tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48005540833238185602024-03-06T20:02:31.540+00:00Our Family FourErin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.comBlogger809125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-89567422404457577942015-07-15T21:08:00.001+01:002015-07-15T21:08:12.031+01:00Jayce's Birthday Party<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-33.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H_h70l8Sle4/Vaa8wXpiPBI/AAAAAAAAW3M/OXdlzPs6VH4/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-33.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 33" width="500" height="749" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">For Jayce's first birthday after we moved to London we had <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.com/2013/07/jayce-birthday-party.html">his party</a> at Snakes and Ladders, with a small variety of <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.com/2013/06/birthday-party.html">handmade "superhero" favor</a>s and details. Last year, we had <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.com/2014/06/his-lego-birthday-party.html">his party</a> at home. I wanted to do something relatively inexpensive but fun, and I DIYed it to the max with a <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.com/2014/06/his-lego-birthday-party.html">Lego theme</a> throughout and he loved it. I'm sure that there are plenty of kids who don't care one way or the other about details, but he got excited about each of the details so that made it fun for me too. It was just right but it was a LOT of work. Lots. This year, well before his birthday, I asked what he wanted to do for his party and started subtly planting seeds for him to have it at Snakes and Ladders again. I found out I was pregnant in late March (I think?) and my lack of any energy whatsoever further confirmed that we would not be throwing a party at home.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-1.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U9ARPcf1D_k/Vaa88SfQ89I/AAAAAAAAW3U/s31sR7_fYBo/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 1" width="750" height="500" border="0" />Luckily Snakes and Ladders had a 2 million pound renovation last summer, so it is pretty legit, and he was excited to have a party there this year. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-6.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AEHg3j9r9HU/Vaa8_psGBqI/AAAAAAAAW3c/4p2IdiyLEQ4/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-6.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 6" width="750" height="500" border="0" />Chris and I were delighted to pay for it and leave absolutely all of the work to someone else. At that time of the party we knew that we would be moving to the US in about a month and we were so happy to be able to give Jayce a good party with a group of his favorite friends and not have to add anything extra to our enormous to do lists. We showed up, he had a blast with his friends, and then we went home. :)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-13.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LkH_t6VEjP4/Vaa9KbL1b9I/AAAAAAAAW4E/p0xDPjNEInw/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-13.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 13" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-10.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ChFu9DyL7qQ/Vaa9GBXgTPI/AAAAAAAAW30/sBI-eBYg5z4/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-10.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 10" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><span style="text-align: center;">Hannah obviously attended the party and was as involved as she always is. It has never occurred to her that Jayce's friends aren't there to play with her just as much as they are there to play with Jayce. They all talk to her and often include her at school as well, so she fit right in and played happily among a mostly 7 year old crowd. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-17.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nVvOPb5Aqsk/Vaa9ME_RH_I/AAAAAAAAW4M/kDXudaNZIDk/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-17.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 17" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-11.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HXLchgGP5YU/Vaa9DyAuxHI/AAAAAAAAW3s/Lhl7_n9MC8s/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-11.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 11" width="750" height="500" border="0" />We lucked out that it was a really warm and nice day outside so Snakes and Ladders was the least crowded that I have ever seen it. I think most everyone was outside enjoying the rare sunny day which meant that the kids that were a part of the party were able to move around the place in a little pack. They would stay together for a bit and then break up to do different activities and then join up again a little later. It was genuinely perfect.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-16.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AdmEjl4zcEw/Vaa9QHfONaI/AAAAAAAAW4c/j1GtT9Z6b8k/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-16.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 16" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-21.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qP1uc3Uccr4/Vaa9OO1zL3I/AAAAAAAAW4U/lJiOXwfn2as/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-21.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 21" width="750" height="500" border="0" />When the kids finished playing we went the "Submarine Party Room" for lunch and cake.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-22.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d2IX60vvV5A/Vaa9R8Fb3gI/AAAAAAAAW4k/PAt7id7Jchc/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-22.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 22" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-23.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gqF-KB8s67U/Vaa9TjyNkHI/AAAAAAAAW4s/3IS-5GyTKPo/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-23.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 23" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-24.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q7KvO7980Wg/Vaa9V-nD8_I/AAAAAAAAW4w/b8D0PSNkc_M/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-24.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 24" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-27.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B1_pazHTcds/Vaa9X54Yj6I/AAAAAAAAW48/gZifIZQZRDs/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-27.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 27" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-26.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pWxKm4eG56U/Vaa9aHsewDI/AAAAAAAAW5E/IlVj2rEX2Lo/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-26.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 26" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-29.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ttnV9gSmR4o/Vaa9cLPfUGI/AAAAAAAAW5M/x-wolBV9huI/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-29.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 29" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-31.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PJT4BK9Soa4/Vaa9eSZtMnI/AAAAAAAAW5U/Q4F-yesZLa4/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-31.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 31" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-35.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TrmDNjudeoQ/Vaa9gcBbN2I/AAAAAAAAW5c/62lMs56KL-Q/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-35.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 35" width="500" height="749" border="0" />They sang, they ate, we left with tired kids and a bag of presents to open. Perfect.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-39.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U2yCEm3UJa4/Vaa9iW-EvUI/AAAAAAAAW5k/iVBirBEJqi0/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-39.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 39" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-41.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AEU8XBCbVbw/Vaa9kTTJgoI/AAAAAAAAW5s/itmy4rJLLxQ/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-41.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 41" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-43.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BbT3xmG63SA/Vaa9murUsLI/AAAAAAAAW50/4OTrJQhmcKY/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-43.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 43" width="750" height="500" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snakes & Ladders Birthday Party-45.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k6Eh5usxAxw/Vaa9o5zdOCI/AAAAAAAAW58/zI9c60Pe-M4/Snakes%252520%252526%252520Ladders%252520Birthday%252520Party-45.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snakes Ladders Birthday Party 45" width="750" height="500" border="0" /></p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-63897014509860559192015-06-20T19:35:00.001+01:002015-06-20T19:35:49.056+01:00On Back and Forth Pregnancy<p style="text-align: center;">When I was 3 weeks and 2 days along I knew that I was pregnant. I don't care if it seems silly or like maybe it was all in my head, but it is 110% true. (That's extra true, because of that extra 10%.) </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Lots of pregnancy magazines and websites will tell you that sometimes it is hard to tell if you are pregnant at the beginning because symptoms can be similar to PMS symptoms, or unrelated to anything to do with a baby. It is not enough to feel a little sick or have unexplained tiredness and then attribute it to possible pregnancy, because those symptoms<em> could</em> be due to pregnancy or they could be attributed to a variety of other things. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6660.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CMJii65LsQw/VYWybS39rZI/AAAAAAAAW2s/GVAv53fApyY/IMG_6660.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6660" width="600" height="450" border="0" />That said, even though it was very early on, on that Monday I was as sure that I was pregnant as I was of anything else in my life. I had a variety of symptoms and felt (more than anything else) just <em>utterly pregnant</em>. It was (arguably) too early to test but I got a few tests from the store anyway. The kids were about to be out of school for the next 16 days and I had been working late on a lot of my <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.com/2015/05/stylo-magazine.html">Stylo looks</a>, trying to finish as much as possible before their break started so that I could be fully present with them and not thinking about my to do list. But I had this nagging thought in the back of my head that if I was pregnant than I should start making adjustments to take better care of myself: go to bed instead of pushing through, eat healthier, take a break instead of having extra coffee when I was dragging, etc.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I picked up a double pack of tests on my way to pick up Hannah from preschool and took one after we got home. I know that mid-day testing is a no-no that early on because it's not very accurate, but because I was feeling everything so strongly I just went for it anyway. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">No plus sign. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I drifted off to sleep with Hannah feeling really confused about what I was so sure that my body was telling me. I left the test in the bathroom and didn't look at it again, because there is nothing that feels quite as condescending as a negative pregnancy test, and I didn't want to see it again. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">A few hours later just before Chris got home I grabbed something from the bathroom and glanced again at the test despite myself. I thought that I saw the faintest plus sign, but I honestly thought that I was just wishing it on there, or that maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. I remember that I kept staring at the wall for a few seconds and then back at the test trying to make sure that I wasn't just squinting the test into submission. Chris got home a little later and after checking the test and instructions we agreed that it <em>wa</em>s a faint plus sign. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6566.PNG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fHP5cWvFIFU/VYWyffoestI/AAAAAAAAW28/8Euywo0yL9M/IMG_6566.PNG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6566" width="350" height="621" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Which is why the next few days were so baffling.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">When I woke up the next morning I took the second test right away, the most reliable and accurate time, and in flashing black digital letters the words "Not Pregnant" stared up at me. The test instructions and Google informed me that I had likely been pregnant but that it had already ended. That week I threw myself into various projects and tried not to let my mind wander, but in general we can just call that "The Week of Blank Staring."</p>
<p><img title="IMG_6847.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0UJEaQV043Q/VYWyVUn4sJI/AAAAAAAAW2U/lZaZ0uScwZc/IMG_6847.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6847" width="350" height="466" border="0" /><img title="IMG_6576.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5b3UV353RK0/VYWyTmIoyGI/AAAAAAAAW2M/cxH2vJ22P3o/IMG_6576.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6576" width="350" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">On Friday of that week I was at a friend's house and had told her about my week. She mentioned that she had an unopened pregnancy test at her house and that I would be taking it with me when I left, which I did. Hannah and I ran a few errands and I took the test when we got home. I was surprised again, this time with a postive.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I want to say that this was followed by celebration, but honestly the back and forth of the week had Chris and I on guard. The next few weeks I took care of myself in all of the right ways (naps, good food, vitamins, etc.) but I felt a bit like I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I had a good few weeks with the kids while they were off of school. We went to the park, took naps together, ate well, went for ice cream.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6645.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VjijcoJgE7w/VYWyO-HE2lI/AAAAAAAAW2E/ZjmjvM5mTe4/IMG_6645.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6645" width="600" height="450" border="0" />The shoe never dropped. When I was 7 weeks I let myself get a picture or two of what appeared to be a small but emerging baby bump. </p>
<p><img title="IMG_6732.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6mCtYpvxS4k/VYWyXFo-gFI/AAAAAAAAW2c/s1nnhOTaU6c/IMG_6732.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6732" width="350" height="466" border="0" /><img title="IMG_6731.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LvV13B_dFRY/VYWyZKj_DAI/AAAAAAAAW2k/_J9ne1YbG-M/IMG_6731.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6731" width="350" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I also heard the heartbeat at 7 weeks, via my iPhone. (I know, I know, but seriously, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-babys-beat-hear-baby-heartbeat/id420859056?mt=8">this app</a>.) Technology for the win.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And the baby was real and known and loved. And we are so happy. </p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-31358700003886988832015-06-09T11:16:00.001+01:002015-06-09T11:16:36.237+01:00Telling the Kids<p style="text-align: center;">Last week after we got home from our first ultrasound, we told the kids about the baby. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x1DP23Eht-I" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-73527936750198022632015-06-02T09:00:00.000+01:002015-06-02T20:01:52.824+01:00All the Stripes Twisted Tank<div style="text-align: center;">
I am so glad to be joining in on Laura's Twisted Tuesday pattern tour today! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD-y2_OFsdyzwhhvb0PTGzTRrhJz6BqWc-E09naiZ6hctD3PL5_pMY0E7BC2aO7ddtgJO_PmpxGxfrwcrvQLftzYovgOu3jkvVywWtkMstC2zxY89XynuXdpzfLySMycEDBfyuPd-rgBM/s1600/All+Striped+Twisted+Tank+at+Our+Family+Four-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD-y2_OFsdyzwhhvb0PTGzTRrhJz6BqWc-E09naiZ6hctD3PL5_pMY0E7BC2aO7ddtgJO_PmpxGxfrwcrvQLftzYovgOu3jkvVywWtkMstC2zxY89XynuXdpzfLySMycEDBfyuPd-rgBM/s640/All+Striped+Twisted+Tank+at+Our+Family+Four-6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Laura of <a href="http://www.titchythreads.com/patterns" target="_blank">Titchy Threads</a> has two fun patterns out where the side seams are twisted around to the front and back of the garments, and the results are just so clever and cool. I had planned to use her <a href="http://www.titchythreads.com/patterns/twisted-trousers" target="_blank">Twisted Trousers</a> pattern make a lightweight pair of summer pants but the fabric I had bought was ALL WRONG in every way. Sigh. Luckily I had been dying to make a <a href="http://www.titchythreads.com/patterns/twisted-tank" target="_blank">Twisted Tank</a> as well and this was the perfect opportunity. You know I had to throw some stripes in there.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>I don't have a huge stash of knits at the moment, but I thought the blocked version of the tank would be a fun opportunity to play with stripes. Matched up stripes just make me so happy, and all of these little right angles stacked on top of one another...sigh. Next time I'm doing a color blocked version like my friend Erin did <a href="http://hungiegungie.com/2015/05/26/twisted-tank-dress/" target="_blank">here</a>, because I love stripes, but I love color blocking. <br />
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My only regret is that I wish I had attached the pocket to his left side instead of his right side. I have loved the versions of the tank where the pocket lines up with the diagonal line, but with the tiny stripes going in different directions, and trying to match them all up, and line up the pocket...I just dropped the ball. Plus I think the pocket draws away from those stripes a bit. Bah!! Live and learn. I still might switch it to the other side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM0pexNaYda6SmeJ-_wY4j0Y1eAKRiewOILbmLpRnlw4qHId8ILpkUlSyzGRcn9tv4A7oN2hF_qW7FKMsLQnIKJjssHc2_qmexCW5Hxz5pMXhZG398aPcabjRapM0LG7GkA3tVIihSsu8/s1600/Twisted+Tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM0pexNaYda6SmeJ-_wY4j0Y1eAKRiewOILbmLpRnlw4qHId8ILpkUlSyzGRcn9tv4A7oN2hF_qW7FKMsLQnIKJjssHc2_qmexCW5Hxz5pMXhZG398aPcabjRapM0LG7GkA3tVIihSsu8/s640/Twisted+Tank.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The fit of the tank is great. I did a size 7 even though Jayce is technically a size 6 just because we're at the start of summer and I know how these kids like to grow! I also wasn't sure how the shirt would lie since I cut the two pieces in different directions on the stretch. It turns out that it was just fine. </div>
