Today was crazy busy, but sooo fun!

We started with Caitlynn's dance class this morning.  Her teacher had a family emergency, and they had to cancel class, so she actually got to go to gymnastics instead.  She had a blast!

We came home for a couple of hours, and I got some work done on my family rules canvas (all the paper applied)..  then we got the kids dressed up for the fall festival at our church.  We made popcorn balls, and did the cakewalk (Jon made mini pineapple upside down cakes and Halloween funfetti cupcakes for it, but we still ended up bringing home a different cake).  The kids did face painting, and learned about apple peeling, coring, slicing, and juicing.  That fresh apple juice was AMAZING! 

After the festival, we came home, ate dinner and went trick or treating with some friends.  We actually had to call Jon to come and get us, because we walked too far before I noticed, and were quite aways away.  Of course, I took my keys for some reason, and he couldn't get his car out from in front of mine.  So, when the ever-present MP's drove down the road we were on, I flagged them down and asked them to deliver the keys to Jon.  :P  They seemed a bit taken aback, but they did it.  And we made it home with no issues other than two sugared up kids asking for more candy. :)

The house was decorated pretty nicely- Jon said that most of the little kids wouldn't come up to the porch, they sent older siblings up instead.  Kudos to him!

Head on over to...

Today's Creative Blog has a Fabulous Friday Giveaway going on, and the winner gets $50 towards some awesome holiday cards or other items at http://www.jumpingjackdesigns.com/. 

I love the prompt cards- maybe I should order those.. J might actually get some writing done, and I know that Nana, Grandma and Great Grandma will love them!  :)

we played hooky today.. :)

I have been so inspired by the creative blogs that I have been finding all over the place.  It seems that I can't check one blog without finding a link to several others that I want to check out.  And of course, each of them has tons of great ideas for things I want to try out.  I'm thankful that they are making me want to get out and do something! 
This is my take on Ashley's Apothecary Jars  (found here- http://shanty2chic.blogspot.com/2009/10/ashleys-fall-apothecary.html)- I used the same candlesticks, instead of having different heights, and I decided on Oil Rubbed Bronze as my color.  Turned out really nice- definitely loving the gorilla glue.  Its my entry for the 'I made it with Gorilla Glue' party.  I'll have the button soon (when I can figure out how to use it correctly)! 

I'll have to take pictures of the way it looks now, I've added some pumpkins that we painted, and one that I decoupaged.  At least, I think that's what I did to it.  I mod podge'd a whole bunch of pieces of paper all over it.  Is that decoupage or just papier mache'ing?  :D

Anyhow, there were acorns in one jar (til they got moldy when I forgot to air dry them-d'oh!), and there are some pretty but fake fall leaves in the other. 

And I am in LOVE with Lindsey Cheney's family rules canvas.  So much so that that is the first thing that popped into my head when I woke up, that I had to go buy a canvas!  :P

http://lindseycheney.blogspot.com/2009/03/guest-blogger-nicole-my-family.html

Off to go make my to do list for tomorrow, and then to write down all of the projects I have swirling around in my head. Cause if not, they will be forgotten and won't come back until I have absolutely no money or willpower to be creative.  Go figure.

An awesome giveaway chance!

I love reading the blogs that I follow.  I get so many creative ideas that I never would have thought of on my own.  In this case, I've signed up for the quilting give-away, and you should too!  There are some beautiful fabrics being given out.  I can't decide which one I would want!  Go to the link below to enter for your chance to win! :D

http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/2009/10/sharing-my-good-fortune-with-you.html

Baby quilt and sling progress

Well, one of the projects that I am trying my hand at is making a crib quilt for the peanut.  I picked up the already pieced top and bottom in a jungle print from Hobby Lobby, and am hand sewing the pieces together.  My wonderful hubby was able to do a line to show me (since he's done tons more hand sewing than I have, however sad that might seem...lol), and I repositioned the quilting hoop so that I'm ready to start fresh on a new area tomorrow. 

I got extremely frustrated in trying to complete the baby sling that one of my friends gave me instructions for.  I did the first half at her house, and wrote the instructions down as she showed me how.  And I still screwed it up somehow!  :P  I can laugh at it now, but I was really ticked off earlier.  I finally got it most of the way done, I just have to sew the edges over.  Pictures of both will have to wait til tomorrow, cause right now the camera is out of reach, and I'm pooped.  I'd love to see anything crafty you have going on, Shelby!  (I figured I'd just use your name, since you're the only one reading this)!  :D

well, today was interesting...

