Fun night at the Amon's and a little catch up

So, I haven't blogged in a while.  While the rest of the house is sleeping I decided now might be a good time.  We have been busy, as golf season is in full swing.  We have also been keeping up with Family events and 2 active little girls.  Matt did a bit of traveling last week and because of bad weather in the NE he ended up be re-routed to Omaha.  So, Reese and I drove up to fetch daddy and Cami got to spend the day at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  So thankful to be living near family.  Cami had a much better time playing with cousins and grandma & grandpa than she would have on the 6 hour round trip to Omaha.

Two weekend ago we went over to the Amon's house for dinner and fun.  Patrick and Matt went to high school together and have been friends....forever.  Matt was even the best man at Pat and Christy's wedding, I think.  Anyhow, Pat and Christy live in a suburb of KC about 20 minutes from us.  We have been trying to get together since we moved up here, but our schedules have been crazy.  It was so fun.  They grilled out, the kids played, the guys even got out the baseball.  Thanks guys for a much needed evening of friends and fun!

Matt and Christy trying to get all three kids to pose together

Cami and Peyton on the kids 4-wheelers....Parker was protesting

So the girls rode together, so Parker could have his back

Peyton is 6 and Cami thinks she is just AWESOME!

Parker is 2 1/2.  He and Cam played great together too

So other than Matt's bit of traveling and family stuff, we have been keeping very busy.  The girls and I have been exploring fun and free things to do in and around KC.  The last 2 weeks we have been going up the a local theater that plays kids movies Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10am and best of all....its Free!  Yippee!  I have been keeping myself very busy lately.  In the last 2 weeks I have made curtains for Cami's room and the Living Room as well as putting up some decorations.  The photo tour of our house will continue to be blogged about very soon.  I have a few more projects I want to complete before taking and posting pictures.

Today, we are going to the farmers market to get a few things and then home to make pickles!  My grandmothers recipe....maybe I'll blog about that too :)

Family Photos

A couple of weekends ago a bunch of the family was at our house.  Our niece Peyton is playing on an AAU basketball team and she had a tourney up here in KC.  So Grandma, Grandpa, Peyton, Carter, Eric, Heidi, Josh and Sam all stayed with us.  It was so fun having everyone.  Eric takes great pictures, and we had a chance for some impromptu family photos.  I have been wanting to get a shot of all of us while Reese is still little.  Thanks Eric for doing this!

I'm not sure why, but this is the only photo in which I'm making a 'normal' smiling face...and of course Cam is looking away

Smoochies

Sisters

Spray-Ground

So I've been wanting to find out where the spray-grounds are in the KC Metro area.  Kansas City is known for its fountains so I figured that they must have spray parks here too.  So with a little effort I found out that they are called 'spray-grounds' and are operated through the parks & rec dept.

So this Wednesday we decided to try out our first one.  We drove to the Plaza and found Loose Park.  Loose Park is by far the most beautiful park I have ever seen or been to, gorgeous lush grass, lots of trees an unbelievable rose garden, playground, tennis courts and SPRAYGROUND!  And it was free.  I big plus for this cheap momma!

Using the spray gun

Reese watching her sister.  I did get Reese out to get her feet in the water, Cami promptly got behind the water gun and sprayed us!

As you can see we had a great time.  It is a perfect alternative to a pool for us right now.  I just can't manage a 3 month old and a 3 year old in a pool by myself.  This way Cami get wet and cooled off, lots of exercise and a chance to play with other kids.  What a fun little find for us.  Looking forward to exploring many more spraygrounds very soon.

Reese's first tastes of Cereal

As I remember right, we started Cami on cereal right around 3 months. Well, Reese is 14 weeks old today and passed her 3 month birthday last week.  The end of last week she started just wanting to nurse and nurse and nurse.  I took that as a cue to start with some first solids.

She actually did great and loved it.  

Grandma and Paige were there too!  Big Event

 Here is a side by side shot of Reese getting her first bites and Cami getting her first bites.  You can definitely tell they are sisters, but I love that Reese is beginning to look like her own little person!

The Watson Challenge

Since Matt has arrived at the KCGA a lot of the focus has been on work for the Watson Challenge.  This is one of the biggest events on the schedule.  Biggest, not necessarily by size or number of players but logistics and background work.  This is an event that raises money for the First Tee of Kansas City. Mr. Watson comes and plays in the event, so there are lots of spectators who come to watch him play

 Anyway, the event was this past weekend.  Needless to say we didn't see much of Matt this weekend or the week leading up to it.  He has been working so hard.  It went very well.  The girls and I were able to go out to the beautiful Indian Hills Country Club on Sunday to see the event and all of Daddy's hard work.

Here is a picture from the players dinner of Matt with Tom Watson. What an experience for Matt to work closely with someone he has grown up admiring and watching play golf on TV. I was disappointed because I wasn't able to go to the players dinner because we didn't have a babysitter, but there is always next year.

Alicia's Softball Tourney

Over Memorial Day weekend, Matt's cousin's daughter...ehh his second cousin, had a softball tournament.  They played in Overland Park Sunday and Monday so we went to go a catch a few games.  On a side note, this was the nicest complex that I have ever been to!

Here is Alicia and Cami.  Cami was smitten with Alicia.  She was so excited to meet a 'new' cousin.

Matt and 3 of his cousins.  Lori, Vicki and Sherri.  I had only met Vicki and Sherri once, so it was great for me to reconnect and get to know more family.