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<img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IB5Q2sgdqRLDr5ymLTaqGqF8v35hefTmyHLxcu0x6OZXIYMb0X45kZlrlIJz1tswhdqZ-07908EulVqgDXt27435u1CPNhy4-qorF0fEBmKJT-S0yUONCb2OX6p8YjdgvL6if6FIeFCt/s640/Twisted+Tank1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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The fit is slightly slouchy but not baggy, which is exactly what I want in a boys tank. Also the armholes are just the right size as well, that perfect balance between being not too snug in the armpit area but not so low that you are moving into muscle shirt territory. :) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PO_rVn9-VCbSVQUno0pYoqYvaEf83peFlADNS1PVy5fTa-5zhIV4X-2cjph2wornK3szg0V1MvADSKuW5-cK2QgPEdWWzTyVbXNbk7i5hLHWxafz4qhLdirkynoCbtLdDx8snUPM_ayi/s1600/Twisted+Tank2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PO_rVn9-VCbSVQUno0pYoqYvaEf83peFlADNS1PVy5fTa-5zhIV4X-2cjph2wornK3szg0V1MvADSKuW5-cK2QgPEdWWzTyVbXNbk7i5hLHWxafz4qhLdirkynoCbtLdDx8snUPM_ayi/s640/Twisted+Tank2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
It fit well for bending to read various pieces of information about cacti and didn't show off his belly even with his arms over his head. Perfect.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJX8M7-qEuXEu0m65SD6R7TLT9eXNv6Z5R2LU_9pS1fi7aUiICSxK8KoIIMO4KVbuw6FpnhfmpA4NzEXGAtOETRhrxGYQ2gvZ6kOMWDosWCzfH7MRL5XrsDmNKV6P9WGYuvL3GMSP9m5M/s1600/All+Striped+Twisted+Tank+at+Our+Family+Four-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJX8M7-qEuXEu0m65SD6R7TLT9eXNv6Z5R2LU_9pS1fi7aUiICSxK8KoIIMO4KVbuw6FpnhfmpA4NzEXGAtOETRhrxGYQ2gvZ6kOMWDosWCzfH7MRL5XrsDmNKV6P9WGYuvL3GMSP9m5M/s640/All+Striped+Twisted+Tank+at+Our+Family+Four-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
It was cold and rainy here again this weekend (come ON London!) so we headed to one of our very favorite family hang outs, Kew Gardens. Kew is absolutely stunning on the outside, but if you need pictures of a tank top when it's 60 degrees a rain forest glass house is your friend. The perfectly diffused light will make the photographer in you happy, and your kids just might even sit together and smile.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghogIptDpBaG9CD8Hs5q3K517bgFScsgLM_PGz9bc3YmLkB6-BKD5jVhuLiMVVGjIIDNcA5Z780J0lkZ7JbPEI-YwVVS6OaI6BwM72dbVXDzq78U44s4vXR5P3ncb9JSxp_VxpfuGRxd-9/s1600/Kew+Gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghogIptDpBaG9CD8Hs5q3K517bgFScsgLM_PGz9bc3YmLkB6-BKD5jVhuLiMVVGjIIDNcA5Z780J0lkZ7JbPEI-YwVVS6OaI6BwM72dbVXDzq78U44s4vXR5P3ncb9JSxp_VxpfuGRxd-9/s640/Kew+Gardens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
But just for a minute. <br />
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<a href="http://www.craftstorming.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.craftstorming.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mCLxyKtSpyRKqwExnWIj_NVPwr4UsJvYkRJdZj4-Z63uJXwqZEH1M5CjzUIRZrmuqXh0GrtRxch1UvyDpzWbmaAoSKpneERq8I6Px2fQ0b15jR2eqwmH4aQ-bGNqebvytUxZTTfX1xfE/s1600/twisted-tuesdays-tour-button.png" /></a></div>
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Thanks for having me Laura!!</div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-31207134978475682372015-05-28T11:30:00.000+01:002015-05-28T12:20:12.818+01:00Floppy Bow Limon Top <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4LVoIvOwpjQ5TWZwGR7Nq89ICaq3V6vLvoWcmpN779UqqM7I4ykA_-cr47kWywOAVUQ3pZYDarDX2QPKCssV42v6hXDRr0PsSCG2tZd9Cck_aBhGnK9cY5_bBPz7brqzR2XWTYN8Y4lQ/s1600/IMG_7134.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4LVoIvOwpjQ5TWZwGR7Nq89ICaq3V6vLvoWcmpN779UqqM7I4ykA_-cr47kWywOAVUQ3pZYDarDX2QPKCssV42v6hXDRr0PsSCG2tZd9Cck_aBhGnK9cY5_bBPz7brqzR2XWTYN8Y4lQ/s640/IMG_7134.PNG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I am so happy to be joining in on the Willow & Co pattern tour today because I am really excited to show you this amazing top that I made this week!</div>
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The <a href="http://www.willowandcopatterns.com/products/limon-dress-top" target="_blank">Limon Dress and Top</a> is the latest pattern by Elizabeth of Charming Doodle that I'm just all obsessed with. (My other favorites makes from her patterns are <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/aster-swing-coat-re-mix-and-watercolor.html" target="_blank">these</a> incredible pants, the best <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/i-couldn-resist-it-knight-hoodie-for.html" target="_blank">hoodie</a>, who could forget the <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/2014-handmade-pieces-gone-but-not.html" target="_blank">reindeer head</a>, and <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/stylo-magazine.html" target="_blank">these pants</a> featured in Stylo.) </div>
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This pattern has sweet and feminine details but still seems young and sassy enough for a little peanut to strut around in. <img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJEj0vI3xxJQQgdbH8N2gc-D3rv564y4G-M637iry-ab3tjQy07ut3IDvgrqe4DPG9F4RYZwH6QsthIh-lFB_uNZv-yEOoAlkyPwfKb5iQseIPmCpOQ2CZQIFao6KcRVvBT_DS2hXoG9c/s640/Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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And my little peanut did plenty of strutting around in hers!<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwunzCIVnaDOjg9OQSsnuV9tm1X_PUGQ5DrijK_r8EHgvclyoz1pPefD6oxtBldhDXjKE_ECkXaxIrU3d-uAeEueVfq0mHdHcwa5RiRDiSRjqZauik6LSHRB9hUrdslHWxzgEYt6Tumrr7/s640/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-24.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<b>The details: </b></div>
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Hannah has a 21.75 inch chest, so I cut a size 2 blouse bodice with a 3 length, and I added an extra inch beyond that because she seems to be growing straight up these days. </div>
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The fabric is a really lightweight gray shirting that I got in the fabric district, and I used a tiny bit of a beautiful Liberty print as a fun detail on the back yoke. </div>
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I stitched the pleats on the back of the bodice instead of the front but that is just a matter of preference. </div>
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The bow detail isn't a part of the pattern but is a very easy addition. It's basically just a 10 inch by 4.5 inch rectangle that I folded up and slid through two slots that I made in the middle of the blouse, which I'll talk more about in a minute. I wanted it to be less pristine and extra floppy, so I used a slightly heavier fabric and made it a little on the longer side. If you want a more traditional sized bow I would just reduce width and height until you get the size that you want.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSqsUmbYrLSgBxrZeg3uAWwn-01sdWMqxvnLHWH5ctOpxh1FY8mY2NCPhnohthj4lIqLZKX3njH8_kZJZlzHJFptJonZVKo6j4IK8jSn-6ciyM7MXuJGbf8f3KRIFIJIik0kRLrzb7uVC/s1600/Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSqsUmbYrLSgBxrZeg3uAWwn-01sdWMqxvnLHWH5ctOpxh1FY8mY2NCPhnohthj4lIqLZKX3njH8_kZJZlzHJFptJonZVKo6j4IK8jSn-6ciyM7MXuJGbf8f3KRIFIJIik0kRLrzb7uVC/s1600/Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSqsUmbYrLSgBxrZeg3uAWwn-01sdWMqxvnLHWH5ctOpxh1FY8mY2NCPhnohthj4lIqLZKX3njH8_kZJZlzHJFptJonZVKo6j4IK8jSn-6ciyM7MXuJGbf8f3KRIFIJIik0kRLrzb7uVC/s640/Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8ihVecHytbi0iwzO14zGPgemz7OkBoC2Ze745KrEuU0m5Jtr1_hy3MGo_Y47JvRJeIyK6rSZfbgRnutGvBKOa2VyAyQuriZqv0AqtbNSURgiXEeP4d7Q-irb61qL-u6j4s12xHtF9G9n/s1600/Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8ihVecHytbi0iwzO14zGPgemz7OkBoC2Ze745KrEuU0m5Jtr1_hy3MGo_Y47JvRJeIyK6rSZfbgRnutGvBKOa2VyAyQuriZqv0AqtbNSURgiXEeP4d7Q-irb61qL-u6j4s12xHtF9G9n/s640/Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b> Changes: </b></div>
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Since we are headed into the hot summer months I decided to shorten the sleeves by 1.5 inches to give a bit more of a cap sleeve and I love how it compliments the sweet puffy shoulder.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG-GozsggVGwT26wPPVBNH0O2FYnPD5fa5meOs5tjpTuRIHKypDnZ-hMSIHQVDe0cG6TFdDkcBAG9UkSEEjZxb10ScG12-63rcqBgD8LnhOypwNY6zFAcCy2MCDJWN3weYNk_79WKhPE5/s1600/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG-GozsggVGwT26wPPVBNH0O2FYnPD5fa5meOs5tjpTuRIHKypDnZ-hMSIHQVDe0cG6TFdDkcBAG9UkSEEjZxb10ScG12-63rcqBgD8LnhOypwNY6zFAcCy2MCDJWN3weYNk_79WKhPE5/s640/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a> The biggest change that I made was the installation of the bow detail. I must admit to you that I decided to do this at the 11th hour when the garment was 85% complete, with beautifully finished armscyes and stay stitched lining. Sometimes us sewers are our own worst enemies, right?! Sigh. I am so glad that I went with this detail I just wish that I had thought of it much earlier in the process.</div>
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I placed my two slits for the bow on each side of the middle two pleats. I wanted the bow to be very high on the bodice so I measured down 2mm from the top, and made each slit 1.5 inches long. Since the bodice was already mostly finished, I secured these holes with a bit of tiny hand stitching and No Fray but I would not recommend doing it this way! It worked but it was tricky and certainly a less professional finish.</div>
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I had already cut the placket line as instructed by the pattern piece,
so I slipped a 1 inch by 2 inch strip of interfacing inside the bodice
on each side of the placket, ironed them down, and then flipped the
whole thing inside out to sew the lining to the bodice at the placket
line. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgSLdQ71D758nO6xN4B9UQGycZv_ltaZteqVESsn8x8h1eNLXB0mLGBD-NdPqco_9KEdkAyRa6FW7nFjESK7PDlcq3MO4HAy_SQPm1flNIGHSvxTm7xaxw0xis3elceFlYIFnLZdVNcVT/s1600/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgSLdQ71D758nO6xN4B9UQGycZv_ltaZteqVESsn8x8h1eNLXB0mLGBD-NdPqco_9KEdkAyRa6FW7nFjESK7PDlcq3MO4HAy_SQPm1flNIGHSvxTm7xaxw0xis3elceFlYIFnLZdVNcVT/s640/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>A better method to make holes for your bow: </b></div>
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If I were making this again I would install the holes just after I stitched down the pleats, and before I attached the bodice to the lining. I think installing tiny vertical holes much like you do with welt pockets would work perfectly. (If you've never done that before, check steps 1-6 in <a href="http://www.deliacreates.com/welt-zipper-pocket-tutorial/" target="_blank">this tutorial</a> by Delia Creates.) I think 2 mm by 1.5 inches would be the right size to hold a bow this size, and it would give you a much more professional finish on the inside and out. I would just make sure that the top of each hole started about 8 mm below the
neckline (as opposed to 2 mm down which I did) which would allow for the seam allowance for attaching
the top to the lining. </div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rK6oIhWkZepTbY4y-CpHa01-zNVXUiB3_mARF9Mw2XeKiySUhrLA6JjQROWjMkdlzVuL6k3tND_LASZIcbBsoOKln6prxaDFcrSClk_zQLFc5L7irNPx4DBDs-GmpRv5jqjACZqAdq_P/s1600/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rK6oIhWkZepTbY4y-CpHa01-zNVXUiB3_mARF9Mw2XeKiySUhrLA6JjQROWjMkdlzVuL6k3tND_LASZIcbBsoOKln6prxaDFcrSClk_zQLFc5L7irNPx4DBDs-GmpRv5jqjACZqAdq_P/s640/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-22.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I installed my buttonholes on the left side of the bodice (Hannah's left) and put my buttons on the lining side of the bodice so that they would be hidden when everything was buttoned up. I still used three buttons because I was afraid that the weight of the bow might pull the neckline down or the placket open a bit, but everything stayed in place perfectly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o9-L3po1odhmIjAqJbdGquVWirfjnowvHeOo-6UsCcMU29ufqJfNHl1r-qZNEpChT3-4VKsidTYm2aE61W0ZkD9eMyBH8rIXy-F9Of-XIVkaXFeL6HZR7dMObjH5dVL_VpR_xRo9orwt/s1600/Floppy+Bow+Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o9-L3po1odhmIjAqJbdGquVWirfjnowvHeOo-6UsCcMU29ufqJfNHl1r-qZNEpChT3-4VKsidTYm2aE61W0ZkD9eMyBH8rIXy-F9Of-XIVkaXFeL6HZR7dMObjH5dVL_VpR_xRo9orwt/s640/Floppy+Bow+Limon+Top+at+Our+Family+Four2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So now all that I have to do is sit back and adore this sweet top. I just love the how the fitted bodice, flared bottom, and rounded hem give it that perfect bell shape. Don't you?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_doIYlfhRG1BdLBbjPgaSjPPVPusQZorX9689Ga_XQ3W2Q3L0a1uiJeoyIoWbnQLw2Z4GxvKbTIAYP2-HmAzwkY9Yf79oMAYRpIhU2tig-jjjP3mvG3i7MQLnH7jmGbcfr7JYBE2eNq0i/s1600/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_doIYlfhRG1BdLBbjPgaSjPPVPusQZorX9689Ga_XQ3W2Q3L0a1uiJeoyIoWbnQLw2Z4GxvKbTIAYP2-HmAzwkY9Yf79oMAYRpIhU2tig-jjjP3mvG3i7MQLnH7jmGbcfr7JYBE2eNq0i/s640/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-25.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I'm so glad that I chose the top option because it is just adorable and slightly casual with shorts, but still seems special enough to be worn in place of a dress if we have something a little more formal going on. I think we can all agree that it's just perfect for blowing bubbles in. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7r_VSpLN6lppn9vm1a3nZBgnNCCMpq2ReX0VwbxbxYznH7ZE3s7zfjoV5QJm0AlMIkVWJYkdNqV1A5Uj2HHb0h1-UyfXMpl5da8KN5Ov8b-8O-KD85TFemUiSnARwrfUDsDTq1GQQYO_/s1600/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7r_VSpLN6lppn9vm1a3nZBgnNCCMpq2ReX0VwbxbxYznH7ZE3s7zfjoV5QJm0AlMIkVWJYkdNqV1A5Uj2HHb0h1-UyfXMpl5da8KN5Ov8b-8O-KD85TFemUiSnARwrfUDsDTq1GQQYO_/s640/Limon+Blouse+at+Our+Family+Four-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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This is the second item that I have made from Willow & Co's newest collection, the first being the Antalya Dress which I shared <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/antalya-dress.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you are curious.</div>
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Thanks for having me on the tour ladies!!<br />
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PS-Did you see the <a href="http://chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.com/2015/05/our-family-four-one.html" target="_blank">post yesterday</a> with the other thing I've been working on? It's been wearing me out, but it's a good one. :) </div>
<span id="goog_543496544"></span><span id="goog_543496545"></span><br />Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-26264132578064057902015-05-27T08:00:00.000+01:002015-05-28T07:49:32.320+01:00Our Family Four + One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonWhN2Ku-M0QJJeybysaAbUnr-lSd9YNCSChLYxiBFz7epEiSMTkNY5HLk8t_X9YhHN0nuN-V8RaVR1nMjumDY76QtvuwO0GVcw5WuBavZBLk2BubKOsaaI1AhAkJdUuYOMUnG-ZrAHzC/s640/Our+Family+Four+%252B+One-1-2.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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If it seems like things have been a little quieter here on the blog than usual, my apologies, but at least now I can finally share why. </div>
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We are all so thrilled with this happy news and delighted to finally be able to share that by the end of the year we will be a family of five. Our smiles are bigger in real life. :)</div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-50281717347743400222015-05-22T15:00:00.000+01:002015-05-29T22:42:39.773+01:00Jayce at Seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jayce, I don't know how it happened, but you are seven. </div>
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It seems incredible to me because that seems like the age of a kind of "big kid," which I guess you are now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FfDWrnlzLyauPm2SnFozbQij8iX3Fvb5IBRlNqfCmKkYgqRFcGWDFTKjNisLcx2_dbziK1JvGdxvtKhcgpd8874bJzCBqMileRSqkKVrwxth4gjNnllwIVVQoM9pN8OftBnrHgijC4Ad/s1600/Jayce%2527s+tooth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FfDWrnlzLyauPm2SnFozbQij8iX3Fvb5IBRlNqfCmKkYgqRFcGWDFTKjNisLcx2_dbziK1JvGdxvtKhcgpd8874bJzCBqMileRSqkKVrwxth4gjNnllwIVVQoM9pN8OftBnrHgijC4Ad/s640/Jayce%2527s+tooth-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Just this week you lost an important tooth. It was not your first tooth, but I think we all know that there is something different about losing those top middle two and them being replaced by two adult teeth. Kids inevitably look so much older when those big teeth come in, particularly when they are a little too big for your face as they always are at first. It will take a little bit of getting used to. </div>
