WIP Wednesday/Traditions and Memories

Do you ever have the moment of panic, thinking "my kids are growing up so fast. Are they having a fun life?  Are they enjoying life to the fullest?  What are they going to remember most from childhood?"  I have those moments from time to time.  When the panic hits, its helpful for me to reflect on my own childhood, one that, from my perspective, was the most fun a child could have.  The things I remember and treasure are not necessarily the things that cost a lot of money.  I have a few hazy memories from the week spent in Florida when I was five, the beach vacation to Myrtle Beach when I was twelve and the handful of movies my parents took us to.  What I remember most are the traditions my family had, some more frequent than others.  Those are what hold the deepest and dearest memories for me.  Spending summers camping in Canada, the image of my mom washing dishes in that big green bowl with a baby in the backpack.  My dad making pancakes on a Saturday morning, just for fun.  Sweaty summer evenings racing through the neighborhood on my bike with my friends, singing at the top of my lungs.  More recently, my dearest moments are summer cookouts with my family, an afternoon spent at the park with the kids, "family breakfast" on our midweek mornings.  Kids and adults too really thrive on traditions, even just the daily routines of life.  They'll remember most the dishcloth swinging from Dad's waist as he flips bacon on the skillet, and mom singing "Princess songs" while brushing the little girls' hair.  Childhood does not have to be a series of expensive activities or events.  Sometimes regular life makes the best memories of all.

"Family Breakfast" is a tradition we all love...mmmm bacon!

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Its WIP Wednesday!  My favorite blogging day of the week.  This is where I show off some of my Works in Progress.  Due to randomly making that pillow with my girls on Sunday night and waiting for some more fabric to come before putting together our patchwork quilt, I don't have very many WIPs this week.  That being said, I do have a very special WIP - possibly the longest standing WIP ever.

F's birthday crown WIP.  Not much early morning light for these pictures, bear with me.

J's WIP birthday crown

Little birdy on J's crown

Not sure why the colors are coming out so oddly.  I need some more inspiration for these birthday crowns...not sure what else to put on them.  Thoughts?

D's birthday dress.  I'm losing steam on this project, I'm in the skirt section which is SO BORING until you get to the lacework at the bottom.  Luckily I have over a month til its "due" so I can take my time.

Now for the ultimate WIP - I began this sampler when I was 8 years old.  I found it in my parents basement and brought it home.  Now I'm not sure what to do...finish where my 8 year old self left off, or leave it unfinished?  It needs to be ironed.  I'm thinking of framing it.  My mom has a sampler (much more fabulous) that my Grandma made when she was a young girl.  It is one of my favorite things in my mother's house.

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We visited the Thrift Store again yesterday, just for a bit of an outing.  I rescued a pretty JCrew button down with a spring-y floral print (not pictured) and a basket to keep all Husband's odds and ends in (better than leaving them around the house!).  We also found these:

a precious little candleholder that just needs a beeswax candle

Not bad for 20 cents.

vintage lace ribbon - I think this will be used for F's birthday dress' straps.

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That's it from me for today.  Have a blessed Midweek with your family!