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Back to School: The Bag

Believe it or not!  We are looking at just 24 days until Georgia starts 1st grade!! It is hard to believe that the summer has gone so fast.  August is a busy month for our family.  This weekend, we are traveling to Chicago with Tante.  The following weekend we will visit with the Burgoons at Young's Dairy in Yellow Springs as they come to OH to celebrate Stacy's sister's baby-on-the-way.  On two Saturdays, I am taking a sewing class at Sew To Speak in Columbus, so Brian and Georgia will likely come along with me those days and spend some time with Granddad and Nana, maybe at the pool, zoo or COSI.  B&G will also take in a MLB game and we will likely all do some back-to-school shopping.  And, of course, the all important First Day of School is Wednesday, August 25.

Earlier this week, Georgia and I chose these chocolate brown corduroy fabrics (with pink and blue polka dots to match her winter coat and lunch bag) for her new messenger-style school bag.  The lining fabric is a fun calico polka dot print that I surprised her with. I used the basic instructions for a purse that I've made and just adjusted some of the measurements so it was sized appropriately for a 6 year old. Georgia was thrilled with it and I have to admit that I am pretty happy with it as well.  It's not perfect, of course, but we can both live with that!

New Skirt for Georgia

I am so pleased with how this skirt turned out!  I bought some beautiful strawberry print fabric with the intention of  making the Oliver & S. Music Class skirt for Georgia.  I wanted to make sure I could do it so yesterday G & I went to Joann to buy fabric so I could practice.  She chose this really great fabric and ta-da!  I was able to do it!  She was so excited this morning to see it on a hanger, waiting for her to wear it.  Next up: the strawberry print skirt!



(I am not sure what is going on with Georgia's hair in this photo!  Obviously, we had not brushed it yet.!)

Edited Wednesday, July 21: I finished the strawberry print skirt and Georgia wore it yesterday.  I love both skirts.  It feels good, after a lot of misfires in the sewing room, to have made something successfully!  The whole pattern only takes 3/4 yard of fabric + 20" (for G's waist) of elastic.  It's a great pattern!

Summer Update

Summer vacation is nearing it's end.  Today we stopped into Graeter's to help celebrate their 140th anniversary with a single dip cone for $1.40.  They have these masks to help promote the new Cats & Dogs movie.  We are trying to enjoy the rest of our summer (just 38 days until school starts) by getting outside when it isn't scorching hot (as it has been for the last few weeks).  We also take advantage of the great free activities at the library as well as Bookworm Wednesdays at a local movie theater (do a book report - see a movie for free).  We are trying to keep up with Georgia's budding reading skills.  She is doing really well. This past weekend we went to Granddad and Nana's pool.  Georgia loved it, especially the big slide.  We hope to go up again before the season ends.

Drama Camp Showcase

Georgia's week-long drama camp came to a close yesterday with a group performance to show parents what the kids have learned all week. We enjoyed it so much and are so pleased that her grandparents were able to come with us. Georgia had a speaking part in an acting sketch and she was one of the best of the group. She remembered her lines and spoke clearly and loudly enough for the audience to hear. She loved being a lion in the circus sketch. They did some movement/dance with ropes and played their drums (the one craft from the week). At the end, each child came out and said their name, age and what they'd like to be when they grow up. Again, Georgia said her piece very clearly and confidently. She wants to be a vet star, by the way.

I think Georgia was lukewarm about the whole experience. Although we never had to force her to go to camp during the week, she said her favorite part of the whole thing was "going home" and that she wished they'd done more arts and crafts. I don't think she would choose this camp again, which is fine.

Drah-ma!!

Drama camp, that is.  She had a great time this morning. 

Very few details for me as there is a "showcase" on Friday...

First Birthday Gift!

Oh, and it's a good one! Stacy sent this HANDMADE hat along with some adorable pot holders. This is a rarity - a photo of me (taken by me because Georgia was too distracted by a craft) - but the hat makes this sacrifice worthwhile!  I love it!  Thank you, Stacy!!!

She used this Amy Butler pattern: http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=28

Summer!!

NOTE: I started writing this post over the weekend and planned to load it up with photos from our first few weeks of summer. Unfortunately, we had a mishap while importing photos (I'm still trying to come to grips with it being user error and not the fault of the computer!) and I lost every photo taken since Memorial Day. So this is the post with just a few photos taken yesterday. I am going to make an effort to take more photos and post more often. That's all.

August 25 is quickly approaching - only 70 more days! - so we are trying to make the most of our summer. Georgia and I have laid low the past 2 weeks, enjoying the quiet of being at home.

We are trying to take advantage of many of the great free programs offered by the publilc library. In addition to participating in the summer reading program, last week Georgia attended a special storytime with a guest storyteller who also did face-painting, a Lego party, and a special program (put on by an actor in the Children's Theater) about Tom Sawyer & Mark Twain. This week we will attend a special performance of Alice in Wonderland and possibly reading of Shrek. It has been fun to get out of our neighborhood and explore other libraries. We have a full schedule that will take us through the summer, including tea parties (American Girl and Fancy Nancy) and a performance of Alice in Wonderland. 

