A Bahamian Wedding Gift

My sister-in-law, Andrea, got married on the beautiful Fernandez Bay Village beach on Cat Island in the Bahamas.  She and her now husband, Bill, wanted a laid-back beach wedding with no stress, and they got just that!  We happily joined in on the stress-free action...we'll, as stress-free as life with a 10 month old and a three year old can offer!

Such a sweet little darlin'!

I relaxed on the beach one morning with Jack-A-Roo sleeping on my chest, and I daydreamed about what I could do for Andrea and bill for a wedding gift as I watched Daniel and Justin kayaking and playing in the sand.

Daddy and the Dapper Doodle kayaking in the bay

And then it hit me!  I could make napkins for them!  Not just any napkins, but Androisa napkins!  Androsia is the "fabric of the Bahamas", and the beautiful turquoise color of the fabric I chose was one of the many beautiful blues of the Bahamian bay which was the perfect backdrop of their wedding!


Hand washing the fabric in warm water to remove the excess dye

Grandma gave me a bag of Androsia "scraps" that had been on a shelf in her closet for years.  I am so obsessed with the fabric that I, in turn, stashed it away for a few years....I hesitate to use it because I would hate to waste it, or make a wrong cut, or use it all and have none left!  I have hoarded it in my closet for a couple of years now too.  You could probably call it vintage Androsia by now!

Air drying in the sun

 I pulled it off the shelf, hand-washed it, and left it outside to dry.  After it was dry I ironed it and cut the pieces that would be perfect for the napkins while making sure to include the Androsia name on each napkin.

The finished napkins

Making the napkins was very basic, but it took me a while because I am a perfectionist (thanks to my Mother dearest). 

 

I wasn't sure how to present these napkins, but a quick rummage through my crafting supplies provided some black and yellow ribbon which is wrapping enough to me!  (Fun Fact - turquoise, yellow, and black are colors of the Bahamian flag!)

I'm pretty tickled with the end result

Congratulations Andrea and Bill!  I hope that when you use these napkins that you are reminded of your beautiful wedding and the sweet promises that you made to each other on that beautiful beach in the Bahamas!

 

Love!

Supper with a Certain Superhero

It's not everyday that superheroes come to supper...

...but we've had one drop in a few times this week! :)

Love!

Early Mornings with Mommy

I get up early, very early, like 4 a.m. early, just to guarantee that I get showered, blowdryed, curled, and made-up before everyone else wakes up for the day.  I also pack lunches, cook eggs, make coffee, and start tea during my morning alone time.

Lately, due to alarm clock snafus and a sweet little 3 year old, I haven't had my morning primping time, and I have been arriving to work late with wet hair, no make up, and wrinkled clothes or any combination of those 3!

Well before his wake time of 6:30, Daniel will start to quietly repeat, " Daddy, I need to go potty!" Until Justin takes him to the potty.  Daniel takes notice if there are lights on in the kitchen and will ask Justin, "Sit (is it) morning time? I want to be Mommy's helper!", and moments later I will hear him treading quietly down the stair to help me in the kitchen.

And although those little footsteps are pretty much a guarantee of me racing into the work parking lot with my tires squealing around each turn, I can't help but turn to mush as I see his darling little morning smile (yes, it's a distinct smile).  With a thankful heart I happily embrace my first born sweetheart as the rest of the family are tucked soundly in their beds, and go on to begin our morning spending time together.  I feel so special that he wakes up early just to spend time with me!

Love!

Sunday Picnic!

Today we decided to take the boys on a picnic adventure!

We drove to our favorite little park on the beach and Justin and Daniel picked a perfect shady spot for our picnic.

Jack played with his toys the tupperware lid while the rest of us chatted, laughed, and enjoyed our lunch in the shade.
 

It was a perfect picnic and a beautiful day!

We had so much fun that we will surely go back again!  Maybe we'll even bring some friends!

Jack-A-Roo's Baptism

Our sweet little Jack-A-Roo was baptized on Sunday, September 22nd!

"Adorable" doesn't even begin to describe how precious he was in this heirloom Baptism gown!

There have been SO MANY babies in my family that have worn this gown..Daniel, my mother, and my grandmother included!  WOW....just, WOW!!!

Father George, who married me and Justin and baptized Daniel, welcomed little Jack to the church with the holy sacrament....

...and Auntie Kelly made her second debut as godmother.

We headed to The Castle for a light lunch and cake (cousin Levi's favorite part of the day), and Jack enjoyed sitting on Grandma's lap while Nana fed him homemade mango purée!

Surrounded by family.....

.....which we gladly call friends....

....we can honestly and proudly say, "Life's good on our boat"!  ~Jimmy Buffett

Love!

Haircut Time!

A hair-cut has been long overdue for our Dapper Doodle...

...although I have to admit, it hasn't been at the top of our priority list because, even with long hair, he's so stinkin' cute!

The Park, Pirates, and Make-Believe

There's a little park on the island where, if your timing is just right, you can have the whole place to yourself to play all the make-believe you want!

We were lucky enough to squeeze in about 30 minutes of playtime during that magical time of day between the dew being just dry enough, and "The Others" that come to play.

It's funny how the boats and pirates of our make-believe morning disappeared as "The Others" descended upon our ship.  

I am treasuring these days and moments as I know that "The Others" in all aspects of our little boys' lives will become evermore present, and make-believe with Mommy will fall away just as quickly as it did that sweet summer morning.

Until then we will walk to the park, one sweet little boy strapped to my chest and the other holding my hand, and hope that we will be able to steal some special time together.....just us.