Teal

Conference Candy Jars

 

When  we hear one of these words spoken, we get to eat a piece of candy from the corresponding jar. We have done a variation of this for a few years-it’s gets fine-tuned a little each time.

This project is as simple as you make it! I just took 5 jars, glued scrapbooking paper strips on to make a label I had the intent of writing the word there. Then I decided I wanted a picture too so I copied and pasted some onto a Word document. Then added some word art on top. I looked around for whatever ribbon, fabric, or yarn I had on hand to tie around the neck to make them  more attractive.

I knew I had succeeded when my little two year-old girl said “oh, that’s cute” all excitedly at the jars (before the candy was even added!). Those tiny little sincere compliments are the best!

My picture leaves something to be desired~ignore that for me.

~Shay

BIRTHDAYS GALORE!!

This little guy turned 3-look how excited he is about the candy can Santa brought! Since he was the birthday boy, he got the biggest one.

Number 5 turned two-and started talking A LOT. She is such a character!


Little Nikki turned 6. She is definitely our spunky one! She wanted EVERYTHING chocolate for her party. Chocolate filled pinata that looked like chocolate-chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup and chocolate sprinkles-chocolate cake, icing, more chocolate sprinkles…you’re getting the idea…

JJ officially became a TEENAGER!!!AAAAHHHH!! No, really-he’s an awesome young man. He loves sport claying with the guys and he’s undefeated. We took him out for his birthday (my first time). He won as usual, but they did have to reshoot one course as a tie breaker….

LaLa will  turn 10 in a few short days. She’s the passionate, (dramatic), caring one of the bunch. She’s great at organizing things and shows love and compassion for her brothers and sisters often.  Above is a picture of her playing with Jase and the shopvac/blower.  Here’s a better pic- Ah, never mind-that one makes me laugh!! 

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!