Halloween Costumes 2011

So last year I sewed Halloween costumes for the kids and blogged about it.

This year I sewed costumes for them again. Jr. was Luke Skywalker, Nichole was Princess Leia, and Jr. Jr. was an Ewok (most probably Wicket).

I sewed the Jedi robe, Princess Leia dress, and Wicket hood. Nichole's wig is made from yarn. I got the idea from the October 2010 issue of FamilyFun Magazine.

Since I spent all my time making costumes for the kids, I didn't spend much time thinking how to dress up myself. I do like dressing up. So yesterday, I thought about my ruthlessness way back when and how I hadn't gotten rid of the Mrs. Claus coat. I thought if I put that coat on and carried a pizza sheet (let's call it a cookie sheet) to put candy on to hand out, it would work for a costume. When I told Jeremy that, he said he could dress up as an elf. So we had theme costumes, too.

And do you like our pumpkin Jeremy carved, er... I mean sculpted?

Happy Halloween.

Dia de los Muertos

Besides Halloween, Day of the Dead is coming up. We had some friends over to celebrate and they brought activities for the kids to do. One was paper masks for the kids to color and cut out. Aren't they cute? In a creepy skeletony sort of way?

National Oatmeal Day 2011

Need a reason to celebrate today? It's National Oatmeal Day. Mmmm, breakfast. And I think most oatmeal containers have a recipe for Oatmeal Cookies on the back. We would be making oatmeal cookies today if our shortening wasn't so old. But it is and we can't make it to the store today to get more.
Other ideas. Oatmeal is supposed to be good for your skin. As a scrub for your face or your hands.
What are some creative uses for oatmeal you can think of? Or how do you like to flavor your bowl of oatmeal in the morning? This morning I added sugar and coconut. Often I'll do brown sugar. Sometimes I'll put in cinnamon or raisins. There are so many possibilities (or you can get the already flavored packets of oatmeal).

Buckle Down and Get to Work?

I had very good intentions to buckle down and get to work. I even wore my "buckle down and get to work clothes." Unfortunately my body said, "No, you're going to have a cold instead." Jr. Jr. got a cold, too, and had vaccinations which made him uncomfortable and clingy. So even when I felt like doing things, it was hard. Oh well. That's life, isn't it?
Jeremy was sweet and asked if he could get something for me. I asked for tea. My adorable husband. This is what he brought me.

I thanked him and clarified that I would like some herbal tea, which he made for me while I ate the bread. I'm glad that even when I'm sick, I still have my sense of humor.

Joy Is...

listening to your kids laugh as they look at The Balloon Gal's Blog.

Like Mother Like Son

The things you catch your kids doing.

I wonder where they learn half these things.

Our New Pet

Meet our new pet. She's a venus fly trap and we were able to feed her three flies and a ladybug within the first four days of having her. She is awesome. Everyone has had a chance to see her traps clap shut on bugs (except maybe Jr. Jr.) and we're having fun.

Buckle Down and Get to Work Clothes

It is time to put on my "buckle down and get to work clothes." Do you have clothes like that? The clothes you put on when you are really going to get to cleaning, organizing, just working hard. The clothes that when you're wearing them you're determined not to let unimportant things distract you. Ignore facebook, ignore blogging, do NOT ignore the kids, but ignore movies and the internet. The clothes you're not afraid to get dirty. Those clothes.

And thanks, Jr., for taking the picture.

We just got back from a trip to Idaho to visit friends. These are some of those friends we know we'll be friends with forever. We were friends before any of us were married. Our two oldest children have been best friends since birth. And all of the kids love each other.

It was sooooo nice and so relaxing to be there. But now that we're back, now that vacation is over, it is time to get things done. It is time to get away from the distractions and really buckle down and get to work. And that's why I'm wearing my "buckle down and get to work clothes."
Bye.

Ouch!

Watch out 'cause this little boy is looking sharp.

Catch of the Day

The Newest Form of Popular Entertainment

It's not an exciting new video game console, it's not a gigantic new HD-TV.

It's the new clothes dryer.

And it's about as fun as watching clothes dry. Which for certain little kids is quite fun (especially when it means they don't have to be in bed while Mom's taking pictures).

