Summer Fun - Camping

Here are pictures from our camping trip. We went to the ward campout and had a great time. The kids slept great, Mom not so great. I kept listening to the wind and thunder and then the rain. Oh and checking to make sure the kids stayed warm. There was a rope swing and dirt and rock piles which is where Sam and Hannah spent most of their time. We discovered the secret to Sam enjoying it and not wanting to come home early on Saturday morning: friends to play with on the dirt and rock pile. So our next camping trip we will need to take someone else with us.

Here are the River Dancers. These skirts were my favorite, the top was probably what taught me the most.

Read the post below for the rest of the story. :)

Dance Costumes

This is my project that I spent most of July working on. Sam is excited that I am done with my sewing project so we can do other things (like go swimming, play outside whenever, sew his costume he wants, etc) and Hannah wants to know when I am making something for her.

This first one are the Monsters, I made the pants and hats and helped attach the hair that Kellie made.

Then the Farm dancers (horses, pigs and sheep). I made the skirts and hats (aren't those hats the cutest!!).

The Robots, this one I only did pants, Kellie did the armbands and waistbands and headbands. Good thing to, they make the costume!

Cloud Dancers, white skirts which ended up looking much cuter than I though they would.

There is one more but apparantly Picasa only wants to let me do four photos at a time (I did them small to see if I could get that fifth one on there). These were fun to make and while they were time consuming I did enjoy it. I also learned quite a bit. I now feel a little more confident about altering a pattern to make it what I want it to be. Like a fuller skirt, size adjustments (not excessive), adding sleeves to a pattern that didn't have them. Before I could sew a pattern, follow the directions, but not make much in the way of variations. Doing this big of a project was a perfect way to get to try that out. Maybe someday (many years from now) I might be almost as good as my mom (I'm not sure I can be as good as she is). She's done Cabbage Patch Dolls (which we all still have as far as I know, I have mine) and three wedding dresses, who knows how many high school dance dresses and little kid clothes. For now, my next things are the quilts to finish and start thinking about Halloween costumes, and reclaim my neglected yard-oh those poor flowers, they don't stand a chance with that morning glory.

Updates for all!!

First off, here's a link to a cool recipe book giveaway!

http://recipesofacheapskate.blogspot.com/2009/07/giveaway.html

Next, an update on us. We are really kind of busy. I decided to help a friend sew costumes for her dance classes (which is what I should be doing instead of doing this) and that is fun but there is a lot to do. Sam monitors the temperature to know when he can play in the water (as soon as it hits 80 he starts to beg to go outside).

I realize now there really isn't much to write about. We are enjoying our summer. Hope you are all enjoying yours. Maybe I will take some more pictures soon then I will have something to post. :)

Finally some photos of the nieces and a circus performance by the plethora 2nd Gen

More photos from the lake, and some photos of the girls.

Random photos of the summer 09

Sam is having a great summer - here he is at the local park showing his mad skillz climbing the arm slide.
















Here's Hannah - she's loving being the older sister to Michelle. She teaches her everything she knows, expecially going down stairs and trying to get Dad to do things that she wants him to do.



















Sam and Hannah going down the slide, as seen in the reflection off the pool at the bottom of the slide. (I had to get some artzy photos in here :))



Finally a shot of the little lake near us. We did a dinner with some friends of ours and ended up being rained on, however when we went to the lake we were able to get some cool photos.