America's Favorite Pastime

I have loved living here almost since the instant we moved in, and that love has only increased as time has passed. Part of the reason for the love is the small-town feel of the community. Between church, school, our neighborhood, and now baseball, we really feel like we belong here. I guess that's why we've lived here the longest of all our residences.

Speaking of baseball (kind of) ... here are a few pictures from Opening Day and recent games. There are not many things cuter than a kid in uniform!

Getting ready for opening day

Opening Day parade

Dexter's first hit. It didn't go far, as you can tell, but in t-ball that's all it takes sometimes!

Natalie behind the plate

Bea ready to run home

Our evenings and weekends are pretty full for the next few months, but we are having a great time and the kids are really enjoying it, so I guess that means it's worth it ... even when it's my turn to be "bench mom." Now I know what the phrase "herding cats" means!

More Things That Have Been Happening

Hello out there in Internet-land! I have emerged from my sewing room long enough to ensure you all that I have not died under a pile of fabric remnants and thread. Here's what's been going on:

1) Nat, Bea, and Dex have all started baseball for the first time. It is quite an adventure for all of us, especially Jay who somehow got roped into coaching the girls' team. (As in "our girls", not as in "girls only.") Opening day is right around the corner and everyone is pretty excited.

2) Speaking of baseball, I learned a lot about my children as I watched them go door-to-door selling their fundraiser candy bars. Bea took to it like a fish to water ... sometimes even people that turned her down couldn't resist her charm and called her back to purchase one after all. Natalie did well, too, but does not enjoy the process. Dexter ... well, let's just say he wasn't ready for the responsibility.

3) My sister recently celebrated her 40th (!) birthday and I was able to surprise her with a book of her geneology. It was so much fun to see the excitement on her face. You know what else is fun? Finding an entry about your ancestor on Wikipedia. This is our 8th-great-grandfather on my mom's side, Philippe D'Entremont.

This is Philippe's statue in Pubnico, Nova Scotia. Would love to go there one day.

4) We got a "new" refrigerator back in December, and it's awesome. It is a mid-60's GE Combination fridge/freezer, and we found it at a local antique mall that specializes in amazing mid-century furniture. We just adore this fridge. The shelves swing out and it has a butter softener! And it looks great with our avocado green pyrex!

5) The kids are doing well and are all healthy (though we all spent about a week battling a stomach thing). Natalie is still in violin, Beatrice is getting excited for her baptism in June, Dexter is obsessed with the Wii, and Calvin's speech is improving every week, thanks to the speech therapy we started over a year ago.

6) It is raining hard today, and I am feeling unproductive. That's why, instead of folding laundry and mopping the floor, I am reading Hunger Games fan sites and updating the blog.

7) This is me making faces at Jay:

8) This is me trying to be serious:

9) This is me failing at being serious:

Ok, I think that's all I have to report for now. When I start posting pictures of myself, I know it's time to end.... Guess I better start folding that laundry after all.

Revamped

So, as you probably already know (because I talk about it all the time), last year I opened an Etsy store to sell doll clothes for American Girl and other 18 inch dolls. It has been a lot of fun, and I've really enjoyed the creative outlet and of course, making sales! After a busy Christmas season, I put my shop on vacation for a while. I took that opportunity to do more sewing and revamp the store as well. On Friday, I reopened with a new name and new logo:

It was a successful grand reopening, and I already need to do some restocking!

My favorite item that I listed was something I have wanted to make since last Fall: A Katniss (Hunger Games) costume! It already sold, but I will be making a few more over the next few months leading up to the release of the movie. I think I will also be making a Hermione costume soon. If you have any other ideas on costumes to make, I'd love to hear them!

For those of you who may be interested in making a purchase, enter code "friends" for 10% off your order of all non-limited edition items. (Please keep that code between us) :) Also, if you live local and don't require shipping, enter code "local" at checkout.

I appreciate everyone's support! I want you all to know that I don't write about my sewing adventures because I expect you to buy something, I write about them because it is a big part of my life right now, and it makes me happy. So please never feel obligated to buy something... but of course feel free to pass on my store name to any one you know who might be interested. :)

Before I Move On ...

