Sew cute!

I got a sewing machine this Christmas, to sew better matching curtains for our living room. But, since its a rental, I don't want to put a ton of money into buying curtains that may or may not go in a new house. You know what I mean? So, I got a sewing machine, and found some red striped fabric on clearance.
Then, I made a potato chip bag out of felt. Then I sewed one seam on a curtain. A month or so later, I actually finished a curtain. Curtains are boring.
I've gotten fabric for several project, but haven't gotten around to them, or just don't quite have the skill level yet. Curvy bits... not so easy! When I had been looking around for curtain fabric, I came across the most delightful fish fabric, and fell in love. I have seriously gone back to the fabric store and just visited with it. And the oilcloth. Mmm mmm mmm, fabric! One of my favorite blogs featured a tutorial in another favorite blog's Babyhood Bonanza series for a darling sunsuit.

and this. this would be what the fish fabric was for!

I bought it, then had to set it aside for the mass crafting that went on for Ellie's birthday party. I finally started it a couple of weeks ago, but went as car as cutting the arches for the snap panel. I got hung up on hand-sewing the snaps on. Lazy? Totally. I went back to it this weekend, and got so frustrated sewing that snap panel down, the fabric was bunching, and fraying, and folding weird ways. I ended up just saying screw it! and cut the bottom two inches off. Sunsuit would now be a dress!! Which is really just smarter, as it will now make a lovely top next year. Have you ever seen a sunsuit grow with a kid like that? Silly sunsuits.

My beautiful, darling, sweet little girl has been waking up at the crack of dawn the past few mornings, so I decided yesterday, we'll just get out of the bed at 6:30 and I will go finish this dress up! The poor child ended up going down for her (early) nap naked. Serves her right for waking me up so early, after having kept me up half the night coughing, and trying to steal things off of my nightstand in the middle of the night!! For reals.

I was just taking pictures of the dress when she woke up, so I made her model it immediately. Hence, the pouty face. I guess she thought she needed cuddles, milk, and food. So demanding, is she.


seriously, is this not a delicious print? I need to go buy 5 more yards. mother-daughter pajama pants, anyone? Gramma want some??




Those buttons don't work. Buttonholes are much to advanced for me! Hand-sewing buttons and snaps on proved to be challenging enough. Do not attempt before coffee number two.


I need to add another snap to shorten the straps I think


What an excellent Death Stare!




He was there too. Andrew would now like one of his own. With straps. Like Max, on Max & Ruby. Not quite, little one. I was thinking a white t-shirt with a square of the fabric appliqued on front? Or is it much to girly?

Now, I need to figure out how to make some bloomers. That cover the fluffy butt.

and I really need to finish those damn curtains before my mom comes to visit...

I just went to start a new load of laundry, and fluff the load that has been sitting in the dryer for days, only to find said load still sitting in the washer. oops! Which just has annoyingly set me back an hour. Not like I was anything close to productive anyway.

There has been a great deal of excitement at our house. The most exciting being that I am also keeping the neighbors dog, and she just finally caught one of the two damn flies that have been flying around here for days. thank the lord!

just kidding, that is not the most exciting!

that is maybe third or fourth. the second most exciting is my new computer! did you hear about that? One night, my wireless connection did something weird, like disappear completely. And Andy tried to fix it, and was frustrated. Due to the crappiness of the computer. Then a few nights later, I wanted to hook the netbook to the 52" tv to look at pictures better. And he saw just how damned ridiculously slow it was. Friday, he came home with a Macbook for me! We'd talked about getting one next, and in the near future. Also, he got an IBM discount, which is a little funny.

but this, this is the most exciting!


We have been talking about a new car. We have been driving an '03 Sentra, nearly 8 years old, and an '09 Versa, 2 years old next month. Both are incredibly uncomfortable for our long trips. And I had the Sentra packed to the gills, with just the kids and I on vacation. We had to ship stuff home from Christmas! There was about 6" between the two carseats, so no chance of sitting back there with them to keep them amused during the trips. We were ready to size up. We wanted an SUV, to have a place for the eventual dog. And then a third row for carpool, friends over, and visiting relatives. We decided to check out one smaller SUV, the Equinox, some larger SUVs, and minivans.

We went to Cary Auto Park, and were overwhelmed! There are at least 10 different dealers over there, and we ended up panicking and just going to the VW place, even though it was last on our mini-van list. Checked out the Routan, and LOVED it. Went to Chevy later that day, and found the Equinox to just be too small. My butt still wouldn't fit between then in the back! And the Traverse was just not that great. And cost the same as the van, once we added the features we wanted. After deciding to focus on mini-vans, we after checked out the Sienna and Odyssey, and they would've been more expensive. Especially adding in features that come standard on the Routan, like heated seats, dual-dvd system, leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter.

