I've been sewing up a storm

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to make a lot of shorts for the girls after getting rid of their outgrown clothes. They don't have shorts, and not a lot of pants. Pants is a bit of an issue especially for K. She is full on the waist so I have gone to buying size 8 and 10 pants. Of course they are too long, and he waist is either too tight or too loose.

I bought some patterns and got to cutting. I cut 8 pairs of shorts (some for the boys too) and Capri pants and pants. The girls are size 7 on dresses that I've been making so I just instantly picked that size to cut. It turns out that's a little snug after I completed one pair. What was I to do ? Sew everything up and just barely to into them or make some sort of modification. I tried one modification by adding a strip on the side. It gave K some room but the height of the waist was just too low still. I will probably have to add a waist band to it.

The pants I purposely picked a bigger size. The pattern called for elastic but I chose to making shirring instead. When it was done Daddy said it looked like clown pants. I admit while my fabric choice looked great as a peasant dress, it was on the loud side for pants. But hey, I was just using fabric I already had. I horned out it looked great with understated tops. Because of the shirring it was fine that it was long because it wasn't in the way. These pants would definitely last a while.

The Capri pants was the same size as the shorts. Same issue with the size. I am pretty proud though because I just added the ruffles. Daddy said they looked like bell bottoms. The man is out of touch. Ruffles are girly. :)

I then bought a pattern for me. Shocker! Make something for me? I need a dress for my son's first communion in April. I bought fabric from a sewing buddy's stash (cheaper than retail) and got to work. It looks great, so says my online sewing group, but it needed fixing. The bodice is too loose. Why don't I try these things on before sewing?? It may be because I'm sewing for myself and that is a new experience. So now I get to use the seam ripper. Whoopie. When I love the idea of being able to correct a mistake, I hate using it!

On another note, the hearts fabric were on clearance when I bought them - so everything I make is such a saving. :)

This is a modified Jocole's Essential pants cut shorter than the capri length and then I made up the rest of the length with ruffles.

This is a modified Jocole's Essential pants cut to shorts length (length based on my daughter's measurement) with added ruffle and side panel.

This is Whimsy Couture's Jump around pants modified to have shirred legs instead of elastic. And below is my daughter wearing it.

This Sis Boom's (Scientific Seamstress) Jamie dress. I have a pear shape body and this worked out well and does not make me look pregnant. Always a plus. :)

My handsome little guys

Today is spring picture day at school, but only Big M has made it to school. J has been sick since Sunday night, and last night K had a fever. She doesn't act sick but I don't want the kids at school to come to my house and curse me for sending sick kids to school. 

Big M is the only that isn't sick and he is avoiding his brother and sisters like the plague. 

I can't believe my little baby will be 3 in a couple of weeks. He isn't a baby anymore.

And this guy? 8? For real? Smart, good looking, athletic...he will be a lady-killer.

Big M's 2nd grade science fair

Big M's science fair was a couple of days ago and he enjoyed it immensely. We only decided to enter the fair 2 weeks ago but with his project, it was only a matter of organizing and displaying them.

The title of his project was "Homegrown Crystals: How to Grow Your Own". He has been growing his own crystals from both store-bought kits and out of home ingredients. He had his natural crystals displayed, and the home-grown ones. There was a scientist for each grade who went around and talked to the kids about heir projects and asked a few questions. I stood by him but I did not talk. He answered all the questions by himself, but what impressed the person most was when Big M named all of his 15 or so collection of natural crystals without looking at he his poster board.

After the "interview" the kids were free to leave their presentation and look at the others. Big M grabbed his Cub Scout den leader and showed him the crystals. He also grabbed some of his friends but they were not too interested. Then he came back with girls and they stayed to hear him talk. What a charmer.

He then took he list of all the posters and methodically visited each one that had to do with rocks, minerals and crystals. He found a 5th grader who has grown geodes with he same process he grew his crystals. She talked to him about everything she has in her exhibit , which he knew about already. It didn't matter though. He just stood here and conversed with her. She told him where she bought her rocks and so now Big M has plans to go to the same place.