Ok, even I was getting sick of seeing the Christmas post on the top of my blog, so I guess it's time to move on. It is January 13th, after all. The Christmas decorations are down (except a small pile still hanging out in the corner of my living room), the candy and other holiday goodies are depleted (though evidence of their existence remains with me), and the new toys have all found a place. Still, I thought I'd share just a few funny pictures from Christmas, because they made me smile. I hope they make you smile, too.

My nephew Chris and his girlfriend were not pleased with their White Elephant gift. (the grossest candy Jay could find at the Dollar Store)

The kids have been teasing each other about liking Dora the Explorer, so the girls gave Dexter a gag gift of a Dora coloring book. He took it pretty well, and we all had a good laugh. The look on his face cracks me up.

The kids loved their animal hats from their awesome cousin Danica!

All Bea wanted for Christmas was a guitar. She had been asking and asking for many months, so of course we tortured her and pretended like the last gift had been opened, before pulling out the *real* last gift. She is such a sweet girl, she was so happy even before she knew there was another gift for her, so when she got the guitar she was genuinely surprised and happy. The look in her eyes says it all.

Here she is, ready to rock. She has already written her first song... now we just need to get her guitar lessons. :)

It was a wonderful Christmas. I think the best part was that Jay had the day off (thanks to a very generous coworker who offered - without ever being asked - to trade days with Jay), and that Christmas was on a Sunday. We opened our gifts (besides stockings) on Christmas Eve so that our actual Christmas day was very simple. It was stockings, church, and a yummy dinner with family. What more could you ask for?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. We actually stayed up this year. We watched Superman with the girls and made it (barely) to midnight. I don't think we'll be doing that for many more years. :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

We were slackers this year (again) and didn't do Christmas cards, but we trust that you all know how much we appreciate and love you anyway. This Christmas season has been busy, but we've tried to take time to continue family traditions, and make a few new ones as well. (The extended family white elephant gift exchange was a riot. I came away with the coveted basket of plastic fruit - the exact same one that was in my home as a child. Awesome!)

Oh, and right after Thanksgiving, our sweet youngest son turned 3. The poor thing ... his birthday falls right during our normal "get out all the Christmas decorations" time period. Last year I decided not to decorate for Christmas until after we celebrated Cal's birthday, but in my excitement this year, I completely forgot. So Cal's batman-themed birthday party had some very merry accents. Luckily he is too young to notice or care, but I vow to do better next year. No one's birthday should have to compete with another holiday! (Though I know many who do, and for them all I can say is, I'm truly sorry.)

And now he even has to share his birthday blog post with Christmas. *Hangs head in shame* Happy Birthday, Calvin, and Merry Christmas, too.

Before It Gets Too Cold ...

The kids have been spending some much-needed outdoor time on the trampoline, trying to breathe in as much fresh air as possible before it starts getting too cold. Not that it ever really gets *too cold* here in California, but we are sort of wimpy that way.

Thanks, Dad, for the trampoline - two years later, it's still the gift that keeps on giving!

A Nice Break From Reality

So, we went to Disneyland. (Did you hear?)

It was magical.

(No, really, it was!)

We spent 5 (!) days in the Happiest Place on Earth, and it really was a great time. There were only a few meltdowns, only a little rain, no crowds at all, and plenty of Disney magic. I will spare you all 700 pictures we took, but I can't help but share a few favorites...

Jay and Betsy ... rockin' the ears!

Dex on the Bumper Cars with Grandma

Calvin enjoying his ice cream in Gibson Girl (which is where I saw my 2nd famous person of the trip: Paul Stanley from KISS (sans makeup)).

Natalie showing Darth Maul who's boss

Bea crashing Goofy's car in Toon Town

And, the classic Disneyland picture

Thanks for the memories, Big D! We'll see you again in 2013 (fingers crossed)!

Avengers in the House!

There is no safer place than the Fear household, now that the Avengers have arrived!

Natalie battled the forces of evil as Iron Man:

Bea wielded Thor's mighty hammer:

And Dexter and Calvin both wanted to save the world as Captain America:

It was a great Halloween, with a trunk-or-treat party at church on Friday, and then Halloween in Disneyland on Monday! Disneyland pictures will follow ... (don't get too excited!) Hope everyone had a great holiday and didn't stuff themselves too full of candy corn. :)