SumThings

:: playing in sunbeams ::

:: just had to share.  i leave for the NYC at O'dark thirty in the morning.  can't wait! Happy weekend!::

:: New Neighbors ::

:: As if our little backyard community wasn't already teaming with enough color from the redbirds and finches.... we just needed to add a little yellow to the mix!  Meet our new neighbors.  They are NOT quiet, but their sweet tweets and twirps are so inviting you will want to open all the windows and snuggle up on the couch with a big furry blanket and just sit and listen to their chatter.  I know that is how i spent Naptime today.  I love this picture of the males all surrounding one female.  I am not very knowledgeable on yellow bird behavior, but they seem to travel in packs, or herds, or gaggles....a group.  They are also moving into the bamboo....right down the stalk from the finches.  What a sweet spring block party we are having ::

:: all of this bird chatter going on outside our windows is wonderful inspiration for all the spring sewing going on around here.  I whipped up another batch of halter dresses and tops for the girls.  They are actually wearing the same size....how convenient is that?  The dresses are a little too long for Paige just yet...but that's just because sammi is sprouting up like a weed!  She is getting so tall::

:: I am so excited to finally  have a pattern that i really enjoy making..over and over again.  A wise women once blogged about the need to have a familiar project, one that you could do over and over again without much thinking..something soothing, familiar, yet in the end productive.  I think i have finally found it with this pattern.  I love that i can make tops or dresses...that they can be worn alone or with undershirts and jeans.  I am excited to watch this pattern fall into winter with different fabrics and combinations of warm layers.  who says you can't wear a halter in the winter!?::

:: So far, my favorite part about sewing for the girls is seeing all of my favorite fabrics that have been stashed away for so long being pranced around the house.  I was just waiting for the perfect reason to chop up all this sweet, colorful cotton.  And, of course, you couldn't get any two cuter reasons! ::

:: virtual motion ::

:: trying to catch the spirit of my days.  it all feels like one big blurr.  so much movement and noise.  also doing a little spring cleaning..in my cyber life.  i have accumulated lots of accounts, websites, blogs, etc.  i feel like getting my internet-self straightened out.  so, check the sidebar for my new email address.  my sammibag site is also coming down.  i started making handbags so long ago...before etsy, before blogs, before the whole handmade movement was in full online force.  now, the site (and my bags) are very outdated. i am keeping my etsy store open...not stocked, but open....for future use. it feels good to Virtual Spring Clean! ::

:: Macro Backlog and Vitamin D ::

:: The last three days of Macro photos ::

:: oh, those eyes!  Let's take a closer look.  You can see my reflection.  I am  sitting on a chair and taking her picture.  It's kinda Trippy if you think about it...that is what she sees when i am all up in her face with my camera.  No wonder i can never get her to smile for pictures!  ::

:: our new favorite toy ::

:: a water AND sand table in one.  They should just call it a MUD table ::

:: Here's the Vitamin D part.  What a lovely, sunshiney day we had here in the 'burg! Outside time rules! ::

:: we found these glasses abandoned in the road.  check out the rhinestone skull and cross bones on the side. She's so cool! ::

:: our newest family of finches are moving into the bamboo this week.  I love the male finch with all of his colorful red regalia.  Welcome to the neighborhood!  ::

:: drama queen ::

:: Our little drama queen! :: 

:: We have had some definite transitional issues with Paige and have discovered her strong, stubborn, and completely endearing personality is a force to be reckoned with.  She is strong-willed, super-snuggly, loving, warm, impatient, extremely funny, and adorable.  We have such a great time just sitting around making her laugh, which is not hard to do at all!  She laughs at anything!  She is expressive and dramatic.  She will give anything to be held and is content for hours and hours sitting in a lap.  She's getting the hang of Life at the Miear's.  She adores her big sissy and cannot wait to get walking so she can run and play.  She is already pulling up and crawling everywhere.  She has a mouth full of teeth and hasn't skipped a beat while cutting them.  She is our sweet angel ::

:: These pictures are actually how she laughs!  She schrunches up her nose and shows off her teeth.  It makes us laugh so hard that she just keeps on doing it!  She's a total ham-bone! ::

Easter Fun '08

This is part two, so make sure you check out the post below to see more pictures!  Here are some sweet snaps dedicated to bunnies, sweet flowery dresses, and my favorite holiday...Easter!