I emailed the sales guy on Sunday, mentioning that I'd seen a Tanzanite model with the features we wanted at another local dealer, could he get us that?


he replied, that he could get that model

Monday, I wrote to him, again, saying we would like to get the Tanzanite and started haggling.

We awaited a reply. Tuesday morning, we decide he has until 1 pm, the 24 hour mark to reply. Then I will call him and fire him, then call the other dealer. I chickened out and Andy called around 4:30. Dude says, oh! I thought the second email meant you had gone to the other dealer?

YES, YES I HAD. BUT WANT YOU TO TAKE MONEY OFF...?? idiot. but he set up a meeting to discuss Wed evening.

We went Wednesday, and he looks at the Sentra, and said, $1000! HA. I ran away to parent, and Andy haggles. He even said, ok, well thanks, but we won't be buying and got up to leave. Salesguy says hold on! He came back with an acceptable number, and we signed all of the finance paperwork.

Thursday, he called to tell me sorry, but Southern States had a client this morning looking at that model, then sold it. We are getting you one from SC, it will be here tomorrow.

We went Saturday morning to get the car, and signed all of the paperwork. Then I see our sales guy outside fiddling with a GREY van. We ask the finance guy if that is ours. Yes, he says. Um, we wanted a dark blue one...? He goes and gets the sales guys, who says haha, nice joke. then just stares at me when he realizes it is real. Meanwhile, I am holding back tears, and my fists from punching him.
He tried to convince us all the guys in service thought it was an awesome color, and is the most popular choice. No. I want blue. I wondered if I was being irrational, its a damn car, who cares the color? Andy said, we want blue. They located another one in SC. Got the VIN, printed more paperwork, and we signed it all.
Sunday, they sent a guy to SC, who spent the night, and showed up at that dealer bright and early to get my car and drive it here. Salesguy called and said how's 4 for pick-up? I said, no, 5:30, so I have a babysitter. He acted like that was inconvenient, then said, it'll work. Damn straight it will work, jerkwad who ordered me the WRONG CAR. "
I was late and got there at 5:45. Just a few minutes they are finishing detailing it". I waited until 6:30. SIX THIRTY when he had said FOUR. "sorry, real busy, they are backed up". Dude, do you not remember how you ordered me the WRONG CAR?? KISS MY BUTT PLEASE. sadly, I am much to meek and polite to say these things aloud, and just sat and tried to put on my best death stare.
Finally, another guy comes to show me the ins and outs of my car. Which is good, as I was seething.

So, that is the story of my new mama-car :) Which is soft, and pretty, and blue, and fancy!


When Etta Jetta and Ed Jetta marry and have babies...


(no one seemed to want to hear this story and give me a free car, idiots. perfect advertisement!)

it has a spoiler!! and can you see the blue? so sparkly!


He's on the phone. such a busy boy. that trunk door? it opens at the push of a button, ahhh yeah, baby!




Also, I got the new Harry Potter Lego game. That is my 3rd most exiting. Routan, Mac, Wii, Dead fly. Now? I will go play! or unload the dishwasher. what should I do?

Saturday, our last day in NY, we threw a family party for Ellie. I had made the theme elephants. Which I have deemed her animal, Ellie Elephant... is this cruel? Andrew's animal is a monkey.
This is just going to be a picture post to show you what I did!

homemade invitations


I made elephant garland out of felt to hang all around. This will eventually go in her room, when its less of a Honey Bee theme.



We call her Elliebean, so I got jellybeans! I filled jars with pink, green, and white jellybeans and set them all over. These then became favors for all the guests.



I also made some giant tissue paper flowers and hung them from the deck ceiling.


Andy had nixed me making an actual bean bag toss, so we just used one of those team-thrower games, but I'd stencilled elephants on homemade beanbags to play with.


I had the kids paint elephant piggy banks.


Andrew is exuberant


Andrew's and Ellie's banks. He painted his, I painted her, can you tell?


We had chicken sausages from Trader Joe's for dinner, yum yum! and a bunch of summer salads.
Then it was cake time! My mom just completed a cake decorating class, so she put her new skills to work.


We also had elephant sugar/butter cookies. They kind of looked more like rhinoceroses. whatever, they were delish!


Ellie approved!



boy, howdy she liked it!


I really need to iron those pants to I can wear them!

