Silly Virus

So, I have not been able to post for a little while on my computer...I would like to blame it all on a virus I had on my computer, but that would not be completely true. Before I got the virus, I was just so busy trying to finish everything on my Christmas project "to-do" list, I didn't have time to do much else. I am very proud of myself though...I got 2 Christmas dresses, 2 Santa skirts, 1 table runner, and 2 potholders done before Christmas. Oh wait, plus, I made my friend Megan's, 2 little girls Santa skirts and hair clips. Then maybe Christmas night-ok, maybe the day after, I bound a quilt I had gotten back from the quilters. I am proud to say that I have bound all 3 quilts now.

Then, everytime I would open my sewing hutch, there was this little baggy staring at me...it held a mini Easter egg quilt in it-all cut out, just never sewn. My cousins made them like 2 years ago and my one cousin even went to the trouble to cut mine out for me. So over the last 2 days, I finished that little bugger. I was so excited to use a scrap I got at a LQS for $.50 for the back. So exciting to see the project completed and ready for Spring! Yes, it is 2 years late, but I will just say I am early for Easter/spring this year :)

Since everything was deleted off my computer, I have to install my photo software again, so I can post pictures of all of the fun things I have made/completed the last couple of weeks.

I need to get back to putting away all of the things Santa left under our tree. I will post more about our Christmas weekend soon.

Thanksgiving Project

I got this cute idea for turkey shirts over at The Cottage Home It's my new favorite blog-check it out...so much fun stuff to look at!

The little one showing off her shirt!

Up close of the ltitle one's shirt!

T's shirt

My turkey's have 2 extra feather's-doesn't seem to matter how many times I count and recount and read the directions...I always have something slightly off...oh well, I think I like it with more feathers anyway!

Different Headband

I have been loving trying new headbands and such for the girls, lately. I got this idea for a braided headband over at Fireflies and Jellybeans.

Bunnies

My husband and I took the kids last weekend to get bunnies-I was thinking three...we ended up with...

WaWa (named after my 2 year old's fav spot to go with Daddy-weird, yes, but I just go with it these days)

And here's Fluffy...

And Gingerbread...

And sweet little Dallas...And Blacky...yep..5 bunnies! Oh my!!

Collecting

So, I have had this idea for awhile now to use the RJR Farmer's Market fabric to make a picnic quilt. I started collecting a 1/4 of a yard every time I would go to a fabric store to start my collection. The other day I went to one of my favorite stores, and bought a bunch of them...so the collection is growing quite nicely. I can't wait to get the rest of the collection, so I can get started on the quilt.

So far I have collected the asparagus, plums, red onions, cucumbers, kiwi, avocado, grapefruit, bananas, carrots, apples, strawberries, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, cantaloupe, green beans, cherries, and apricots. I love them!!

Headband

I saw this cute headband idea over at Ruffles And Stuff awhile ago that I have been wanting to try for the girls...I finally decided to go for it tonight after I got the kids settled to watch a movie. They didn't come out perfect as I wasn't able to print out the template since my computer is out of ink. Oh well, it is what it is. I do have to go and try to find smaller headbands for the little one-the ones I found are just a tad too big for her. Below is a picture of T with the one I made for her...

School Parade

The school held their annual Halloween Parade last week...I have some nice pictures of the kid's classes however, out of privacy, I will not post those...here are a couple pictures I got of just my kids (unfortunately I didn't do as well getting one of just the big guy)...(T-a fairy)

(Spiderman)

Of course I have to post a picture of the little one-as she insisted she was not leaving the house without her costume. Then once we made it to school she insisted not only did the costume have to be on, but mommy must take a picture of her being a butterfly...how could I refuse...she makes a pretty cute butterfly if you ask me.

Too Cute...

...not to share. Our youngest is a daddy's girl through and through and loves our dog like no other in the house (besides daddy of course). The other night I was getting ready for bed when I looked over and saw this...too cute!

Pumpkin Fun

We got pumpkins last weekend and carved them...it's always a fun time!

Foster Parent Fall Party

Our foster parent association held their annual fall party not too long ago. It was a great time of pumpkin painting, pony rides, hay rides, barrel train rides, food, and a bonfire. The kids had a great time. I love getting together with other foster parents to find out what they are going through and such-it always amazes me, I often feel like I am the only one going through what I am, but I go there, and suddenly I realize I am not alone. It is also a great time talking to other foster/adoptive mom's who have the same hair issues as I do...as my children clearly have different hair as mine-it requires a great deal more work, and it is nice to hear what other mom's are doing, etc.

So Tired!

I think I have really been working myself too hard! I fell asleep much earlier than I normally do last night and had a very hard time getting up this morning. I had to run the kids to school today because we were all sort of struggling to get motivated. Last night was a little rough around here. I will be completely honest and say that I am not playing the single parent roll very well since my husband is working out of town and won't be home until next Friday. The kids are tired of him not being home, I'm wearing out, and I know he isn't happy right now being away. I keep telling myself I am thankful he has a job, and that he provides for his family, we are just missing him.

