A shout out to My Mom!

In my Capstone class we have to write an essay every week. This week's was about tools passed down from one generation to the next.........

The tool that I have learned to use is a sewing machine. Just this last weekend I put that skill to use, sewing new dresses for my daughters. I have a family tradition that has been passed down for generations. That tradition is getting a new dress on Easter. A homemade dress is preferred. Also if there are multiple girls, their dresses should match. I have four sisters and every year just before Easter my mom would be sewing dresses for me and my sisters. I was talking to my sister last Thursday and jokingly asked her if she had her sewing done for Easter. Followed by me saying that I didn’t think I was going to do it this year. That thought only lasted a day. The next day, Friday, I started cutting fabric to start sewing. It is as if I have to do it, no matter what.

This is a picture of a pattern piece, burned to pieces, because I had
to make dresses no matter what. I started on Friday, and finished
Saturday night, 3 Dresses. This happened late Saturday night while cutting the
piece out for the bottom ruffle. A candle was burning on the counter top,
and caught the pattern piece when I lifted up to find the scissors.

As a child I can remember playing at my mom’s feet as she would sew for hours making pretty things for me to wear. When I was tired or fussy, she would hold me in her lap and continue to sew. Telling me not to touch the needle, because it would bite me. The sewing machine was a tool that made pretty things, but not for children to touch. My mom told me stories of when she was a girl how she and her sisters would make their own dresses to wear to school. My mom learned to sew from her mother, my grandmother. My grandmother used to tell my mom, that she was born before her time, because she would create new patterns that would be in fashion the next year. When my sisters and I were leaving home, the one thing that my mom made sure we had was a sewing machine. It seems kind of a silly thing to send your daughters out into the world with. We have enjoyed having that skill, and having the tool to use that skill.

I have not passed it onto my daughters yet, because they are too little. I have found myself picking them up on my lap while I sew and telling them not to touch the needle because it will bite them.

The finished Beauties! Thanks Mom!

Easter

These are three cool kids!

Awesome Austyn

The whole gang!

Ruby Girl

Sassy Sydnie

the eyes have it

More from Williamstown, Ma.
These Giant eyes are an exhibit at the William's College Museum
On one side they are a seat, and the other there is a light.

They seem to be just growing out of the hillside.
They were installed for the Anniversary of the museum.

We has such a great day together.
The kids loved climbing all over the eyes.

Winter Break and Art

My classes have been keeping me really busy,
but have also provided some family fun.

This is an example of what I have been doing in Ceramics.
Butterfly Mask, clay, before firing

Some artsy shots of the kids.
I had to visit two museums in Williamstown, Ma for my class.
It turned into a family trip.

These are taken at Williams College.

A Little bit of Ruby

Peeking around the corner looking for Mom. She really does keep track of me.

Loving her bunny from Grandma Green!

How can you resist this face?

It is even cute with a little bit of a runny nose.

And these curls, are amazing!

She is the Best baby, she keeps herself busy and stays out of trouble at least for now.....

Snow Day

Wyatt wanted to build a snowman,

but the snow was no longer sticking together,

so a football was sufficient.

Sydnie was telling me how cold her face was,

and that she was ready to go in and warm up.

Austyn built her own snowman when the snow was sticking together.

A Snowcapped Ruby. She was happy as could

be in her little suit on my back.

And a snowcapped Mom and Ruby.

We actually spent a good part of the

day out in the snow. We intended to just

go on a walk, then we found our friends

and started sledding, and stayed for a while.

But it was nice to be out of the house

and busy having fun in the snow.

The Stockings are hung and filled, Santa must have visited......

It looks like he did!

Sydnie was very Exctied to get this
many chapsticks all for her!
And a case to put them in!

Wyatt was super excited to get a nerf vest
for all of his ammo to go into.

Austyn loves art, she asks every year for a
new art kit and every year she gets one.
She really does enjoy it and having a mother
who loves art, it is encouraged in our house.

Ruby June, we found this busy box and
it is very cool! To get the shaped out she
has to open a door on the other side
with a key. She has used it for many
minutes, well as many as a 1 yr old has
attention for.

Merry Christmas!

We had a really great Christmas at our house. Everyone enjoyed what they received. We are so blessed and grateful to have the things that we do. It was a delightful day! There was lots of good food to eat, fun times, and relaxing. We couldn't have asked for a better day.

* Sydnie's favorite part of Christmas was getting stripped tights.

*Austyn's favorite part about Christmas was the food!

*Jordan favorite part about Christmas was seeing the joy on his children's faces,
and his itunes cards.

*Wyatt's favorite part of Christmas was getting his nerf bow and arrow.

*Ruby was happy to see all the commotion and did love her busy box.

*Keighty's favorite part of Christmas was taking a short nap, and seeing the joy on her family's faces.