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I don't know how to put this that doesn't sound insulting, so I hope this doesn't sound that way, but I think that in my mind you are still around your sister's age even though I know that you aren't. So when you stand up and I watch those long legs unfold, or you tell me some interesting facts about something while we are walking home from school, or you blow my mind with your excellent reading it still startles me a little bit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84ywMDXypErCdTOh7ofa2WbxTUPC6xJJRU_nq6aYt7D6snO-Ipe7tqeQUN7bFuU0ANDW6p8q6SbsZRYT0Szq75tJvWITHTE2Eu_Eo8nZKEiIJhzBhBXr1ijpiBroE3crOm5yhlfVBXtn-/s1600/Kids+at+Ham+House-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84ywMDXypErCdTOh7ofa2WbxTUPC6xJJRU_nq6aYt7D6snO-Ipe7tqeQUN7bFuU0ANDW6p8q6SbsZRYT0Szq75tJvWITHTE2Eu_Eo8nZKEiIJhzBhBXr1ijpiBroE3crOm5yhlfVBXtn-/s640/Kids+at+Ham+House-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Your relationship with Hannah is the same as many older boys with their slightly younger sister. She is your chief tormentor although not for the same reason as two years ago when I would say the same thing. It's just that she adores you. Everything that you are doing looks cool, anything that you are looking at is interesting, everything that you are playing with seems amazing. She just wants to be in on it with you, but you just want some space (and for her not to mess up things that have been meticulously put in place) and that is okay. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bGNM-rlRVf40Wk1Orgbj4cJIVc-KgCPzWnkqoSe9XgWLXiWAGB7SnG4sSmB1xtvBHQY_-liw1ko3DFhIhExApNotp1mAPoLE11-k5eLfcB3RdfShADaGC571JshdSW_EuvubCPEk2Du-/s1600/Ham+House-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bGNM-rlRVf40Wk1Orgbj4cJIVc-KgCPzWnkqoSe9XgWLXiWAGB7SnG4sSmB1xtvBHQY_-liw1ko3DFhIhExApNotp1mAPoLE11-k5eLfcB3RdfShADaGC571JshdSW_EuvubCPEk2Du-/s640/Ham+House-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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That said, you still take care of Hannah. If she is sad you can always be the one to make her feel better, if she is stubbornly resisting something that I am requesting you can persuade her easily. Sometimes if she gets hurt and you rush over to give her a hug or kiss a boo boo it makes it better almost instantly. I still love that I was able to get a few pictures of you valiantly carrying her over this pebble walkway a few months when we were taking pictures for Stylo and she had already tossed her shoes. I am going to pretend that it is because sometimes you do nice things, although I will admit that your dad and I had already cast a haze of bribery over that day knowing that there were lots of pictures to take and you both would likely be over it before I was finished. But no one asked you to go get her, you rand over, picked her up and carried her across this path and she was just as pleased as punch. :) Good job buddy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC68xN08a-wFzStOeKOsiH3aXsf3PFb7b7p9HlEghD_a21eoTs54l3cjDmdHd08l1o8Lg5af-xNq4O4zr9paH4S20VKLGFTaXA7KameT0OYU0kKKDDlL3-vj4zHK4gt598d-bidtyG3-1Y/s1600/Ham+House-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC68xN08a-wFzStOeKOsiH3aXsf3PFb7b7p9HlEghD_a21eoTs54l3cjDmdHd08l1o8Lg5af-xNq4O4zr9paH4S20VKLGFTaXA7KameT0OYU0kKKDDlL3-vj4zHK4gt598d-bidtyG3-1Y/s640/Ham+House-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Legos are still your first love as far as toys are concerned. Actually, there is nothing else really, aside from Minecraft sometimes on the weekend. They cater to your creative mind, your love of setups and symmetry, your incredible attention to details. I know I've said it before, but it amazes me at how well and how quickly you can put together an advanced set. You have an endless amount of patience for that sort of thing and still find it just as satisfying to make up your own sets or your own versions of sets that you've seen but don't have. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9BpW-5BeH9P2iOZtDa8MKde23N8GOBCqUNuC2WLlPop6H7sasaVK6FlmxO7ig5hUK0tai6_WV_Dd8TiUXtDFYThNwC3T_JmlMg28O7XZqQAO2NyrFaErLX8TyT-A8ccu3W6YzDsfRZMO/s1600/Lego-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9BpW-5BeH9P2iOZtDa8MKde23N8GOBCqUNuC2WLlPop6H7sasaVK6FlmxO7ig5hUK0tai6_WV_Dd8TiUXtDFYThNwC3T_JmlMg28O7XZqQAO2NyrFaErLX8TyT-A8ccu3W6YzDsfRZMO/s640/Lego-1.jpg" width="640" /></a> A few months ago you decided to build your own series. You told me how each theme has several different sets within the theme: usually a few smaller sets, a few medium sized sets, a large set and a really big set. So you decided to design sets for your own theme. You worked on it throughout the course of the week, bringing them down to me periodically to take pictures. The details are always so well thought out and executed. I love it.</div>
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You are our sensitive child. You don't like to be scared, you like small animals, and you have been trying for over a year now to convince your dad and I to adopt an endangered animal, which we haven't. A few weeks ago you paused the tv, dragged your dad into the room, and replayed a commercial for adopting a snow leopard for him to see. You and I have talked on a few different occasions on the walk to school about it. Most recently I pointed out to you even if we did it we don't actually <i>get </i>a snow leopard, and you pointed out to me that it's okay because we would be helping to save it's life because it's in danger, and we <i>would</i> get a stuffed snow leopard. I'm wondering now if the whole thing was a ploy to get you a stuffed snow leopard which we could accomplish relatively easily, but we will see.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbjo1OflnLqnrtNsjXA3JFx_biv3A4MLwIXNxb87Q93s78SHp4AfoVWKkkMUR_CaYeEjTsf0pFDG8hWlHpWzFuLNhAvkD0zoa43kdsnCivepzGuh6qkUWRZ6yYj_5dQ6KVQA2dpS3cOqp/s1600/Jayce+cake-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbjo1OflnLqnrtNsjXA3JFx_biv3A4MLwIXNxb87Q93s78SHp4AfoVWKkkMUR_CaYeEjTsf0pFDG8hWlHpWzFuLNhAvkD0zoa43kdsnCivepzGuh6qkUWRZ6yYj_5dQ6KVQA2dpS3cOqp/s640/Jayce+cake-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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You are my favorite boy and I'm so glad that you are mine. Happy 7th birthday buddy!</div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-83124828720557719262015-05-20T08:11:00.001+01:002015-05-20T08:11:26.380+01:00Stylo Magazine<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pink Debbie Dress-STYLO.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rHac8pXdsCE/VVwzXXjfjqI/AAAAAAAAWrw/lpR-xRTeVLA/Pink%252520Debbie%252520Dress-STYLO.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Pink Debbie Dress STYLO" width="700" height="466" border="0" />I have been sitting on a little secret for just over three months now that I am so excited to finally let out. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">In February I was invited to contribute to an incredible project, <a href="http://stylomagazine.com/">Stylo Magazine</a>. If you haven't heard of it before, it is a Kids Fashion Magazine entirely composed of clothing that you could make. All pattern links and fabric links are included and contributors are encouraged to outdo themselves with fun styling and photos. Even if you don't sew or aspire to sew it is incredibly inspirational and fun! The kids, clothes, and photos are just amazing. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Liberty Theo Shirt-Stylo.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KQ9FiYRHPGM/VVwzMGGR08I/AAAAAAAAWrg/VwoAth7kEcQ/Liberty%252520Theo%252520Shirt-Stylo.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Liberty Theo Shirt Stylo" width="500" height="749" border="0" />I ended up making seven different garments for the issue, five with patterns that I had never used before, and one pattern that was in Dutch and I had to Google translate (and head scratch) my way through. Luckily the photos in the tutorial were very helpful and I was so pleased with the way that everything turned out. I was especially happy to have a good excuse to sew for Jayce and I just adore his look.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_7041.PNG" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q30dykcjSpY/VVwzlfbyI4I/AAAAAAAAWsY/HIevg-e4JcM/IMG_7041.PNG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 7041" width="700" height="466" border="0" />I even made a tutorial for the pineapple pocket dress that is pictured above, and it will be up on <a href="http://stylomagazine.com/">The Sewing Rabbit</a> later today. I love that dress.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Zebra Persimmon Dress-stylo1.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pILebAru16E/VVwzZ9WxeMI/AAAAAAAAWr4/jEgEMxesYN8/Zebra%252520Persimmon%252520Dress-stylo1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Zebra Persimmon Dress stylo1" width="700" height="466" border="0" />I'll be back later on in the week with some more details on some of my looks, but I don't really see any reason for that now because you really need to just go check out the magazine itself <a href="http://stylomagazine.com/">here</a>.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Liberty Desert Rose Dress-stylo.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cj0b0BzqlQI/VVwzVbAstzI/AAAAAAAAWro/OWO0KkEiW-c/Liberty%252520Desert%252520Rose%252520Dress-stylo.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Liberty Desert Rose Dress stylo" width="500" height="749" border="0" />Grab a warm drink and take your time because it is beautiful!! I love the things I made but my co-contributors really outdid themselves!!<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Reversible Autumn Coat-stylo.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LYOwTcGtml4/VVwzfHEjZII/AAAAAAAAWsI/uUfp2PpRFe4/Reversible%252520Autumn%252520Coat-stylo.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Reversible Autumn Coat stylo" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-47747329785612436002015-05-15T12:59:00.001+01:002015-05-15T12:59:58.868+01:00Racing With Kids<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="SSP_TR_A02046 (EH).jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xDHIn865URM/VVXfeIefWwI/AAAAAAAAWqg/IgyHhj4QLu0/SSP_TR_A02046%252520%252528EH%252529.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="SSP TR A02046 EH" width="700" height="464" border="0" />Last Sunday Chris ran a half marathon that he has done for the past three years. We met him at the finish line and he ran in with the kids, as he has done in past years. Just for kicks, here are the previous years.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="SSP_CA_032332 (EH).jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jzSZA2UXLMQ/VVXfhA5zFXI/AAAAAAAAWqo/n5fryIbl1LY/SSP_CA_032332%252520%252528EH%252529.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="SSP CA 032332 EH" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><em style="text-align: center;">(2014, and </em><em style="text-align: center;"><a style="text-align: center;" href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/around-here-parties-races-swimming-and.html#more">last year's post</a>)</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="SSP_CA_54903 (EH).jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RDEUsMfn56c/VVXfVQ14OKI/AAAAAAAAWqY/K4v9ki1Co4k/SSP_CA_54903%252520%252528EH%252529.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="SSP CA 54903 EH" width="700" height="466" border="0" />(2013 and<a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/hooray-daddy.html"> that year's post</a>.)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CY2FN9nFV2M" width="480" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Also this, from that year, because it is unreal how different they sound in just 2 years.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6924.JPG" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7xcC6DdL32g/VVXfk-q8bII/AAAAAAAAWqw/b4zEnAFr0Bk/IMG_6924.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6924" width="600" height="450" border="0" />The kids and I were waiting for Chris as he came around the last bend before the finish line. He rescued me from an endearing but insanity-inducing game of <em>I spy</em> with the kids.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jayce: Mom, I spy with my little eye something starting with <em>g</em> and <em>t</em>….give up? Ginormous tree!!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Hannah: Mom, I spy with my little eye something starting with pretz…that's right mom! Pretzel bag! Well done! </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6926.JPG" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wuoq7ISkrEI/VVXfov1FdZI/AAAAAAAAWq4/B9raiPUUTNo/IMG_6926.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6926" width="450" height="600" border="0" />Chris carried Hannah for a little bit but eventually she had to run across the line with him.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6929.JPG" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wY0_okJ6UX4/VVXfsa6W7fI/AAAAAAAAWrA/qSgZYR6s0JI/IMG_6929.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6929" width="450" height="600" border="0" />Even carrying/running with the kids the last little bit Chris still ran his new personal best race time of just over 1:29. (Sorry, I don't remember to the second.) We celebrated sufficiently afterwards with crepes for lunch and the noodle bar for dinner. But only because we like to support our local businesses...</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Congratulations Chris on another job very well done! :)</p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-89419643322188449792015-05-07T10:38:00.001+01:002015-05-07T10:38:58.241+01:00Jumping<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pillow Jumping-3.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PpCkC3IYbAo/VUsr7WlHXsI/AAAAAAAAWpI/rTlOBQI1ESQ/Pillow%252520Jumping-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Pillow Jumping 3" width="700" height="466" border="0" />Some days, when it's cold or rainy, and the kids need to burn off some steam but Chris and I aren't up for a park trip we do this. 'Pillow jumping' is what the kids call it. We bring down one or both of their mattresses, every pillow from every bed in the flat, make a big pile and let them jump and jump. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pillow Jumping-2.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AonKp6C10Gc/VUsygK1p4KI/AAAAAAAAWpY/FaPV6JAU5Wo/Pillow%252520Jumping-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Pillow Jumping 2" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pillow Jumping-1.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5lYiKpxksKM/VUsykq9nmJI/AAAAAAAAWpg/Mpf7gX6RPq4/Pillow%252520Jumping-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Pillow Jumping 1" width="700" height="466" border="0" />There is a (sturdy) table behind the back of the couch that the kids jump from, so they get a little bit more height and distance than if they were just jumping from the couch to the floor. Sometimes they flip a little bit, sometimes they land on their backs, sometimes we throw pillows at them while their jumping, which they try to avoid (or try to jump into), but there is always lots of giggling.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pillow Jumping-5.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8AzHsHjcrd4/VUsynDQBOSI/AAAAAAAAWpo/jV70v8tK0Lo/Pillow%252520Jumping-5.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Pillow Jumping 5" width="700" height="466" border="0" />But there is always hair flying, some cool moves, and lots of giggling. It is probably one of Chris' most proudest accomplishments, the invention of this game for when boredom strikes. Because honestly, the park is really great, but sometimes we just can't, and this fits the bill in a way that makes <em>everyone</em> happy. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pillow Jumping-4.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e5tW7Wt6Zvk/VUsyqhpyfWI/AAAAAAAAWpw/T5TC7ADJtxA/Pillow%252520Jumping-4.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Pillow Jumping 4" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-55655633037844683752015-04-29T10:23:00.001+01:002015-04-30T15:04:13.228+01:00Cinderella at the Movies<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="IMG 6587" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bqEwGEnaEv4/VUCi6AOZGPI/AAAAAAAAWno/a66MjnLBovg/IMG_6587.JPG?imgmax=800" height="666" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6587.JPG" width="500" /><span style="text-align: center;">A few weeks ago we took Hannah and Jayce to see the new live version of Cinderella at the movie theatre. Hannah was excited, Jayce wasn't, and Chris and I were in that way that you are when you think your kid is going to be really delighted by something.</span></div>
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It wasn't entirely delightful for anyone. </div>
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Hannah is almost four and has only been to the movie theatre one other time, and that was to see an animated movie. I didn't realize until we were sitting in the theatre just how significant the difference would be between a live movie and an animated movie in maintaining her attention. The back story which takes thirty seconds to communicate in the cartoon version took twenty minutes in this version. The time spent developing the story was completely lost on Hannah and she kept fidgeting and asking where the prince was.</div>
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She chatted with me a lot. A<i> lot</i>. I had to remind her about every two minutes (no joke) that we needed to whisper, because whenever she had a question or got excited about something, her first instinct <i>wasn't</i> to whisper. That's understandable for a three year old but still a bummer in the theatre. She was up and down in her seat, we left to go to the bathroom twice, she switched back and forth between sitting on my lap and Chris', and she got up a few times to dance in the aisle. </div>
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<img alt="IMG 6850" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JsO-7p6rLyQ/VUEjtmiRQNI/AAAAAAAAWoI/NIY-NoFprAE/IMG_6850.JPG?imgmax=800" height="466" title="IMG_6850.JPG" width="350" /><img alt="IMG 6855" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RZOXqKq6cxU/VUEjqfwuLcI/AAAAAAAAWoA/8hVzJp0oLBY/IMG_6855.JPG?imgmax=800" height="466" title="IMG_6855.JPG" width="350" /></div>
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When the movie ended she started crying and cried all the way out of the theatre. For the next week whenever we saw previews for the movie on tv she would say sadly, "<i>But I didn't want that movie to be over</i>."</div>
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For the sake of my own sanity and frazzled nerves, I wish we had waited for some sort of "kids day" showing of the movie on a Saturday morning or gone to a cheap theatre. For the sake of the other (adult and full-price-paying) movie-goers I felt like I needed to keep her restrained, and when we got home I was absolutely fried. But she loved it. She mostly remembers that she didn't want it to end, which would suggest that she liked it and had a good time despite my shushing her. </div>
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I don't regret taking her. </div>
