Friday, October 31, 2008

Trunk-or-Treat fun!

Here's the kiddos after the candy-getting, chili dinner... THE TRAUMATIZING... they were enjoying a flick.. aren't they cute! We had a good showing. I hope they all had fun...
Randy and Dixon decided to dress up...

It caused some fright.. honestly, it was quite funny!
Here's a cute puppy (Evan, before tears, I think...) and Cruella (Brooke).
And here's Cade and Jacks...
Darlene wants to make this a tradition, and I agree.. it was so fun!

Lynn's Room Party...

We attempted to take pictures before the parade yesterday...
Peyton really wasn't into it...
Got to the school... and missed the kindergarteners.. they walked promptly at 1:30... kinda hard to see them when I am at THE GYM... not outside where they moved it, and I didn't know... oh well.
Peyton did manage to be kinda happy for a pic with mom...
We had cute moms helping with the party. It's kind of intimidating to be head room mom, when this is my first time doing any of it... we had a story, a bingo game, and these darling spider hats for a craft.
The braids worked-out well too for the "Elizabeth Swan curls"...

100

So here’s a list of 100 things. All the things I’ve done are blue print. Copy this list on your own blog and come clean on everything you’ve done. Do it. You know you want to.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.. uh, does my dad count, grandparents... great-grandparents... :)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check...eeek I hate to admit that one
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job... does it count when your 4 year old fires you?
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life, uh, Ashley was a C-Section :)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club, participating was a whole other matter;)
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake, DON"T shave your legs, or any other body part before you go... the salt STINGS!
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Halloween prep...

Getting all ready for Halloween!
Tonight we had the Elders over for dinner. The girls were so excited to feed the missionaries. We had to add the leafs to the table to make room for 6 and a high chair. As I was spreading the table, Lynn asked what I was doing. When I explained, she said, "Mom, won't the leaves fall right through that big hole?" I tried to explain what they looked like, how it would work, but decided to show her instead. So I went and got the leafs. She giggled and said, "Mom, I thought they were all green, like the ones that grow on trees! They wouldn't be strong enough to put our plates on!"
Funny girl... she read a few pages of, "Green Eggs and Ham" to me tonight.. smart girl too!We copped-out this year and just went to the grocery store to get our pumpkins.. I know, how fin is that?! Well, quite frankly, we ran out of time. If they were going to be carved BEFORE Halloween, we had to buy them today, without the aid of daddy-o, which meant, me + 3 kids = easy way (shopping cart). Let me just say, very sarcastically, HUGE SELECTION! So many different sizes and shapes! How on earth did we choose in less than 5 whole minutes?
Loved watching the girls expression as they dug into the pumpkins for the first time, again. Lynn always cracks me up with how disgusting it must be to her.
Ashley is just too wild. She loves flinging it and making a mess.
We braided Lynn's hair tonight in preparation for her curly Elizabeth Swan hair for her classroom party tomorrow... that's right. I took the easy way out again today... You won't see me standing around like a sucker curling her hair tomorrow with a Peyton-Pissy-Pants... did I not mention her gums are swollen? Did I not mention that she has been rather unhappy from about, oh, say... 3 pm on? I do believe that the Elders are going to wait quite a while before starting their familes after they are released...

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Making...

Because I was sick of many things...
My old kitchen curtain wasn't wide enough for my window...This one is! I still need to get a tougher rod.
I used to have those 3M hooks on the back of the girls' door to hold dress-ups.. do you think those 7 hooks could hold it all?
So I made this glorified diaper stacker... added some lettering to the door, and it's good enough for our highnesses.
And my sewing machine is probably sick of me!
But here's a yummy dinner I made.

My Grocery Shopping Buddy...

This is my little grocery shopping buddy doing what she does best, be goofy and ham it up.
The other day while shopping, Ash skipped down the aisle in front of me and Peyton jabbering this to complete strangers, ending it with a cheesy grin. A couple of aisles over, we ran into a woman from our ward. Once she saw us, she said, "My what fun you must have grocery shopping with your little buddy here. I could hear her two aisles over and she was cracking me up!"
So, I know it's dark... but just listen to her... she's a crack up!

She also spouted some some more funny material as Christie took them one evening to her house.
"Keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times, sit down and enjoy the ride!"
Then this morning, as she rolled out of MY BED, she said, "Mom! I am SO brave! Huh?!" I guess I should celebrate the fact that she came all the way from her room to mine without freaking out loud enough to wake me...

Monday, October 27, 2008

Family Pics...

Brookers took some pics of our little family last night in her back yard.. I have only seen the teaser... can't wait to see the rest!!!
You wanna see?

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Getting to Know your Hubby...


Saw this one on my cousin Steph's blog...

