Things I'm Loving This Week

I've hidden myself in the office while my children burn off their ultra-caloric dinner of Chunky Potato Soup and biscuits. I realized that I haven't taken many moments to blog in the last week as I decompress from hosting twenty some-odd people for Thanksgiving. Saturday night, I even snuck out to a movie by myself. A few years ago, I would have been horrified to sit in a romantic movie (yep, I said romantic) by myself, without a friend in sight. That's the cool thing about being thirty. You just don't care what others think. Especially when those others are teenagers (yep, it was a teenage romantic movie). I actually loved being out and about alone on a Saturday night.

The other things I'm loving this week? Jude's uncanny ability to be creative. He shoved every toy in sight into my microwave and I was too darned amused with the whole charade to tell him to stop. Do you see his big guilty eyes through the microwave door here?

On a different note:

-Samuel learned to ride his bike with no training wheels a couple of weeks ago. Really? When did he get so old?!

- Juliet did her first sign tonight - she signed "all done" after she was finished eating. She also tries to put her own shoes on. Now to transfer all these little accomplishments into her baby book!

- I am itching to get on the Christmas crafts - cards, sewing gifts, etc. On the other hand, I am also enjoying my craft stuff being completely hidden away for the moment - clutter free rooms really have the Feng shui thing going.

-As I spotted a lawyer walking with large files toward the Clackamas County Courthouse this morning, I had a flash of memories surrounding my dream to go to law school someday. I'm still not sure what box to file those dreams in. But then I realized that I truly am where I should be right now.

What Have We Been Up To?

We have been crazy busy with construction, Thanksgiving prep (it's at our house this year!) and just child rearing (oh, and going to see "New Moon" last night, which I am not mad about!).
Well, this is just a picture of Juliet - because who doesn't love a baby with spinach on her nose?This child always has something in her mouth. After this picture was taken, she left an incredible sea of thread in her wake.

I made this tutu - time consuming, but not very hard.

I took my niece, Eden's, pictures. So sweet.

Colin is remodeling our "construction room" and turning it into our bedroom. We chose this steel grey color and I love it.

Hardwood floors were added as well.

Also, we had our family photos taken. It took me about a year and a half to convince Colin we needed to have them done and the waiting paid off! I love how they turned out! See them here

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Rounded Corners

Ever since the Pioneer Woman mentioned rounded corners, I have been utterly fascinated. However, her tutorial didn't really work for me - or the next 10 tutorials I found, for that matter. Finally this morning, I stumbled upon a good video tutorial out of Austrialia that was easy and actually worked!! I love the retro feel that rounded edges, a bit of a drop shadow (and of course the Seventies action) gives my photos. I'm not sure what these photos would look like if they were printed out, but they are sure fun for blogs!!

Juliet likes to scavenge around for food - here she is eating cornbread. A few days ago I gave her a bit of my wheat toast and she broke out in a rash all over her trunk. I assume she has a sensitivity to wheat?

Here's Jude looking like Elton John. Minus the shiny clothing.

So Therapeutic...

Finally I am making the burp cloths I have promised to a friend, oh, about a month ago. Now that the sicknesses have died down, I am trying to get back on track with making baby and Christmas gifts. This particular burp cloth is going to a missionary mama in Kirghistan. Cool, huh?

I could wallpaper my house in this fabric. I love it.

Crafty Things

I've been meaning to try my hand at these sweet little headbands since I read about them on Mindy's blog. That and my sweet (and sick!) baby girl is sprouting hair at a snail's pace.
I couldn't locate my hot glue gun, so I used needle & thread for everything. These could get quite addictive.

Addictive for me, that is. Not so much for Juliet.

She doesn't love them.

Those Eyes!!

This is my brother's sweet girl, Ella. Can you believe those big, beautiful saucer eyes?!! I just had to post this before I turned in for the night...

Operation Apron: Complete

Ok, so Samuel was the photographer for this picture, but you get the idea. Unfortunately, you can't see the pleating on the bodice and apron panel, but they are there, along with the curved pockets. I do love how it turned out and hopefully the recipient will as well!

Halloween

2/3 of my kids love going and dressing up on Halloween. Guess who doesn't? Oooh. Angry lion, that one! I'm with her. I don't love Halloween, but I've been overruled, so the kiddos dressed up and headed over to the rich folk neighborhoods of Happy Valley. You know the funny thing? We had to dump candy out of our jar leftover from last year!! The boys came home with two bags full of candy and we will give them a piece here and there over the next year.

Like Jude's makeshift dinosaur costume? That's creativity at its finest. Colin fashioned the tale out of tent material covering a wire hanger. Samuel practically sleeps in his Spidey suit.

Please excuse the flash photography. There really is no excuse.

This picture actually frightens me a bit. I think it's the big beady eyes.

Girl Cousins

These two (Ella and Juliet) played together for the first time a few nights ago. So cute.

Um, we didn't open this can for her or anything. What is it with kids and play drinking out of soda cans?

My Big Girl

Juliet is super nosy and is always up in the boys' business (as much as one can be that can't walk or crawl). She has enjoyed standing for a couple of weeks now and I stood her up at their picnic table today - fun to be had there!