A-sewing we will go

My sewing machine has been an almost permanent fixture in our living room lately. I say almost because it does get put away occasionally, just probably not as often as it should. I sewed up some Christmas gifts and I always seem to have a quilt on the go. Lane has enjoyed watching me sew for quite some time now but apparently he has gotten tired of just watching. Now he wants to make it work and wants to do it himself when I am not looking. Which really is trouble on a few different levels. I am slowly learning to check all the settings on the machine before I begin to sew.

One day Lane was messing with my machine AGAIN, so I somehow got this crazy notion that instead of getting frustrated with him I should maybe do something about it (I think my husband gave me a bit of prompting and, as usual, he ended up being right). I asked my 2-and-a-half-year-old if he wanted to sew something. The kid got all bright-eyed and excited. Of course he did. So we sewed something.


The closed eyes are purposeful on his part - my photo-taking skills are not to be blamed. This time.

A bag. For his trains. He pushed the pedal to make the machine go and helped me feed the fabric through the machine. The boy was on cloud nine.

And then he got to pick out a button for me to sew on. Yep, it was a good day.

And then I continued on with my various sewing projects which included a tool belt for Boy #1. Two hammer loops, a measuring tape pocket and a pocket for any other odds and ends, usually his pair of pliers.

I finally got this wall-hanging quilt top all pieced together. There may be a few tweaks yet but I no longer have pieces all over the place just waiting for little hands to mess up.

Next on the docket? A construction zone wall-hanging quilt for Boy #1.

Self-photography attempt. Again.

Every once in a while I forget that I lack talent in the photo-taking department and decide that I need to try to get a picture of me and my boys. It's still as crazy an idea as ever. Especially now that Boy #2 can boogie. And has a really long reach.

I can get a couple that are almost good.

And just need a bit of correcting in terms of camera positioning.

But then the whole situation starts to deteriorate.

And the craziness of the whole idea is once again revealed to me.

So I opt for easier shots.

Of one person at a time.

Even if he is crawling away from me frantically, only to turn around and snub his nose at me.

In that case, I'll go back to the other one. He's usually cooperative when it comes to photographing. Usually.

Yep. Just gotta corral him.

But not this one. Still too squirmy. Hasn't learned the fun of having his picture taken.

Or maybe he has.

Either way, these boys will be seeing a lot of cameras soon. Just over a week until their auntie's wedding!

Happy, happy birthday!

To my little sister,

who's not so little anymore,

and is all growed up and away at school.

Hope it's a fun day, full of lots of memorable moments.

Boy. Book. Bed.

With Boy #2's newfound ability to walk, all sorts of new areas have become available. Well, not that they weren't available before, just that the walking skill has increased his agility and so he can maneuver into never-before-discovered territory (which also includes always-gets-stuck-in territory).
So his new favorite spot is between the end of Boy #1's bed and the wall.

Don't ask. I can't imagine what the fascination is with big boys and little spaces. It's a remedy for frustration in my books, but hey, I get to be the hero in the situation so who am I to complain?

Really, what better place to read a book than one that you feel secure in.

And manage to look cute in.

And then help comes, even when you don't ask for it.

"Help" seems to be subjective these days.

But we still see smiles.

What do you see?

We see people, dogs, cars and trucks.

And machines. And a bucket truck. And a whole other world.

That's what we see.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who is the fairest of them all?

He may not be the fairest but he certainly could be vying for the cutest!