Presents

Handsome's Birthday Present!

Yes, I finished it in time, with a few days to spare. I made for him a twin size quilt. It was made entirely out of "re-purposed" fabric. He was in need of a good big blanket, as all his blankets were still his baby blankets that were crib size. So using Daddy's and mine old jeans I cut them up, then using daddy's old pajama pants I used the flannel for the back. I knew I didn't have enough flannel, but was unsure as to what to do. Then a miracle took place. Maybe seeming as a little thing, but it was a blessing to me. The flannel sheets that Daddy and I LOVE on our king size bed, got a big hole. Yes they were just plan worn out. We were sad, we would miss our warm sheets, but we have others we can use. And what could have been seen as a sad thing, was a blessing to me. I then had enough to use on the back of Handsome's quilt.

My favorite thing about this blanket is that I included the pockets. The jean pockets on the front, as well as the pajama pockets on the back. I told Handsome that they were "hidden pockets" on the back. :) So now Handsome has a nice, heavy, warm, big blanket for him to use. :)

One of the hidden pockets.

I also have a nephew that just had a birthday. For his birthday we made him a super hero cape. I have to say out of the many I have made (I think 7 now) this is my absolute favorite. I of course use re-purposed sheets for the capes, and this sheet was a silky one. It just looked so cool as a cape. I may use the rest to make an "invisibility cloak" for Handsome and Gorgeous to play with.

And just a random picture of Handsome playing with Daddy. He was in a superhero mood, and Daddy had fun holding him up to "fly".

Birthday Boy!

Handsome is now a 5 year old boy! I can't believe that I have a 5 year old! Where did the time go? For his birthday he got his first "Friend's Birthday Party" and was able to have it at a bounce house. This was wonderful for me, seeing that the baby is only a week away, this was a wonderfully low stress friends party. :)

Daddy and Gorgeous

Grandma with the birthday boy!

Daddy, Gorgeous, and Handsome having a ball with friends

Handsome and Friends

Handsome got to choose his cake, and as I mentioned I was all about easy. So we did our first store bought cake. He was so excited that he got to pick the Bolt cake as well as the inside flavors, and frosting.

Opening Presents

And he finally got his favorite movie to watch!

Happy Birthday Handsome Boy!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today the kids and I took time and went to visit Grandpa Brown for his birthday. It was cute to see little ones running around the cemetery. Handsome is now getting older that he can notice the name, and picture on the gravestone, and realized that there was a picture of the Seattle Temple on it too. It made me think of how much the children have grown through the years as we visit Grandpa. Now I have a 5 year old, almost 3 year old, and one about to be born.

I'd have to say I miss the fact that my dad never got to know my kids and that they never got to know him. But in the resurrection they will meet, and I'm sure make up for lost time.

Surprise Package

No, the baby did not arrive yet. :) In fact, I have the next week very packed that he just can't come yet, I've got too much going on. :)

But the other day I went to my mailbox and I found a package from the cloth diaper store where I buy cloth diapers. My first thought... "Did I buy diapers and not remember it?"... but then pretty sure that I didn't buy any diapers, I realized that a wonderful college friend got me these diapers and had them shipped to me. It was so sweet of her and I am so excited to have some brand new cloth diapers to put on my new little one. The joy in getting packages in the mail for you little one... just the sweetest thing! Thank you so much Molly!!

Just look at those cute diapers. They will be adorable on my little one.

Lunch Prayer

Just have to love the prayers of little ones. Today at lunch Handsome decided to include...

"bless my little sister, and my little brother who is still in heaven, and the roof, and the square house."

It just makes you smile at the sweetness and wonder at why exactly the roof and square house needed blessing? I'm not sure, of course it could never hurt, but I wonder does he know something I don't?

Safety Zone

I didn't really worry, because both of my other wonderful babies were born right at 40 weeks. But I can't help but give a sigh of relief that I am now in the "safety zone" for having my little one born at home. Yes, between 37 and 42 weeks there is a green light for home births. So I know I have made it. A healthy little one will soon be here. It is just a relief to me. Now maybe I need to start getting the bassinet and such ready. :)

baby name help!

I had an awesome website that was wonderful for baby name ideas that I got of off another's blog. Then the laptop died and I seem to have lost the site from my favorites list. Can't find it! And well, as baby's arrival is less than a month away, I was wondering if any of you knew a good site for baby names? Any help would be appreciated. As well as suggestions. Just remember that we like traditional Biblical and old English names.

Simple Joys and Milestones!

Had to put up a picture of Gorgeous wearing the fabric flower I made. Isn't she cute! And that fabric flower, I just love it. They are so simple to make, and I keep meaning to make many, many more, yet it has not made it to the top of the sewing list. (current project, Handsome's birthday present). But I had to show off the one I made, with a gorgeous model.

And it is snowing once again. This was just the first day. Now there is about 2 inches out there on the ground and still it is snowing off and on. Daddy was able to stay home with the kids, and they played outside in the snow a number of times. Daddy is off camera, and Handsome is mid-throw about to hit him with a snow ball. They really had a blast! What fun to have Daddy home with us!

Now for the milestone:

Almost everyday I spend 5 to 10 min. with Handsome doing our "home school" reading. I am basically establishing a routine, and expectation for school before the baby comes, so that it will be an easier transition after. Our home school is usually 15 to 20 min with math, reading, and writing. Then another 30 min. of read aloud as they play/listen and of course outside play time.

