Sunday, May 29, 2011

To the Beach!

All Set!


PT and me


Lulu






The girls


JP and his Sand Turtle

Ice Cream!

Me and My Beach Babies



Bug Jars!

The kids have been fascinated with bugs recently, and have been interested in collecting and inspecting every little creature they find, so a few weeks ago we set to work to make some happy homes for our new guests. After that we laid down a few rules so we could all live together peacefully: #1 No bugs in the house unless they are in a jar, #2 Bug jars are not allowed to be opened in the house ever, and lastly, #3 No bug jars in the beds (this one we had to add later). 

Immy's rock jar, Mole Cricket home, Wood Beetle terrarium
The small jar came first, but when the Wood Beetle started to become a long term resident we set him up with a roomier pad. An old applesauce jar was perfect, and a cork screw put nice little holes in the lid. We looked online to see what the bugs are called, eat, and need to survive; then we try to set up each home to make our guests comfortable.

Now we are all happy. Luckily for the bugs they get switched out regularly, and we are learning all sorts of great lessons like don't pick up your millipede with pliers, and wood beetles don't like to take a bath, and pincher bugs actually will pinch you.  
Yep, good times.   

Favorite Bits of April 2011

No front teeth!

Snoozin' with Happy Doggy

Chicken Pox!

So happy!

Daddy and JP

My herbs

Field Day!

Flyin' a Kite!

JP

Lulu

Friday, May 27, 2011

Fabric Easter Egg Tutorial

These are a sweet addition to special Easter basket, and can be used year after year!
To make a Fabric Easter Egg you will need:
  A large oval to trace as your pattern
1/4 yard of fabric
Needle, thread, and hoop for embroidering (optional) 
Sewing machine and notions 
Stuffing for filling
Scissors 

 Step 1: Trace two ovals onto your fabric for the front and back of the egg (the pocket will be on the back of the egg). Then trace one more oval that is 1 inch longer (but not wider) than the first two. This will be for the pocket.

 Step 2: Center the traced egg that will be your front piece in your hoop and embroider. Finish all your embroidery, and then cut out all the traced eggs. 

 Step 3: You will have three pieces; a front, a back, and the pocket. Fold the pocket piece in half, iron, and then decide which side you want to show on the finished egg. That will be the front of your pocket (the right side).
 Step 4: Pin the pocket to the bottom half of the egg-front piece, right sides together.
 Step 5: Sew the pocket onto the front piece. It will look backwards.
 Step 6: Pin the egg-back piece on top of the egg-front w/pocket piece, right sides together.
 Step 7: Sew all the way around leaving a 1-2 inch opening at the bottom for turning.
 Step 8: Turn right side out through the hole in the bottom, and iron. The pocket will still look backwards and be on the front side of the egg.
 Step9: Stuff the egg with filling, then hand stitch the hole at the bottom closed.
 Step 10: Flip the pocket over the bottom of the egg so it's on the back side, this will hide your stitches inside the pocket. Slip in your special treat, and you are done!
It's so easy JP even made one with his special bug fabric.

JP's, Lulu's, PT's, and Immy's

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Easter 2011!


Easter morning
Dh was in charge of getting all the gifts for the baskets, since he was out of town for all the Easter prep. He did an amazing job, and each one of the kids had (several) special things to discover Easter morning!
JP and Immy got started early, while Lulu was sleeping in.
I even got a special Easter gift!!
New camera!
 After mass we had an egg hunt with the cousins at my parent's house.
Ready, set, go!


Lulu



Immy

PT and Daddy

JP


Laying down on the job?

Looking for the Golden Egg.

Immy: I will find it!            Lulu: I'm never going to find it!

JP: I have to find it before Bper!     Bper: I have to find it before JP!
Good job Immy!

Happy 1st Easter PT!

Banana