Party Pants In Action!

By popular demand, here is Harper's Party Pants and top in action!

Party Time!!!

Please share if you make these pants! I would love to see your ideas!!!

Keep On Truckin!

As most of you know, Cliff turned three last Sunday! And we had a Monster Truck bash! Here is a glimpse of his party!

This is the banner I made last year. (It used to say "Cliff is Two." I took the "Two" off and made a new "3!")

Here is a shot of the treat table:

Cliff's Monster Truck Cupcakes! (Note: red icing NOT recommended... I'll never make THAT mistake again!)

 Cliff's riding toys that all of the children played on!

Family shot with the birthday boy!

It's almost official, He really IS Three!

I'd say Cliff's Monster Truck Party was a hit!

Now I gotta start planning Harper's first birthday party... they REALLY do grow up waaaaay too fast...

Dollar Tree Finds!

I know! Can you believe it?! My latest favorite place to strike a deal is the Dollar Tree! With a little money and a lot of imagination you can create some awesome things! Like these hurricane vases:

I bought the two shorter hurricane vases (I already had the taller one) and the glass candle sticks.

Then I got out my trusty hot glue gun and got gluing! I put the glue on the top of the candle sticks and then set a hurricane vase on top. Like this:

This is what I ended up with:

Instead of putting candles in them, I decided to go on a scavenger hunt in my own back yard! I found the cutest little pine cones that had the perfect shape, a bunch of gum balls (usually I curse these because I always step on them... every time, never fails... when I go into the back yard!), and the bark from the"Peely Bark Tree" (aka River Birch). I loved the way the bark curled into long strips that I cut into shorter pieces.

Can't you see these filled with things like Pepper Mints and little Glass Ball Ornaments at Christmas?!

I can also see these with a black candle in the middle surrounded with some "Halloween" colored M & M's!

Or maybe just with a plain white candle in the center! Simple and sweet.

What would you put in these?!

Oh Yea! Please share if you make these! I would love to see what you do with them!

Birthday Boy,

Today you are three years old!

My, how you have grown. From 4 pounds to 26 pounds! 

From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you would leave a very special mark on this world.

I love the way you have your own little "ways" of doing things.

And your determination.

Your smile lights up the room.

I love when you say "Mom, Check this out!" even when you do something you aren't supposed to do.

And how you want to play ball for hours on end. You really are 100 percent B.O.Y.

When you say "When I can walk I can go fishin' wif Daddy!", I have to fight back tears because I know that with your hard work and determination, you will be able to walk and go "fishin' wif Daddy!"

I laugh when you ask to watch football instead of "Moose" (aka Nick, Jr.). - You are growing up too fast!

And love the way you yell "DADDY!!!" and then ask "what you been up to?!" everyday when he comes home from work - it is the exact same tone and excitement every day.

You are so smart that I am constantly wondering "where did he learn that?!"

You are so sweet to your sister. I love it when y'all giggle and how you speak to her in "baby talk!" (I really think y'all have developed a secret language). I love that you and Harper are best friends.

I love the way you want to be just like your daddy. I hope you grow to become as great of a man as he is.

I am so thankful for you. I cannot wait to see what you do with your life.

You are so very captivating. No matter where we are or what you are doing, you always seem at attract an audience.

I love the way you ask "I can take a baf sink?!" everyday.

And the way you always make us laugh.

I love the way you never give up. Your drive amazes me.

You changed us. Taught us to never take anything for granted. You are our miracle.

Thank you, God for this little boy. Please help us to raise him in your word so that he may do your will. Use him, Lord, as your servant.

I Love you Cliff!

Mommy

The FIRST Football Game!

This day is right up there with the first time Cliff smiled, waved bye-bye, spoke, sat up, took steps, etc.

It was his first time going to a football game and he LOVED every second of it! Of course I had to make him an outfit to wear since attending the first football game is considered a "milestone" in these parts! From the moment we parked, Cliff took in every single aspect of going to the game! He "helped" us set up the tent and chairs and then all the food too! He threw his football with his buddies(who were also at the game for their first time too!)! Cliff hung out with the "Guys."

It was too funny how he wanted to be apart of the adult conversation:

He hung out with me some too!

And then after yummy "tailgating" food and some milk, the moment he had been waiting for all week was here! We were going to see the football game:

He was so excited he could not stand it! We couldn't get in the stadium fast enough!

The look on his face was priceless! He danced to the music and yelled "Goooo Cocks"! He even knew all of the songs and cheers by the time we left the game! He soaked everything in as I took 5 million pictures (this day is after all documented in his baby book right with all of the other "milestones")! This was the look on his face the WHOLE time we were in the stadium:

Needless to say, he is hooked, a Gamecock for life!

Three is days away!

Cliff is almost Three!

I keep wondering "where did the time go?!"

Another Chair..

Here is yet another chair I found! (Side of the road of course!) And it was Y.U.C.K.Y... It had been outside in a yard for a while, so I hosed it off and let it dry... and THEN I went to work!

Here it is in all it's ugliness:

And here it is after a little TLC:

Now It sits very proud and pretty in our newly redecorated master bedroom (yes, there is a post on this to come!):

Ah, Much Better!

Party Pants!

With Cliff's birthday party this weekend, I decided Harper needed a party outfit! So here's how I made the pants! I was inspired by my super crafty friend Kim who's little girl was born on the same day as Harper. She made baby E the cutest romper with ruffles on the bottom of the legs! So Kim, thank you!!! (Oh yea, this could be done for older girls too!)

Take pants that fit well and fold in half. Place ontop of fabric that is folded over.

Trace 1/2 in larger than the actual pants. (this leaves room for a 1/4 seam allowance)

Pin and sew the two center parts together. (just the top half from the waist to the crotch (eww, hate that word...)) -see the next picture if confused!

Do this for each side.See! Just like this...

Now pin the two pieces together and sew the outside edges. Then sew the inside of the legs together.

Take the pants (YAY... that was fast!) legs and turn the under 1/4 inch and iron.

Sew the hem of the pants legs.

Iron and sew the casing for the elastic waist band. Remember to leave enough of an opening to insert elastic!

Pull elastic through the casing. I use a safety pin to make it easier!

Pull elastic until the waist of the pants are the correct size and then sew elastic (I stitch and back stitch about 5 times)

Stitch the opening for the casing closed. (remember to backstitch at both ends!)

See what you have done! But that's not the end! We NEED ruffles!

Cut 2 strips to make the ruffles on the bottom of the pant legs. (I cut mine 4 inches because I wanted to ruffle to be 2 inches)

Fold with RIGHT sides facing and sew together. Then turn right side out.

Iron flat. (notice I put the seam to one side. This is the side I will sew to the pants and the seam will not be visible.)

Do a basting stitch - note I am doing it next to the seam. (aka a running stitch... set your machine to the longest stitch setting)

Pull ONE thread to ruffle and work the fabric until it is the size of the pant leg.

See?! Now stitch the two loose ends together (right sides facing)

Pin ruffle onto pants.

Iron the ruffle down! WHooo Hoooo! ... and repeat for the other leg!

Now you have super cutie ruffle pants!

PERFEECT for a birthday party!

(Harper was not awake for me to do a photoshoot with them on.. So you'll just have to wait until after Cliff's party to see how cute they are on her!)

Edit: Here Harper is rocking her new Party Pants and Pillowcase Top!