Happy Thanksgiving!

Ready, set, sew.........

I finished the kid's pjs! I finished Ripstick Boy's last weekend and Curly Girl's today. They both LOVE them!
The only ones I didn't get to....haven't even cut out are mine but they can wait until January.

Eight pair of pj bottoms for RB...


He doesn't like tops anymore so he just wears undershirts or no top at all....

I cut these all out when I made the Halloween pjs. He had grown so much between those couple of weeks, that I couldn't even put a real hem in!
Yikes! He went from an XL in boys to a S/M in MEN'S in 2 weeks!

Curly Girls stash.....pj bottoms, nightgowns and complete pjs...



The only thing with CG is that she started in on the 'customizing' thing where she had me cut sleeves on some, made waist bands shorter on some........it was crazy. I could have saved a bunch of fabric if I had known........I'll be sure to keep that in mind next time....BEFORE I cut the fabric!

Now that I'm on a roll.....I need to move on to the next category 'APRONS."

Leo's love affair

Leo's love affair with water continues. I don't think he is a mini lion, he is a mini tiger!
I've blogged about his antics with the waterer here and here.

He hasn't moved on, he is just ADDING to his obsession.

Here he is peeking out of the kid's shower:



Here he is sitting in the water while Curly Girl dries off!



Whenever the kids shower, he runs between the curtain and liner and chases the water droplets as they run down the liner. He does that with the glass shower too, it is so funny.

And here he is looking forlorn....his lovely water is draining away...but he will just sit in the tub until it is all gone....

Let's share...

To commemorate this day of the beginning of the frantic traverse across the states by vehicle, I will share with you with a little story. Then you can share your story...best, worst, funniest, grossest.....you get the picture.

After Christmas, when Curly Girl was about 5 or 6 years old, we were traveling home from Florida.
Curly Girl has allergies.
Actually Curly Girl has BAD allergies.
On this particular trip, she had allergies AND a cold.
Allergies + cold = snot. Lots and lots of it.
Get the picture?

The story goes like this:

We make a pit stop and grab some food.
Curly Girl and I are in the line at the ladies room.
Curly Girl sneezes. It is a BIG sneeze.
Curly Girl says in her sweet little voice "mommy, I need a tissue" so I gave her one.
Then Curly Girl again says, "I need another tissue mommy."
So I gave her one. She did this 3 more times. The last time I said "you don't need another one honey, there isn't anything there (as in on her face.)

Then the lady in line in front of us says "IT'S ON MY FOOT."
And there is was....a big green goober on the side of her foot. (She was wearing flip flops.)

Ah, yes, the joys of wiping your daughter's snot off a strangers foot with a tissue while in line in a public bathroom.

Curly Girl got all teary. The lady was NOT happy. (can you blame her?)
I said in my best mommy voice. (as I am wiping the goober off this stranger's foot.) "Oh honey, people know these things happen, its okay." "Afterall, you didn't do it on purpose."
Curly Girl cried anyway. I apologized to the lady but I don't think it mattered at that point.

Meanwhile, I was trying REALLY hard not to wet my pants. I mean.....I was howling inside....I bet that poor lady went home and boiled her foot.


Your turn......

Sassy Holiday Apron Swap

I participated in Lucy's last apron swap of the year....the Holiday swap.

My secret partner is Lucy's best friend so she gave me the inside scoop on her. She prefers 'old world' themes and colors and full aprons. She also doesn't really like bright colors. I learned (from blog snooping) that she participates in many Renaissance Festivals. With all that in mind, I set out to find the perfect fabric.
When I found these two, I snatched them up. A good thing I bought it right then....the next day they were both G O N E.

Since I know Vea MUST have one of Lucy's Sassy aprons, I couldn't exactly make her one with that same pattern. (which is my go to pattern for full aprons) Instead, I used one of my favorite aprons as a template and enlarged it for her. Instead of using the stag fabric as the 'main' fabric as I usually would, I used the paler harlequin fabric....trying to keep to her request of nothing too loud. I think the stag fabric gives just enough color to it.

I included the required cookie cutter and recipe....and also added a few other goodies. I've never looked for 'stag' ornaments before and let me tell you, there are some GORGEOUS ones out there. I stuck to something simple though as I didn't know her taste. For the bookmark, I researched the significance of the Stag in Medieval times which was really interesting.



Here is a close up of the applique I did:



I hope she likes it!

I've THINGS TO DO!

T'was the month before Christmas, I'm all in a tizzy
I've things to do! I MUST get busy
Some gifts are made, wrapped and ready to go
But others are not....I've been moving too slow!

The jars for the bath salts came in awhile back
They really are perfect, the salts they just lack
But those I will make some evening real soon
They smell so lovely, they'll make you swoon.

The pjs are cut out, some aprons are too
The yarn that I ordered came in... WOO HOO!
Its GORGEOUS I tell you, it really should be
It cost me a fortune
I'll use it for who?

.....NOT ME!

Well, just to be honest, now, this is the truth,
I bought DOUBLE the yarn for me

....AND you-hoo.

Now, don't turn your nose up, cause you'd do it too
The things she likes, well, I like too!

It will be cozy, it will be warm
It will scream "FASHION, FUNCTION and FORM!"
The others will also like what they get
But SHE will squeal, (on that, I'll bet!)

She says things like 'sweet-ums' and 'baby'
And 'muffins of love' (I swear, she's not crazy)
The things she says, they crack me up....
And she says them all to her horses and pup!

Now, off to my craft room, I'll be sewing soon
Enough with this chit chat.
I've THINGS TO DO!

Field Trip!

