Our Front Door - Christmas

Don't mind the diaper pail, we live here.

I just kept it simple. I used one of the center pieces I made for the Ward Christmas party and put it on the front porch. I really like it. It makes me happy to see it when I drive into the driveway.

Burp Rags

I made Burp rags for my one of my girlfriend's baby showers the other day and was commissioned to make some for another friend. She was going to give themas a gift as well. The first ones I ever made I had given this friend and she said that they were the best she has used. I was so pleased. So I added them to my store.

FHE

On Monday we made a table square for the Thanksgiving holiday. I thought it would be nice to have as our family grows and fun to watch it change.

It's Autumn Time

I love Autumn!!! I love the crisp air, the mostly clear skies, pumpkins, pumpkin goodies, apples, the beautiful colors of the trees. I am sad that this season is so short. 

I was feeling in the autumn mood and decided it was time to take down my summer decorations on the porch and put up more fall inspired decor. Alexis loves pumpkins. So I took her to Horrocks to get her pumpkin. She picked out a really pretty one. It is orange with white patterns on it. I had never seen one like it before.

I made the numbers with my Mom's Cricut machine. I love that thing!

I found the table at Goodwill and painted it cream. I love it!!! I have enjoyed it all summer. I found the chairs at Salvation Army and have enjoyed those all summer. The flowers I cut from my hydrangea bush in the front. In the beginning of summer they are bright blue, pink and purple. Then the closer it gets to winter they turn burgandy. I love them and have plans to transplant some the rest of the front. They are so easy to take care of and I need that in my life.

What I am Working On

This is what I am currently working on. They are crayon caddies or rolls. I haven't decided what to call them yet, but they are fun. They hold sixteen crayons. I loved having a special carrying case for my crayons when I was younger. Organizing the colors is always fun. How much would you charge for these?

Leah's talent

Leah is very talented and has great vision for ways to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Here is her most recent project.
Before & After

I am very blessed to have such a wonderful wife who makes our home and lives beautiful.
I love you, Leah!
brian

Handmade Home

I made this purse over the last few days. I am pretty proud of myself. I made the rose out of trim. I just kept rolling it and sewing it in the back. Then I hand sewed it onto the purse when I was done.
I used canvas on the bottom from a drop cloth I got for painting. The other fabric is the same fabric I used for the Boppy cover and the nursing cover. I got the directions from the blog Made by Rae. My next sewing adventure is to make some clothes for me. I picked out some very exciting fabric. I hope it turns out okay.

On a side note. I am not happy with my hair. Brian doesn't see that I need a haircut because I am growing it out again. I disagree. I just want to fix it up a bit. So I am excited because in April I am going to my Sister-in-law's place to get my hair done!

What I have been doing

I have been busy trying new things and developing talents. I made this mac & cheese concoction the other day. I made my own cheese sauce with half sharp cheddar and half Monterrey jack, added sweet turkey sausage, and some diced tomatoes. I served it with corn. Brian and I mixed the corn in and it made it just right. Sounds weird but I was using what I had on hand.

I seem to have an abundance of grocery bags. I use them for garbage bags in the bathroom and in our room. I also use them to dispose of Lexi's diapers. I got tired of not having a place for them so I made two of these holders. I used burlap and cut up woman's stocking. I also used freezer paper to make a stencil and then painted the word on them. I think they are pretty neat. I will be doing more freezer paper stencils in the future.

I forgot to take a before picture of this chair. This was a little metal folding chair that we saw at a thrift store. Ellie was taken with it and it was only two dollars. So I picked it up and then spray painted it and then mod podged a piece of scrapbook paper on the seat. Ellie loves it and I like it too.

I made this boppy cover all by myself. I took a cover that I had and used that for a pattern. I sewed my first zipper. It took me awhile to figure that out, but I did it and I was so proud. I gave this to a friend who blessed their son last Sunday. He is so beautiful!

I made this two days later. Another friend of mine had her first baby last Saturday. She really wants to work on breastfeeding. So in supporting that decision I made her a cover. I really like mine. I got the directions from this website.

