What would you do if you caught Santa at your house?
What if Santa go stuck in your chimney?
Do you want it to snow on Christmas? Why or why not?
Have you been naughty or nice this year? Why?
If Santa asked you to fly in his sleigh, would you do it?
What is your favorite Christmas movie?
If you could chance the color of Rudolph's nose what color would you make it?
Sing me one Christmas Carol (then note which song they picked and how they sung it. This could be funny because kids are always mixing up lyrics!).
Nikolai: 1. Um... ( 2. walking dinosaur bones 3. give him cookies 4. help him 5. yes, because I would like it snowing so we can throw snowballs and make a snowman. I haven't even done those things! 6. nice, because I love my friends and because my birthday is coming up! 7. yes 8. ninja turtles and Christmas 9. brown, because it's my favorite color 10. frosty the snowman, frosty the snowman, frosty the snowman.... (repeat for infinity lol)... Samara: 1. raphael purple and pink 2. pink present 3. give him my present 4. I don't know 5. yeah, because I throw snowballs at Kiera 6. good, because I want a candy 7. yeah! 8. 9. Leave it red 10.
I have not posted in a long while! I've been lucky to get through day to day! This thanksgiving, as the kids and I discuss the holiday we are also talking about being thankful for what we have and what we are given. Especially since the start of school, attempting to introduce my middle to letters (I think we are going to wait and focus on other things, like this), and the baby needing much attention and rarely sleeping, having the visual reminder of things we are thankful for is so important. The kids and I need it (ok, maybe mostly me), and it's been fun!
I did a simple 'kids thankful craft' search. There are so many ideas on pinterest for thankful trees, displays, banners, and even jars! I've decided to go with a banner, writing what we are thankful for on leaves printed from here done like what was done here.
But before we got started with the leaves, I needed an introduction. Teacher me coming out here. They really have no frame of reference for the Thanksgiving dinner. I don't think I have really talked about it with them directly. And if I did, they most likely do not remember. Especially my middle, after all she is only 3!
I reserved a lot of books from the library. Some that we have been using are: (each book is linked)
It's been a fun. We have been talking about:
-The First Thanksgiving and how the pilgrims were thankful for the help when they needed it
-How to be thankful when you don't have much and are given something (even when it might not bee what you specifically want) <-- This one is because we have a hard time with that, just thankful for generosity
-Finding things to be thankful for when you think there is nothing to be thankful for
-Saying thank you to people for more than just giving you things
-Being thankful for God's grace and love
So far, I love it. Writing and coloring on the leaves is so fun.
My favorite one to this date is my middle, "I'm thankful for my heart that beeps". I think that is the cutest thing!
My little boy so far is thankful for star wars characters. Ha!
It might not be the most glamorous of banners, but it is something we've been looking at and reading as a reminder. It's serving it's purpose. The leaves have some thing written on the front and the back...
And, what I am very thankful for, is that this has been said by one of my littles...
I'm hoping to make this a tradition. Or at least some variation of this every year. I'm not going to save the leaves though. That would be too much, and I trying to use craft supplies not change their shape.
We may have been in school for half a quarter already out here, but the rest of ya'll are getting ready for Back To School now! But it still feels like summer just began yesterday!
What I made:
My kindergartener has everything he needs for now, but I have started doing some preschool with my middle monkey. I decided to make something to carry her workbooks and coloring books in. She loves it, stole it from my hands as soon as I finished sewing the last seems (which means there are still a few threads to trim)!
It holds a couple coloring books and her favorite fat markers. Made like this one I did 4 years ago for my niece. only I realized I forgot the tab to keep it closed.
It folds like a book, and even though the markers are towards the center, they don't fall out!
My middle one loves the handles and so far it has accompanied her to school drop off all week!
The outer is recycled denim from husband's jeans and the inner/handles are quilting cotton. I did not use interfacing or a stabilizer. I measured a coloring book and hoped that a color wonder book would fit (she had gotten one for her birthday, but it needs to be a tad bit longer for the color wonder book! Don't you just love my 3 year old's coloring skills?
