Look Who Turned 3 and 8!

My stepgrandaughter just turned three last week.  I can't believe how much she's grown since I saw her just two months ago.  Amazing!  They don't waste any time getting big.

Her shirt says "sweet as a cupcake".  Her sandals are way cuter than mine.  I need to step up my game.

She had her birthday party at McDonalds.

I swear she's grown a whole foot since March.

Awwww, her mom says she keeps asking about Bruce, so she bought her one of the dogs that moves and makes noise.  I just noticed, this is the same dog that always attacks me when I go to Target.  I almost bought the dog myself, just because he was barking at me so loudly.

Speaking of Bruce, he turned 8 at the end of April.  He just got a haircut yesterday.  Hard to tell in this picture, but I'm still honing my grooming skills.  He looked like a little bear before the haircut.  This is his second haircut by me, since arriving in March.  I'm slowly working my way to giving him a close cut.  He loves getting groomed, especially the hair dryer part.

Candid shot from the baby shower of an unfinished food table.  Won't be long now.

This is a trial run of me making Kendra's baby.  I knew awhile ago that I wanted to try to sculpt her baby.  Don't look too closely at his face.  I smushed it by mistake and baked it before I realized it was messed up.  For this face, I actually used a small mold, just to get the sizing right.  The first couple of heads I sculpted without a mold kept coming out too big.  Now I have a reference and I will be able to free sculpt it to the right size.  The body and limbs were all free sculpted.  Just a trial, so I didn't put in all the details.  I will for the real one.  Who knows, Muff, there may be twins before it's all said and done.

Ian and His Friends (Photostory)

"Babe, I got to get off this phone.  The guys will be here any minute.  (pause)  I'll call you when I get back.  (pause)  Okay, okay.  I'll stop by on my way back."  (Ian talking to Raven)

"Rrrruff, rrruff."  (Goldie)

"I'm hanging up now.  I'll see you later."  (Ian to Raven)

"What are you barking for?  We can't play frisbee right now.  I'm getting ready to leave."  (Ian)

*DING DONG*

Ian goes to the door to let in his friends.

It's his two friends, Guiren and Kim (Guiren's younger brother.

"Man, I'm diggin' your new place."  (Guiren)

"Thanks."  (Ian)

"Move Goldie.  They didn't come to see you."  (Ian)

The guys come in and make themselves comfortable.

"So what time does the movie start?"  (Ian)

"Not for another hour, so we got time."  (Guiren)

"I just hope I can stay awake after last night."  (Kim)

"That's right.  You guys went to the party at the frat house.  I don't even have to ask how it was."  (Ian)

"Man, there were so many girls there, I didn't even know where to begin.  You should have been there."  (Kim)

"Ain't nothing at those parties for me but trouble.  I'm trying to turn over a new leaf."  (Ian)

"Oh, I almost forgot.  How is the little wifey?"  (Kim)

"You funny.  On that note, I think it's time to go."  (Ian)

Ian gets up to finish getting ready, while Guiren makes his way to the sofa.

"Dude, when are we having a party at your place?"  (Guiren)

"I might have a few people over once I get the place fixed up."  (Ian)

"Cool."  (Guiren)

And with that they head to the movies.

Poor Goldie is left behind.  We are going to pretend there's some water in her bowl.  I don't want anyone calling Peta on Ian.

Ian turns out the lights and closes the door.  Goldie waits a moment before going to lay down on her bed.

PREVIEW FROM AN UPCOMING STORY: 

Oh goodness!  What is Tori up to?  I'm sure her mother, Karla, would not approve of a gentleman friend being in her room.  But then I could be wrong.  Stay tuned.

Epilogue:  I bought the two Asian heads the same time I bought Ian's body.  I already had bodies here they could use.  I've wanted these heads for well over a year, but they were sold out.  My intentions were to make them high school teenagers, but their heads are huge!  So I chose to make them college kids instead.  You know my college girls were ecstatic.

Baby Shower Update

Time for a quick baby shower update.  All the guests have been invited, and believe it or not, most of them are already dressed for the occasion, even Kendra.  Her husband, Nathaniel will be joining her, but he will probably be the only male there.  Kids are welcome, so we will see just a couple of them in the crowd.  Now people are in the gift buying stages.  Of course, that means extra work for me.  

I found these little, and I do mean little, metal baby cups on Etsy last year.  I think they are little charms.  My plan at the time, was to make and sell baby gift baskets.  

What's a baby shower without a diaper cake?  I started one last night.  I still have to add all the decorations. 

