Chugging into Summer

 

Well, it's officially summer here - the last day of school was yesterday, and to celebrate I took the kids to a local park they have here in Virginia that even has a carousel and its own little train. 

 

Isn't this the cutest little engine on the planet?  It looks like it comes straight out of the book about the Little Engine Who Could.  Hazel was pulling her usual run-around-at-top-speed-so-mom-can't-take-a-single-picture  mode, so finally I asked Eliza to hold onto her so I could at least prove that she was there.  Hyrum was so worried that the train was going to take off without him that he wouldn't budge out of his seat to go and pose at the front with the other two.  The train conductor hadn't even walked out to the train yet, but Hyrum was unswayed.

Notice that Hazel is not in this picture.  In the time it took for me to back away far enough to aim at the kids, she was down and headed off the ramp...that kid is much more active than I remember my other two being, but it could just be a function of poor memory!  At any rate, Hazel is a real handful right now whenever I take her anywhere.  She won't sit in a stroller, and screams (very very loudly) whenever I try and restrain her from where she wants to be going.  I know I'm "only" 35, but really - I'm too old for this.  Especially when the thermometer reads a balmy 75, but with the humidity factor (coupled with the runaway toddler factor) it feels oh-so-yucky.

 

Here comes the train!

Another bit of proof that Eliza is just not a baby anymore...

Hazel held still long enough to take a big swig from the juice box.  She went through at least 3 during our picnic, which is why 90% of the photos I have of her that afternoon are taken with those enticing sugar-in-a-box treats in her hot little hands.

I've been sewing like crazy this week, because the kids have all outgrown their summer clothes and I feel the need to make use of the ever-growing stash of fabric in my house.

I absolutely love these sweet little buttons - I found them at Joann's when I was taking advantage of their 50% off buttons sale.  I also finally decided it was time to buy a good pair of scissors (how could I resist when they're half off?) and came away with some Gingher dressmaker shears that I am in heaven about!  For years I had been wrestling with the clunky orange-handled kind that have been used for anything and everything under the sun.  When I attempt to cut fabric with them it is always to the tune of various mutterings and explosions of exasperation because of the pathetic mangle job they do, and there are so many dings in them that I have to squeeze them just right to even be able to cut the fabric all the way down the line of the blades.  With as much sewing as I do, I decided it was high time for an upgrade, and now I wonder why on earth I waited so many years to buy a good pair of shears!  It's like slicing butter with a hot knife, seriously.  I actually enjoy cutting out fabric now, which is truly a miraculous turn of events.

It's already so sticky and muggy here that I have been making lots of little sundress outfits for Hazel (I know, this is NOTHING compared to what it will be like in August, which I cringe about daily.  I am a beast when it's muggy and hot, so watch out!  I have already informed Steve that if he ever gets transferred to Florida or Georgia or equivalent, I'm going to spend my entire summers in Oregon with the kids and my parents.  I'm not quite kidding either!).

Here's a close-up of the button detail that I sewed onto the front.

Here's another sweet little outfit made with fabric from Sandi Henderson's Farmer's Market line, mixed with some dots from Amy Butler.

By the way, typepad seems to be acting goofy today, so if my text doesn't line up with my photos, don't think it's something I did on purpose.  I have no idea why my paragraphs are getting shifted all over the place.

 

 

More button treasures from Joann's.  Those pretty little things are hand-wash-only, but they're so perfect for this outfit that it's worth it.  I've made lots of things for Eliza and Hyrum too, mostly not-very-exciting shorts, but when I can convince Eliza to play model for a bit I'll post a few cute things I've sewn for her in the past few days.  Our niece Caitlin just arrived from NYC, where she was doing an internship with FOX news, so we're going to have loads of fun playing tourist with her the next few days!  The kids are so excited to see her again, the last time we were together was in Hawaii a few years back.  Tomorrow it's off to Monticello, which I'm very excited about seeing.  I'm sure I'll come back with a photo or two.  :-)

Comments

[michelle johnnie]

Your girls clothes are absolutlely darling!!! What a lucky girl!

[Shelley]

Thanks Amy!
I used a pattern for the bottom bloomers, but made them longer than the original pattern called for. The tops were various renditions of a cute little store-bought knit shirt that I looked at to get the general idea of proportions. My mistake on the pink and orange one was that I didn't realize how much stretch knit provides, and that one is almost too small for Hazel already. 2 of them are velcro closures in back, but then on the cherry one I used elastic bobbin thread and gathered the excess, which works the best. I'll show you what I mean on my next post.

[Michele Mendenhall]

What a fun park. Maybe you guys could take us there when we visit. Ellie loves trains.

[Amy Peacock]

These outfits are too cute! Did you use a pattern? Does it button up in the back? Very productive week for you.