Check out the link up and sew along for an opportunity to win the grand prize, see what others are making, and get some inspirations! Sew Along and Link Up
check out these awesome sales and sponsors going on during the tour!
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Welcome to my stop on the One Thimble12 Blog Tour! Such amazing items sewn up!
I have a Brook Blossom Skirt from Orange Blossom sewn up to show you today, and I am super stoked at how it turned out! After running rampant with kindergarten having started and our schedules are so out of whack, I needed some self-care sewing! This pattern is available in kids sizes too!
I used the high-low hem view with the knee length hem view and I am loving this overlay skirt! I had inspiration from a skirt in the clothing section at our local Fry's (seriously, that store has everything) and thought this pattern lent itself perfectly for it.
The high low hem is sewn up using a sheer chiffon as an overlay and is super light. Perfect for our Arizona heat and still looking cute! And even though the outer fabric is a chiffon (I bought the fabric at walmart a while ago) The skirt was still cheaper than the sale on the skirt at fry's! So, my budget is happy!
The underskirt is a white something. I honestly don't know as I just pulled it out of my stash. Score for a double stash use!
The directions are easy to follow and lend itself to a well constructed skirt.
Something about skirts like this that make you want to twirl. It's so swishy, I love it! (don't mind my little photo bomber. my little man was taking pictures and I wasn't to focused on the little girl!)
Honestly, I did not understand the point to high low hem skirts. But it is too fun to wear. I cannot wait to wear it out! I feel so nice!
Check out these other awesome creations coming soon over the next week!
Jumping in on Sunday Lately today with the Blogger Tribe! It's been a few months since I last joined in! It's been a crazy!
This weeks themes are Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming, Expecting
Doing//
School. My oldest started kindergarten this last week and our days have been driving to and from school. He goes for only a few hours since we do half day kinder out here. We have not adjusted with naps or our eating schedule yet, especially since he goes in smack dab in the middle of the day! Ah, but I am still so excited! We've started practicing sight words as homework every night and he already knows 5/20 of his first quarter words! He has been segmenting well too (he did it on his own the other day!), and I am super proud of him! It's still new though, we will see how we go towards the end of the year when we've burned out on the crazy schedule! Ha!
Appreciating//
Family. I could not have caught up on cleaning, or preparing, for my middle one's birthday party the day before school started. My mom has been coming over to help with the baby's room (it's still not ready yet) and helped get things cleaned up and in order for the birthday party. For once we were fairly ready on time, aside from a few veggies getting cut up, we were set to go on time! For us, that rarely ever happens and it would not have been without my mom's help!
Designing//
The layout for the baby's room in my head. Where will I put everything? I'm just ready to get her out of my room. She wont fit in the bassinet of the pack 'n play for much longer.
Humming//
"it is well with my soul"
I'm sure there is something God is trying to tell me and I haven't figured it out yet if He keeps putting this song in my head. Until I figure out what it is I will continue to listen to Audrey Assad singing it... And perhaps look for a few more versions.
Expecting//
I have not relaxed this last week because of anticipation. Anticipation of time to leave for drop off/pick up, waiting for the next fit to ensue, the whining to start, the constant demands of "mommy, I want I want I want, need need need, mine mine mine, now now now" (in the voice of Dustin Hoffman as Hook). It's been too much and I cannot wait for my next get together with lady friends over dinner. Seriously it has been too long and I need the time with them! Now that we know a little more of what to expect with school, I'm hoping this dies down a little bit. But, I am going to 'try' to start preschool with Samara. I'm a little scared of this, she is my crazy 'spirited' child and only really listens to her daddy. So, we shall see.
Welcome to my stop on the Desert Island Sew tour by with Sew 20!
The prompt on this one had me thinking! Pretend you will be spending a few weeks alone on a desert island. You will only be allowed one sewing pattern but no limits on project supplies. What pattern would you take?
I actually had a hard time with this and debated between the Love Notions Willow Wrap Dress because I love the one I made after my daughter was born in February! Using a shorter sleeve option would be nice and I love the feel of the dress!
