Stop the Madness!

Wow--I have another really busy week ahead of me.  I was feeling pretty stressed about it earlier today until I had a little talk with myself.  I often create my own stress by demanding too much of myself.  I do not have to do it all.  I repeat.  I do not have to do it all.  It needs to be my mantra.  Some things will have to slide this week.  Some things are too important (or too fun) to let slide.  For example--Joe has a St. Patty's day party at school tomorrow and after the party they take a walk downtown and greet everyone they meet with a "Top o' the mornin' to ya."  They also get to look for "gold" as they walk.  Some moms go out early and hide this gold.  I want to go and experience this with him and take pictures (can't miss a kodak moment).  I had almost talked myself out of going so that I could do school with the girls.  School is important but we can do it later.  It doesn't have to start at 9:30.  And just because we can't do it in the morning doesn't mean that we don't have time later.  Joe will only do this once and I will be there.  I am going to just take this week one day at a time and do what I can each day.  If we eat pb and j for dinner, that's okay.  I am going to ENJOY this week and not just survive it.  I am going to ENJOY it and not let it stress me out.  There really isn't that much to do when I think of it but to be honest, just normal life is jam packed busy with housekeeping, meals, homeschooling, and raising up these sweet children "in the way they should go."  So, when I think of adding an activity 3 out of 5 days it seems like a crazy week.  I am thankful for this craziness and the fun things we have planned.  We start our bi-weekly Wednesday afternoon skating this week--wouldn't miss it for the world!  If this post seeems scattered and a little like a pep talk to myself--well, that's because I am and it is.  Have a fabulous week and pray for me to manage my stress!  

Fun With Grammy

Grammy came to visit this weekend, she drove all the way down from Atlanta just for the weekend!  She and a friend drove down together and her friend visited with her mom.  It worked out great.  We had most of Saturday free so Grammy made easter cookies with the kids.  They turned out beautiful and I assume they taste wonderful but I haven't tried them--trying to be good and stick to my points for the day.  I've only had one bad day and I just got too busy to plan what I could eat.  Anyway, here are some pictures from cookie making with Grammy.

More Schoolhouse Rock pictures

We had a great but busy weekend.  The girls were in four shows!  It was such a fun show and I enjoyed it all four times.  Of course, I can't get the songs out of my head but it could be worse I guess.  At least I know all the words--a lot of the time when I get a song stuck in my head I don't know all the words and that's really annoying!  Here are a few more pictures--thank you Amy!

Schoolhouse Rock and Silly Sock Day

I just asked Ollie if it was still Friday--this has been the longest day.  I was just uploading pictures on to the computer and I have some of Joe from this morning--it was Silly Sock Day at school.  I can't believe that was just this morning--it seems so long ago that it must have been yesterday.  Anyway--Hannah and Grace were in Schoolhouse Rock Live tonight (and last night) and did a great job.  Tonight was Hannah's night that she had lines in the beginning.  This play is really a fun one, all the songs are familiar from Saturday mornings long ago.  I will eventually upload some video, probably on Sunday.  For now, here are  few pictures.  

A Trip to the ER

We went to the ER last night for the third time in our lives.  Joe woke up with a croupy cough and just couldn't quit coughing.  Then he started having trouble breathing--he could breath but it was hard for him and sounded awful.  It didn't help that he was practically hysterical.  This went on for about 30 minutes before deciding to take him in.  Once outside he calmed down and was breathing better but still wheezy.  He got a breathing treatment, an xray and was declared fine, probably a virus but we have to see the pediatrician today.  Of course all this happened in the middle of the night so we are all dragging this morning.  I am thankful that he is okay, it was pretty scary.  

How to Make a Tiered Skirt

Okay--

1. Measure the waist of whoever you are making the skirt for. Also measure from the waist down to the length you want the skirt to be.
2. Decide how many tiers you want the skirt to be and take your length plus an inch per tier plus 2 more inches and divide by how many tiers you want to have to see how wide your tiers need to be. For example--If you want a 40 inch skirt and you want 4 tiers then first add 6 to 40. This allows for seam allowances, hem, and elastic. So then we divide 46 by 4 and get approximately an 11 inch tier give or take. You decide. You could go for a 12 inch tier. Remember people--I am a non-perfectionist and I sew by the seat of my pants. So, these measurements are not going to be exact. Your skirt will likely be a little longer or shorter than you originally planned. No big deal. Really.
3. Take the waist size and 1 1/2 it and cut your first tier that long. For example if your waist is 24 then you would cut a strip that is 24 + 12 (1/2 of 24) = 36. So, 36 inches long and however wide you decided. Cut a piece of elastic about a half inch or so shorter than the waist size depending on how snug you want it.
4. Sew a little pocket for the elastic in the first tier and thread the elastic through and sew a short stitch on both ends to tack it down. And you have your first tier


5. Now, for your second tier--you need to double length of the first tier. Again, this is not exact. Depending on our pleats you may end up needing more or less. More on that later. Cut your fabric, twice as long as above and the same width. You will likely have to sew two pieces together to get the right length for this, it won't be noticeable on the skirt. Now we start the pleating. You can gather instead if you would rather but I prefer making pleats. Put your fabric right side up under the presser foot and sew a little, stop, fold a little pleat, sew over it, stop, fold a little pleat, sew over it, stop, fold a little pleat, sew over it, repeat until you reach the end. The more you pleat and the bigger your pleats the more fabric you will use and the fuller the skirt will be.
6. Once you have it pleated you then sew it to the first tier, right sides together making sure that your seam allowance is wide enough to go over the pleating stitch. You are done with your second tier.

7. For the third and subsequent tiers just follow the above steps, doubling the length each row. Now--about needing more or less. If you have too long of a strip of pleated tier then it's easy--you cut off the excess. If you don't have enough, you should notice before you get to the end--take it out of the machine. Cut some more fabric and sew it onto your tier and then pleat it and then continue sewing it on.
8. Once you have finished all your tiers. Hem the bottom and then sew the two sides together. Of course, my sides almost never match up tier for tier and often when I get to the bottom of the skirt it's a little off. What do I do? I fudge it! Fold it up a little so it matches or just let it be off by a little.

Since you've already seen the finished product of Hannah's skirt--here's a picture of the one I made for Grace. I love the fabric and she does too! You can't tell from the picture but the little red dots are ladybugs.

Skirt Making 101

Recently I had out the paper for the fair that tells all the categories of things that kids can enter.  I had marked a few and then Hannah got ahold of it and marked a whole lot more.  I don't think we will be doing everything she has in mind but one thing she really wanted to do was learn to make a tiered skirt.  So, that is what we set out to do on Monday.  It was harder than I thought to guide her through this.  It took us all morning and then some time in the eventing as well.  It was hard not to just do it but it was important that she do this on her own since we would be entering it in the fair.  So, I made a skirt for Grace at the same time and demonstrated each step.  The only part that I had to assist with was the pleating and even that was mostly done by Hannah.  She did a great job!  I've had so many people ask me about how to make this skirt that I will devote a blog post to it, that's my next one.  I am really not a very good seamstress.  I have a very hard time following patterns so all of that to say--if I can make this skirt so can you!  It is very forgiving and really easy.  An 8 year old can make it.  On another note--I had a big lesson in patience and for once I did okay!