The science fair was a big hit for him. There was no competition to be 1st or 2nd place. Everyone received a ribbon for participating and afterward everyone enjoyed everyone else's projects. It was fun, it sparked the imagination and interest (at least this is true for Big M).

Kindergartener's were not allowed in the fair so Daddy and tr other kids stayed home. But I'm sure next year we will have to prepare 3 projects.

Failed weaning from Prevacid

After being on Prevacid twice a day for 3 months, I took Little M back to the gastro specialist last week. He is vastly improved and have gone from vomiting 6 days a week 2-3x/day to about 2x/week. We finally no longer have to travel with a little bucket and we couldn't be happier.

The follow up visit is to see if the medicine is working, and if it controlling the reflux to try and wean him off of it. The doctor decided it's time to try 1 pill a day for the next 2 weeks, and if that goes well to wean down to 1 pill every other day. From the financial stand point, this is excellent as it costs us $430 a month for this medicine. From a medical stand point, we are excited to think that maybe the reflux problem is behind us.

On the 2nd day of being on 1 Prevacid a day, Big M vomited. I couldn't decide whether it was due to other factors because he, his brother and sisters were running around outside when he stopped to throw up. The next day after that, he threw up in the morning again. At that time I was beginning to think it may not be a coincidence. That evening, he threw up again. By that time I am pretty sure it wasn't a coincidence. So we decided to go back to giving him the pill 2x a day. I think I might try a few more days back to 2 pills, and then try again with 1.

The doctor said it's perfectly fine for a 2-yr old to be on Prevacid for a few years, keeping in mind that we will try to wean him off 3x a year. The only time we would be concerned is if in about 3-5 years and he is still not controlled, he would start looking at why we can't wean him off.

Daddy and I are not as distraught as before when he was constantly vomiting, but we are still praying for the best. Thankfully he is growing well. Just a couple of days ago, Daddy noticed that Little M seemed taller. I didn't think anything of it, until the PJ I made for him over Christmas seemed a couple of inches shorter. In fact, he did get taller. He is now 3 ft tall, but still 31 lbs. He was 30 lbs about a year ago, but having grown taller it would explain why he hasn't gotten heavier.

recent pictures

Miss K with her new dress I made for her.

Daddy & Mini Me (Little M)

Daddy & 3 kids.

Little M was put on time out. "Again?," he asked. Yup. Again.

Happy Birthday, Big M!

How can it be that my eldest is 8 years old? It seems like yesterday I was still breastfeeding round the clock, and now we are having to take him to all sorts of after school activities, getting onto him about doing his homework, and now he is running away to class before we could even hug him goodbye. When you are a parent, time is both slow and fast.

Two weeks ago Daddy and I asked him what he would like for his birthday and he came back with a plan. He wanted a laser tag party and invite 20 of his friends. Yikes! I looked into a place and found that for $200 for a guest of 10 a use of a party room and 2 laser tag games are included. It's not as steep of a price from our previous parties, but I figured we can steer him away from a party. So with that in mind, I procrastinated booking the party. Actually, I don't need a plan to procrastinate but let's just let that slide.

But to make the long story short, at the last minute, I ended up booking the party and 15 guests were invited and 12 attended. There was an almost-catastrophe, which I am not solely responsible for, we invited a boy who is supposed to be Big M's best friend. Only we invited the wrong boy with the same name, and the real best friend was not invited at all. Thankfully, through amazing coincidence it was corrected and the best friend came!

Everyone had fun. Daddy and I divided and conquered. We had no idea that this age is the age at which parents started leaving their children at the party. But we were not entirely flabbergasted. Daddy joined in the game of laser tag, including J and K,  and watched all the boys. I stayed in the arcade with Little M and followed him around. Overall, the party was less of a stress than any other previous parties because the children are getting older.

Big M had tons of fun and we love that.

Dirty little pig wood carving

Daddy found his carving of a pig last week and Little M claimed it as his. He asked for it to be painted so I did. Big M gave me his input, especially about making it dirty.

So, let me introduce, Oinky. He is a pig who loves rolling in anything dirty. Little M takes him everywhere.

After posting this on Facebook, a frien from Canada wanted a whole family of them to be placed on her window. She also wanted a carving of an half beaver half kangaroo animal. I think Daddy just gt into business with me.