Life

Life has been busy.  We've had some of this:

Then there was some time with this precious guy in the green shorts:

With whom we did stuff like this:

and this:

and this:

and a bit of this:

Then we celbrated Steve's birthday by going here:

And eating this:

The rest of the month was

 a whole lotta this:

and a whole bunch of running around like crazy people.

We've had an awesome ending to our summer, and life is ready to start again with school on Monday morning. I'll be back to posting Bee's hair 'dos and the stuff we do in school each week.  I hope you are all having as much fun this summer as we are!

Love,

Stacy

Rainy Day Fun

Need something fun to do on a rainy day?

I couldn't think of a thing to do, so after church, I started cleaning out closets...when I ran across the flower girl dress Bee wore in a family wedding recently. I realized that I didn't have any candid shots of her in it, and it wouldn't fit soon...so my closet organizing was put on hold and we ran out between the raindrops to get some photos of my beautiful girl.  (Thanks, Jeni, for the idea to have a photo shoot!)   Of course, the boys had to get in on the action, so I found some clothes for them to wear.  Each child had their special time with mommy, and two of the three thought this was a very fun way to spend our afternoon.  My appologies to child #2, who doesn't enjoy having his photo taken...I guess they can't all be photogenic.

Here are some tips to make photographing your kids enjoyable:

1. Keep your expectations low.  Sometimes they just aren't in the mood.
2. Go outside and use natural light.
3. If your backgrounds are sketchy, make your photos black and white - it covers a multitude of sins.
4. (From the most awesome photographer I know, Deb http://www.dlyndlphoto.blogspot.com/ ) Don't always make your child smile and say cheese - sometimes you can get adorable shots when they aren't looking at the camera.
5. Have fun - when you start getting frustrated, the fun gets zapped away.

Here are a ton of photos from today. Enjoy my babies!!
Stacy

Thanks, Amy!

One of my best friends invited me out to a beach this week, and I was unable to go due to the kids' evening schedules - but she did give me the idea to find a local beach with my kiddos and go play for the day!  This was also on our Summer of Fun list - so off we went.  We had so much fun.  Even if you live in a land-locked state, google recreational parks in your state, and I'm sure you'll find a lake with a sand beach.  We had so much fun. Thanks, Amy!!

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts - and keep working on your Summer of Fun list!

Stacy

A Craft each day until... Fourth of July....Wearable Art

I really wanted to post these today - to give you moms time to make these before tomorrow.  I subscribe to Disney's Family Fun magazine, and I really have to give them credit - most of their crafts are fun, easy, and enjoyable to make.  This month's issue was full of great ideas for the Fourth of July. (I believe you can also find step by step instructions on their website for both of these crafts.)
When I saw this cover:

I was hooked. The tutus are darling - and seeing as I still have a girlie girl at home, I decided to give it a try with her.  That posed a tiny problem, however - having two boys, you can't do for one and not do for the others.    Thankfully, they also had directions to make these:

We shopped for a few supplies (and spent less than $10 total to make all the projects) and got to work.  First, the boys made their shirts.

Aren't they cute?  I just love them!  They needed a lot of help from me - making sure things were lined up jus so, and writing on the bottom so it was "neat", but they love them, and so do I.

Bee was up next.  First, we bought yards of toule, instead of the spools of it - then we cut our own strips.  This was far less expensive, and also made a longer/fuller skirt - which is good for an older girl.

Also, I used a sports headband for the elastic, instead of buying  craft elastic and having to sew it together:

Love, love, love this one.  With Bridgette putting it together, it took about twenty minutes - had I done it, it might have taken ten...maybe.   You can make one of these for your little girl, or have her help if she knows how to tie a knot.   Bee is already requesting one in pink and white - and I'm sure that once our sweet neighbors (who have four darling princesses) get ahold of this they'll want some too.  I can't wait to make more!   Please, please send photos if you've made either of these crafts. I'd love to see them!

Stacy