Play Date Mondays: Anderson Dairy

We took a break from the splash pads this week to have a tour of Anderson Dairy here in town. Marian was so kind to arrange it for everyone and then she ended up not going due to a sick child. Thanks for making it happen.

This was the closest thing to a real cow that we saw at the dairy. It is more the type of dairy where they make all their yummy products like ice cream.

Filling the milk jugs was the only thing they were actually doing while we were there. The kids liked seeing the empty jugs go over their heads. We did see where they store all the ice cream. Talk about someones dream freezer.

They had a talking cow puppet that told us all about the Dairy. I couldn't tell if Jensen was scared of him or not.

At the end of the tour they gave us ice cream to try out.

Lucy ate the most of it out of the three of us. Not sure where it goes on her little body.

Jensen didn't want to get too close to the cow for a picture. I guess he was scared of it after all.

Boys Weekend = Family Time for Me!

Quincy's brothers decided they needed a boys weekend since Dantley is leaving on his mission in less than two weeks. I am all for this boys weekend because it brings me to Provo to visit my family. I would like to think that I would be a good wife and still let him go even if it wasn't in Provo but thankfully we don't have to see if that's true this time.

Quincy had fun playing homerun derby, going to card shops, eating wings and even hiking the Y with his brothers. My weekend was a little different then his. Mine included a Fairy Tea Party, Spanish Fork Rodeo, and a swim party.

First up, Mom has been wanting to throw a Fairy Tea Party for a couple of years now. When she heard I was coming she decided this was the weekend to do it. She thought of everything. Flying fairies, menu complete with cotton candy cupcakes, butterfly sugar cookies from Kneaders, games and fairy wands. She really knows how to throw a party!

Mom invited the Hopkins to join us in our festivities. Sandy Hopkin and my mom have been good friends for years. They had two girls four months apart, Brooklynn and Myself, making us good friends too. It's been awhile since I have seen her and her cute family. She has four girls that are little clones of her.

The fairies.

More showed up later.

Grandma bought fairy dresses for the three little girls a year ago. Lucy's still fit.

Grandma and Grandpa got a new tramp. Jensen spent most of the weekend jumping on it.

Hunter was our entertainment. He put on a magic show that still brings a smile to my face. My favorite line of the show was after he had a volunteer he said, "Let's give her a clap."

The girls danced to have the fairies come.

They did and left sparkly wands for the girls and snakes and bow and arrows for the boys.

We also played fairy bingo. The three little girls sat by each other but didn't want to pose for us.

The last game of the afternoon was laying on the ground while someone put fairy rocks on you. You had to stay still without laughing. Lucy and Jensen both liked this one.

Lucy liked it so much she thought she would try it by herself.

Second up, was the Spanish Fork Rodeo. This is the only picture of us three that I got that night. I was one nervous Mama Bear. The bleachers weren't enclosed and left spaces just big enough for a kid to slide through. To add some more excitement to us right below us was a water trough for sheep. I was sure one of my wiggly kids was going for a swim. Luckily, we only sacrificed a sippy cup and an otter pop by the end of the night.

The rodeo was really good, long but good. Jensen loved when the animals were in the arena. When we first got there he said, "Hi sheep, hi cows, hi horses." He really liked when the trucks drove around it too.

Saurday we had a swim party at Matt and Missy's house. Jody and my mom both have a blow up swim slide. Jensen was in heaven!

Lucy did get in the water for a little bit.

But of course she preferred to sit with the adults and watch the other cousins while she ate a cookie and drank a Capri Sun.

Kayley and Bryawna were troopers and carried the Jensen and Lucy to the top of the water slide. They couldn't seem to climb up the pegs. Lucy went once and that was it for her. Jensen wanted to go again and again.

We had pizza to make the swim party complete. We tried again to get a picture of the three girls. This is as good as I could get.

Grandpa had been telling Jensen all week that he would take him on a tractor ride. Sunday he kept his promise, but not only did he take Jensen for a ride Grandpa actually let him drive it all around the field. He kept saying tractor and was super excited. I don't think I even got to drive it till I was 16!

We talked Hunter into an encore performance of his Magic Show. He didn't disappoint.

