I've Been Busy

I love planning and creating. My crafting is such an outlet for me. When my brain just needs to turn off, and i don't want to think about school anymore or think about all the house work, i slip downstairs and create.

Jaely wanted to be a butterfly, but she is such a little scientist and reads a monarch butterfly book all the time, the store bought ones were not very realistic. I found this idea online and kites are very cheap, so we tried it. Now, Jaely can act like she is flying.
The kiteI cut it up the middle and sewed it to the back of her hoodie. We have a pair of antennae and black gloves. Kind of a lame costume, but i think she will be excited about it. I should take lame and simple while i can!I have been working on Camryn's birthday stuff. I wanted it to be comparable to Jaelynne's first birthday. The only problem is now i am working full time and have two kids as opposed to being a stay- at-home mom with one. I am trying for you, girl!
A Hungry Caterpillar with her monthly photos on it. . .The invitationsA bookmark the kids are going to make at her party with their fingerprints and names. We are also going to have coloring and painting in the basement. Our basement is far from finished, but we needed more room for all the people and the Very Hungry Caterpillar just screams art activities!
We will see if i can pull this all off. I also made streamers out of tissue paper circles and my sewing machine.

I am well past tired. And i can tell by the writing. Time for me to go.

Glen Arbor

It seemed like ages ago that we ventured up to Glen Arbor for a long weekend. And the catch up that happened with our sleep quickly vanished upon our return, but it was a wonderful, beautiful, restful kind of weekend, full of complete conversations, quiet evenings and meals, soaks in the big tub, and shopping for hours at a time. The whole weekend was full of sunshine and fall colors. Our condo was up so high and on the side of a hill that when you looked out the windows, we were level with the tree tops. It was the cutest, cleanest condo.

It was so good to see my step-brother and step-sister. I am so proud of my step-brother. He always seems to have such a good head on his shoulders. It was great that i was able to watch him get married.

We rode the chairlifts up to the ceremony and so did the bride. It was beautiful. The ceremony was at the top of the ski hill overlooking Lake Michigan.





The Lodge was absolutely warm and inviting with flickering candlelight and beautiful center pieces of fall colored roses in pumpkins. TJ and i were a little surpised that we sat at table number 1 with Mike's mom, my step-sister and her husband and Mike's step-dad, but i realized that we are family and Mike doesn't have many family members on his side. George didn't come.



Married!
Back at the condo. . . i should have combed my hair before this picture!Loved, loved, loved this!


We were out and about in Traverse all day. It was FANTASTIC! This is at the Green House Cafe. Basically we ate early so we could eat a late, big dinner at Poppycocks! We like our food!
A big thank you to Lori and Gail for watching the girls and making so many memories with them. We were totally at peace knowing our girls were getting taken care of so well.

Mom

I am having a difficult day. It would have been my mom's birthday today. I am having the hardest time as i snuggle with my girl or hear them giggle. She should have been able to experience being a grandma and my girls should have been able to know her. Jaely called her Nammy tonight to tell her about trying to put her shoes over her footed monkey jammies and saying in frustration "arg. this is driving me nuts." I would have loved to hear those conversations between Jaely and my mom.

There are just so many moments that i wish she could have been a part of. . .

I miss her. Some days are harder than others. . . this just happens to be a difficult one.