Sewing and sewing and sewing!

K so Nath totally got me into sewing when we went and visited her back in the fall. I already posted the halloween outfits I made, but I did not post a picture of the tie I made for Caleb. It was roughly done on Halloween morning right before church. Fun!

Hardwood floors create lots of sound-flow. So, I always put pillows at the foot of both of the kids doors. I decided something cute would make the hallway look better, instead of just two huge pillows. So I sewed these cute things!
And here is a blanket I made for Anndi girl. She hates it of course and prefers her little white "bay" that is now gray and stinky no matter how much I wash it. But I love this blanket! It is that cute bumpy material on one side and then the fur-cashmere stuff on the pink side. The trim is flannel-lined satin. It turned out pretty!
Shoes. Many shoes. I love making baby shoes! I made these lil fellas for a friends' baby boy. The pattern was for a newborn, so I made them a few sizes bigger, because he's not a newborn anymore!
More sewing posts to come. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE sewing!!!!!!

Cake Bakin' and Kid Carin'

We've been lovin' life here at the Haines home! Especially the kids. They love when I make cakes...

I got to make Lauren and Brooklyn's 3rd birthday cake! It was so much fun to create this princess castle! When I pulled it out of the fridge all done, Caleb said, "Ohhh is that a temple cake?" I said, "No..." Then he said, "Ohhh... is that a princess castle? Is that Tinkerbell's castle?" He loves the story of Peter Pan, even though he's never seen the movie. And apparently he loves Tinkerbell!
At Brooklyn and Lauren's birthday party, there was a lady dressed up as cinderella in a huge hoop-skirt dress. Caleb was staring at her and then finally mustered up enough courage to say, "Hi, Tinkerbell..." Then he made his shy face. So cute.
Lauren and Brooklyn are such adorable little blonde cuties. Brooklyn's favorite princess is Cinderella. And Lauren's favorite is Tiana. She looked at her cake and said, "That's me!"
We love when Daddy is home from work!
Chris, Scarlet, and Gray got Anndi this adorable outfit for her birthday (minus the hat. That's Caleb's). We love the Reece's!
Anndi says "What up, Gray? Wanna hang out?"

The most fun I have had in a long time...

One of my dearest friends growing up got married last weekend. Yay for Tessa!!! She was such a beautiful bride, and I know Paul was one happy groom.
Tessa let me make her wedding cake. It was white cake with cream cheese frosting filling and fresh raspberries, with a vanilla bean frosting on the outside. It turned out simple and elegant, and I was so happy to do it!Caleb was a little charmer all day in his black suit. What a great little three-year-old I have been blessed with. He behaved very well and was so sweet. At the ring ceremony, I was the only one who brought my two little kids... very little kids... and Anndi started fussing in the middle of the ceremony, so I got up and walked to the back to stand with her. Caleb followed me. Back there, he "whispers" to me, "Mommy I gotta go potty!" I reply, "Okay Caleb, don't worry this is almost over and we'll go home and go potty." The poor little guy whispers in distress, "The poop is coming out!!" It was not, he was just being dramatic, and he hung in there until we got home. It just was not proper ring ceremony conversation, you know?Julia and I got to hold the bride for a friends picture! Fun!So, Nathalie passed out the bells that people would ring at the end of the ring ceremony. When little Diane walked by, Nathalie reached in the basket and found the LARGEST bell of all, and gave it to Diane. We all giggled about it for half of the ceremony.After the wedding and the ring ceremony, Tessa and Paul had an elegant reception at a small bakery, Puffy Muffin. It was perfect! The food was incredible, and Anndi clearly loved the cake... Bekah helped me so much with Anndi the whole night, I was extremely grateful.
One of the best parts of the whole weekend was having Nath stay with me. I love this girl! We went to the gym twice. Sonic once... got lots of food... tradition. Also, Nath taught me how to use fondant to decorate cakes! And we had a great time celebrating Tessa's big day. Caleb followed Nath all over the house asking her questions about her two little boys. So cute. Can't wait to visit her again in Nebraska in August!
Oh and note the matching peacoats! Nathalie and Anndi both have a purple peacoat from Old Navy. They are so twins.

Caleb is Three!

Caleb had a hockey birthday party! We invited a lot of good friends and family to come join in pizza, cake, and ice skating!

Caleb helped me make his cake. He enjoyed pouring in the ingredients, and licking the utensils after I was done using them.

Anndi enjoyed eating pizza with Ga-Ga!

I still remember my 3rd birthday party. I clung to my dad as people sang to me. Caleb jumped in my lap when everyone started singing. He was so cute because he sang to himself too!

After pizza and cake everyone had a blast skating, even the little kids!

Happy Birthday, Caleb! You are such a special little guy and an awesome three-year-old! We love you!

Happy 1st Birthday, Anndi!

For Anndi's first birthday, we had a big family party, a princess ballerina tu-tu party! She is such a tiny, feminine, frilly little 1 year old! She weighs 16 pounds 11 ounces, putting her in about the 1st Percentile. Our little cutie.

Here she is with her great grandma Ann.
And of course the princess ballerina tu-tu cakes

Decorations thanks to my mom and Niki!

Here is Howie and his grandbaby Presley enjoying some tu-tu cake!

Caleb helped her blow her little one candle out!

She, unlike her brother, did not mind getting her hands messy with cake!

She went full-force into her own little personal cake!

Anndi and Gi-Gi Annita

Surrounded by cousins (my cousins, actually) haha

Anndi with her tu-tu buddies, Emery and Mayci

We love our little Anndi. What a fun and happy year we have had! Anndi has brought so much happiness and sunshine into our home. She is truly a blessing in our lives. We love you, Anndi girl!

Anndi - Pandie

Anndi is one! She is such a special girl, I love her so much. Here is a little bit about baby Anndi.

The first hour after she was born, she stuck her tongue out constantly. It was so funny. She still seems to love to stick her tongue out all the time!

Anndi was not born with much hair but has been working really hard to grow it for her mommy who wants so badly to french braid her hair. :) She is still SO pretty and girlie. She was the most feminine little newborn I have ever seen. From the dainty way she moves her hands, to how she eats very properly and politely. Also the way she held her mouth as a newborn, in a little "kiss." Her sounds, even in the middle of the night, were high-pitched and sing-songy. It made me laugh even in the wee hours. She's such a little joy.
When Anndi first started sitting up on her own, she sat in a V-sit all the time with her legs straight out to each side and her toes pointed. She loves music so much, too, and dances even when it's just piano music in church. She might grow up to be a graceful ballerina!

Anndi's smile lights up the room and it's no challenge to get her to smile. Her two bottom teeth came in when she was 8 months old and now she still sports them happily. We LOVE her two-teeth smile!!!
The moment I saw the doctor hold her up as a goopie, crying newborn, the exact thought that came into my mind was, "...pretty!" She was so pretty and girlie from the start! She and I bonded immediately and I am her biggest fan. I think the world of this little girl and cannot wait to see the amazing person she will become.

To my sweet little Sunshine, Anndi...

Hello, sunshine
So beautiful and fair
Welcome to this world of mine,
Beautiful little sunshine

Hello, joy
So real, and pure, and true
Thank you for coming just in time,
Beautiful little sunshine

Hello, love
You are my baby girl
My pretty, precious one of a kind,
Beautiful little sunshine

Hello, peace
I’ll always hold you near
Your little hand and mine entwined,
Beautiful little sunshine

Hello, forever
For eternity I'll love you so
Your life has truly completed mine,
Beautiful little sunshine

Love, Mommy