Pop On Over

A 'Hey!  I like your holiday lights!!' text turned invitation to pop over for a cup of cocoa brought Kelli & Megan across the street this afternoon.  Channing kept asking, 'Are they almost?' as I set out coffee cups both big and small awaiting the arrival of our friends and neighbors.

This is the 'take my picture while I'm waiting' post.  It exudes boredom, does it not?

Didn't notice until posting this photo that it's color coordinated in its layout.  Ha!

Kelli was too happy to wrap her hands around her steaming mug.  Channing and Megan were even happier with their VIP seating next to the Christmas tree.  Watching the two of them trying to get the whipped cream out of their mugs while sipping their chocolate was highly entertaining.  It may have involved a spill or two.  Neither of us mamas minded though.  It was a small price to pay for a couple of hours to catch up on all that life has offered up these past few weeks.  

'It was her opinion that true merriment required good hot chocolate...' 

-Curly Girl  

How true.  How very, very true.

Super

Yesterday, we attended a birthday party at the home of Super Megan, Channing's sweet little girlfriend who lives across the street.  She's adorable, as in he absolutely adores her.  

Jim & Kelly had Super Suits ready for all the party guests.
Kelly sewed the capes.  Jim made the masks and wall plaques.  A-mazing!

Every Super Girl needs a birthday smooch.  She sure does.

Even Captain Channing holds Daddy's hand when crossing the street.  

When we received the invitation, there was no hesitation on my part.  Super Megan needed a likeness of herself.  I whipped out the pattern for the Sophie Doll and turned her into this:

See. I told you I had good things to share.  Surprise #1 revealed.  

Catch Up

It's time to bring you all up to speed.  Posts have been started and stored and started and stored. I have no less than five draft posts hidden on the back pages of Fresh Picked.  The thing is, we've been busy.  Frantically busy, but in the best of ways.  

This mama has been stretching her creative wings yet again.  There was another fall wreath.  Newer.  Brighter.  Highly improved and perhaps a bit spooky in anticipation of Halloween.  However, the idea of using a pool noodle and duct tape to make the form.... Not the best.  The wreath looks more like a coma now and has been tossed in the closet until there is time to find a way to make it round once more.  Suggestions anyone??


Slippers.  Mary introduced me to ithinksew.  For $3 I downloaded the pattern for these:

Don't my feet look sweet?  Love them!


There are two super secret birthday projects that will have to be revealed at a later date.  Let's just say, I am proud enough of these to toot my own horn.  Loudly.  Very loudly.  They rock.  I'm so excited to give them to the recipients.  Anderson.  Megan.  Get ready!


Play dates.  Three have been photographed.  There have been more.  The kind where smiles abound, laughter rings out and hearts feel light when all is said and done.  


Kelli sent a quick text to the effect of-park:  5 minutes.  Let's go.  We went.  

Kendra, Libby, Channing & I made good on last fall's promise of a trip to the apple orchard.  It took a year, but was worth the wait.  We came home with a half peck of apples that quickly found their way into an apple crisp.  Channing tried adding raspberries, blueberries and strawberries too.  I'm an apple crisp purist.  No berries, please and thank you.  

More recently, Mary, Collin, Kiera & I braved the threat of rain for a wet morning in the park.  Mary and I delighted in the antics of Monkey See, Collin, and Monkey Do, Channing.  Kiera thought the boys were pretty amusing too.

It's been a little crazy.  It's been a little nuts.  But only in the best of ways.  Tonight, we've a daddy date on tap.  Not sure of the exact plan.  It will involve my two best guys, the ones I'm so proud to call husband and son.  


Happy Friday to you all.  Mine certainly is.  

Sew Lovely

It happened almost all at once.  One timid knock at our door announced the arrival of Melissa and Baby Theo.  Really, I don't think she could have balanced one more thing in her hands-a sewing machine and all its related necessities, Theo in his car seat, his diaper bag.  Is that it?  I don't know.  I didn't even say hello, just scolded her for not asking for a hand.  Funny because I know darn well had roles been reversed, I would have lugged all of that to the door on my own too.

