Goals and Projects

I messed up on blogger, and it ate the entire page of my projects. (Now blogger isn't letting me republish this as a page, so its going up as a post. I think I'm switching to wordpress soon. They treat you more like you've got a brain, and you don't have a glitchy server overriding you)

I had a little meltdown, but I think God is trying to tell me something about my priorities.

 

God.

I need to study His Word and spend time with Him. I have been too focused on short term stuff, and lose Him. And then I lose joy. And I turn into a jerk. Which is not good for the kiddos. Or me either. Its so hard to give up little pleasures for Him, but this is also indicative of the state of me....that I am close to my little pleasures and hobbies, but far from Him, so its giving up what is near and cherished for a Stranger. But I need to flip that. God has to be closer to me than my little pleasures, so that they pale in comparison to Him.

1. Daily Bible Reading & Study. Keep it simple 5 readings a week, taped to the wall and I highlight it when I do it. That way if I "fail" for a couple days, perfectionist me doesn't decide I "ruined the whole thing" and give up.
2. Daily Time with God. At least15 minutes a day of bringing Him my worries, just listening and journaling (because I get less distracted when I'm writing Him letters). Also praying through a list of people every day. It sounds really lame, but I'm going to make a little chart for this too....because I need accountability for myself.
3. Bible Study with Josh. Every evening, at 10:30 at night, we will spend at least 15 minutes on a Bible Passage, studying it together. We met in a Bible Study, and I like how different than mine his brain works.

Family.

I always mean to "spend more time" really spending time with the kids and not just keeping them alive/fed/clothed etc. But I tend to zone out and do things with them while thinking about something else. I need a schedule. And a highlighted chart, because I need accountability and structure like that.

1. Start Homeschool.  [Right after 2nd Breakfast] Start Isaiah with the Reading Program, and have the kids work on letters and numbers and simple math problems. Reading, Writing, Arithmetic. Even 10 minutes a day, every day at the same time, say after 2nd breakfast, is something to start with. Then do arts & craft with the kids. It can be stressful, as they wield paintbrushes, etc, but make an effort. Every day, either paint, crayon, marker, do a project, etc. with them. Even if its just 10 minutes after their 3 R's.
2. Hang out with them, intentionally. [Right after Baby's Naptime]. Focus on them. Just spend an hour hanging out, not trying to get laundry done, or sitting in the corner planning projects while they play, but just focusing on them for at least an hour, engaging them in conversations and playing along with them. Need to find a good time.
3. Read them at least 7 books a day. FIX A TIME. (2 of which should be about Jesus).
4. Go on a walk with them every day. [early morning, right after/before Breakfast] When the weather is no longer like the surface of Mercury, I will walk with them every day, preferably at 7 or 9 am.
5. Rocking Chair Time. [Right after Bedtime/Prayertime] My mom did this with us, and it was one of my most cherished memories. Should would have each of us take a turn, in which she would rock you in the rocking chair and sing you a song of your choice (usually "Morning Sun"), every night.

Stories & Paintings

I think God did give me a tendency & desire to write stories, and I think He wants me to do this. Often a picture will come into my head, an idea, and refuse to go away, just waiting. I know I've had this desire in me to write stories that show how big the sky is....how much meaning and love and poetry God has written even into this fractured universe. But for the most part in the last few years, I've pretty much focussed much more of limited spare time into other things (like making clothes and crafting with wire, or finding deals at thrift stores) which are good things, but I would be dissapointed if at the end of my life I had spent my free time on those things and never finished those unwritten stories that keep coming back to me. I also really want to be a part of helping out with my sibling’s stories, which I think have the potential to make this world a better place…because stories can open our eyes to beauty and truth.

I also want to learn how to illustrate Children’s books, and write the children’s books that I want my children to have. There don’t seem to be nearly enough of the kind I want to read to them, and I know how pivotal children’s books (with beautiful illustrations) were to shaping my sense of wonder about the world, especially the ones I had read to be before I was 6. Isaiah is 4 already, so I’m on a clock here….

