Halloween

I had so much fun making the kids costumes this year! Admittedly, they are all the same basic pattern (I made it up) with some details added to each. Ayla's unicorn costume probably took the longest because of the mane, but Kellen's adorable chipmunk one took about all of 20 minutes to complete! We had so much fun doing this photo shoot with Ashley here in Abilene. The kids were so cute and she got a ton of great pictures with great lighting.
I love these kids.
When I have a bad day and reflect after they have gone to bed.... I realize how lucky I am. 

Sometimes I make the wrong choice and yell at them when I really shouldn't. But overall, we all get along fabulously!

We invited the Wicked Witch into our house after Halloween this year, and it worked out great! The kids get just way too much candy, and I end up eating it over and over again... so we started inviting the WW. The kids pick out 15-20 of their favorite pieces of candy, and the rest goes into one bag. They hide it somewhere, and leave a note for the WW. She has to find it and takes it with her, and then she leaves a little gift. This year she left walkie talkies (or Honkey tonkies as Colton calls them!). And a note... it was fun!

Something for me

This week, I had big plans to finish a couple projects for some people we are visiting with over the next 2 months... and I didn't (yet) get any of them done! 

I have however made a couple things for me! Inspired by my favorite clothing designer, Andrea at  Gaia Conceptions , but unable to afford anything quite yet... I made my own! Here is my version of the Love me two times below the knee skirt/dress. I saved about $70!! 

I can't say that I got it perfect, but it is VERY comfy, and oh so versatile! It is a longer strapless dress, a shorter strapless dress, or just a skirt with a folded over waistband (below).

I even made another of the same version the next day... it is all brown and made from a little bit different knit, so I might have to fix it before our trip.

But then, I probably wouldn't get the other little projects I want to get done, done.... we will see what wins out!

Also, we are in the process of getting our house refinanced, so that is a big deal for us! We are going from a 6.5% rate to a 4.5%!!! So excited for that. But it does require a bit of paperwork to be done, so that will be fun while we are on the road!

PLUS, I am trying to get all registered to take some classes in the fall. I think I have done most of the legwork needed, but who knows... I am trying hard to just make it happen and quit putting it off. If I start school now, and get a bunch of the prerequisites done, I might be able to start nursing school in fall of 2013! We will see if that actually happens too, though!

The kids are excited to start school when they get back (RIGHT when we get back!) but right now, all they can think about is our trip. Colton is trying to imagine his birthday party, and wrap his mind around all the things we are doing on our way to Oregon, and what we are going to do when we get there. It will be busy, and fun. 

Soren is crawling all over the place, and finally discovered the stairs, so gates are once again in our lives. Too bad they aren't the nice ones we made in Montana. I loved those gates... most of the time!

So I think I am deciding to NOT blog while I am on "vacation". It will be hard to do anyways from the Ipad, so I think I will just let it go, and then fill in the blanks when we get back. But do not worry... it is only 2 months. I will probably do one more post before we leave though.


FYI:: I am back on Facebook, but I promise not to be on there too much!

Truthful Tuesday:: the craft room

This is where some magic happens... and many many messes! 

In order to just get that one last thing done, sometimes I resort to handing scrap fabric and scissors! But really, I tend not to craft much when the littles are awake... except during "quiet (movie) time". 

Right now, in the works are a bunch (32) bibs that are so thick and nice, some reversible pants, flag banners, (all for a craft show) and some Christmas presents. 

Whats going on in your craft space? 

The babies bouncer is usually occupied by the cat... I had to coax him off to put the sleeping baby there!

Some things for the littles

These are a couple things I have been working on in the last few weeks... and there are even more to come, however crazy that sounds! Little babe has not made an appearance as of yet, but my parents are coming to stay with us, starting today, so maybe that peace of mind will send me into labor?

I found this pattern in what is quickly becoming one of my favorite books to get little people patterns from:: Meg McElwee's Growing Up Sew Liberated. I absolutely love how it turned out! It is in a 0-6 month size, and it looks a little big around the neck, but I think it will do just fine! The little pilot hats are from Meg's website, and were so easy to make (once I had all the necessary materials), and I made two for us and one for cousin Elin.

