plumber bum

so Connor has grown significantly since last year and as the weather has started to grow a little cooler, Connor looks like he's preparing for a flood, a major one, if you now what i mean. yesterday, Byron got him dressed and when i saw Connor, i said, "hey! those pants don't look too bad!" but then i had a thought. i asked Byron, "is he sagging?" the answer? oh yeah, big time. byron told me Hans Solo was peaking out and as soon as Connor bent over i caught an eye full of his Star Wars underoos! we all got a great laugh, but seriously as soon as we get paid this week we are buying this boy some proper pants!

ballerina

i've been conceptualizing and working on this doll for a little bit and just finished her last night.

i am so pleased!
her ballet shoes are removable and lace up into a bow on the back of her leg.

she has a leotard and tutu,

and big beautiful pony tail.

i made this for Kylene's 1st birthday in November but will also put her up in the KDoll Shop for anyone interested.

as with the Mermaids, her hair color, eye color can be customized along with any specific requests for the tutu and leotard.

because of the time she takes to make and the cost of materials, she'll be my most expensive doll at $45.

hope you like.

preschool

Connor is having a GREAT time at preschool. i've been so pleased to see all the cool things they do every day and hear Connor tell me about the things he's learning about and excited about at school.

one day last week when Kylene and I came to pick him up, we saw all these posters outside the classroom. it was so fun to see what each child's answer was to the questions, and i thought Connor's were very sweet because each one meant something to me and had a story behind it.

most kids said things like, fireman, police man, bus driver, mermaid, princess. i don't think we even realize how proud Connor is to have the title of "Big Brother". he is a WONDERFUL big brother to Kylene.
these friends Connor talks a lot about and i'm sure the "Max" is supposed to be our friend "Mac".

the next day he came home with something all in green because that's his favorite color.

i was so surprised to see "Chapel Hill" listed. most everyone else said "my house", "my home", with my Mommy and Daddy (one girl did say New York which i thought we very chic of her). connor been interested in where people live and what the various places are called. too bad we actually live in Durham, but maybe we won't tell him since Chapel Hill is so much cooler.:)

i love the picture of our family. doesn't Connor looked so happy?

the teachers took this picture at the playgroup and i think it captures Connor during this time of his life perfectly.

he's growing up!

10 months

this past Saturday, Kylene hit her 10 mth mark. i was telling my Mom this morning that i can't quite put into words how FAST the time has BLOWN by. i'm stunned that we're into the fall season already. can winter, spring, and summer already be gone? this time last year we were getting ready and gearing up for our second baby and what a lovely wonderful lady she is. i am so enjoying having two children and have found the transition from one to two easier than i did from 0 to 1.

Kylene's favorite food is hands down, without a doubt, cheese. she pretty much eats any kind but mostly has sharp cheddar as that is what we have at home most often. she kicks her legs and grunts when she sees the cheese come out of the fridge. she is not a bread person. she'll eat pancakes and waffles, but that's about where it ends. she doesn't get that from me, that's for sure. she prefers a sippy cup now and only nurses in the morning and at night. what a big girl. :)

I can get Kylene to lay still long enough to change her diaper if i sing "Popcorn Popping". as soon as i start, she does the "popping" action with her hands. it melts me every time.

Kylene has started balancing standing up without holding onto to anything and can hold that position for quite a long time in the baby world: 10-15 seconds. :) she took her first step from Byron to me on Saturday and clapped for herself when she plopped down. :)
Kylene has become a climber! I find her on Connor's bed, the coffee table and the umbrella stroller. last night, she has just about made it into a box in her closet. i have a feeling she's going to be a girl who's not going to be left behind. i remember another little girl who loved to wear frilly dresses and her jelly sandals with a slight heel out to play but who's mother wouldn't let her because she got grass stains and tore a whole through her dress while playing outside and riding her Big Bird bigwheel. i have a feeling this might become a case of like mother, like daughter. i better find out how to get grass stains out of delicate clothing from my Mom!

those eyes! they get us every time.
Kylene has recently discovered the joy of books and loves being read to. She especially likes touch and feel books.
Kylene has started to dance and feels the "groove and rhythm in just about any tune or song she hears.
Connor and Kylene interact so well together and it's clear that they really enjoy each other. of course, there's crying and the occasional "bonk" on the head, but overall it's really wonderful.
love you Kylenie Beanie!

pics

some pics of the kids i love.

i love Amy Butler and her Modern Midwest fabric collections is one of my all-time favs. you can imagine my heart-fluttering excitement when i finally got my hands on some of her beautiful stuff and made the most darling baby rag quilt out of it.
it's up in the shop.