I have a bunch of other things that I am working on. I will share them when I am done. Mikey is growing and just started clicking his tongue. Ellie might be on the verge of potty training. Alexis continues to love her grandmas and all the activities. We miss our family very much and we love you.

Catching Up

I got Ellie some sun glasses for the summer. She thought she was I mean is pretty hot stuff.

Brian was outside taking pics and Ellie got outside too. Doesn't she understand cold? I guess this is what happens when you are born in Michigan.


As a Hawaiian friend said, "That is how the locals do it." Brian was sweeping the snow off of our walk way in his shorts.

I made these Valentines for our mothers. I intended them to be bookmarks, but Mom in Hawaii said that she was going to make them into magnets for the fridge. Why didn't I think of that? Then everyone can see them. Mom's are clever.
We have had visitors at our bird feeder. Mostly squirrels foraging on the ground but this was a new bird we hadn't seen around our house before. We will definitely be doing this again next year. We like looking out our window and watching our visitors eat our treats except in the summer and it's our garden.



This is Alexis during a Family Home Evening. We were dancing and she didn't want to participate so she went into the kitchen but she couldn't stop the beat. There is more about Alexis at her blog. She got glasses and participated in this year's swimming Special Olympics.

Handmade Home

I have seen on a couple of other blogs making leggings made out of woman's knee length socks. I thought I would give it a try. I found theses at Target in their Valentine Clearance section. So I cut them off right at the ankle and then I sewed a hem where I cut them off. Wha la! Leggings! Ellie loves them.

Sorry for the fuzzy pic. Our camera with working flash was out for repairs.

Celebrating Love, Snow and the Year of the Tiger

For Family Home Evening last week we talked about the two greatest commandments. We read Matthew 22: 36-40. We made Valentine votives out recycled baby food jars, old tissue paper and mod podge. We put battery operated tea lights inside and then attached the scripture on a heart with ribbon. We gave them away today to Grandma Val (It's her birthday!), to a few of the widows from our ward and an older Brother in our ward. He was so giddy to receive a Valentine. He said that he hadn't gotten one since he was a little kid. Brian and I liked this service project and will be doing it again next year (a new family tradition).



Brian took me to see Leap Year. It was cute. He also took the girl's and made me this Valentine. If you click on it you can see it larger and read it a little better. It brought a tear to my eye and touched my heart. I love my family!!!


For the girls I made these felt cupcakes. My first attempt. I think it turned out pretty well. Lexi saw the box and asked if she could have one. I said go for it. She tried to be careful to take one out and then she went to take a bite and was sad to discover that they were fake. I then gave one to Ellie. She took a bite and glared at me with her signature pout. It was funny.



We took time to celebrate the snow. Brian really wanted to take the girls sledding. I stayed in the van with Mikey other than taking the photos.


We had company on Friday and of course I had to try a new recipe. I made Easy Raspberry Chicken with Coconut Rice. It was so yummy and our company asked for the recipe. I love when that happens. There wasn't any leftover because Brian kept piecing on it after we had finished dinner and our company had left.


Happy Chinese New Year!!! This is the year of the Tiger. Grace bought Alexis a jacket and Ellie an outfit that I thought would be great to wear today to celebrate. Thank you Grace. Brian and I wore red for the New Year and for Valentines.


Kung Hei Fat Choi!!!

Burp Rags, Thai Food & The Black Plauge Song

I made these burp rags for a friend. I gave them as a gift at her shower. I am going to try to give only handmade gifts from now on. It makes me feel good and accomplished. Plus I plan on recycling as many materials as possible. My next projects will be to make Brian some slippers and Mikey some bibs and blocks.



In our culinary adventures, I tried to make Pad See Ew. It is a Thai dish that we like to order when we go out to a Thai restaurant. It turned out alright. I would love to go to Thailand and have someone teach me how to cook some of their dishes.






Ellie was playing Ring Around the Rosey with some friends earlier in the week. She loves this dance song. She can get some pretty good air on her falls too. This was this evening while Brian was out and about doing his Priesthood thing. I sang the song over and over and over and over. Brian had a good giggle when he watched this. I hope you do too.