Lisa: horse flute

Yes, that's a paint roller. Nora sits on the roller part and then bends her head down to blow into the handle. BAM. Horse flute.

Lisa: Elmo walking

Nora has a musical Elmo book, the kind with the buttons you push at certain parts of the story, to add sound effects. It was a gift.

PLUS:

1) Patented 'Elmo's walking music' dance
2) Coy 'I'm ignoring that camera' face
3) Fierce bear roar.

Those three things are my gift to YOU.

Lisa: Craft Lake City

Nora tried out a few new dance moves while listening to an adorable family Rockabilly band at the craft festival. Her face looked happier than this most of the time--I think she's just concentrating really hard on her newest creation, The Hand-Washer.

Lisa: Craft Lake City review

I find it's most helpful to review an event two months after it happens, so that everyone who might once have cared has already forgotten about it. That's why I'm telling you now how much I loved Craft Lake City!

The craft booths were everything I wished the disappointing shopping at Swiss Days and Peach Days would be. Instead of seeing the same vinyl cutouts and magnet boards at every booth, there were tons of alternative and/or slightly subversive crafts, and fun and unusual fabrics galore.

Here are photos of my (reasonably priced) booty:

1. A skirt for Nora for next summer, from Noelle O Designs.

2. A horse finger puppet from Nifty Kidstuff, which has the cutest details--like a bright green lining to match the bridle.

3. My mom shopped Nifty Kidstuff too, and found Nora a doll that she can practice fasteners on. Nora named her Betsy Buttons, after this book. (Seriously, this girl makes so many cute things. How much do I want this little fabric sewing machine for Nora?)

4. Grandma also bought Nora some cute hair ties with fabric-covered buttons, but unfortunately they didn't have any maker-identifying packaging.

5. I had a hard time tracking down these ribbon-covered hair clips online (they're just marked 'am'), but I think the buttons covered with Japanese fabrics are darling, and they inspired me to make my own ribbon clips.

6. This little yellow papier-mache bird was an impulse buy at Beehive Bazaar, and I love having him on my mantel.

I also loved the fascinators and headbands from Its The Little Things, but I didn't have enough cash to buy one at Craft Lake City. Instead, I grabbed one of her cards and bought a hat for Jillian's funeral on Etsy later.

The family rockabilly band that was so cute was Mad Max and the Wild Ones.

Here's more of Nora enjoying them:

Anyway, I hope that Craft Lake City becomes an annual event, and that they have even more awesome booths next year. If I had one suggestion to offer, it would be to the crafters whose great wares were for sale: make sure your packaging is branded, and list your website right on it if you have one. That way, the love can keep going long after the festival is done.

Lisa: Variations on a Theme

We haven't really been concentrating on the melody yet.

Lisa: Alphabet with Pretzels

Does a mouthful of pretzels stop Nora from sharing her music with the world? No. No, it does not.

Lisa: Next time, won't you sing with me?

When I got home from tour, almost the first thing Nora did was sing the alphabet song. Best welcome back ever.

Ignore that copy of Titanic on the floor next to her.

Lisa: rocking out

Sarah and Blake took Nora to the Arts Festival while I was gone, and on the way out she got so tired that the only thing to do was to lie right down in the rocks and sing a little song.

Lisa: To dance, or to read?

All the Single-- hey, KNUFFLE BUNNY!

Lisa: single ladies

If only we could all start our days off with a little Single Ladies dance after bathtime.

Lisa: Share with Nora!

I guess Nora thought Alex was hogging the piano.

Lisa: ABCs

As promised, here's a little Chinese boy singing an approximate version of the ABCs for Nora.

Lisa: Christmas Day

Here's Nora, bumming around at home while we threw the last few items in our suitcases. Since we almost crashed on our way to Spring City, this might have been the last picture of Nora, ever. Do I even have to say how glad I am that it wasn't?

Sarah gave Nora this adorable tutu. The vest is also from Sarah, actually. What a good aunt, right?

The table and chairs are from my parents. Unfortunately, they made Nora grow up about four months in five minutes...but she loves them.

Lisa: Not so much here, or over here, but all around HERE.

I seem to have gotten a tiny bit of spaghetti on my face.

Nothing a little bath won't take care of.

Good as new!

Lisa: xylophone

The Smiths gave Nora a xylophone for her birthday. I think an invitation to play at Carnegie Hall is forthcoming.

Lisa: Get Right

What? I teach my daughter good values! Do you know how many different J-Los are in that video??

Lisa: piano man

We get to keep David's piano while he's in New York, and he came over and gave it an inaugural playing. Nora loved it, of course.

Lisa: her sweet escape

Sometimes the only thing that will calm Nora down or hold her attention is a little Gwen Stefani. Who am I to begrudge her that?

Actually, I'm glad it's not Barney. Or even Baby Einstein. Or...Insane Clown Posse.