Once Upon a Saturday...

A good friend emailed me last week to let me know that she was producing "Cinderella, the Musical" with The Theatre Company. I thought it would be the perfect "big girl" outing for Norah, so we rounded up some friends and made an afternoon of it.

Norah was thrilled to see her good buddy, Shelby, in the lobby. Unfortunately, we were less than thrilled to discover that although we had arrived an hour before curtain and were first in line at the box office, they were already sold out! (Blasted online ticket sales!)

The lady at the booth took our names and told us if we'd like to wait, then after everyone was seated, they might be able to squeeze us in. So we waited.



Norah and Shelby checked out the cast photos (searching for "Cinderelly")
















And of course, they had to see what their picture looked like. (Isn't it crazy to think that our kids wont grow up ever having to wait until film is developed to see what they look like?)

Finally, they called our names! There were a few seats available, but not enough for everyone to sit together. We were just happy to get in! (Norah was SO excited about going--she'd been looking forward to it all week, and even woke up Saturday morning singing, "I'm going to see Cinderella and Shelby today! I'm going to see Cinderella and Shelby today!" So I knew we were in for a big upset if I had to tell her it wasn't gonna happen)

After the show (which Norah loved and is STILL singing songs from), the cast lined up in the lobby to greet the public. Norah shook hands with and congratulated everyone....well, at least the all the girls. She was a little scared of the guys. Here she is with the stepsisters (the one on the left, incidentally stole the show for me--she was hilarious!)






And finally, at the very end of the line, the leading lady!

What's funny is, in this photo, Norah is asking her, "Where is Cinderella?" Norah was a little confused about Cinderella's identity, I think it's due to the fact that when she was in her home, Cinderella always wore a kerchief that completely covered her hair. Then at the ball, she wore a white, powdered wig (Think George Washington.) And at the end of the show, she wore a curly, brown wig. So I couldn't really fault Norah for not recognizing her. Cinderella was a great sport with Norah. She laughed and identified herself, and gave one honored, little girl a big hug.

The theater bug has officially bitten. Norah has been telling me ever since the show that she wants to "be a mouse in Cinderella--like the little kids". (There were 40 plus kids involved in the production, the youngest of whom were "mice" and Norah thought they were great!) As to whether she'll be willing to stand by herself and sing on-stage (a rite of passage all potential Theatre Company actors must endure), that remains to be seen.

Hot off the Press(er foot)!

Ok, I guess, technically these things are hot out from under the presser foot (that's a little sewing machine humor for those who don't recognize a fine pun when they see one)...but I've been sewing like a mad woman this week! I made a couple of these nifty grocery list cozies for my mom and sister's birthdays. (The one pictured is AA's--I need to borrow mom's back since I forgot to photograph it)
My newlywed little sis had mentioned that she only had a "boring legal pad" on which to scrawl her bi-weekly grocery list, so I thought it might be fun to spice it up a little bit. She loved it! (And I'm a little jealous...avid list-maker that I am, so I might have to stitch up one of these bad boys for myself!) Gramps, if you're reading this--the button is one of the ones you gave me from the garage sale. It is a button covered in vintage lace that was obviously cut off an old outfit...and I LOVE it! (I have a few more that I'm hording for future projects!)
Mom and I also made a set of mother/ daughter/ grandmother/ granddaughter Thanksgiving aprons for the Sonshine School fund raising auction. I have some truly great memories of helping in the kitchen for Thanksgivings past, so it was fun to think that these little aprons will probably see a few wonderful family memories, as well.



I also made a couple of onesies for a good friend. The first is made to look like a nametag. (The full tag reads, "Hi I'm Creed. Fearfully and wonderfully made"--which is a nod at Psalm 139:14)
She also requested a onesie with a guitar on it. I had a great time putting this one together, and even managed to get the right number of strings stitched on it...I think. (just don't count the frets--there was only so much I could do authentically in such a small area!)
Finally, I whipped out a couple more colored pencil rolls. (One of which will be joining the aprons in the Sonshine School auction) It feels good to be "sew" productive...and I've even managed to put "Pigtails and Puddles" labels on a few things! I hope to build up a small inventory over the next month or so and launch a (small) shop on etsy. Please let me know if you can think of anything that I should try to include. Outside opinions are always appreciated!

For those who might be wondering, even with all this production taking place in Robinson County, Norah and Eli are not being totally neglected. God has blessed me with two really sweet kids, who take great naps, (and enjoy the occasional visit from Mimi) and it's amazing what can be accomplished in a couple disjointed hours a day!

From the Mouthes of Babes...