1. Work on Sojourners with Micah
2. Work on Overworld/Underworld & Singstory with Bekah
3. The Morning People
4. Prodigal, Ambertstone, Where the Lilies truly grow, and other stories.
5. Write & Illustrate St. George and the Dragon
6. Write & Illustrate The Woodcutter and the Wolf-King
7. Finish planning and make the 7 icon set I’ve been planning for 2 years

Study

My Hebrew keeps slipping, alas, I need to go and refind it. I feel like I’m just burying something that I should be growing. So I want to set aside just 15-20 minutes, 4 times a week, to work on Hebrew and Greek. My goal is to be able to read through the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) every year, at breakfast, with the kids (Which is less than 3 chapters a day). And to be able to read through the New Testament with the kids 2x a yr (just a chapter a day) in Greek. When I get consistent with this, I want to start actually studying Church Fathers and Interpretation and all that. (Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lectures to start with, because they are so poetic. Augustine, etc.)

1. Hebrew
2. Greek
3. Help with Daddy’s book.
4. [Church Fathers]

Projects
These are concrete things, I create with my hands. I don't know why, it gives me so much more satisfaction than doing other necessary (yet cyclic) things, like laundry, or cooking/baking (because it all disappears...), etc. But I do have lists and lists of things I want to do, and have spent so much time/energy thinking about it. I need to be more realistic & responsible with how much time I set aside to do this, but also (ironically enough) be more disciplined about actually doing them.

To Do List Sept '15-Jan '16

1. Gondor Ranger Tote Bags
2. R&D blaster packs from canvas
3. Hobbit Outfit for Little Hobbit
4. Jenny B-day skirts
5. Epic Echoes Dresses (Green, Tan, Brown Sheet)
6. Grecian Dresses(w/ nursing fronts, and cowl) Jersey: Brown, Tan, Cream/white flowers. Sheets: Cream, pale Sea Green to dye, tan sheet [drapey w/ sheen]
7. Hobbit Clothes (Everyday LOTR-Armhole Princess Seamed, Kirtle bodice top?) Swirly Green, Olive Vine, Brown Poly vine, Red repurposed. 4 chemise shirts. Half Circle Skirts. Aprons
8. Eowyn Dresses (Everyday LOTR-Shoulder Princess Seamed)(Green Sundress, WW Sundress[sheet], Shieldmaiden Sundress[ja], Tippeted half sleeves—Green Gown[need HL fabric], Shieldmaiden [sheet],WW Gown
9. Arwen Dresses (Everyday LOTR) Half sleeve Bloodred Gown [sheets], Bridge dress half sleeves [sheets & chiffon], Green dress [need HL fabric] with chiffon BIG sleeves.
10. Peplum Tops (Simplicity, no collar, French cap sleeves) white & cream sheets.
11. Simple Shirtwaist Dress (Simplicity, no collar, French cap sleeves—might modify to reg cap sleeves) Blue Vines from HL, WWII tribute (gray green sheet, pockets), WWII Tribute 2 (need tan sheet, pockets, add collar???)
12. Collard Shirtwaist Dress?
13. Refashion Jean Shirtwaist dresses
14. Print/finish Gondor Tunics for myself, Gondor Tunics for the kiddos, Print kid’s T shirts, etc.

Christmas Sewing

1. Leather Steampunk Blaster Pack for Keziah
2. Leather Black Mara-Jade-ish Blaster Pack for Mali
3. Icon Set for Bekah (Painted on Hardwood Plywood?)
4. Blue & Gold semi-circle Icon Set for Sfs (Painted on Hardwood Plywood?)
5. Scripture Hangings for Mommy (Mount on HL stiff posterboard when there)
6. Petticoats for Leah
7. Fleece Elven Cloaks for the kids

Really Cool Ambitious Stuff 

1. Josh’s Ranger Outfit
2. Isaiah’s Ranger Outfit
3. Mali’s Mara Jade Outfit
4. Josh’s Imperial Uniform
5. My Wool Cotehardie Medieval Dresses

Stuff for others

1. Leah’s Hoopskirt
2. Leah’s Petticoats (try poly rope corded, and softer mirror organza one?)
3. Leah’s Summer Dresses (Red, Blue, Bright Green, Purple vines
4. Leah’s Winter dresses (need linings) (Poly Felicity, Purple flowers,
5. Bex Wine, Red, and Green Medievaloid dresses (Print necks?)
6. Bex Kurtis (her blue, her orange red, l.o. purple vines)
7. Bex muslin topped dresses (finish!)
8. Bex Red Arwen Dress from her sheet.
9. Micah Hobbit Waistcoat
10. Tirzah Gloves
11. Tirzah medieval printed blue and gold skirt
12.  Mali 50’s dress with square collar and petticoat 
13. Elven Lanterns 2.0 (with plastic sheeting?) for Bex and Leah

