One of Ella's favorite birthday gifts was a tiny Singer sewing machine from K & Cory. We have all been excited just thinking about it and we knew that Ella would love it. She let out a loud squeal and couldn't wait to show Garan. It's been busy around here since the party and our lack of batteries didn't help. Finally, this past Sunday afternoon, we unboxed the singer and learned to sew. Don't laugh when I tell you this machine was harder to figure out that mine was! With a little direction, she was sewing in now time and actually proved to be quite good. She carefully lifted and lowered the presser foot, gently pressed the pedal and learned how to relieve the tension on the thread before removing her fabric. I have a pretty little blue square full of white stitches sitting in a ...
ella
The Dollhouse
I think you all know by now that my dad is a genius when it comes to woodwork. He is a carpenter by trade and makes beautiful things, both professionally and when his daughters have a request. There have been doll cradles, book shelves, rocking elephants, tables, chairs, built-ins, closets, window treatments and now this. My dad knows I'm kind of notorious for last minute ideas. I've been thinking all summer about what to buy Ella for her birthday when out of the blue she told me she wanted a dollhouse. I talked to my dad in early August to see if that was even possible and we formulated a plan. I drew him a sketch of what I wanted... four rooms and an attic, shingles and shutters. I originally planned for it to be on casters and to be open on both the front and back so that she and her ...
Party People
I'm guessing you won't be surprised when I tell you I took only one picture at the birthday party. One. I've had countless people ask to see the fruits of my labor, but I have absolutely nothing to show you. There is nothing better than having an event photographer in the family. K does such a great job and it is so nice to pass that task off to someone else so that I can enjoy the day and watch Ella have a blast with all of her friends. These four partying pigs had a fabulous day. We rented a bouncer for the weekend and Ella seriously got my money's worth out of the deal. We hired a new baker for the cake and it was phenomenal. There were pretty striped tablecloths and paper straws, tons of red balloons, pretty pig noses and red gummy candies. There were tons of squealing children ...
Shhhhh…
it's a secret. ...
Cupcakes for Lunch
Now, for her second request of the day. When Ella and I talked about her party being on a different day that her birthday, I was afraid she might be upset. I told her that on her birthday we could do something else really fun "just us girls." I offered the bakery, yogurt shop or lunch. I just knew she'd go for lunch, but she surprised me by requesting cupcakes at Edgar's. We didn't get there until almost noon and mommy was hungry for lunch! When I told her I was getting a salad, she looked me dead in the face and asked if she had to eat a sandwich or if she could have a cupcake for lunch. Cupcakes it is! She picked a mint-chocolate chip one, since that is her favorite ice cream flavor, and boy was it yummy. She wanted to wear her birthday outfit really bad and we had major discussions ...
Birthday "Breakpast"
Have you been waiting with bated breath for the Birthday Party recap? Sorry... you've got one more week. We decided that since Alabama played Penn State this past weekend {don't judge} that we'd be better off waiting until next weekend to celebrate the day. Our SD was headed to Tuscaloosa and we decided to eliminate the guilty feeling all these Bama fans might have had! Instead, the birthday girl requested breakfast in bed and cupcakes for lunch, and boy did we oblige. When I asked her what kind of special birthday "breakpast" she wanted she thought for a minute and declared Fruit Loops with milk. After I recovered, I talked her into something cooked and she opted for pigs in a blanket. With the help of this little one-legged booger, I got up early and made an oven-full of pigs and a ...
Dancy Pants
I forgot to mention that Ella's ballet and tap classes resumed last Thursday and this face tells you exactly what she thinks about that. For a few weeks she wavered on whether or not to take this year. While I don't want to be the mom who forces their kids to participate in an activity, I thinks she needs a social outlet at this point. She isn't old enough {thanks to her late birthday} to attend preschool yet and I think the structure this class gives her is just right. Luckily, the closer to September we got, the more excited she got. Especially when she saw new leotards and tap shoes! little ballerinas getting ready for their first class of the season showing off what they've learned ...
Birthday Shoot
Guess who had a little fun in the sun yesterday? Click here to read what K had to say about this sweet girl. ...