Sewing project #2 completed

first sewing project:

Did I ever post this? I don't think I did.. here is my first sewing project from back in April. It was a maxi skirt for myself using this tutorial. anyways, just wanted to document it considering it was the first thing I made with my sewing machine.

I must have a thing for blue this season. For my second project, I really wanted to make something for Ivy. I found an easy tutorial for a perfect little sundress and went to pick out the fabric back in April. I just got around to making it last week and I love how it turned out, minus the few imperfections here and there.. I'm learning, I'm learning. I still consider myself to be quite a beginner considering I have to ask my friend Christa tons of questions for just about every single step. haha! Anyways, sorry the pics are a little blurry. I couldn't get this girl to sit still for the life of me. Oh and the blue part across the top is supposed to go straight under her arms but her chub kept getting in the way because she likes to lift her arms a lot these days haha.. Like I said, not perfect but dang cute, I think.. 

In case you are interested in making one, here is the link for the tutorial.. The girl made it so easy to figure out the measurements for just about any size dress, whether you want a girl size or baby size: Sundress Tutorial. 

I originally found the tutorial on pinterest. I loove pinterest for this reason. Pretty much any crafts/sewing projects I make or want to make, I find on there. If you haven't gotten an account yet, do it! It really is awesome. Next project that I've been working on is a quiet book for church, plane rides, etc. I love it so far but it is a long ways away from being done. I'll post pics when it's finished. :)

Scorpion hunting

Sam has run into quite a few people while selling that tell him about scorpion hunting that they like to go do for fun. At first I didn't know whether he was kidding or not but apparently it's a real thing! He's been talking about it for a few weeks so finally on one of our date nights with a couple friends (who had conveniently grabbed black light flashlights earlier that day), we decided to drive around the corner to a nearby canal and try it out. They were sort of few and far between but the scorpions would glow neon green in the black light so you really couldn't miss them when you finally came across one. We were out there for little over an hour and caught three. We just used some tongs to snatch em up and put  em in a jar. It was pretty exciting! Especially because scorpion stings are kinda dangerous so made it a little more thrilling when they scurried around and stuff, haha.. We will probably go again soon but next time I'm wearing tennis shoes for sure! I hated the idea of other bugs running across my feet (in flip flops) in the dark while we were searching! Bleh!

Memorial Day Weekend in Houston

So we decided to take a last minute trip down to Houston for the 3 day weekend to spend some time with Sam's family. Many of his siblings were coming into town and we didn't want to miss the party! The flight was pretty tricky with a 1 year old. And I think tricky is actually an understatement. It was the first time since Ivy was about 6 months old that she has been on a plane and it was veeerrryy different from when she was that age, lol! She isn't a huge fan of sleeping in our arms anymore (at all!) so we had to get pretty creative with keeping her preoccupied without getting super cranky. Gummy bears saved the day for the last chunk of it, I'll just say that. haha! Here is a pic of her literally 20 seconds after getting in Jeff's car after our flight. She was pooped!

Dancing with cousins! Ivy had so much fun getting hyper with Sydney and Jessie. She just loves them!

We had a couple visitors on Saturday before the huge crowd of Robinsons arrived, Tiffany and Kynlee came to play! Ivy had a blast with her new friend. It was so fun seeing them finally able to play together. These two will be besties for sure. ;) such cuties:

My child is not photogenic haha..

Finally the party all came into town! Pretty sure we went swimming 3 times that day. Sam decided to go festive that afternoon:

Ivy was in love with this bear. She kept wrestling it. And also, had to get a silly shot with my girls:

Sunday afternoon, takin' a break with dad after being around soo many cousins, lol:

On Monday we drove up to spend the day at Dad's house at Lake Conroe. Ivy strangely woke up with a high fever that morning and pretty much wanted to sleep the whole day (which was fine by me!). Seriously. She napped on the way up, was still tired when we got there so I put her back down and she slept for 2 more hours, THEN took another long nap that afternoon. I think she was teething. Her gums seemed pretty swollen and the fever was gone by the evening. Strange. But it was nice to be able to spend some time swimming and boating with everyone.

