the extraction and the tooth fairy...

Saturday morning went a little like this...

Once that little toothy was out Emily began bouncing around the house, checking her new self out at every angle...

 

I had ordered this tooth fairy doll last month just in case her tooth fell out.  She has a special little bag to hold the tooth in until the tooth fairy picks it up during the night...

 That evening we set her on the dresser awaiting the arrival of the tooth fairy...

 In the morning the tooth had disappeared and in it's place was this magnificent mermaid costume.  I know the tooth fairy doesn't usually bring gifts but when you are four years old and have NO concept of money it seemed like the best plan.  Bryan and I were still feeling so guilty about the whole incident and had observed her change throughout the whole process.  After the second incident, the sledding one, Emily wouldn't smile at anyone and was so embarrassed about her tooth.  The ice had pushed her tooth up and sideways into her gums and many people had been innocently asking her about it.  It saddened our hearts to watch such a young child be embarrassed about her looks.  She would constantly ask why her tooth was different and wanted the tooth fairy to come take it away.  So on this morning when the tooth was finally gone and in it's place was this beautiful mermaid ensemble we were happy so see this gleeful grin smiling back at us...

more Valentines prep...

While the boys were still sick and Emily was feeling a little better so I conjured up a craft for her to do while I toted around both boys.

I always have a few baby food jars of food around the house since I always buy each type first, try it out and make sure Charlie has no allergies, then I whip up a few batches of homemade baby food.  We rinse out the jars and they made for perfect snow globes.  Then I went to Michaels and bought some glittery hearts and glitter to fill them with.  Emily is very methodical when it comes to activities like this...each and every scoop was just precise...

When she was all done she knew exactly who she had made them for and it was definitely not me.  The lucky recepients were Cousin Alison and Grandma Emily.  Oh...and the beautiful princess dress she is wearing is a new favorite.  It's her flower girl dress from Auntie Jenny's wedding.  Why it took me a year to think of letting her play with it is beyond me.  It was just gathering dust in the closet and it seemed pretty silly to keep a very spendy dress as closet decor.

Sew...

When I first borrowed my mom's sewing machine about a year and a half ago, a friend told me to be sure to take a picture of EVERYTHING that I made.  I have done my best but I have to admit that I haven't remembered to take one picture since Charlie was born.  My sewing has definitely slowed down but I have still been making a few things here and there.

For Christmas my sister asked me to make her a few things.  I forgot to take a picture of the holiday towels I made for her (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter and Fourth of July) but I did get a few of the banner and square table runner.  The following pictures are pretty shabby but that is what happens when you take pictures in the late evening hours in a house that has poor lighting to begin with...

 (sorry for the crude picture again but I couldn't forget to include this masterpiece)...

These shirts from the Polar Bear Swim...

 I went crazy buying up as many t-shirts as I could carry to the counter the other day at Old Navy.  At $3 a piece you can never go wrong. I am really struggling with Emily transitioning from a 5T into the "big girl" section of Old Navy, Target and The GAP. I am consistantly challenged to find appropriate clothing for her that is still affordable.  Lately I have been doctoring up these plain t-shirts and making all of her dresses for her...

 These are the first pair of pants I have ever made.  I used a pair of sweat pants that he just out grew as a template and went to work.  They definitely aren't perfect but they are comfy and I love the little patches on the knees...

 Emily has been a ballerina lately so it was time for a new tutu.  She picked out the tulle and then helped me cut all of the strips to make a matching one for her baby Sophie...

I have a few more projects underway but I am finding it hard to find time to finish them up lately!

fresh air...

Last Saturday it was finally nice outside and the kids were just starting to feel a little better so we decided that we could all use a little fresh air.  We took them to my favorite childhood park in Anacortes.  As a kid we camped here several times a year, spent almost every weekend at the boat launch before heading out on the bay and spent summer days here picnicing and looking at tide pools. Some of my favorite memories are at this park so it was so much fun to add this day amoungst them.

The views from the trail are a.m.a.z.i.n.g but they defintiely come with hard work.  The trail is a steep steady climb and with both of us pushing 50 plus pounds up the hills it was definitely a workout.  Long gone are the days where I could run the trail...I was just happy to make it to the top still breathing.

About 1 mile into the walk we stopped to feed Charlie and take in the first view and get a few pictures...

 

When we finally made it to the top I have to admit that I was a little exhausted but one glance at the islands surrounding us made it all worth while...

what to do when your babies are sick...

...let them swing in the baby swing.  They can't do any more damage to it at this point anyway...

...check the mail for special gifts from Auntie Jenny...

...watch them smile inspite all of that drool, watery eyes and runny noses...

...cuddle each other and feel their love...

...let them explore and make messes...

...feel the joy a few Cheerios can bring...

...remember the few moments they are smiling through it all...

...make every meal a picnic...

We are finally healthy again after a two week long battle with this yucky stuff.  Emily brought it home from preschool, Charlie got it right after his eye incident and gradually Jack got it as well.  Poor Charlie and Jack had fevers for over four days.  When I went to put Jack's pants on after a week of being sick they just slid right back off.  If this were Charlie or Emily I wouldn't have worried so much but Jack doesn't have an inch to spare to begin with.  He has gradually been eating this week and they all seem to be feeling a lot better.  Emily is SO happy to be back at preschool with all of her friends and I am happy to be back into our regular routines.  Two weeks with little to no sleep was getting the best of me.  Thankfully my amazing husband sent me to The Chrysalis Spa for a full day of pampering.  I felt incredibly guilty for leaving the kids for a day to do something like this for myself, especially knowing that my husband probably needed a day as much as I did.  I have to admit  that it was one of the most wonderful experiences ever and I felt rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to get back to my family.