Homemade Christmas

So I have started working on gifts for my girl. She requested pants and shorts and shirts for her American Girl dolls. So in front of her I've been working on nightgowns and dresses, but when she's not around I started working on some pants.

I used a pattern I found for free online. It was too small for the doll, and I didn't know that until I had made them up then couldn't get them on over the dolls bootay! ha ha

they are cute, but too small

Pair Number 2 after I added some to the pattern

a little snug, but they do go on. So I reworked the pattern again. (did I mention I don't really know what I'm doing)

Much better. So now I have my own pants pattern, that I know fits the dolls, and I can now make shorts, capris, and pants pretty quickly. My girl will be very excited.

I also had a cut out and sew dress/nightgown pattern from gma. I decided to give that a go too. Turned out ok, but the yoke was just a little small. I traced each piece onto paper as well, so I would have a pattern if I chose to make this again. It wasn't very hard, so I think I may try it.

I also plan to make some skirts as well as matching nightgowns for her and her dolls. I am enjoying the process and she will be thrilled.

Have a blessed day.

View of the back seat

So we met Jon Monday at school to go out for Valentine's Day, and it was very very quiet in the back seat, which usually means one of 2 things, they are being sneaky, or asleep. I adjusted the rearview mirror to take a look and this is what I saw.

I tried not to laugh. You may wonder what on earth they are doing. They are playing their Nintendo DS's. Because they are back lit, in bright light they are hard to see, so they took off their coats to create a darker environment. I thought it was funny, and pretty smart too. I enjoyed the quiet the rest of the trip with a smile.

It has been beautiful weather this week. So thankful for the break from ice and snow, and I love the sunshine. It makes my heart sing! Rebecca hadn't ridden her bike since last fall, and was nervous about no training wheels, Ryan chose his scooter over his bike, and is nervous of learning to ride with no training wheels too, I think he will get it easy, he just doesn't want to do it yet.

Of course, at some point Ryan decided he was tired. ha!

About to finish up reading 1000 gifts, and then I am going to read it again. This morning, frustration won out over seeing the gifts. I got a reminder that this is a discipline, thanking God for everything, and it does require practice.

We are starting a new Bible Study at church called Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, which from what I can tell (I just got my book) ties right in with what I have been learning from 1000 gifts. In fact, the pastor said before dismissing last evening, to try this week to be thankful, and instead of praying always asking, give thanks. I thought, that is exactly what I have been doing, giving thanks for everything. Rebecca has even found it fun to find things to be thankful for, she was listing things while we waited for our table at Outback on Valentine's Day, it gave me the opportunity to talk to her about being thankful, and then of course, the rest of this week has been filled with battles, but I am still a work in progress!

This morning I thanked God for
~buds on the trees
~a robin playing in the backyard
~peppermint tea

Have a blessed day

Ice is nice in a drink, but not on the roads

I am so over the "ice days" We are one our 4th snow day, altho really it has been ice days! Again, my whole family is home from school. I finally got out yesterday, just to be alone for a few minutes. Wow did I ever need that!!! We have been fine through all this weather, we lost power on Tuesday for about 40 minutes when some transformers blew up across the street, and again yesterday when the electrician cut our wires. He had no choice as the ice storm had pulled our lines and and siding off the back of our house. We were only without power yesterday for about 6 hours, but to my kids it was an eternity. They thought it was awful not to have lights and electricity. We are so spoiled.

We had about 1/4 inch of ice by Tuesday morning, but on Wednesday afternoon when I decided to de-ice my car there was a good inch of frozen stuff on my car, and more in some places. The snow is so frozen that when you walk across it doesn't even leave footprints. The kids, well Rebecca, has been begging to go outside, but with power lines down in our backyard, and an icy mess leading to the street out front, we haven't had a chance to really go out and slip slide around. Today, however, will be the perfect day for sliding in the yard. No power lines to worry over, just sore bottoms from falling on the ice ha!!