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Some outings work really well. The kids behave, the weather behaves, the kids don't have meltdowns and the parents don't lose their tempers. This one was not easy but in the end it was still worth it, good, and enjoyable for everyone. In <i>hindsight </i>that is. It was enjoyable for me in hindsight.</div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-56342649273511729332015-04-23T11:31:00.001+01:002015-04-23T11:31:46.333+01:00Antalya Dress <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-15.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Beoym9ADhaI/VTjJgPSw7lI/AAAAAAAAWlg/ek_YRGFwwJ4/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-15.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 15" width="500" height="749" border="0" />I am so excited that I finally got my hands on the <a href="http://www.willowandcopatterns.com/products/the-antalya-dress">Antalya Dress pattern</a> by Olga at Kid Approved this week! It is the first of several new patterns by the Willow & Co pattern company and the details are just so fun. I love it! Actually the pattern has a special introductory price this week, so jump over and get a copy now!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">(<em>Also, in an attempt to distract Hannah from running away I asked her if she could stand like Princess Aurora, and this is what she did-a kiss. I don't know. There were lots of flowers to be picked and she was a girl on the move</em>!)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-19.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zE5Y8Kztys8/VTjJ42yBvzI/AAAAAAAAWmw/CNeUlvACkxE/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-19.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 19" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-17.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HfRrLSF6dUw/VTjJ-gTmRgI/AAAAAAAAWnI/9L98FUoQGlM/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-17.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 17" width="350" height="524" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Back to the dress. The Antalya has a slightly loose fit with dolman sleeves, so a good comfortable fit in the armpit and bodice area, perfect for running around at the park. The swooping curved line on the front extends up the bodice on the back, but I decided not to break up this beautiful floral panel on the back, and I topstitched along the curve instead. There is the option to close with a button panel or an exposed zipper, but the best zipper option I had was invisible so I went with it, thinking that it would still peek out a little. Ironically it is the best invisible zipper installation that I have ever done, and you can barely see it when she's standing up. Oh well.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-9.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aOMdOiRDlck/VTjJqhMjAfI/AAAAAAAAWl4/cSvGmxNPmJc/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-9.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 9" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-5.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hQfia6qo8Yk/VTjJmF1cOjI/AAAAAAAAWlo/J1saJW3c0TI/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-5.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 5" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-6.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9sHGSOl9Zqc/VTjJui7BWWI/AAAAAAAAWmI/vA9IhgD2kec/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-6.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 6" width="350" height="524" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I love how this pattern gives you the option to do some cool color blocking between the sleeves, the main portion of the dress, and the back panel, or you could use the same fabric on the whole dress and accent the lines with piping. I have been sewing through my fabric stash this winter and spring and didn't have enough of any one piece of fabric to do the whole dress in, but that is what's happening next time. Piping accents everywhere! :)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-3.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f11bUHTLbZo/VTjJoa3y-oI/AAAAAAAAWlw/UTrbB7adLcQ/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 3" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-4.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zjKaoFg4pXU/VTjKA8X4VhI/AAAAAAAAWnQ/0DjjJMZdKtM/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-4.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 4" width="350" height="524" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I made Hannah a size 2 per her chest measurements but added extra length at the bottom that I hid up in a wide hem that I'm sure will be let down later this summer. She has been growing in height more than anything else recently and I didn't want this dress to graduate to a tunic anytime too soon. </p>
<p><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-8.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jAfYsbYAgJQ/VTjJshT3UbI/AAAAAAAAWmA/dfMbbFnfT54/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-8.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 8" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-12.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vh9yrx6SSPE/VTjJwXoeC8I/AAAAAAAAWmQ/jWUWEPfWn70/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-12.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 12" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-20.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cxnNHBgH7vM/VTjKC5P8k0I/AAAAAAAAWnY/EwG2St0OmCo/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-20.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 20" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">She loved this dress and was particularly happy with the spin factor on the skirt. It got a full thumbs up for scooter-riding too, which you can't really beat. </p>
<p><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-21.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qKhpI3KD3Qo/VTjJ3CUmR4I/AAAAAAAAWmo/kKeRYlyvIMs/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-21.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 21" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four-13.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Q1Mz-qpdvg/VTjJyaoD7XI/AAAAAAAAWmY/JNvXj_CSeWI/Antalya%252520Dress%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-13.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Antalya Dress at Our Family Four 13" width="350" height="524" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I'm linking this project up to <a href="http://www.willowandcopatterns.com/products/the-antalya-dress">Kids Clothes Week</a>. I have a few more things up my sleeve that I hope to finish off in the next few days, so that's all for now!</p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-2516588546549467632015-04-20T17:05:00.001+01:002015-04-20T17:05:24.037+01:00Jayce Says<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Red Nose Day-3.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IjrkBrcx6jI/VTUjN3vN2ZI/AAAAAAAAWkA/uitHCeX2NSg/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 3" width="700" height="466" border="0" />I know I often write about the funny things that Hannah says, and three year olds certainly do have lots of funny things to say. But almost-seven year olds do too. <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Red Nose Day-1.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pdv7NF0lfLI/VTUjRTJBncI/AAAAAAAAWkI/2e8uc9XO5LE/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 1" width="700" height="466" border="0" />The other day we were at a restaurant and Jayce was washing his hands and attempting to find that happy medium water temperature. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jayce: <em>Mom, that one was too hot, and this one is too chilly. We need it to be chot, that would be just right. "Ch" from chilly and "ot" from hot. Chot.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Me: <em>Yeah, we could call it that. Or there's actually already a word for that, called warm.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jayce: <em>Oh yeah, warm. So yeah, we could say either chot or warm.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Red Nose Day-6.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sdje2uB_Qcw/VTUjbZ3zr_I/AAAAAAAAWkg/Fqa3KbXsVZk/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-6.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 6" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Red Nose Day-5.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-snqXzvgXRUg/VTUjeT-S_uI/AAAAAAAAWko/fiMh1r9r7jQ/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-5.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 5" width="350" height="524" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">He has been making me smile a lot with his prayers at bedtime. For a long time Jayce would exclusively and stubbornly thank God for me and Jack (his favorite stuffed animal), and Hannah would balance things out by thanking God for Chris and her favorite stuffed animal. But recently Jayce has started spilling out a variety of different things, like thanking God for his creativity. The other night he thanked God for all of the wonderful things that he does to help people who are poor and sick. :)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Red Nose Day-4.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FjkVmR1yNzE/VTUjnuCeNSI/AAAAAAAAWlA/Rzi-7QZ5Wls/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-4.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 4" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Red Nose Day-7.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EZT9wMr1FZ0/VTUjkMFQa1I/AAAAAAAAWk4/sK19aA3uIMc/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-7.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 7" width="700" height="466" border="0" />That night Hannah wasn't feeling very cooperative, and after some persuasion finally thanked God for her dresses.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Dresses are a fine thing to be thankful for, although I would argue that I have a small hand in those as well.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Red Nose Day-11.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S6ZzlBoaPX8/VTUjq7SJwXI/AAAAAAAAWlI/0p9fPVyRyv0/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-11.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 11" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Red Nose Day-10.jpg" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jqqlk6oNfhI/VTUjuk3cvsI/AAAAAAAAWlQ/7cJlP9gL-ag/Red%252520Nose%252520Day-10.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Red Nose Day 10" width="350" height="524" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I sometimes feel like only a few small things aren't worthy of a post of their own, and I need to have a long string of hilarity to recount. But I love remembering what little and big things are going through these kids' minds, and want to write them down before they slip out of my mind forever. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Also these pictures are from last month when the kids were getting ready for Red Nose Day before school, just in case you were wondering if this was just an average face-painting day. </p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-1557051088729494802015-04-15T11:23:00.001+01:002015-04-15T13:37:12.132+01:00Bubble Magic<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Bubbles 10" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4xnk8Qeu0sM/VS47TXJ0RlI/AAAAAAAAWho/hWyRoLr38NQ/bubbles-10.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bubbles-10.jpg" width="500" /><img alt="Bubbles 14" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X7nNotpGmW0/VS47ZZy2rPI/AAAAAAAAWhw/vazkWzItJjM/bubbles-14.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bubbles-14.jpg" width="700" />Hannah has been dying to go outside to do bubbles since February, but we didn't have any and I didn't make it a priority to get some. But last week I texted Chris at the end of the day and asked him to swing by the Pound Store on the way home and it was basically Hannah's dream come true. Jayce initially wasn't interested but quickly changed his mind and decided to join in too.<br />
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<img alt="Bubbles 1" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eHNkPcE6-AQ/VS47cFDXLdI/AAAAAAAAWh4/bhFpRm6Oh3s/bubbles-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-1.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MtrYE93LNOc/VS47esK_NRI/AAAAAAAAWiA/9uTBhQp9ZvI/bubbles-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-2.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 5" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J_QpCNa-Kdg/VS47hsJfDVI/AAAAAAAAWiI/YRg8TlxwXTo/bubbles-5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" title="bubbles-5.jpg" width="700" /><br />
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We all ran downstairs still in our pajamas and I grabbed my camera. I'm so glad that I did. The enthusiasm and delight that they had was off the charts and I couldn't stop grinning with them like pack of (happy) idiots. I'll admit that I get a lot of joy out of my kids being so excited over bubbles - even basic bubbles that they have to blow themselves. No battery powered machine to crank them out by the hundreds, no enormously sized ones, no colored ones, just satisfying little bunches that need to be chased, caught, or popped.</div>
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<img alt="Bubbles 12" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u1vkZFTJ444/VS47kUaQS8I/AAAAAAAAWiQ/b3JdqjfhfB4/bubbles-12.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bubbles-12.jpg" width="500" />Aside from the bubble fun I just adore these pictures. I sometimes like taking pictures of random things much more than events. I have edited several rounds of photos of the kids playing in the living room these past few months but still not touched the ones from Christmas morning. I don't know what it is, they just seem so real. I'm not shunning the Christmas ones, and they are just as "real." But these ones just seem a little magical and I can't put my finger on exactly why. </div>
<img alt="Bubbles 3" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UVRtF_z6paA/VS47w4udwQI/AAAAAAAAWi4/2W4P0WMwLRg/bubbles-3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-3.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 7" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RmymUkSHDVQ/VS47rwsxgvI/AAAAAAAAWio/sLNAt4ErN7c/bubbles-7.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-7.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 9" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Rgn5SrzmCW4/VS47zorGnrI/AAAAAAAAWjA/cwC9f2JkpsI/bubbles-9.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-9.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 13" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H02qNuiqWmQ/VS47uTKCvRI/AAAAAAAAWiw/t5MoniO8bqI/bubbles-13.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-13.jpg" width="350" /><br />
<img alt="Bubbles 6" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LbJBVfO2mXw/VS472i1WgNI/AAAAAAAAWjI/MS1CDFfh-ds/bubbles-6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bubbles-6.jpg" width="700" /><br />
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But I love them. Pictures of my two little monkeys in all of their glory. </div>
<img alt="Bubbles 16" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jj97DtDS4KA/VS475D8skLI/AAAAAAAAWjQ/p2kDbQQgzNo/bubbles-16.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-16.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 15" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QpRVsG352TI/VS478LPjw2I/AAAAAAAAWjY/HNBPxYpZN6I/bubbles-15.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-15.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 8" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9hYNpgKJyrQ/VS47-wie-KI/AAAAAAAAWjg/FAZsqD5f0sE/bubbles-8.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-8.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Bubbles 17" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qFS5xyDMxJU/VS48DyCpOMI/AAAAAAAAWjw/nCV3vyXtEGg/bubbles-17.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="bubbles-17.jpg" width="350" />Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-48243563290423993552015-04-10T16:01:00.001+01:002015-04-10T16:53:28.258+01:00Easter Sunday in Photos<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter-2.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pZd7pTLB3do/VSe0N4efTVI/AAAAAAAAWdg/BxclWjwsiEs/Easter-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 2" width="500" height="749" border="0" /></div>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter afternoon2-7.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vskp1jy_O90/VSe0XyHIpLI/AAAAAAAAWdo/tS4EC1dAaMs/Easter%252520afternoon2-7.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 7" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter Morning-2.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NvtUZGjWMTc/VSfkTquLh4I/AAAAAAAAWd4/5d0vlgjX0q8/Easter%252520Morning-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter Morning 2" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter Morning-3.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PFD791BYDxs/VSfkYWMmKlI/AAAAAAAAWeA/_UhiVUdgEaE/Easter%252520Morning-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter Morning 3" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img title="Easter Morning-12.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aeKbhWHR9L0/VSfkad7SBXI/AAAAAAAAWeI/KPjK7M6rzxY/Easter%252520Morning-12.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter Morning 12" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter Morning-8.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RUgOpIxJLko/VSfkdJujN1I/AAAAAAAAWeQ/NheaL2-x2Bs/Easter%252520Morning-8.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter Morning 8" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter Morning-10.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-01IZQQX8kYg/VSfkiKljQrI/AAAAAAAAWeY/aSnTasp9C_M/Easter%252520Morning-10.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter Morning 10" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img title="Easter-1.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yA0yxjBtI2w/VSfkmshYa8I/AAAAAAAAWeg/64lOAG2cRFQ/Easter-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 1" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter-2-2.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zm3BYcV7zGA/VSfkrHjEZNI/AAAAAAAAWeo/R467klpovG0/Easter-2-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 2 2" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter-4.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zUEzkhpwA74/VSfkvGIhNGI/AAAAAAAAWew/N0qgOfKFl3A/Easter-4.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 4" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter-5.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fpWQZr7axp8/VSfkzuXwrZI/AAAAAAAAWe4/-Y3q1832z0Y/Easter-5.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 5" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter-8.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xIwHWQ_HL3U/VSfk2ZAY-BI/AAAAAAAAWfA/_j18Fjp1ovM/Easter-8.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 8" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img title="Easter-7.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4ndy6k-DwPo/VSfk7mOtRrI/AAAAAAAAWfI/vxR8SYU1x0U/Easter-7.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 7" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter-6.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RkGHyGYkcsc/VSflAxubsJI/AAAAAAAAWfQ/pPfnCCm5H64/Easter-6.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter 6" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon-2.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yxtda9gmdio/VSflCwKmyzI/AAAAAAAAWfY/Lhqcnc6uvX4/Easter%252520afternoon-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon 2" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon-7.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Hxq7on_IUbs/VSflE8cFKXI/AAAAAAAAWfg/N1YrC8_4G5Y/Easter%252520afternoon-7.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon 7" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon-3.