Wedding Making Wonderland

October has long been my favorite month. It holds Halloween, a holiday that makes me giddy. It holds my birthday, an event that seems to be coming much too frequently lately. And this year it holds a special family wedding, that of my brother Alon and his lovely wife to be Jeanette.

Our family weddings have been serious fun and very little stress in the past and this one is shaping up to be much the same. For months my Mama and J have been working on the living favors and centerpieces made from succulents, her dress is being crafted by one of the coolest women I have ever met and I have been adding my own bit with a knit for her and some pants for the boys.


Yes, the boys are pulling their first stint as ring bearers.


I am not sure how they will do, especially because their parents are going to be behind the cameras for this one….but I think at least they are going to look awfully cute.

I realized when I started trolling the net that cute semi-formal clothes for toddlers are very hard to find. Especially if you are looking for dark brown semi-formal pants, not the standard black. I actually never did find anything in the right color (lots of khaki, but no dark brown). So, I decided to see about making up a few pairs with the approval of the bride. J is the most casual of brides, stressed about certain factors but not at all worried about appearances. I located a pattern I have wanted to try for a long time, this one from Oliver + S.

Then I used my 50% off coupon on some nice bottom weight fabric from JoAnn’s and tried my hand at sewing real pants.


I think these have to be the cutest pattern I have sewn to date. I have read many times about Olive + S, every report a positive one. I knew from the minute I held the carefully packaged pattern that this was going to be fun. The sewing instruction is clear and easy to follow, the pattern pieces are easy to identify and it is actually turns out to be a very simple way to sew a great pair of pants. I had a great experience sewing both pairs of pants, you know it is a good pattern when it still feels fun the second time . I initially balked at the price, but now that I own it, I see the value in the investment.

A few notes on modifications. First, I converted the pattern from capri to pant style by extending the leg a few inches on my traced pattern piece. It turned out to create a nice leg width, no too tight, not too 70s bell bottoms.



On sizing, well, I am starting to realize my boys run small. Really small. I made the 24 months pattern and followed the instructions to the letter on the first pair. The back is conveniently elasticized, the measurement called for in the pattern is 9.5 inches of elastic to draw in the waistband. I used 9.5 but ended up ripping out the back seam and pulling almost 2 inches off the back elastic.


For the second pair, I placed a safety pin at each end of the elastic and then pulled the elastic through the casing.

I fit the pants on the boy (Owen this time) prior to sewing the elastic in. It saved a step of ripping and readjusting. I cannot say if the pattern runs big or if it I just that my boys are a bit on the wee side. Maybe a little of both.

The waistband is a super clever idea, the front placket buttons to the sides.





Right now I am waiting on the executive decision by J for owl vs. plain buttons, but otherwise the pants are done. Three weeks before the wedding. Whew. I feel great relief knowing the small details can be done in a few minutes.



Now, off to finish her wedding shawlette and find the boys some cream colored shirts and then I am all signed off. Except for the pictures.

I am so nervous about the pictures. Tell me it will be alright and I will shoot great photos, won’t you, dear friends? Here is a little peek at her dress fitting last week, made by her awesome friend Ramona.

Raw silk and handmade love, there is no better way to walk down the aisle.

I am excited about the bachelorette party this weekend, seaside with good friends. Yippee. Don't expect any shenanigans pictures, J is waay too low key for that. Or is she? Hmmmmm.

And for those that might be interested, total cost on the pants is 30 dollars, 20 for the pattern with shipping, 10 on the fabric with coupon (2 yds@5 bucks a yard). And about two hours per pair of pants sewing time. Not bad considering pants on JCP online shop were 25 a pop). (And the pattern just keeps on giving).

Version (Just Shy) 2.5

I wonder sometimes about the validity of these recollections when it comes down to it. It seems that Time assumes a new bending as you both grow up. Time, it just seems like there is not enough of it. And yet I look forward to the 7:00 o'clock hour when we tumble through bath and night time routine and we all fall exhausted onto the bed.



Why yes, I did say 7 p.m. Seems awfully early, right? Not if we take into account the latest twist in twin development, that of an almost totally dropped daytime nap. The horrors. It all started about a month ago, nap time started to become a struggle, especially for Tim. Shrieking and running in the small enclosure of the room became frequent, actual sleep started to become rare. When we both realized we were spending as much time going in and out, trying to get some type of settled sleep, some moment of peace but rarely finding it, well, we just said f-it. If they do not want to sleep, what is the point of forcing nap at gun point (well, not really, but you know what I mean).

And the other factor was that when naps did occur, bedtime was usually 9 p.m. Mind you, they were in bed at 7:30, maybe 8 p.m., but asleep? Nope. So, we had to face facts and realize that their nap was fading into oblivion, the sweet sweet oblivion of 2 hours of daytime freedom.

Sporadic crashing occurs every few days, but for the most part they hold it together well and bliss out in bed by 7. Ah, it can actually be nice somedays. We have much more time to ourselves after they fall asleep. The days can be rough sometimes, but with the new addition of school and the increase in working hours, it all feels like it races by.

