the sky is pink

Six years ago today we welcomed Jackson into our family. At about 9:00 p.m., I was getting ready to go to bed when my water unexpectedly broke (without being in labor). My doctor (via phone) tried to tell me it was just urine, but when it happened again a few minutes later, I knew! (I knew before, too, but I didn't want to contradict my doctor.) Jack has been a blessing to our family. He is a sweet little man. He is very loving. He always hugs and kisses me (and Spenser and Sawyer). He is goofy as can be. He is smart. He is very agile. He is Jack. Just Jack. Jack had a few rough months in the beginning. He was the younger brother of Carter -- terror of all terrors. When Jack was about three months old, Carter drew on his face with a ballpoint pen: Look how close he got to his eye!!! (Sorry, that picture is so awful. It was taken with our first, ancient digital camera!) A couple of weeks later, Carter stuck stickers all over Jack's head. (I can't get that picture to upload,...

Six little Christmas ornaments to place in our Advent Stocking Garland. I made these on Saturday, but I think I will have to redo Jack's. His name is not positioned right. They are just made of felt, with their names embroidered on the back. They are embellished with baby gold rickrack and pinked on the edges. They are nothing special, but the children will love them. (I'll put the ornaments in the stockings next week when our Christmas tree is up.) Last night for Advent, we watched The Nativity (a church-produced movie, which is only about 5 minutes long) and read from Luke 2.

Saturday Taylor and Carter participated in their first karate tournament. I have to admit that I was more nervous than they were. All I could imagine was Karate Kid and a lot of mean competition. It was nothing like that at all, thankfully. Taylor participated in Forms and Fighting. He placed 6th for forms out of about 20 red belts. He placed 3rd in Fighting out of about 15 red belts. We were very pleased. Especially since they recommend that Taylor not fight because it was his first competition. We expected Taylor to participate in Jujitsu, but he didn't. We wondered why we didn't see him compete. And then we wondered why he didn't place. When it was over, he said he told the judges he was only there to watch his brother. (I know he would have placed. There were only 7 competitors!) Carter participated in Forms and Jujitsu. He placed 3rd in Jujitsu out of about 10 yellow belts. And this weekend was Christmas card family picture time. This is the only picture that turned...

I can't believe it's December! Oh my! (Maybe because it's 67 degrees at 8 a.m. and doesn't seem like December.) This is a very hectic time of year for my family. Not only do we celebrate Christmas, but we have three boys' birthdays. This means parties, sleepovers and more presents! And, since I always over-extend myself, I'm trying to pare down this year. (Yeah, right!) Jack's birthday party will be next Saturday. Taylor's sleepover will be the following Friday. Carter's sleepover will be right after Christmas. I already have plans in the making. Party favors. Crafts. Food. It's too overwhelming to think about some times. Each child has his own personality and likes. I'll share more when it gets closer to each party. Above is my WIP from yesterday . An Advent Christmas Stocking Garland (originally seen on Soulemama ). I haven't yet filled the stockings (a WIP for today). The boys loved to see them yesterday when they came home from schoo...

I know it's not Friday, but I have a WIP: This is something that needs to be finished for Friday. I cut everything out yesterday while the baby was napping in his swing and Spenser was eating her breakfast (and who knows where Mason was at the time). Joe is out traveling today (to Philadelphia), but is supposed to be home later this evening. Probably not in time for Taylor's cub scout pack meeting. Darn! I was hoping he would take the boys tonight and I could stay home and work on my project. Hopefully I can post finished pictures tomorrow. Happy Thursday!

All of my children refuse to eat potatoes. All kinds of potatoes. Mashed. Baked. Scalloped. The only kind they will eat are french fries. (Not even tater tots.) I don't get it. However, my children have no problem chewing gum that has previously been chewed by someone else (Spenser's first and second time). Nor do they have problems eating the colored macaroni necklaces that they make for Thanksgiving. Nor do they (Spenser) have problems eating glued popcorn off Jack's school work. And I think she was taste-testing the pink Play-Doh yesterday, too. Sigh. I feed my children ... honestly! * * * I took Sawyer to the doctor's for his 2-month checkup yesterday. He weiged 13.4 lbs., and was 23 1/3" long. He is in the 75-90th percentile for weight and the 75th for his height (I think). He had to get several shots and was not a happy little man last night. He had been sleeping really well the past 4-5 nights (sleeping until 3 a.m., then 4 a.m., and even 5:30 a.m. Sund...

