An October Post

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY

 warning: long post, so just enjoy the pics of nothing else.

 Its finally starting to cool off around here, I hope 90+ weather is gone for a LONG while. It's FINALLY starting to feel like Fall for me. I LOVE FALL. Such a fun time of year and we've been up to all the usual fun too..

Corn Maze:

"Its like we're in a story book" -Elyette :)

Pumpkin Carving:

Almost didn't happen. I finally just did it last night while Boz was Home Teaching. What kind of mother would I be if we didn't carve at least 1 pumpkin with my kids? The roasted seeds were probably the favorite part :).

He's Elyette's design.

And of course. COSTUMES:

This years costumes are totally inspired by each kid (and at their suggestions), and Boz for that matter. That hair of his has inspired costumes for years :)...

 Since nothing about these costumes previously existed (well, at a price I was willing to pay) I did them all from scratch.  Couldn't even find a brown turtleneck for Charlotte.The exceptions being the shoes, Boz's pants, socks, that sort of thing...

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Astrid

(from How to Train Your Dragon):

This totally fits. I love that she'll all about the princesses and dresses for playtime, but when it comes to Halloween, she rocks the awesome (previous years picks: corpse bride, witch... makes me almost feel bad about having made her tinker bell and cinderella the years she wasn't old enough to voice her opinion)

Elements:

 Headband: Strip of felt, spray painted buttons. Elyette sewed on all the buttons herself!

 Shirt and gloves- clearanced stretchy mesh fabric for $1

Underskirt: simple green broad cloth

Armor skirt: Brown Felt, with spikes also made from same felt, spray painted silver, and hand sewn on. 

Shoulder armor: More brown felt cut in strips, attached spike studs (left overs from Megamind) spray painted silver, and arranged and tied to the shirt

Boots: faux fur cuff pinned on her boots

Axe: $1 store broom and cardboard stapled together and spray painted (silver and black)

- Skulls were found at michael (just glued them on)

-- denim leggings she had... haha, one less thing to make.

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Megamind:

That head of his is inspiring :). His head is the perfect shape... haha.. Even has the perfect little pointy nose and skinny little body. He was born to be megamind :).

Cost was not so frugal for this guys. I wanted to just go all out (well for me anyway). This was the project of projects. Even shaved his head.

Elements:

Cape: Black pleather, lined with blue interlock knit.

Stand Collar: Scrap black vinyl I had. Spike studs were a fantastic find on Etsy for $2. Black Pleather and Pellon for stiffening used for the part around his head (that part was a pain for some reason, took 2 attempts)

Belt and Gun holster: Studs, Vinyl 

Gloves: Pleather, more studs worn with just a pair of black wool gloves. 

Boots: His rain boots with pleather fold over inserts.

Jumpsuit: Black and blue interlock knit. Freehanded (scary thing with me) the blue lightening design, sewed it on to the black (which was all 1 piece), sewed on a border of blue ribbon. I just got the cheapest knit I could find and it didn't have the 4 way stretch I really needed, so the fits not great and it took a while to figure it out. Other than the fact that he gets a bit of a wedgie when he bends over, it works.

--Blue water based make up for $2 (I'm no make artist, that was obvious).

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Oompa Loompa

She just is one, what can I say :)...

Elements:

Brown Turtleneck: Made from an old jersey sheet. Painting the white stripes was a flop, so they are felt strips sewn on (ended up being much easier that way)

Pants: Felt (the brown buttons are also just felt circles)

Socks: striped with tape.

Shoes: pom poms made from brown jersey and white felt scraps (using this method).

--White face paint for eyebrows and Green hair spray. (I would NOT reccomend using that hair spray stuff on someone so little! Poor baby got a mild case of hives that night and I'm pretty sure it was from that stuff)

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Willy Wonka

Again, its the Gene Wilder hair... and obviously a natural choice to go with an oompa loompa. Even with the oompa loompa he was mistaken for Mad Hatter though. Well, he can just wear it again next year and say he's Mad Hatter :)...

Elements:

Coat: Felt (love that stuff for halloween) and ribbon. It was a bit snug on the shoulders, but the great thing about felt is, you can just wet it and it stretches. So I sprayed the back and he wore it for a bit while it dried on him. Talk about custom fit!

Vest: Had some random cut out cicrles of this wild floral that I transformed into a mock vest (just the front part sewn straight onto an old white shirt of Boz's)

Bow tie: Scrap green satin

Hat: Oh the hat.. Totally glotting here, but I MADE THAT HAT completely from scratch using Felt, Pellon for stiffening, wire and ribbon trim. Oh man I was so stinking excited about this one! I spent days trying to "mentalize" how to make it the way I wanted since nothing I was googling was right, although they did help. I use the same "wetting" method for the brim. It was in 2 layers and I wet the bottom layer and stretched it over my wire and sewed it in. I was a bit too anxious though and went about sewing the top layer down over it before it was totally dry so that did cause some wrinkling. Other than that its a full on bona fide (well almost) Victorian Top Hat! Sorry... glotting done. It just exciting when something actually turns out how you pictured it!

