The Haggard Herald

Several weeks ago Melory showed me how to use her serge machine.  And in the process we made this adorable shirt for Madeleine.  I've been getting the sewing itch again for kids clothes and have all sorts of ideas.  I got a pair of navy blue corduroy pants from a garage sale and turned them into pants for Madeleine.  I think I have enough fabric to also make a autumn jacket too.  Maybe with some pink polka-dot lining? Last week I took a few pictures of the shirt Melory and I made and the new pants too. Since these pictures were taken I made the elastic waist band a little smaller so that they stay up better.  I love these pants.  These pictures don't do them justice...  maybe we will do a photo shoot another day of more new clothes once I make them.  :) Future projects: turn Matt's old jeans into 2T or 3T size elastic waist jeans Melory's kid-jacket (she has a pattern that is very quick and easy that I'm so excited to...

My mom and dad came to visit us last week.  It was wonderful.  My mom and I canned tomatoes and pears.   We enjoyed the first days of fall weather (the temperature dropped the day after my mom arrived).  We hiked once with my dad, played around the house with Auntie Kimmy a lot, and just had fun being together.  Madeleine has been calling for Mimi and Grampy multiple times a day (we're down to like 3-4 times from 20 that she asked for them the first day after they flew home).  Mimi and Grampy, come back to us! My mom took Kimmy and I shopping at the new outlet mall in Lehi too.  I got a few shirts, basketball shorts, and a new necklace and earrings.  It was so fun.  Madeleine steals whatever jewelry she can find around the house (which isn't very much) and loves to put it on.  She loves bling.  Mimi's watch was also commandeered multiple times by Madeleine. Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures.  I took a couple of vide...

The other morning I got out my guitar and my viola and was playing them with Madeleine.  In the picture below she's irritated that she has to be gentle with the viola (yes, we're playing cello style.  M's arms aren't long enough to hold it up).  My point, however, is how long her hair is.  It drives me nuts imagining how it must feel to always have her hair constantly in her eyes.  I usually try to put it up in a palm tree/fountain look or else pulled to the side with a clip or bow.  They often get pulled out during the day though... So I decided it was time for her first real hair cut.  Kimmy came over this morning and went with us to a salon in Lehi that specializes in little kids' cuts.  They had various seats made to look like cars or trucks or airplanes; also, there is a TV at each station to keep kids attention (Maddie was enthralled probably because we usually don't have our TV out).  At the end you get a balloon and sucker (we ...

One of the things that I love about summer is to watch things grow that we planted back in spring.  Our flowers in the front are really blossoming and are probably at their peak right now.  It's also fun to watch Maddie grow with them.  About three or four weeks ago she really took off with walking.  She's been able to walk since she was about ten or eleven months old but has always wanted (insisted) on holding somebody's hand.  No so anymore.  She still likes to hold hands but she's happy to walk on her own too.

Kimmy came back and we are all very glad about it!  She flew in Labor day weekend and hung out with us for the first half of the holiday before she moved into her new apartment.  We hung out at home and then hiked a little bit in Rock Canyon. Unfortunatly, this is what Madeleine looked like a lot of the hike. She wanted to get down and play with the rocks... she walked a little bit of the way but mostly just wanted to sit and play.  It didn't help that it was almost lunch and nap time. We still had a good time though and I think next time we will leave earlier and let her play longer along the way.  We're glad Kimmy's back though!