Five years ago...

I became a mother for the first time. Chris & I were so scared. Our first born baby, who wasn't due for four more weeks, came into our lives, and changed them forever. Little did we know how rich life would become.

Five years has come and gone in a blink of an eye.  Emma was the sweetest, most happy baby.  She had the most beautiful big blue eyes.

Her little personality was evident from the beginning.  

How I wish time would stand still, and I could keep her and her sister little forever.  What I would give to go back for even just 5 minutes to when they were babies.

Happy 5th Birthday my love!

All Is Right In The World...

Mother of the year???

Yesterday, my husband had a meeting after work, fun...so I decide to take the girls out to Panera Bread for dinner.  It's one of the semi-healthy things they will both eat.  I place my order and find us a booth.  I tell the girls to sit still, and walk the 10 feet to fill the drinks. I do so as quickly as I can half looking over my shoulder the whole time.

As I am walking back to the table, I look at the girls to see Ava leaning on the edge of the table, and it starts to fall over with her on top. A group of older woman, grandma's gasp loudly, and I kid you not, the ENTIRE place stands still and looks over. It was one of those slow motion falls, that you can't get to quick enough to catch her. I put the drinks down on a different table and run over to her. I pick her up and of course she is in hysterics. Now she is fine. She didn't hit her head and it really was a slow fall. Of course the manager of Panera Bread is panicking, and asking me if she needs ice. She doesn't, she has no lumps, no bumps, no blood, she's just scared. So she offers us some cookies to make her feel better.

I can feel the disapproving eyes of the people around me staring at me while I calm her down. Ava is my child who challenges me daily. She drums to her own beat, and rarely listens. She has her own agenda, and no one gets in her way. With that said, I now feel like the idiot mother of the year.

Last year, in Toys R Us around this time, she tried to climb on the side of the shopping cart while I was putting the items on the belt to pay, and tipped it. Again, it was a slow motion fall, and she had nothing but a bruised ego. So do you see, this is just Ava, kind of like curiosity killed the cat.

I heard someone say once, that if you aren't embarrassed by your child daily, you are not a parent. I find this very true with Ava. Thankfully, the rest of our meal was uneventful, and people stopped staring. Of course one of the Grandma's had to come over and give me the play by play. She was sweet and meant well, but I was over it by then. This one will be the death of me...now stick in me in the corner with my dunce cap please.

The Next Generation of GenMarie...

Last Christmas, Emma got a sewing machine from my 
parents,a really cute Hello Kitty one by Janome.  It's actually a great little machine.  It was the thing she wanted most. I knew she wasn't ready yet, but this was all she kept talking about.  We tried it out after Christmas once, and she really wasn't ready, so into the attic it went.  This weekend, she was watching me sew, and really wanted to sew too.  My husband, the good sport, sat with her, and together they made Emma's first real project, a dolly blanket.  Yes, my husband can sew!  He actually can applique really well too.  Shhhh...but don't tell anyone that, I wouldn't want his manly image compromised, lol.  I couldn't resist snapping some photos of this sweet 
Daddy daughter moment.



And here she is with her very first real project she made.  Look at how proud she is!



A perfect fit!



She's not quite ready to take over the business just yet, lol!

Breathe...

Breathe

2 am and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake
Can you help me unravel my latest mistake
I don't love him, winter just wasn't my season
Yeah, we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize
Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason!

'Cause you can't jump the track
We're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe
Woah breathe, just breathe

May he turn 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
Just a day, he sat down to the flask in his fist
Ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year
Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while
But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles
Wanna hold him, maybe I'll just sing about it

'Cause you can't jump the track
We're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, boys
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe
Woah breathe, just breathe

There's a light at each end of this tunnel
You shout 'cause you're just as far in
As you'll ever be out
These mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
If you only try turning around

2 am and I'm still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper
It's no longer inside of me, threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them, however you want to

'Cause you can't jump the track
We're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, now
Sing it if you understand
And breathe, just breathe
Woah breathe, just breathe

Oh breathe, just breathe...

