Budding Artists

 My friend, Claire, and I had a special project we wanted Allison & Benji to help us with.  So late one afternoon Benji & Claire came over and the kiddos attempted finger painting.  It was not a huge success.  They both preferred using a sponge to their fingers and tended to smear the colors.  But we managed to get enough samples we should be able to finish the project.  And it was fun to feel like we were creative and adventuresome Moms.  For the five minutes it lasted.  Then we went inside and called Mark and had him pick up a pizza for dinner!

Lazy September Evenings

 We have spent the last summer participating in a pilot 'Community Group' for our church.  We've enjoyed getting together once a week with some good friends, practicing community, sharing our lives and gearing up for a church-wide launch of the groups this fall.  As the summer is wrapping up (September actually feels more like summer around here than June!) we've had a few meals with these friends and made the most of beautiful weather in the backyard.  Allison always loves going to Miss Vickie's house or Miss Mary Ann's house - they have very fun toys to play with like the helicopter thing she figured out a few weeks ago (pictured) and the whole group spoils this girl with lots of attention.  We'll miss our friends in a few weeks when we're all branching out into new groups.

Sewing with Sophie

 My oldest niece, Sophie, happened to be over while I was finishing up a quilt for my newest niece, Lauren.  Sophie decided she wanted to take up quilting herself and went fabric shopping with her Grandma.  My brother-in-law Tim cut her fat quarters down into squares (without using a rotary cutter - it was impressive) and then Sophie came over for a morning of sewing.  She was most excited that I let her use my iron all by herself.  Who knows what is going to be the most exciting for an almost 8-year-old?

 She used my sewing machine by herself, too, I just adjusted the speed to be slow.  We had some rows that had to be pinned together and she navigated the foot pedal and simultaneously pulling out the pins pretty well.

 And the finished quilt top.  She needs to come back soon so we can put it together with batting and a back!

 And Allison was not to be left out of the quilting!  She played with kid scissors, my box of scraps, card stock and a glue stick for most of the morning!  Glad she's enjoying 'quilting' young, too!

Newest Niece

 As I was working through pictures I was shocked to realize I still hadn't written a post about my newest little niece!  She arrived over three weeks early in late August and she is quite the darling little girl!  My father-in-law happened to be around when I was taking pictures and let me use his camera body for these photos - now I'm thinking I'm ready for a new camera of my own, pretty sure these are the best baby pictures I've ever taken!  Having a cute subject always helps, too!

 Kisses from big brother, Logan!

And then when we were all done Allison & I got in on some baby holding action, too, of course!

Little Ballerina

 After watching the Olympic team rhythmic gymnastics competition Allison couldn't stop talking about 'ballet' (I didn't bother to correct her).  I happened to have found a little ballet leotard at the local consignment shop so we got it out for her.  She loves wearing it around the house and 'doing ballet.'  We have her signed up for a ballet class for this fall and so we're starting to see real ballet around here, too!  I have no idea why she wasn't smiling in the the first two pictures, but I thought they were kind of funny so I had to include them - she looks like quite the moody artist if you ask me!

Grammie, Grr & Auntie Brittney

 My parents and my sister came for a visit in late July / early August.  We had a great time relaxing, taking a trip to Sun River, watching lots of Olympics on t.v. and riding bikes.  My Dad was coaching Allison on how to finish a bike ride like an Olympic champion with her hands raised in the air, we'll see how well it takes!  When we were in Sun River we realized her bike seat needed to be raised yet again.  I think she's in the middle of a growth spurt - her bike is starting to actually look small for her.

 We took one day and headed up to Portland to visit the zoo.  Brittney loves the zoo just as much as Allison so these two were quite the pair.  The weather was perfect at the zoo and many of the animals were out and active which made for a very fun trip.

 My Dad brought his travel bike along and Allison loved helping him put it together and take it apart.  She had to wear gloves just like Grr, eventually realizing he was only wearing one glove and she took one of hers off, too.

We may just have a future bike mechanic on our hands, folks!

Big Girl Bed

 Way back in May we decided we were ready for Allison to be in a big girl bed so we could sit on her bed with her and read stories, etc.  We bought a twin mattress set and for now have it on a simple bed frame until we can decide what we really want to do.  She loves her new bed.  And she can now reach some baskets hanging on the wall at the end of her bed holding some toys.....which she is not supposed to play with during nap time but as you can see in the picture above rules don't always stop her!