"Strike a Pose....."
I swear this guy knew ALL about cameras. He waited until you pulled one out and then would straighten up and give you his 'good side.'
Then when the camera went away, he would pull on grass...until he saw the NEXT camera....



The last several years have not been good ones for Curly Girl and field trips!
She has missed so MANY.....once due to the flu, once due to a broken jaw, one was cancelled by the school and one was rained out!
Her brother has gone on several fun field trips but she always seemed to miss out. So yesterday, we were so HAPPY we were going on one together!!!!

We had such a great time........the weather could not have been any nicer!
The only thing we would have changed was to have had MORE TIME!

I took a TON of photos but realized later that they were of ALL the girls in my group and I don't want to post them without permission from their parents.

This guy seems to be saying 'What are YOU looking at?'



I love this photo.......the gator was covered in duck weed. When we walked around one side, his camouflage was so good, you couldn't even see him....amazing!




And in this photo, some Komodo Dragon was giving a ride to Curly Girl...you can see the real Komodo Dragon in the background striking the same pose.

Painted Panda

Here is Curly Girl's first painting!



I think she did a great job!

Curly Girl was nervous about using paint. Today, she took it to school to share and the prinicpal saw it as she was getting back in the car after school. After speaking with her a couple minutes, he came to the window and asked me if it was a paint by number.
When I said no, he was amazed and gave Curly Girl a big hug!

Ice Cream Cookies!

Last month I meant to post this but time got away from me so I thought I would do it today.

I make these Ice Cream Cookies each year for Christmas. They are soooo good!

Ice Cream Cookies

I DOUBLE THIS RECIPE!

6 tablespoons softened butter
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 beaten egg yolk (important)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
candied cherries

Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolk, vanilla and flour and mix will. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Press one half of a cherry into the center of each cookie.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. You'll get 30 cookies.

Several years ago, I started also making them at Halloween and shaping them into Monster Fingers. They look so creepy in the apothecary jar.....

For monster fingers:

add a couple drops of green food coloring into the dough. Then, using a smaller amount of the dough, form it into a cigarette shape. Then sort of squish it on the pan, using the cherry as the fingernail. Take a knife and make 4 little slashes where the knuckle would be.

Here is what they look like before being baked:



Bake the same way. You'll get 22-24 monster fingers.

Here is what they look like after!

Holiday Traditions.......

This time of year always makes me think of Holiday Traditions and I love to hear how other people celebrate the season.
I thought it would be nice to share our traditions with each other. Maybe we can 'borrow' each other's ideas and add a new tradition this year for our own families.

Here are a few of ours:

1. We try to find a holiday play...preferrably one cast with children.
In Fort Worth, we went to Casa Manana each year. One year, we went to see a Christmas program showcasing the Rockettes in Dallas.

While in OKC, we went to see a children's play and then afterwards, took in the lights at the Riverwalk. Last year, we went to a children's play in New Orleans. We always try to go to the showing closest to Christmas Eve.

2. Each year since the kids were born, I buy a new Christmas book and put it in a basket with the others, near the Christmas Tree. Then all through the month, we read them one by one...trying to get them all read by the end of the month!

3. We go out at least once and check out local Christmas light displays. We make hot cocoa, climb into Dean's SUV and drive around looking at Christmas lights. We try to go on a cold clear night....which was easier to do in OKC and DFW than here in Louisiana!

4. I make the kid's pjs each December. I make several pair and put them on their beds for them to dive into after school. They always get excited because they've been picking out fabric all year long so they usually have a lot of new pjs!

Then I make each one a special pair that I wrap up for them to open Christmas Eve.

So what are some of your Holiday Traditions...?

A Hot Mama apron for ME!

I got my Hot Mama apron from Christy!

YEAH! It is sooooooo cute.

It has wide, extra long ties so I can wrap it around me and tie a big bow in the front. The ruffle is so sweet with the ric rac added.
I've really enjoyed wearing it this week........it is VERY cute on!

Christy also included 5 beverage napkins, cocoa mix with a teensy whisk, an embellished tea towel and a tin of safety pins!

Thank you Christy!

Halloween.......

Curly Girl had an interesting class project this week.
They had listened to some music for her music class and then were to 'draw' death.
Of course, she drew an interpretation as only she could..........I love it.

Now a question to you, dear readers, can YOU see where "death" is?

Renaissance Festival...

A dear friend of mine had her son's 6th birthday party at the Ren Fair in Hammond this past Saturday.
We went and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dean and Ripstick boy were 'almost' convinced to dress up next year....after seeing Ethan and Rachael's outfits! They looked AMAZING!

Here, the birthday boy and friends are waling on the "Pirate Master" .......I think they won....

Notice Curly Girl and Ripstick Boy are just watching the frenzy! I think they were horrifed at how quickly the little ones took to beating the heck out of the guy!

AVAST!

Queen Elizabeth getting ready to 'Knight' all the kids!

Curly Girl taking a spin....

This guy was juggling fire, a real sword and an onion while rolling on a giant bouncy ball. And then he started eating the onion........



We took alot of photos but no clear ones of just Rachael and Ethan....so this one will have to do:

THE END.......

All tuckered out......

Here are my two little ghosties before they hit the streets with Dean.......they forgot their chains in the photos.......

And here they are in their new Halloween pjs I made them.........



Frank's Fingers......


And you gotta have a little bit of Ghoul-aid.......



Green little children walked from my door.
Candy again? Please no more!
Ghosties and goblins and witches all cried
We want to go home, we are all very tired..........

So I turned off the music , the lights are off too
I blew out the candles and said my last "BOO!"
The kids then sat on the couch with their loot
As I thought about making a nice cup of soup.

Here is hoping you had as much fun as we did.....
Until next Halloween... when we can ALL be a kid!