Mommy and me

Today I went to Jo-Ann fabric without kids (which is dangerous) and I came out with a bag full of red line clearance material.  One of them was $2.50 yard.  I bought 1.5 yards of this cute pattern fabric, it just screamed 'SKIRT' to me.

I haven't made any skirts but I figured why not, and came up with this adorable elastic waist skirt for myself and Kara.  I made it in about 20 minutes.  I measured my waist, cut the elastic and then used double the fabric (example: a 30 inch waist would use 60 inches of material).  Of course it doesn't have to be exact but just to give you a rough idea.  I actually used 1 inch navy blue elastic and just zigzag sewed the fabric to the back of the elastic, I didn't even make a casing.  It looks great, it fits great.  Then I made Kara a tiny skirt with the same idea, measured her waist, used double the material and sewed it to the elastic.

Another party

Today I had a birthday party for my babies.  My son turned 4, my daughter is turning 2.  Isn't it amazing how the hours in the day drag on seemingly never-ending some days but then one night you look back and realize a whole year has passed again.  365 precious days in the memory books.  So many things happen in one little year.  There's times I wish I had a pensieve (from Harry Potter) to store all my memories in and look back at them any time I wanted.  How much my kids have changed in just this one year.

My Bug.  You're 4 years old now.  You are such a challenge.  I feel like we are from different planets some days but I love who you are.  I love being your mom.  Yes there are days where I wish you would stop talking but I can't imagine going just one day without hearing your little voice.  I know you are going to keep challenging my point of view, keep arguing your reason and keep right on using your logic and I know it's going to be great.  Your mind works in amazing ways and I can't wait to see where it takes you.  You're so sharp and have a memory that astounds me.  Right now you are still between my little boy and a big kid, but I know when you start pre-school this fall you will grow up a lot.  While I'm ready for this it will also be sad to see you take that jump.  You are momma's boy now and I hope you always will be, even if someday you tell me to stop singing nighttime songs to you.

Baby girl, you are 2 (almost).  Two!  It doesn't even seem possible.  You are my baby, but you're getting so big and so independent.  I hear 'no me' from you all day.  You don't want me to help you anymore, you're bold and fearless and ready to take on the world.  I am so proud of the way you stand up for yourself, you are going to be one strong woman.  But please, just be my baby girl a little bit longer.  Let me cherish the mornings where you come wondering down the hall in your tiny nightgown dragging your blankie for just a little longer.  Thank you for giving me the best hugs and then saying 'more ug'

If these walls could talk

As much as I am excited to be looking at homes it is sad to think about leaving our home (Let me just say I am also the person that gets sad leaving a car at the dealer when you buy a new one).  At times when I'm all alone with my thoughts I think about everything my house has seen.  Truly, if these walls could talk.
I have lived here 9 years.  That's the longest I've ever lived anyplace.  My house has seen me go from a newlywed, to a wife, to a mom, to a mom again!  My house has seen me figure out how to cook and bake.  It has seen me make Christmas cookies, birthday cakes, and anniversary meals.  My house has seen me finish my 20's and enter my 30's.  My house has seen me finally finish my Bachelor's degree.  It has seen me change jobs, change hair color, and change friends.  My house has seen me cry through lost pets, lost pregnancies, and lost grandparents.  It has gone from a quiet home of two working adults to loud and cluttered home of a family.
It was this house where I brought both my babies home to.  I sat upstairs in the bunny decorated nursery and rocked them to sleep every night (several times a night).  I wonder how many hours I've rocked in the kids room, how many lullabies have these walls heard, how many I love yous, how many giggles.  I know our next home will have many more of these but this house holds the firsts.  The first steps, first words, first hugs were all made in this house.  My kids won't remember living here but I won't forget where we became a family.
Next week I take my first trip to Charlotte to look for the house that my children will remember as their home.  I want it to be the perfect backdrop for all their memories.

A change of soil

There is a common phrase I've seen floating around the internet and home decor recently and that is "Bloom where you're planted."

I get what it's saying, make the best of your situation and be your best.  Don't make excuses why you can't succeed just do it.  Makes sense, but while plants DO bloom wherever they are planted they bloom bigger and brighter when they are planted in the soil they like best.

I'm excited to say I am changing soil!  I've tried to bloom here in the Chicago-land area but neither my husband nor I have taken to it well.  I have really dug deep and tried to shine and the be the person I really wanted to be but it's just muted in a way that it's hard for me to write about.  It's just not us, we just don't like it here.  There are a number of very specific reasons why but I don't want to ruin anyone's outlook if their dream is to move to the Chicago-land area.  For some people I can see why they would want to live here, but it's not for our family.  This summer we are digging up our roots and transplanting ourselves to the Charlotte area.  It is going to be a huge change and stressful too but I am so excited to start this next chapter in our lives.

So why did I come back to my blog?  Because in a time of great change I just wanted someplace to put all my thoughts.  I am also going to be leaving some wonderful wonderful people behind when I move and I would like have a place they can check in on my move, my house, and my life in general if they should ever miss me.