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KLST8SwjYZw/VSflHbgF-VI/AAAAAAAAWfo/QuwJbAb34pI/Easter%252520afternoon-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon 3" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon-5.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-q0mlRRdVr48/VSflJTLBKBI/AAAAAAAAWfw/slBlybxG47c/Easter%252520afternoon-5.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon 5" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon2-3.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gEu666wuXzc/VSflMq92UgI/AAAAAAAAWf4/8_vvrTFC-aA/Easter%252520afternoon2-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 3" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon2-5.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PROk1hS2FMk/VSflQM3rFjI/AAAAAAAAWgA/yP-jKyN7A60/Easter%252520afternoon2-5.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 5" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><br /> <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter afternoon2-4.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xJI2XEQSDDY/VSflSyVp2OI/AAAAAAAAWgI/jkm9nPbuqPc/Easter%252520afternoon2-4.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 4" width="500" height="749" border="0" /><br /> <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter afternoon2-8.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dpSwkFEwHQQ/VSflUrmlCHI/AAAAAAAAWgQ/VD3kU5v3bKI/Easter%252520afternoon2-8.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 8" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter afternoon2-10.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gAj0GuLXt_U/VSflYwbumvI/AAAAAAAAWgY/ov4ziYXpxT8/Easter%252520afternoon2-10.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 10" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Easter afternoon2-6.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6mqDyrxaTOw/VSflbbsBPlI/AAAAAAAAWgg/8nBoskg_jqw/Easter%252520afternoon2-6.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 6" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="egg cookies-1.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ta9vVZHk72U/VSfllm1IqpI/AAAAAAAAWhI/Typt4YCUBPs/egg%252520cookies-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Egg cookies 1" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="egg cookies-2.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MguyG6Rtfk8/VSfloKOXH6I/AAAAAAAAWhQ/qnwrEQq2YF8/egg%252520cookies-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Egg cookies 2" width="700" height="466" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="egg cookies-3.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C7Y7vpzM6_8/VSflqDJQ0EI/AAAAAAAAWhY/3WWNaUb9Ksk/egg%252520cookies-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Egg cookies 3" width="500" height="749" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon2-2.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4tikYlTvuyo/VSflhOhKkYI/AAAAAAAAWg4/D2Oc72v2A5I/Easter%252520afternoon2-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 2" width="350" height="524" border="0" /><img title="Easter afternoon2-1.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eKTg9h506PM/VSfli3kZ9AI/AAAAAAAAWhA/ugeJdZkgr7w/Easter%252520afternoon2-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Easter afternoon2 1" width="350" height="524" border="0" /></p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-39986357438479852732015-03-30T22:02:00.001+01:002015-03-31T09:58:01.402+01:00Chelsea's Graduation<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5YYZh8z8-f4/VRm3_JMWnmI/AAAAAAAAWXM/A60I5EvR6bs/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-2.jpg" width="500" />Just over three weeks ago Chelsea graduated from St Mary's with her Master's Degree. Despite the fact that it is typically a much smaller scale than in the US, she had ten guests as her party because everyone wanted to cheer her on to victory.</div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 4" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qFTTkj0VmY0/VRm4D-ty9JI/AAAAAAAAWXU/z-x526lSr9w/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-4.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 5" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H5b083uJJDg/VRm4HKJyH0I/AAAAAAAAWXc/QycjvOp3xa8/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-5.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 6" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--URa8-ZisB0/VRm4K8ryhQI/AAAAAAAAWXk/E6j4x3VLzoc/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-6.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 10" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vJCvaHOVHC4/VRm4Nw4Z5II/AAAAAAAAWXs/HEo4yHJ5N6o/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-10.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-10.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 12" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ew1VObrg-WY/VRm4QF0ph7I/AAAAAAAAWX0/LvtSzCo8uH0/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-12.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-12.jpg" width="350" /><br />
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We got a few pre-ceremony pictures and then headed inside.</div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 14" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hkasjraLgzc/VRm4Ttk1exI/AAAAAAAAWX8/JNoo0DNGBD4/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-14.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-14.jpg" width="700" />The ceremony was held in a beautiful chapel on campus. I have to admit that sitting in a church with my camera around my neck kicked me back into wedding second-shooter mode. It was all I could do to restrain myself from standing up in the aisle to get pictures of the processional as they were coming in. <img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 13" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TrGGv-p0H40/VRm4W7NTnKI/AAAAAAAAWYE/6SdbKjaSAYA/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-13.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-13.jpg" width="700" />Sonny and his family hadn't arrived yet because they were having trouble with their travel cards, so Chris went outside to wait for them and give them their tickets so that they could get inside.<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 15" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PwQu_5u37OE/VRm4a-Ns3RI/AAAAAAAAWYM/Aoj-IO61lzY/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-15.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-15.jpg" width="700" />Chelsea was seated with the graduates behind us, and made this face (below) which I've told her before to use at her discretion because I <i>will </i>use that photo<i>.</i> </div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 16" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9GnKeFCqt_U/VRm4dk8pePI/AAAAAAAAWYU/I-5kYoC-_oI/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-16.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-16.jpg" width="700" />Here she is again (below), pretending to read her program so that I won't keep taking her picture. :)</div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 17" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GhQ-nXyHpD4/VRm4g4FxnMI/AAAAAAAAWYc/Fzly1BXrJ0s/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-17.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-17.jpg" width="700" />Sonny and his family arrived in time for the ceremony but had to sit on the sides. Luckily they were still able to see everything that was going on, and I promise that Sonny didn't have this look on his face the whole time. :) </div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 18" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WNLfeyHrueI/VRm4kep1jvI/AAAAAAAAWYk/2Nr2cew5xGw/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-18.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-18.jpg" width="700" />There was a group of trumpeters on the balcony at the back of the church that kicked the ceremony off. It was beautiful. Then things got rolling.</div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 19" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jU2Hrd9cS70/VRm4m817flI/AAAAAAAAWYs/nU9Tb_XuVek/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-19.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-19.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 20" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cFHN2MB6QQI/VRm4o1CGHDI/AAAAAAAAWY0/Q1a8WPFAi0k/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-20.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-20.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 21" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vOTUmqKlEtk/VRm4qzmznPI/AAAAAAAAWY8/5ShHhq01AYo/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-21.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-21.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 22" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HZbGXb1cgRE/VRm4tAwl6JI/AAAAAAAAWZE/R3gQOWF26n4/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-22.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-22.jpg" width="700" />You can see Chelsea's name under the fifth sub-heading on the left hand side.</div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 23" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IibaI087kcQ/VRm4vKyr2MI/AAAAAAAAWZM/6zrmCNo2nuY/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-23.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-23.jpg" width="500" /></div>
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<i>Master of Science in Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology</i></div>
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<i>Chelsea Rae Golden</i></div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 25" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T8Oj0w0n46g/VRm4xBFUkpI/AAAAAAAAWZU/ooX7Kn3erH8/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-25.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-25.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 26" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oMT2v8UWuRE/VRm4zUDQcVI/AAAAAAAAWZc/RF-vbTwFbZk/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-26.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-26.jpg" width="700" />One of Chelsea's advisors had told Chris in the weeks beforehand that she was only the second or third person ever to complete this program in only one year, and that they were really happy that she had done so well.</div>
<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 28" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PJRAm91KCS4/VRm41s_iAzI/AAAAAAAAWZk/5BJpJeR5-ms/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-28.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-28.jpg" width="700" /><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mjNm9YBTnDM" width="560"></iframe> </div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 29" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WwuOloZNA4Q/VRm4392BzJI/AAAAAAAAWZs/RjxNN6LEJBg/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-29.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-29.jpg" width="500" /><span style="text-align: center;">After the ceremony the students were asked to stand and clap for the friends and family that had supported them in their program. Chelsea stood and clapped, but she did not make eye contact with anyone and did not cry. :)</span></div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 30" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pF5MwJI46_c/VRm456PcmGI/AAAAAAAAWZ0/1h0useeXPr0/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-30.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-30.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 31" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s1EB82XzWdA/VRm48HFjApI/AAAAAAAAWZ8/qqhf_R53Cpc/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-31.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-31.jpg" width="700" />Then we were dismissed for the after party.<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Ceremony 32" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2ENxx9aR6tg/VRm4-b3e9ZI/AAAAAAAAWaE/x7MkNdXvSKA/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Ceremony-32.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Ceremony-32.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 1" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DX-qt6emz_o/VRm5A0kDhCI/AAAAAAAAWaM/GTdx0xeDdBQ/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-1.jpg" width="700" />Chelsea talking to the Head of her program and one of her supervisors, I think.<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 2" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-voPCR5sgeQ0/VRm5C5KS3NI/AAAAAAAAWaU/eLcpSK1L8MU/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-2.jpg" width="700" />I was trying to be sneaky, and then she said, "<i>That's my sister, the photographer</i>," so I came over to meet them formally. But since she had already set their expectations with me as the photographer, I took the opportunity to get the "everyone looking everyone smiling" photo.<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 3" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-49s5OTYX-_s/VRm5FbYFsTI/AAAAAAAAWac/opTKuTyJG14/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-3.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 4" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KLkklUJAThE/VRm5H5s-atI/AAAAAAAAWak/jC7UISNFg1g/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-4.jpg" width="700" />Then we moved over to the courtyard to get a few pictures with the graduate.<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 6" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6_ZTkipJgaY/VRm5MXdUgjI/AAAAAAAAWa0/oNodFdGWLS8/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-6.jpg" width="500" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 7" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YTUpg19_zrM/VRm5Oo_rBTI/AAAAAAAAWa8/7CqwdGnsD4g/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-7.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-7.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 8" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ROA4sLGrDQk/VRm5RELa3SI/AAAAAAAAWbE/NbOgWF3UNTM/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-8.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-8.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 9" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_MSFeYn8Yqs/VRm5Tg2ARnI/AAAAAAAAWbM/THyA-u2uAT0/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-9.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-9.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 10" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MF7izJ30KTo/VRm5VjVTFaI/AAAAAAAAWbU/ZMxaK5pYs24/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-10.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-10.jpg" width="500" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 13" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eptfPsdxG2o/VRm5YdBB_6I/AAAAAAAAWbc/-dkQwxnUpM0/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-13.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-13.jpg" width="700" />We headed inside where they had a few stunning rooms set aside for everyone with a beautiful buffet lunch. </div>
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<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 12" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QKBD7DLtnCY/VRm5chGCC0I/AAAAAAAAWbs/M9Nmrf6uF_s/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-12.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-12.jpg" width="500" /><span style="text-align: center;">In the little room straight ahead there was a little jazz band playing while we ate lunch and the large windows overlooked the beautiful green courtyard. It was perfect. It was an appropriately formal event, with a beautiful setting, and overall a very grand feeling. It was the type of event that you would be happy that people made the effort to travel from anther country to attend.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vy2uvBW4ZS0/VRm5emMeczI/AAAAAAAAWb0/uh9y1hCsaCU/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-11.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 11" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vy2uvBW4ZS0/VRm5emMeczI/AAAAAAAAWb0/uh9y1hCsaCU/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-11.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="cursor: move; display: block;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-11.jpg" width="700" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">I neglected to get any pictures of us all chatting and having lunch because I was eating. But also because there is that slight weirdness when you are trying to eat your food and chat, but the person beside you has a giant camera and you are afraid that there will be a picture of you with that strange face that you make mid-chew. So I spared our families. But Justin and Chelsea did briefly hijack my camera when I went to the bathroom, which is to be expected.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-gJ1-CTNsDgY/VRm52IfUCcI/AAAAAAAAWdE/5Phs5hLlHN8/IMG_6465.JPG?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG 6465" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gJ1-CTNsDgY/VRm52IfUCcI/AAAAAAAAWdE/5Phs5hLlHN8/IMG_6465.JPG?imgmax=800" height="600" style="display: block;" title="IMG_6465.JPG" width="450" /></a></div>
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After the ceremony, Justin, Tasha, Mom and I went back to the flat to chill out for a bit and get set up for everyone to arrive later. I had decorated the flat in a few places with strings of "polaroid bunting," where I had printed out memorable iPhone photos of notable occasions during Chelsea's year in London, and stuck them to small pieces of paper. The polaroid around the flower vase was from the morning when Chelsea handed in her thesis, triumphantly holding her printed copy. I made the other polaroids into cupcake toppers, and just kept wandering around the flat putting up little things here and there until everyone arrived.</div>
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Chelsea took Sonny and his family around SMUC showing them the notable sites on campus, walked along the beautiful Thames River to our house, by Richmond and the Richmond Bridge which she has always been particularly fond of. It wasn't an extremely warm day, but it was sunny and just warm enough for the walk to be pleasant. Everyone arrived at our flat about 45 minutes or so before dinner, which was just enough time to relax for a bit before digging into a good meal.<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 15" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8Hwbq9lGQtI/VRm5g7hw5tI/AAAAAAAAWb8/KL8foYh65QU/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-15.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-15.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 16" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TsVNREGvHo0/VRm5jQosPII/AAAAAAAAWcE/Xjvc2bH3NIo/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-16.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-16.jpg" width="700" />We had booked one of Chelsea's local favorites for our meal, a fantastic little noodle bar that our party took up most of. The food was ready quickly and delicious! It was perfect. Only a few pictures here because, again, that thing about taking pictures of people <i>while</i> they are eating.<br />