One of Those Days

You know those days when everything is just difficult? The kids are disobedient and disrespectful, when you ask them to do something, they whine, "I can't," or just flat out refuse. You don't feel like you can get anything done. A million people are asking you to do something, you can't even get a minute to breathe. By the time dinner is done, you're so exhausted you can't even think of doing anything else and you just want to send the kids to bed, but of course they refuse again so you take what little energy you have to wrestle their pajamas on them and shove a toothbrush in their mouth, drag them to their beds, all the while feeling like running to your room to hide in a closet until they stop calling for you and fighting with each other. You know those days?

Today was not one of those days.

Nichole was very good about doing her homework after school. Jr. helped with dinner and cleaning and setting the table, as well as playing a game with Nichole that was part of her homework. Both kids ate dinner without complaining (much). Both kids cleaned up their dishes, Jr. helped with Jeremy's and mine. I had energy after dinner, thanks to the kids, so Nichole and Jr. Jr. played in the living room while Jr. and I started making brownies. After a while Nichole and Jr. Jr. joined us, Jr. Jr. hanging out in his high chair/booster seat while Nichole finished her homework and Jr. and I finished making brownies.

I'll admit the kids did get a little too silly while we tried to do scripture study and eat brownies at the same time. We had to cut it short, but we still did some and consistency is important. I just had to remind myself they're little kids, they have energy (and sugar), they had been very helpful so far, and they just needed time to be silly and have fun.

I gave them time to run around after scripture study then they did pretty well getting ready for bed. They still had energy and were being silly when it was time to get them settled down for sleeping, but I had a good attitude about it and that made a difference. Nobody went to sleep in tears and that is something to be grateful for.
The kids were very helpful this afternoon/evening and I chose to enjoy their silliness later on instead of being annoyed and frustrated by it.
It was a good family afternoon/evening (even though Jeremy was at work for most of it- though he did take care of the baby while I was making dinner and Nichole and Jr. were doing Nichole's homework).

P.S. Jr. Jr. tried to be really helpful at one point. Right after I finished unloading the dryer, he grabbed some clothes from the dirty clothes basket and started putting them in the dryer. Tee Hee. I love my kids.

Isabella and the Scary Dream

Jeremy recently performed a story at a local library using balloon sculptures and volunteers. Here are a few of the characters from "Isabella and the Scary Dream."
Left- Wolf Man
Back- Bat
Right- Pumpkin Head Person

What Happened to My Fall?

Wait! I'm not ready for Fall to be over. We haven't even had a chance to go out looking at the Fall colors yet.

A few days ago, we had the swamp cooler on. Jr. went out wearing short sleeves and flip flops.

A couple days ago, we had the windows open wide to feel the nice cool air coming in.

Yesterday, Nichole had to wear a heavy coat to school and there was snow up in the hills.

We warmed our big comforter in the dryer and the kids and I snuggled under it while doing scripture study.

This morning we put in a new furnace filter and turned the heater on for the first time this season.

It's too early. I want my Fall back.

Catch of the Day

I heard something under my chair but didn't think anything of it until I got up to switch laundry.
That box of tissues was almost completely full before Jr. Jr. got to it.

My Favorite Parts of General Conference

Besides the wonderful speakers and the talks that were answers to prayers, here are some of my favorite parts from this General Conference:

Conference Pancakes

You know how we like doing shaped pancakes to celebrate certain holidays or events. Jeremy made C's, T's, R's, and shields to remind us to Choose The Right.

Singing With the Choir

As soon as the Primary choir and congregation started singing "Praise to the Man," the kids immediately joined in. This is one of the songs the Primary is learning this year.

Visiting Friends

Sunday, we got together with some friends we haven't seen in years. The kids immediately hit it off and after lunch they had a great time playing together while the adults watched the afternoon session.

It was a good Conference weekend.

Learning Something New

Did you know that you can bend water with a balloon without them touching? I didn't. Then I did.

Before

After

Just like when you rub a balloon on your head and it makes your hair stand up you can do the same with water. Rub the balloon on your head then bring it close to a small steady stream of water.
Cool, huh? We learned this one from FamilyFun.