Little Girl (to Women) Sewing (list of what I found to be the most helpful tutorials/free patterns)

1. Pinafores (teach Apron Sewing, Petticoat sewing) [Also make little Pinafores with patch pockets with Applique matching the gingham stuff?]
2. Pantaloons & Fancy Pants (lots of free patterns, put links here)
3. A Line Hand Stamped & Appliqued Dresses (Teach Bias Binding [insert most helpful tutorials HERE]. Stamping or Applique [insert most helpful tutorials here]) (A line tutorial with facings from Climbing the Willow HERE. Nice simple closure solution)
4. A Line Dresses, with variations—Tiered Ruffle Dresses (Ruffles, Puffed and Butterfly sleeves, appliqued patch pockets. Sailor Collar, Peter Pan Collar.)
5. Basic Girls Dresses (Do lined bodices, and bias bound bodices) Skirt Variations (Gathered, vs half circle) Sleeve Variations (Sleeveless, Short Butterfly or Puffed, Long sleeved) [H—do the whole Gingham stack, flutter sleeves, half circle skirts, stamped white waistbands [Show Cathy how can modify this slightly for 18TH cent costume, princess, anything] (Basic Bodice Free Pattern from Climbing the Willow HERE, note 3/8" seam allowances, and no closure allowances, will have to add) (put most helpful placket tutorials HERE)
6. Hats. (Bag Lining) [H—white hats, and gingham reversible w/ bias binding matching?) Good free pattern and tutorial Oliver and S, HERE also find a good ruffle hat free pattern)
7. Basic Girl’s Dress for Neighbor (red, red flowers, bright pink) 
8. To make it for Women---> Just add darts! (or princess seams) (basic sloper, most intuitive BEST TUTORIAL HERE, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and here goes)
9. Women: Rub Off Simple elastic-waisted red dress.
10. Women: A line skirt (my favorite drafting instructions, very simple, HERE, simply draw out the sides to make it A line)
11. Women: Half Circle Skirt.
12. Women: Sundress w/ Half Circle Skirt

Baby Shower Sewing

1. Little Girl A line Dresses w/ matching fancy pants & Hats
2. R2D2 Dress & Hat
3. Winter Fleece hats--- Elf Hats, Kiss Hat? Little Knight Helmet hats,
4. Jersey sewing---Animal Hats, Stenciled LOTR drool Bibs
5. Sleep Sacks. Nursing Covers. 

Random Projects

1. Birka Style Medieval Pouches
2. Eowyn Belts (Filigree, Filigree w/ trim, From Recycling Metal, From Recycling Mixed Media)
3. Medieval Studded/Decorated Hanging Belt (Fabric & Paint, Velveteen & Sewology. Leather & Tandy Rivets)
4. Underbracers from faux suede, dwarven, ranger, elven variations
5. Brown Leather Bracers (possibly with veg tan embellishment, or leather cut out glued) for myself…
6. Gondor Black Leather Bracers (with 2nd layer cutout surrounding center piece, glued. Then possibly veg tanned cutout for tree and sea bird stuff in center…)
7. Screenprinting experiments
8. Couching & seed beads, experiments 

Headcoverings

1. Medieval Hood Headcoverings
2. Lace Headcovering (like Snood for All Seasons & Jewish Orthodox one I saw)
3. Simple Triangle shape head kerchief (Vintage or Dwarven)
4. Straw Hat refashions (1940s)
5. Felt Hat refashions (1940s) 

Future Dresses

• Epic Echoes (Claret Red HL w/ gold stencil OR w/ gold border w/ red stencil, Navy & gold, Also Navy and gold w/ cranberry French cap sleeves)
• Medievaloid Maternity (Claret Red HL w/ gold, Hunter Green HL w/ gold, Tan w/ olive stripe, Green w/ Brown Stripe)
• Arwen (Cranberry Claret Cotton HL—half length tippeted sleeves)
• Eowyn
• Square Neck Empire Puffed Sleeves, Dk blue w/ cream or white lace at neck.

Medievaloid Maternity Shift Dresses

So no baby yet.
Keep thinking "It's tonight!" and then, nothing....this kid is trying to prove me wrong, and show up late....

