Halloween and some random craftiness

I cannot believe that we are less than two months away from 2012. I feel like I am living in a time warp. In the moment things seem slow, but the days are flying by. Here we are, Halloween is over. I keep Halloween fairly low key. I don't love carving pumpkins, but when I noticed my kids drawing faces on the rose hips, I decided we could go ahead and carve some pumpkins. The real jack-o-lantern pictures weren't great.....but I love the rose hip versions!

Eve has been asking to be a vampire for a year. The main request was to have white skin and a cape. Aurora asked if she could be Ramona Quimby. She loved the movie that came out last year and really wanted to be THAT Ramona. That Ramona had an orange shirt with a kitty appliqued on it. Ramona also wore red rain boots. I was able to piece most of the costumes from things we had, but I dyed and appliqued the shirt, and sewed the cape. Most of the stuff can just be added to their closets. Which I love. Their dress up bin is over flowing! I'd rather have things they can wear everyday (and if you are Eve, this includes a green velvet cape).

It was down to the wire, but I got the costumes made. This was partially because in a last ditch effort to get my kids to clean up the floor of their bedroom, I said I would make the time for costumes when they made the time for cleaning. I should have set a deadline. I was up very late. Which partially explains this: 

  

I stayed up all night Saturday night (ie the costumes were done at 10 am Sunday morning), and didn't get to nap much Sunday. When I woke up on Monday, I intended to just put on a shirt with skulls on it and go to the Halloween parade at the school. I wanted a little more sleep, but I really needed to wash my hair. That is when inspiration hit. Zombies don't wash their hair. So I slept a bit longer, got up, ripped up one of Jeremy's old shirts, put on some make up and voila! ZOMBIE! So easy! I wish I could to this every day. :)

Aside from Halloween, I didn't get much crafting done. That is except for during UEA. During UEA I decided to produce the least productive thing I could come up with. A newborn size hat that looks like a Thanksgiving turkey!

I had a nephew due anytime, and he needed this hat. And since the hat is ridiculous, I also knit him a vest that, while it does coordinate with the hat, is cute and not ridiculous. (the lighting is different in the 2 pics, but the browns are the same yarn. In real life, it looks more like the turkey)

 

Yesterday that sweet baby boy was born. I now have 32 nieces and nephews! I should get to meet this newest addition on Thanksgiving. Hopefully, I will have pictures of him wearing the hat for next month!  

  

Welcome to the world sweet William. I feel it necessary to point out, that you have a very beautiful mother. No one looks this good right after giving birth except her. Do not expect this from other women in your life. :)

Need to recharge

The last month and a half have kind of taken me for a ride. There were some big changes at my daycare that I was really unprepared for. Those changes added a lot to the usual beginning of the school year schedule shuffle. I have been having a hard time adjusting. My BFF knew this, and since she couldn't get away from work, she arranged for my younger sister Natalie to come spend some time with me. I have the best BFF....my sister is pretty great too! It has been almost 2 weeks, and we spent almost everyday at the daycare, but this weekend, we were able to go to Boise to see two of our older siblings. We stayed with our sister Jenny, who is going to have a baby in a few weeks. Before we went up we made a little outfit for her new addition. I always have a hard time sewing for baby boys, but Natalie was full of ideas. And while we were there, we helped Jen make costumes for her family. Unfortunately, even though I remembered my camera, it was out of batteries, so we only got cell phone pictures.

I have a really hard time not being jealous of people who live close to their family. This weekend gave me a little glimpse of what it would be like. I really love my sisters (and brothers!) I am sad my kids don't know their cousins and aunts and uncles better. I wish I could be closer to help out when babies are born, and to do some regular crafting with my sisters. I have dreams of babysitting swaps, and girls nights out. They are really nice dreams. For now, I guess I will just savor the moments we have, and try to make them happen more often. (thanks Janelle for helping make this weekend possible! Now I want to spend a weekend with you and your family!!)

Arches and Back to School

Summer has flown by. Since we took a big vacation in March we planned to spend most the summer at home, but we finally got away from the city for a weekend. We'd never been to Arches. The kids loved most of the hikes, and Aurora has even requested to go back for her birthday. Even though it was hot we had a great time. I took a lot of pictures.....

Then I stopped taking pictures. I did a little knitting. Here is Aurora wearing a slouchy beret I made for her. I am working on one for Eve too. 

Last, but not least, school started. Aurora has been counting down to school pretty much since school got out. They love school, their teachers, and all the time with friends. I never thought I'd be one of "those" moms, but I was also very excited for school. Since I take my kids to work, summer can be a bit rough. School is in, we are getting in a routine, and loving it. :) Here they are on their first day of school.  (and notice the pretty door!)

One year older and wiser too...

Wiser? Maybe...can you be wise and also be losing your mind/memory? I will say yes. Last month I turned the big THREE-THREE! This age is weird. Some people think I am SO young, "a baby really". Some people think I am SO old "There is no way you are THAT old!!"....and really, I don't feel old or young. I am firmly planted in the "in between" I like it here...I think I'll stay for a bit.

I really enjoyed turning 33. I was lucky enough to have BFF Janelle and her sister Karen in town. I ate at a couple of my favorite restaurants. I had cheesecake and a delicious chocolate cake (that I loved! Thank you Karen!!) I was able to spend the whole day with people I really like. It was fantastic. Thanks everyone....and Janelle, you set the bar pretty high this year. Canadian food, hand knit sweaters for my kids, and a card that makes me teary EVERY time I read it...Thanks. You really are the sister I got to hand pick. (Your family is pretty great too. Tell them thanks for letting me be an honorary member)

Last week, I got a birthday package from my sister Natalie. She is only 13 months younger than I am and one of my very best friends. When I was about 5 years old, I loved Strawberry Shortcake. Some kind soul (my mom? the Avon lady?? I don't remember) gave me some Strawberry Shortcake lip gloss. I loved that lip gloss. A lot. I seldom let it out of my sight....until one day, I left it in the bathroom. When I found it, there were little smudges of lip gloss all around it and then I took off the lid. I was horrified. Little teeth marks! Someone had eaten my lip gloss. Or rather, Natalie had. She said it was delicious. It was a sad sad day. No lip gloss ever lived up to the glory of my very first...that is until last week.

Thanks Nat. I love them. I am considering sharing with my kids.....maybe.

P.S. One last thing, I finished off the month with a quick visit from a very good friend that deserted me moved away. Kim (aka Prairie Mama) and I got to have dinner and spend some time together on Saturday. (Why is it that my very best friends live in Ontario Canada, Texas and Alabama?? And more importantly, is someone working on that Star Trek "beaming" technology? I need it!) Kim introduced me to her newest addition. Elliott is such a sweet little babe! He also looks SO MUCH like his older siblings. Plus he smells like heaven. Thanks for making time for me Kim. I loved every minute. Logan was too far....Texas?? *sigh* I miss you lady.