BubbaChic

More Farewells....

Today saw another guest leaving our home - a special guest who has been with us for almost 3 months and that we were very comfortable with keeping permanently...Grandma

And just to add to the heartache of waving Grandma off back to England - both Jay and I came down with what feels like flu today - so we are feeling extra sorry for ourselves!

I am hoping normal life will resume sometime soon when our heavy hearts will allow, but tonight, we sulk!

Reflections

Whilst I am still a little (ok a lot) choked up that our visitors have gone home - I will post some photos tonight - of our time together and of Maddy's special day...

whilst the boys were doing the above...

us girlies were enjoying the above...

Making 13 of the above as party favors for Maddy's party

which involved lots of pampering...

Socialising with friends...

and opening of presents...

all whilst little bro wondered what on earth was going on...

and settled for some chillin of his own...

a wonderful day filled with surprises, magic and proudness (is that even a word) that our little Lady is growing up to be a remarkable, sweet girl....

Something REALLY Special

Although I have been decidedly quiet on the blogging front for the past week - it is for a very good reason, which this little video clip captures:

My wonderful, sweet, resourceful, loving husband flew over Amy and Mark - 2 very close friends from England - ready to surprise me on my 30th Birthday last Thursday...There is another clip, as proof that the larger than life Mark is also here - but it is currently in a camera on its way down to Dallas, so alas I will have to update tomorrow!

So the past week have been very much of a haze, with a big old happy cloud over my head - all whilst feeling very special and very lucky to have such a wonderful hubby and equally wonderful friends...

Planning Planning Planning

Our house seems to be filled with lots of things to make and finish right now for a Valentines Day deadline - and you think that would be motivation enough for me to get my bum into gear and focus...not so.

I (we) have Valentine dresses to finish, handmade valentine cards to finish for Maddy's classmates, heart shaped cakes to bake for teachers and so, this weekend I start the very time consuming project of cutting and piecing Joshy's baby-clothes quilt - oh and get inspired to make a little quilted birdy picture...organised as ever!

Tomorrow we will endeavour to fit in all that needs doing - and I am sure that my trusty side-kicks will bolt over to the kitchen counter to see what I am doing, drag chairs over to stand on and help me in the way only a 4 year old and a 2 year old can help when you need to get things done fast.

Joshua's help, usually revolves around eating spoonfuls of butter whilst my back is turned whilst Mads proceeds to do her best to control the spoon enough that whatever is in the bowl doesn't end up on the wall (which she isn't always entirely sucessful at!)

Its at times like these that I have to remind myself to relax and enjoy the process and take in all that goes with the experience of living in the moment with two very precious little people.

The Snicklepeep

This is how things played out the other morning when I was making breakfast:

Me: "What you doing Maddy?" (whilst Maddy is on all fours nervously looking into one of the kitchen cupboards)

Maddy: "Looking..."

Me: "What are you looking at?"

Maddy: "Its a snicklepeep..."

Me: *chuckling and not paying a great deal of attention*   "Oh, whats a snicklepeep?"

Maddy: "Its one of those, look...with arms and legs..."   *pointing into kitchen cupboard*

Me: *heart skipped a beat, thinking 'rat'*    "Where is it?..."

Maddy: "Right there, its looking at us...."

So, as much as I didn't want to look and very much fearing that a small furry creature would be staring at me, I took a look at the snicklepeep (with arms and legs) in the cupboard with some trepidation, and saw this looking back at me....

An escapee potato which has sprouted....yeah, I can see the funny side now!

Surprise!!! (well kinda)

There has not been one day over the past few months that Maddy hasn't made us all chuckle - she is constantly saying 'Hey Mummy, look at me' and then pulling the weirdest face she can, to get a laugh out of us - but she is also hugely amusing in so many other ways which just warm our heart.

Our house has been full of *surprises in the making* recently. With all of our birthdays happening within the next 6 weeks, she has been privvy to more than her fair share of surprises being planned. And our honest little lady struggles with the concept of surprises - and is just bursting to tell the recipient of what she knows. This has meant that quite often she will start a conversation with the words 'I'm not going to tell you about your surprise plate....' you get the picture?!

So, when I started work on this birthday dress last week, I thought it wise to hide it away to give to her on her birthday...as a surprise....

Fast forward to today, when she walks into the kitchen and announces 'Mummy, shhhhhhh don't tell me about my birthday dress, its a surprise...'  She is so honest and funny.

I must admit - I am not hugely keen on the birthday dress - its very...bright and well, birthday - but after the quilt incident, I knew I had to do something very bright colourful and very Maddy for her birthday - hence straying away from my usual route.

Later on tonight, Mads also announced that she wanted a new dress - the same style as a butterfly dress I made her, she then picked out the fabric and said 'When you have finished my dress Mummy, hang it by the fire for me, for the morning....'

How could I resist::

 

I am not entirely sure the dress will get a warm reception - I have modified her favourite dress to have little sleeves - as she wants to wear the other dress in all weathers and refuses to wear a cardi over it (its sleeveless) so, we shall see whether she warm up to the new pattern.

On a different and slightly unbelievable note - its snowed again last night, so we woke up to a scattering of snow this morning...is that super duper crazy or what??

Only in Oklahoma

Just a few days ago - when the kiddies ventured out into the garden they played in this:

and for the last 2 days, they have been enjoying temperatures in the 70's and playing out in the sunshine...

Who knows what is in store for us tommorrow.....!

Winner!

The very important drawing for the Bloggy Giveaway  took place this morning, under strictly controlled conditions....and the winner is:

Congratulations! Suzanne from A family Created I will email you to get your details to send you the finished little quilt - as beautifully modelled by my sidekick!

Crafting for a cause

The day after Christmas Day - I went shopping and bought myself this wonderful book: Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts

There was one project in the book, that stuck out to me - a wall hanging of 2 little birds sat on a tree branch. I imagined it immediately on Maddy's bedroom wall and so I went shopping for fabric and set about cutting it all out. Later on that evening, whilst working on the wall hanging when everyone else had gone to bed, I just kept thinking about a lady called Tawnya. I knew of her through a community of sewing mamas on a forum I visit often. She had been battling cancer and her strength, faith and courage always struck me - she passed away just before Christmas, leaving her husband and 3 young boys.

By the time I had finished cutting out the wall hanging later that night - I knew that it wasn't meant for Maddy, but was meant to benefit Tawnya's family.

So, here it is - the bird appliques have all been attached by hand (as has the binding) and the rest has been machine quilted to give it texture. It is the perfect size (34" x 28") for either a wall hanging or baby quilt and has the softest batting to make it extra cozy.

The wall hanging will be auctioned off along with the work of over 40 other mama's. Tawnya's journey can be found here and all of the auctions can be found here  including my wall hanging/quilt

The auctions start Monday 4th Feb!