5.29.2007
When I stared into her eyes for the first times I wondered what sort of person she would be. Each day get I get know her better and each day I am so grateful that I am allowed to be a part of this wonderful persons life.
Posted by mary at 10:02 PM 1 comments
Hi everyone. I am back from a bit of blog break. I didn't plan on taking one but sometimes you only have time for so many things and something has to give, this time it was the blog.
I just transfered my the past months pictures onto the computer and it seems we have been up to much more than I realized. I think I will pull out a few highlights to show what has been keeping me away from the computer. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the start of summer. Click on the the picture and then the labels below the pictures if you want to see what we've been up to.
I'm off to enjoy the sunshine and work in the garden.

Posted by mary at 8:51 AM 0 comments
Happy Arbor Day. Hope you all have plans to plant a tree today.
Wanna see some cute little feet planting the arbor day tree last year? Check it out HERE. The cute little hands and feet on the right belong to Annie B. and the ones on the left are my little Annie's.
Thanks to Sara, Annie's mom for the link and noticing that those pairs of feet and hands looked familiar. Only a mom, right!
Yeah, I know, no pictures again, sorry we got actual shots at the doctor instead of fun photo shots.
Posted by mary at 10:31 PM 1 comments
I have been such a bad blogger of late. There has been lots of stuff going on but very little time to write about any of it and lately it has been feeling like another item on my to do list opposed to my little outlet. I think it has something to do with having a really long to do list and the list is creeping into my blogging space (the laundry pile is so large I had to move it to it's own bed). Dan has also been hogging the computer and it is very hard for me to get time before 11 p.m. and I've not much energy for blogging at that time. All right, excuses are out of the way now on to something of interest.
Last week I got the most wonderful package in the mail from Jen, a skein of beautiful purple sock yarn for me to make myself a pair of socks! It was completely out of the blue and oh so very thoughtful. It has been sitting on the ledge in my kitchen so that I can admire it, touch it, and stare longingly at it while taking care of to-do's. Thank you so much Jen it was really a much needed little pick me up and I LOVE purple.
Other bits that have been going on here include:
-finishing up a hat for a very dear aunt from this pattern
-making a memory game from school pictures for maddie
-working on aprons for this months Tie One On Challenge
-lots of great thrifting and a couple of trash to treasure finds
-registering for kindergarten (Annie not Me and were not going to talk about it)
So tomorrow how about some pictures and don't forget that Friday is Arbor Day. We'll be sticking with tradition and heading to the Morton Arboretum.
Posted by mary at 8:57 PM 2 comments
Posted by mary at 12:32 AM 1 comments

It appears turning 3 is very serious business. At least it looks that way from this picture. In fact, turning 3 is all about running like a bat out of hell around the house so that your mommy can't take a picture of you in clothes and crown she made for you for your birthday. It took a very stren daddy demanding that you "stand still so mommy can get a picture for the blog" to get the above picture.
Turning 3 is also about donuts for breakfast and fancy new bikes(that mama thinks you are entirely too young to ride).
Throw in a few mudpies for good measure....
and keep this year keep the birthday extravaganza to a minimum (unlike Annie's 3).
Beacause really turning 3 is really all about....
The big bucket of popcorn cake
adapted from the cupcake from Family Fun Mag
Having all your cousins and a few friends over to play movie theatre, selling popcorn, tickets and Twizzlers
and lining up to watch Mary Poppins.
and for mommy three is all about my little baby growing up. I have enjoyed my Maddie at 2 and 1 and younger and I can't wait to share everyday with my Maddie at 3. You bring such joy and surprise to my life, Happy Birthday Maddie Jeanne.
Posted by mary at 11:55 PM 5 comments
Last week 2 of my nieces came for a sleepover. They are my sisters girls and before I had Annie and Maddie I would babysit for them every Thursday. I don't spend as much time with them anymore and when they are here they tend to play with A and M. The night they stayed T.T. read books to Maddie and put her to bed while Katie read to Annie and put her to bed. I think they need to stay over more often.
I wanted to do something special with them so Thursday morning we pulled out lots of boxes, tubes and some packaging from when our new dryer arrived. We all went to work making a great marble ramp.