Anyway, I finally wore out my favorite maternity shift dress (the fabric just spontaneously burst holes in multiple places in a wash, kind of like the "Wonderful One Hoss Shay"), so a month ago I rubbed the pattern off, added cap sleeves, and sewed it up. (Didn't get round to photographing it till last week when Bekah was here)

I made it from a cotton IKEA tablecloth that I picked up at a thrift store a while back. The center stripe and facing are sort of medieval-inspired that I sketched up. I guess kinda like this picture of Ninth Century dress by Tom Tierney, the dress on the right.

From Dover's Medieval Fashions by Tom Tierney

I added gold accents, because gold and blue together look so medieval to me. In sunlight, you can see the gold a little better.

Here is a closeup of the trim. I stenciled it using this method, and printed it rather quickly and sloppily late at night with the justification that it was a mock-up. I used a cosmetic wedge sponge from dollar tree, and Tulip Metallic Gold Fabric paint. (Sorry the dress is wrinkled)

I've been expecting you for over a week baby....whenever you're ready...

Aunt Bekah's Visit, and an Apron

Aunt Bekah got to visit for a week. It was a lot of fun. Isaiah got to hear Beowulf again. And eat a lot of peaches. And watch Star Wars Rebels season 1 through at least 3 times.


She was kind enough to model some old sewing projects for me, that I sewed this year but never got round to photographing.

Here is my standard T-shirt. I like cap sleeves, v necks, and fitted but not too fitted. I make them from T-shirts from the thrift store, because its so very much cheaper than buying knits new.

Here is an apron I made in May. I love aprons. You can wipe kids jammy fingers on them, you can scoop up and transport laundry/toys/oranges, etc in your skirt without flashing people. They are so handy, and erase the extra stress of worrying of getting tomato sauce/peanut butter/dishwater on your favorite clothes.

I based it off of Richard Scarry's picture of Grandma Bear's apron. Given how comfortable it is, I assume it must have been a standard type of apron back in the days when women wore aprons a lot more (Grandma Bear is always wearing her apron). It is SOOO comfortable.

See how the neck straps come down the back.

 Here is an example of the apron on Mommy Cat.

I love aprons, but I hate feeling something pulling on the back of my neck (like a halter top) it makes me feel like I'm being choked. This apron's design is very good, its shoulder straps cross across the back and then connect in a wide X to the sides of the apron, bearing the weight very nicely. The fit can be adjusted by the standard ties on the sides.

Here is a write up of the measurements I used.

It was simple and straightforward to make, basically the waistband is a long rectangle that you iron in half lengthwise, inserting in another rectangle that you gather to be the bottom half of the apron. Then you sew the waistband's edges down and it holds the skirt part in. If you stop here its a half apron.
To make it a full apron, I just sewed another rectangle (the top part) with 2 wide straps onto it. Then tried it on, pinning the straps accross my back, and then cut and sewed them to the proper place.  Its all rectangles and straight seams. Ironing helps it go together very easily. I got 2 half aprons and one full apron out of a nice weight cotton sheet.

Plus, aprons look so pretty and tough and cool. Like Ma Ingalls. She was the essence of coolness...

And the kids decided that mommy had taken enough pictures of Aunt Bekah....

She wanted to hold Isaiah too....

And it still fits at 9 months pregnant too...

A line Skirt Pattern

My sister is teaching. Nothing quite says "women's proffessional clothing" the way 1940's does. To me anyway. Because 1940s was really when women entered the workforce to help save the world and all that.

Anyway, pencil skirts dont' look good on this sister and I due to our body shape (pear/hourglass) so I went for A-line, with some shaping in the side seams and back waistline darts.

She humored me and posed in a messy kid's room at midnight, since she had to fly out in the morning....

 I made her some skirts from cotton bottomweight twill from JoAnns. Each skirt was made from 1 yard of 59" fabric.

 The shaping in the waist was divided into 6 parts. 1 part on each side, front and back (so 4" total), and 1 part each in the 2 back darts (so 2" in back darts total), tapering the waist 6" total from the simple triangular trapezoidal shape.

(When I didn't do this, the waistband ends up migrating down, and it gets really tight over the abdomen. By shaping the waist, it stays where its supposed to, and leaves more room over the abdomen) I found this ratio through trial and error, but found afterwards that this rule of thumb from these instructions. Basically, you draw the lines up from the size of the bum, and then calculate the excess amount in the waist. You divide this excess into 6 parts, then take out 4 parts in side seams, 2 parts in the back darts.