<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 19" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Wm13AMcdAF8/VRm5n1oQeiI/AAAAAAAAWcU/0dX0qGQbMQU/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-19.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-19.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 20" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-04gDHId6Lgw/VRm5qzaS2GI/AAAAAAAAWcc/wrq84Iw_9vE/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-20.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-20.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 18" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SHH_zS0O2Fw/VRm5tAu1KZI/AAAAAAAAWck/-sYYG7c4sxc/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-18.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-18.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 17" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AULtJk1JMfg/VRm5l8WfmrI/AAAAAAAAWcM/2E5jOdY2F_I/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-17.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-17.jpg" width="700" />After dinner everyone came back to our flat for dessert, drinks, and more hanging out. We toasted our graduate and finished the night off with a round of her favorite London desserts, including South Street's delicious carrot cake, my cupcakes, and Kate's infamous (and incredible) chocolate tiffin. There wasn't enough left of it all for my liking.<br />
<img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 24" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pHzeggisaSU/VRm5vQfh3TI/AAAAAAAAWcs/m7u2SczGOGo/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-24.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-24.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 25" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gjXGX0aDjCA/VRm5xrchf-I/AAAAAAAAWc0/bLq4qZaTdZA/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-25.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-25.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Chelsea s Graduation Party 22" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V1KggJocjSI/VRm5zsAySCI/AAAAAAAAWc8/D_1xTIRS278/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-22.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chelsea's Graduation Party-22.jpg" width="700" />It was a perfect celebration of our graduate. </div>
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Congratulations Chelsea!</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F-gJ1-CTNsDgY%2FVRm52IfUCcI%2FAAAAAAAAWdE%2F5Phs5hLlHN8%2FIMG_6465.JPG%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh6.ggpht.com/-gJ1-CTNsDgY/VRm52IfUCcI/AAAAAAAAWdE/5Phs5hLlHN8/IMG_6465.JPG?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F-Vy2uvBW4ZS0%2FVRm5emMeczI%2FAAAAAAAAWb0%2Fuh9y1hCsaCU%2FChelsea%25252527s%25252520Graduation%25252520Party-11.jpg%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vy2uvBW4ZS0/VRm5emMeczI/AAAAAAAAWb0/uh9y1hCsaCU/Chelsea%252527s%252520Graduation%252520Party-11.jpg?imgmax=800" -->Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-35857688282250707512015-03-26T10:21:00.001+00:002015-03-26T13:00:51.080+00:00Three Year Olds and Mature Conversation<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Hannah mirror 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DoBZ_SrgrAM/VRPddXeiUaI/AAAAAAAAWWc/hjpEPN22vDc/Hannah%252520mirror-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Hannah mirror-1.jpg" width="700" /><span style="text-align: center;">Oh Hannah. I have brought up our conversations many times before. Talking with you often makes us smile because of your alarmingly strong<a href="http://chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/on-hannah-that-posh-english-accent.html"> British inflection</a>, your sweetly <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/night-terrors.html">descriptive re-telling</a> of events, and your choice of British words. But in the past few weeks you have kicked things up a notch by regularly using words that seem a little advanced for your age. I end up texting your dad in the middle of the day saying things like, "</span><i style="text-align: center;">Hannah just used the word 'otherwise' in a sentence</i><span style="text-align: center;">."</span></div>
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Do three year olds usually say <i>otherwise</i>? I don't feel like they do. Actually I was a little more startled that you used it correctly.</div>
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<img alt="Hannah paint 1" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wSxjx33LNno/VRPdl9YtERI/AAAAAAAAWWs/6qdhLowH_mw/Hannah%252520paint-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Hannah paint-1.jpg" width="700" />Many times the words that catch me off guard are your choice descriptors.</div>
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<i>Jayce, you're fabulous.</i></div>
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<i>That looks fantastic!</i></div>
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<i>Oh my!! What is my hippo doing there?</i></div>
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It appears that your vocabulary is as vibrant as your personality.</div>
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<img alt="Hannah ballerina 1" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oqOO51DCN3U/VRPdkaVkUCI/AAAAAAAAWWk/6pNwYtp-UbI/Hannah%252520ballerina-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Hannah ballerina-1.jpg" width="500" /><span style="text-align: center;">Of course sometimes you use phrases in ways that don't make sense. But I think you still get an A for effort.</span></div>
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<i>Mom, if I were you, I'm taking my coat off.</i></div>
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Okay. Thanks Hannah.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Kids eating 1" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a2E5S3cWKpA/VRPdntvrgVI/AAAAAAAAWW0/cNb_JtMHufY/kids%252520eating-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="kids eating-1.jpg" width="700" />Your brother is often the recipient of your most hilarious (to us) chatter.</div>
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The other night Jayce yelled from bed, "<i>Mo-om, Hannah won't stop</i>…" and then something I couldn't make out.</div>
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I went upstairs to investigate. You were pointing your Dream Lite Pillow in Jayce's face, and every time that he asked you to turn it off, you replied, "<i>But Jayce, when the lights go out, the Dream Lite goes on</i>." Which is the Dream Lite tag line from the commercial.</div>
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Your dad and I have been laughing about that one for two weeks now.</div>
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<img alt="Dream lite 1" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Aap1XQMKDc4/VRPdpx3BzhI/AAAAAAAAWW8/QpZTlVTPX8M/dream%252520lite-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="dream lite-1.jpg" width="700" />I went to your parent/ teacher conference the other night. To start off, your teacher said,</div>
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<i>Oh Hannah is just the sweetest little thing! Everyone loves her. She participates in all of the activities, and you can tell that her mind is just always processing because the things that she says make you realize that she is often paying more attention than you'd think. </i>(Pause)<i> She can be a bit cheeky though sometimes, can't she?</i></div>
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Yes. Yes she can.</div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-42189581003391074962015-03-24T20:57:00.001+00:002015-03-24T20:57:26.981+00:00Irish Dancing<p style="text-align: center;">Happy St Patrick's Day!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I'll just go ahead and admit that I never remember St Patrick's Day. The kids don't do anything special at school, I don't send them in green because they're in uniforms (or at least Jayce is), and I don't think to do special holiday things around the house like dye our various meals green. I know, pretty lame, right? But I forget year after year.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J0BfFT4f0jQ" width="480" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">However, I DO have this wonderful video of Hannah and Hadley dancing with professional Irish dancers at an Irish Pub in Disney World. She absolutely adored this and killed it on the dance floor. Watch for around :40 when she does a double high kick and gets cheers from the other diners. Hadley was like, "Uh…I'll just let Hannah do this one."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I have watched this video over and over since this summer. It is so my girl, ready to dive into whatever it is, full force.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And it's so cute that she can't find her hips to put her hands on. Three year olds just kill me.</p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-89877672052782546322015-03-19T16:05:00.001+00:002015-03-19T16:05:32.043+00:00Family In, Family Out<p style="text-align: center;">In the last few weeks all of these happy people have been here and then gone again.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="family-2.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ldjOAkhsu_0/VQrztkxGyiI/AAAAAAAAWV8/s_4SwKAxcwM/family-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Family 2" width="700" height="466" border="0" />There is something wonderful about seeing family for special occasions, and there is something else that's wonderful about seeing them for no reason in particular. Typically we see our family about once a year when we descend on their homes, take their rooms, and dip into their lives full force for a few days or a week. But it is good in a different way when they get to hang out with us in <em>our</em> daily things: bus rides, school runs, favorite dinners, nap times, daily dress up or lego building. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="family-4.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ok9tqy9FIG0/VQrzvY6_8-I/AAAAAAAAWWE/U1yIPXBkNB8/family-4.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Family 4" width="700" height="466" border="0" />It's never been easy for us to leave our families, even if we have grown accustomed to it over the last decade or so. But it's becoming increasingly harder on they kids. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">For two weeks we had an influx of people that changed each day. There were different combinations of people over for dinner, picking the kids up from school, hanging out in the living room, and staying over night. It was great, sometimes a little tricky, but also deeply satisfying. Unfortunately, the kids got used to people being around, and when everyone left they had to reacquaint themselves with the reality that their extended family is just not around on a day-to-day basis. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">For a few days after everyone left there would be comments at dinner like, "<em>Wait! Justin and Tasha can sit in those seats</em>!"</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">No, they aren't in London anymore.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"<em>Mom, I'll look out the window for Grandma and Chelsea to come back</em>!"</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This was for the next few days after we had watched them take a taxi to the airport from that window.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="family-1.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wxzsSdeVRHc/VQrzxcRwDyI/AAAAAAAAWWM/zWpdDb0OcD8/family-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Family 1" width="700" height="466" border="0" />I used to try to distract the kids from being disappointed whenever we left family or they left us. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I know you're sad that we're leaving grandma and grandpa, but aren't you excited to get back to London to see your friends? I know they're missed you so much!</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">But I haven't done much of that this week. I don't want to pull a veil over how enjoyable it was to have everyone around just to help the kids cope with disappointment now that it is over. Instead I've just been letting them talk and affirming them when necessary.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I'm sorry you're sad. I miss them too. That was really fun when we all went to the park, wasn't it? If they come visit again, what should we show them that we forgot this time?</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="family-3.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_ZIuiEMz_Uo/VQrzpKVjqAI/AAAAAAAAWV0/zi8cSR3h22k/family-3.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Family 3" width="700" height="466" border="0" />Also there has been chocolate, the king of all coping mechanisms. And naps. Lots of naps.</p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-57664991277272260522015-03-10T14:22:00.001+00:002015-03-10T14:22:13.727+00:00Around Here: Graduation, Features, and Sibling Photos<p style="text-align: center;">This is a very brief catch up because my family is all here and I need to get back to family business. But here are three quick things.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">First, I couldn't go another day without posting a picture of our graduate. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="graduation-2.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3CY0ISF8lPM/VP793AK8XTI/AAAAAAAAWVM/NI12b42HYfE/graduation-2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Graduation 2" width="500" height="749" border="0" />She did it!! And she's the first Golden with an MSc. We're so proud of her and there are more pictures, but for now here is a picture of when it all became official.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="graduation-1.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7XchTOEodtE/VP796xLVnwI/AAAAAAAAWVU/W3Vgtkl2V8A/graduation-1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Graduation 1" width="750" height="500" border="0" />Or this one, if you need a better picture of her modeling her shoes.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6469.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Fj9yQj2ZVo/VP79-eWLIRI/AAAAAAAAWVc/b_uNjGUBZb4/IMG_6469.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6469" width="450" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Second, the kids got their school sibling photos back this week and I am dying over them. Dying. Even though I take pictures of my kids all of the time, this two-in-one school photo is just killing me with cuteness, and I am tempted to buy the biggest photo package that they offer so that I can pass this picture out to every single person I've ever known. The mom-ness in me is just bubbling over.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Screen Shot 2015-03-10 at 1.55.56 PM.png" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nUWSkqpERUI/VP7-CsxiVLI/AAAAAAAAWVk/JE9_YVv7iug/Screen%252520Shot%2525202015-03-10%252520at%2525201.55.56%252520PM.png?imgmax=800" alt="Screen Shot 2015 03 10 at 1 55 56 PM" width="750" height="465" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Third, have you heard of Kollabora? It is a website that features the work of various artisans: seamstresses, knitters, and various other creatives. It's great for eye candy, new ideas for projects, seeing what new patterns have been released in the sewing community, and sharing the things that you have made with the other members. I was so excited last week when they asked if I would like to be a featured member! They sent along a few questions and the post went live yesterday, you can read it <a href="https://www.kollabora.com/?popover_node=%2Fblog%2Fnora-meets-maker-erin-keith">here</a>. It's really fun, aside from having to describe myself in three words. Seriously. How would you describe yourself in three words?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And that's that! Have a good week!</p>Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-37496142368450085342015-02-27T11:02:00.001+00:002015-02-27T11:02:59.806+00:00Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art<div style="text-align: center;">
Only a few days until my family arrives in London, and I have to say that my decorating/re-decorating has reached a slight fever pitch!</div>
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<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art Our Family Four" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D-kMTAzN3M0/VPBNjT4ghBI/AAAAAAAAWRk/M8VK3SLGoLQ/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art%252520%252540%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four.jpg?imgmax=800" height="750" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art @ Our Family Four.jpg" width="500" /><span style="text-align: center;">One area that I have been DELIGHTED to finally have tackled is the area at the top of the stairs. It was a big blank space and now there is color, texture, and art, and best of all it was FREE! See that big, touchable weaving on the right? It is made entirely of fabric scraps from my stash, t shirt yarn (which I'll show you how to make below) and woven on the ba</span><span style="text-align: center;">ck of an art piece that had been hanging in my living room. I love these kinds of "use what you've got" projects, particularly when they turn out so well!</span><img alt="Heart Weaving Wall 2" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a_GG0JMVkTc/VPBNmZfboMI/AAAAAAAAWRs/fi_v6kBr9AM/Heart%252520Weaving%252520Wall-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="750" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Heart Weaving Wall-2.jpg" width="500" /> <img alt="Fabric Scrap Wall Art WM" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ll-LN_56RqI/VPBNgXLZvcI/AAAAAAAAWRc/BTJH9ttm5_g/Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art%252520WM.jpg?imgmax=800" height="500" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fabric Scrap Wall Art WM.jpg" width="700" /></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Also, I'm sharing the tutorial for this T Shirt Yarn Heart Weaving today over on </span><a href="http://www.mesewcrazy.com/" style="text-align: center;">The Sewing Rabbit</a><span style="text-align: center;"> if you want all of the details of my slight obsession with weaving. :)</span></div>
