Georgia: "Go Cubs!!"

Friday night, Georgia went to her first major league baseball game - Chicago Cubs v. Cincinnati Reds. Grandad, Supernana, Uncle Matt & Andrew came down and took Brian & G to the game. She had a GREAT time! Who won? "The Cubbies!" said Georgia.

When she came home, I asked her what she liked the most about the game. Her answer: "Yelling." She was able to yell as loudly and as much as she wanted, which was a lot.

As you can see from these photos, she plugged her ears the entire game.

Special thanks to Grandad and Nana for arranging and treating her to this fun experience.

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Georgia and I escaped the unseasonable heat with a daytrip to the North. Well, to Columbus. We spent several hours at the zoo and had a great time. It was Georgia's first trip to that particular zoo and it was a bit different from our local zoo. The biggest difference is how much closer you can get to the animals, which you can see from some of the photos below. Oh, and they have more animal scultures that beg to be climbed by small children.

Crafty Delights

Yesterday was the Craftin' Outlaws Art/Craft Fair in Columbus. Brian drove up in the morning and Stacy picked me up so we could enjoy a child-free day out. We had a lot of fun but both agreed on the way home that we missed our children!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support Brian, especially Matt, who helped Brian set up and stayed at the table for the first 6 hours. Also, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for entertaining G for a long, long day.

Georgia was the big winner at the craft show. She received a new belt (pink with tiny black skulls), hand painted/drawn Mary Janes (pictured below) and a polymer clay charm necklace.

Inspired by the craft fair, I bought fabric and an actual pattern (despite the fact that I loathe the crinkly pattern papers) for pajamas and managed to sew a pair of pants for G. Here she is modeling them.

Have a great week everyone!!

First Day of School!!

G is attending preschool 3 days a week (TWR) and is loving every minute of it! Here are some pictures from the first day.

Clothespin Dolls

Georgia & I spent a fun morning making dolls from old-fashioned clothespins (actually, they are fittingly called doll pins but they look like clothespins). As usual, G had a blast crafting.

With just a few doll pins, Sharpie markers fabric scraps, and a glue stick, we made these 7 beauties.

Batman!

Brian rescued us from the grips of a bat this week. It flew in one night and after a fearful and intense (to say the least!) 12 hours, we all packed up and headed across town for a short stay with Grandma and Grandpa. Brian came home last night ready to meet a professional bat catcher (not his title but close enough) and managed to wrangle the bat outside and set him free to the night. Most likely, to haunt me for the rest of my days.

Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat

She's famous!!

The quilt that Grandma Judy made for Georgia is on the world wide web!

Take a look! Scroll on down to the U section - Judy Urban.
http://www.amisimms.com/yourtwissis.html

Upcoming Event for Brian's Artwork

On September 15, Brian is participating in an "alternative craft fair" at Skully's Music Diner in Columbus's Short North neighborhood. His wares will be displayed and for sale alongside other artists' work.

http://www.craftinoutlaws.com/

If you are in C-Bus that day, drop by and say "hello!"

Another Photo of G's Quilt

Weekend

This afternoon we spent some time over at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Grandma surprised us by having completed Georgia's bed quilt. It is completely adorable and we all love it. THANKS SO MUCH!!!

Yesterday, the Burgoons went to Columbus to visit grandparents and we took care of their dog Bailey at our house. What a sweetie!! Here is a photo of Bailey resting, one of the few moments Georgia left him alone. Thanks to the 'Goons for letting us spend some time with their terrific pup!

Finally...G's class photo

Just in time for the upcoming school year!

Tennis anyone?

Georgia spent a big part of yesterday with her Daddy and this included a trip to the Goodwill where they found her first tennis racket (brand new)!! She is eager to get out and hit some tennis balls.

Welcome, Dorothy!

Mo went back to live with Uncle Matt for awhile so we decided to try our hand at taking care of a fish (again). Georgia is now the proud master to a red male beta fish named Dorothy, after Elmo's goldfish, not her great-grandmother. These photos were taken post-nap, which explains G's sweat-drenched, matted, extra-curly hair.

Georgia's Quote of the Day

"Pie pie pie! I like pie! I like butter! I like sugar!" She said this as she watched "Marfa" (Stewart, of course) prepare and bake a blueberry pie.




Here is our attempt, my first at a traditional homemade crust. I usually choose a crust that you just press into the pan.

I gave it a go. I think it will taste good, even if it is not the most beautiful pie ever baked!

Today, G and I picked up Tante in Wilmington and met Aunt Kathy at a park in Powell to play at the Splash Pad. We were able to enjoy the park for almost an hour, until it was shut down due to a predicted thunderstorm. We chose to wait it out under the theater roof, where we met another 3-year old, Gaby, and her father. The girls ran around the stage and got to know each other. We all gave up after about an hour, though, when the rain started to fall in earnest. We spent the rest of the afternoon at Tuttle Mall where G climbed around on the space-themed children's area. She had a great, great time. When we picked Brian up from work, she said, "Daddy, I had so much fun today!"

Puppet Show!

With some aid from Martha Stewart and her new Michaels craft line, G & I created some puppets today. Clearly, the bird and lion were made from some of Martha's kits, but we took inspiration from the enclosed instructions to make two pigs (a baby and a daddy who wears glasses), a bunny, and a monkey.

Happy Independence Day!

Apparently, G is celebrating freedom from clothing!

This morning, we were watching Venus Williams eventually beat Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon and G said, unprompted, "When I grown up I want to be a tennis-er." Brian's heart swelled with joy, as he had already decided that a tennis scolarship will send G to college.

Cardboard Castle

We went to Learning Express (www.learningexpress.com) after G's appointment with the dermatologist. She enjoyed playing with the castle at the store, so I bought some of the figures/dolls and made this castle out of a cardboard box.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Boxcastle.shtml
I plan to paint it and make it a little more authentic-looking.

Mo

My Aunt Joann gave us these beautiful quilts that quickly became Mo's favorite sleeping spot (only temporarily - she is now using a fleece blanket.)
Also, here is a picture of Mo

getting a little L-O-V-E from G.
Poor, poor Kitty.

Summer

Here are some photos of G enjoying the beautiful summer weather.