her vision

About a month ago, we were at the BYU Museum of Art. As I cannot resist a museum gift shop, I was perusing their offerings. I saw a wool felt stuffed elephant that I thought might be good for Bella's birthday, since she is quite the elephant lover. I should say here that I studied the elephant for a few minutes, contemplating whether I might be able to make one instead. I decided that I could not, and so I bought it.

Eva wanted to make a gift to send to Bella, one that was elephant-themed as well. She came up with and rejected many ideas, only to settle on a stuffed elephant. My protestations that we were already sending Bella a stuffed elephant were heartily ignored.

At first I thought she would draw an elephant profile, we could cut two and sew them together, stuff, DONE.

But noooooooo. She didn't want it to be 2D. She didn't want Bella to have to hold the elephant the whole time she was playing with it. It had to stand. I was quickly getting in over my head but I didn't have the heart to crush her gift-giving dream.

She drew a pattern. (I love the scissor marks.) It needed to have a bracelet, a striped trunk, a bow, a fringe-y tail, and heart-shaped ears.

I started cutting out the pattern, and she freaked out: "Wait! That's not really the shape of it!" Oh dear.

So I sketched a pattern based on the grey elephant that we bought. (Ours is like its special needs baby sister.)

I had never made a stuffed animal other than a knitted kitty. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. She didn't care about any of that. She badgered me into following this project through to completion. She was the designer and the overseer of every step of the process.

The poor girl has splayed feet and has difficulty standing with all of her appendages on the ground at once. Her trunk is crooked.

But she has a fringe-y tail, a bracelet, a striped trunk, a bow, and heart-shaped ears.

What can I say? The girl has vision.

Jessie's visit

I've let too much time elapse since Jessie's visit, and I have too much blogging to catch up on. I can't face multiple posts, so I've elected to post my favorite photos, all in one!

3 girls in a tub. Crowded chaos, shrieks of delight that can quickly become whines or protests: it's pretty much the way the whole 12 days went. As Grandma used to say when the children were babies, "Happy turned sad!" Things can turn on a dime.

We started out with all 3 girls sleeping in Eva's room. She was delighted. And then, she wasn't. She hurt Bella's feelings, and Bella wanted to sleep in my room. Suddenly, everyone was in agreement that Bella and Fiona should sleep in my room with me and Jessie.

I've learned not to be surprised by these turns of events (especially when Eva is involved). You just never know how it's going to go, so I'm getting better at going with the flow.

As previously reported, we braved the dinosaur museum during Spring break. Enough said.

I love Fiona's expression.

We went to a quilt shop in American Fork I had never been to before. Danger, danger! I wanted so many things. I'm sure I will be back.

Jessie talked Emily into cutting her hair! (She had had it cut shortly before her arrival, but wanted some changes.) I have never, ever cut anyone's hair, and was too terrified to oblige. It looks cute!

Jessie also cut Fiona's hair one morning. Fiona wasn't even particularly cooperative, and it turned out darling! It made me wonder if I could cut Lucas's hair. Marc put the kibosh on that idea.

We were able to sneak away to the temple one afternoon. We haven't been to the temple together other than Jessie's sealing! We did sealings, and it was a very sweet experience.

temple SP

We enjoyed a Creative Friday with Jill. It was quite the day of chaos, especially when my piano students turned up unexpectedly.

Jill brought little packs of m&ms for the girls, and Bella organized hers by color. I used to do that, too.

Jessie reading to all the girls.

Fiona appropriated the Snow White dress and was terribly distressed if anyone else tried to wear it. Jessie said that one of their friends calls Fiona a cartoon character, and the description is so very apt. Her expressions are varied and big.

Cute Bella on the slide. The weather was cool and rainy (or snowy) for much of the time they were here, so when it was nice, they played outside. Hallelujah.

Bella wanted to take Jack for a walk.

I thought the whole thing was doomed to failure, since he has never learned to properly heel and tends to pull horribly, but she would just sit down if she wanted him to stop. Worked like a charm!

Eva had to get in on that action.

Eva, reading to Fiona to cheer her up. She seemed to champion Fiona mainly when she and Bella were on the outs.

We got to see a lot of Emily while Jessie was here, since she had reading days for finals. She is so entertaining and such good company - we are always happy to have Emily around!

We played quite a few rounds of Bananagrams. Max loves it; Lucas hates it.

The plum trees bloomed! Always my favorite 2 weeks of the year.

Bella's treasures.

I love this picture of Fiona (not to be outdone, she had to have treasures as well).

