So much to catch up on.

Last week we made meringue cookies for Isabel's Family Home Evening treat.  They were supposed to look like baby chicks.  Yeah, that didn't really work.  I eventually convinced her to stick with "flowers" instead, which I just made the regular meringues with a star shaped nozzle.  Anyway, good times.  Sebastian was especially helpful washing dishes afterwards.

 He's a funny kid, he'll sit and want to help me cook longer than either of the two girls do, (or ever did).

 Wearing Mom and Dad's shoes.  Notice Ana in the background holding up my $25 dress form.  Yeah, that dress form isn't much in the way of a dress form, but it is better than stuffing pillows in a sewing project which is what I used to do.

 Isabel loves the dress form by the way, she said she wants one for her birthday, so she can dance with it.

 Last Friday, Elena asked me in the most sad voice, "When am I EVER going to have pajamas again that don't have pants? What are they called?'  To which I responded, "A nightgown."  Anyway, I let her choose a nightgown pattern that night, pulled out some fabric from my stash which she loved (all she wanted was fabric with flowers), and made her a nightgown the next day.

It has a definite '70's vibe because of the jumbo orange rick-rack, (I got that at the DI last summer) but Elena LOVES it and has worn it every night since.  Leo gets super kudo points for keeping the kids on task doing their Saturday's chores while I sewed all morning.  He's so sweet.  But I did make waffles for breakfast, and lunch and dinner and cleaned the kitchen and did the ironing, so it wasn't like I was totally useless sewing right?  My only problem was that it was supposed to be a floor length nightgown, but Elena wanted it shorter, and I cut it too short and now she'll grow out of it quicker. I wanted it kind of mid-calf and it's exactly to her knees.   Errr.   Otherwise, it turned out great.  I love sewing simple things. So relaxing and non-stressfull.  Which, in other news, I started the kids' Halloween costumes and finished pieces of both Elena's and Sebastian's.  Love them!!!  I can't wait for Halloween!

Isabel and her silky dress.  Remember I just made this for Isabel?  She hasn't taken it off since.  Practically anyway.  She sleeps in it, wears it all day, insists on wearing a bib at meal time so she won't spill on it and have to put it in the wash.  Yeah, kudo points to me for making that one.  :)  I'm seriously never going to try to make actual clothing again, it's so much more rewarding sewing fun and easy stuff for my kids.

And what do you think?  Should we go for the blue beast?

Oh, and this weekend was so fun, after working and sewing on Saturday, we went Monday morning to a splash pad for a couple of hours and then ate lunch, and then we took the kids to a mall.  We started this new thing with Ana--we gave her $300 to buy her own clothes for the year, (I got the idea from a book) and then she has to be responsible to shop sales, match her wardrobe, budget and make the money last till next year.  I told her we would just buy her two outfits for church and new church shoes when she needed them, and that's it.  She's responsible for everything else.  Anyway, she was really excited, and while Leo played with the little kids at the play area, we went to Aeropostale and Target and Lands End, where she bought shorts and shirts and a new swimsuit.  She loved it!  Apparently all she's ever wanted in life is a couple Aero t-shirts.  :)  It was a good time, Leo was happy not shopping, the kids were happy playing, and Ana was super happy buying her own clothes.

Oh and Leo got a new calling as YM's secretary.  And Ana goes to girl's camp in one week!!!  Oh my goodness, I can't believe I have a daughter going to girl's camp already.  So exciting for her.