We had a pretty wicked storm the week before Ike hit. The thunder was so loud that Norah fled her bed and rushed into the living room, eyes wide and full of fear. Ever since then, we've been dealing with an "I'm scared" phase. Nearly every night when we put her to bed she asks, "Is it gonna thunder, tonight?" Last night, while Jason was putting her to bed, he came and found me mid-routine to implore me, "Please stop teaching our daughter vocabulary." Then, he (laughingly) informed me of his bedtime conversation with Norah.

J: Night-night, sweetheart.
N: Daddy, I'm scared.
J: There's nothing to be scared of, I'm right here.
N: But, I'm scared, Daddy.
J: It's ok, Norah. You don't need to be scared.
N: (whining now) But Daddy, I'm scared! (I should interject that this is a fake whine to buy time because she doesn't want to go to sleep)
J: Norah, if you say you're scared again, I'm going to spank you.
N: (brief pause) Daddy, I'm afraid.

What was even more humorous to me, was knowing that if he had busted her on "afraid", she would have immediately started using, "frightened" in it's place. What can I say, we share a love of words!

Gig 'em, Anyway

Well, Saturday's game didn't exactly end like we would have hoped. But we still love our Aggies, and regardless of how bad the scoreboard looked, I still thought Norah and Eli looked pretty sweet in their maroon and white.

I'm not sure if it was the stuffed Reveille (which, I should add, plays the "Aggie War Hymn") given to her for her first Christmas by Uncle Billy, the Texas A&M Converse sneakers, given to her by Gramps & Granddad, or the fact that we taught her to say "Aggies" as soon as she could say, "Go"...but Norah knows who her team is.

When she heard Jason invite my brother and Trae over to watch the game, Norah immediately started asking if she could put on her "Aggie outfit" and "watch the Aggies with Uncle Trae and Uncle Johnny". And she loved that Eli had "his own Aggie outfit that matches mine!" She even went so far as to tell the guys, "I love the Aggies. This is my favorite show." When the game was on. Way to lay it on thick, Lil' Bit.

Ok, Maybe Just One More...

Our sweet friend, Olivia recently celebrated her 1st birthday, and I couldn't resist the chance to make a cake with such cute animals! (So, I guess if you want me to come out of retirement to do a cake for you, word to the wise, pick a super-cute design).








The birthday girl sunk her (few) teeth into her own, monkey cupcake. I am told she was quite the dainty, neat eater. Happy 1st Birthday, Livvie!

Life After Ike

Ike has come and gone, leaving us with more than a few fallen limbs, but thankfully also with our power and water supply as well as a revitalized crop of healthy, green St. Augustine.

Norah and I spent nearly 45 minutes running broken branches and sticks to the curb on Monday, but we were left with one, massive branch too long for us to move without another adult or two. Honestly, Norah has loved playing on it so much, I wouldn't be surprised if a few tears were shed when it meets its final resting place (presuming that it isn't the same as it's current resting place). Any guesses as to what she's pretending in the picture above? I'll give you a couple minutes to work it out...
Perhaps the best benefit of being on the fringes of Ike (and please note that I am fully aware that there are so many people without power, water, and even homes--and our prayers are with you--I'm simply trying to be thankful for the blessings that I can account for) has been the drop in temperature. We're experiencing days that are eerily similar to fall...in September! So to celebrate, we had a backyard picnic.


Norah practiced some of her wrestling holds on Eli...








I think she's trying to work him into a full Nelson here... (and no, I'm not really that knowledgeable of wrestling terminology, I consulted Jason for accuracy)


Eli was soon-after disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct (ie--biting)...he didn't take too kindly to this decision, so I let him pin me, so he could feel like he was he was the winner. (Male egos, you know)


Ok, time's up...any guesses? While Eli and I were finishing up lunch on the blanket, Norah called to me from the tree branch, saying, "Look Mommy, I'm a PUPA!" (For those a little rusty on the life cycles of insects, "pupa" is the term for an insect's resting stage, more commonly known as a "chrysalis" or "cocoon" in the life of a butterfly) My response, "A Pupa? Supa Doopa!" (a la Noggin's "Wonderpets Save the Caterpiller") She was thrilled that I got her little joke. And I'm thrilled that she is just Norah.

From the Mouthes of Babes...

Norah is going through a phase of taking everything very literally. Case in point, Grandma calls her her "little chickadee", Norah responds, "I'm not a chickadee, I'm a girl." Daddy calls her "Squirt", Norah responds, "I'm not 'Squirt', I'm Norah." With this in mind, the following interchange cracked me up...

Pepaw: "Bye, bye, Norah Lou!" (My dad has a habit of adding "Lou" to the end of family members' names. It's a term of endearment)
Norah: "Bye, bye Pepaw Lou!"

I think we were all expecting, her to explain that she wasn't Norah Lou, she was "Just Norah", but instead, she decided to shock us all and just go with it.


Also overheard this weekend...