Last summer I bought a couple of yards of a Christmas/wintertime fabric on clearance for about $1 a yard with hopes to make tote bags for my sisters for Christmas. Then it occurred to me that if I give them the totes for Christmas, Christmas will be over and they might not want to carry a Christmas tote. So I pushed it out of my mind for a few months. When I recently remembered I had the fabric, all I could envision was a tote bag. And I thought it would be easier to manage while shopping than a bulky diaper bag. So, voila ! A Christmas tote bag to double as a diaper bag (to hold just a few diapers and wipes) and maybe hold a couple of small gifts. And, here is my fall bag (when it's almost winter). I cut out the pieces ages ago, when I made my corduroy skirt . I finally got around to sewing it this weekend. It is lined with leftover brown corduroy and uses a vintage button for a closure. And, in case you didn't recognize it, it's Amy Butler's In Town bag.

This holiday weekend was very productive for me. I almost felt like I was back to my normal self. We'll see if it lasts. I sewed a little on Wednesday (while Sawyer slept in his swing and Spenser took her nap). I sewed a little on Thanksgiving morning (see above). My cousin and his wife had a baby 8 days after Sawyer was born, and I decided to make her a few things: an embroidered receiving blanket, a bib and burp cloth, both backed with chenille. Friday morning Joe and I braved the odds and went shopping on Black Friday. It wasn't bad. I feel like I spent a lot of money, but don't have a lot to show for it. I guess that's what happens when you have six children ... It was kind of depressing. When we came home that morning, I wrapped my presents. Yes . I. wrapped. my. presents. Oh my! I sewed a little on Saturday. A matching bib and burp cloth for Sawyer, who is forever spitting up these days! These fabulous little cloth shoes Stardust Shoes' free patt...

Happy Thanksgiving! This year I am especially grateful for a new little man that I didn't realize would be in my life this year. He has been a wonderful blessing to me in the short 8 weeks he's been here. I love him dearly . My life is better and more complete because of him. I am also thankful for: my family, my friends (including my friends in blog-world), my health, my father's successful back surgery , my house that provides shelter to my family, my husband for working long hours to provide for our family of eight, only having 12 pounds to lose of "baby fat," my sewing machine, and many, many more things. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. If you don't hear from me for a few days, don't worry. I'll be one of the crazy Black Friday shoppers and then shopping more on Saturday! (Pictured above is a Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle that I have made for the past three Thanksgivings. It is yummy.)

My father is having back surgery today. Actually, in just a few minutes. He has been suffering for the past 3+ weeks with a herniated disc. He has been unable to stand or sit the entire time. The numbness down his leg from his sciatic nerve has made it difficult for him to do much. I'm sharing two of my favorite pictures of my father. The above picture is of my older sister (Lisa), my father, and me. He was going through chemo at the time and was just about to start a harsher treatment, which would result in him losing his beautiful white hair. The picture below was taken just a few short weeks later, sans hair. He is a strong, strong man. He has endured many things. Losing his mother to cancer many years ago, his father to a drunk driver, his daughter to a car accident, and fighting his incurable cancer. So, in the spirit of one of my favorite stories, Pray for Dad , I will, once again, email my brothers and sisters with the simple message to "pray for Dad." * * * Pray ...

Last night we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. On Monday nights, kids eat free. That's a real bargain for us! Including tip, our bill was just under $40. We only go a couple of times a year, but the kids love it. They love the peanuts most of all. So we were enjoying our dinner and two of the "older" (by older I mean, older than me but not really old ... like maybe in their mid 50's-60's) couples sitting nearby started talking to us. They were asking our children's ages, names, etc. They were very friendly. In fact, when the first couple left, they told us they loved sitting near our family and how well-behaved the children were. (Really, I think they were too busy eating the peanuts to misbehave.) When the second couple was leaving, the man and woman came over and told us how well-behaved our children were. The man (who was blind and being guided by his wife) handed each of my children a Sacagawea coin . How nice was that? He talked to us a few minutes, w...

This weekend, we did nothing. I only left the house to take out the trash and the recycling. Saturday's newspaper was still on the sidewalk when Joe came home from his trip on Sunday evening. It was our first soccer-free weekend in a few months. It was a little chilly. And Joe was out of town. Why leave? I cranked up the gas fireplace, grabbed a few blankets, and stayed inside. We had planned to go to church on Sunday morning, but Spenser has been sick, and I was not feeling so hot when I woke up on Sunday morning, so we played hookie. The boys played outside. In fact, Carter and Jack spent a lot of time outdoors. They both requested "bows" out of sticks. So we made a set of three (one for Mason, too). They also requested I take their picture for my blog. So here they are ... Then I sorted through the Halloween candy that was totally taking over my kitchen. This is what I threw away. And let me just tell you that there is still a ton left! I mostly threw away Tootsie Rol...