Also when shaping the "scoop" in the waist (to make it hang better, and not hug the abdomen), I have to keep at least 2" straight on the edges, and then GENTLY taper down to the depth at the center (1.5" depth center front, 2" depth center back). I also had to remember not to make sharp inflection points or it wrinkled.

It turned out nicely. I didn't do the waistband right at her natural waist, but a little below it, because I think that looks more flattering on women.

I was pleased.

How to Make Eowyn's Medallion Belt from Recycling: Analysis and Ideas

 I'll update this post with links to the finished belts as I make them.

I've been trying to figure out how to make Eowyn's Medallion belts for a while. Here is my write up and analysis of how to make Eowyn's belt. There's a full analysis on the alleyscratch website, which all these pictures are from.

Medallion Belt worn with her Green Gown

Medallion belt  on her White Wool Dress (really just a silver version of the Green Gown one, sewn onto a gold trimmed fabric belt)

Alleyscratch has a very good analysis, with diagrams and breakdowns of the medallions' constructions.

link to full page here.

The medallion belts are made of 2 medallions, a bigger central one, and a smaller side one.

front of belt.

Here are some nice fan-made examples that I have analyzed.

Yvette's Costume Site Example---clay and wire
Yvette (check out her amazing Arwen dresses, especially this one, scroll to the bottom of the page...) made them from metal clay and silver wire (scroll down to the bottom of the page to see them).
Like so.

close-up of Yvette's finished medallion, LINK HERE

Yvette's finished belt. LINK HERE

I don't think its necessary to make them from metal clay or silver wire, since baking the clay seems to tarnish the wire. Also, if you are going to paint it anyway, there isn't a need to use metallic clay.

 In my past obsession with wire-work, I've found steel utility wire is a lot cheaper than craft wire, and can be bent well with 2 pairs of pliers.
But if you want something that is really easy to bend with your fingers, skip the copper and get aluminum wire (which is still cheaper copper).

Yvette's version is lovely, and I like how she spaces the medallions nicely, it really gives it a medallion feel. Things I would do differently, is I like the medallions to be bigger, giving a visually thicker belt (which I think is slenderizing on fuller figures). I also would use a gauge 16 wire at least, as I think gauge 18 and above are a little thin for my taste, I like the wire flower loops to have more "pop."

Kairi G Design's version---3D printed plastic
LINK AND PICTURE FROM HERE. I really like the size of her medallions, they're a lot larger than Yvette's belt (perhaps even larger than in the film?). They were 3D printed from plastic, so its not an option for me

 Print my Props version---3D printed plastic.
You can hire people to do it for you....picture below

link to etsy shop here.

Mia's costume Site Violyns.tripod.com---metal rings and wire.
LINK HERE. This captures so much of the feel of Eowyn's belt, using instead of medallions, metal rings which the wire then is strung into, and spray painted.

Quite well done. LINK HERE. I like especially how she translated the medallion shapes to wires. I also like how nice and plump she made the "petals" of wire.

The finished look is quite good. I think the openness of the rings works especially well in the white belt version, since it works more on a lace-like feel.

From HERE on Mia's Costume site, more pictures and a write up

You could also do it with plastic rings for cheaper...

Cation designs ----Eowyn Inspired Belt from filigrees and jump rings
LINK HERE. I think this captures the most of the spirit of Eowyn's belt without having absolute screen accuracy. She simply strung together filigrees with jump rings (and also painted it a bit).

Pictures of her dress are here, her write up of the making of here.

It's real metal, so feels more authentic, and looks awesome. Filigrees are very thin stamped metal, that looks kinda like lace. Etsy is full of various filigrees, Hobby Lobby also has a fair amount.
I think this one especially looks reminiscient of Eowyn's belt. I wish it were just a tad larger though.

Antique gold scalloped round filigrees

I am going to make one using these filigrees. You can either string them together with jump rings and a lobster clasp (like her Green Gown belt) or sew them onto a fabric belt with trim/beading (like Eowyn's white wool gown belt) which gives you the option of more visually thickening the belt, if you would like.


Ideas for making Eowyn's medallion belt from Plastic and aluminum wire.
If you are going to go the plastic route at home, I would think a good start is to look at the alleyscratch break down of the medallion, and cut out the base metal part from plastic sheeting with a utility knife (on a glass cutting mat!). You could use yogurt lids, or pretty much any rigid plastic in the recyclying bin. Or craft foam. I would like to do it with something a little more rigid than yogurt lid plastic, maybe the bottom of those big plastic icecream tubs??? If you have an idea, please let me know in the comments!

