Family trip, the first of 2015

We haven't made many family trips since Kay was born due to sheltering her from her week stint in the nicu and trying very hard to keep her safe and waiting for the all clear medical wise. I mean you can't blame me! 

We decided that what better way to make sure the kids have a good spring/summer then to get the season pass to an indoor/outdoor water park. That way they can't get bored and we will have something to always do on his days off when we are on a strict budget!

It really pays for itself the membership because it's worth 2 entrances and in the summer it's not only indoor its outdoor and there's just so much to do that you cannot enjoy it all in just one visit. 

Im glad we were able to enjoy this experience with kay and the other 3. I spent the first hour and a half with Kay in the kiddie pool section and she attempted to swim several times and I had to remind her it wasn't deep enough but she still wanted to swim, my little mermaid! 

Then me and hubby switched and he took over baby duty while I went with Lily, ethan and branden to the family slide. It was a long walk up but it was awesome hearing them laugh and enjoy it so much. 

I was expecting either branden or kay to kinda feel weird or have a moment due to how loud it was. There was a dJ and tons going on but they handled it fairly well. I guess the excitement of this new adventure and even tho I was fairly disheartened about how a lot of the parents had zero control over their children. 

The lifeguards were more vigilant then the parents and to me that was very sad because even though I let kay walk and explore I made sure she was safe and in no danger and the others are so well behaved and always stick together. 

 Hoping the next time we go the experience is not like this one. And that kay continues to enjoy as much of what I can offer her to experience even at the age of 1. Enjoy some of these photos! 

Putting on her life vest for the lazy river that she made us do twice!

Enjoying the swing in the baby section :) 

Xoxo, Vanessa 

Diy toddler skirt tutorial

As spring approaches near us it's time for skirts and dresses! It's my favorite thing to wear and to put on my lil girls. I love The fact that I can piece this simple skirt in less than 45 minutes. I can't tell you specific measurements because I basically just eyeball measure from baby's waist and length and leave a few inches to me sewn down. So basically just measure out your child with the fabric and pin. 

Fold over a few inches on the top of the thickness you would like and that's how I see how long it will be on her so I measure it so she will be able to wear it for awhile past her knees. 

When sewing the piece of the skirts top first try to see it to the last row on the foot plate so it will have enough room to look ruffled etc. 

I make sure that the second sewn line is the size of my fingertip for when I slide the elastic in it will have room

When sewing the bottom of the skirt make sure to fold it twice of 1/2 an inch 

When sliding the elastic threw the second sewn line make sure you hold the other end if not you will lose it and it will pop all the way and you will have to slide it out and slide it back in. Trust I let go a few times and it can take away from your project. 

Hold pieces together and see it twice back and forth to secure elastic from popping off. Make sure when you measure the elastic around the child to stretch alil as if they were wearing it and leave an inch extra for growth so it won't be as tight on her. Just my tip. 

Now it's time to connect the final last step of making the skirt. Sew only to the part where the elastic is at. 

And then sew the final top part for the final closure

Flip skirt over and viola!!! A simple but great skirt fit for a perfect lil girl on a nice spring/summer day. The photo on the left is my oldest Lily wearing the skirt I made her and then on the right Kay's matching skirt so both sisters will look cute together for Easter. I've made several skirts today and here is the photos below. Enjoy have fun and don't get too frustrated it took me about two to three skirts to do it as fast as I do it now 30/45 minutes. My first skirt took me about two hours! Remember to always breath. 

This skirt I used two strips of fabric and sewed it to a plain fabric to make it pop! Always have fun and think outside the box so baby can look great and have a unique piece of clothing. 

This is by far my favorite skirt that I've made for baby kay. 

These are the other four skirts I made for kay. The first three I didn't do the middle elastic I just did a regular skirt which is a bit faster but the other looks so much prettier and girlie right? 

Hope this tutorial helped because I really tried to explain it as best as I could being still a novice sewer and no measuring tape lol. 

Stay blessed! 

Xo, Vanessa