Kathy, Kelli & Megan arrived in the middle.  I no longer recall in what order.  They brought their machines as well.  A sewing basket.  A purse that looked like a basket.  Five steaming cups of tasty goodness from Caribou Coffee.  Pumpkin latte anyone?


Ellen, not having been to 'the red house on the left,' was the last to arrive.  Mapquest, Google Maps and the like do not yet know our location.  That's OK though.  I talked her in through the last few blocks via cellphone and at last our group was assembled.  Sewing Club.  (Since a GPS cannot find our location on a map, does that make our club super secret?)

Month one.  Aprons.  In roughly three hours, five determined women with all levels of sewing ability whipped up as many aprons.  The tutorial we followed can be found here.  Theo napped & awoke as happy as ever while Channing & Megan entertained themselves with only a few reminders of 'please share' and 'no pushing' or 'there are enough for you to each have one.'

Can't wait to see what our next meeting brings.  We'll be taking turns choosing the project and bringing the treat.  You know we can't get together without involving food.  I made not one but two apple crisps for our first meeting.  WM, WC & I ate a mini one last night just to make sure the crisp was Sewing Club worthy.  It was.


Darling, aren't they?  

Or should I say 'sew cute!'?  

Toasty

The warm, crackling fire aside, last night left us all feeling warm and toasty.  It's been fall-ish around here this week.  The furnace has been turned on to ward off the morning chill.  A new wreath has joined the fall floral display gracing the front entry.  With daytime temps in the mid-50s, summer has definitely bid us a fond farewell.

This was Friday's nap time activity for me.  

Late-fall birthdays for little ones can be difficult.  It is often too early for winter related outdoor toys, sleds and the like.  Similarly, it is too late for summer toys.  That season has definitely passed us by.  When Channing recently and quickly took to riding his already too small but with pedals tricycle, it was easy to justify the purchase of a big guy bike with training wheels.  Why not get it now when he has the rest of September and most of October to enjoy it, rather than wait until his birthday when it would sit, all boxed up, in the garage until spring.  

 Channing and I had just finished the bike assembly when WM rolled into the driveway, done with yet another long but rewarding week at work.  (Yes, that sounds cheesy, but he really and truly does like his job.  Really.)  He helped us make a few minor adjustments.  Yes, I'd put on the training wheels, but I'd neglected to adjust the height so the back tire actually touched the ground when Channing pedaled.  

Helmet donned, Channing was off, floating like a Cadillac and stinging like a Beemer (watch Cars much anyone?), as he cruised up and down the sidewalk in front of our house.  WM was not far behind.  Channing had yet to master the brakes on the new bike and occasionally got 'stuck' when he tried to pedal backwards.  It was a little frustrating for him at first.  Despite that, he was almost all smiles.

With the evening air getting cooler and cooler, the portable fire pit was pulled out of the garage.  A warming up spot was established in the middle of our driveway.  WM poked his head in the front door as I was putting dinner on the stove.  Any chance we could have our dinner outdoors?  Absolutely!  Fresh air was not on the original ingredient list for my chicken and dumpling recipe, but it certainly was the one that made it taste a little better than usual.

Ha.  We were pretending to be, as Channing puts it, 'all shivery.'

Our neighbors, Jim, Kelli & Megan, arrived home as we were indulging in our last bites.  Channing excitedly yelled to them, 'Do you want a marshmallow with me?'  They hastily added extra layers of clothing and joined us.  They stayed just long enough for a marshmallow or two, Megan's bedtime calling them home once more.  

We lingered, enjoying our evening as darkness wrapped around us like a thick, cozy blanket.   It was thoroughly enjoyable, this bike build turned picnic turned marshmallow roast.  When we finally turned off the light and kissed each other goodnight, we agreed.  It was a bliss-filled evening, one that left us satisfied.  Our bellies and our hearts were full.