Happy Birthday Dear Emri!

Ok...  I started sorting all my patterns and there is still a trunk upstairs full that I still haven't pulled down.

These are sorted by pattern makers.  McCalls, Simplicity, Butterick, Vogue and independent or random pattern makers that I don't have enough for a box of their own.  THEN they're sorted by pattern number.  If you're looking for a specific pattern, I very well might have it. twice.

I'm determined to use these patterns for all my sewing this next year.  I want to sew as many things from these as I possibly can, using my stash as much as possible.

To start, I made two tops for Meri for her birthday.  I had to preface her opening the gifts with "It's not done..."  or "it needs a bit of editing..."  I guess that's my pat phrase now and everyone expects it.

But I made her this top.  I've tried it on myself and like how it feels and looks!  It calls for a button for modesty, but when I tried it on and when Meri did, it's not necessary. 

Meri tried it on for me this morning and I can see where it could be a bit longer.  The front panel is one huge pattern piece, then twisted, but I guess I could add more in the middle of it to make it longer.  It hurt my head to make it work for this one and I put the pocket on the wrong side.  But I do want to make more of them.  

She's ok with the length for now and said she'd wear some high-waisted pants with them.  

So I just need to finish it up with hemming the sleeves and some handwork inside.

She also gave me a jumper that she wore on the cruise that she wants me to make into separates for her.  The instructions were pretty clear, so that'll be a snap.

Her party last night was a lot of fun.  For her birthday dinner, she requested my carrot and pork stirfry, riced cauliflower, popcorn for dipping in queso, texas garlic toast and chicken suckers.

The menu was pretty random...  but she did say where to find chicken suckers.  It's not as gross as you think.  They're mango flavored candy suckers in the shape of chickens.  However the Mexican grocery store she said to find them at was out.  shoot.

AND we got her an ice cream cake as she doesn't like cake.  I called the DQ to order it and gave her name's spelling to the gal there.  I spelled it out and she said, "mm  that's an unusual spelling, how do you pronounce that?"  Meri, short for Meredith.  "Oh!  Yeah that makes sense now!"

Robb went to pick up the cake an hour later and the cake said, "Happy Birthday Emri".  mmmm no.  Please fix.  The lady there insisted that that's how I spelled it for her!  He insisted they correct it.  They did.

But when we sang Happy Birthday to her, I sang it, "Happy Birthday dear Emri."  

Robb and Meri got the joke.

Afterwards the kids sat at the table and talked over each other into the night.  Leon had to go to bed so he missed out on some, but he'll get to go see Meri this afternoon and visit with her new kitten.

OH the new kitten!!  Meri went to a party on Saturday night and came home with an unusual party favor.  A three month old kitten that she's named Ranch.  It looks like a Holstein cow, but it's Ranch.

I was over at her daycare yesterday helping her out a little.  After about ten minutes, she noticed that Ranch had disappeared.  She looked all over and even had the kids calling "Ranch!" "Ranch!"  It was the baby's first word!  They looked ALL over and Meri checked every room in the house, twice.

At one point during the search, she said, "This smacks of something so-and-so might have her hand in..."  So after a bit, we noticed so-and-so had been sitting on a toy tub during the entire search and was calling out Ranch's name from her perch.  I went over to her and said, "So-and-so, can I have you stand up for a second?"

She answered, "Ummmm no."

So I removed her from the tub and out from under popped Ranch. LOL!  Ranch was just fine and Meri and I chuckled about that one a lot.  

I am reminded of Elmyra from Tiny Toons...

Anyway - I better get back to what I was getting at before this.  Have a great day!