You Go Girl!

Home...

from ten days in Mexico. So. Much. Fun.

Swimming...

Strolling...

Sipping...

Sailing...

Flying...

Snorkeling...

Goofing...

Loving...

Celebrating...

Life is good.

 

Pebble Pendants

I made each of my girls a little pebble pendant for Christmas. The stones I painted on were about the size of a nickel. I collected these perfect pebbles this past summer when we would boat on Flathead Lake out to Wild Horse Island. As the name suggests, the island has wild horses. Seven of them, to be exact. I've only seen them once. But when I did, I was so excited I nearly peed my pants lost my senses. I am off topic, but it seemed important to tell you about the wild horses. Back to the pebble pendants...

I looked with purpose for the little stones each time we visited the island. I was particular in my choices. I wanted them to be just the right shape and color with a flat surface for paint, not too big but not too small. When I found a most excellent pebble specimen, I tucked it in my pocket for elfing at a later date. It was fun to pull the stones out of their hiding spot and paint on them long after summer days on the lake were just a memory. The necklaces hold extra meaning for my girls since the lake is quite possibly our favorite-ist place in the whole wide world. I grew up in a house on the shores of Flathead. Both sets of the girls' grandparents still reside close to the lake. My children have spent countless hours playing in her waves, sleeping in a tent by her edge with sisters and cousins, jumping into her frigid goodness as soon as they could bear it, and basking in the sun that sparkles like diamonds off her surface. It is a magical spot. Someday I hope to live on her shores again. For now the girls have a piece of the lake to remind them of her goodness and all the good things this life holds. 

Edited to add: Yes. There is one pebble pendant missing. My college daughter took hers with her when she went back to school. She must like it. :-)

It Feels Funny...

to give this as a gift...

when you are doing a lot of this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

Oh, summer. I LOVE you. I know you are thinking of making  your exit, but NOT. QUITE. YET. Pleeeease...I need a little more time with you. K?

 

Cuckoo for Coco Fluff

Ga-Ga.

Over the Moon.

Head Over Heels. 

Cuckoo for Coco Puffs Fluff. 

Meet Olive. Such a distraction. We are in love.

Need a Ride?

As of Friday, this girl is a fully licensed driver. Not sure who's responsible for her fabbity hair up-do. Probably a sister. I thought she should wear it like this for her photo on her license. She didn't. It was all curly loveliness that day.

Safe travels, little Paige.

Hello. My Name Is...

Hello. My name is Cassie. I am wife to one. Mom to five. Friend to many. This is my You Go Girl blog. I like to write about my family and crafty things. What? You already know all this? Oh. Ok. I thought maybe introductions were in order since I have been so scarce in this space. Every day I think of something I would like to blog about, but it has been busy, busy, too busy around here...

My girl is graduated. Her birthday was celebrated.

Planters have been planted. Sprinklers repaired.

Games have been played.

Yellowstone was toured.

And, my kitchen is almost completely renovated.

Things seem to be returning to normal chaos around here so I've been partaking in some crafty goodness. Be back next week with something to show you. 

XOXO~

Cassie

I Will Wear a Smile...

Tomorrow Miss Hailey will

turn eighteen

AND

graduate from high school.

BUT

I will not cry.

INSTEAD 

I will wear a smile

AND

let my heart  soar

BECAUSE

My girl is equipped and ready

to live her

DREAMS!

(Okay. Maybe I will have just a teeny tiny lump in my throat. I am her mama, after all.)

Thirteen

 

I have thought about this day from the moment these three entered the world...This is the day that I officially have FIVE teenage daughters living under my roof. It used to scare me to death. But if my two older daughters (15 and 17) are any indication of what it is like to have teenage girls about, I am in for some very good days ahead. I just have to make it through 7th and 8th grade. Sometimes 7th and 8th grade girls make me want to poke needles in my eyes. I think I'm going to make it, though. After all, I'm 3/4 of the way through 7th grade triplets all ready. Woo Hoo! Happy birthday my little triplet gingers. I love you more than words can say. Even when you chew gum in my ear, or toss your back packs carelessly about my tidy living room, or steal my hairbrush and forget to put it back, I still love you lots. 

 

On Fire...

Somebody throw some water on me because I am on fire. This past week I...

...Crafted five shabby flower hair clips for my Valentine girls. As usual, I crafted them ON Valentine's day. Why do I always do this to myself? Deep down I must like the pressure.

...Made three receiving blankets for Konbit Sante delivery kits (Craft Hope Project 11). This Craft Hope project was very timely for me. Since Kevin and Hailey returned from Haiti, I somehow feel connected to the people in Haiti in a way I didn't before. It's kind of weird.

...Put the finishing touches on this Birdie Sling. I wish the snow and sleet and slush and mud would go away so I could use it. We seem to be caught in an endless cycle of snowing and melting, snowing and melting. We've had at least 60 " of snow this year. More snow is in our future this week. So very dirty. I am going through wiper fluid by the gallon. It is very hard to keep your coat, your bag, and your person from brushing upside the slush mobile that used to be a sparkly clean car. I miss you, summer.

...Replaced the zipper in this little black number. Paige (daughter #2) went to Snowball, a semi-formal school dance. She looked ooh-la-la divine.

...Patched two pairs of holey jeans. I think I like them better with these cute little patches than I did when they were new.

Up next...a new ironing board cover. The girls, all of them, were busy melting crayons between wax paper this weekend. They were doing it for no other reason but the pure joy that comes from such waxy, melty, smelly, wicked colorful goodness. Evidently each one of them was sick on the day they melted crayons between wax paper in grade school because they all claimed they had NEVER done this before. Are you kidding me? I can't believe I didn't do this with the girls when they were younger. Shame. Humiliation. Abomination. Tsk. Tsk.I think this is probably another black mark against me in my bid for Mother of the Year. Harrumph. (I'm only kidding. I was forever banned from the MOTY competion a few years back when I accidentally cut off the eyebrow of a certain 7th-grader during a bang trim. Not cool. But very funny. Shhh.) 

 

Yes I Can...

My sweet Emily wanted a hat for Christmas. Not just any hat. She wanted a hat that she spotted at Rockin' Rudy's, a groovy little store full of lots of fun and sometimes quirky things. The hat was the bomb. I even thought so. It was crocheted in a lovely woolen yarn. It had a scalloped edge and an amazing crocheted froufrou flower that was stitched to it in just the right place. It was cute, and jaunty, and perfect. It also had a $42 price tag. OUCH!! Forty two dollars for a hat that may or may not find its way home from school each day seemed like A LOT. What's a girl to do? Of course. Why didn't I think of it sooner? I could make one...maybe...perhaps...hmmm, I don't know. My original enthusiasm for the plan was dulled by uncertainty and doubt. After all, I only kind of know how to crochet. It seemed a wee bit risky. I shushed the voices in my head. "Breath deep and carry on," I told myself.

One skein of blue yarn, a little ball of magenta yarn, the tail-end of green yarn, and some determination...Yes, I can. I can crochet a hat with scallops and a froufrou flower. Tah-Dah...

Sweet Emily told me it was better than the one at Rockin' Rudy's because I made it. Awww, shucks. Stop it already, Emily. 

Breath deep and carry on...I think that will be my mantra for 2011. It works for so many different situations. Try it.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011.

Breath deep and carry on, friends~

Cassie