This woman has is giving away free pattern downloads right now! Really cute baby slippers, chef's hat and apron.... I've only skimmed over the website and she's got some great ideas for crafty people. Check it out!
myhomespunthreads.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Not quite a homespun Christmas...
But mostly handmade. Mark commented the other day, with much exasperation, that we would not ever again make homemade gifts on this scale again. I just had to laugh and give him my best glare. We? What "we"? I don't think he has once touched the sewing machine. :-)
Checked off the list: Steph and family, both sets of parents, and Mark's brother's kids.
I still have so much to do: boxes to mail, a quilt to finish for William, pajamas to get done... and I am having the hardest time making up my mind what to do for my other 3 children! I keep thinking this thing or that thing. But oooh! That would be neat too! So frustrating.
The problem with making the gifts this year, even though it is considerably easier on the pocketbook, is that it takes time. And while I'm sewing I can't be cleaning. Since I didn't get everything done I wanted to, I'm going end up staying up late to finish so they don't see what they're getting, or sending them to Grandma's house to play while Daddy's at work because tomorrow is the last day of school for the year. Ack!
Of course, now that I think about it, I could have taken pictures of my projects to post after Christmas - since some of the recipients read my blog - but I didn't think that far ahead. Ah well, ces la vie!
Checked off the list: Steph and family, both sets of parents, and Mark's brother's kids.
I still have so much to do: boxes to mail, a quilt to finish for William, pajamas to get done... and I am having the hardest time making up my mind what to do for my other 3 children! I keep thinking this thing or that thing. But oooh! That would be neat too! So frustrating.
The problem with making the gifts this year, even though it is considerably easier on the pocketbook, is that it takes time. And while I'm sewing I can't be cleaning. Since I didn't get everything done I wanted to, I'm going end up staying up late to finish so they don't see what they're getting, or sending them to Grandma's house to play while Daddy's at work because tomorrow is the last day of school for the year. Ack!
Of course, now that I think about it, I could have taken pictures of my projects to post after Christmas - since some of the recipients read my blog - but I didn't think that far ahead. Ah well, ces la vie!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Another Year, Another Birthday!
I have no pictures of my birthday. But being that I'm all grow-ed up now, that's permissible. But it was nice. Mark's mom got me a new shirt, with fabric that draped off to the side and held by a belt buckle looking thing. I like it, and it's always fun to get new clothes. Mark had asked me what I would like and my off-handed reply was slippers, because my feet were freezing at that moment. Sweetheart that he is, he got me some warm and fuzzy slippers! Daniel likes them as much as I do but for different reasons.... :-) And my family sent me a cute card with a gift card! It's so hard to decide what to use it on, which is half the fun. A book? A necklace? A non-stick skillet? Decisions, decisions.
Mark had to work on my birthday, so we celebrated yesterday with his parents coming for dinner. The Christmas tree was pulled out and put together, very sparsely decorated because of Daniel and his high reach. (The lights make the tree anyway!) One should celebrate special occasions with special foods, so I braved the unknown and made Chicken Kiev. It's chicken breast wrapped around parsley, green onions and garlic... and butter. The butter melts as the chicken cooks and sits in the chicken if you sealed it well enough, when you cut it the butter squirts out. We had problems with the chicken breasts size wise and I could use some practice with the rolling, but it was still really yummy!
And yes, I know that I decorate cakes, but I do not do my own birthday cake. I can't quite duplicate bakery whipped icing, although my buttercream comes pretty close! And I also just didn't have the energy to do one with the idea of a fancy dinner too. So I had an Oreo cake, chocolate cake with whipped icing, oreo's and chocolate shavings. It's so hard not to snack on it all the time.
Tonight is the ward Christmas party. I'm not sure if I'll manage to get pictures of the kids with Santa, Mark is working so I have to keep a hold of all 4 boys on my own. I'm thinking the stroller is getting busted out for this one! (getting a headache just thinking about the noise, and the running, and the line for Santa and dinner...)
