oversized turquoise and bows

I love this dress.  So does my daughter.  Unfortunately, I can't measure.  The bodice was way too wide and she was unable to wear it for Easter.

The turquoise fabric itself is a little thicker weight than the typical cottons I usually use when I sew.  I don't remember what it's called, but I wish I could find more fabric in this weight.  It was a job to work with!  The straps and midriff contrast panel are a solid pink cotton.  The hairbows were made from a matching turquoise ribbon and some wavy edged bright pink ribbon...love Hobby Lobby's ribbons.

This dress has a zipper on the back.  I don't feel quite as comfortable with how it turned out.  The pink actually matched up pretty well but it took a lot of re-working.  The fabric below the pink doesn't really seem to lay as smoothly as it should either.  I still have a lot to learn about zipper insertion!

aren't my kids adorable?

Just a couple random moments I thought I'd share...
Here are the kids on Easter Sunday.  After a major meltdown on Christmas Eve because he didn't have a tie like Daddy, we made sure to have a tie for Easter!  And of course, Abby looked adorable in her dress!

We spent our morning at the Morton Arboretum playing in the daffodils.  It's a huge field (with a beautiful oak tree) that is full of lots of clumps of daffodils all over.  We've made it a spring tradition.  It's such a great place that we go back in the fall and enjoy all the beautiful leaves too.

Then we went to the Children's Garden area to play.  It was there that I had my first random blogger sighting... I saw Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots.  I knew we both lived in the Chicagoland area, but had to kind of laugh to myself when I saw her kids and thought, how do I know them?? and then saw her and it clicked. :)  Go check out her blog - she's always up to something fun!

happy Easter...

and phew. The weekend is almost over. It's been a busy one!


We enjoyed a lovely meal of ham, pineapple salsa, scalloped potatoes, peas, fruit salad with poppyseed dressing, and chocolate fondue for dessert. Loved it all - but also loved the pretty bright blue egg next to the daffodil in the centerpiece. As always, loved the time with family - especially my aunt and brother who flew in from far away.

Thought I'd take a quick trip down memory lane...

This is me at my first Easter. I was 1 year old.

This is my daughter at her first Easter. She is also one year old. So, basically - I was bigger all around. Taller, bigger head, longer arms, and chubbier everything. My baby is such a little peanut! I was also (barely) walking, my daughter isn't quite there yet. Soon enough, I know.

Hope you all had a blessed day.

easter reading

Happy Easter everyone! Since I did bunnies last week, I decided to pick a couple different Easter favorites of ours...

Do you like Easter candy? What's your favorite? Are you a Peeps fan? Personally, I go for the chocolate Cadbury eggs. Yummmm.
Well Owen's favorite is his marshmallow chick. "It was the same color as his favorite yellow blanket." Whatever your choice is today, I hope you enjoy Owen's Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes too!

We also love to dye Easter eggs with my parents. So naturally, one of our favorites this Easter season has been I Need an Easter Egg! about a bunny hunting for the perfect egg.

Hope you have a wonderful time with your family today. Enjoy a good book or two!!!

dyed and hidden

My parents spend the season of Lent blowing eggs (and therefore enjoying a lot of cakes & french toast!) to get ready for Easter. Because they blow all their eggs, it is easy to keep them for decorating from year to year. Right now I think the count is up to about 25 dozen. Perfect for Easter Egg Hunts too - if you don't find them all, no big deal. The worst that could happen is you have to vacuum later!


Check out her cute window display - a cute little bunny and a chicken full of eggs (only some of the blown ones).


We got busy with about four dozen eggs. My son didn't seem to find much use for the cute little wire things that come in the Paas box - hands work much better, right?!?
My only question... how many times do you have to wash your hands before the dye will come off???!! My son's hands are a WICKED green color!


Then we headed outside for the Easter Egg hunt. My dad hid eggs all over their yard, and Conner went everywhere and eventually filled up the basket. Then they hid them all again for my husband and I to find. Neverending fun.

What are you doing to start your Easter celebration?