Hello again

I feel like I've lost my ability to say anything of import.  Maybe it's the sweat and sand and exhaustion of these long summer days, but the last thing I've wanted to do these past few months is sit down here and write. Here we are, the year half over, and I feel like the only accomplishment I have to show for it is having survived the winter.

I need a change, some motivation, SOMETHING to help me mark the passage of time (and on this end of 32, time is just cruising along in the carpool lane).  Some speed bumps would help, I think.

I am going to try to touch base here (or at LittleSage) every few days.  And maybe I'll find my voice again.

River's latest haircut

Before:

After:

He can see again!  This should last through the summer, so he'll be a hippy again when school starts in the fall.

mini me

Thom and I had reason to get a hold of our preschool photos recently and they are truly stellar.  Thom's knee-high black socks and my gap-toothed smile are reason alone to share, but I thought I'd take it a bit further.

Behold:

It's bit eerie, no?

smelly rainbow dough

 This week, River and I made a batch of homemade playdoh with a special twist: scented dough!  I got the tip from River's preschool teacher, who used cinnamon to enhance her batch a few weeks ago.  When I found a shelf full of awesome extracts at a local market this week, I had just the inspiration I needed.  We tried our best to coordinate color to smell, but in lieu of making brown or white dough, our chocolate scent is purple and vanilla is blue.

River had a fantastic time playing with this stuff and has even made an effort to keep the colors separate (for now).  The downside is that this dough is not as great for my toddler, as it smells so much like food, she immediately wants to taste it.  However, it's made of natural food ingredients, so she's not going to be hurt if she swallows some.

Next time, I'll skip the chocolate - which we liked the least - in favor of cinnamon.  And I'll make sure to include almond.  That would work perfectly with a pink/red ball since almond is the smell I always associate with maraschino cherries.  If you'd like to make your own, see the recipe below.  It's super easy!

Homemade Scented Rainbow Dough

Combine in large saucepan: 

2 cups flour 

1/2 cup salt 

2 tsp. cream of tartar 

Add and whisk until smooth: 

2 cups water 

2 Tbsp oil 

(If you're only doing one color, add 1/2 - 1 tsp. of food coloring now; otherwise, mix it in when dough is cooled) 

Cook over medium heat until playdough is nearly set. 

Remove from heat and let cool. 

Break into 5 balls and put each in a bowl (I used the plastic containers they were going to be stored in to save on dishes).

Add 1/4 tsp. extract to each ball along with 5 - 15 drops of food coloring.

Knead well with spoon until liquids are mostly incorporated, then finish kneading by hand.

Store in Ziploc bag or air tight container.

Will keep for months if refrigerated.

River's 4th Birthday

Earlier this month we celebrated River's 4th birthday with a superhero party for 20 kids.  We might have gone a little over the top...

A little back story: we're usually in Las Vegas sometime during March and end up celebrating the plethora of March birthdays in our clan (Uncle Nelse, Thom, cousin Finn, me, River, among others...) with one or two large family gatherings.  This leaves us back in Cambridge celebrating the actual day with a simple dinner or fun day out. Since we didn't travel in March this year, I realized it was an opportune time to host a party for my boy, and with a few weeks to plan we shot for the stars.

We've also been in the process of re-decorating a few rooms in the house, the last of which was the kids' playroom in the basement.  The party was a good excuse to finish the work on that room, so in addition to sewing capes and baking cupcakes for the party, we out-fitted a tumble room with giant soft blocks and a huge mural.

If I accomplish half as much in as short a time for the rest of the year, I'll count it a win.

See more after the jump

New Quilt

New post over at Little Sage!  Check it out!

Superhero capes

River's birthday is coming up and we'll be having a party with a superhero theme per the little man's request.  What kind of overworked mom would I be if I didn't take this as a direct challenge to make 20 capes as party favors?

 Amazingly, I finished the project in three days and there should be enough superhero mojo for each little guest plus a few left over for the preschool dress up closet.  River got to model one of the finished products tonight before bed.

And of course Lila got in on the act, too!