Eva did, too, of course.

No visit to Utah is complete without a trip to the distribution center.

One day they spent the whole morning making a dinosaur museum in the family room.

Bella made everyone name tags, which consisted of names and eye color. (Except for Marc's, which simply said "happy customer.)

Later, Eva had to go to school, and the museum was closed, obviously.

Check out that static-y hair!!

Bella and Eva neglected to finish their yogurts, and my favorite cartoon character took over, two spoon-style!

Emily bought us all fountain drinks.

We did a decent amount of baking. One day, Jessie and Emily pulled out no less than 7 bags of coconut in various states of fulness. I endured much teasing about it. In my defense, I can only say that my lazy susan has been non-functional, so it was hard to see what I had and what I didn't. I guess I was making damn sure I had coconut on hand!

The girls enjoyed watching Lucas play video games in his room. One day, he told them he wanted a little alone time, so they migrated to the hall and took up a new position there.

(Incidentally, Lucas was very sweet with them. He was quite the peacemaker and broke up many arguments. He also played with them on multiple occasions. I love that guy.)

A collection of the friends Jessie has made for Eva over the last several years. (I love them all, but Fox is my favorite.)

We were hoping that, now that the girls are older, we wouldn't have so many sharing boot camp issues, that they would just go off and play and leave us in peace. Not so. But we're holding out hope for next time! It was definitely trying at times, but all worth it in the end.

I wish my sister didn't live so far away!

cousin (in)compatibility

Before leaving for the airport, I wanted to get one last picture of Bella and Eva together. They were fine as long as they could sit apart from each other with their bums in the air. But when I requested they sit next to each other and possibly even hug, Bella rebelled.

Eva persisted, however, and the resulting series totally cracks me up. Their body language says so much...

the rest of the visit

Jessie and her girls left today. I have a lot of conflicting emotions right now. I knew I couldn't really afford to spend any more time just hanging out when I have so much to do to get ready to leave the country. Lucas's birthday is tomorrow and I need to spend some time focusing on him. Eva's sick and is therefore even more demanding than usual. I am feeling sick myself and totally sleep-deprived.

But oh how I hate to see my sister leave and go back to her home which is so very far away...

And so, some pictures celebrating the rest of her stay.

Who wouldn't want to play under the table? (in jammies, no less)

Bella and Eva were both invited to Mya's birthday party and had a blast playing in the water. You wouldn't know it from this picture, but Eva (in true Eva fashion) would run down the slip n slide and then stop and fall to her knees at the end.

Darling Fiona loved the tire swing (in Hannah's mom's backyard).

Quality coloring time (a shared passion).

Max made his wonderful cream puffs. Jessie succumbed and ate one, but then felt sick. I suffered no such repercussions.

In true best-for-last style, we had an awesome day of reduced child responsibilities yesterday. Jill took the older girls and Lucas to her house for the whole day -- despite Eva being under the weather and crankier than usual -- while Jessie, Hannah and I spent the day working on a quilt, chatting, eating, listening to music, and laughing. It was good for the soul.

Jessie made a whole lap quilt, start to finish, in two days! It made me want to quilt again.

Hannah and I made camera strap covers, which are oh so pleasing to me. I made invitations for Lucas's party. And we helped Jess with her quilt. (Jill even brought her sewing machine over so we could do tandem sewing!)

Cafe Rio salads for lunch.

Hannah went home and put her kids to bed. We put our kids to bed. Marc and Max went out to eat and to a movie, and we stayed home and made popcorn and watched Stick It (a guilty pleasure) on DVR. When the guys got home, we made Italian sodas and had this:

Max made chocolate cheesecake and took great pleasure in plating it and creating a customized presentation for each person.

Last summer when Jessie came to visit, it seemed like we had more days like this one. But then, she didn't have a baby. And Marc was in Paris for his annual trip, so we were definitely more footloose and fancy free. I was so glad we at least had one day of working on projects, my favorite.

Jessie with Max & Lucas just prior to leaving for the airport. We realized that we hadn't really taken any pictures of them together. Seriously, I don't know what happened. She was here for 3 weeks and we didn't have time to take all the pictures we wanted to take, or do all the things we wanted to do.

This little goofball was cracking us up by wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses. She is apparently feeling much better now and is back to her smiling, happy self. (I hope that was the case during the trip home!)

We only took two self-portraits this time. Two. What the? This one was taken at the airport, right before she left. Good grief.

Sigh. And now begins the long wait until we see each other again.