Really Mother..

I now have a 13 year old...a teenager?!?

We celebrated her birthday by going to the beach.

She had a good time with her friends. 

Now I'm wondering how the next 5 years are going to go. 

It's a good thing she's a good kid!

Disappointment

Robyn did great at the fair.  She turned in the same pictures as in the spring fair, and got two blue ribbons.

The county fair was disappointing to me.  I did win a second place ribbon on Robyn's dress.  The disappointing part was not placing at all on my scrap USA map.  This was a HUGE surprise to me since I won first place at the Dixon May Fair.  Definitely felt like I was robbed.  Oh well, I keep reminding myself that it's not the end of the world and just because one judge didn't like it doesn't mean it's unlikeable. 

And.....there is always next year. 



Taken at the Dixon May Fair, couldn't bear to take a picture at the county fair.



Beach day

A group of women I met through the MOMS Club got together this week and spent the day down at Sandy Beach.  We love going there as Sandy Beach is within an hour's drive from home and is never too crowded, but due to broken arms and vacations this was our first time this summer.  This was the perfect time to go -- nice weather and Annalise was at girls camp (with her broken arm).

Robyn had a great time playing in the water with friends.  She managed not to get sunburned but I was not so lucky.  I was under the umbrella all of the time but I was not diligent in moving with the shade.  Managed to get a bit red on my back.  :(

Wearing her new swimsuit I made.  She's such a nice girl!

This is what we saw for a good portion of the afternoon -- bobbing heads.

Sunning in the sand

Sunning AND digging in the sand

Summer of the casts

We've spent some time in the ER these past few months.

Robyn broke her arm in May by falling off her scooter -- ER trip.

A week later she fell in the pool (on a Saturday) -- ER trip.

A week and a half after Robyn got her cast off well, we were back at the ER.

But it wasn't for her, Annalise decided to get into the act.

While at soccer camp a well placed kicked soccer ball hit her on the the wrist.  Broke the bone.  --  an ER visit.

It was a good thing I didn't buy those Six Flags season passes this year.  I don't think we would have used them this year.

4th of July

Happy Fourth of July!

Festive new top



Fireworks



Playing with camera



Looks like a giant dandelion



Museum trip and Archery

I have a hard time with summer vacation.  Trying to entertain/keep busy two girls who are 5 1/2 years apart is exhausting, especially when they have two different stages of life and they bug each other all the time.

This week Jeff is out of town so I took the girls to the Lawrence Hall of Science at Cal.  Annalise won tickets in a school raffle this past year.  We went and it was free but it is not a museum we will be going to again.  Robyn loved it and Annalise did not.  It's the age thing again.  Though I have to say it was not my favorite museum as we saw everything within the first 45 minutes.  Growing up in the DC area I was spoiled by being surrounded by neat (and free) museums.  Many of the museums around just can't compare.

Even so, it was a beautiful day and it was lovely to get out of the house.



Bay view



That same day was Annalise's last archery lesson of the month.  July is going to be busy so she won't be back until August.  Though she will be able to practice many times at girls camp next month.

Archery is definitely something she enjoys.  After seeing the movie Brave, Robyn wants to take archery lessons too.  I think we will wait a while before signing her up and let Annalise do it herself for now.

Summer is Here

School is finished!  Yes!  I think I am more excited for myself.  This year I was the elementary school's PTO Secretary.  It's not a hard position but definitively an active one.  Especially for someone like me who is inclined to help out when needed.  In fact I'm going to be doing it again next year, but I am going to use the summer to rest up for August. 

I'm hoping to get a bit of sewing in this summer.  For some reason I've pushed the knitting aside and have really been doing a lot of sewing projects.  I'm sure I will go back to knitting but maybe not until this fall.   Now I will just need to figure out to how to keep the girls occupied this summer, especially since Robyn has her cast until July....

So, some of the projects I've completed so far:

Robyn has been the recipient of most of the clothes.  Though I did attempt a swim top for Annalise.  It fits okay but it should have been a little tighter.  She's so skinny that I should have made the XS and not the S.  I have material to make Robyn a suit but I need to finish this up:

I'm making this for Quilts for Kids.  They provided the kit free of cost and I am putting it together and I will mail it back completed.  I found out about the program by reading the blog Make It And Love It .  I am finished with the top but now I need to go buy some batting and then it will be time to machine quilt.  Wish me luck!  I will need it as machine quilting is something that I am still learning.