The Bunny Family!

Little Bitty Baby Bunny

"Hey, sissy, your ears are crooked...lemme help you out"

"Sup, Bunny Mom? Why you laughin' at us?  What's so funny, bunny?"

"bye for now...must hop down the bunny trail!"

"ok, here's the deal sissy, mom is going to be one of THOSE moms that dresses us alike. So, you mine as well just get used to it.  I kinda like it, though...we sure do look cute this way!"

Say cheese!

My sweet girls! (and my new couch and paint color...yummy!)

All of this picture postin' just plain wore us out...were' pooped! 

Check out those little pierced ears!  She did a great job getting tortured! ;)

Sisterly Love

Let's just cut to the chase and give you what you want...pictures!  I may need to divide this into two posts because there are just so many cute snaps of the girls! 

Let's begin with some Firsts...

Their first night together and Sammi is already sharing her toys.

Sammi is a natural...so sweet, caring, and giving!  What a sweetheart!

First bath with sister...and the first bath with NO tears for baby!

The After Bath Double Burrito!

Their first morning together.  Sammi is showing Paige how to "use" the jumpy seat. 

"I like this thing!"

The first of many family reading times.  They love books! YAY!

ok...let's do a separate post for all of the easter fun! 

we're home......with the Flu!

Well, it happened!  The night before we left Guatemala i got VERY sick! To spare you the gory details, just think back to last year's pick up trip!  However, the big difference was...it only lasted a few hours.  I started my Porcelain Adventure at around 10 pm and it ended about 1 am.   I am pretty sure this Adventure was from the only thing in Guatemala that i dared eat/drink...coffee with milk.  (milk!  not smart!!)  Which means this episode was not viral and mark and Paige were spared the violent disease.  So, the next day i was just a bit weak and tired while traveling. We flew into ATL and then spent the night in a hotel.  As is our ritual, we ordered a big 'ol steak and salad and chowed down on some good American Beef! 

Our arrival home was wonderful!  I promise pics as soon as i can muster up the energy!  Right now we are hunkered down nursing a very very bad case of the FLU!  Mark and I went to the doctor's this morning and got the diagnosis...which is par for our Pick Up Trip Course.  We are both bed-ridden!  So, RoRo (my mom) and Nana and Poppi (mark's parents) have been taking shifts coming over to sit with the girls.  Poor Paige!  She is not sure what's happening....she is so used to be held 24/7 that this is all such a rude awakening to her!  But, she is loving her bouncy seat, and as long as her Big Sissy is within eye-shot, she is as content as they come!

Keep us in your prayers!   We are still contagious....so stay away!  We got the Dr. to give us surgical masks to wear around the girls...they think it's sooo funny!  Pray Pray Pray that we don't pass this on to them.  I am not a believer in the Flu vaccine, but after this experience.....hhmm...well, we'll just have to see!

I promise pictures when i can get them downloaded from our camera!  For now...just imagine the two sweetest Guatemalan girls in the whole world, madly in love with each other, laughing and giggling away, sitting next to the most smitten parents ever (wearing surgical masks and coughing!)  :)

Motorboatin'

Our sweet girls like the motorboatin'!  Paige is on the left and Sammi is on the right.  Both pictures are from their respective pick up trips.  Too cute!

Fun times at the zoo!

Just look how much Paige looks like Sammi!

I just cannot wait to get these two sweety pies together!

Check out this smile!  She has two bottom teeth and her two top ones are already breaking through.

She does the "motorboat" very well

ok..i will post me being a total dork!  I love Meerkat Manor and these fellas were hanging out at the zoo.  This dude behind me was checking us out while we are checking HIM out!  Paige thought they were pretty funny!

We are off to give this poor child another bath. She HATED it last night!  She screamed the whole time.  She has a hard time getting to sleep, but once she finally dozes off, she sleeps very well.  She slept through the entire night last night!  That's my girl!