Then I thought about going with the GreenStyle Creations Centerfield Raglan. This is my all time favorite shirt for me, used so many times! And it is something I would wear when I got back from said time on the desert island.
Plus there are some modifications that I have been wanting to try using this as the basic starting point of the pattern, that only 2 weeks away from the kids would grant to the time to attempt!
I want to crop the sleeves to make a sleeveless look and hem or bind the underarm. Or forgo the sleeves and finagle a binding thing with buttons at the back, extend the bodice and add a circle, or half circle skirt....
Hope you all have had a fantastic summer; ours is almost over! We start school in 5 days! So exciting for kindergarten for little man! But, it sure is hot! We are so thankful for our monsoon season!
1. What 2 things do you like to do outside in the summer?
Nikolai// Have a picnic and play, have friends when we play outside, (added after hearing Samara) fly a kite
Samara// Fly a kite, eat carrots
2. If you could go anywhere this summer, where would you go and why?
Nikolai// Back to the house that has stairs where we can sleep and I can have the bed on the bottom and Samara could have the bed up top. It was fun (We went to Sedona last summer and he slept upstairs when his sister slept downstairs). I like going to Judy's (friend of the family, we visit for the 4th).
Samara// across the river (their dad was showing pictures of a fishing trip the boys took a few months back)
hatchery outside Sedona, AZ (2015)
3. What is your favorite thing about summer
Nikolai// Swimming!!
Samara// flying a kite
4. If you could pick any way to spend a hot summer day, how would you spend it?
Nikolai// stay inside when it's hot because it is really really hot in the desert where we live. (wow, I'm kinda impressed this came out of my little guy)
Samara// Get in the pool
Summer Swimmin'
5. What is your favorite summer treat?
Nikolai// biscuits, fruit snacks, catching fish and eating them, sandwiches, and ice cream.
Samara// I eat yogurt.
I am going back over the kids responses to see what pictures to add and Samara just cracks me up. That girl is so funny. Seriously though, I had to bribe her with fruit snacks to get any type of response from her! LOL! And I thinking we can work on sentences for her too, meaning lots of reading with more complex sentence structures. Preschool for her starts in about 1 week!
Next up August 10th! 1. what was your favorite thing you did over the summer?
2. What's your favorite thing to learn about in school?
3. Who is your best friend from school?
4. What do you want to be when you grow up? 5. What is your least favorite thing about school?
1. Labyrinth Lap Quilt... If you've been following me on Instagram, you've seen some slow progress! I've been working on this one! Just needs to finish the quilting then, bind! :)
2. My band shirt memory quilt... I found a backing by andover fabrics! It's perfect! There is no reason for this not to get done now! Ha! Well, aside from time that is!
3. This is little lady's baby shower quilt. From 2013... Poor thing is still waiting on a quilt from mommy. She has since laid claim to the labyrinth lap quilt. LOL
4. This circle quilt. It was supposed to be for a MQG fabric challenge... It has sat in my sewing bag for.ev.er... I love it and should really get it finished, but it's not first on the list. Eventually...
5. These were supposed to be some Peasant Tops pattern by Tie Dye Diva Patterns for little lady. I know they are now too small for her now, but I could still use them for baby 3, they are a 12 month and 18 month size so I now have some time.
6. This was supposed to be Little Man's Going to Grandma's/&or/Grandpa's over night bag. It is supposed to be the Dorothy Day Tripper by Swoon Sewing Patterns (affiliate links) ...
&
7. If I have enough left over I also wanted to make a Tiny Explorer Backpack by Diedelbug Handmade for him when we go to MOPs meetings, the Zoo, and anything else that seems to fit with learning and fun. ;) Only problem is, he doesn't stay over anywhere and we no longer go to the zoo (I haven't renewed our membership). I still want to do them, and we miss the zoo. After all, he is going to be starting school in a couple weeks! Eek, Kindergarten!
I've carried over this list since 2013! Don't believe me? check it out! Finish-Along
Sad, right? I know! same things over and over. At least this time I have the excuse of a little baby to take care of! Right?!? No? Ha! At least I haven't really added to it!