And these are the pants I made for baby Elin. The moment we found out she was a "she" I set to work on these.  I love them. And I hope Elin's mommy does too. (I know they are pink on one side, but it is a cute polka dotty pink!)

Hope everyone's Wednesday is going well.
Anything particularly inspiring out there?
Yesterday, during our science expedition on our walk, the kids had such a great time finding the differences in trees! They happily ran to each tree, and said how the bark was soft or rough, the leaves were big or small, pokey or flat, etc. It was a great "lesson" and I felt like we learned something, even it was just observations. (School is going great for now, by the way!)

::The last two weeks in projects::

These last two weeks I have been busy making some things on my "project list". I keep said list with birthday presents, holiday presents, new baby presents, and especially Christmas presents carefully selected from my random craft books (mostly sewing or knitting). I don't however always get all of the projects done, but it is nice to have a list to look at and check off!

First, I used a pattern out of Handmade Home by Amanda Soule to make the baby sling. It is made out of good quality muslin, and lets just say, I love it! It is so soft and simple, and I can't wait to put baby in it!

Next, I finally finished my homemade "boppy", or nursing pillow. This fabric I bought a couple years ago off of Etsy, and I have been saving for the perfect project. It is thicker, which I thought would come in handy. I stuffed it with bamboo stuffing and I think it will work well. This is from the book Simple Sewing for Baby, by Lotta Jansdotter. I know with my other babies, I would use my boppy on and off, but it all depends on how much time I had to nurse!

Then I finally finished this project! It was started when Kellen was a wee one, and I just finished the knitting part last December. It is called a baby bean bag from Essential Baby by Debbie Bliss. I love the feel of it, and think an infant would love the texture. I just have to find something to fill it with. I don't really want to use the beanbag beads, but will if i have to. Any suggestions?


Here is me knitting this with Kellen in my lap last June!

I also transformed a nightgown my mom had given me into a cute little nightgown for Ayla. I love it, and so does she! It was intended for her birthday (wish is a little over 2 weeks away!?), but she saw it and begged, and of course, I caved in. I plan to make another just for her birthday with different trim. I handmade this bias tape with some seahorse fabric I had (pink of course!) and kind of just made the pattern as I went. It was fun!Before

and After::

Finally, I made some cute little burp cloths last night for baby. I just took some rectangles of birdseye fabric, doubled it up and added some biased tape. Basic pattern from this book also. I had noticed that some of the ones I have, that I made for some of the other kids smelled of rotten milk.... yuck!
Here is me and baby at 35 weeks and a couple days... time is moving fast!

Decisions, Decisions

This week was a week of tough decisions for us (me, really). Well, only one actually.

Even though I thought I really wanted this little boy to start school....We decided that we would homeschool this year. At least give it a good try. I just got to thinking how hard it was going to be to get the three, soon to be four kids, ready EVERY morning, Monday through Friday. To be out the door by 7:30am, with four kids!!
(they look completely innocent, but REALLY, they can be monsters at times!)
Now don't get me wrong, people actually are able to accomplish this. I however, don't think I am up for the task.

I have contemplated homeschooling for awhile now... and thought I didn't have the patience for it. Which I might not... however, I do believe that it will come. And I get to wake up whenever the baby (or babies) wake me up... not by 6:30 every morning to make sure they all have enough time to get up and dressed and out the door.

Really, it is Colton that hates the morning. That kid would sleep in till 10 if we let him. He doesn't like to go to bed early either... so I think this will work for us. Besides it is kindergarten, and we have the option to put him in school next year.

Oh, and if Tyler happens to get deployed soon (not that he is, but it could happen) then I would have the option to head back to Oregon. Which would be nice to have help during that time.