Just to anyone that owns pets and lives on a military base:  it really IS cheaper to take them to the vet on base.  I spent almost twice as much to get our dog 'legal' for post, because I screwed up and forgot her appointment this afternoon.  Which, in my defense, was for a totally legit reason.  I had the Mirena inserted today, and their description of a little cramping was WAY off.  I hit the bed as soon as I got home, and didn't get up until about 2 hours later when the kids' movie was over.  Thank God we do school in the morning. 

And on a side note- one of the vet techs told me that the only reason the vet clinic exists on base is to check over the meat that is brought on post, and that they are not allowed to actually make money.  Hence why its so much cheaper.

I didn't have the heart to ask her if she was being funny ( you know, some sort of Halloween creepy story stuff), or if she was serious.  :D

Reconnected with a friend that PCS'd back in February- her girls are adorable, and getting sooo big!   I'm getting itchy feet- I really want to travel somewhere.  I have a feeling our first place will be to CO, to visit some of our friends that just got stationed there.  BTW, she is my first follower!! Yay!  (Sorry, just had to say something, cause I knew you'd get to read it!)  :)

Now off to fold and put away the load of laundry and get our netflix movies ready to mail back tomorrow... Good night!

its getting cold out there!

I love this time of year.  Not so much the rain we've been having, but the temperature.  I love bringing out our hoodies and jeans, or being able to wear a tshirt and jeans and be perfectly comfortable. 

I'm so proud of my kiddo- he's doing a great job with homeschooling.  I'm kind of proud of myself, too, because for once I haven't procrastinated and put things off (with the exception of the crazy busy week we had during the marriage retreat, etc).  I have realized that I can't let him get away with much because I don't want it to be a bad habit for later.  And I've learned how to be more creative in praising his efforts.  Although he has pushed my buttons about doing things correctly!  :P

Anyhow, not much done today in the way of creativity.  I did manage to hand sew one line on peanut's blanket, but he woke up after that and then I had to go buy ketchup for the chili I made for dinner.

If I ever have anyone that reads this, I would ask what your favorite part is of this season... I'd love to know of any traditions you might have, too.

My fall to do list

Ok, so this is more of a wish to-do list than a to-do list, because I don't have the time to get it done quickly...  Why can't we have magic wands?  'poof' and its done?

Oh well.  I have to remind myself that doing something completely and correctly is more satisfying than having to go back and do it a second time. 

1.  Clean out the hall closet- donate what we don't need, and sell the extra toys that are in there. 
2.  Clean out our closet- I swear its growing!  and not with clothing...
3.  Move my scrapbooking supplies in their own area, and get rid of what I don't use.
4.  Help the kids sell their unwanted/unused toys. 
5.  Decorate the house carefully, instead of just saying, here let's put this on the wall so its not bare!
6.  Hand sew Peanut's quilt, and start J and C's quilts. 
7.  Start making Christmas gifts for close family and friends. 
8.  Make my Christmas wreath for the door. I found it here- http://doehlerdays.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-wreath.html
9.  Make some simple decorations for our walls upstairs, especially J's room. 
10.  Clear out the 0/3 month clothes and bring out the 3/6 months.  :_ 
11.  Learn how to make curtains and pillows/pillowcases. 
12.  Make the holiday squared quilt I found at http://bittybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/2008/10/halloween-squared-quilt-pattern.html  I <3 her blog!  Lots of creative stuff to be found there. 
13.  cut up some christmas paper to collage a cardboard tree with the kids.

That's all I can think of for now..

yay for first posts!

Today, we went to the pumpkin patch. 

It was hosted by a church, and the pumpkins were already picked.  We looked around, the kids each chose a bounce house to jump in, Caitlynn did the snack walk (and shared her snack with her brother).  Caitlynn decided to try the bear walk, and she won!

  They got a snow cone, and we got funnel cakes, laughed while watching another family try to get their 5 month old to look at the camera, and then laughed while they tried to get our kids to look when it was our turn!  :)

On the way home, we decided to stop at Goodwill to browse around for miscellaneous craft items, and scored a rainforest jumperoo for the baby.  Came home, and we all vegged out with a movie and dinner. 

Next project up will be the repainting of the bench that someone was throwing away last week. :)