I have been working on reading through the Bible in 90 days. The reading is going well. I am amazed at all the things I have missed. I think until now I would have said I know the Bible, but I have learned that I only know a very small fraction of it. When we are done with the 90 day reading through the Bible, I plan to start focusing on memorization. I would like to work on a book at a time, but I may do some individual verses first, and then work a book at a time. I am seeing my need to be searching more indepth in the scriptures, and not just flippantly reading through a section with my devotions. Again, I am at a loss at all I have missed out on, even though I didn't think I was carelessly reading God's word, I have not been giving it the attention it deserves. I am blown away at what I have been learning, not only in the scriptures, but personally. I have gained a desire for more of God, a desire that I thought I had and have wanted for as long as I can remember, but now I feel it too, which makes a big difference.

I remember reading somewhere that the more you are in God's word the more you want to be in God's word. I understand that now, in a way that was incomprehensible before this reading session. What a blessing this has been. I am so glad I stumbled upon this challenge. Of course, this was no accident, God is certainly in control.

Reading has been something that has been going on fairly steadily this week we have been home. Jon has been reading the Boxcar children to the kids, Rebecca is loving it, and even when they stop reading together she has been picking up the book and reading on. I love that she loves to read!

I have not accomplished much this week. When everyone is home I seem to sit much more than when I am here alone. Having them home has been bittersweet. I love them all here, but I miss my alone time. I know all too soon, the house will be more empty than full, and so I should just enjoy this time, but I have become accustom to those few hours for just me through the week. I think I'll go toss some laundry in, do the breakfast dishes, and then see if my little girl wants to paint.

Have a blessed day!

It is midweek

I had a wonderful birthday. My sis brought me lunch at work which was absolutely delish. Black bean soup, fresh salsa, chicken salad in a bell pepper, and a delicious mocha angel food cake. YUM. I made all my co workers smell the cake, but didn't share a morsel. Well, I did share with my family, but only a small portion. =)

My husband bought me a dehydrator. I have been asking for one for 2 years. I figured it was a decent Christmas idea, but somehow I never received one. Now I have one, and tomorrow on my agenda is making banana chips out of the bananas we have before they go bad. The kids love banana chips. I am super excited. I squealed when I came home and saw it!

Right now my sweet left handed girl is coloring shrinky dinks. Yes you read that right.





of course she had to look up and smile!

This week has been filled with making things. Monday the kids didn't have school, so we made bread, chocolate chip cookies, and granola bars. Today I made hand milled bar soap, shaving cream, lotion, hand soap, shampoo, and detangler. Not only is all of the stuff natural, and eco friendly, it was fun to make.

Hope you have a blessed day

Halloween 2010

the kids had a great time at Trunk or Treat. Jon took them because I was at work. I am so glad they got to go.

Rebecca has wanted to be a "prairie girl" ever since we went to Conner Prairie in August. So it was the perfect thing for halloween and her favorite character day at school (a day only for second graders to dress up has a character they love and do a little oral report on. Her fave character is Felicity an american girl from the colonial time period, but in her mind it is prairie)

I made her dress from a vintage sheet she picked out and the apron and bonnet are also from a sheet. I am so pleased with how it turned out.



Ryan was the Bumblebee transformer. Now he got his costume on Thursday of last week...yes a bit last minute, but that is because the boy could not decide what he wanted to be. Indiana Jone, Darth Vader, a prairie boy, and the it went around again. Well Indiana Jones is not available at Walmart, and a prairie boy would have required some sewing on my part, he was not at all into Darth vader once he was holding the costume, he picked up optimus prime (another transformer) but decided he liked the yellow one better so that is what he got.



Hope you have a blessed day

First day of School 2010

It is a big day at our house. My baby is going to kindergarten. Both kids were so so so so so excited for school!!!

They were ready early for their first day!








Monte (my brother) was home a couple weeks ago and he came to our house. We took him to dinner at our local Mexican place, and then we went to the County Fair. The kids love their Uncle Monte, he's really just a big kid!!

My son loves loves loves maps.
My sister gave him this world atlas, and he loves it. He has looked at it everyday, driven his lego cars on it, and just sat on it pretending. He is learning where the different states are because he wants to know! I love when kids learn on accident!!
The other morning I heard him talking and went to see what was going on and this is what I found...