Mark had to work on my birthday, so we celebrated yesterday with his parents coming for dinner. The Christmas tree was pulled out and put together, very sparsely decorated because of Daniel and his high reach. (The lights make the tree anyway!) One should celebrate special occasions with special foods, so I braved the unknown and made Chicken Kiev. It's chicken breast wrapped around parsley, green onions and garlic... and butter. The butter melts as the chicken cooks and sits in the chicken if you sealed it well enough, when you cut it the butter squirts out. We had problems with the chicken breasts size wise and I could use some practice with the rolling, but it was still really yummy!
And yes, I know that I decorate cakes, but I do not do my own birthday cake. I can't quite duplicate bakery whipped icing, although my buttercream comes pretty close! And I also just didn't have the energy to do one with the idea of a fancy dinner too. So I had an Oreo cake, chocolate cake with whipped icing, oreo's and chocolate shavings. It's so hard not to snack on it all the time.
Tonight is the ward Christmas party. I'm not sure if I'll manage to get pictures of the kids with Santa, Mark is working so I have to keep a hold of all 4 boys on my own. I'm thinking the stroller is getting busted out for this one! (getting a headache just thinking about the noise, and the running, and the line for Santa and dinner...)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
What? An update? :-)
I've been in sort of a blog-y funk I guess. I've been checking everyone's often and commenting occasionally. And it's not as if we just have nothing going on worth writing about. I just haven't done it. *shrug*
Just a little of what we've been up to, I guess. Almost all of Mark's family came up for Thanksgiving week. The boys had a blast with all their cousins for sure! I was exhausted and my house was a wreck because we were home long enough to trash it during the day and then headed to Grandma's every day that week. I had originally wanted to drive down and hand out with Stephanie that weekend since her sweetie was working and it was highly likely that Mark was going to be working as well. But travel expenses were an issue and then there was some extreme weather that would have prevented me from making the drive with the kids to Utah by myself had money worked out. Mark's brother and family couldn't make it up to Montana because the roads were all closed! Kind of a bummer, but perhaps we'll look at Spring Break. When the weather is warmer and there's more to see besides white. :-)
I was sitting here last night thinking about the fact that I haven't taken any pictures in ages, when I looked over at the table. This is currently Daniel's favorite place to hang out if we don't make sure all the chairs are pushed in all the way. Some one had left the tape dispenser out and he was having a heyday. I'd love to know how he got it wrapped around himself so thoroughly!
He was getting so mad at the tape, it was so cute!
We made the difficult decision to put Oren back into public school. This was something I'd been battling for a while now, trying not to feel like I was just giving up easily. But it struck me on Monday how much I was not looking forward to the day, anticipating the arguments (which of course made them happen), and feeling yet another headache come on from thinking about how far behind we had gotten in hours and lessons. When a lesson takes twice as long as it's supposed to, you don't get nearly as much done in a day, and it just snowballs from there. He hated the work, I hated fighting him on it.
So I talked with him about going back to public school. He was so excited about a classroom, new teacher, riding the bus! His face just lit up. Tuesday morning we went in and enrolled him in the local elementary. As we were driving to the school it was like a huge weight was lifted. I felt nothing but relief, none of the guilt that I thought would be there.
This evening we got a phone call from his teacher. She took the time to call on her own time, call me personally, and tell me how much she was enjoying Oren being in her class. That he was a joy, and so sweet, and fun. This is the kind of phone call we never get, not from a teacher anyway. Nothing about "but....." . Just simple praise. I was so proud of him, he's trying really hard to use the common courtesies we've been working on, and he has grown since last year. Mark and my fingers are crossed that this love for school continues. Not to mention that I now look forward to seeing him in the evening and getting to hear all about his day. He gets to spend more time with Nathan, which they are both enjoying.
As sad as it sounds, that's really all I can think of as far as updates go. Just normal ups and downs, house cleaning and house trashing. Snow, snow, and more snow. Curtain planning, Christmas present sewing, Christmas present wrapping (I love wrapping!)... Sick kids, sick mommy, no sick daddy. Smiles and laughs. Temper tantrums. New words from Daniel, realizing that William is no longer a toddler. Nathan reading and writing his letter to Santa.
Happy Decembering!
