at home

with my bestie.

the christmas costumes :: Pan

I don't want to leave this little series hanging on any longer but supper is calling so we'll let the pictures speak for themselves today. 

home

A peek into our home.

Five people living in a two bedroom apartment is definitely not what we had in mind when we moved here last year, but it's what we have and today it wasn't all bad. So, a picture to remind myself, when we are long gone from this place, that there were good days too. Moments I enjoyed in this space and things that made me happy. 


*Also, I realize I never showed anymore (or any) of our paper christmas decorations and now the tree is down and most things are put away. The garland and bunting remain though, so there you have all you're getting for this year!  

the christmas costumes :: Luke Skywalker

If it wasn't apparent to us before, the affection in Ephram's heart for all things Star Wars, has confirmed that we are firmly in the land of 'boy'. 

We knew he was being gifted a light sabre from one the doting Aunts we spent Christmas with so there was no question when I decided to make costumes that Luke's tunic, belt, and boots needed to make an appearance as well. 

This one was SUPER simple to put together thanks to one of Rob's closet purges the week before. I removed the pocket (this was easily the most time consuming part of this costume - stitch ripping with a dull stitch ripper is painful!), shortened and hemmed the sleeves, cut off the collar and buttons and then hemmed up the front and around the back. Voila! Super simple. The belt was fashioned out of some old flannel and the leftover velcro from Wren's diapers. I had some loose ideas about how to make the boots so I went for it and, will wonders never cease, they worked! Slightly wonky and not totally what I was hoping for, but still, they worked! 

Luke isn't really Luke without his dad, Darth Vader, so I'm thinking maybe now a Rob-sized Vader cape is necessary. I'll keep you posted on that! 


*Until I saw how miserable my children look in these posts I was quite sure the costumes were hits. Now I'm not so sure. HA! 

the christmas costumes :: Wendy Moira Angela Darling

A theme emerges! We are big Peter Pan fans around here, obviously. It's rare that we get away with simply referring to the eldest Darling as 'Wendy', nope, this little stickler insists on Wendy Moira Angela Darling. Of course. She's serious about her Pan. 

I wasn't sure how Elin would react to this one. Blue is strictly for boys in her book, but she got it right away and has worn it consistently since Christmas morning. 

There is something impossibly cute about seeing her play in this floor length 'nightgown' (which is just from a super simple dress pattern that I lengthened). There's a hair bow too but I couldn't get a decent picture of it and truthfully, it's a little too big and too floppy and if it weren't for my self imposed rules for these projects I would have redone it right away. She hasn't noticed and I'm actually finding it quite peaceful to just let it go. 

the christmas costumes :: tink

With my fabric closet overflowing and our bank account not this Christmas I decided to make some new costumes for the dress up bin as this years stocking gifts. 

My rules were simple:

1. I had to use only what was on hand.

and

2. I couldn't let myself be stressed about any part of it; the prep, the construction, the 'accuracy' of the costume compared to the 'real' thing... nothing. 

And to my surprise, it worked! The costumes came together simply. Sure, the seams are unfinished and some of the stitches crooked, but they were fun to make and the kids love them. Success on all fronts I'd say. 

I'm going to spread these out over a few posts because the light is so dreadfully bad in here this morning. I apologize for the less than stellar pics, but for today's costume it'll do. 

This Tinkerbell costume is by far my favorite and I was sure it would be hers too, but she prefers tomorrow's feature so this photoshoot was short lived. I couldn't even get her to put the wings on, so this fairy is wingless... you get the idea though and I'm hoping that even if she doesn't warm to it, her sister will in the years to come. 

I used this tutorial and it came together in an evening. Instead of using grommets I sewed button holes into the back for the straps to be laced through. It came out smaller than I was expecting even using measurements adjusted to Elin's body so if you attempt it yourself you may want to consider that. This was a seriously fun little project to sew, so if your little girlies believe in fairies I highly recommend adding this to your dress up bucket. Happy sewing! 

movie

Despite the fact that she's been known to throw the laptop off her perch up there we continue to allow it, albeit with some very stern warnings and maybe a threat or two. 

11 weeks

he skates

School resumed for us today and with it came *the event* we've been talking up for weeks now. Ephram's first time on the ice!  

I'm not sure how the occasion has eluded us for so long. Firstly, being that we're from small town Saskatchewan and secondly that I'm pretty sure both mine and Rob's childhoods were spent as much in arenas and on backyard ice rinks as they were indoors. 

Yes! 

Even me, who really can't recall ever wanting to play outdoors, loved to skate and the proof is in the amount of pictures my parents have stored away of me in various neon colored snowsuits and figure skates on the ice my dad so lovingly, and maybe begrudgingly (those nights were cold I'm sure), built for us over the garden every winter. 

We have no excuse for not taking him until now. Just that time moves too quickly and it got away from us. But the day finally came for Ephram and after some trepidation the night before he took to it like a pro! Or at least with determination and confidence. 

Either way, he did it! 

And loved it!

And we are so proud. 

back

Christmas and New Year's have come and gone and with no documentation at all on this little blog! Computer issues, christmas sewing, travel, rest, and spending time together left blogging in the dust and I am just fine with that. There's also the fact that I find out people are actually reading this thing (I knew I shouldn't have said yes when Missy asked to link my blog on hers! ha.) and I feel slightly exposed and a little unconfident each and every time I go to start a post. 


Ahh, well. I forge ahead and we'll see what happens. 


If you've just started reading or have been lurking for awhile - Hello! Your interest confounds me but your presence (and comments) are welcome! 


Here's to a New Year together!