Once the business of getting the marbles to roll was over they went to work decorating.

Then it was off to the races....

Nothing like 4 girls being kept entertained for a few hours with not much more than marbles, duct tape and some paper towel tubes. I really do need to have them over more often!
Posted by mary at 11:11 PM 1 comments
I have been messing around here for the past hour trying to get this slideshow to show up. If you get a feed sorry for all the posts.
In the process I lost the nicely written original post. So here is the 12:30 in the morning, I have been wasting time for the last 2 hours post.
We went to see the pelicans, they weren't there. I decide to take a picture of the girls together. It took 23 tries. Aren't they cute.
If you can see this slideshow. Wahooo. If not click the link below to watch. I recommend you slide the bar to view each for 2 seconds not 5. I'm going to bed. Sometimes technology sucks the life out of ya!
Posted by mary at 11:22 PM 2 comments
Labels: kids in nature
I discovered a new feature on my IE, I can add a blog feed to my favorites quite easily. I realized I had been doing this often and now my list of blog reads is growing. I haven't had time to update the sidebar so I thought I would share a few of the blogs that have been inspiring me lately.
For some good craftiness and great photos...
Melissa (I also go there just to admire the quilt in her banner-Love it!)
Erin
Heather-designer of Freshcut fabric
Fun kid stuff
Mama Revival
Scrumdilly-do
Yummy food
GastroKid
Orangette
Notes from the Cookie Jar
Just plain lovely..
Ellie
Sulu-Design
and I think one of my favorite blog writers... (she also takes fab photos and built a chicken coop!)
Steph
We are off to the Kane County Flea Market to find some treasures and enjoy some time with my mom. Enjoy your Sunday.
Posted by mary at 9:44 AM 2 comments
I posted a bit back about trying out sewing pants. My first pair was a bit small and needed some adjustment but I tried again and came up with 2 pairs I was pleased with. I do believe there will be lots of homemade pants in our future.
This pair was made from a thrifted woman's corduroy skirt and a few pieces from a vintage sheet. 
This pair was cut from a woman's extra large t-shirt. It was my first time working with knit fabric and it came out great. I will not fear the knits anymore, okay, not fear it as much. Not bad for $2.50.
I am really enjoying making clothes for the girls. There is this level of satisfaction watching them head out the door in clothing that came from my hands. Hand-knitted hats keeping their heads cozy and skirts that they twirl around in. Go on give it a try, you can do it too.
Posted by mary at 3:21 PM 0 comments
As usual with me there are big plans and little follow through. That's what happened with my week of posts. Well, that and we took off for a much needed night away at an indoor water park. Mind if play catch up? Didn't think you would.
Things I love: Thursday....
everyone decked out in "flip-n-flops" for our trip to the pool. (and the fact that I am so accustomed to calling them flip-n-flops that I forget they are flip flops)
Things I love: Friday
Getting to borrow baby cuties like Mikey. What a little dream baby. I love having 15 nieces and nephews.
Things I love: Saturday
The fashion confidence of the under 6 set. If only I felt as comfortable in a green shirt, maroon dress, red tights and cowgirl boots.
Hope you found lots of things to love this week and Happy Spring!
Yep, those are tulips from my yard. I do really, really love Spring and getting to play in my garden again.
Posted by mary at 10:17 PM 1 comments
Posted by mary at 2:47 PM 1 comments

The slow pace of Sundays. Reading the newspaper, extra cups of coffee and making a big mess on the kitchen table. This week with a new set of watercolors.
What do you love about Sunday?
Posted by mary at 11:29 AM 2 comments

