Posts

Showing posts from October, 2008

Happy Halloween!

Image
It's 2:00 p.m., and I just finished the gorilla . Mason hasn't tried the whole thing on, but I can tell it's going to be roomy and long enough to wear for several more Halloweens. I think mostly everyone is ready for trick or treating tonight. Taylor still hasn't come up with a costume idea. He has vetoed all the ones I've suggested (karate boy, soldier, mummy, etc.). He's on his own now. The rest of the costumes are laid out on my bed with all the accessories. I love Halloween. I love sitting on my front porch handing out candy. I love trying to figure out who the children are who address me by name. I love trying to figure out what the kids are dressed up as. I love watching the kids squeal in delight when they get a trick and a treat. I love to see the smiles when the children notice their costumes glowing in our blacklight. I love the cool brisk night air. I love the way our quiet neighborhood comes alive. There's so much excitement in the air. I love

Trick or Treat Bags

Image
A few years ago I bought a few yards of clearanced Halloween fabric. I planned on making the children Trick or Treat bags. Again, that didn't happen. I made a compromise. I bought ready-made black canvas bags (3 for $6 at Walmart) and appliqued the children's initial on the front. I would like to switch out the handle to make it match the applique ... Maybe next year ... ** Today is the last day to submit your Candy Corn projects ! ** I wanted to express my appreciation for all of your comments yesterday . I am so grateful to this community that is willing to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those in need of comfort. I am so thankful for all the prayers and fasts that are being offered on Caitlin's and her family's behalf. Thank you. Mere words cannot express my gratitude. I wish I could hug all of you. Taylor and I attended the funeral last night, with friends and family (Joe is out of town again). It was a beautiful service. We laughed. And cried. And tried n

Tears of Sadness

Image
Today we officially say good-bye to Matt. On Saturday, Matt was killed in a car accident, on his way to take his ACT's. He was 17. He attended our church. He was one of my mother's seminary students (an early-morning scripture study class held before school). Matt was cute. And charismatic. And fun-loving. He was the kind of boy you hope your daughter brings home. He was one of the good ones. When I last saw Matt (Sunday, October 19th), I took special notice of him. He was blessing the sacrament and had just gotten his hair cut short. But there was something else about him. Something different. As I watched him I thought, "Matt has grown up so much lately. He is a good role model for the youth. A good example. He's kind. I'm so happy that Taylor will be turning 12 soon and joining the Young Men's program with boys like him." Since the accident, I have learned from other people at church, including my brother, that they also had taken special notice

Pink

Image
After my morning run, I noticed all the pink around me. My new Under Armour shirt (a belated birthday gift from my sister) is pink. With my pink-striped running bra underneath. Oops . A bit of pink on my running shoes. And all the pinky ballerina goodness of one complete Halloween costume. Complete with pink-striped leg warmers . It's going to be a crazy week getting the rest of the Halloween costumes finished. I'm thinking I'll have a few late sewing nights ahead of me.

A Gorilla

Image
in the making. This just might redeem me as Mother of the Year . We'll have to wait and see ... Happy weekending, friends.

Little Paper Books

Image
Last night Spenser and I sat down and made little paper books. We cut scrapbook paper (from my very limited supply) and plain computer paper, folded them in half, and then I sewed down the center fold (with a needle dedicated for paper sewing). I used Kirsten's idea and placed a Martha Stewart label on each one. I think I need to buy more supplies and make these as part of Spenser's birthday party goodie bags. And, my obligatory Candy Corn Contest entry . Featuring patchworked scrapbook paper.

Happy Birthday to Me. Again!

Image
Yesterday it felt like my birthday all over again. I stopped by my mother's house after boot shopping (see below) and my sister had dropped off a gift for me. Look at this vintagey goodness. A Pyrex cookbook from 1953 (!), a small orange juice glass, and a FireKing mug (which I already used for my chamomile tea). The book was dedicated right to me: And it was full of great recipes. I can't wait to try this creamy marshmallow frosting: Thank you, Kate. I love it all . It's the best cookbook I own. My new favorite. I received some money for my birthday a few weeks ago and decided I was going to buy myself something I normally wouldn't. The money started to dwindle away (on root beer float ingredients and school field trips), so I knew I had to act quickly. I couldn't decide what I should buy. This only happens once a year, so it's gotta be the right decision. I considered a nice pair of jeans (which I promised myself I would buy this season) and a pair of boo

Fancy Pants

Image
When I asked the kids what they wanted to be for Halloween, Jackson replied, "Fancy Pants!" Uh, what?? He wants to be Fancy Pants. A quick google search and I found this guy from this game . That's who he wants to be ... Easy enough, I guess. I whipped up a pair of orange, bell-bottomed pants last night. I'm thinking I might make them shorter so he doesn't trip himself. (As, ahem , I have several times since wearing my lounge pants .) When I asked him if he should wear a tan, long sleeved shirt with his costume (to look like he's shirtless), he replied, "No, a black shirt. He's a stick figure drawn in black." And he definitely wants the spiky hair. This so reminds me of last Halloween when Carter wanted to be the "Middle Age man who starts a town riot." Remember that? I don't know where they get this.

Rainbow Legs

Image
The weather is getting chillier, but my girl still loves to wear her skirts. Just like her mama. When I saw Sarah's post on leg warmers , I knew it was the thing for Spenser. I used a $3 pair of socks from Walmart (with pompoms!) and the idea from this tutorial and in minutes (really, just minutes ) Spenser was sporting a new pair of Rainbow Legs . I am trying not to call them "BablyLegs," because, as she reminds me often, she is not a baby. And these are just some of the outtakes. I love this girl more and more everyday. I suppose she just might need a pair to go with her Halloween tutu .

