31: sew/craft something

I chose a craft because my sewing machine needs repaired. My craft project was a Valentine shirt for Elle. I saw this idea in the Disney family magazine. I already had the shirt and paint so it only cost $1.88 for the doilies. I put a piece of paper inside the shirt and then centered the doily on the shirt. I used one of Elle's paint brushes to dab paint over the lacy part of the doily. Then I peeled the doily off and let it dry. It took maybe 5 minutes.

In other valentine news here's a special snack I made Elle. I love the muffin tin food ideas, but hadn't done one yet. For a valentine theme I used pink yogurt melts, strawberries, marshmallows, mozzarella cheese cubes, mini pepperoni, and a mini heart nutella sandwich.

change my diaper change

Sorry it's been so quiet around here the last couple of weeks. Elle's been out of school, she decided to start using the big potty, the students moved in, baby boy is growing like a weed and therefore using a lot more energy, and I went through all of Elle's old clothes and have been prepping for the Just Between Friends sale. Needless to say it's been busy!

If you wondered where I was, I was in the bathroom. A LOT. Baby boy's on my bladder all the time anyway, and two weeks ago today Elle decided peanut M'&'M's were a great motivator for using the toilet. She's done fantastic! I couldn't have asked for an easier transition. And I'm so happy it's before baby brother gets here. I was getting nervous! She doesn't even want to use the little potty except as a stool to sit on the big one. We've visited many of the toilets in the building to keep her interested, but I don't care as long as we're moving away from diapers. She's even been out on errands in her big girl panties and done great! The little tin of M'&'M's in purse helps. She's still in a diaper for sleeping, but it's a major improvement. The only negative is I'm becoming a germaphobe and will be investing in some hand sanitizer. It's also been a little bittersweet as the bear bag contents are changing again. First, you're lugging a suitcase with everything imaginable, then you can downsize to a few things. Now we're adding fewer diapers and more pull-ups.

Sunday the kids moved back into OSSM and started the new school year. Chris had already worked 52 hours by yesterday morning, but we've had a good week. Most of the kids seem tired, but excited. Elle has really opened up a lot more and is excited to have the girls around. Mops is doing okay. Elle and I made these cards to welcome our old girls back and the new girls to 1st floor.



I've also decided to volunteer (and 20 hrs at that!) at JBF this year for a couple of reasons. I wanted to get the most for my money from the clothes I consigned, I may not get to next time with a new baby, and I'll have two to shop for this time. It's been very bittersweet to get rid of Elle's clothes. I recently read the book "It All Goes Back in the Box" by John Ortberg for a class at church and it's helped me to focus on the fact that it's just stuff. Chris commented he couldn't even remember Elle wearing half of it. We did save a tub for her special things, but the closet is looking a lot better. And I got on the perfect inspection list this time so I'm hoping to stay on it and save a bunch of time dropping off next sale.

We've also been trying to avoid the heat. Here's a pic of what Elle's been up to.

momma & me: adventure 5

Taylor visit!

Thursday afternoon my sister Michelle brought her kids, Derek and Ruby to the city for a visit. We met up at my cousin Emily's house for some visiting, playing, and ice cream. Then we headed to swim lessons and finally made it back to our house that evening. This was their first time spending the night with us so it was very exciting to have them over. Friday morning we braved the heat and went back to the zoo so they could see the baby elephant, but we didn't really see much else because we headed straight for the waterway. I think Ruby enjoyed it the most! The afternoon consisted of lunch and naps.



That evening we took them to the science museum, but got there with only 45 minutes left. We still had a good time, but they'll have to come back. Then we headed to Coit's, a root beer stand, for some yummy food and root beer in frosted mugs.

An aside: We also had to go to Target and exchange the air mattress I had just bought because it had a hole in it, which unfortunately Michelle and the kids didn't discover until the middle of the night. This coincided with a phone call from Chris, but while I was talking to him Elle decided she needed to look at the bras and kept saying "oh how so cute!". I think Chris may have had a slight coronary, but I couldn't stop laughing. But I digress...