I have a long to do list for today! Not that I have to get it all accomplished today, but I have a bit of a schedule in place for myself, hopefully I can keep it up!!

Hope you have a blessed day!

Last mini Vacay!!

We headed out Thursday afternoon to Cincy and went to the Duke Energy Children's museum, kids had lots of fun, but not really a museum, more like a inside play place. We got a place to stay and then on Friday went to kings island. No I don't have any pictures because I didn't want to spend the day worrying about ruining my camera, i just wanted to enjoy our day! We had a blast. Both kids loved the coasters. This will put a whole new spin on amusement parks in the future. Who would have thought my 5 and 7 year olds would be all about the coasters. Actually Rebecca is more so than Ryan which is very surprising.

I am thoroughly burnt to a crisp. I think my skin and sunscreen invite the sun to bite me! ha! Kids are a bit toasty on their shoulders and Jon's neck is red, but I look a bit lobsterish! ha!
Ry and I took some silly photos to show my awesome sunburn lines...

I just want to say it is hard to get him to make a normal smiling face!!!






and because I don't want my girl to feel left out!






You know I always thought Rebecca looked like me, but after seeing these photos today I think my boy looks more like me than my girl. Interesting!!
Oh and do notice that white strip from my neck to chest...that is my tan line, and that "white" stripe is actually tanned...sheesh!! well, tan for me. ha!
Hope you have a blessed day!

Good News

I'm still alive!! hee hee!


Okay sit down this is serious.


I am getting ready to plug my camera into my computer. ha!



We have a had a few crazy weeks. Vacation, Kings Island, Fair this week, work, a house that was hit by a tornado(okay it was really hit by post vacation lazies) ha!


In other news, I got some exciting news, my baby sis in law is expecting! yay!! (hope I was allowed to tell). I am so very excited. I'll get to enjoy this baby as a baby. I realized that I didn't get to enjoy the baby-ness of my current neice adn nephew because I had little ones of my own to monitor, but my little ones are old enough to let me enjoy this one. yay! Praying all goes well and the nausea passes quickly!

Also, I received an unexpected phone call to interview for a different job. The person rattled off this list of qualities they were looking for in the person, and then stated "you came to mind, and I just had to call you" Seriously, nicest compliment I have received in a very very long time. You know how you work to be the person you want to be, but you are never really sure anyone sees you as that person. Guess what, they do, they just don't tell you! Awesome offer, however, not going to do it, I listed out the pros and cons of current vs new job, and even though I work every weekend, my current job won hands down!

Also, I was really struggling with what to do with Kids Klub. I was in charge of the music and story time last year, and honestly by the end I dreaded every single moment. However, with this job possibility I did some focused praying, and received a new excitement for Kids Klub. It is hard for me because with kids klub I don't get any "church" time since I work every weekend. However, recently I have found a new radio station that is cool. I can listen to James McDonald on the radio daily (amazing preacher) and I get the cd's from the weekly service for at home. It is the connection with people I miss most, but I know God will provide a source for that as well.

It is time to start thinking about what the kids need for school. I can't believe I'm going to have a kindergartener and a 2nd grader. wow! and 6, did you read that SIX hours all to me 5 days a week. I haven't had "me" time regularly, or very often for the last 7 years. I love my kids more than life, but I am really looking forward to the quiet time I'm going to have. I am working on a bit of a plan for that time so I don't just laze around ha! I hope to have a regular exercise routine, ok, walking/running routine, and meal plans, and a better kept house. I'll be able to grocery shop sans kids, work in the yard, prepare the garden, etc. Sit and read a book, work in my craft room, yes, I am looking forward to it.

I may have posted this already, in fact, I'm nearly sure I did. Rebecca is now on a dairy free diet too. So that is shifting how I think about our food prep. With 50% of our family dairy free, I need to make some adjustments. Before I would make supper and fix me my own stuff sans milk, but now I want Rebecca to be able to enjoy everyday things, so I have to make them. So I am going to be doing some recipe trying, and not only making things dairy free, but also cleaning up our diet. I will now have to pack Rebecca's lunch every day of the school year, so I need to plan so we aren't rushing around. Also I want to give her some variety. All of that takes planning, but I want to make up a little recipe book that lists things that work well, so I can plan easier.