Autumn Fun

Image
Yesterday Spenser and I went on a field trip with her preschool to a pumpkin farm. This was her first time to ride a school bus. She loved it every minute of it. We learned about pumpkins, squash, corn, soybeans, hay, straw, and honey. I think this was the fifth time I have been to that same place for preschool field trips. (My mother went with Mason two years ago because I had just given birth to Sawyer.) We went through a straw maze. There were so many rambunctious, mostly unsupervised preschoolers (from another group) that it was difficult to make it through without stepping on someone. This was the only photo of many that didn't have other children trying to cut around her or trying to plow me down when I stopped. After the field trip, we took the opportunity to make a few Halloween decorations. I had seen in the Matthew Mead Halloween book the idea of spray painting a pumpkin with chalkboard paint. I loved this idea. After three stores, I finally found the spray paint at

Tutu

Image
Halloween costume preparations are now in full swing. After changing her mind a half dozen times, this little girl wants to be a ballerina. This week, that is. She helped me make a tutu from a quick and easy no-sew tutorial . I call it a success. At least the tutu is. Getting a good photo of the tutu? Not so much. And speaking of tutus, I found this hilarious set of photos while searching for the tutorial. Reminds me of the tiara craze from a year or two ago. Tutu notes: The tutu took 6 yards of off-the-bolt tulle for a waist of 20 1/2".

Accessories

Image
I've already confessed my love of pendants, so it should be of no surprise that two more have crept their way into my home. I found these pendant discs at Michaels yesterday. I was armed with a 50% coupon and planned to buy Sawyer a Christmas present (a Thomas wooden train set). When I got to the train section, I had to distract Sawyer. I pointed to a jewelry-supply stand and asked "what's that?" as I tried to make my move to grab the train. His sweet reply was an "uh-a-uh?" Like, "I don't know." But then I realized I couldn't grab the train just yet, there was some cute stuff I needed to look at first. I meant to distract Sawyer, and distracted myself instead. Ha! I have a very small amount of jewelry making supplies at home (I should use that term loosely) and whipped these up last night after the kids were in bed. Well, most of them were in bed. Taylor was still awake and had to help pick up all the little jumprings that fell to the floo

They Were Free

Image
So I snagged them. (From the Swap Shop .) Three Taylorton cups. Made in America. The floral one is Symphony in Blue (made in Japan). The solid blue is unmarked. These three are unmarked, but very cute anyway. Out of all of them, this one is my favorite. One of the Taylorton cups. Look at the leaves on the front and the inside of that cup! Very autumnal. Swoon! Now I know why I don't have a favorite color. I love the colors of the season I'm in.

Friday & Saturday

Image
Thank you for the birthday wishes . It was a nice, quiet day. (Well, aside from all the laundry that I did.) Joe came home around 2:30-ish that afternoon, after being out of town. And the boys came home from school shortly after that. I had some friends stop by with chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter Rice Krispie treats. And I ate a lot. Joe stopped on his way home and bought me a cake! This is big . I don't think I've had a birthday cake in ... um ... years . Maybe since my friend Jenneen made me one when we lived in Ohio! (I bought myself a cheesecake last year? the year before?) I love the combination of chocolate and raspberry and this cake was just that. Yum. Joe surprised me with a new zoom lens for my camera, which we used on Saturday for soccer games . We both love it. I feel like I can almost touch the boys as they play soccer on the opposite side of the field. And we bought Joe a little iPod shuffle for his birthday. He turned 40 on Saturday. When you have two b

And ...

Image
he scores! Woo-hoo, Carter! Saturday's soccer recap: Jackson scored two of his team's three goals, winning the game 3-2. Carter scored his team's only goal. They lost. Taylor's team lost. Again. Photos taken with my new birthday zoom lens from Joe.

39

Image
It's that time of year again. The one that seems to come faster and closer every year. Yes, today I am 39. (That means I'm almost 40! Aaaahh!) To keep in tradition with years' past , I decided to do a list of things you might not know about me . (My best friend loves these posts, so this is in honor of her. You know who you are.) I ran 1 3/4 miles this morning. I gained 3-4 pounds after Sawyer weaned himself this year. Since starting to run, Joe has said that my thighs are "as tight as when we were first married." I didn't realize my thighs weren't tight. Hmmm. I guess six kids can do that to you. I need a new mattress. We bought our last mattress when I was in labor with Carter . That was ten years ago. We also bought a set of bunk beds that day. I want a new sofa. Actually two new sofas. I'm waiting until Sawyer is potty-trained. I'm planning on training him as soon as school lets out in June. Sometimes I plan ahead. Sometimes I procrasti

Comfy Pants

Image
Someone recently gave us a box of hand-me-down clothes. When I saw a striped, polo-style, short-sleeved shirt in the box, I knew my boys would not be interested in wearing it. The pattern was fun and I instantly thought that it would make a cute pair of pants for Sawyer. I had made a pair for Spenser when she was just a little thing and always thought they must be so comfy. If I could get away with wearing jersey pants, I would in a heartbeat. Since the shirt was polo-style, it had a few buttons I had to remove and an opening I had to sew shut before I could cut them. You can see it above, but it's not very noticeable on his hip. This is all that was left of the shirt. (All photos need "rabbit ears," doncha think?) A quick, satisfying project.