Just a little of what we've been up to, I guess. Almost all of Mark's family came up for Thanksgiving week. The boys had a blast with all their cousins for sure! I was exhausted and my house was a wreck because we were home long enough to trash it during the day and then headed to Grandma's every day that week. I had originally wanted to drive down and hand out with Stephanie that weekend since her sweetie was working and it was highly likely that Mark was going to be working as well. But travel expenses were an issue and then there was some extreme weather that would have prevented me from making the drive with the kids to Utah by myself had money worked out. Mark's brother and family couldn't make it up to Montana because the roads were all closed! Kind of a bummer, but perhaps we'll look at Spring Break. When the weather is warmer and there's more to see besides white. :-)
I was sitting here last night thinking about the fact that I haven't taken any pictures in ages, when I looked over at the table. This is currently Daniel's favorite place to hang out if we don't make sure all the chairs are pushed in all the way. Some one had left the tape dispenser out and he was having a heyday. I'd love to know how he got it wrapped around himself so thoroughly!
He was getting so mad at the tape, it was so cute!
We made the difficult decision to put Oren back into public school. This was something I'd been battling for a while now, trying not to feel like I was just giving up easily. But it struck me on Monday how much I was not looking forward to the day, anticipating the arguments (which of course made them happen), and feeling yet another headache come on from thinking about how far behind we had gotten in hours and lessons. When a lesson takes twice as long as it's supposed to, you don't get nearly as much done in a day, and it just snowballs from there. He hated the work, I hated fighting him on it.
So I talked with him about going back to public school. He was so excited about a classroom, new teacher, riding the bus! His face just lit up. Tuesday morning we went in and enrolled him in the local elementary. As we were driving to the school it was like a huge weight was lifted. I felt nothing but relief, none of the guilt that I thought would be there.
This evening we got a phone call from his teacher. She took the time to call on her own time, call me personally, and tell me how much she was enjoying Oren being in her class. That he was a joy, and so sweet, and fun. This is the kind of phone call we never get, not from a teacher anyway. Nothing about "but....." . Just simple praise. I was so proud of him, he's trying really hard to use the common courtesies we've been working on, and he has grown since last year. Mark and my fingers are crossed that this love for school continues. Not to mention that I now look forward to seeing him in the evening and getting to hear all about his day. He gets to spend more time with Nathan, which they are both enjoying.
As sad as it sounds, that's really all I can think of as far as updates go. Just normal ups and downs, house cleaning and house trashing. Snow, snow, and more snow. Curtain planning, Christmas present sewing, Christmas present wrapping (I love wrapping!)... Sick kids, sick mommy, no sick daddy. Smiles and laughs. Temper tantrums. New words from Daniel, realizing that William is no longer a toddler. Nathan reading and writing his letter to Santa.
Happy Decembering!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Where did the month go?
And what a month it has been. Two birthdays, a new job, a move - just a tad chaotic, and Halloween.
I must confess. We have pictures from William's birthday. But not Daniel. In fact, he never even had a party. Nathan was at school that day, and Daddy worked that night, so we didn't celebrate that day. I had planned on festivities that weekend, but nobody thought to tell me that Mark's brother's birthday was that Friday. Two parties in two days didn't excite anybody. He opened his gifts on a few different days, they just sort of filtered in. He didn't get a smash cake or anything! His first birthday ever, and we didn't get it celebrated! I have been very seriously considering making him an awesome cake, now that I have all my stuff, and having a really belated party. With pictures and candles and frosting all over his highchair.... He doesn't care now, but just wait until he's 5 or 6 and asking how come we don't have pictures of his first birthday.
Our move was quite interesting too. Between forms not getting sent in from employers when we thought they'd be, and then movers showing up the day before we signed for the keys even though we called twice and left messages that we needed to reschedule our delivery.... At least we know have an apartment, and our stuff, and we're pretty much settled in. We have a few boxes still, but it's canning supplies, cake decorating stuff, and the desktop computer that we have no desk for - nor space for a desk. And that's all stuffed in the huge bedroom closets. But most of the pictures are hung and the bookshelves are filled. The living room/dining room/kitchen are put together and decorated with the crocheted leaves and pumpkin Steph made me! Just figuring out where some of the bedroom and office stuff is going to go, and fit the windows with curtains to help with heat retention.
