My New Toy

For quite some time I've wanted a sewing machine. The fact that I have absolutely no idea how to work a sewing machine really didn't matter....I wanted it and I have visions of making cute things for the girls. I also didn't want just a sewing machine but rather one that also did embroidery. Last weekend I decided it was time to quit talking about it and just get it. Now I'm the owner of a brand new Brother SE400 and I'm signed up for a class next Saturday for beginner sewers. This SE400 is a greater starter machine because it's inexpensive but does everything.

The sewing machine arrived on Thursday evening and I tracked that thing via the UPS website all week as if I were tracking Santa Claus.  I would text Joe every day telling him where it was....Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and finally our front porch. It became a joke between us because he started to ask where my sewing machine was each day. I was seriously so excited to get the thing.

I couldn't wait for my class and of course had to open it and start tinkering with it. I've figured out how to thread it and all of the stitches. Tonight I worked on the embroidery feature and even downloaded an embroidery design directly from computer. That's another wonderful feature....it connects to my computer so you aren't stuck with the basic designs in the machine but rather anything you want from the internet. I LOVE IT. My next big task will be learning how to applique but I think I need to save that for an expert to explain to me.

To practice embroidery I did two things tonight on scrap material.....

The tiara is the one I downloaded into the machine and so far it's the only one I've downloaded. I am imagining this design on a solid color t-shirt with a cute fabric to applique and embroider around and embroidering their name below it. I'm a novice so it will probably take me a really long time to figure all of this out but it's my new favorite hobby.

Show Week

Thursday was the girls last day at The Little Gym and it was Show Week. Show Week is where they let the parents come into the gym for the kids to show off the skills they learned over the 20 week semester. It was really cute and the first time we got to sit in the audience as a proud parent and cheer for our little girls who absolutely rocked their first gymnastics class.

 

Sarah was supposed to be sitting on the sidelines cheering for her teammate...

We didn't get any pictures of Sarah on the uneven bars because I had to take Kristen to the restroom during this time. I could still see Sarah and she did awesome. Don't worry Sarah...your Daddy got it all on video.

They had a podium and each one got to go up to receive their metal and pose for the audience.



Showing off their very first metal



The Little Gym is such a wonderful place for kiddos this age. The girls truly had a fabulous time and learned lots of new things. The confidence they gained is amazing and it's a great feeling watching them try so hard at something and then finally get it. This was the beginning of an endless amount of life lessons and I am so proud of them!

I'm In Love

I'm in love with these two beautiful little girls.....and of course their Daddy as well. Poor Sarah had a sinus infection earlier in the week so she stayed home Monday and Tuesday. I took her to the doctor and apparently all of her cedar allergies turned into a sinus infection. The cedar is killing me as well....lots of sneezing and blowing my nose.

Here are a few pictures we snapped on Monday....

Shrine Circus

This evening we took the girls to the Austin Shrine Circus at the Cedar Park Center and we got there early so they could participate in the early events. They talked about riding an elephant all the way there but they will have to wait a little while before that happens so they get bigger or convince Daddy to ride with them. They instead rode a pony, which was no elephant but still exciting.

We had a great family night and the girls declared the elephants as their favorite part of the night.

On a side note....we ate dinner before we got there but naturally there is so much tempting food at events such as this. Joe was going to get the girls popcorn and he asked if they were hungry. Kristen said she didn't know....walked over to Sarah and asked....Are WE hungry?  They are now associating their stomachs as one unit as only twins can do.

Here are a few pictures of tonight.....

Sweet Randomness

Nana said we needed to update the blog so here goes....

The girls started singing this song today and I recorded it when we got home.
I'm not certain of all of the words but it goes something like....

Sitting on a fence post, chewing my bubble gum

Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop

Playing with my Yo Yo, Doo Whap Doo Whap

Along came Herman the Worm and He Was This Big

Herman, what happend to you?

He ate _____ (fill in the blank), Eww Yuck

I love the part at the end when the song is over and Sarah gets up.....
she is asking if she can see herself on video.

New Beginnings ~ 2011

New Year's Day we didn't do too much. I ran a few errands and went to the grocery store. We grilled Tilapia for dinner and we all had black eyed peas, which Kristen said were delicious. We mostly stayed home and played with their new Christmas toys.

Today we went to church and then headed to Mimi's for a late breakfast. The girls and mommy took a nap while Daddy washed and cleaned my car....lucky me because it needed it! The girls looked so cute in their dresses that I got a couple of pictures. I just love these tights!


New Year's Eve

We took the girls to the Austin Zoo on New Year's Eve. We're all a little spoiled going to the San Diego Zoo but we enjoyed it and had a fun day.

The tigers were the most active and came up really close.

We could hardly get around the zoo fast enough because they really just wanted to ride the train.

After the zoo we went over to the Brown's since we were so close to their house. We enjoyed our visit and the girls definitely seemed to enjoy playing with Ainsley. I didn't bring in my phone or camera so I didn't get any pictures but Alissa did. I think she got some cute ones of them rolling dough Alissa's mom made for bread. We had pizza together and just enjoyed our visit. DAN.ALISSA.AINSLEY....good people and we love them.

The girls fell asleep on the way home and we ended up just putting them in bed wearing the same clothes they wore all day. Afterwards I put the three items below in the freezer for an hour to chill and then made a champagne cocktail, watched the New Year's Eve celebration on TV and hung out with Joe. Our neighbors had a few people over and they had told us earlier in the day they planned to keep their kids up until midnight (their daughter is 9 and their son is 6 so they can make it to midnight). The definitely kept their word because at midnight everyone decided to go into the front yard and each child (our neighbor's and the kids of their friends) all brought out a kitchen pot and something to beat it with. They literally banged pots up and down the street at midnight. Luckily, all of the racket did not wake up Sarah whose room is on the front of the house. She did wake up a few times later due to fireworks but she went right back to sleep each time.

I look forward to all that 2011 has in store for us and I pray that this year brings good health and lots of happiness.

On a side note...it's January 1 and we successfully avoided Dell Children's this December with Kristen, unlike the past two years. Now we just have to keep it that way!