The kids goody bags consisted of a sand pail and elephant (girls) or shark (boys) bath squirter, from the Target dollar spot, jar of jelly beans, the bank they painted, a bean bag, and cookies. I thought they were super cool, and super cheap!


Sorry, this was so in depth, I am just proud of my craftiness!

We traveled to NY at the beginning of July for a 10 day visit.
On Friday, Andy played in the 4th annual Hoyt Golf Tournament. Sounds fancy, but its just a good reason for his cousins and brothers to golf, drink, and visit once a year! But they do have matching, embroidered golf shirts, which means it is a Real and Important tournament, right? Right.
They had a theme this year, mustaches! We were looking at an old family scrapbook when Andy's brother's were visiting in April, and laughing at the mustaches on all the men in the 80's. I think all of the guys grew a mustache!
The day after golf, the rest of the families joined the boys up north for a day long celebration.
Sunday, we went to my old church, where Andrew wore last years seersucker Easter pants that I hemmed into shorts. SUPER CUTE, smart mama!
Monday, we hung out with his brothers at Steve's house.
Tuesday, we left Ellie napping at Gramma's house, and Andy and I took Andrew to see Toy Story 3, with Uncle Matt, Aunt Anita, A & B. We couldn't decide who got the privalege of taking him, since we both wanted to see it, so we both went! And ooh boy, did I bawl! And you better believe I went back to my parents house, found my beloved babydoll, Victoria, in my closet and brought her back to NC with me! I did attempt to sit her up on the dresser on Andy's side of the bed to creep him out a bit, but Ellie always pulls her down to play with. (because she has taken an interest in dolls, yay for me having a girl!!)(boo for Andy's wallet *snickersnicker*)
Wednesday, I don't remember what we did. It probably involved swimming at my parents :) We swam 4-5 times the entire trip, and Andrew went from clinging to me for dear life, to being able to get around by himself wearing the life vest. He was also greatly helped by a giant pool noodle. But no arm swimmies, rings, or ride on AIRPLANES, how crazy is he?



Thursday, I was supposed to meet a friend up in Rhinebeck at this really pretty park, but it was crazy hot. So, we went to her house, the kids swam, and we gossiped. Worked for me!
Friday evening, we went to a Renegades game. I guess they are the lowest level of minor league baseball. But I do know they seem to get a lot of boys from University of Southern MS, which I think is where my cousin will end up playing ball, so I still hold secret hope of him one day playing up there! The game was boring, I don't know the players, it just wasn't very exciting, until they caught up in the 8th or 9th inning. Then they went into extra innings. booooooo. They did win in the end, and the fireworks show began.
Fireworks, were fireworks. Nothing special or spectacular, save for actually being RIGHT THERE, which is always cool. Then, one went of right on the pitchers mound. Whoa! but kind of cool. then a couple of more went off in the air. Then one shot out, knocked over the fence in the outfield, over the audience, landed on the roof of the announcer's room, exploded, bounced back towards the audience, landed on the center sidewalk and exploded again! HOLY CRAP! that was definitely not right! They immediately stopped the show, and told us to sit still the lights were coming on. Which took for-freaking-ever. But people were leaving from that area anyway. And can you blame them? When I firecracker comes at me, I'm gonna run!

(that's my son, but that isn't my husband)

I am still in such denial that Ellie is growing up. Andrew was 13 and a half months before he said his first word. I remember clearly, sitting on his bedroom floor in the old house, and he signed shoes and said shss shss (double metro genius baby, eh?) So, if andrew was 13 months, Ellie cannot possibly be talking yet, right? Apparently, wrong. She has been saying hi and cat for a while now, while I say no no, I am just imagining it.

If there was any doubt in my mind she was saying cat, she erased it last night. Lately, she's tended to sleep until 3:30 or later before waking, or if she does wake early, she will fall back to sleep snuggling with us for several more hours. She woke up crying just as I was about to head to bed. I sat in the rocking chair with her for at least one chapter of Anne of Avonlea (on the iTouch, my new favorite thing to do!), and tried to put her back in the crib. Nope. Not gonna happen, mama! Her head was flopping all over my shoulder, but the moment she went horizontal her little arms stiffened up to prevent me from laying her down. Stinker.

I carried her into my room, and was clearing things off my bed to pull the covers down, when in come Tinker. Tink hopped up on the bathroom counter and starts meowing for water. and immediately, Ellie's little head pops up and she says "cah! cah!"

Even in the middle of the night, this is the most exciting thing for her!

Except for daddy, who snuggled with her so I could brush my teeth and get a couple of hours of sleep!

