old friends and new friends

Yesterday we got the chance to spend the afternoon with some friends from Maryland that we have not seem since we moved 3 years ago. They are vacationing in Williamsburg with their parents and cousins. It is funny, since living here, I have been to Williamsburg on a number of occasions, but we figured out that yesterday was the first time Phil has been here since we moved to the area! Anyway, it was a beautiful day and we had a great time hanging out with old friends and even making some new friend, Regan and our friends cousins daughter (that is a mouthful!) hit it off immediately, claiming to be BFF's just a few short minutes after meeting! Here are a few pictures from our afternoon in Billy-burg.

the royal family

This was an easy project, just an hour or two to whip up 4 crowns, with jewels and all. I got the pattern from Amanda Soule's book, The Creative Family. She suggests using 100% wool felt. Unfortunately, I did not have any on hand, so I just used regular felt and they turned out fine. Next I am going to turn Max's shimmery gold cape into knights armor.

Tallulah had just woken up from her nap (a bit prematurely I think) and wanted nothing to do with wearing her crown. I convinced her to let baby wear it in the first photo, then in pic. # 2 she'd had enough and launched it across the room, this is her in-action.Here is Regan trying to sneak the crown on her head without her noticing... yeah right!

missing

Sorry I have been missing for a bit. We have been busy learning about kings and queens and I am just plain tired! I laid down for a nap today and an idea for the scrap challenge just popped into my head! Ran to Michael's on our way to PE for an embroidery hoop and I am ready to get sewing!

Tomorrow we start working on our Medieval costumes and hopefully I will find some time to start my project.

I have been inspired by Soule Mama and her new chair... the idea of staying in one spot and having life just go on around me for a bit sounds wonderful!

Hope you are having a wonderful Thursday!

look what came in the mail today!

I am so excited! JCasa Handmade is holding a scrap challenge and I signed up last month to participate. I sent my scrap off a couple of weeks ago and have been eagerly waiting to see what I would receive in return. It arrived today, and I cant wait to get started! (And to see what the other 99 participants are going to do!) Not sure what my plan in yet... I have been tossing a couple of ideas around, but it going to have to wait until I have some time to myself to play a bit!

highlights from the week

sewing on the trim for our...cowboy vests!

A five year check up (10 months late!)

Field trip to Safety Town to learn about pedestrian and bike safety.

A backyard camp-out.

Our cowboy cookout.

proof...

that my house is (mostly) clean, at least once a week...

and that I have the worlds greatest husband! :)

progress?

So, I am wondering how to keep my house from looking like this

at the end of every day?

It seems I have 4 of the messiest kids on earth living in my house. No matter how I try to instill orderliness, they seem incapable of maintaining it! Finally, after an hour of hounding them to clean up, it looked like this when they went bed last night...

Only to be repeated again today! Is there any hope?