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<img alt="Hanging" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-siPMEvWeqrA/VPA_OgHYGEI/AAAAAAAAWMc/xZWXBiT7Vls/hanging.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="hanging.jpg" width="700" /><br />
<a name='more'></a>First, gather your supplies.</div>
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<img alt="Weaving Tutorial 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x0hzDW5Yzcc/VPA_LGFG8iI/AAAAAAAAWMU/fPW3U3RCFho/Weaving-Tutorial-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Weaving-Tutorial-1.jpg" width="700" />A note about the optional but helpful items:<br />
The long stick will be used as a shed. (<i>If you have a shed already, great! But I'm trying to show you how to do this all without having to run to the store for anything new</i>.) This can be a long knitting needle, dowel rod, (clean) paint stirrer…you get the idea . A shed is woven through your warp and stays in the loom as you are weaving. It saves you time and effort because each time that you want to weave that particular up/down pattern, you simply raise the shed slightly and run your fabric yarn underneath it.<br />
The fabric tuner (or a loop turner) is a sewing tool used to turn a narrow strip of fabric inside out, like a spaghetti strap. BUT in weaving it is perfect for grabbing the end of your fabric strip, securing it in the little hook closure, and pulling the strip easily back through the warp. Paired with the shed it makes the weaving go much more quickly.</div>
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I'll show you both of these in action below. They are so great together.<br />
<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 1 2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gFlF8_g9Zqk/VPA_T8GktjI/AAAAAAAAWMs/xteKh_pQn5A/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-1-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-1-2.jpg" width="700" /> First up, make t-shirt yarn for your loom's warp, which is the vertical strings that you will be the base of your weaving.</div>
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<img alt="Weaving Tutorial 2" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wn8ktuG5tAU/VPA_XufAkII/AAAAAAAAWM0/bUVCOGDb9PU/Weaving%252520Tutorial-2.png?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Weaving Tutorial-2.png" width="700" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have old t-shirts that you want to upcycle these make perfect t-shirt yarn as well. Cut your fabric in horizontal strips, about 1/2" to 3/4" wide and pull them until they stretch into long skinny cords. Don't worry about needing one long continuous string, the glue gun can easily and discreetly attach the ends together so that you can continue weaving with several shorter strands. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Next, get/make a loom. I have an adjustable loom but even in the largest setting it was smaller than what I was looking for, so I took a took a long canvas frame that was hanging in our living room, flipped it to the back and hammered nails 1/2" apart along the top edges, and used it as my loom. Even with slightly crooked nails it worked perfectly.</span></div>
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<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 2" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tWPPOnFtJko/VPA_RUh0q9I/AAAAAAAAWMk/JTmpe478pUg/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-2.jpg" width="700" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take the end of your t-shirt yarn, knot the end around the top of the first nail, wind it down around the bottom nail, and continue on this up and down pattern until your loom is full. Make another small knot at the end of your t-shirt yarn and slip it over one of the nails on the end. You have just made your warp!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TIP:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span> Be aware that because this is a stretchy t-shirt yarn, once you remove it from the loom it will shrink up in length. If you want to keep the length make sure that there is a bit of slack in your warp and that it is not pulled too tightly.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now it's time to make the fabric strips that you will be weaving.</span></span><br />
This is a perfect time to use your scraps! Pull out your basket(s?) of scraps, salvages, and any fabric that looked really pretty in the store/online but didn't work out. (My warp is made entirely out of an inexpensive but horrible feeling polyester knit. So glad to finally put it to some use!!)<br />
Go through your scraps and look for anything that is roughly as wide as your loom or longer. You don't need a really long continuous piece (I'll show you why in a minute.) <br />
<img alt="Fabric Scrap 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i5HoE0fvVv8/VPA_ayWP9kI/AAAAAAAAWM8/jcWnuFoOoxc/Fabric%252520Scrap%2525201.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fabric Scrap 1.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Fabric Scrap 2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2_Pzke4mYxo/VPA_d-b0xrI/AAAAAAAAWNE/4kcAZuaw9Y8/Fabric%252520Scrap%2525202.png?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fabric Scrap 2.png" width="700" /><img alt="Fabric Scrap3" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k1cCMEAPxJg/VPA_gTSYg6I/AAAAAAAAWNM/nQCUFrU7V6s/Fabric%252520Scrap3.png?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fabric Scrap3.png" width="700" /><span style="font-size: 15px;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>TIPS:</b></span></span><br />
-Look for fabric in varying textures: knits, wovens, linens, sweater knit, french terry, etc. <br />
-Be sure to grab any fabric that has different looks on each sides (like terry or a double-sided fabric would be perfect.)<br />
-This is also a good time to go through your clothes for up cycling-100% cotton t shirts make the best fabric yarn. <br />
<br />
Now it's time to cut. Get your rotary cutter and mat and cut each piece to your desired width. I cut my wovens about 3/8" and my knits 1/2" because I knew they would shrink as I pulled them taut.<br />
<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 6" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z23BMxP-_V8/VPA_ihO4AfI/AAAAAAAAWNU/NeX1MUxvldg/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-6.jpg" width="700" />Now is the moment of excitement, time to weave!!<br />
<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 3" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IT8_-Rp-7-Y/VPA_kxpC1EI/AAAAAAAAWNc/ArbK7lIfln8/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-3.jpg" width="700" />Pick a fabric and start weaving about an inch from the base. </div>
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If you have the shed stick in your warp, you can simply slide the fabric turner through the up/down pattern that you have just created with the shed, hook the end on the edge of your first strip of fabric, and carefully pull it through to the other side. <br />
<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 7" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U2jHhYVtCwM/VPA_m0JOZtI/AAAAAAAAWNk/3bGYYwCIx_w/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-7.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-7.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 10" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mYPzoaYLPWI/VPA_pB6rdUI/AAAAAAAAWNs/nkyn33BrfDA/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-10.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-10.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 8" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o2w9obu2Ye0/VPA_tQskDhI/AAAAAAAAWN8/OQ35NMV279Y/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-8.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-8.jpg" width="700" />When you reach the end you simply wrap the fabric around the outer edge of the warp and go back again the other direction, alternating the up/down pattern that you used on the previous line.</div>
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<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 12" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qTDv-4hG9LM/VPA_v-pwDLI/AAAAAAAAWOE/BzYsEQEjoAs/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-12.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-12.jpg" width="700" /><span style="text-align: center;">Now the beautiful thing about using fabric scraps for this weaving is that you can pair them with a tiny dab from a glue gun and it makes for lots of ease and happiness. As I went along, whenever I wanted to change colors or my fabric was about to run out, I used a tiny dab of hot glue to join my old fabric strip to my new fabric strip, and then just kept on weaving. No loose tails hanging off of the back, no knots, no problems.</span></div>
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<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 20" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9OZxAkcgOQY/VPA_yHVMBvI/AAAAAAAAWOM/LeaJAm_ENS8/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-20.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-20.jpg" width="700" /><img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 22" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3QXKSN6ukvI/VPA_0U5YM2I/AAAAAAAAWOU/D-1R9G6LDvk/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-22.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-22.jpg" width="700" />Whenever I reached the end of a row, I used my comb to carefully push the fabric strip up against the previous row and then carried on with my weaving.</div>
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<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iLqERb9P8jU/VPA__Q6lGOI/AAAAAAAAWO8/gDHLnHQs2ZM/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-1.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 2" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OA5MyvGP4-g/VPBABQBdKFI/AAAAAAAAWPE/U74VlMudMvA/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-2.jpg" width="350" /><br />
I just loved making this. It was easy, relaxing to work on, and it came together so quickly!<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 27" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xVj2QpO521M/VPBAKfVbmCI/AAAAAAAAWPk/AlRLSFXUjB4/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-27.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-27.jpg" width="700" />When I reached the end of my weaving, I slide a branch through the top and bottom loops of my weaving, making sure that each loop encircled the branch. </div>
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<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 28700x466" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y3miplUJZfc/VPBAM0YM2OI/AAAAAAAAWPs/sk7ZieMaAmg/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-28700x466.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-28700x466.jpg" width="700" /><span style="text-align: center;">Then I carefully slide each loop off each nail until they were all on the branch, tied some string on the outer edges of the top branch, and hung it up.</span></div>
<img alt="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging 12" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PcW8mEKJxKI/VPBAPCgfK7I/AAAAAAAAWP0/pS4fXu1ztXU/Fabric%252520Woven%252520Wall%252520Hanging-12.jpg?imgmax=800" height="750" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging-12.jpg" width="500" /><br />
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<img alt="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging 4" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YSLR-uET8CQ/VPBAeRPmAsI/AAAAAAAAWQs/p6-tEmHqzwQ/Fabric%252520Woven%252520Wall%252520Hanging-4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging-4.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging 13" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pE0buujvyT0/VPBAil6401I/AAAAAAAAWQ8/lCBpswhRFSg/Fabric%252520Woven%252520Wall%252520Hanging-13.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging-13.jpg" width="350" /></div>
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I decided that I didn't like the branch as much as a dowel rod for this project so I switched it out afterwards. But I would recommend having a few choices on hand before you remove it from the frame, because transferring it from the branch to the dowel rod was not my favorite thing. But this hanging is.</div>
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<img alt="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging 22" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L6O2sWqTIqo/VPBARMK8J4I/AAAAAAAAWP8/b8lsPH1Srs8/Fabric%252520Woven%252520Wall%252520Hanging-22.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging-22.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging 20" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KBQzynnWPM8/VPBATQozs8I/AAAAAAAAWQE/Y3NOuZQQLq4/Fabric%252520Woven%252520Wall%252520Hanging-20.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging-20.jpg" width="350" /> </div>
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<img alt="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art 1 2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hGP4bUtAdcI/VPBAXxgQV2I/AAAAAAAAWQU/iC94qVsM3j8/Woven%252520Fabric%252520Scrap%252520Wall%252520Art-1-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Woven Fabric Scrap Wall Art-1-2.jpg" width="700" /><span style="text-align: center;">It's such a happy little grouping.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
<img alt="Woven Wall Hangings 2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yi_G4fCXFzU/VPBAZ7FIiyI/AAAAAAAAWQc/rFG1_y2wwKw/Woven%252520Wall%252520Hangings-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Woven Wall Hangings-2.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging 20" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Iy1yobbh1KA/VPBAb0TQnRI/AAAAAAAAWQk/DPMervZCEHk/Fabric%252520Woven%252520Wall%252520Hanging-20.jpg?imgmax=800" height="525" title="Fabric Woven Wall Hanging-20.jpg" width="350" /><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Great at the top of the stairs, right?</span></div>
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Now go check out the T-Shirt Yarn Heart Weaving on <a href="http://www.mesewcrazy.com/">The Sewing Rabbit</a>. It's my first DIY there and my second ever post, and I love it!!</div>
<img alt="Heart Weaving Wall 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4K9oI7iLpcw/VPBAngIw4oI/AAAAAAAAWRM/YqMZ5OxFvhs/Heart%252520Weaving%252520Wall-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="750" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Heart Weaving Wall-1.jpg" width="500" />Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-84334439030665963022015-02-25T21:30:00.000+00:002015-02-27T11:05:49.742+00:00Five Reasons Why My Husband is a Better Parent Than Me<div style="text-align: center;">
I saw an article going around on on Facebook this week and I finally clicked on it. I started to read through it, but once I got the general gist of it I closed it down because my husband is so much better than hers. Or at least I found myself completing her sentences instead of reading them. But overall it was some good-dad cheerleading and I decided to jump on board.</div>
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Why My Husband is a Better Parent Than Me</div>
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<img alt="Furry Plum Coat at Our Family Four 24" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Xm0CvGtFauQ/VO-QX0Gp7QI/AAAAAAAAWLE/eLOcELvSdt4/Furry%252520Plum%252520Coat%252520at%252520Our%252520Family%252520Four-24.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Furry Plum Coat at Our Family Four-24.jpg" width="700" /></div>
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1.) He takes Jayce and Hannah to swimming. </div>
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Jayce is the swim class student and Hannah merely a spectator at this point, but that does not mean that she requires less effort. Hannah is full of energy and chatter and wants to twirl in her skirt and high five Jayce when he walks by and we are just sitting on little benches with limited seating on the side of the pool. It's a little stressful. That is after the whole getting there in the stroller/scooter combo, getting Jayce undressed, dressed, and then dried off, undressed, and re-dressed at the end while Hannah is singing/dancing/slipping in the same changing room. I did it a few times when Chris was out of town and it really made me want to quit my day job. Not really, but it really pushed me to my limit, particularly when I realized that once I wrestled them home I still needed to make food, get them to eat it, and then do bath time/ pjs/ story time alone. </div>
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But Chris does this every week. I wouldn't describe Chris as overflowing with patience, but he pulls this off and is barely rattled. That and it gives me about 45 minutes of peace in a time of the day that isn't typically peaceful, which is just amazing. </div>
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<img alt="Wh 1" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ooTXzNnemzs/VO-g5UQtMqI/AAAAAAAAWL0/rBATV_xnuUA/wh-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="wh-1.jpg" width="500" />2.) He does shoulder-ride/scooter-pulling double duty.</div>
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Hannah is at that awkward (for us) stage now where she doesn't really need a stroller because she's certainly big enough, able, and eager to be running alongside us when we're out. But her little legs can't keep up, sometimes tire easily, and are definitely worn out by the end of any excursion. She's too big and heavy to carry for any length of time so onto Chris' shoulders she goes. Chris is usually already pulling Jayce on his scooter which he keeps on doing. This leaves me to walk with both arms free, only toting the enormous amount of snacks and water bottles that are always in my purse, which is so much easier to do with my hands free.</div>
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3.) He does the end-of-the evening wrestling duty.</div>
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No matter what we have done during the day, including days when we have been out running around from one place to another, the kids expect to have an evening wrestling time with Chris. Despite the fact that they have been doing this in some form for about five years now, it continues to evolve with new games creeping up all of the time. Right now the popular versions are mattress slide (riding Hannah's mattress down the steps into a pile of pillows), or a Couch Dodgeball sort of game where the kids run back and forth across the couch and Chris tries to hit them with a pillow. There are points for hits, misses, and pillow catching.</div>
