Summer Vacation

Summer 2016:

School's Out!

Thoughts about the next new adventure: {Summer Vacation 2016!}

1. Summer camp of every variety will be the main attraction this year.  Everything from Girl Scout camp to Climing Camp... with fun themes and focus on Science, Art, Gardening, Cooking, American Girl Doll and History.  {can I sign up?}
2. It's always a good idea to plan in some down time... To be able to play outside, visit with friends, relax and go camping.  This summer is unique for me as I decided to reduce my work hours for the summer to MAKE time for all these adventures.  {I feel so much more relaxed already!}
3. Since Ian will be working three weeks in Ely, MN again this summer, I decided to plan a one-week vacation during that time.  Ev and I will head up north for a long weekend and then meander our way down the North Shore.  We'll be sure to save a few days to just relax in there as well. {in other words, a few extra days around town without having to work}
4. Since Ev has a winter birthday and we didn't save time for a friend party this year, we're planning her half-birthday at the end of June!  A quintessential summer party... Swimming and fun in the sun. {umm... did I stress the PLANNING part? Now it's time to finalize}
5. There are so many awesome festivals, events, markets and activities that scream SUMMER, we'd surely not have time for all of them.  I think we'll make a summer adventure scavenger hunt... Check off on each type of activity {attend an art festival, go to a drive-in movie, swim at a beach, go berry picking, read a new book each week, play tennis, run through the sprinkler, host a BBQ, enjoy time on the patio... with a cocktail...}

Braving the cold of Lake Superior on Memorial Day

New Bedroom, fit for a Princess!

Transformation and Inspiration:

Whimsical Playspace for a three year old

As our little lady approached 2 1/2 and started asking for a big girl bed and wanted to plan playdates, we realized it was finally time to transform "Ian's Office/Erin's Dressing room" (aka: Bryon/Sarah's Room, Shawn's room and Siobhan's room) into a space fit for the imaginative whims of our burgeoning three year old.

Being an architect, I lavished over the design opportunities and ideas and finally settled on creating as much open play space, framing the windows with cubbies and shelves and transformed the north wall into a magnetic surface for alphabet magnets and art.

Five coats of Metallic primer

Painting over the primer with  Springtime Peach

I'll give a few words of advice: We used Metallic primer from Rustoleum and found that it really took five thin coats to cover the wall space and perform adequately.  Shake and stir the primer constantly - the metallic sludge quickly sinks to the bottom and needs to be suspended in the primer.  Use fans - we make a concerted effort to use eco-friendly, low-voc paints in our house and unfortunately, this primer blew that practice out of the water.  It smells completely noxcious and you have to use mineral spirits to get the splatters of metallic paint off your hands.  Sigh... but it's so cool!

Magnetic Wall!

First test of the magnetic primer - it works!  It now proudly displays the latest artwork from ECFE school and her potty chart - du jour.

The Princess Playroom/bedroom is complete!

 We Did it!!  By the middle of September, we have the completed bedroom!  I'm proud to say that we've been able to keep it clean and organized and have hosted our first playdate quite successfully!

Guess who loves her new room?!!

Blog Updates - Seeking Advice!

Hello my faithful followers - I appreciate your readership and involvement in the life of the Taylor House Trio!  I've now been blogging for over two years and have entirely enjoyed the process.

In an effort to continue the momentum into the next few years, I am ready for a make over.  Or, more specifically, the McKiel Family blog is ready for a make over.  I am thinking of ways to increase the interaction between our blog and you, the readers.  Would you take the time and share some of the things you enjoy about the blog?

1.  What stories or post topics are of interest to you?  
2. Do you like the pictures more than the stories or vice versa?
3. Should I "change it up" and post stories about other parts of our lives? Crafty Corner posts?  What's Cooking food posts?  Oh the Places we go post?
4. How frequently should I post?  More often?
5. Do you want to contribute?

Fabric and dresses galore, oh my!

In our first of many trips to a fabric shop, Evelyn has picked out her favorite fabrics and expressed her preference for green and animals!

This is the fabric Grandma and I picked out for Evelyn's summer dresses, jackets and sun hats!  I love the "el-ee-fonts" in the green and the brown fabric.  So many choices, so many combinations of fabric... what to do and where to start?! 

Now taking votes for favorite fabric combination.

I have to at least show a photo of a FINISHED project!  Look how cute Evey looks in her orange dress!  You should see the cute purple snaps down her back.  The reverse side of the dress is super cute as well with little birds marching, marching across the hem line.

Spring Dresses

We are patiently waiting for the Spring Weather to arrive... unfortunately the overcast and snowy April days have left us still feeling like winter! I can't wait to take Evey out to the park and on walks around the neighborhood. We frequently have gone to the Como Conservatory so "she can at least see some green... especially since she was born in December, she doesn't know green yet"!

I went shopping on Saturday to look for an Easter dress for Evelyn. I ended up finding four! So now we have a cute collection of spring dresses (with the requisite long sleeve onesie and leggings) that should take her in to the warmer spring and summer months! She wore the cute Green Dress with Sunflowers for Palm Sunday. I found that dress to go with the yellow sweater and booties that Grandma brought back from Ecuador! I'll need feedback to decide which dress she should wear for Easter! Leave your comments!

Now I know it's too early for Evelyn to "talk"... but she continues to make great strides with her babbling and she works really hard at forming new vowels and sounds with her mouth. I work with her a little each day and exaggerate my words and make different sound sequences. She watches intently at how my mouth forms the words and sounds. So we hear a lot of Aaa, Iiii, EEE, Oooo.... and she mimics the intonations of our voice. She might say "i eeee oo" and it sounds similar to "I love you". Same thing with "good morning" etc. On Saturday Ian and I were playing with Evelyn in our bed and she was babbling away ... pause... pause... "Hi"... pause, pause babble babble. She said her first recognizable word!

Baby's Room

These are the fabrics I'm using for Baby's Quilt - Aren't the birdies cute? I think they are partridges... hmm... 12 days before Christmas is about when baby is due!!! Also, the color palette I'm working with - still trying to decide which paint color to use! I have large paint samples taped to the wall... yet I change my mind daily! Any feedback (from an interior design sister...) would be great!!

Here's a close-up of the Partridges!

And this fabric collection is super mod... but I think will be perfect for a "throw on the floor and play" baby blanket! (or drag on the floor while chasing Keya)!!