Well, I need to plug in the camera and upload those photos, and tackle the rest of the dishes...some one threw miracle grow on my dishes I'm fairly certain! ha!

have a blessed day, oh but before you go...check out this fabulous fashion statement.

What we're up to Wednesday

We have had a busy week. We went to Holiday World last week Wednesday through Friday. We camped, and spent a couple days in the park. It was a good time. Ryan could ride all the stuff he couldn't ride last time, but soon they both will be took big for the kiddie rides, probably before they are ready to stop riding the kiddie rides.

I didn't take a lot of pictures because on Thursday we did a few rides then spent the day in the water park. And on Friday thanks to my sunburn I didn't carry my bag so i had no place to put the camera.

My girl has some seriously dirty feet, this is what happens when you run around a campground bare foot. There were bumper boats, the mini drop zone, and the turkey whirl. Jon doesn't mind the spin you in circles rides, I on the other hand do not handle spinning very well. So bless my hubby's heart he took the kids on the spinning rides.

Holiday world is ready and prepared for people with food allergies. They have a generic menu that tells about the main food allergies, but each location for food also has a book with the actual ingredients for people like me who need more than just a "it doesn't have milk in it" I like to read it for myself. Milk comes in so many non obvious forms too, that taking the info from someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of it makes me nervous.

Camping was great. I didn't take any photos of that and I'm not sure why. We were on a bit of slope so our bodies ached a bit from trying to not roll down the tent Ha! Roasted marshmallows and smores were delish. I have to say that my chocolate candy bar which of course isn't what anyone else would define as chocolate at all is only so so to just eat, but on a smore it was more than fabulous!!!


Looking forward to more camping in the future, I wasn't sure I would really like camping, as I kinda like indoor plumbing and air conditioning, but it turned out to be just fine. I think that when it is just us too, I will like it even more.


In other things kind of going on this past week, I realized just how grown up my girl is getting.

Here she is on the last day of school...June 2.




And here she is just last week. Only 2 weeks later. Don't mind the mess we were packing and somehow we always destroy the house in the process ha! She and Ryan have both grown about an inch since 3/22/10. Sometimes I want a pause button.





I was sitting at the table and was just struck by how grown up she is looking. I am not the only one noticing it tho, her grammie had said a similar thing a few days before. In another year we are going to be entering the tween years, sigh, and then puberty...heaven help me, and teen years. sigh. Time is moving too fast!

I refuse to borrow trouble, so for now I'm going to enjoy today, take more pictures and make lots of good memories with my kidlings, while they will still let me call them that!!

Hope you have a blessed day.

What we're up to Wednesday

So it wasn't as crazy a week as last week, but we did manage to do quite a bit.

On Thursday we went to the Cincy Zoo, and the highlight for the kids was getting their faces painted. I took progressive pictures of each of them.

I have full intentions of posting them, but for some reason they won't upload right now.

We also went to Jungle Jim's and got some fun goodies.

Friday seems to elude me at this moment. ha!

I of course worked the weekend. One day in Oncology, and one day in the crazy house (that would be my affectionate name for Gero psychiatry).

Monday Rebecca and I headed to Richmond to get some thing we needed. New swings for the swing set, and somethings for an upcoming camping excursion. Then we had some fun girl time with our pedicures. I really thought they did a great job working on my girl, but I have to say my polish is already chipped (boo) and so maybe we will try someplace new next time. Tuesday was filled with lots and lots of laundry. Jon had band practice with the community band he performs with, and of course there were a few thunderstorms. ha! I'll attempt to upload the pictures again later. Recently, i've been having some trouble uploading pics, so I just usually have to try multiple times.

Hope you have a blessed day!

What we're up to Wednesday

So this past week has flown by, I can't believe it. Rebecca finished 1st grade, then the very last day of school wanted to spend the night at my parents so she could ride the bus with Grandma.

I met mom on Wednesday, didn't get my girl til Friday at Bible study. Ryan and I headed to Winchester to go to Bible study.

Jon had his last day of school on Friday. We had lunch at Mrs. Wicks on Friday YUM!! stopped to see Aunt Tonya and give her some things.