Lucy watching the show as she devoured a piece of cheesecake. This girl loves to eat and the good stuff too!

This is what I accomplished on the way home.

Missy taught me Saturday night how to crochet and I'm officially addicted. I have a huge regret when it comes to crocheting. My Grandma Knudsen use to do this all the time and would of loved to teach me. I just never took the time to learn. Grandma is the one that got me hooked on homemade dish rags. I have been using some of her's that she never got to use. They are falling apart and I just can't seem to buy store bought dish rags. So I am so glad that Missy could teach me.

This is what I did in five hours of driving. Missy did that much in a quick drive to get a hamburger. Someday I will be as fast as her. I could tell by St. George that I was getting a groove of it. I was getting lots of "Grandma" comments from my hubby but I don't care. I can't wait to have some new dish rags.

Play Date Mondays: Town Square

This splash pad will always be one of my favorites because it has something that I know others in town can't offer. H&M!

The kids had fun. Jensen the most. Me the most when we shopped.

Lucy is in the I am having fun over here watching the other kids stage.

And no she didn't keep the hat on.

But she did make herself useful and press the start button to the splash pads a couple of times.

Ellie was very kind to push everyone on the merry-go-round. Maybe Jensen's new favorite thing.

Lucy got brave and finally went down the slide.

Always a good time for all at Town Square!

Scrap Fabric Skirt Tutorial

Every time Lucy wears a certain Gymboree skirt I always get asked if I made it. Since everyone thought I was capable of making it I gave it a try. It was way easy and turned out just like the one I copied. The best part is you can make it out of scraps of fabric very easily.

The size of the skirt is 18-24 months but can easily be adapted by changing how much elastic you use for the waist. Also you can just add inches to the measurements below to make it for an older child. This is kind of a no-fail skirt if you ask me.

Here's what you need:

1/8 yard from 1 fabric (top piece)

1/4 yard from 2 different fabrics (middle and bottom piece)

I cheated and got my fabric at Hobby Lobby. I love their selection and always am looking for something to make out of their fun prints.

Next time I will use my scraps for sure.

The last thing you will need is elastic 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick. I used 5/8 inches wide and 19 inches long.

1. Cut the fabric:

Top piece: Cut 2 - 14 inches by 4 1/2 inches (use the 1/8 piece of fabric)

Middle piece: Cut 2 - 19 1/2 inches by 5 inches

Bottom piece: Cut 2 - 27 inches by 4 1/2 inch

2. For all three layers you are going to sew the sides together at 1/2 inch. If you have a surger finish those edges off for a professional look.

3. For the top layer you are going to sew a casing just a little wider than your elastic. I did mine an inch wide. To sew a casing fold down 1/4 inch and then fold down an inch. Then sew close to the edge around the bottom to make the casing. Remember to leave an opening to get the elastic in there. Ya, I forgot this step and had to unpick. But don't put the elastic in just yet.

4.For the bottom layer you are going to sew a half inch hem. Similar to what you just did on top for the casing but this time you don't need to leave an opening. I folded down 1/4 inch and then folded down 1/2 inch. Then sewed close to the edge.

5. For the second and third layer you are going to do a wide stitch along the top so you can gather it. I did two rows of stitches right next to each other. Then I pulled the top two threads to make it gather. Use the bottom of the top layer as a guide to see how much you have to gather.

6. After you have gathered it, pin the middle layer in place on the bottom of the top layer. Sew around it at 1/2 inch.

7. Then pin the bottom layer to the bottom of the middle layer. Sew around it at 1/2 inch.

{Have I lost you yet?}

8. To make it have a finished look top stitch over the two ruffled layers real close to the seem. I did mine on top of the seem.

9. Next feed the elastic through the casing with a safety pin. Sew the two ends of the elastic together. (Measure your models waist and take it in an inch or two.) I go back and forth with my sewing machine about ten times just so it won't break later. Then sew up the hole to finish the casing.

And that's it! A fun summer skirt for your little one.

Lucy put on the skirt herself over her pajamas the day after I made it. She wanted to wear it that day. As you can see it's inside out though but she knows how to make her mommy feel good.