Loo at the farm

Did you see my first guest post ever yesterday on My Girl Thursday? Exciting stuff!

Strawberry fields

I had some doubts about berry picking this year. I originally thought I'd leave Beri home and only bring Loo.

Little did I know...

Berry eating for a one year old might be better than a trip to Disney.

I think she ate her weight in berries.

She was in paradise.

Loo split his time between eating and throwing straw.

He was amazed when we found this one.

He called it "the funniest berry I've seen in my life"

(he said that about 100 times) and brought it home with us.

My only regret is letting Beri wear her new white hat, other than that it was the perfect sunny afternoon. It's funny how I always imagine things are going to be so much work with these two little ones. Nine times out of ten it ends up I had nothing to worry about and we all have a fantastic time. All our fun almost made me forget about Loo squirting Beri's bottle of milk all over the two of them and their car seats on the way to town today. Almost. Our drive was going smooth and quietly until I heard Loo start whispering "Sorry Beri". Today the van smells like strawberries and cream but I'm a little concerned how it might smell tomorrow.

The berries taste amazing, I had forgotten how delicious a fresh berry could be. It doesn't even taste like the same fruit as all those berries we bought throughout the winter. The plan is to go again this week without my helpers to really pick and then freeze them for the winter. Maybe I should make jam too?

Granny cloths

Not clothes, cloths.

I figured out some basic crocheting in the past couple weeks and whipped up a few dish cloths.

The only trouble is they're too cute for dirty dishes.

Instead I've been using them for to wash up Loo and Beri after meals. They're working pretty well, even with all the holes they gently scrub the berries, sauces and oatmeal off little faces like a charm.

If you're looking to make your own here's a great list of patterns.

Things to be thankful for [photo edition]

Exhausted Spider Loo trying to nap on the coffee table.

Singing 'Row, row, row your boat'.

Beri trying to get into Loo's room to visit him while he's sleeping.

Live music. 

Toes in the backseat.

Watching Mr. Crafty Ave and Loo play airplane.

Hope your week was wonderful and full of things to be thankful for.

Loo's lion shirt

Loo was so excited about the Father's day shirts we made and that he told me he wanted to make his own. I almost ended dinner and cleared the table to start making him one, but I kept my cool and we did it the next morning.

Loo:   "It's an animal. It's my lion shirt."

I could have taken over and micro managed this project to make his picture look the way I wanted it to. I resisted this urge and I'm glad. I even let him choose which shirt we would paint it on. He's so proud of it and keeps telling people he drew it. He's already worn it twice since we made it Monday.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this kid?

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The kitchen window

Babies aren't supposed to play with blinds I get it, they're also not supposed to be standing on the kitchen counter playing by the kettle, but every once in awhile it's pretty cute. This is one of their favourite hang outs to watch family and friends make the long walk up the driveway.

Beri's birthday present [part three]

I can't take the credit for making this sweet little owl, but it was a part of Beri's homemade birthday giftiness. (C'mon spellcheck I was sure giftiness was a word.)

One of my new old friends made her and Beri and I are smitten.  You can see more of her crochet rattling goodness here.

Don't you just love living in the small town where you grew up so you can bump into an old friend dust off your friendship and make it new again?  I sure do.

Just a couple pairs of boring shorts

Recently Loo was in desperate need of new shorts, so last weekend I was faced with a decision.

a) Do laundry every night

b) Go kids clothes shopping

c) Sew

Of course I chose the last option. I cut up two pairs of my brothers old pants and sewed them into little man shorts. 

(Thanks again to my parents who decided to declutter a few months ago and gave me all my brothers unclaimed clothing and sorry to my brother who keeps showing up to find his clothes have been cut up and repurposed. You were warned!)

I used Dana's pattern for flat fronted pants for the first pair.

And Huck Finn pants from Weekend Sewing for the grey.

In my haste I decided not to take the extra time to do pockets or anything fancy, which I'm kinda already regretting. I suppose it won't bother me as much when they get covered in grass stains, sticky green tea sunscreen and other debris from Loo's outdoor adventures.

I did use yellow thread for the stitching though, I thought it was a cute detail. You might be noticing that his "soccor ball" shirt is high rotation these days. Hooray again for a $3 shirt and some fabric paint.

On a sort of related note, I almost did a little happy dance when we were in town yesterday walking through the grocery store parking lot.  I looked at my little family and Beri was in this dress, Loo was wearing shorts I'd made and his train love shirt, Mr. Crafty Ave was in his father's day shirt and I was wearing shorts* I made. I don't think a day goes by now without at least one of us sporting something made here on Crafty Ave. It makes me giddy happy to see us wearing all these things I put my time and love into!

*curious? I'll try to post them soon. Lately my blogging just can't keep up with my crafty endeavours. I'm trying as hard as I can to do just one post a day and not overwhelm y'all.

Happy (freezer paper stenciling) father's day

Happy Father's Day dad.

Happy Father's Day Mr. Crafty Ave.

Drawings by Loo.





Idea from I am Momma Hear Me Roar.

Exacto knifing and painting by yours truly.

Happy Day!

Beri's birthday present [part two]

Here's a couple bad pictures of the dress I made for Beri to wear on her first birthday. Heidi & Finn smock top dress. (yes, again)

To me it looks kind of like an old lady muumuu, which I kinda like and looks super adorable on a baby.

The combination of weird I don't know what stretchy-floral-crinkly fabric paired with the stretch denim for the smocking and straps was a bit of a battle, but it looks cute and fits so there!

I didn't hem it originally because I was a little worried about the fit and didn't want to waste time, now I might be too lazy to go back and hem. Is a surged hem really that bad? My lazy self says "no".

KCWC day three

Day three. Whew! I'm caught up now, three days and three completed projects. I hemmed Loo's shorts from yesterday.

Loo's happy because shorts weather means no socks (unless you're Mr. Crafty Ave).

Then I got to work on my first Heidi & Finn pattern. The smock top dress. I was a little worried at first when I saw I was going to have to make my own bias tape. The pattern had a great how-to and it was easier than I thought.

For the dress I used linen and printed cotton.

I think I'm going to be making many of these in years to come.

Tonight marks the halfway point. Not sure what I'll be making but I'll report back tomorrow.

KCWC day one

KCWC day two

32 months

Another month in the life of Loo.

Last year at this time you were a brand new big brother. You didn't say many words yet at a year and a half and used to say "Hello Baby" to Beri over and over again.

This month you had your first big fall when we went for a walk. You scraped your elbows and one knee. I had a discussion with you about what we should call these mishaps, oowies, boo boo's etc. We settled on cuts.

You always wear socks now. If we put you down for a nap or to bed you'll call us in to throw some socks on your cold little toes.

You had another mommy haircut, they're getting a bit better each time.

Grandma is babysitting you while I've started back to work. I love when I call home at lunch and you ask through the speakerphone "Mom, are you having a good work?"

You think your birthday is coming up. Beri's and mine were in the past week and yesterday morning you said "and then it's my birthday?"

You fell asleep on the couch the other day exhausted.

You're getting better at sharing toys with Beri. You're also protective of her which I love.

You can't sleep without a couple books in your crib.

You love shopping in town, you always ask your one more store.

You hate having your picture taken, you poor little thing.

Love you !