Went to Muncie with Grandma has Bella, found out I had no break lights, shopped at Target, went to Gaddis and had my stoplight switch fixed, no I do not drive a Hyundai. That is what 2 of the service people asked me at different times because apparently there is a recall on Hyundai stoplight switches. ha!

Headed home. Worked the weekend on Day shift...that was an adventure (I had some interesting patients). Gave chemo for the first time in about 2 years, some things you really don't forget.

Jon had graduation. Kids spent the night with mom and dad. Got the kids after work Sunday night.

Drove home in a bad storm that produced a double rainbow.

I am so glad blogger saves posts as you go, or this one would have been gone!

Anyway, I was driving home, kids in the back seat, and the sky was a weird shade of greyish yellow. I was white knuckled, watching the clouds, just waiting for a twister to drop. I was praying the whole time for safety and attempting to allow God's presence to give me peace. I was in the right lane and was getting ready to move to the left lane to pass and glanced back out the window because my car has a huge blind spot and saw the rainbow and I had instant peace. My anxiety melted immediately. I praised and thanked God right there. It was a wonderful moment. I continued to watch the sky, but more with amazement of God's power than with concern. We got home completely safe.

We had a lazy day on Monday as you learned yesterday, thanks to an upset belly, forgot about my husband's little cousins elementary graduation party, learned this morning my niece and sister in law were sick all night and since they were at the party, we are glad we were not! I couldn't have gone anyway, but Jon and the kids could have. I felt bad for missing and it was a complete slip on my part, so glad we weren't exposed to the yuckies!!

Tuesday did not go exactly as planned. I was still a bit under the weather. Worked on my Bible study, only one more week with my group.

Made a bit of a plan for Rebecca for school work for the summer, sorted out her school work for the year and moved it to a bankers box for storage.

Did dishes and laundry. Chilled quite a bit. Kids played and picked up. Watched the little mermaid with the kiddos during supper.

Just really enjoyed the day with my family.

Jon worked on our desktop computer, and he thinks he has it almost fixed! YAY!! It was sick.

Bless your heart if you made it that far! And now for your viewing pleasure ha!!

Rebecca and Mrs. Siggers (who is an amazing teacher)




Me and Ryan. He wanted his picture taken too. You would think he might smile...




Hope you are having a blessed week.

What we're up to Wednesday

It's the last day of school. Rebecca picked out her outfit.


I fixed her hair.


We had breakfast which was eggs and toast. We took teacher gifts and a little something for the principle and secretary, you'll see these Friday and Monday. There was an awards program at 8:15 for K-2 kids. Rebecca didn't get an award, but I like to be there. Rebecca is going to spend the night with my parents tonight because she wants to ride the bus with her grandma tomorrow and it's mom's last day of school.

I have been doing some goal setting, some of it related to everyday life, some to my blog. you'll be seeing some changes here, not in design, but in the posting schedule. I am hoping to get things more organized. There will be plenty of surprises too.

Jon has 2 more days of school, and a couple days next week of inventory stuff, and then we have some fun family things planned. I am so ready for summer. I don't want a free for all summer though, I want some structure so we don't spend our days in front of the tv and computer, or playing the Wii!

We are eating healthier, well I am trying anyway. My allergies are kicked up to a yucky level, so any little dairy sends my body into the ugly zone! I am going to try to find some ways to get healthy food without it costing so much, but when you look at all the things that have dairy in them, you have two choices, give it up or buy and alternative (which in most cases is a better for you alternative, but usually more expensive) For instance, pancake syrup, lots of different brands, common ingredient--caramel color, which sometimes does and sometimes doesn't have milk or milk derived product in it. Now because sampling is a lousy way to find out if I can have something I just avoid anything with caramel color because the price of being sick isn't worth it. I don't however want to go without any pancakes, so that leaves pure maple syrup as the alternative. Pure maple syrup is so much better, but it is double the cost of the over processed, added to sugary syrup we serve our family, and it is about half the size. Therefore, our grocery budget just got inflamed! So I am on the search for healthy hearty foods that don't bust the budget.

Well, I have some work to do, hope you have a blessed day