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Veruca Salt

Suppose to look "spoiled" not pissed and exhausted :)

Yeah, I couldn't come up with much as far as fitting in the Charlie and Chocolate Factory thing. Thought I'd be a Wonka Bar or something goofy, but I was sort of over making costumes by the time it got to me. 

So Friday night I grab some scrap pink fur stuff, whipped up a little coat thing and sewed a squirrel on the shoulder. Paired that with my yellow dress, some tights and mary janes and called myself Veruca. You know? The spoiled brat girl that wants a squirrel and the squirrels decide she's a bad nut and toss her down the trash shoot?  

Of course few people knew who I was, the kids got it cause we just read the book this summer...most people thought I was Giselle from Enchanted... can't blame them. Maybe I should have rolled through the dumpster...

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Okay so um, obviously this was all A LOT of work and was about 35 hours worth (not included the time I was "in my head" figuring out how to do stuff). And if you are think  "That's just insane!" I COMPLETELY agree! I don't think I'll do them all from scrap like that again, but I was a really fun, trail and error creative process that you can only do for Halloween!... Don't count on this Christmas being very handmade this year... burnt out.... for now ;)

Oh I almost forgot the Trunk for the Trunk or Treat:

Tried to make it look like a candy store window to go with our whole Chocolate Factory theme. Jack and Elyette had fun helping me with this and Charlotte was ADORABLE!!! She makes it for sure. She sat there the whole trunk or treating time! (helps that she discovered the hershey kisses in a vase next to her :))

ok... all done! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!

A Birthday...

Complete with all the trimmings (for a boy with all the trimmings):

Breakfast in bed

Egos... ha, I went all out :)... hey it was Fast Sunday.

 Gifts

A few Dollar store finds. He's easy to please.

A motorcycle, his one request.
Elyette wanted to make him one out of wood,
so thats what we helped her do.
 It was pretty awesome and
 I'm pretty fond that she shares our handmade gift love.

Spiderman Pj's...
again (just not handmade this time- left that up to his sister this year).

CAKE!

But not just any cake... Chocolate Moose Track Ice Cream Cake!
with candied  peanut butter filling and oreo crust and top. mmm, hmmm

well enjoyed by all (at least I think thats a face of enjoyment :))

Happy Birthday Jack!

 We love you!

Lead Kindly Light Piano

I made this song tonight doing my best to refrain from pushing buttons as fast as I could.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

My first grader is off! ... um...without getting too emotional (and allowing some drying to time for some wet eyes)... this is harder than kindergarten!!! I can't imagine how this feels when your youngest goes and you have to come home alone.

After dropping her off at school, my subconscious led me to her room humming "Have I done Any Good in the World". Ha... I didn't previously have that song in my head, so I had to thank my Heavenly Father and grin at the thought that "Yep! Sure am doing good... I'm a mom! And the best of my 'good' are my little ones". I'm excited for her to learn and try new things, but most of all I'm excited for what good she will do for those around her. The world needs that amazing little girl, so I guess I'll share :)...

Pure Imagination

We watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the wads last week, and I thought this would be a fun song to record on the piano. So here it is. I'm thinking of making a CD of piano songs entitled "songs I hated as a kid." I never liked this song as a kid, but I got to watch people eating a bunch of stuff made of candy, so at least the visuals were good.




Right click and download Here.

Wa, Wa, WASHINGTON!

Time to document my trip with the kids to Washington:

But first a disclaimer: As outings go, I failed to get the camera out much, so only a some portion is "Photo Documented", and I was having some serious camera issues at times, so I apologize, this is one of those more wordy less picturing posts I'm not the biggest fan of.

After a few weeks of getting more and more brave to make the drive alone with the kids, we went to Washington beginning of July to visit family.

Now, I can say I'm no rookie to driving long distance alone, but this was the first time with all three kids and going both ways alone (most of our trips I drive one of the ways alone and Boz flies in/out and drives with me the other-no daddy on this trip) for 2000+ miles.

But I'm VERY happy to report that this was probably the most uneventful, BEST ever drive alone. We only had 1 puking session (Charlotte- Elyette almost- only an hour into the trip that prompted a quick Target trip for dramamine)! And the kids and I kept ourselves so entertained that the kids watched only 1 movie each way. I even got to listen to all of Go Forward With Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley! (A Book on CD I "borrowed" and clearly failed to return to an old roommate of mine. (So Melissa, where ever you are, please send me your address so I can finally return it! :))

We drove to Portland (bout 12 and a half hours), or rather Wilsonville the first day. Visited my uncle Sparkie and his new puppy Jimmer :). The only "Jimmer" my kids are aware exists (and I'm sure their dad intends to keep it that way).