Yesterday was Mason's Thanksgiving program at preschool. He was a pilgrim (center with blue and gray baseball shirt). He was hysterical. While all the children sang and danced, Mason just stood there with a scowl on his face. Out of all of my children, Taylor is the only one who used to participate in these programs. The other three were not interested at all. I'm on a roll today. I've already done a load of laundry. The dishwasher is running. The three older boys are off to school. And it's only 8:15 a.m. We're about to head to go grocery shopping, which I am dreading. Yesterday was my "day" to go shopping, but with Mason's preschool program and the nasty rainy weather, I couldn't bear dragging the children around anymore than necessary. So we're off today. Joe left to go out of town this morning and won't be home until Sunday afternoon/evening. And there's no school next week for the Thanksgiving holiday! And Spenser's sick again...

My boys love to wear capes, so when thrifting last week Mason was so happy when we found a Batman cape ... that was a reversible Superman cape! It's a very simple construction. I'm just sorry that I didn't think of it first! Two for the price of one! And Spenser is always trying on the boys' underwear! Hopefully this will only be a love for girl's boy cut panties! (She's sporting two pairs in the above photo.)

I love shoes. I think every woman does. I love shoes more when I get a good deal. The above shoes were my best deal ever! Ever! I went to Kohl's in search of a pair of casual shoes. My mother-in-law had given me two $10 coupons that she received in the mail and I was prepared to use them. I found these Mudd shoes originally priced at $44.99. They were on sale for $26.99. At the register they rang up for $17.93. I used my $10 coupon (they only allowed one coupon per transaction) and my 15%-off discount for having a Kohl's charge. My total bill, including tax , was $7.08 ! Usually when I find a good deal on a pair of shoes, the shoes are size 6, 7, or something else too small for my feet. Rarely are there any size 9 shoes for a bargain. Score for me! Next up. My Candies heels. (Joe liked the shoes and offered to buy them for me. Who was I to refuse?) They were originally $49.99 and on sale for $34.99. With my $10 coupon and 15% discount (and I bought a Christmas present for on...

Look at the lovely pin cushion that I received from Capello ! She made a ton of these and I am a lucky recipient. It is absolutely amazing and even more incredible in person! It is very well constructed. And, she also sent a seam ripper (which she said is symbolic of her sewing style -- hee hee hee, I know that feeling!) and an organic bar of lavender and blueberry chocolate. Yummo! Thank you, Laura! And here is little miss. She has been a naughty little thing since she turned two . She has been playing in my makeup and smearing it all over her body, the bathroom vanity, etc (more than once). My boys never played in my makeup before. I guess she's trying to be like me. What a compliment!

It's hard to believe that my little man is 7 weeks old today. Yesterday in church he was blessed. It was his big day. He wore the same blessing outfit that each of his four older brothers wore. And atop his wee head was his hankie bonnet . Sometimes I look at him and think he is so tiny, yet growing so big! (The above picture is here because I'm finally wearing my pillowcase skirt !) And this is my finished WIP from Friday -- homemade, chocolate mint soap (via hot process method). It needs to harden a bit before I cut it into bars. And for the 2 commenters that guessed correctly ( Karyn and JoJo ) I will send you a bar of soap! Sometimes it pays to comment! :-) [Please email me with your mailing address at carlorway(at)yahoo(dot)com. I will send it out later this week when it hardens a bit more.]

Joe and I went to the thrift store on a nearby army post. These are a few of the treasures we picked up. (I will post the others next week.) An old Pyrex bowl ($2.50). A vintage baby feeding dish (50 cents!). My mother had one of these that she used for us. I remember feeding my younger siblings from this type of dish. You pour hot water in the hole (to heat the baby food) and plug it up with a rubber stopper. The stopper to this one was missing, but 50 cents ! I couldn't resist. And this lot of vintage rickrack, hem facing, seam binding, zippers, needles, and a few other miscellaneous sewing supplies. (I paid more than I care to admit ...) And this is my WIP for today. Can you guess what I'm doing? I'll give you some hints. It involves both a stovetop and an oven. I need measuring utensils, other kitchen utensils, rubber gloves, eye protection, ventilation, and a scale. You cannot eat it.

It's the tender moments like these that make me smile. And wonder what is she up to?!?!? (I think she's about to pounce on her baby brother.)

My mother bought Spenser this cute deer vintage wooden puzzle. She said that my older sister and I used to play with puzzles just like these when we were little. In my estimation, this puzzle must be 30+ years old. Spenser loves it. And so do the boys. And to keep you smiling today, look at Jack in his pajama bottoms! He cracks me up!!! Whose kid is he anyway?