This month I have selected 5 Days to a Clutter Free House written by Sandra Felton & Marsha Sims to share with you!
We are in a declutter movement, as it seems, right now. I know it's not just our house, but those around us as well. The amazing popularity of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is just proof of the declutter movement. But, it hasn't entirely worked for me. I love the concept and getting everything in one category at a time. But, that is a super daunting task! I was searching for some books at my local library, (Cleaning House: A Moms Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement & The More of Less), and came across this one instead. I figured, why not see what it suggests? I mean, 5 days is an incredible feat? Right? How could this daunting task be completed in that time frame? How could I transform my incredibly overstuffed house in just 5 days? So, as any desperate person would, I checked out the book.
The gist of the book: Get a bunch of friends and put everything that is out of place in boxes.
Label boxes by contents
Line up against the wall
Go through at your leisure
Umm... Ok...
Needless to say... I was a little disappointed.
I don't want friends seeing all the trash, junk, and everything else in my house. I don't want to have to answer question after question about what an item is and what box it should go into. And I'm not decluttering, I'm moving the mess from the tables and counter tops into boxes along the wall. How does that even count?!?
And then I thought about KonMari and the gathering of like items to go through. I have barely made it half way through KM-ing my items because of going through the house and gathering. The categories I had completed did not get removed quickly enough and managed to become re-scattered amongst my joy sparking things.
I needed a more systematic approach to gathering items, especially since I am so ready to move the baby into her room (which is still currently the craft room, 4.5 months later)... And this book gave me that approach. I'm realistic. It wont be completed in 5 days, it hasn't been completed in 5 days. But it helps. If I applied the zones a little better, it would probably help even more.
Here is the craft room before (embarrasing, I know):
I started taking out all the fabric after this, and stalled.
I told my mom about the premise of the book. One saturday afternoon she came over with some boxes and helped me get started clearing more space off the table and desk (both are going to have to be sold).
I'm still not happy about having everything in boxes. We still have things in boxes from when we moved into our house 3, almost 3.5, years ago. and the chances I actually go through them are pretty slim. But the approach has given me something to work with, and a way to group everything by category.
as of yesterday:
A nice thing about the book, it is coming from a perspective that seems to understand the trouble with staying clutter free, versus KonMari where the author has always organized, decluttered her things, and easily purged objects from her room. Especially for us crafty type people, those things do not always come naturally. "We cannot have a museum, library or store in our living spaces and still maintain a gracious, orderly, welcoming, and beautiful home." (pg 120) This is how I treat my craft supplies, something I can shop from without having to go to an actual store. It is something that is cluttering up my home and taking away from the beauty of it. I need to "make a decision not to keep everything" (pg 135) and I need to consciously understand that it is ok to get rid of things. This is the hard part with KonMari. Yes, she makes sense as well, but doesn't appeal to my own sentimentality as these authors do.
It has helped having someone here with whom to organize things. And it helps to have someone who understands the different types of craft supplies. KonMari has had me doing it alone. It hasn't worked.
I wonder if I will be able to use this for the office space, which will become the craft/office space, in the master bedroom? So much to do.
This is where the craft space is getting moved to, also super embarrassing. Those drawers at least are for fabric:
Content - eh, half of it is something I feel like I can use. I don't like all of it, but it might work well for others (1/2 check)
Organization - 2 parts. the boxing up of things and then the going through the boxes. The second part is too much for me. yes/no/maybe boxes. then go through the maybes and place into yes/no. too much sorting (1/2 check)
readability - easy enough. understandable and relate-able. repetition of certain concepts and monotonous. (1/2 check)
Conversation worthy - It started my mom and I talking, comparing the KonMari book and this one (check)
Invokes personal thought/reflection - It's getting me thinking about my habits and what I need to change in order to successfully create a beautiful living space I am not embarrassed to show to my friends.(check)
Join me on GoodReads here, I'm always on the lookout of a new book and to share with other book loving friends! tell me: How do you organize your craft supplies?
