Celebrating 2 years!

Wow. 2 years. I feel like I'm in uncharted territory. I could imagine every age until now, and the rest is just unfathomable. One day she'll be able to walk downstairs unaided, she'll learn to brush her own teeth, she'll go to school, and, oh my, I'm not ready to go beyond that yet. I know I'm getting ahead of myself. The last two years didn't fly by as everyone said it would. In fact, it's seems like a small amount of time for all that we've crammed into it.

We invited a few Trinity families from our neighborhood with kiddos close to Eden's age over for cupcakes and crafts on Sunday afternoon. Eden has been interested in Bambi and Princesses lately- no trouble guessing which we are encouraging.

Dessert was applesauce spiced cupcakes with brown sugar cream cheese frosting topped with woodland creatures and trees.

 Thanks Aunt Jillian for my Christmas present last year! The cute cupcake toppers are still coming in handy.

We had apple cider in mason jars (leftover from canning applesauce, which was in fact used in the cupcakes), giving me the perfect excuse to use the cute paper straws that are popping up all over etsy.

Oh, and Eden LOVES fire...

 

and cupcakes. Good combination for a happy birthday girl. Thanks Grandma for the cute dress! It was perfect for the day's festivities.

For the craft we had the kids "make" dioramas. We glued a background and some moss into brown boxes, collected some acorns, leaves, and sticks, and bought a few small plastic animals.

Thomas deserves all the credit for finding the cutest shrubbery our neighborhood has to offer.

 

I was a little worried about the project. SURE I'm all but certified in K-12 art eduction, but definitely not in toddler art education. I was hoping sticks would be as much fun as they sounded and I was right :).

There was lots of playing. 6 kids is probably the max our house can handle at a time, and I'm proud to say they all played well and there were fewer tears than I can count on one hand. A big attraction was Eden's tree tent.
 

 To thank her guests we had make your own trail mix.

 

We even remembered to have the last guest snap a picture on their way out the door :). Eden's Bambi doll is definitely her favorite present. 

Sharing new toys proves to be one of the hardest tasks a toddler has so we opted to save her last present after the party had ended, and no, it was NOT Thomas' idea. I'm sure I'll eat my words, but 2 year old "boy" toys are more fun than 2 year old "girl" toys.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and presents!! We pass along all your hugs and sweet words and it's obvious Eden feels very loved.  Now I have to go clean out the basement to make room for all these toys!

Commisioned-ish

I get a lot of comments from people about commissioned work or interest in sewing/painting/drawing/baking lessons, but it often doesn't work out. People are rarely comfortable taking me up on my offer and I have enough projects of my own that I don't pursue their interests very strongly. Once in awhile everything comes together and I get to try something new for an excited audience. For the other parties involved, the memories are probably vague, but crafting with friends leaves me with strong, vivid, wonderful memories. Painting with April Dudley and Elizabeth Carter, making cards with my mom, baking with Anna Middlebrook, working with my sister, getting knitting tips from Abigail Wilson, ... I really wish I could go on and on, but did I mention how rarely this actually happens?

Eden and I attend a story time organized by our childrens librarian at a local bakery every Tuesday. It's quite fun- themed crafts and snacks, they really do a nice job. Another mother, a good friend and neighbor, was asking the librarian about resources for making your own flannel boards. The librarian was at a loss so I offered to try. We decided to do Old MacDonald for a trial run. Last night I watched a bit of Hulu and free handed some barn animals to see if  cheap, acrylic, embellished felt would be too heavy to stick to the flannel.

My friend is going to make the flannel board properly before we make more, but they seemed to work when I draped a piece of flannel over an arm chair. 

Now that I know I can do it, my friend is coming over Wednesday to learn the process and make the barn.

And who knows, maybe a sun, fence, tree, farmer, letters E, I & O... it could go on and on.

The librarian wants to see a portfolio when it's all finished and is considering commissioning a set. And on top of that, she wants something personally done for her daughter's birthday! Hopefully I'll be working on that this week and posting details soon.

I'm really excited about the potential crafting with friends stacking up: teaching someone to sew so she can make aprons for her nieces for Christmas (admittedly my favorite prospect), helping make 100% wool blankets for a sensitive skinned cutie, throwing a knitting party, helping someone learn to quilt.

My mom recently visited us for a week and we had a splendid time (especially Eden with all of her new toys :). I'll post pictures soon.