And my oldest sister Jennie and her family. Her youngest 3 kids are all about 3 months younger than all 3 of my kids. Its pretty fun having them so close in age.

The next day we proceeded 2-3 hours north to Olympia were my mom and dad have been building their new place. Its pretty cool; 3 acres of forest, and a house more self-reliant and self-equipped with all sorts of things to make things more comfortable/easier for my dad.

After Spending a day there we went farther north to Auburn were my sister Amy and her family live (and where my parents just moved from- where I grew up).

Then again, even farther north to Redmond were my little brother, Matt now lives (took a job with Microsoft after graduating this past spring-- oh blast I need to blog that visit too :)) as well as Boz's brothers Evan and Luke and there families. Evan's family just welcomed their 3rd, Max, a week prior to our visit, so I was ecstatic to get to meet him so soon!

Again, sorry for the lack of pics.

Then we headed back for Olympia to stay with my parents for a few more days and visit my sister Stephanie and her family that also live in Olympia.

Lots of Family in the Northwest!

Our trip also consisted of going to the Seattle Aquarium,

walking water fronts,

Getting lost...

A lot :) -well not terrible, but enough that the kids always just assumed I was "lost", but it helped a little 5 yr old girl know her prayers were answered when we promptly found our way almost immediately after every amen of hers.

a progressive park lunch

(cute idea of my mom's, like a progressive dinner, visiting different parks),

slumber parties with cousins,

helping grandma on the house (I'm sure Charlotte was a huge help :))

and lots

and lots

of playing and forest exploration in my parents back yard.

Elyette couldn't get enough (not even the pouring rain could deter her, or Jack for that matter).

It was pretty entertaining to watch Charlotte wiggle and squirm to the unfamiliar feeling of ferns brushing along her as we'd walk through. She loved it though. She also loved the many deer that would come toward the house.

Jack loved the big dirt piles, gravel, and "vintage" trucks in the front yard. It was VERY fun for them, which made it VERY relaxing for me.

The drive home also went well with the exception of the SMOKING motel room. We stopped in Redding (bout 9 hours away) to break up the drive home and well, I haven't had much luck with cheap motel rooms that last few trips... The last day of driving was kinda fun. We stopped at IKEA in Sacramento for some long anticipated shopping (I had a running list :)) and some lunch (yeah for $2 hot dog meals). Man, I wish we'd get an IKEA here. We got home around 4, beating dad home from worked (thus got to get all unpacked before he got home) and getting to see a friend before she left town. Ah, its nice NOT getting home late...

Pretty Sweet, BUSY, vacation! I love my NW...

Monkey Trap

Ever heard of a Monkey Trap?

It works :)...

J.A.C.K

Its been to long since Jack has been the main topic of a post. Certainly not for lack of interest. In fact this kid is SOOO full of character, quirks, personal style, "buttheadedness" :) etc. that its become just so common place around here, we don't always take notice. An outsider's amusement is always a good reminder.

To let these "jack-isms" not pass us by undocumented, the camera has been our best journal. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's just a few:

Ranch Days

Sad I didn't find any pics of his hot day in shorts still wearing the beloved red boots.

Ah, the Mohawk... I mean "zebra head".

Yesterday (riding to Church) :).

Today

Love that guy...

Shoes for Charlotte

I'm sure you've heard me whine about the impossible task of finding shoes for Charlotte. Her feet are small and narrow so she pretty much goes barefoot everywhere. Her big sister had/has the same issue, but at least its easier to find more narrow shoes once you can get past the baby sizes.

Now Charlotte has some shoes that semi-work, but they are all ridged and I'm one of those "no-shoes" advocates of sorts :). It stands to reason for me that well, first of all, babies don't need shoes at all anyway and when they do, soft and flexible allows for the best development, balance, movement etc. Why would you want to wear hard ridged shoes? Not even I can stand tennis shoes types anymore. Praise the day soft pliable ballet flats came out!

Case in point, Robeez and such types are what I want for my maybe-perhaps-someday-will-decide-to-start-walking toddler, but they are just much to wide. Why do they not make narrow sizes for babies/toddlers? Little ones come in just as many different shapes and sizes as adults.

I take that back, they probably DO make narrow sizes but have a $80 price tap attached. K, maybe its just me, but kids grow... FAST, so why would I spend that kind of dough on something that is only used for a matter of months (especially when you could get 6 pairs of shoes for that

price).

-- WOW, who knew I had so much to say about shoes :)!-

Well anyway, the whining can stop now, I finally just made Charlotte's shoes! And for $0.

I adapted the Cloth baby shoes pattern from the Michael Miller fabric blog. (Ah, the Internet!) The soles are a red geniune suede (made from free samples I saved from my FABMO days) the top is stretch denim from an old pair of jeans and its lined with some cute cotton from scraps.

They've worked great! Fit perfectly (with some wiggle room) and STAY ON! I highly recommend this pattern. For those interested in "customizing" let me know (got some EASY tips)!