In the meantime, we are awaiting baby number four. I am finishing up some projects:: I made a nice sling for him, and finished a bean bag pillow (just need filler for it). Also, knitting some cute little vests and gnome hats for Halloween... next up is a knitted wolf hat and mittens and maybe tail for Colton for Halloween. Ayla is wanted to be Little Red Riding Hood (which all happen to tie in together kind of) so I will be hopefully making her a cape for her birthday. I have plans to make her an outfit for her birthday, but that girl has so many clothes, that I might hold off and save it for Christmas!
My project list is pretty long, and who knows how much I will actually get checked off before the babe comes, but it sure is nice to check them off.
OH, speaking of checking things off a list... check out this blog post over here. I ordered this app for our IPod touch, and so far, so good! Nice to be able to gold star finished tasks :)

Just in case anyone asks... we are going to use the Oak Meadow Curriculum for Colton and Ayla (why not, right?). I found a smoking good deal for a used set of K-3rd grade on Craigslist, so I went for it. I have a feeling Colton will be ready for the 1st grade stuff. This kid is chomping at the bit to read!

Just a few things...

I found this awesome chair at Salvation Army for $8.75! It matches perfectly to a desk I picked up a bit ago, and it is comfy to boot! I also scored an old dairy container, that says "Greig's Dy Kalispell" painted green - totally awesome to remind us of this wonderful place when we have to move.

(he is thinking, "Will Mom notice if I grab for the kitty? I don't think so!!!")

For some reason, I have been away from here. Kellen has been teething, so not a whole lot of sleeping going on (well, continuous sleep anyway), crafting has been done, physical therapy is gone to three times a week, and we are all anxiously awaiting hearing about our next assignment. Among other things.
I guess the simple answer is that I have been avoiding the computer for the most part other than a check in here or there. And that is okay.

But here are some updates::
Ayla started school with Colton, and so far (after two weeks) we are EXTREMELY happy with our decision. Colton has opened up at school and actually is talking to his teachers (he had not said a word to anyone there for the whole schoolyear!!!) Ayla is absolutely loving going and learning... I think she is going to be one of those kids that just loves school (I was that way as a kid). So... we feel like it has been a very positive thing. Also, I get to spend two whole days (9-3) with Kellen. I think he really likes that part :)

I finally got out my sewing machine. I put it away before Christmas, and it has been sitting in my closet, not even calling my name. And then the first day Ayla went to school, I thought to myself "Kellen needs a blanket that can be attached to him that will keep him covered at night." And this is what I came up with. No, this doesn't help his little icicle paws in the wee hours of the night, but it does make my mind rest at ease when I don't have to worry about the blanket being on his face or him being cold! (we just started knocking the heat setting down to 62 every night).I think it turned out fabulous. It seems to serve it's purpose, and it is really cute! Can't go wrong with that, right? I used what I had on hand, and the inside is wonderful organic fleece - so soft!!

The kids have been really into art projects, and I thought I would try one that Heather mentioned. The kids seemed to like the process, but after we pulled off the tape, Colton wanted to paint the white space! Ha! I love this picture though... my little goofballs.

My Shalom Sweater

How cute is this little guy?! He is the sweetest little boy, even as he is teething!

A couple weeks ago, I decided it was my turn for a sweater. And every since Amanda Soule blogged about her first and second Shalom sweater, I knew that I had to try it. So a couple weekends ago, I got some fabulous butternut squash colored yarn and started in.
After I was this far, I tried it on and discovered that, alas, it was too small over my chest. So it was unraveled.... sad but true. It was hard to do, but I realized it was better than completing it and then discovering it was too small... so I have come to terms with it. Kind of.I have restarted and added 15 extra cast on stitches, we will see how it turns out :: so far so good!

the pattern is free here! The pattern is actually pretty easy, and even though it was small at the fitting, I found it to be completely adorable! Try it. Really.