Friday night the kids enjoyed baths, popcorn, and a movie, and phone calls to Daddies before bed.

Saturday my mom and Casey drove over for a Stampin Up! workshop. A couple of friends joined us and we made some really cute cards.

repurposing

We've been trying to cut down on expenses so we're getting rid of our storage unit. Part of this process is purging a lot of stuff. This has made me realize you should take into consideration how much it will cost you to get rid of something before you get it. Anyway, I have a suitcase that my dad gave me that was my great-grandmother's, but it's been in storage because I didn't have something to use it for. But since it has to come out of storage it needs to be useful. So it is has been turned into Elle's "dress-up" case. It's now full of old costumes and other goodies and fits nicely under her bed.

Cute Valentine's and Derek's Cowboy Birthday

Derek's Birthday Party (My sister and her family did such an awesome job!)







"Bear Hugs" Elle got from one of her classmates (teddy grahams & hugs candy)


Elle's Valentines for her class and teachers

Stampin!

My new hobby is stamping and card making. These are a few recent creations:

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat!

We got a little break from the students during Thanksgiving when they were gone for a week. Before they left a student asked Chris if the cafeteria was open while they were gone. Chris said no. The student then asked in all seriousness: "How do you eat?" We have realized that a lot of the students don't fully appreciate that this is our home. Not just temporary. Mops had a set back not having any kids around for a week so I'm a little worried about how she'll be after they're gone for 2 1/2 weeks. The kids are in the midst of finals. They started on Friday and have two a day until Wednesday. Chris had to give his final on Saturday morning, but so far he hasn't heard any complaints. They also don't have finals today (Sunday) so I guess they get a little break. I think it's a pretty rough week, but the parents and school provide snacks in the evenings to try and keep their spirits up. They've also been turning on the fire places in the great hall, which makes it feel warm and cozy. We had a little party last Tuesday for our floor. The pic is of the tile/coasters I made for the girls. The difficult part about being here is the fact that this is a public school and being sensitive to the fact that many of the kids may not celebrate Christmas. We've loved being in OKC this year for Christmas! The lights around the city, the BC Clark song, and cooler temps make it seem so festive. We are so excited about Christmas with Elle this year. She's been helping me wrap presents, by being in charge of the tape. Most of it gets in the right spot. Seems so funny to think last year she could walk or talk at this time. We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! I'm going to end this post with a section from one of the Little House on the Prairie books, which I think is really nice.

"Do you know what Pa wants for Christmas?" They did not know. "Horses," Ma said. "Would you girls like horses?" Laura and Mary looked at each other. "I only thought," Ma went on, "if we all wished for horses, and nothing but horses, then maybe--"Laura felt queer. Horses were everyday; they were not Christmas. If Pa got horses, he would trade for them. Laura could not think of Santa Claus and horses at the same time. "Ma!" she cried. "There is a Santa Claus, isn't there?" Of course there's a Santa Claus," said Ma. She set the iron on the stove to heat again. "The older you are, the more you about Santa Claus," she said. "You are so big now, you know he can't be just one man, don't you? You know he is everywhere on Christmas Eve. He is in the Big Woods, and Indian Territory, and far away in York State, and here. He comes down all the chimneys at the same time. You know that don't you?" "Yes, Ma," said Mary and Laura...Then Ma told them something else about Santa Claus. He was everywhere, and besides that, he was all the time. Whenever anyone was unselfish that was Santa Claus. Christmas Eve was the time when everybody was unselfish. On that one night, Santa Claus was everywhere, because everybody, all together, stopped being selfish and wanted other people to be happy. And in the morning you saw what that had done. "If everybody wanted everybody else to be happy, all the time, then would it be Christmas all the time?" Laura asked, and Ma said, "Yes, Laura." (Laura Ingalls Wilder, On the Banks of Plum Creek)