Changing the routine usually makes me feel off kilter, but not this time. This time, I have given a gallic shrug to the lack of napping, brought them into a semi-dark room and laid down to watch Nemo for the 15th time.

Speaking of Nemo....here is a thought. When you as parents are planning on going away for a long weekend and you think it would be nice to surprise your kids with a new movie (since CARS has been in unbelievably heavy rotation and you just cannot take it anymore), I suggest you do not buy 'Finding Nemo". Because the story is about a little boy fish who is violently separated from his father (after his mother is snapped up by a toothy predator shark in the first scene) and there are plenty of harrowing experiences that occur throughout. Yes, they are successfully reunited, but not before sharks, explosions, failed escape attempts that almost grind Nemo to bits, and a fake death scene unfurl. This proved to be a bit much for the boys and my Mama reported abject terror during the movie with lots of plaintive crying for 'Nemo' and 'Daddy Nemo' and 'No Shark, no boat, no no no'. Whoops. We have spent the better part of the week watching it during the blazing afternoons and explaining that despite it all, the Daddy finds Nemo and they are okay. Whew.

Now, of course, we are finding the heavy rotation of Nemo is the new norm. It is almost comical how much one can grow to like a movie when one has no choice.

Time has brought us close to the half year mark, I am looking at it as a testament to our fortitude that we are still alive. Yes, two has been the struggle I feared, but with challenge there comes reward. Some of those rewards come in the form of abundant affection, our new ritual is "Kiss, Hug and Hi-5!". It happens all day and makes my heart turn to gold. And then there is the night time ritual when you now tell your favorite stories along with my voice, finishing sentences. Or better yet, when you tell me a story, unique in its lack of phrasing or timing, made up for by your enthusiasm...it sounds something like this...

" Nemo! Fish...school...Daddy!!! No boat, no boat!!! Oh, no, Nemo. Nemo okay, Daddy find (reassuring me). Daddy, blue fish...Shark! Shark! Light! Go. Nemo okay (reassuring me)." This can go on a bit, but I love it.

(That would be Owen telling stories).

School has made its mark also. You willingly sing 'clean up' and help with toys. We practice your friends' names and talk about activities. I get art projects sprinkled with glitter and you come home covered in paints. It has quickly become a lovely place for you to go and I think you melted Mrs. B's heart when you ran up the walkway into her arms the other day. The rough parts are smoothing out and I think we will all be just fine. You kids are the best-est.

See Original shots of hat here.

Of course, we have had to explain the shiner Mason has been sporting (Thomas Train chucked to corner of eye...two has brought a heightened level of brother on brother violence at times). And we are still hanging on by the tips of our fingers sometimes. But I still would not trade it for the world.



Remember, boys, your Mama love you very very much.

The videos are for you, Nona Mona.

Goodbye Summer

Today is the Autumn Equinox and I could not be happier. It does not feel like autumn here, temperatures have soared into triple digits and news programs babble endlessly about fire danger and the air smells hot and dry....but it will come, the cooler weather, and we will move towards the bearable time in Southern California.

I am never sorry to say good-bye to summer here, it is always such a challenging season with smog and heat and crisp skin and not wanting to wear clothes but uncomfortable with them off. This summer has been insanely busy, one trip after another, one change after another, weeks inside due to smoke and sun. Some very fun things have happened, but we have also had the challenging task of corralling those two and a half year olds and that pushed Tim and I to the edge. We realized a few weeks ago we had to take a break, alone without young ones. My gracious parents stepped in and we took off in the Subaru to experience Tahoe.

It was a great trip, no injuries this time, instead lots of time to talk and sit and have drinks and make food that we ate sitting down. Nothing terribly special, just really really needed. It gave us the time we needed to re-asses our approach to toddler meltdowns and tantrums, but also to life as a unit, to goals and dreams. Much needed and much appreciated. And we knew we really needed it when we confessed to each other on the last day that we really had not missed them much...up until that moment, that is.




We arrived home on Sunday in time to take the boys to their first real concert, an in store show by Mason Jennings.




It was hot and sweaty and difficult (especially when our Mason decided the music was not to his liking and insisted he listen from just outside the front door). But it was totally worth it when Owen brought a poster up to Mason to be signed and stood quietly watching him then would not let said poster go. That is going to be framed for sure.





So, now, summer ends. Like I said, I am not sad to see it go. I have knits to be made and worn. We have a Fall family wedding coming in a month. We have boys who have embraced school which gives their Mama 3 solid hours of 'something' time. I will hopefully have a finished knit or two to show, and a very special sewing project for the upcoming wedding. And I went a wee bit wild while away and gathered some new yarn and fabrics...


Tim buys T-shirts, I buy the raw material.

Back to the knitting now, it just feels so good knowing it will be time sooner than later for a new sweater.



Another great part of coming home was a big box that was waiting....holding out new Canon body. This is me gazing adoringly into the best piece of equipment we have ever owned. Oh, how I love you, camera.

Away

Being away can be nice...











Hopefully the rest of the weekend makes out to be as nice as our current quiet time.

There is an odd tension to being away from your responsibilities for a few days. But it can also be a very good thing. Off to enjoy time away.