cottage, with the help of daddy. She was so excited about her catch, until it squirmed off the hook, and I thought she was going to run off the side of the dock.

It was a beautiful long weekend up north and we took full advantage of it for the 4 days we were there. The girls even had a couple swims in the lake.


and then another one at home....

Happy Canada Day!

Well, the morning has been busy. A quick loop around the street, watering the plants, a short visit from Oma and Opa, packing for the cottage and a quick lunch.

I will have to do the deck update another day but thought I would share these Canada Day photos with everyone before we leave.




HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Where'd they go?

It has been a while since my last post, which does not mean that I haven't been sewing. I did have a slight setback when I had to take my sewing machine in for a few days but I cut out all the projects I want to finish in the next couple months and have been busy since its return.


As you can see I have made one more sun hat to add the the girls collection, although this one was made for me to wear in the backyard gardening and playing with the girls. I really like the retro feel of this Robert Kaufman fabric.

The girls are doing great. Layla is not happy these days unless she is standing or walking holding onto my fingers, I wonder how much longer before she lets go and starts following Sophia around the house. Layla adores her big sister, and Sophia is pretty fond of Layla as well. Steve has recently found the two of them together in Layla's crib in the morning. The two of them have such a great time playing together.

It's a good thing I've made so many blankets/tents!

I haven't been the only creative person around the house recently. Tomorrow, before we depart for the cottage, I will update my blog with the new "addition" to the back of the house.

It's A Beautiful Day In Our Neighbourhood

This picture sums up the majority of my days at home with the girls, smiling faces and a really tight hug. This week we decided to share our hospitality and smiles with some of our neighbours. I wanted to make some treats for our neighbours, but I have also been dying to try out some more recipes in one of my favorite cookbooks, Bite Me, the chocolate cookies were a hit with all the kids and the "twinkorettes" were a definite hit with me!

Tomorrow I will be trying out a couple more of the dessert recipes, if they are anything like the ones I have already made I know that I will need to start using my sewing skills to let out my pants for when I go back to work (I'm completely oblivious to the weight now with all the stretchy pants I wear around the house). It's going to be a sad day when I have to go back to work and leave my two beautiful girls, what a great time we have had. I still have a couple months left to enjoy with them but it's moments like this that I will miss...

All In A Day's Work...

Some days of being at home with the girls are challenging. Sophia getting out of her chair about twenty times during breakfast and Layla and her constant need to be held all day (her poor teeth).

But through the dark comes these shining moments...


The realization that I have taught Sophia something over the last 9 months is truly uplifting!

making a mess Mommy

Sophia is always honest with me, so when she told me that Layla and her were making a mess I just had to laugh.

We were trying to make the most of the day today so after our walk this morning the girls played together, and Sophia didn't push Layla over!















Layla is just about ready to pull herself up and the railing is the perfect place for her to practice. Layla's first two teeth have just come through, so this might be one of the last toothless grins we see.

The Lazy Days of Summer

I wish I had a better excuse for not finishing my latest sewing projects but I can't think of anything other than the heat, and I say this from the comfort of my air conditioned family room.

Nothing says summer better than fresh vegetables and herbs and I think that our new herb garden is well on its way to being part of our next salad. I do realize that it is not quite summer yet, but with this recent heatwave it sure feels like it.

Sophia is under the impression that if she doesn't pick up some of the slack and start sewing and knitting then nothing will ever get done around here!

Good Idea Sophia

When Sophia suggested going to the park during breakfast this morning I thought it would be a good substitution for her library class, which is over for the summer. And I am so glad we went. The girls had a great time.


Layla loves the swings, and if you look closely you can see Sophia driving the fire truck behind her.



The park is a great place for "Little Miss Independent" Sophia and just look at that outfit, can you tell she dressed herself. I must say that hat would go with just about anything, it looks fantastic.

After the walk to the park and all that playing we were in need of a little cooling down! It was a little warm this morning and the sunscreen was applied liberally but it was nice to stay in the shade during our snack.


We try to use our air conditioner sparingly, however I was relieved when I got home with two tired girls and we walked into a nice cool house. It will be easy to keep cool this afternoon with an invite from our neighbours to cool off in their pool!

Just Like Mom

It's been a while since I have last posted anything. Now that Layla is waking up a little earlier in the morning I have taken to napping in the afternoon with the girls, which leaves little time for sewing or blogging.

I fought the urge to sleep today and I got all of my baskets planted and that left me with enough time to share some new pictures.

Since Sophia's music class has ended for the summer I decided that when Layla went for a nap this morning we would make some banana bread. Sophia got out the "banana" masher and mixed all of the ingredients together.



She absolutely loves to help in the kitchen and today she was extremely helpful!