Closing the Book

Completing projects is not always my forte. I start them a plenty and get extremely gung ho. I jump in with plenty of enthusiasm. Maybe if there were only one item to make I would finish more projects.

Every time I start a new project, I tell myself it will be different this time. I am proud to announce that this project actually was! I finished both hagaddahs before Pesach started! Benny's was finished first and getting Bella's done went much faster with a guide of sorts.

I only have a few hours left to stuff my face with chametz so I'm not going to waste too much time describing things but I do have page by page pictures of each hagaddah!

Benny's Hagaddah:

This cover is not working for me. After Pesach I will try to revamp it a little.

Benny loves this song, sings it year round.

Walgreens had a coupon out for a free collage. Score. Twas perfect for this page!

 Unfortunately, I forgot to leave extra pages by maggid for this.

Bella's Hagaddah:

Again. Cover is not working. A later project.

They each had slightly different pictures. Her lack thereof allowed for the Ma Nishtana to be placed appropriately.

For some reason, Bella's matzah eating pictures disappeared. I considered filling in with random matzah pictures but I figure I can get the pictures redone over this super holiday we are walking in to.

Again, holding the place for the matzah eating pictures.

As a finishing touch I added this as I was putting everything away:

I am extremely excited about how they came out and will tweak them a little for next year but ultimately, this is one project I can totally cross of my list!

Here's to a happy and healthy holiday for all our family and friends.

Dinosaur Stomping Grounds

The snow is melting, the weather is bearable, the sun is shining. Our never ending winter may actually be ending sometime soon!

So obviously, that means I really need to finish Benny's poncho. Bella's has been done for a while now. She loves it and lives in it. She gets comments and compliments wherever she goes. We barely ever use her coat anymore. I have it in the car as a just in case but I think we've used it once since the monkey option came to town. [Quick reminder, this is the post that motivated me to get this project moving along in the first place.]

So, last night, after the kids were asleep, we cleared off the kitchen table, turned the TV toward the kitchen and each pulled out our project. Shuky had some programming to do, I had a poncho to finish, and we had some shows to catch up on.

We also had some wine on the table. Note to self: Leave the wine alone until you are done with your sewing project. I prepared everything for the sewing part and wisely put it away until the morning.

This morning I pulled everything back out and finished it all up.

I love how it came out! Unfortunately, Benny is in quite a mood this morning so there will be no modeling. But I think you can get the picture.

I said there would be some exciting detail on his hood!

I considered making a tail and paw shaped pockets as well but this took me long enough. He will love it, I'm sure of it. Bella was super excited that the 'nino' poncho was finally ready! She immediately started looking around for her 'ooh ooh ahh ahh' version so they could try them on together. When she remembered it's in the car, she started asking to go 'bye bye'. 

As soon as my grump calms down, I will attempt to update the post with real life pictures!

UPDATE: I got some pictures of Benny wearing and LOVING his poncho! He walked into his class this morning and was so excited to explain to everyone that he know has a coat that he can wear in his car seat. They were not impressed, but I was!

So Long Playroom

For a long time now, Shuky has been suggesting we eliminate the play room and put the kids in their own separate rooms. Give them each some toys. Give them each some privacy, a place to retreat to when they aren't getting along well. Give them each a chance to go to sleep nicely on their own.

I've been holding off because I really like having the option of just closing the door on whatever chaos may be created during the day's play. I like having sleeping space and playing space in separate rooms.

Yesterday, I had a hard time getting any housework done with the two of them together in the playroom. Endless fighting and constantly having to go in there to see what was going on. Just not good.

So as soon as Shuky walked in the door, at about 4:30, I told him I was ready. We moved quickly so the kids would not be off their schedule.

We kept Benny in the room they were originally in, he had more things hanging on the wall and he was definitely more settled in a routine. We pulled the toys that were mostly his into the room. He has his cars and trains, the train table, his motorcycle, tons of other fun things to keep a little guy happy.

Bella's wall things still need to be moved.

Bella's bed went into the bedroom formerly known as the playroom. She got the kitchens and the play food and the stuffed animals and her strollers, plenty of books and plenty more.

The decorations need to be changed, these are playroom settings.

She needs a toy organizer and the room in general needs a major dose of personality.

Way to feed stereotypes, right? We will find a balance over time.

Now I have to figure out where in the world all the things scattered throughout the apartment are going to be stored. Losing the playroom meant also losing the closet in there!

Benny went to sleep so nicely in his own room, and Bella followed suit soon after. It was very cute peeking in on them, each in their own little places.

I will miss the playroom for sure. As soon as we are outta here, that will be a requirement in our new home search. But separate bedrooms will be on the list as well.

Benny's rule of nothing before 7 is still being enforced, he just has toys to keep him busy now instead of sneaking out of his room like before.

And I still want to encourage their playing together nicely. We are just giving them the opportunity to retreat to their own little worlds when that isn't working for them. Sometimes you just need your own space!