With his reading lessons Handsome has really taken off. Or rather, I'm just a proud momma who LOVED seeing the process of his learning to read! I wouldn't trade anything for being able to be a part of that! For his reading lessons we are using the curriculum "How to Teach your child to read in 100 Easy Lessons". I have to say I highly recommend this book to those whose children are willing to sit with a parent for 5 to 10 min. at a time. The BOB books go well with the lessons (introducing the sounds on the same schedule). So here is Handsome reading a story in the BOB book. Yes, I know it looks like he has it memorized, and he may have, this is his 3rd reading of it. But just to show off, and be the proud momma that I am. Here is my Handsome boy reading a book that has never been read to him!

And for more simple joys:

Here is a video of what we often find/hear many times during the day. Gorgeous singing to herself, random songs, starting and stopping in random places, usually there are Christmas songs mixed with church songs, mixed with songs learned at the library, with silly preschool songs, and of course different articles of faith thrown in there too. I just makes us all smile. And reminds me that I use to do that too! I would sing when I thought no one was listening (but now realize it must have made my own mom laugh as well). Of course Gorgeous knew I was video taping her. Usually she is just coloring, or playing as she sings. I love my children and the simple joys they bring to my life!

Creating for Baby

I have had fun getting things made for the adorable baby that will soon be here! A Month away! I can't believe it!

So I've made some diaper changing pads. Ones that can be thrown in the washing machine, and of course you need two, in case one is needing washing. And, trying to be thrifty, I did them so that really they will work for boy or girl (you never know what the future holds). I found a tutorial on how to make these on-line. You take a hand towel, some batting to a thinkness you like (the striped has more batting, than the brown), and a cute fabric. Then sew together. Make a strip to fasten. And you are done! (I used a button for the brown, and Velcro for the stripped one). I like how they turned out.

Then I made bibs. When I went through the boy baby stuff I couldn't believe I only had 2 bibs! I am one that really needs bibs for my babies. So I found a tutorial on-line that used old t-shirts, and made some adorable bibs. I used old, yet very soft blankets for the material on theback of the bib, and then a button fastener. (I don't like how little hands can pull the Velcro bibs off). These bibs are for the drool stage of babyhood. :)

I've also knitted hats and booties. I'll have to get pictures of those up here too. :)

Baby Wish List

Ok, am I the only one... or are there others out there, that want to have all the cute adorable things that you totally do not need, but would LOVE to have before baby comes? I think this is my weak moment... maybe it's good I don't have the extra money to spend, or it would be gone quick during this "nesting" phase. :)

But for what it's worth, this is my Baby wish list:

1) Mother ease fitted diapers. Yes, my sister-in-law has these that she lets me use, but after 5 babies have used them, it would be nice to have a couple of new ones for my little one. Do I NEED them? No. But I know I LOVE this type of diaper, and figure I would appreciate it even more with more absorbency as the ones I borrow have been "well loved".

2) Weehuggers one size snap diaper covers. I would love to have cute BOY diaper covers. I have white ones (because I was being practical when Gorgeous was in diapers) and two girly ones. But it would be nice to have some adorable boy diaper covers. And these ones have the things that I like plus cute designs. So just a few boy ones would be fun.

3) The Big Butt Baby Pants Sewing pattern by Made by Rae. Found Here. The perfect pattern for making baby pants for cloth diapered babies.

4) The book: Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner. I have this book on loan from the Library. But there are so many cute patterns and things I would love to make. I would love to have it in my book collection!

5) Fairy Tales and Fables by Gyo Fugikawa. I also have this on loan from the Library, and I absolutely LOVE it. It has all the traditional fairy tales with the wonderful lessons but has left out the gory parts. The moral still there but I don't have to explain to my 4 year old how a wolf ate Grandma and Red, and then an ax man was able to chop up the wolf and get them out still alive. Just a good book to add to my Children's collection. I love good children's books. :)

And that is my list... for now. :)

January

Family Photo. Handsome was really trying to make a happy face. :)

To wake up and see this. I loved it!

Inside fun during all the rainy days.

Love to Create!

Ok, now that Christmas is over my mind has settled on two things. 1) I am actually pregnant and a baby will be arriving in my home in just a few short months! and 2) I have to get ready now before September and ideally before Baby comes to have all of Handsome's homeschooling ready to go, because I will not want to be doing it when I have a cute, adorable, new baby in my arms! Gladly, Baby will be 5 months old when Kindergarten starts for Handsome. I am so looking forward to homeschooling!

This has lead to MEGA nesting! (The actual first time I feel that I have time to nest out of the 3 children)

This has lead oddly to me wanting to be creating things, and although baby things are a want, some things for Gorgeous were a need. So here is what I have been up to lately.

New slippers, ok, these were the Christmas Eve slippers, but I didn't get a good shot of them then, so here they are. I LOVE them! Handsome has ones with rockets on them. :)

New pants for Gorgeous. I made them out of an old t-shirt of mine. She is in desperate need of pants that do not show her lower backside when bending over. These do the trick. :)

Headbands. For some reason the 2 I had previously made vanished. So more were made. Reversible too. Now I just want to make the cute fabric flowers to clip on to them.

And since Gorgeous was getting all the attention, Handsome insisted that Buzz needed a picture too. So here he is, and no I did not make him, or anything for him.