N: (to Eli) "Buddy, you should always, always ALWAYS obey Mommy and Daddy. And me, Norah."

When Norah was a few weeks old, I bought a new laundry basket. (The kind with an indention in the side so it fits snugly against your hip, which is especially convenient if you are balancing a clingy baby on your other hip)

I remember wrinkling up my nose at spending upwards of twelve dollars on this "ergonomic" laundry basket. Had I known then all the use this laundry basket would get over the course of the next two years, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. In addition to it's intended function, it has provided both of our kids hours of entertainment. From Norah's "rides" in the basket as a wee babe...




to playing hide-and seek in the clean clothes...





















It's also been excellent for practicing their trapping skills (such an important trade for modern-day Texas kids, you know...).













Eli is big enough that HE now climbs on top of the basket when Norah gets inside. (she's not in it this time, but he likes to keep his skills sharp)






On this particular day, Norah discovered that the over-turned basket was the perfect height for a "piano bench". She called me to come and watch her "practice my piano" (I know you, in your limited knowledge of Robinson County imaginary play, probably thought she was just working on a puzzle, but you would be mistaken)








This one cracks me up. I walked in just a couple of days ago to find Eli "this" close to overturning a massive load of laundry onto himself. I love that I caught his mixed expression (mischievous/proud).

Recently, Norah's taken to asking my permission to play with the laundry basket. (I had to explain to her a few weeks ago that when it is full of laundry--especially dirty laundry, it is not a good place to "take a bath" or "go to sleep", as inviting as it may be) She has been very good about respecting my wishes, so now, each time she sees it empty (which, believe it or not, does happen from time to time), she asks, "Mommy, may I play with the laundry basket? Please, please, please?!" To which I usually respond, "Is it empty?" N:"Yes, Mommy it IS!" A:"Then yes, you may." N:"Yippee!!"

Yeah...I'd say that twelve dollar laundry basket was worth every penny...and I have a feeling it'll keep paying dividends for years to come!

That's My Boy!

My boy loves me. The morning after I wrote this post, bemoaning his incapacity to pay homage to his dear, old mom, he surprises me with this...



Please pardon his recent tongue obsession. I, personally find it endearing, but if it offends you, feel free not to re-play.

In case you're skeptical, it wasn't a fluke. He's got it down! He starts in "Dadada"-ing the moment Jason gets home from work, but "Mamama" is a moniker reserved for me (usually when we're alone and he is feeling deprived of my "attention", ie--food source)

I managed to get his first "Dadada" on film a month back, as well. I wish I could claim to have been so video-savvy when Norah was this little...Alas, poor first-born and sacrificial lamb of first-time parental learning experiences...

Sorry if you are now experiencing a crick in your neck...I shot it on our digital camera and didn't know what I was doing (obviously)...but at least I got it on film (in a round about way)

From the Mouthes of Babes...

While driving this morning...

N: Momma, where are we going?
A: To the bank.
N: Like Baby Moses' brother?
A: (amused laugh) You mean Moses' sister?
N: Yeah. Miriam.
A: Very good. But no. We aren't going to a river bank. We're going to the bank that gives us lollipops.
N: (satisfied nod of approval) Oh, ok.


Have I mentioned how much I love this funny, little girl?

Pressing on the Upward Way

Eli is becoming more and more aware of his own strength. I left the room for a couple of minutes the other day and returned to this picture. I should also note that the rubbermaid wasn't pushed up against the fireplace when I left. (So either he pushed it, or had an accomplice. I'm inclined to think it was the latter, as Norah loves push him around)






At first, he looked mildly concerned, like he was worried he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. This, did not, however keep him from trying to get away with a couple more tricks before I scooped him up and moved the rubbermaid into the garage.

At eight months, he is pulling up on everything in sight, cruising a little, and most recently has begun trying to stand up in the middle of the room. (He starts in the sitting position, then puts his palms down on the ground and pushes his rear into the air as he straightens his legs. He has not managed to stand completely up yet, but he's definitely working on getting there)

His sound repertoire now includes: "Dada", "Buh buh", "Goo Goo" and "Guh Guh". That's right, still no "Mama". All those 2am feedings and this is how he thanks me. He loves to try to imitate the sounds I make. He does well with the ones he knows. He tries SO hard to make the "Mmmmmm" sound. His concentration is positively endearing. He may not be able to say "Mama", but he has "I love my Mama" written all over his face!

He is still a great eater. He's done well with baby food, but in light of the fact that he has a mouthful of teeth, enjoys self-feeding, and the recent realization we spend $10/week on baby food, I've decided to start him on solids. He is having a ball! His favorites so far are green beens and bread. (I haven't given him meat yet...I'm holding out for a couple more weeks, as the Dr. recommended starting it at 9 months. If he's anything like his Daddy, he's in for a real treat!)