Then you'd sand the plastic pieces with sandpaper, to make them more textured (and hold paint).
The wire parts I'd make from gauge 16 or 14 aluminum wire (since the plastic is soft anyway), lightly hammered. I want to use thicker gauge wire, because to me, a lot of the beauty of the belt comes from the wire loops not looking spindly.
 
Then you'd stack the pieces together with rivets through the centers. (preferably the big sewology push on kinds? Or furniture tacks with the ends sanded off, and bent with pliers?)

Lastly, spray paint with a darker color, and rub progressively brighter layers of metallic gold acrylic paint on it ($2 for those little 4 oz bottles from Walmart or Hobby Lobby) to make it look like metal (you want to go from the most "antique" colors of gold, to the brightest color of gold last, to give it depth.)

Ideas for making Eowyn's medallion belt from metal...recycling & steel utility wire! Cold forging!!
If you want to go the all-metal route, I would use can lids (6 oz. tomato paste, and frozen juice concentrate lids) opened with a NO SHARP EDGES CAN OPENER. (I don't know the correct name, except that there are sharp edges, just on the can, and not the lid, it cuts from the side, like this one). You don't want the lid part to have sharp edges, it will snag on your dress and cut your fingers)

You would punch the hole through the center with a hammer and nail (scrap wood underneath). This hole will be for the rivet, to hold it all together.

Because this is a sturdier version than the plastic, I am going to use real steel utility wire gauge 16 (so cheap at Lowes! BlueHawk brand at Lowes 100 ft for 8 bucks)
I've found with thicker gauge steel wire, the best shaping I get is with careful measuring, and using 2 sturdy pairs of pliers. I'd hammer it (carefully) lightly afterward, to help it keep its shape. The "seam" where the wire ends meet, will be at the center, where they will be covered up with the rivet.

I'd use real sturdy Tandy type of rivets for this, since I'm not as afraid to bang it with a hammer since its all metal.

Painting it, I'd spray paint it with Rustoleum matte dark colored spray paint, then build up brighter layers of gold with acrylic metallic paints and a rag.

Lastly, I'd string it together with jump rings.

This belt will not be screen authentic as it won't have large decorative holes in the medallions (if you had a punch and die set, you could do this easily), but the trade off is worth it to me to have something all metal, versus metal and plastic.

Ideas for making Eowyn's medallion belt from filigrees and fabric trim.
This is inspired by the belt on her white wool gown. You can get a lot more "bang" visually, with fewer filigrees. I really like these versions from redrose-online.de,

Check out their galleries, they're beautiful.

Gorgeous dress MORE PICTURES HERE.

From redrose-online.de HERE,. This is under this gallery. I love how visually thick it is. The neckband is amazing too.

And the belt on this is just...wow.

From redrose-online.de HERE (this is under the historic gallery) I just love how they used the square medallions, matching the color perfectly with the trim on the dark red. I think I am going to try something like this, on a brown or black velveteen fabric. We'll see.

These ones from Fashionsintime are pretty good too. Although I think those are more medallions and not filigrees.

from HERE from fashions in time

So here are a few of my ideas. You would use trim or braid, sewn with thread onto the fabric (a techinque called "couching"). You would sew the filigrees on, and could even do rivets or beading if you were feeling up to it. One of the advantages of this method is you could control the visual "thickness" of the belt, even if your filigrees were small, by how you placed your trim or braid.

I'm even considering using my stencils and fabric paint for the central fabric part of the belt, with the filigrees sewn on in strategic places as accents. I'd border the whole thing with trim or braid.

I'll update this post with links to the finished belts as I make them.

Isaiah turns 4 years old!

Isaiah turned 4!!!

 He was pretty excited, as he's been singing "Happy Birthday" over stuffed animal birthday cakes in anticipation of this day, for at least a month.

There was a cake, I decorated.

And his guests, his sisters (one day I'm going to throw a birthday party. One day)

He got a Norman helmet, and Starwars Rebels Legos, as well as books and a movie.
The rest of the day looked kind of like this...

 I came in later, and found this.
 Josh wearing Isaiah's helmet per his request.

He's growing up. As he tells you now, he is four.
He has so much unbridled joy over certain things (playing Legos with Daddy, getting tickled, watching "STAR WARS!", building the Avengers Puzzle with Daddy, or while watching the Donut Man) that sometimes he leaps around laughing for joy.