Matt and Cami pretending to play ball after the game was over

Alicia playing 3rd base

I think this is from day two.  Here are Matt, Cami and Lori cheering on the PHENIX

Monday was a great game, they ended up losing because of a questionable call by the Ump.  It was so fun cheering for you girls!  It was great to hang out with more family and watch some ball games!

Deanna Rose Farmstead

So, like always I am a little behind on blogging.  We had a houseful this weekend and I spent most of Thursday and Friday getting things ready for our company.  Anyhow, last Tuesday we met some new friends at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.  We met our friends at our wonderful new church, Kristen has two gorgeous little girls too about a month age difference to my girls.  Kristen called and invited us to join them to go to the farmstead.  This is a little treasure right in the city.  For my NM friends I can't really compare it to anything except for maybe the state fair.  It was so fun, best of all it was free!  The girls had a great time and the mommies did too!

This was the first time that Cami and Livia had really played together, but they were fast friends.  Heading into the big white barn to see the baby cows

Standing in front of the baby cows

Pony rides.  Since its free to get in, I decided to let Cami ride a pony. It only costs $3 and she had a ball.  She didn't even blink an eye to do it all by herself!

My little cow girl

Checking out the pigs

The pigs were so funny.  They were wrestling for the best position in the pool.  The girls got a big kick out of it.


We also got to feed the goats.  I am anxious to go back, we didn't even do half of the farmstead.  They had a playground and spray park.  Once the kids started getting hungry, we grabbed our picnic lunch from the cars and headed to the park across the street and played and ate.  It was a great day!

Adjustable Headband Tutorial

My first tutorial ever.  This is exciting!  Well, let me start out with the back story of these headbands.    We've moved recently, one of the great things about this move is that we are close to family.  The past 2 weekend we have had the priviledge of going and watching some of the young women in our family compete in sporting events.  On a side note, I love that our girls are being exposed to this at an early age.

Anyway, two weekends ago we were at a BIG softball tourney.  When we walked in there were a bunch of vendors.  One was selling these awesome headbands.  I saw high school girls walking around and playing in these headbands.  I decided I needed a closer look.  Adjustable!  I had never seen adjustable headband before....this is exciting for this big headed girl with big headed kids. I was going to buy one and try it out....until I realized she was charging $13! YIKES.  Our cousins teammate had a similar headband from a store in her hometown, I asked to look at it and took a couple of pictures of the  adjustable portion.

When I got home I scoured through Pinterest and didn't see anything similar.... After completing the first one I sent pictures to my other crafty girls and they asked me to do a tutorial.  I have never done a tutorial for a project before, so I apologize if its a little rough around the edges.

After wearing it all evening the day I made it, I was convinced this was a winning project.  Ended up wearing it  most of the weekend!

 Supplies:

Lingerie strap slides & rings (I found them in the notions section and used a 40% off coupon)

scissors

thread

3/8 elastic

coordinating ribbon

1/4 yrd 'fancy' fabric....I chose a black sequin

1/3 yard of 'padding' fabric I chose a black flannel because it was going to show through with the sequin fabric, I wanted it to be comfortable against my head, absorb sweat...but not be too hot

First cut your strips of fabric.  Now you must make adjustments depending on the size head you are working with.  My 3 y/o isn't crazy about headbands right now, so I was making these for adults and teenagers.  I  cut my fabric about 14 inches length and about 2 1/2 inches wide.  This is larger than it'll end up, but I like to leave a little room for mistakes.  I cut one strip of the sequin and two for the flannel

Next, organize your strips of fabric.  You are going to sew this like a pillow, so make sure and arrange your 'fancy' fabric facing down so that when you sew and flip it will be on the right side. Also, cut a small piece of coordinating ribbon about 2-3 inches long

Next, add the ring portion to the ribbon.  Pin to the fabric with only the ends showing.  You will be sewing over this portion.  The ring will be on the outside of the headband once it is sewn and flipped.

Okay, all ready to start sewing.  Sew around the two long sides and the short side that has the ring on it.  Be sure to leaver one side open.  Be sure to sew the ribbon/slide very well.  I recommend going over it 5 or 6 times.

After sewing (straight hopefully in my case) trim very close.  You don't want to have too much extra fabric for a bulky headband.  Now time to flip it right side out!

Now time to cut your elastic.  This like the other measurments depend on the size nugget you are making this for and hoe adjustable you want it to be.  This piece is probably around 5 inches.  a portion will be stuck inside the open end and attached there.

Center the elastic on the end and fold the fabric under to make a finished hem.  Now time to make a finished stitch/hem all the way around.  This helps the headband be smooth and flat and look finished.  Just like with the ribbon, make sure you sew over the elastic several times so that it is very secure.

Now for the complicated part of making it adjustable...

put the slide on so that it will be facing out rather than against the head

Then loop through the ring and take it back through the slide from the bottom.

Here's what it should like prior to fastening the elastic.  Fasten the elastic back to itself on the bottom of the two pieces of elastic.  Before you sew, I always pin it or hold it to ensure that the adjustable portion is working okay.  This is hard to describe, but I think you'll find that trying it out is the best way to ensure that it works perfectly.  Another tip, I find that it is easiest to do this when the strap is pulled to the almost biggest point of the headband

 And .....Taaaa Daaaa..... you have an adjustable headband.  I calculated (and of course used coupons at the fabric store) and made these for about $1.06 + tax each.

Hopefully you all were able to understand and follow my jibberish!  Enjoy and happy crafting!