In the basket so far are Johnson baby products (I made from clay) and a couple of baby bottles (purchased from the Dollar store).  The cute basket was spray painted white.  It's another great thrift store find of my mom's about a year ago.  There were about ten assorted mini baskets.  I will probably be doing baskets and diaper cakes for the store in the near future.

And for those of you who have asked for cribs, production has begun.  The first one is complete and ready to be stained.  The others won't be too far behind.

Danielle Stops By To Visit Ian (Photostory)

Raven has been at Ian's new place all morning.  He's asked her to help decorate.  She started off with the two of them watching a little HGTV.  She's planned a 'look and see' trip to Ikea, to get some ideas. Danielle and the boys are supposed to be stopping by, first.  It's been a couple of months since Ian has seen her and the boys.  He's been so busy with work, night school, and moving, that socializing has taken a back seat.

"I can't believe you have me watching these shows.  Can't you just tell me what I need?"  (Ian)

"This is your place.  It needs to be about you, not me."  (Raven)

"You could always move in and then it would be about us."  (Ian)

"Your mom and my dad would kill us both.  Besides, there's not enough closet space for all my clothes.  Now back to the issue at hand.  We need to make a list of everything you need.  And from what I can see, it's going to be a long list.  Do you have any paper?"  (Raven)

"Yes, check the bottom drawer of my dresser.  I think I put all the paper supplies in there."  (Ian)

Ian stares at Raven as she makes her way to the dresser.  He's not exactly sure when it happened, but he is head over heels about her.  Sure he still gets approached by many women, young and old, and occasionally he flirts a little too much, but it's Raven that has carved a space in his heart.

"Is it in there?"  (Ian)

"Yup."  (Raven)

 

Raven reaches for a pencil, but before she can grasp it, the doorbell rings.

*DING DONG*

"That must be my sister."  (Ian)

"I'll get it."  (Raven)

"Who is it?"  (Raven)

"Danielle"  (Danielle)

"Hello.  Come on in."  (Raven)

"Hello, Raven.   Long time no see."  (Danielle)

"Hello sis.  Hey Julian and Jacob.  Come on in."  (Ian)

Julian is so excited to see his uncle Ian.

"Hi uncle Ian!  Where's Goldie?"  (Julian)

"Goldie is at the groomers.  I have to pick her up later today."  (Ian)

"Come on in.  Take a seat."  (Ian to Danielle)

"I love the new place.  It seems perfect for you.  A lot more room than your last place."  (Danielle)

"I know.  I lucked up when I found it.  It's the last one they had available."  (Ian)

"I take it you told mom about it."  (Danielle)
"Yes, and she's already trying to come up to see it."  (Ian)

"That lady just loves traveling.  You know she can't sit still."  (Danielle)

"So how are you doing, Raven?"  (Danielle)

Raven proceeds to catch Danielle up on her life.

In the meantime, Julian has set his eyes on the model car on Ian's desk. 

"So how's Rod?" (Ian)

"Wonderful."  (Danielle blushing)

"I haven't talked to him in awhile.  I need to give him a call."  (Ian)

"Maybe you and Raven can come over for dinner soon.  Let me know what's convenient for you two, and I will make it happen."  (Danielle)

"Bet."  (Ian)

"Gotta go potty."  (Jacob)

"Okay, Jacob.  Hold on."  (Danielle)

Danielle gets up to take Jacob to the bathroom.  Julian, is unsuccessful at reaching the car, so he decides to climb up on the bed instead.  Raven grabbed the pad of paper to start on the list.

"I hope there's toilet paper in there."  (Ian)

"Me, too."  (Danielle)

Julian is just chillin'.  He's just happy to be with his uncle Ian again.

While they are doing all of that, Ian will show off his new body.

Best to do it without the pants for the full effect.  As you can see there is articulation all over this body.     In the abdomen area, there are three points of articulation.  

Monkey Depot had free shipping last weekend, and I took a peek.  I was looking for a body for one of my darker skinned guys.  Found it, then noticed the same body in tan.  Thought it might work for Ian.  It was worth a try.  If it didn't work for Ian, it could work for someone else.  It was $22.99

It comes with four sets of hands. He has one set on. I love the balled fisted ones.  Perfect for boxing.  I will probably use the other two sets for some of the PowerTeam guys who have been sharing hands.

It comes with three neck bobs.  I used the longer neck bob for Ian.  I had to glue it on, but there's still full neck motion.

For the most part, this is a very sturdy body.  However, there are these little plugs in the back and on parts of the leg.  I'm not sure why they are here.  It doesn't bother me, but I thought it was important to point them out so there wouldn't be any surprises.  The good news is now we will see a lot more of Ian.