Christmas

I made each child a pair of pajama pants in a print they’d like. You can’t see JJ’s very well, but they’re all black.
I used this tutorial on instructables.com. It’s SO easy! I had no idea!

Here are LaLa’s close up. Had to change plans with hers and get a little more creative because 1. I didn’t buy enough fabric, so had to do black with zebra accents on the waist and ankle, then 2. They were too small (tried them on her in her sleep, don’t judge, it would’ve sucked if she opened them Christmas eve and they didn’t fit!!) so I had to cut open the side and add the strip of zebra.
 
They turned out, but I learned not to use tight fitting jeans as a template.
When this snowman was among the available crafts to make at the Christmas in July activity at church, I KNEW my mom in-law needed to have one for her birthday (Christmas day, but we celebrate Christmas eve) since she likes snowmen. The hard part here was waiting all that time to give it to her! Whoever thought this up was really creative. It was fun to make and super cute.

I had so much fun making this cover/case (whatever you wanna call it!) for my sis in law’s nook. I looked at tons of pictures online and decided that I’d take a chance at making one (stretching my talents).  I got to get really creative designing it, planning it, all that fun stuff.

Oh, and who says you’ll never use that old bridesmaid’s dress again? Laura and I made these 3 skirts using one dress and it’s matching sash thingy. VERY SIMPLE. Most of the hems and stuff were already there… We even used the extra little scraps to make flowers to embellish the $5 tees ($3.50 for Number5) I picked up a wally world, and $1 store headband Little Nicki wanted.
 
Wish I knew how to makes ties…


Maybe next year.

Why I need Photoshop skills…

Because I have kids! We tried to so hard to get this little child to be still (a smile would’ve been nice, too) so we could just get a (as in ONE) good picture!  I have dozens like this these.

Pretty much as soon as we gave up….she sat in front of the tree and hammed it up for the camera! She even started saying “mom, you take a picture” with a giggle every time she heard the shutter! ERGHH!

I finally went to “the cloud” (thanks Bri!)

Ahhh, life with Photoshop skills must be heavenly! One day…

Hippie chick!

When LaLa saw hippie stuff (quite costly) at Party City, she thought it was soooo cute. I was sure we make it at home for much cheaper (like free!)
So we totally shredded this stained undershirt of Daddy’s. Then we added some beads, sharpie artwork by LaLa (on the shirt and denim skirt), my moccasins, and some yarn. I did have to buy her the long sleeve shirt (she can use it all winter) and the socks (target clearance $1.40) Oh, and we forgot to put them on for the pic, but we got some cheap peace sign glasses, too.
There you have it! One awesome homemade hippie costume!

The downside (sort-of)? LaLa wants to decorate more clothes!
Now for JJ’s costume-ever seen a really portable -(walking!)-Port-a-John….Ahhhh 12 year-old boys…

Miss Lightyear. Space Ranger.

Yes, I should’ve been doing HW when I made this, too!
If you’ve ever seen the animated Buzz Lightyear of Star Command movies, you know that there are gazillions of space rangers-Buzz’s partner is actually a princess. So, when Little Nicki was OBVIOUSLY INTERESTED in being a space ranger after she saw her brother’s Buzz costume I saw the perfect opportunity to avoid a chemistry assignment (and/or a floor that needed sweeping, dishes, laundry-you name it!)
To JO~ANN, and beyond! This was my attempt and copying his Disney store Buzz costume  (yay craigslist!) and making it girly for her. Here they are, side by side.

We made velcro arm cuffs that you can't see in the pic and spray painted some thrifted boots white and green before halloween.

Totally easy homemade Jesse costume...

When I should be doing homework I...
I get crazy with the markers!

A Sunday shirt Little Bro has outgrown, a belt that never gets used, a pair of Number 5's jeans, cardboard, a remnant from Little Nicki’s space ranger costume,some sticky back Velcro,  a little magic with red, yellow, black, and brown Sharpies, and….voila! Number 5 will be Jesse for Halloween! (I hope the $1 store still has those cowboy hats, and it’s driving me NUTS that I can’t find her other BOOT!!!)
We also got crazy with markers (and scissors and beads) for LaLa’s costume-pics to come.