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I am usually involved in these games, but never as the aggressor. I am always home base, or one of the spotters if they are bed-jumping, or sometimes I am sitting in a nearby chair with a snuggly blanket to appease whichever kid isn't being tossed onto the bed. It's okay, I'm very happy with my role, and I'm glad to be the snuggle-r instead of the thrower. </div>
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<img alt="Christmas Eve 19" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UuuFzBT_auY/VO-QcDYNzLI/AAAAAAAAWLU/TyFwvYkOC84/Christmas%252520Eve-19.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Christmas Eve-19.jpg" width="700" /><span style="text-align: center;">4.) He does the dishes and folds the laundry. </span></div>
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I imagine this should fall into the "spouse" category instead of the "dad" category, but I don't think so. It is something that I appreciate so much because they are the two chores that I just cannot tolerate. I vacuum every other day, I'm the only one to do the bathroom-scrubbing, and I am constantly reorganizing/de-cluttering. But the dishes…uggghhhh! </div>
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They don't bother Chris very much and so he does them without any fuss. I appreciate it so much because not only does this relieve me of my most dreaded chore, but it models to the kids that both parents can help out around the house. Jayce and Hannah, it's okay if boys do the dishes, <i>and</i> it's okay if girls do the dishes. </div>
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<img alt="Chris color Disney big 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GMh-od6nDak/VO-g15oM7SI/AAAAAAAAWLs/aamGPLkQzhc/Chris%252520color%252520Disney%252520big-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="750" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chris color Disney big-1.jpg" width="500" />5.) He makes us all happy.</div>
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On Saturday mornings Chris and Hannah take a little trip to get doughnuts for all of us and she adores this little outing. Chris helps Jayce with his games on the iPad when he's stuck. He brings me tea at the end of the night. He takes care of us and meets each of our unique needs.</div>
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He's a great parent, and I'm so glad to have him. </div>
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**<i>I think we all know that the 'Reasons My Husband is Better Than Me' is simply a writing prompt, and not that he's actually <span style="text-decoration: underline;">better</span> than me. But he is good…</i> **<br />
Is your husband a better parent than you? </div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-18932521309113413692015-02-17T20:26:00.001+00:002015-02-17T20:33:31.693+00:00On Cats and Kitties and a Lost Hippo<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Duck Feeding 4" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hbvgPxCZYTQ/VOOjqc1n73I/AAAAAAAAWJo/DldflUCRu-M/Duck%252520Feeding-4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Duck Feeding-4.jpg" width="700" /><span style="text-align: center;">The other day we were walking to the bus stop and Jayce was talking about his future cats. We have told him that whenever we move he can get a kitten, so he brings this up periodically despite no move being on the horizon. It's Chris and I's way of saying, <i>some day but not now</i>, and Jayce has clung to it. A few different friends have mentioned it to me as well. "<i>So...Jayce tells me that when you move he's getting two cats</i>?" Apparently it comes up in conversation.</span></div>
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Jayce already has the names picked out. If it's a boy,<i> Cottontail</i>, and if it's a girl, <i>Whiskers</i>.</div>
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We asked Hannah what she would name her cat. <i>Tree</i>, she replied. This was the conversation we were all having as I took these pictures.</div>
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My kids loooove cats. I'm not entirely sure when this happened, but they have always been interested in cats. </div>
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There are a few different cats that we see regularly on our school run. They normally run off, but there is one that has slowed down a few times just long enough to rub quickly against Jayce's leg, or let him give it a quick pat on the back before running along. The day that the cat let Jayce pat him on the back, he beamed and ran the rest of the way home because he was so excited. When it rubbed against his legs, he squealed "<i>Mom he snuggled me</i>!!" and then jumped up and down and up and down in tiny little hops.</div>
<img alt="Cooper 1" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wWH3GqL24Pc/VOOjzfTMwYI/AAAAAAAAWKA/ezuvWJ-n0Cg/Cooper-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Cooper-1.jpg" width="500" /><br />
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Due to this kitty obsession, my kids' favorite little snuggly things are these stuffed kittens which they have named Jack and Cooper. I just discovered these pictures of them on my phone the other day with a dozen more just like it. This is in our church, and I'm not sure why Jayce had my camera that morning because it doesn't have games on it and I never hand it over. I do remember that he had set the kitties up on the chair for a picture, but it wasn't until I was scrolling through my photos this week that I noticed that each cat had it's own little photo session along with photos of them together. What a funny kid.</div>
<img alt="IMG 6194" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eyDUHzIVB_k/VOOj3mBqajI/AAAAAAAAWKQ/_hr_Hu4WeKI/IMG_6194.JPG?imgmax=800" height="310" title="IMG_6194.JPG" width="233" /><img alt="IMG 6195" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b_eD6InIW1A/VOOj5whqWwI/AAAAAAAAWKY/NbQodAa9Mp0/IMG_6195.JPG?imgmax=800" height="310" title="IMG_6195.JPG" width="233" /><img alt="IMG 6190" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NbdW8RDBfhc/VOOj8GCN0fI/AAAAAAAAWKg/RU-gtF7T3Xc/IMG_6190.JPG?imgmax=800" height="310" title="IMG_6190.JPG" width="233" /><br />
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Jack and Cooper are relatively recent additions around our house, but they quickly moved to the top tier of Important Child Objects. </div>
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Jayce had a little stuffed hippo that he got when we visited Edinburgh a few years ago. The hippo travelled with us on our recent trip to Nottingham but didn't make it home with us, and we had a very sad boy who sobbed at bedtime because he couldn't fall asleep without his favorite little snuggly thing. Chelsea and I were in the city on Regent Street the next week and I ducked quickly into Hamleys to see if they had a similar hippo. There was no hippo, but given the kids affinity for cat I thought these little kitties might work in a pinch. </div>
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I presented them to Jayce the next morning and he was skeptical. I told him how I knew he really missed hippo and that we could never replace him, but if he would like to snuggle one of these little kitties whenever he was missing hippo then maybe that would help. He scowled, chose the black one, told me Hannah could have the gray one, and then carried his around all morning. Hannah didn't really know why she got to be the recipient of a new little stuffed animal, but she didn't require any warming up stages, she immediately loved it. </div>
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<img alt="Cooper 2" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KwarKmopJpk/VOOj-iR8jAI/AAAAAAAAWKo/FI6E0cnPjxc/Cooper-2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Cooper-2.jpg" width="700" />The kids absolutely love these things. Sometimes it's a problem because they both want to take the kitties everywhere. Cooper goes with Hannah to school most days, Jayce brings Jack to church and would take him more places if we let him. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) now Jack is too important to go on random trips around town with us and risk being lost like poor hippo. That is, until I can get back to Hamley's for a few backups.</div>
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It occurred to me the other day that I have never written about the kitties on the blog. They are a minor detail in terms of the Things That Make It to the Blog, but in our house right now they are a big deal. And when the days come when they no longer are a big deal, I will really need to look back on these pictures and stories. </div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-52182178358969594532015-02-11T15:04:00.001+00:002015-02-11T18:32:43.823+00:00He Gives Me Flowers<img alt="Jayce flowers 8" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hsDtk5oWTdI/VNtvKw62w4I/AAAAAAAAWIw/V-YcQX_J_RE/Jayce%252520flowers-8.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Jayce flowers-8.jpg" width="500" /><br />
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Outside the front of our flat there is a bush with winter-blooming yellow flowers. Jayce picks them and brings them to me. He does it all of the time.</div>
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<img alt="Jayce flowers 6" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FTI9EQYN7Ck/VNtvRs5U7eI/AAAAAAAAWI4/1nlxv9_WwYs/Jayce%252520flowers-6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Jayce flowers-6.jpg" width="700" />We use the back door to go to and from school so we don't necessarily pass the bush every single day, just a few times a week. Jayce brought me my flowers the other day after he came home from swimming and said this.</div>
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"<i>Mom, when you're not with me, I pick you lots of flowers because it's a surprise. But if you're with me, then I just get you one, since you won't be surprised</i>."</div>
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Apparently there isn't an option to not pick flowers, there's only the "she'll be surprised" or "she won't be surprised," but flowers will definitely be picked.</div>
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<img alt="Jayce flowers 5" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZfnoEU1qlr8/VNtvWyu0UiI/AAAAAAAAWJA/gZNmEiJCm9k/Jayce%252520flowers-5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Jayce flowers-5.jpg" width="700" />The funny thing about the flower picking is that this isn't a brand new thing. In the springtime there are tiny daisies that pop up all over the grass, (probably some type of weed, but I like them,) and there are always a few dried ones tucked away in my pockets because Jayce gives them to me all of the time. This was particularly true before he had his scooter and was just walking to school every day. I loved it.</div>
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I've said before how Jayce is a really thoughtful little boy. I try to note the occasions where it really stands out, like my <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/on-jayce-and-sweet-luck.html#more">love note</a> and the time he <a href="http://www.chrisanderinkeith.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/around-here-singing-sewing-and-calling.html">sang to me</a>. </div>
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<img alt="Jayce flowers 7" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZefUgpwwj5Q/VNtvaGo5MmI/AAAAAAAAWJI/lZooiyQ_-O8/Jayce%252520flowers-7.jpg?imgmax=800" height="749" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Jayce flowers-7.jpg" width="500" />There also was something that he said to Chris a few months ago on an afternoon when they had gone to play basketball. Throughout the course of the conversation Jayce admitted that he hadn't wanted to go play basketball that day, but that he went because he knew Chris was excited and didn't want to hurt his feelings. </div>
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Oh gosh, Jayce. It is far too early in your life for you to be doing things that you don't want to do for the sake of other people's feelings, particularly your parents' feelings. </div>
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We had this conversation with him that day, along with a reminder that he can always be honest with us, even if he thinks we might not like what he has to say. </div>
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<img alt="Jayce flowers 1" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xXiXy6_5I5g/VNtveUE74TI/AAAAAAAAWJQ/wBes_YGCxxc/Jayce%252520flowers-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Jayce flowers-1.jpg" width="700" />Even though I know that Jayce is a really sweet little boy, I always feel a little surprised when he does something like this that seems very above and beyond for his age. Chris is a great husband, really great, but Jayce didn't learn the flower thing from him. Chris is "special occasion flower-giver," not a "no reason but because I love you flower-giver." And Jayce has been picking those daisies for me in the springtime since he was four years old.</div>
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I think that we are so accustomed to taking credit in some form for the various nuances of our kids' personalities, (<i>he has my attention to detail, she has your temper</i>…) that the ways that they are so just so <i>themselves</i> always seem to catch me a little bit off guard. I love discovering these things and watching them bloom. It is one of my favorite parts of being a mom.</div>
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And lest you think that I am painting a picture of my son as a perfect child, yesterday I turned off an episode of <i>Ninjago</i> before school because we reached that crucial point when they needed to <i>actually</i> get their shoes on. Jayce came into the kitchen where I was filling up their water bottles and shot me with his Nerf gun. So there's that.</div>
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That's totally Chris. And me. And Jayce.</div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4800554083323818560.post-38619302051376886302015-02-09T14:14:00.001+00:002015-02-09T16:54:02.252+00:00Around Here: THE Shoes, Shrunken Shirts, Visitors, and Cinderella's Prince Got Named<img alt="Saturday 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pKS5djK9SUE/VNjAQIRSS9I/AAAAAAAAWHw/SBXBFEQvXc4/Saturday-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="Saturday-1.jpg" width="350" /><img alt="Tap shoes 1" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9b56u7xYEvE/VNjAVstSE-I/AAAAAAAAWH4/GlKJFqBYp48/tap%252520shoes-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="524" title="tap shoes-1.jpg" width="350" /><br />
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First up, the princess herself.</div>
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Hannah's ballet class has changed to a ballet/tap combo. This was her first week in the new format which I assume went well, but I didn't get any more information than this: We got <i>the</i> shoes.</div>
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The shoes have been on ever since and Hannah is proving to be a girl wise beyond her years, spending the weekend shuffling through most all of her wardrobe to see how each item looked with her new shoes. We also spent a considerable amount of time in the kitchen with her toe pointed and tap-tap-tapping on the hard floor. I have to admit that I'm really getting a kick out of this. </div>
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As for me, all of those promises that I made last week about getting Hannah's wardrobe re-stuffed with new sized-up dresses just did not happen at all. I have one dress half sewn, but managing my chest infection plus everyone else's colds and the freezing weather just zapped me. Usually once the kids are down Chris and I will watch something together and I am always working on a little something while I'm sitting on the couch, but this week I just sat with my head flopped to the side, sipping on hot tea. That's when I know I am sick: When I have the option to multi-task but don't. That never happens. </div>
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It took me all week in small doses, but I <i>did </i>manage to take one of Chris' shrunken sweaters and turn it into this cute little cardigan for Hannah. Merino wool is so finicky and it's annoying when it shrinks (sorry Chris!), but I didn't want to let it go to waste and I'm glad I didn't because I love this.</div>
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<img alt="James 1" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eoml8byWJOA/VNjAd-xMH9I/AAAAAAAAWII/6xLcbpzWwUg/James-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="James-1.jpg" width="700" /></div>
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Hannah received some Cinderella Duplo blocks for Christmas and I have to admit, guiltily, that I always call Jayce in to put it together for her. There are various little setups that can be done and I imagine that, for him, putting Duplo together it must feel a little like playing golf with a beach ball. A few different times he has said, "<i>Mom if you just follow the instructions you can do it really easily</i>" or "<i>If you look at the pictures on the box then you'll know where to put the pieces.</i>" But after he offers this helpful advice he usually just puts it together himself. The other day while Hannah was asleep he built a little escape airplane for James, (which is what the kids have named Cinderella's prince) and I loved it.</div>
<img alt="Avalor 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DQ_E0g_aqbQ/VNjAh713xqI/AAAAAAAAWIQ/p-6tQBmwcHs/avalor-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="avalor-1.jpg" width="700" /><br />
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A little bit later he made Cinderella's tower into Thor's castle, complete with Loki locked in a dungeon and the tesseract locked in Cinderella's treasure chest. Hannah was allowed to take it apart once she got up since these are her legos after all, but he enjoyed it while it lasted.</div>
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<img alt="October Kew 1" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NrI78DLuNl4/VNjAk06DahI/AAAAAAAAWIY/9LZnwNa_qXg/October%252520Kew-1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="October Kew-1.jpg" width="700" /></div>
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There are just a few short weeks until these two partners in crime are re-united. Chelsea's graduation is at the beginning of March which she is coming back to London for, along with Mom, Justin, Tasha, and Sonny and his family. I am so excited to see them, have them here, and start in on the festivities. I can't wait.<br />
Happy Monday! </div>
Erin Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559589536460111255noreply@blogger.com0