Cranky girl waiting with Jesse while mama was getting dressed. Jesse was her favorite person for giving her a yummy sucker. :) She was one happy girl after that:

Finally a boat ride for some mabling and wake surfing before we left. Ivy was asleep during this so she didn't get a chance to ride on the boat. No worries though, Lake Powell is just in a few weeks!

Wavy hair from the morning humidity. Just had to include a pic because it was so cute:

I'm kinda bummed I didn't get more pics of everyone who was there but it was so fun to spend time family who we haven't seen in a while. Especially Patrice and Amy and their families. I'm glad we were able to see yall before we head out to TN! And thanks so much to Jeff and Michelle for everything! Yall are so awesome!

Ivy's last birthday post, I promise! (another long one)

Here it is! Finally some (and by some, I mean a lot) pictures from Ivy's pink lemonade birthday bash. I spent quite a bit of time preparing for it and I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out. I know she won't remember any of it but I figure, make a big deal for the first one, then I don't feel like I have to do much for the next 3 years haha! Anywho, things turned out so well. Ivy was such a sweetheart and so many of our good friends and family were able to come, which made it so fun. We even had a couple surprise visitors show up at the beginning- Sam's dad, Patricia, and Jessica came walking up just as everyone was arriving and it was such an awesome surprise! They had made a quick trip out to Utah and decided to stop in Phoenix on their way home! We were soo happy to see them and I know Ivy had a blast with her Grandpa and Grandma Trish there. Anyways, thanks so much to all of our friends who were able to make it down here, some of which we hadn't seen in literally YEARS! It was so so good to see all of you!!

Now on to the pics, here is the food table (kinda cramped but I was working with what I had):

Flags were strewn across the top of the pavilion, probably my favorite decoration! It added so much to the room, I loved them. (thanks allison!):

Can't forget the lemonade! and my very first decorated cupcakes. Not too bad, I think. It was definitely a learning experience, lol:

centerpieces:

 Gift table, Ivy's birthday quiz/pictures, and thank you candy jars for guests:

With my girls Allison and Samantha. It has been years since we have all been together. SO so happy they came. It has been fun being able to catch up with them this summer. (not pictured, Samantha's older sis Robin who also came, so good to see her too!):

Ivy with all her bodyguards, or boyfriends? posse? entourage? whatever you wanna call em, hehe:

With some more girlfriends, Annalise and Michelle, both I knew at BYU. Love these girls:

Cake time! First of all, she isn't a huge fan of her high chair, even on a daily basis so she was already semi-stressed sitting in that to begin with. Then as I was bringing the cake closer to her, she quickly reached way out for the candle and I hurried to try and blow it out before she grabbed it (the platter thing was actually a stone so it was heavy and I couldn't let go haha) but I think I was too late. She was not a happy camper afterwards. So we took her out, calmed her down, then I decided to see if she would rather just have her cake while sitting on my lap. Totally did the trick:

Probably my favorite picture from the whole party:

(And in case you were wondering, no, it's not a Harry Potter scar. Ivy just happened to trip and fall on the concrete by the pool the day before. lovely timing, haha)

Presents:

My little girl is so short. It might be a few months before she figures out the little bumblebee scooter. But she loooved the elephant. Hooray for new toys!

Playing with Robin's little boy Carson, such a sweetie:

Pool time! These guys are nuts:

Had to take a swim in our new suit from Grandma Trish. So adorable!

New sunglasses. She loves these. She especially loves wearing them outside when I have mine on:

Yeah she's pretty darn cute. Happy birthday, baby girl! So glad we had the chance to celebrate in full because you deserve it! It has been one heck of a year and it just makes me excited for those to come. You get more hilarious ever single day and I can't get enough of it. Love you tons!

Oh and I almost forgot, thank you also to the rest of our family and friends who sent fun things in the mail for her birthday! They were very much appreciated and are definitely getting good use out of them. :)