Here's a little breakdown of how I made the capes (which is a SUPER easy - see what I did there? - project that would take about 30 minutes, if you're not crazy and making 20 of them).  Even with that many I found ways to streamline so, if you're proficient with a sewing machine multiple capes are totally manageable.

First, I found this great tutorial for a quick and dirty cape, and I calculated I'd need about 10 yards of bright fleece for 20 capes.  My math was totally off, so if you have any suggestions for what I can do with 3 yards of leftover fleece, by all means pass them along.  :)

 I followed Amy's instructions pretty closely with two exceptions. First, before cutting I layered four pieces of fleece so I could cut multiple capes at once.  Second, I used a rotary cutter instead of scissors.  I imagine this saved the project because I turned 3+ hours of work into 45 minutes. (If you do this method, do not forget to put a cutting mat under the fabric. Your floors will thank you.)

For detailed instructions, please see Amy's tutorial - it's very clear.  After I assembled the capes, I started on the superhero emblems for the back.

I didn't want to make replicas of existing heroes because I like the idea of the kids making up their own.  So I made card stock templates of four different symbols and traced them onto sheets of fusible web.  Basically fusible web sticks one fabric to another fabric (in this case, felt) when you iron it on.  Remember that any image you draw will be reversed when you're done.

 After I had 20 symbols traced, I cut around them, leaving about 1/4 inch outside the line.  I situated these onto different colored felt, covered them with scrap fabric (VERY IMPORTANT IF WORKING WITH FELT!) and ironed them on.

 Once they were secured to the felt, I cut them out on the line and I had my symbols.

 I removed the backing paper, placed them where I wanted on the back of the cape, and (again, using a piece of scrap fabric) ironed it in place.

 Voila!  Wings!

Considering I was making 20 of these things, I was going to cut myself some slack and stop there.  These capes are supposed to be quick and dirty after all, not lifetime keepsakes.  But I knew one trip through the wash and that decal would be shot.  So I decided to stitch the felt to the cape for extra durability, and I'm really glad I did.

 Doesn't this look better? Once I had an assembly line going, it was actually quick work and I'm glad these will stand up to lots of rough play.

Here they are - don't they look pretty?

Lila's cape is a bit smaller than the others (it was from some leftover purple fleece that was just a couple inches shy of Amy's measurements).  It worked out perfectly for toddler size.

River made goofy hero faces in the mirror for about 20 minutes before I ushered him to bath.

My handsome little hero and his friends are going to have such a blast at his party.  I can't wait!

River News: Month Forty-Seven

Dear River,

I think it's nearly a year since I've written an update on you.  In that time your sister has turned from an infant to a toddler, you started your first year of preschool, your cousin Kian arrived, and both he and Finn moved away.  I feel like our home has finally settled after the tsunami of changes your sister brought with her.  And you, my little boy, have made some Hulk-sized changes yourself.

Your introduction to school has been such an enormous source of inspiration and growth for you, and in a short time you have learned to navigate new friendships, new authority figures, physical and intellectual challenges, and your role as both leader and student.  Our greatest hope for you, as we walked out of preschool that first day, was for you to learn how work with kids your age, letting go of the "this is what I want to do!" mentality and into a space of negotiation.  And wow! have our expectations been exceeded.  Those first few weeks were hard for you and you spent a lot of time playing alone or trying to strong-arm others into carrying out your grand visions ("We have to make a sand tunnel this way!  No, the bulldozers dig here!") 



But it only took a few weeks for you to realized that collaborating with the other kids brought about much better results, and some of your strongest friendships formed in the sandbox as you plotted designs together with a new ally.  You quickly learned to trust your teachers - two wonderful women who listen to you and respect your ideas while deftly imparting the knowledge that you are not the only person in the universe.  You are now seen as a strong force in your school and your attention sought out by other classmates.  Of course you have idols, some of the bigger kids more adept physically and further along the road to reading.  I love to see you emulating their nobler habits (and yes, cringe when I see you emulating their annoying ones.)