I also have no Halloween pictures. Mark was working that day, to get in some overtime and extra experience. So I was by myself with the boys. We purchased nothing at all this year, not even candy! All our costumes came from our box we've been saving each year's selection in, and between buying larger sizes on clearance last year and having tiny ones from when the boys were younger we had what we needed. An adorable dragon, complete with spiky tail and claws; a skeleton with a top hat; a pirate and cutlass; and a mischievous vampire. Daddy made it just at the end of dinner and games, in time to help me take them home from trunk-or-treat. Then Daniel and I chilled at home, unpacking, while Daddy and the other boys "got chilled" traipsing the neighborhood for more candy. They all had a blast, and I enjoyed the break.
All in all, it's been a very busy month, with lots of fun!
I must confess. We have pictures from William's birthday. But not Daniel. In fact, he never even had a party. Nathan was at school that day, and Daddy worked that night, so we didn't celebrate that day. I had planned on festivities that weekend, but nobody thought to tell me that Mark's brother's birthday was that Friday. Two parties in two days didn't excite anybody. He opened his gifts on a few different days, they just sort of filtered in. He didn't get a smash cake or anything! His first birthday ever, and we didn't get it celebrated! I have been very seriously considering making him an awesome cake, now that I have all my stuff, and having a really belated party. With pictures and candles and frosting all over his highchair.... He doesn't care now, but just wait until he's 5 or 6 and asking how come we don't have pictures of his first birthday.
Our move was quite interesting too. Between forms not getting sent in from employers when we thought they'd be, and then movers showing up the day before we signed for the keys even though we called twice and left messages that we needed to reschedule our delivery.... At least we know have an apartment, and our stuff, and we're pretty much settled in. We have a few boxes still, but it's canning supplies, cake decorating stuff, and the desktop computer that we have no desk for - nor space for a desk. And that's all stuffed in the huge bedroom closets. But most of the pictures are hung and the bookshelves are filled. The living room/dining room/kitchen are put together and decorated with the crocheted leaves and pumpkin Steph made me! Just figuring out where some of the bedroom and office stuff is going to go, and fit the windows with curtains to help with heat retention.
I also have no Halloween pictures. Mark was working that day, to get in some overtime and extra experience. So I was by myself with the boys. We purchased nothing at all this year, not even candy! All our costumes came from our box we've been saving each year's selection in, and between buying larger sizes on clearance last year and having tiny ones from when the boys were younger we had what we needed. An adorable dragon, complete with spiky tail and claws; a skeleton with a top hat; a pirate and cutlass; and a mischievous vampire. Daddy made it just at the end of dinner and games, in time to help me take them home from trunk-or-treat. Then Daniel and I chilled at home, unpacking, while Daddy and the other boys "got chilled" traipsing the neighborhood for more candy. They all had a blast, and I enjoyed the break.
All in all, it's been a very busy month, with lots of fun!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
A Very Late Hapy Birthday!
Well, I'm only posting this a few weeks late.... :-) In my defense, it's been crazy. Especially when the second we turn our back, this is what Daniel does.
Since William's birthday is on October 4th and my nephew's birthday is on the 3rd, Mark's sister agreed that it would be easier to have a combined little bash while everyone was over for Conference. She provided the cake, we chipped in the ice cream - and everybody had a great time! We may just do this next year too... :-)
William was in no hurry to get all formal at the table, and since his cousin was opening his gifts already, he just grabbed some and hunkered down on the floor to open them. Genius!
Mark's sister had made a larger cake for everyone else to eat, but the two birthday boys each got their own little birthday cake with their name on it, literally, and their own candles to blow out. I don't think either of them ate much of the cake, but they both thought it was pretty cool that they had a cake all to themselves.
I just love the puffy cheeks.
We got William a little tool chest, that had hammer, saw, "wood", nails.... the works. Right down to a tape measure! And now I realize that I haven't seen it in several weeks, so it is probably residing somewhere in Grandma's basement. I hope.
Since William's birthday is on October 4th and my nephew's birthday is on the 3rd, Mark's sister agreed that it would be easier to have a combined little bash while everyone was over for Conference. She provided the cake, we chipped in the ice cream - and everybody had a great time! We may just do this next year too... :-)
William was in no hurry to get all formal at the table, and since his cousin was opening his gifts already, he just grabbed some and hunkered down on the floor to open them. Genius!
