Weekend in the ATL

 Don't you just love how its practically Christmas and I'm still talking about our summer?!? 

Back in August, Smalls spent the some time with Honey and Papa so that Husband and I could have a diaper-free weekend. I broke out the cute shoes and said a (temporary) farewell to my favorite yoga pants for a fun weekend with friends in Atlanta. 

First stop was at Corner Arts Gallery  in Newnan, Georgia to explore our creative side. 

Please note the painting in the background. That was the "couples" painting we were striving to recreate. 

Of course the guys took things very serious!

Remember that sample painting...

Here are our finished products...

One seamless horizon, right? :)

Then we wrapped things up with a Matchbox 20 concert. 

Oh, and just in case you were wondering...

Santa knows every word to 3 AM. 

Sewing with my Homie

And by Homie, I mean my Little Grandmother!!

Remember a while back I told you that Little Grandmother and I spent some time with the sewing machine? Here's how that went...

Grandmother, who has sewn her whole life and used to make clothes for me, has A LOT of patience so I knew she was the perfect teacher to help me make some little dresses for Smalls. What would have taken her a few minutes took us all day. 

But we had a great time...laughed a lot...took out a stitch or two...and I even managed not to say too many bad words. 

In the end, I thought this pillowcase dress was not too shabby!

We also made a few play dresses by adding some skirts to simple white onesies. 

**This looks and sounds much easier than it actually was!**

Pleats are of the devil!!!

And there were many pleats. 

Little Grandmother teased me for pinning everything, but I told her that Mrs. Perry my Home Ec teacher would be so proud :) She created a habit that I cannot break!

And here's the grainy cell phone pic of Smalls modeling outfit #2

By the end of the day we made five dresses and cut out fabric for a few more that I could take home and attempt to put together myself.

Alone. 

With a machine that I had never even plugged in before! 

HA!!! Get ready for this one!

Once at home, I decided to make a dress for my friend's little girl that is just a few months younger than Smalls. (They recently moved to Texas and I thought this could be a fun snail-mail surprise.) Now, this was supposed to be easy. It was exactly like the one I made Smalls, and the fabric was already cut...I just had to put it together! 

Except that first I had to thread my machine. Well, Grandmother's machine was already done and I hadn't threaded a machine since 10th grade Home Ec, so I Googled it. Thanks to the joy of YouTube, I had a nice lady telling me step by step instructions of how to use my 'wonderfully basic beginner's machine.'

**Clearly we have differing definitions of the word basic**

Next, came the bobbin. Once I found it, it may or may not have taken me a few tries before I got it taken out, filled, and put back on correctly. 

Finally, I could begin sewing! 

Except the stitches were way loose and looked really ugly. It was about 8:30 that night and I didn't want to call Grandmother, so I text a friend's mom that sews. She talked me through adjusting the tension...another knob that I hadn't had to use with Grandmother.

Now, I could begin sewing!

If only... The next series of events involved broken thread, removing the bobbin, blowing out the machine, struggling to put it back together, and the needle falling out! It's a long story, and I'd rather not talk about it. Just before giving up and throwing the machine out the window...I called Grandmother.  

The whole point is that I DID IT! 

I finished that darn dress and really, once I actually got to start sewing, I enjoyed it! ...and I think this cute little girl approved :)

Throughout that crazy ordeal I gained the confidence to make this little curtain for the sun room...

...and this skirt for the living room table to help hide Smalls' toy collection.

Next up, those little ruffle pants that are so stinkin' cute. 

Who wants to teach me? :)

First Hair Cut

Back in August, Smalls had her first hair cut. It wasn't really planned, but I couldn't handle the rat tail curl any longer... 

Here are a few before, during and after's for ya :)

How Smalls spent her summer vacation

We had a wonderful, fun-filled summer that went by entirely too fast! As I was handed Progress Reports last night, I realized the Fall isn't slowing down either. 

These days I exist in a state of constant interruption and can barely complete a thought, much less a complex sentence or post in chronological order. I'm trying to learn how to take decent pictures, actually download them, and post them for you all while keeping Smalls from dancing in her high chair or splashing in the toilet. (both of which happened in the past 30 minutes)

Here are some highlights from Smalls this summer...most are iPhone pics because, lets just face it, it is the easiest.

She had her first boat ride at her friend Catherine's first birthday party. That face says it all! 

On Independence Day she was introduced to the wonders of Whip Cream. 

She learned how to color with Unca B... 

...and was spoiled by Aunt Nichole!

She even penciled in time for shoulder rides with Papa.

(Gertie, my first child, was in hiding the whole time we were there and was glad to see us leave.)

We did a little sewing with Little Grandmother...but I'll tell you about that later.

Wresteled with her friend Knox

Got to have a little visit with her best friend Catherine!

Had a lunch date with the Dunn boys 

Took a few tractor rides in the drive way before bed

Had lunch with Mommy's friends and their cute kiddos!

Shoe Shopping!!!! Daddy beware. 100% girl here!

Learned how to slide in the nursery

Built a pillow bed and otherwise destroyed Mommy's bathroom.

Lots of naps in the bouncy chair

Oh, and after a four day Paci-boot camp, we said adios to these bad boys!

We went to a Biscuits game and got to see Aunt Liz 

Swam a lot!

played with Louie

Played at the park...when it wasn't raining or muddy

Took Senior Portraits with Diva

And just so you know my little angel is a typical toddler...

...she had more than her fair share of emotional breakdowns. 

What chu talkin' bout Willis?!