1. Where did you meet your husband?
My brother married his sister...
2. How long did you date before you got married? 1 year, 6 months
3. How long have you been married? 8 years, 7 months, 21 days
4. What does he do that surprises you? cues up music for me on my MP3 player
5. What is your favorite feature of his? The way his eyes crinkle when he smiles.
6. What is his best quality? Honest, hard worker...
7. Does he have a nickname for you? Many.. Min, Gorgeous, Ni-Bi...
8. What is his favorite food? Anything Reese's
9. What is his favorite sport? Watching: Beach Volleyball... he's not a sports nut...
10. When and where did you first kiss? Lake Powell... while I was engaged ;o
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We love to do lots of stuff... watch a good movie, stay up late just talking, playing Connect 4 or Canasta...
12.Do you have any children? 3 who all look just like him!
13. Does he have any hidden talents? Uh... He has 3 kids who look just like him ;)!
14. How old is he? 29
15. What is his favorite music? Right now, Pshycadelic/fuzz/indie Rock
17. What do you admire most about him? He is always honest, he works so hard but still has the energy to come home and play with us.
18. What is his favorite color? Silver?
19. Will he read this? I hope he does! Love you Punkley!!!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Taggie 101...

You've asked...
Here's how I made that cute taggie blanket... I must add that the idea came from one that my visiting teacher had for her little girl, Peyton attacked it! I saw how much people are asking for them online... I can make this...
First:
Cut...
Cut your fabric to whatever size you want the blanket to be, but remember to add extra for your seams...
Fuzzy fabric is fun... print fabrics are fun... whatever you like...
I cut mine to 21 inches, square.

Then cut your ribbon, whatever tickles your fancy, to a length that also tickles your fancy. I cut mine to 6 inches, but varying lengths would be cute too... use the same ribbon, or lots of different kind. That's where the fun comes in for babies, different colors, textures, and patterns = fun!
I just so happen to have a small addiction to ribbon...Fold you cut ribbon in half, and press.
Arrange your ribbon in a way you like, and pin it to the right side of one of your fabric pieces, making sure that your folded ends are pointed towards the center of your fabric, not the raw edge! It's fun to layer the ribbon too..
Sew around all four sides in a zig-zag stitch. I used the side of my presser foot as my guide, it's 3/8 inch.
Take your pins out, this will make the turning process much more pleasant on a minute!
Then take your other piece of fabric, put right sides together so the ribbon is sandwiched in between, like this...
Mark one 6 inch section where you will not sew so you can turn your blanket right side out... and sew it all, using your first zig-zag as your guide.
Snip your corners to make them pretty once you turn them, and to lessen bulk...
Turn it, making sure you get your corners perfect too! Fold your edges of that 6 inch section in, pin, and...
...top-stitch (that's with a straight stitch now...) around the whole blanket.

Voila!
A darling taggie!
Look at those colors... I so want a boy!

Pumpkins!

Brookers found this darling idea on this blog... the directions are in the August 2008 archive... I think that our little Brookers has been holding out on us ;)... Brookers, Christie, and I, got together for an afternoon of sewing and got them done... well, for he most part! We finished ours at scrapbook night... which I have some pretty cute pics of Nat here..



Thursday, October 23, 2008

Made...

Same pics from other blog...
Just need to get them to the right home...
No patterns, yet!




Made...

Lots of fun stuff going on lately...
They are finishing the exterior of the hotel...And they even poured the asphalt!
Keeping up with my little night owl...
(cute jammies, eh?... thanks Brookers!)And falling asleep in random places...
See the bulb aspirator?
Yup, suckin' some boogs...
Alvin the Alligator is here for a visit from pre-school.
Someone was so hungry, they couldn't muster the strength to ask for help!
...and I've had a sewing bug lately...
This is what it must be like to have little boys... Cade was over today, playing with his trucks right next to me sewing.. he was so cute! He loved helping me sew in reverse!
Playing peek-a-boo with Peyton and her new taggie...
Cade helped me sew...
Left over fabric went to this cute pillow-case dress, intended for Peyton, but I am afraid it's too small, or it won't fit her for long...
I even got a cute little pocket!
Can't wait to make more...
Made these mummies with Christie and Julie (Brooke's great idea...) for teacher appreciation for Primary. Thinking of saying: "Thanks for being all wrapped-up in Primary..."And one of y favs...
Peyton's hat. I crocheted it with a C hook and tiny crochet yarn...

Lynn stayed home from school yesterday. She said she felt like she needed to throw up. She kept telling me the night before, and when I asked her what made her say that, she'd answer, "Because I saw Emma's blood..." or "The salmon's smell made me sick." We had salmon for dinner, and she doesn't care for it as much as she cares for the rice, so I thought it was just an excuse...
Trying to keep up on the house so I don't start to feel the way I did last week... tried to do what the Prophet said, "the house will always be there, but the kids won't always be young..." and that is not good for Mindy Pitcher... that will be a much longer post for another night that Peyton will not sleep...

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Cousin Halloween Party...

We had our cousin Halloween party yesterday.
I think the kids had fun.
We had some games, prizes to follow those games, and food.
They watched "Scary Tales" after dinner...
And of course, they were all so cute and fun together! We were missing a few cousins though...