Eliza has decided she's part monkey. It has been her goal in life for the past few weeks to master the monkey bars, and she has the blister-covered hands to prove it. She has also determined that she is going to be an excellent tree climber, and loves to hang out in a tree by our house. So when I asked her to go outside with me to take pictures of the new skirt I made for her, Eliza made a bee-line (or is it monkey-line? Not quite the same ring to it) for her tree.
I adore this skirt because of the fabric. Even though I used fabrics from 4 different designers, they all go so well together. So thank you to Sandi Henderson, Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, and Patty Young for your fabulous designs! I made a darling sundress for Hazel too, I still need to get pics of her that are more than a blur of motion as she runs, squealing, from the camera.
Here are my monkeys, having a picnic up in their tree. (Yes, Eliza picked out her own clothes...don't you dig those socks?)
Look closely in the next photo and you'll see that they raided the board game closet, just in case they felt like putting together a puzzle or playing Operation while perched on a branch 10 - 15 feet in the air.
Totally goofy, totally crazy funny. Pretzel, anyone, while you play Chutes and Ladders away up there?
Hyrum is still a monkey-in-training, as evidenced by his precarious stance in this photo. One time he was coaxed by Eliza to go up as high as he could, about 20 feet in the air I think. He got stuck, couldn't get down, and so Eliza ran and got me.
Now, I hadn't climbed a tree in about 25 years, but I did that day to get Hyrum down...what a crazy sight that must have been! Too bad I didn't have the video player going so that ya'll could hear my kids exclaiming in concerned anxiety, "Mom! The branch is bending! You're too big to be up there! It's gonna break! You're going to ruin our tree!" Nevermind the potential peril I was in, just don't ruin the tree! Too funny. Maybe I should take some monkey lessons.
So this past Tuesday, Hyrum was scurrying around and managed to get the biggest goose-egg of his young life, the poor kid. He was running to pick his sippy cup off the floor to bring it to the dinner table, and somehow ran into the edge of the shelf that holds our monitor up in the computer armoire. I didn't see it happen, but I sure saw the effects of it! Poor Hyrum was understandably frantic, and I was freaking out because the wound swelled up like a marshmallow instantly. This picture was taken after about 30 minutes of icing it, so you can imagine how big it was right after it happened.
I was afraid the skin was going to burst open because of all the pressure from the blood and fluid rushing to the point of impact, but skin is apparently quite elastic.
Then I called a friend who's a nurse because I was worried that all that blood might create a clot that could cause serious damage, but she assurred me that he would be fine. Yes, I'm a very paranoid mom, I admit it!
Of course Steve was gone on a 5-day business trip when this happened, and Hazel was crying and screaming from hunger (we were just getting ready to eat dinner), which did nothing to help the situation. It was quite the evening to remember, I assure you.
This photo was taken a few days later. The blood had pooled underneath the skin all around his eye, so he had this huge shiner that evoked all sorts of exclamations from everyone who saw him. This picture actually makes it look better than it was...he really did have a huge black eye (this is where Hyrum corrects us and informs us he has a purple eye, not black). It has been quite the conversation piece, I can assure you!
I hope the poor kid gets better soon - I cringe every time I see his battle wound. In the meantime, it makes for quite the story and he's getting a lot of enjoyment out of telling the story over and over again.
Okay, enough of black eyes...here's a lovely and delicate blossom I couldn't help but take a picture of. I'm not sure what this bush is, but I sure love the flowers on it!
So did Eliza, she really wanted to put one in her hair, Hawaii style.
And, to top it off, here's a bag I made for my friend on her birthday. I hosted a little get-together for her, and made cupcakes for the kids and a yummy ice cream cake for the grown-ups. It was a lot of fun!
Love the bag! Black and Red are two of my favorite colors. Did you use a pattern or make it up yourself?
Posted by: Lori | June 02, 2009 at 09:12 AM
my son would love that tree...he wants to climb in the worst sort of way (he's 5) but we have not one good climbing tree
isn't it amazing (perhaps uncanny) how injuries NEVER happen on their own...they alway coincide with at least one other (sometimes more) event that demands your attention as well?
your bag looks great, ill bet your friend really loves it!
Posted by: elizabeth | June 03, 2009 at 05:26 AM
WOW! Clicked over from the link in your e-mail. Your talents are SO IMPRESSIVE! The skirt is undeniably adorable, I'm coveting that bag and your furniture redos make me want to get off my tush and get going on the things I want to repaint! I've enjoyed scrolling through your 7 layers!
Posted by: Kristi | June 04, 2009 at 06:47 PM