The calendar says it's March 13Th but it's 71 degrees,
Hop over the laundry baskets, throw the dishes in the sink.
No hats or mittens, no not today.
Cheese Nips for breakfast and doughnuts for lunch.
Off to the woods we go, let's stomp in the creek.
Grab Autumn's, leash she'll want to come.
Wait, I need my camera, maybe a snack or two.
Let's get some coffee on the way and kool-aid is okay for you.
Tomorrow we can wash the clothes, the dishes will be there too.
We can have fruit for breakfast and veggies for lunch.
Tomorrow we'll fill your cups with milk and juice.
Tomorrow can be like any day but today, oh joy today....
The calendar says it's March 13Th but it's 71 degrees.
More Mama Says Om
View More pictures here.
Posted by mary at 10:48 PM 2 comments
First, Thank you all for all the warm birthday wishes and blog birthday wishes. It was so nice to hear from everyone. I think I may be the only 36 year old that still loves a birthday.-I'll get back to you on that one when I turn 40.
A bit back I mentioned that I might give a try at a Year Of Handmade Gifts. Well, I decided to go for it. Our first birthday gift was a few weeks late, but, much appreciated. I made another little art tote like the one for our swap. (Sorry, I forgot to get a picture).
This weekend we had two birthday parties to attend, one for a 1 year old and one for a 5 year old. It seems once you hit preschool there are many more parties. I had an apron set leftover from the craft show I did last fall, so the 5 year old gift was done.
I think I will pick-up some fabric for more of these, they are quick and great for all ages.
I wanted to make something special for the little one year old guy next door. Turning one is such a big deal and we don't have many boys about to buy for.
Here is the little set with Oh My, Oh My, Oh Dinosaur book by Sandra Boynton
I picked up the onsie at Target and used leftover fabric from the craft show (gotta recoup the investment ya know) to applique the dinosaur. The book and shirt were stuffed inside the tote. I am hooked on these little initial totes. They are such an easy way to make a personalized gift and the tote is perfect for the filling up and dumping out stage. I didn't even line the bag this time. Easy-peasey. I was thinking it would be fun to find vintage books and make up little sets based on the books.
My neighbor was so pleased with the gift. When little Mason was born I knit a hat for him and she told me it was the only handmade gift he had received. I really enjoy giving these little handmade gifts but find myself a bit embaressed when they open up the present and ohh and ahh. Any of you have the same experience?
So I was wondering if any of you out there might like to join in on the Year Of Handmade Gifts. I thought it would be a fun challenge. Please let me know if you are interested, I could make a little button and a flickr group to show off all the great ideas ya'll come up with.
And as promised a little knitting news....
On those cute little legs you see my very first pair of knitted socks! They are terribly wonky with dropped stitches and holes and all sorts of mistakes but gosh darn-it they are socks. I used some random thrifted yarn so that there was little monetary investment and I am pleased as punch. I may possibly be hooked on making socks. I used a pattern from here. A big thank you goes to Jen for encouraging me to give it a go.
Next knitting project is a Harry Potter scarf for my 8 year old nephew- a birthday gift. He has given me until the new movie comes out to finish.
Posted by mary at 10:23 PM 5 comments
The dresser in Annie's room came with two sets of knobs; black and white. When we put together the dresser I put the black ones on and stuck the bag of white ones in her top drawer. It appears my little girl has had a growth spurt because the other day she came into my room holding the bag and said "Mommy, I want to change my handles to the white ones". "Okay, Annie" I replied, "We'll work on it in a little while". Off I went to finish up my closet organizing. An hour or so later I went into her room to put away laundry and this is what I found...
"Um, Annie did you change the knobs on your dresser?"
"Yes, Mommy, I wanted them white".
"How did you do it?"
"Oh, all you have to do is turn it like this." (precedes to show me how to turn it)
"Okay, nice job kiddo."
A few days before we had been playing office and I let the girls use an old adding machine I inherited from my friend Marcia (thanks Marcia's Uncle). Madison stuffed a bunch of coins into it and jammed it up. When I went in to investigate Annie says "Mommy, we need to get a screwdriver and take off the bottom, then we can get the money out." "Okay, let's give it a try." A little bit of grease later all fixed.
It appears I have a new person to make Honey-Do Lists for in the house.
Posted by mary at 10:14 PM 3 comments
Labels: kid projects
Click Here.
Thanks to William at Never Trust a Skinny Chef.
Posted by mary at 10:29 PM 0 comments