Water bottle covers.

Little Nicki: MOM! My water bottle is SO boring.  All the other girls have cute ones. :-/

Me: Ok! Let’s make a case! I’ll find a remnant.
Nicki: A WHAT?!?
Me: sigh. Some cute fabric to cover your water bottle.
Nicki: But what? but how? but will it? but why can’t I just. but Wal-Mart has. but. but….
Me: (next day after school) See? I made one for Luke. I got you a remnant, too.

Nicki: sigh OK. I’ll have a Toy Story one…(with a defeated tone)
Me: I’ll make you a different one, that you’ll like a lot-with strawberries, ok? See? (showing her the remnant) Like Strawberry Shortcake.
Nicki: (unsure look.) Can I have a play day with my friend?
LaLa: (today) I’m bored. Mom, can I make a water bottle case, too? Like a cute one with a strap like a purse?
Me: Well, there is a Supergirl remnant in the laundry room somewhere…

LaLa: Cute! Can we make one for my friend who’s coming over, too?!
Nicki: Can we make mine now? And can you put thing like Laura’s like a purse on mine, too?
Me: Of course.

Nicki: Oooh!  (Followed by a very long list of all the ways she can carry it to school, store it in different places around her desk/classroom, and use it in her room at bed time)  :-D

Off to school (weeks ago)

  
With the older kids gone to school…

Little Bro gets to be the big brother!

13 Years!

So we've been married for 13 years now! We tried to find some fun 13's to take pictures with, but didn't find very many, so we had to improvise.

Love you, Babe!

Dying MOSTLY eggs...

Ok, so we always get a little carried away when we color eggs-it all started a couple years ago when my sis-n-law (I soon shared our genious with my sisters, too!)and I decided to use white t-shirts instead of newpaper or a table cloth under easter eggs to get totally cool tie dye shirts. We took cool pics of all the kids in the shirts. The colors washed out, so each year we've been improving on our method. This year we did straight tie dye in buckets for the shirts. The shirts turned out cute but, in keeping with tradition, some people dyed more than just shirts. We did skirts, shorts, *cough hands cough*...oh...and eggs.

Front yard party

I think Kyle really just wanted an excuse to hang out with friends all day and ride around on a skidsteer, so he...Went out front and tore out the pond. And bushes. Removed and recycled the fence. Cut down this huge tree. (two of them, actually)Then, some friends (and my big brother) showed up to help remove this massive stump and over a ton of cement. (literally!) Shovels, dull chainsaw, sawsall, one big dodge truck, chains, skidsteer, sweat, tears, gatorade, pizza, and hours later...SUCCESS! (and the definite need for a broom)

Thanks everyone for all the help! Our front yard will look great when we finish the sprinklers and grass!

JJ! 12? HoLy CoW!

JJ celebrated his 12th birthday this month. He's such a blessing in our home. I LOVE THIS YOUNG MAN!

He was a spider in the ward roadshow (a traveling skit) at church. So cute! He jumped right in and did a great job. (sorry about the red-eye-I'm in the market for some good photo editing software)

Little Nicki's 5!

First, and foremost she opened her presents, because that's most important!
Then she ate her super delicious cupcakes which matched all the princess decorations.

Last, but not least, she discovered a most-entertaining-but-not-so-new 'toy'!

One!

Number 5 had her first birthday party last night, she somehow managed to knock herself over in her high chair over a 1/2 hour before the party, so she had a nice red spot on her forehead, but she's cute anyway... Had fun playing with her gift bag

and discovering there was actually something besides fun paper in there! Eventually she'd had ENOUGH!(cake and icecream that is.)

Thanks mom for getting that stuff off my face! Looks like she's pleased with her day!