{just as a side note, which do you like better? The KDoll Shop or KDoll Creations?
I'm thinking about changing it, let me know if you have an opinion.}

black beans and rice

{this a an economical dish we just tried and really liked. we had it with rice which i cook with chicken broth to add flavor, and topped it with cilantro, tomato, lettuce, cheese and a dollop of sour cream. tortillas chips or warm tortillas on the side would be add to the wonderful deliciousness. this would also be awesome with our mexican crock-pot chicken and rolled up burrito style. thought i would share for anyone looking for a delicious, meatless dinner idea!}

1 TB olive oil

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 can (19 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14.5 oz) vegetable broth

1 TB cider vinegar

1/2 tsp dried oregano

coarse salt and ground pepper

1. Prepare rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 8-10 minutes.

2. Add beans, broth, vinegar, and oregano. Cook, mashing some beans with the back of a spoon, until slightly thickened, 6-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

see, easy peasy. :) oh, this dish is also low in fat (if you minus the sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips of course. but who wants to live like that?)

a good friend ordered a Mermaid for her daugther's 2nd birthday coming up in October. she order red hair and blue eyes and i think the combination is stunning.

do you like?

Preschool

today was Connor's first day of Preschool and it was so exciting!

he's been waiting for this day for a long time. he was asking about it way back in March and i told him when it was fall time, it'd be time to go to Preschool. today, when he woke up, he showed me out his window some of the leaves have started turning yellow. he was so excited to announce fall was here and even more excited to hear that yes, today is the day Preschool begins!

Connor wasn't in the picture taking mood this morning (bummer) so this was the best i could get while he was engrossed in the Backyardigans.

these are his new kicks for school. these were the ones Connor selected. pretty cool huh?

when Kylene and i dropped him off at his classroom, he didn't shed a tear and i left him playing with a boy and Lego's. below is his first project he completed with all the names of the children in his class. there are 12 children, 8 girls and 4 boys. they're in the Penguin class and their teachers are Miss Melanie and Miss Kelly.

i think this is going to be a great first year in Preschool.

reptile expo...yikes

yesterday we went to the State Fair Grounds to visit the Reptile, Unusual and Exotic animal show. I'm not a reptile person in the least, but the other 3 members of my family were fascinated so i was able to keep my squeamishness at bay and enjoy watching them enjoy watching the animals. let me also just throw out there that the animals were not the only unusual and exotic thing there. Let your imagination take you away with that statement and you probably won't be far off the mark. :)

i think the thing that REALLY made it a great day for Connor was getting a bag of Cotton Candy early on in our excursion.
Kylene was fascinated by it all but wanted to be kept safe distance from everything. Both she and Connor touched an alligator...shivers.

all three of them loves the Wallaby. i don't consider myself an animal lover but it made me sad to see these really beautiful and rare animals in cages on a cement floor.

here's Connor at the "fossil dig".

i was very impressed by Connor that he let the Camel lick him. Connor says the Camel gave him a kiss. I did think the camels were really cool. we all also really enjoyed seeing the kittens and birds, they were really beautiful.

the aftermath of the eaten cotton candy was a cotton candy beard.

as we walked back to the car we enjoyed perusing the flea market outside the fair grounds. connor got to see some swords that even i have to admit were really amazing and he got to sit on a 4-wheeler which i think between the cotton candy and that, made his entire week. :)

Teachers Pet Cardi, Simple Tee and Poppy Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Teachers Pet Cardi, Simple Tee and Poppy Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

i've been sewing again...

i just finished these two rag quilts and am so in love. they're both backed with the softest most delicious white minky fabric and honestly, i don't know if i'll be able to part with them.

the pink turtles is in the shop and the rocket ship quilt will be up tomorrow.
i finished a Hoot Owl Family for a client before we left for vacation and i loved they baby in particular. isn't she sweet?

together at last

ever since Kylene was born, Connor's been DYING to take a bath with her. why? not quite sure, but a few nights ago he got his chance. she had already been in there a while having a great time by herself and Connor came into the bathroom, stripped down, and jumped in. the novelty soon wore off (for Kylene that is). Byron took a ton of pics, which non of them really turned out, but this one shows that aftermath of Connor bothering Kylene for the last time, him having his head down after a reprimand from his parents, and Kylene begging to be taken out. good times. i think we'll have another crack at it tonight.:)