Last Friday night, we went to the zoo for Brian's work picnic. It was fun to go again, as we'd not been there for awhile. They've really upgraded some of the facilities and it was really nice to be there after hours during a private event, with only coworkers and families from work. With so few people there, we were able to get up close to the more popular exhibits like the manatee tank and not have to fight the crowds. We had an interesting incident with a family of peacocks. Peacocks roam freely at the zoo and we came upon 2 males with their beautiful feathers out on display. Then we saw a mother peacock with 2 or 3 chicks. We stood still as they crossed in front of us. A male came behind them and we assumed he was the father/mate for the chicks/female. Again, we stood still and quietly. Suddenly, the male/father puffed up some feathers and shook them at us (and the other families watching) as if to say, "Back off...this is my famiily." Needless to say, Georgia was freaked out! Not a story she likes to hear or tell.

This was Georgia in the late afternoon yesterday after spending the day at her grandparents' house with them and Tante. 

Tucker got a serious haircut a few weeks ago!  His fur is not the soft smooth kind that many dogs have.  It is coarse and heavy, almost like wool.  We've begun taking him to the dog park and as the days and nights have heated up, we realized how hot he must be.  So we took him to a new groomer and got him shaved down and trimmed.  Boy, did he look tiny when we picked him up!  We think he loves his new 'do.  He seems so much cooler and more energetic.  We kept the beard, though.  It was too cute too lose!

Last Day of School!!!!

Good Morning, Daddy!

This is the photo we texted to Brian in Seattle this morning.  We've not talked to him yet.  Today is the day of the poster show.  We wish him great luck and hope he has a great time!!

Spring photos of the house

Seattle-Bound!!

Brian is pleased and honored to have been invited to participate in a prestigious poster exhibition hosted by Pearl Jam's official fan organization, the Ten Club.  He will head to Seattle this weekend for a whirlwind trip where he will attend the event to show and sell his posters.

You can read more about the poster show here:

http://pearljam.com/news/notable-poster-artists-showcase-seattle-s-showbox-market

Gift for Mrs. Fields

This is our goodbye/thank you gift for Georgia's teacher.  For the center, I printed a worksheet and Georgia traced the letters with a fabric marker. 

More Photos of the Cinderella Tea Party

Prince Charming, Cinderella and Georgia

Gus Gus and Georgia

Work in Progress

I am working on a quilt for our bed and I have one side of it done.  I have plans to make another top for the back of the quilt so we can have 2 quilts in 1!  We will see if that actually happens. 

I am happy with this quilt so far, a modified version of this quilt.  I do still need to trim some length off of the sides, but besides that, the top is pretty much finished.

In addition to a linen/rayon blend from Joann, I used a jelly roll of Amy Butler's very beautiful Love fabric.

Funny coincindence: I chose the fabric scheme after doing some online research, THEN realized that the quilt would coordinate perfectly with the decorative pillow (that, unfortunately, you cannot see in these photos) that Stacy made me for Christmas!  Guess it was meant to be.

Thanks to Stacy for sharing the pattern from the Moda Bake Shop with me.  I wouldn't have found it on my own since prior to making this quilt, I did not regularly look at that site.  

Cinderella Tea + Play

This weekend, Georgia and I spent Saturday afternoon with Tante and Grandma.  We attended a very special Cinderella Tea Party followed by a production of the Cinderella musical at a local high school.  It was a very sweet event.  Georgia was so excited and had a wonderful time.  She ate lots of yummy sweets, made a friend at our table, won a door prize/raffle of sorts ("I won!  I won!" - an acrylic "glass" slipper decoration) and loved the play.  It was a great afternoon, all orchestrated by Tante, and a wonderful way to spend Mothers Day together.  Unfortunately, Aunt Kathy and Nana weren't able to come due to prior commitments but we will celebrate with them another time. 

Thanks again to Tante, for arranging a great day.  I think Georgia will remember it fondly.

Posing for her public...

Sorry for the lack of posts.  We've misplaced our camera.  This was from a cell phone so not the best quality.  But funny.

Spring Photo

A "Wild" Night

Yesterday we drove up for a special "members only" evening at the zoo. It was a great time. After a quick turn through the aquatic buildings then playing for nearly an hour at the "bug park" playground, Georgia chose to go into the lorikeet habitat first where we fed the birds some sugar water.

The birds were positively ravenous! Brian had

FIVE birds on him at one point!  

Can't you just see how happy he was about that??

After feeding the lorikeets, we headed to the kangaroo habitat. There, Georgia stood within about a foot of a kangaroo munching on some clover.

Next we saw the komodo dragons. Brian and Georgia are loving the Discovery Channel series Life right now and just saw a piece about the komodo so they were very excited to see one up close.

He/she is ugly.

We made our way around and saw sea otters (so cute!), colobus monkeys, a cheetah, orangutans, gorillas, and the beautiful okapi.

After a spin on the carousel...

...we checked in on the penguins.  Most were "chilling" indoors
but this little guy happily swam back and forth alone.

After the zoo, we met Grandad and Nana at
Jeni’s for ice cream. Delicious! 

Thanks for treating, Grandad and Nana!
It was great to visit with you guys! 

Sidenote: Brian just learned that a nearby coffee shop
now carries our beloved Jeni’s ice cream
in pints!  We are so excited!

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to Carter & Stacy!!  Yesterday, the big man turned 6 and Stacy's turns 35 today!  They celebrated their special days with an overnight in the Windy City!  We hope it is/was great fun!