One of your most memorable moments came a few weeks before Christmas break while your class was gearing up for the harvest festival.  You had been reading a book called Tiger Soup that inspired the class to create its own imaginary concoction.  Your teachers had written down and posted all the fantastic ingredient ideas your classmates came up with and at the bottom of the list I saw with a bit of surprise, "River: cumin."  To be honest I was so proud that you had such a sophisticated palate, that some of my cooking knowledge had rubbed off on you.  That night I asked you to tell your father what you added to the "Tiger Soup."  You replied with glee, "HUMAN!"

Oh.  Well that sounds more like you.



This year you have really learned how to be an excellent big brother, taking great care of Lila's safety and happiness.  You've come to the realization that Lila takes up some of our time as parents, and you are very patient (within reason) of her demands.  Of course you lucked out with an exceptionally undemanding sister, one who basically wanders around looking cute and entertaining herself, so it hasn't been that difficult a task for you.  Her adorableness is a huge source of pride for you and you love to show her off and pronounce her victor in imaginary battles having used only her "Cute Ray." 



Of course, your need for affection has not waned, and the constant bear hugs and physical displays aimed at Lila are met with joy (occasionally) or annoyance (frequently).  You've become accustomed to defending yourself after a squeal from Lila elicits the question, "River, what did you do?!"  I'm working very hard not to jump immediately to blame, but come on, you really are the source of most of her outbursts.   As for your affection for mommy… let just say I am The Woman in your life and you might just shrivel up without snuggles from me.

The great tragedy of this year has been the relocation of your beloved Finn to Las Vegas.  The devastation seemed to hit you in waves and weeks would go by before we would hear the requests to "go visit Finn tomorrow."  Your disappointment that it wasn't possible was heartbreaking and the few times you have seen him since have been occasions for great celebration.



As for your interests, in the past year you have gone from an obsession with garbage trucks to dinosaurs, and you have become quite the little paleontologist.  It is an ongoing joke between you and I to distinguish a Stygimoloch from a Pachycephalosaurus and you rattle out those names with authority and ease.  You know the characteristics of a carnivore vs. a herbivore and are familiar with dozens of dinosaurs and their traits.  Your love of knowledge and ever-searching mind is such a source of pride for your father and I.  We love that you are a learner, and we are so proud of your curiosity.



Of course, as I write this dinosaurs are being edged out by superheroes in your affection, and you are quickly becoming an expert in those as well.  You love the idea of a person with amazing powers, someone strong enough to beat evil and avert death.  I came to comic books late in life and usually my choices were off the mainstream superhero tales.  But I'm loving sharing this new obsession with you, and both your dad and I willingly read you endless comic adventures.



It has opened the door for robust physical play - great scenarios of good vs. evil you enact with anyone willing.  Your dad is your favorite punching bag, and he's often greeted with a tackle and an exclamation, "Let's roughhouse!"  When you aren't throwing yourself around an imaginary battleground you love to build with legos or create elaborate forts.  You have a designer's mind and you are always full of innovation and creation.



There is so much more I could say about how you've changed and grown this year, but I think I'll close with some of my favorite quotes:

During a sleepover, after ushering Finn out of your room with the same flimsy excuse for the third time in a row:  "I don't know why Finn has to go pee so many times."
Your favorite way to say yes for about three months: "Yes-a-tootie rumbo!"
Your warning every time Lila would crawl toward Edgar to tackle him with hugs: "Edgar, run for your life!"
The way you tell me you love me more than anything in the world: "I love you to the bellies of Hogar."



Well, my boy, I love you to the bellies of Hogar and I always will.
xoxo,
Mommy

Lila's new room

After Megan moved out, we thought about how we might rearrange our space to utilize it better.  My sewing room is currently in the open space in the basement and Lila was upstairs close to Thom and I.  Megan's room, the guest bedroom, is downstairs next to River, so we decided to move Lila down there to be close to her brother.  Then we can move my sewing space upstairs to Lila's old room, and open up the old sewing space as a playroom for the kids.  That way I get a space to work in with a door that closes, the kids have a much larger space to play in, and no rooms are unused.