Mark's sister had made a larger cake for everyone else to eat, but the two birthday boys each got their own little birthday cake with their name on it, literally, and their own candles to blow out. I don't think either of them ate much of the cake, but they both thought it was pretty cool that they had a cake all to themselves.
I just love the puffy cheeks.
We got William a little tool chest, that had hammer, saw, "wood", nails.... the works. Right down to a tape measure! And now I realize that I haven't seen it in several weeks, so it is probably residing somewhere in Grandma's basement. I hope.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
What do you write when you can't think of a title?
I guess life has just been busy. Somehow the days pass by and I find by the end of one that we haven't done much that I would write about. Each one has it's moments, true, but the flow is the same. Days are filled with Oren and his schoolwork. Evenings fly by trying to give my other three attention. Keeping Daniel out of the bathroom and off the piano is a full-time endeavor!
And so I rarely have the energy to gather what thoughts I'd like to write, or go through what few pictures I have taken. This is not to say that we don't do things worthy of note. For instance, Oren's school did a zoo day meet and greet. But Nathan was at school and couldn't go with us. So when the zoo did a free admission day, the boys and I loaded up and went!
Daniel was asleep in the mei tai on my back for most of it. So no cute pictures of him, unfortunately. The boys had a lot of fun in the Egg-xhibit, pretending to be chickens. And outside of there, I had my hands full making sure I knew where they were, with so many people there. So no pictures other than these.
On a seperate note, I had several compliments on the mei tai, and the moms that talked to me wanted to know where I got it. I was super proud to say that my sister had made it! And of course told them that they could find patterns for one on-line. Why spend $30 or more when you can make one yourself? (Thank you Steph!)
Saturday, after the morning session, Mom W. took us to Mesa Falls. This little trip involved some misunderstandings about food, and a not very happy me... but the falls were beautiful and the scenery was amazing. We solved the food problem with a VERY late lunch and Mark and I resolving to insist on the welfare of the boys not matter how anxious others are to get going. And to not assume that others will bring what they implied they would.
Of course, I brought my good camera hoping to get some gorgeous shots of the falls. Maybe some with trees in the background that were turning colors. What happened? I took about 6 shots, and then the batteries died! With no backups because I took them for the little camera and forgot to put new ones in the case! So here is the best of the ones I got. The falls look small, but they were really quite tall. It was the angle from the viewpoint.
There was also William's birthday, which is in the above post. Or will be when I get it posted!
And so I rarely have the energy to gather what thoughts I'd like to write, or go through what few pictures I have taken. This is not to say that we don't do things worthy of note. For instance, Oren's school did a zoo day meet and greet. But Nathan was at school and couldn't go with us. So when the zoo did a free admission day, the boys and I loaded up and went!
Daniel was asleep in the mei tai on my back for most of it. So no cute pictures of him, unfortunately. The boys had a lot of fun in the Egg-xhibit, pretending to be chickens. And outside of there, I had my hands full making sure I knew where they were, with so many people there. So no pictures other than these.
On a seperate note, I had several compliments on the mei tai, and the moms that talked to me wanted to know where I got it. I was super proud to say that my sister had made it! And of course told them that they could find patterns for one on-line. Why spend $30 or more when you can make one yourself? (Thank you Steph!)
Saturday, after the morning session, Mom W. took us to Mesa Falls. This little trip involved some misunderstandings about food, and a not very happy me... but the falls were beautiful and the scenery was amazing. We solved the food problem with a VERY late lunch and Mark and I resolving to insist on the welfare of the boys not matter how anxious others are to get going. And to not assume that others will bring what they implied they would.
Of course, I brought my good camera hoping to get some gorgeous shots of the falls. Maybe some with trees in the background that were turning colors. What happened? I took about 6 shots, and then the batteries died! With no backups because I took them for the little camera and forgot to put new ones in the case! So here is the best of the ones I got. The falls look small, but they were really quite tall. It was the angle from the viewpoint.
There was also William's birthday, which is in the above post. Or will be when I get it posted!
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