Happy Birthday To You

Seleia Vaughn finished her ninth trip around the sun today! She wore her birthday crown everywhere we went and beamed from ear to ear. My favorite quote of the day...other than the 35 "you are the BEST!" exclamations, of course...was, "I'm just so overflowing with joy I think I'm going to explode!!"

We love you, young lady, more than anything.

Happy, happy ninth birthday, Seleia!! And many more!

Beauty School

OH SO MANY pictures of beaming little ladies being pampered and feeling beautiful! For Emma's 11th birthday (Which I can't get over because I swear just yesterday she was 3 years old!) her mother had a stroke of genius and held her party at Elite School of Beauty. Hairdos and pretty nails for everybody! There were curls and glitter galore by the time these beaming girls were through.  Amarra wasn't sure at first, but then finally consented to getting her hair done if I stayed by her and, and she kept her (security) sunglasses on. By the time they needed to take the shades off she was having a grand ol' time, with 2 girls working on her hair and gushing about how gorgeous it was. Even Dash had fun playing footsie with Elora until Emma decided to take him for a walk around the salon and turn him into a bit of a party mascot. He kinda liked that, too.
For her birthday I made Miss Emma a fun little adjustable apron, and was pleased that it was a hit. She looked ever so fabulous, sporting it for the rest of the party. (And Shonna had fun bonding with Dashiell.  Best way to win over a baby and make him come to you? Give him a bite of cake every time he does. It was terrible and hilarious all rolled into one.)

Happy birthday, Emma!  We love you!

Sweater Sleeve Leg Warmers

I keep eyeing these leg warmers made from sweater sleeves on Pinterest (and on my sister) and finally decided to make a pair from one of Seleia's old sweaters I've had lying around. Start to finish I think it took about a minute.  I am almost ashamed of myself for not having made these before! You cut the sweater sleeves off and sew a tiny hem on the cut edge. This becomes the bottom of your leg warmer.  TA-DA! You're done. I've worn them about three times now (translation:every chance I get) and have gotten quite the comments and compliments. Seleia and I are headed to Goodwill this weekend in search of: OLD SWEATERS! We'll be pumping out hats, leg warmers, mittens, purses and pillows from them by next week. Who can't love something so simple and fun?

Bath Time

This kid really, really loves his tub and duckies.

Cider Pressing Day!

Apple cider pressing day is one of our favorite days!
We are so fortunate to live just a few miles from Cedar Creek Grist Mill, and tend to head up there every few months for tours, butter churning day, to get our cornmeal ground...you name it! The best (and busiest!) day, though, is the day we make apple cider! The volunteers at the grist mill bring in 8,000 pounds of apples and always run out by early afternoon. And that is with a limit of 2 quarts per adult!  We like to show up at opening time (8am) and we still tend to park at least a quarter mile away and wait in line for the cider for at least 1/2 hour. Let me say, though, that you could NOT ask for a better place to be waiting around! The mill is beautiful, the trees are breathtaking, the salmon are spawning in the river below (We wait in line on an old fashioned covered bridge. It doesn't get better than that, folks.) and everyone is excited to be there.  We always meet new and interesting people in line and have a great time hanging out, even if it is 35 degrees outside.
After we get our cider we head on inside to...make more cider! The girls throw their gloves on and start chopping and pressing their little hearts out. Most kids really like the chopping bit, but Elora is all about the pressing. You take a piece of wood and use it to turn the press in increments, separating the juice from the pulp.  It is hard work and she just goes to town. After working hard to press the apples, everyone gets rewarded out back with cakes, cookies, a bluegrass band (yeah, Dad, you'd love it) and the best view around.
Now we just have to wait until next year!

Words of Wisdom

From the elevator door at the girls' theater school.  I love it.

Tooth Fairy Business

MOM: "You know, Elora, you really need to pull that tooth. The one behind it is starting to grow in."

ELORA: "Nah. It's okay."

MOM: "Can I wiggle it to see how loose it is?"

ELORA: "Okay, but just for a second."

M: *FLICK*

E: "WHAT HAPPENED?"

M: "Here's your tooth."

E:"WHERE?"

M: "In my hand. Check it out."

E: *Pauses.  Gapes at newly removed tooth.*
     "MOM!" You TRICKED ME!!"
     *hysterical laughter*
     *Good one, Mom.  Don't forget to be the Tooth Fairy tonight."

M: "I won't.  I promise."

Wondertwin Powers: Activate!

Between the cute baby in the mirror and the awesome blanket/cape, Dashiell kept himself pretty well entertained while Mama cleaned up and folded the laundry. That is, until I wouldn't give him a turn with the camera. No, worries, though...he got over it pretty quickly when he saw that boy in the mirror again.  :)