Last week we worked on the first part of the change: moving Lila downstairs.  It was a slow process, but it's turned out pretty nice.  We touched up the old lavender paint on the walls and painted the white bricks chartreuse.  I added some huge leaves to the walls to complete the garden theme already in place with flower and bug decals on the walls.

On the right is the entry door and the left is her closet door.  The changing table and diaper pails fit nicely in the little alcove at the entryway.

Here's her closet - which still needs a little organization - but the dresser fits nicely and right now her hanging clothes fit fine on the bar.

In the opposite corner is her crib and rocking chair.   You can't see it here, but there's actually some floor space for her to play on.  I think eventually we'll need to get rid of the chair to open it up some more, and the room is just begging for a fun new rug.

To the right of the crib is the door to the storage closet/tool room.  She has an assortment of toys in the fun zoo baskets and plenty of board books to keep her entertained.  Of course both kids have more toys than they know what to do with, and most of those will eventually end up in the playroom.

So step one is done.  Next I need to do some work on Lila's old room.  I've removed the decals from the walls and it needs a fresh coat of paint.  I'll add some shelving to the closet then move my sewing table and accessories in. We'll get a couch with a pull-out bed and use it as a guest room when needed.  Much better use of space than keeping a queen size bed in an unused room.

We already have some fun ideas for the playroom and I'm pretty excited for the kids to have a designated play space.  When we moved into this house I always imagined downstairs as the kids' den and we're definitely making strides in that direction.

Don't let those sweet faces fool you

I've been searching for a new sitter since December, and I think I'm close to finding one.  I had an excellent phone interview with someone a few days ago and I'll be meeting her in person this afternoon.  I got off the call and said to Thom, "I love her.  She seems perfect. Please, God, I hope she's the one."  Can you hear the desperation? If she doesn't show up with a hook for a hand and a bag of dead puppies, it should be a lock.

Without any help this past month, I've been basically surviving the daily grind.  No time for sewing, no time for blogging, and without a date night with Thom to remind me I'm more than a mommy machine, I'm kind of going crazy. I've had more than few days of feeling ready to be strapped down in a padded room, but the end is in sight.  I thought I would enjoy my solo time with the kids a bit more, but this past month has brought some insane developmental changes in Lila and a whole new round of monstrous testing and tantrums from River.  So what I thought might be leisurely days at the library or playing dress-up have turned into nearly non-stop screaming matches with a 3 year old broken only by the occasional trek through the house to picking up EVERY. SINGLE. ITEM. pulled from our drawers, cabinets, and shelves by Lila.

So if you've noticed an absence here in Summerland, now you know why.  Hopefully, my sanity and I can make an appearance again soon.

Christmas wrap-up

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday in Las Vegas with the extended family.  Here are some highlights.

 River wore his new super hero cape pretty much everywhere, including this trip we made to the Natural History Museum.  Here, he and dad are hot on the trail of a T-rex in the NHM parking lot.

 The kids had a blast in the aquarium section of the museum.  Lila, Nanu, River, and Thom especially loved the shark tank.

 We all got to meet little Kian Doyle for the first time.

 Dadu set up this awesome cardboard playhouse and of course the big kids had to get in on the decorating.  I was so happy to see Jenn and Alex during their short trip to town.

 Syd and River enjoying some brief outside time between days of rain.

 Lila got ready for her big birthday bash with a million balloons.

 Christmas morning at my folk's place.  Mommy and Lila opened her stocking together.

 Nanu and Dadu looked through their photo album from us.

 Finn spent some quality time with his new brother, Kian (on the right I think), and cousin Quentin.  The little ones share the same birthday.

 Christmas morning was so exciting!!

 Dinosaurs were the theme at Oma and Opa's house.  River got two buckets full of them, two huge figurines, and a dino shirt.

 The remote control buggy was a favorite present.

 Doyle men (and Kian).

 Mommy and River relaxing with a morning snuggle.

 Little Jawa Lila playing outside at Oma's house.

Footy pajamas!  My Christmas darlings had a wonderful time in Vegas, and now we're all glad to be home (except for that pesky time adjustment).