My love for crafting

I have a confession:: I love to make things. It is usually a problem. Well, maybe not a problem... just an obsession. I would say on any given day that you would find me having a few treasured moments to add some stitches here, or cut out a pattern there. It brings me joy. It brings me peace.
I read a beautiful post today over at Shivaya Naturals (by the lovely Heather) and it made me think. Why do I craft? And do I really have the time? So this is what I came up with.I craft, mostly, to keep my sanity. I feel like I can totally immerse myself in my craft of choice and come out on the other side more relaxed. AND, I also craft because I love that I can figure things out and make something with my own two hands... and I like to think that I am pretty good at it. I REALLY love seeing my finished product and giving it to someone who will use it. But my favorite, is seeing my kids (or husband or myself) wearing something I have made (or using it). It fills my heart with joy and accomplishment. Luckily my husband is very supportive and seems to appreciate my craftiness. He doesn't usually appreciate the mess quite as much, but he knows it is a necessity :)To answer the question of "do I really have the time?", I find that I make time for this. Every spare second I have, I find myself reaching for my knitting or gravitating toward my lovely sewing machine. I also don't deep clean any of the house on a regular basis. I surface clean and use the theory of stacking, but I leave the serious cleaning to a whirlwind cleaning bug or to my husband! I do cook on occasion... no, I cook everyday. But dinner time menu is my nemesis. I am constantly looking for a good way to figure out dinner. It has been kind of nice these last couple of weeks to not have to think about it too much (my husband did most of that!) So I guess it would be like those "other" people who spend their free time working out or cleaning. Now, I think they are crazy! Just kidding.Often, I get the comment, "You must be so busy".... and I have to admit, I am. I have 3 kids that require a lot of time and attention, I have a husband who I adore and try to spend as much time as I can with, I love to read, I love to blog and read other blogs, I have lots of outdoor activities I enjoy, and I love to knit and sew. Of course I am busy. And I wouldn't want it any other way.


Here is the new sweater vest I made for Kellen. I think it is the most adorable little thing. Usually we don't put a sweater over PJ's, but it is pretty cute anyways.

Some Random Stuff and Shops I love

Colton's kitty drawing (his first one!)

Pretzel fun

I made this hat for Bianca while she was here... love it!! (Remember it?)

I thought I would share with you some of the shops around this whole internet thing that I love and wish I could frequent. Also ones that will help me fulfill my goals. My criteria for most shops is that local is best (I consider Oregon and Montana local), green is a must (for most things), and I TRY to pay attention if it is made in the US.

So here goes:
CLOTHING
Gaia Conceptions (Etsy is a WONDERFUL place to find small local companies that are AWESOME)
Kate Quinn Organics
Happy Green Bee
Little Lark (Portland)
Hannah Andersson
Abe's Market
Sweetgrass
Earth Creations
Wooly Baby
Handfull (Eugene)
Blue Corduroy (California)
SheShePDX (Portland)
Starry Knight Designs (Montana)

JEWELRY::
Seaworthy :) (Portland)
Lisa Leonard
Eager Hands

TOYS::
Natural Family Supplies
The Enchanted Cupboard
Little Sapling Toys (ID and UT)
Natural Earth Farm and Fiber
Imagine Childhood

ART SUPPLIES::
Natural Family Supplies
Stubby Pencil Studio (Portland)

NATURAL FAMILY CARE::
Natural Family Supplies
LuSa Organics
Winkydinks

CRAFT::
A Little Sweetness (Seattle)

And I know I am forgetting a whole bunch of shops that I love, but maybe I will just expand on this as I remember them!

My knee

Don't you just love this? The snowflakes were made as a family all day on Sunday. Colton made the most and seemed to really get the concept down! Such an improvement from last year! It was fun, and the look is just magical. We hung them up on the ceiling all over downstairs, and it just looks so neat. You should o do it!

i know, i know... all I ever talk about is my knee! But first! Look at this CUTE hat that I knitted for a special recipient... it only took a day (it is chunky fabric) and it is about the cutest thing! I am in love with it! Now on to this one for someone else. Yeah, I do a lot of knitting in bed. But that is a big part of my life right now! I am stuck in bed, keeping it elevated or in machine that bends and unbends it most of the day! Not exactly fun. Plus, I can't put any weight on it for 3 more weeks.
Yesterday, Tyler had to do some stuff for work all day, so he left at 730 in the morning, and didn't make it home until 445pm! Good thing, my wonderful neighbor and friend, Becca, came over for most of the day! But I was alone with the kids for a couple hours throughout the day, and it didn't actually go too bad.
My knee seems to be pretty sore now, since the swelling is going down and I can feel more in there. I just have to look at the big picture and remember that my knee will finally be awesome. I haven't had an ACL in 14 years! My meniscus has been torn since June, and the cartilage thing..., I have no idea!