2011 Family Reunion

My family has an annual reunion over Memorial Day weekend.  They've been doing it far longer than I've been alive.  There aren't really glitches anymore, everything runs like it's supposed to: hanging out, catching up, playing (usually some slightly embarrasing) games, grilling burgers, homemade ice cream contest, playing music under the gazebo.  We like to add a few twists and turns every now and then to keep it interesting, like weddings or trailer fires. 

And that's just on Saturday.

Sunday we get out of the Texas heat and have a big lunch before the family meeting and auction indoors.  Everyone makes crafts of all different kinds (and varying levels of taste) to be sold.  The money raised goes to the family fund for future reunion costs, scholarships, bonds, flowers, etc.  It's actually kind of awesome (without the "kind of"). 

This year, so far, we have two crafts to bring.  Rory made a stepping stone and painted it herself. (Heads up, Papa!) 

I took a record from my Granny's collection and made it into a clock.  It was definitely just as easy at it promised to be.  Seriously, after spending like three minutes making it I was looking around the room for other clock ideas.  (Don't worry, I stopped myself.  For now.)

Andrew has some other ideas cooking and I think I'll add an adult fused plastic bib to the mix.  I've still got a day and a half to get it done!

Happy Birthday, Rory Bean!

My Bean turned four on May 11th.  FOUR.  How did this happen?

She was really into decorating this time around, so I got some cheap streamers and ruffled them.  I'll be doing this again- I loved the way they turned out.  (Thanks to the always amazing made blog!)

I used up some colorful scraps and vinyl to make drawstring favor bags.  I wanted the kids to be able to see the contents that Rory picked out: stickers, dinosaur temporary tattoos, bucket o' pterodactyls, (knock-off) silly bandz and homemade play dough.



I love this kid.  I love how she can perfectly combine her love for dinosaurs with her princess dresses.  She likes to have her toenails painted and also likes watching football.  She requests "Strawberry Shortcake" movies and episodes of "River Monsters" equally.  It's all about balance.  I love that she isn't afraid to be herself.

Princess, refashioned.

A year or so ago we were gifted a ton of cute girl clothes for the Bean, including a Belle princess dress.  Despite her ongoing dinosaur obsession, Rory has discovered that she likes to play dress-up, especially when with other girls.  She doesn't generally play "princess" but rather goes around the house doing her normal stuff, dressed up in yellow chiffon.  Hey, I've vacuumed in a tiara before, so I can't really knock it.

The Belle dress was starting to border on "raggedy."  The top layer of glitter fabric had some unfortunate rips and there were at least two runs in the body of the dress itself.  Knowing she would never actually consent to me repurposing the dress, I waited until after bedtime to deconstruct it.  I removed the bodice and top layer of glittery ripped stuff and made a new yellow ballet skirt.  The two layers of fabric left work really well for it- I may have to actually go buy some to make her another soon.

I thought it would go well with a white leotard that we'd recently bought at a consignment sale.  It did, but the leotard was so....plain.  I did a quick upgrade with an elastic gather and a little white bow.  What really matters is  that my little ballerina was happy.  And twirly.  Very twirly.