This is how I am feeling today...sad, and a bit like Meredith on Grey's Anatomy. My mom is going back home and bringing my sister with her. Be strong Denise, you will do this. It's just one of those days when you sit here contemplating your life and all it's stresses. I just need to breathe.

The Bonds of Sisterhood...

This was just too good not to blog...my girls playing outside this morning.







They don't get this from me! Like Ava's cheese doodle face!

Father's Day Fun

Hope you all enjoyed your Father's Day! The weather was hot here in NY. The girls and my husband enjoyed splashing around in our new pool. It's one of those 10 foot round ones with a filter, perfect for my girls. Maybe next year we'll buy a real pool, maybe...

And I have to toot my own horn a bit, I got my husband the best gift ever, tickets to go see The Police! He's a huge fan, and I got lucky that they added a second show in our area.

After splashing around in the pool, we went to my Dad's for a barbeque. Here's some pictures. Pay no attention to my crazy hair, it was way too hot & humid to blow dry it.

Me & My Dad

Chris & The Girls

Me & Chris

Cute Shot of Ava

My Dad & Stepmother

My Dad & Sister


I'll be back later to post my new listing for the Persnickety Camden Market Launch...here's a quick peek.

The End Of The Weekend Already...

How does that happen, before I know it, the weekend is over, and I have not gotten nearly as much done as I had hoped. There are just not enough hours in the day. I did get a fair amount of sewing done this weekend which is good.

Let's see, first I have to share this picture of Ava with you. I played around with it, and I love how it looks.




Second, I went to see the movie Knocked Up last night with my sister, and it was HYSTERICAL!!!! I love Katherine Heigl. As you now I am Grey's obsessed, and she was great in this movie. It was non stop laughs the whole time, and had a great story line. I don't go to the movies often, and the last three movies I saw at the theatre were animated...so this was a treat.

Tune in Tuesday for BIG happenings with WisteriaLane! I can't reveal anything, but I promise you will want to check this out!


And one last personal note from my life. This is a picture of the glider rocking chair I bought when I was pregnant with Emma. This is a picture of a pretty new one, because if you saw mine, you would faint! Five years of spills, spitup, use and other happenings have made my favorite chair quite worn and ratty looking. But I can't bring myself to get rid of it. This chair never made it to either of the girl's nurserys, it has been in living room, clashing with my beautiful Ethan Allen furniture. This chair has so many memories...those first nights rocking Emma when she would awake wondering when I would ever sleep again! Then watching videos with Emma while I was pregnant with Ava. It was the only way I could get an active 18 month old to sit with me during the long hot summer days of the end of my pregnancy. Then rocking Ava, who was so colicky(sp?), I thought I would just die. To now, my most precious memory that I know I will forever treasure, at the end of every day, Emma and I sit in that tattered chair, and watch her favorite show, PostMan Pat, before she goes to bed. She curls up on my lap with her doggy, who is her lovey and man does he show he show signs of 4 years of love, and her blankie, and we watch the show until it is time to go to bed. This is what being a mom is all about...

Out From Behind My Sewing Machine!

I know it has been almost 2 weeks since I have posted. I have been so swamped filling orders! They're will be a light at the end of the tunnel...


First things first, I have to share these adorable treasure keeper totes handpainted by fellow WL gal, Pixie Dust Studio. They are tdf! I have one for each of my girls, and no doubt will be adding to our collection. They are so fun & original! I have not seen anything like this on ebay. She'll gladly take custom orders, and personalizes the back with your choice of name or phrase. I will be buying these for every little girl I know as gifts. Check them out here.

Those are my designs Kathy matched, currently listed. See them here and here.

I have to share this picture. I finally learned what an f stop is and how to change it. Can you say newbie??? I love this shot I took of Ava yesterday. I am going to have to frame this one for sure.

Now there is a little matter of me posting about my home town. Off to find some good facts for you. You thought I forgot Linda!