(so hoping teething ends soon)

I left the front door open a bit for Tinker to go outside. So Ellie walked herself on out. I was hanging out with her drinking coffee, when we came upon some giant roly poly/caterpillar type bugs. I called Andrew to come out and look. He came and they were so cute watching these bugs (these are his favorite), and I ran to get the camera. I noticed a big red ant crawling towards them. When I came out of the house, i saw she had the bug on her finger. And of course I freaked out, not wanting her to get all bit up, not knowing if it's that type of ant. That ant didn't have a chance, as her next move was to...

EAT IT.

And girlfriend chomped her mouth shut so I couldn't get it out again! I did manage, visions of her with a fireant bitten tongue, esophagus, and stomach running through my head.

Then Andrew didn't want her looking at the bug, since its his favorite and all, so she wandered off to the road. on that little hill going down, she fell. Our toddler now has her very first scraped knee, blood and all!!

What in the world is this thing, and will it eat me??

Sunday June 20th we celebrated Father's Day and Elisabeth's First birthday!

We woke up and covered the birthday girl with kisses (and some of mama's tears). We brought her down to see her stack of presents!


Yeah, spoiled girl got a car! And didn't even have to use any of her own savings on it. That is not the way it will be in 15 years :)



Andy had specially requested cheese omelets, so I got my cooking textbook, The Joy of Cooking, out, studied a bit, and got cooking. And I did a fabu job, if I do say so myself! Andy got to open his presents, a hamburger press, wine stopper, and a honey jar wand doohicker. And his part of the day was over :-p No, not really! He got to pick all three meals.

After breakfast, Ellie Andrew opened her presents. But we acted like she was doing it.



This water bottle seemed more fun


Andrew showed her her loot!


I dont know why we buy her toys, when we really could just pull stuff out of the recycling bin!


Went to church, got pizza for lunch, lazed around, made steak for supper.

We had our neighbors Cami, Brandon, and their son Cooper come over for cupcakes, chocolate with strawberry buttercream.


I want some cake!


Put it right here!


singing to her


Cupcake carnage!

We went to visit my family June 5th to 13th. Saturday, we drove to my brother's in Atlanta, spent the night and Sunday morning, headed out to stay with my aunt and see my other brother and grandmother's in MS. After, I ripped my front bumper off my car at Walmart, of course!

My phone had not charged overnight. I had come to terms with having no phone for a 6 hour drive. I did survive the 90's. Then Eric mentioned buying a car charger at Walmart, and I HAD to do it. Leaving there, it was now about an hour past the time I had hoped to leave town. I was too impatient to wait for the cars driving behind my parking spot, and there was no one parked in front of me. Rush forward, and...over a curb!! Only row in the entire lot with a damn median! Also, my spot on the median had a bush stump. I heard the scraping, freaked, and backed back into my spot. My bumper did not follow. Then I threw a temper tantrum, complete with foot stamping in the parking lot. Some guy saw me rip the bumper off, and came to help. He bought some plastic ties, tied the bumper on, and helped me find Pep Boys, where they looked at my car, and tied a few more bits on, at no charge. THANK YOU nice guys! Then I went to MS.

Christian and I drove the kids in the pick-up through the cow pastures, which I'd never actually seen all of them, saw nursing cows, had conversations about baby cows getting milkies from their mama's penises, stopped to fish for the bottom of the lake, and around the lake where we nearly tipped trying to get up a hill to get to Christian's house to pick-up his girlfriend, Kat. short for Kathryn. My brother's first name is Andrew. WEIRD RIGHT?


nursing baby cow!

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Monday, we hung out with my grandmother, Ruby, all day, and did more fishing. Tuesday, we went to the teeny tiny Hattiesburg Zoo, which was a perfectly short little timewaster. And had barbecue for supper. Wednesday, we went to Hazlehurst to see my dad's mom Granny, her husband, and my aunt and uncle. We hung out at Granny's house for a few hours, got to see tons of old family photos.


turning around from here, he forgot he had to walk down some steps, and fell face first onto the concrete. then he had a lovely face scrap & bruise, to go along with his nose scrape of unknown origins.



Thursday, we headed back to Atlanta. Friday, we went to a puppet show in the morning, of Cinderella. It was one of those professional traveling groups, with giant marionettes. It was amazing! After a nap, we went to the Roswell Sprayground, which was so fun! We have some of those around here, which I need to find.





Saturday, we went to their pool. My kids and I played in the 1' baby pool the whole time, but they had a lot of fun! In the afternoon, we hit up one of those self-serve frozen yogurt places, with the 1000 toppings. SO GOOD.
Sunday, we headed back to NC and our Daddy!

It was a wonderful trip, and so good to see my brothers and family!