Last night the big guy wasn't feeling very well, so he was very upset and unsure of what would happen today if he couldn't go to school. He doesn't do change very well, so it was very hard to reassure him that everything would be ok and we would deal with the issue, if it even was an issue, in the morning. My 5 year old princess, bless her heart, took to peeing in her pants yesterday. I don't know why...if you ask her, she'll say, "I don't know" so obviously not much help. She went on the floor right next to the toilet too, again "I don't know" was the answer I got. Today she was fine... I really think it had to do with the big guy's TSS being here and not having her attention...one can only guess with T. And the the precious wee one...she is missing her daddy desperately. She is a daddy's girl through and through. Bedtime is the worse for her...it's the time she has to really remember that daddy isn't home, nor is he coming home anytime soon. It's so hard rocking her through the screams and cries...it really breaks my heart...to be so young and to not understand. Shoot, I am 30 and have a hard time dealing with the fact that he isn't coming home tonight!

After I got the kids to school today I ran to the store, as I was doing my pumpkin yesterday I realized I had no freezer bags as well as the vegetable oil as I had mentioned yesterday. I got both this morning. When I got home I was sooo tired. The little one and I just laid around watching her favorite, Elmo. It was a nice quiet morning at home.

I had the privilege of meeting up with my sister and nephew, for lunch. It was nice to get out of the house for a little bit. My little one doesn't like me wanting to have adult chats, but none-the-less, it was still a nice time. My sister has been very busy with the local fairs, so it was nice to finally see her and not talk to her through text or on the computer!

Came home, and got the kids off the bus. While they ate, I got my pumpkin pureed and in the freezer. I didn't freeze it as I wanted to...for my pumpkin pies, I usually use 3 1/2 c pumpkin, and silly me at the store only got pint bags instead of quarts..oh well, we'll make it work! I feel good about getting that project done. Tomorrow I have a busy day, if my kids allow, to clean up the mess of a room called a kitchen. It has been worked hard over the last couple of days...it deserves a good cleaning. I have to think of a project/activity the kids can be occupied with to get it done though.

Well, the kids are watching a movie, so I better use the time wisely and get a basket of laundry folded.

Busy Busy

The last couple of days I have been very busy!!! My mom, my cousin Lynne, and I went to the Apple Harvest over the weekend. We had a nice time even though they said I was grumpy and didn't know how to behave since not having my children with...trust me...that was not the case! I was having a nice time not having to correct anyone and just being able to sit and enjoy watching people when my little legs got tired. I found a cute little wrought iron pumpkin with some garland around it for on my table at home. After we were finished walking through the booths and such, we left and went to the apple orchard. We all got some apples, I got more than the other 2 though. Yesterday I was busy busy busy trying to get things made with the apples so they didn't go to waste. I ended up freezing 2 apple pies unbaked (as I just learned that I can do that), I baked 2 apple pies (1 for the freezer, 1 to eat now), 3 pans of apple crisp (2 for the freezer, 1 almost all gone), and a dozen apple dumplings. Other than the apples I got for the kids to eat, all of the apples were put to good use, I think. I am very proud of myself, especially about my apple dumplings...I never made them by myself before! They don't look the prettiest, but they taste wonderful, so I guess that's all that matters!

Today is pumpkin day! My dad gave me a couple of pumpkins when I picked up my car after the Apple Harvest. They have been moved from one corner to the next in my kitchen...the kids think they are the neatest toys. So today I decided I must get them cooked off and in the freezer before they are unusable. I have the last one in the oven roasting now. I need to dig out the food processor here in a minute to start getting it in the freezer. I wanted to make pumpkin whoopie pies today, but realized I don't have enough veggetable oil, so I need go to the store to get that tomorrow. For today I will just get it all cooked off and ready.

I tell ya, being domestic is tiring! Ha Ha! I fell asleep early last night and still feel like I could sleep the day away! Luckily the sun came out, so the house is much brighter than it has been for the last week or so, so that helps keep me going today!

Love the Purr of the Sewing Machine!

I finally got to turn on my sewing machine last week for the first time in months...really since the beginning of the summer. I sewed a binding on a quilt that I had made for my husband before we were married.

When I was at one of my favorite fabric stores the other week, I got some Halloween fabric pretty cheap. My family isn't one to go all out for Halloween, but we do allow our kids to dress up and go trick-or-treating. I decided to make each of the kids their own trick-or-treat bag, of course! Each one is different. The big guy's has bats on it, T's has little black cats & pumpkins on it, and then for the littlest one...she has jack-o-lanterns. It was so hard getting a good picture of them because of the dreary, dark, gray, rainy days we had since finishing them.

7 Years Old!

2 weeks after we celebrated T's birthday, it was time for the big boy to turn 7...don't get me started on how this boy has grown over the last year.

5 years old!

So back at the beginning of August, we celebrated T's 5th birthday...I can't believe she's 5 already and in kindergarten...where does time go?!

(don't mind there are only 2 candles...seems to be a theme for me...always forgetting the candles)

Just a little late...

So, I just realized my last post was at the end of July...clearly I missed posting the kids first day of school pictures. They are too cute not to share, so please excuse the fact that they are over 2 months late! After this post, I think I will go back and post some other pictures from the summer. We managed to squeeze in 2 weeks of church camp, 3 birthdays, & a vacation in New Jersey since my last post. Man were we busy! Hope you enjoy the next couple of posts!

Playground Fun

We have a nice playground by our house...although it is pretty big. I don't like to go t o that one by myself with the kids because the kids like to go all different directions. One evening after my husband got home from work, we went for a little while. It was such a nice evening...

Camping

My dad has a property in Northern PA that we like to go camping at. My parents, sister, her 2 boys, my brother, the kids and I all went camping over fourth of July. Sadly my husband had to stay home because of work.

Vacation Bible School

The 2 older kids got to attend Vacation Bible School at our church. They got to "travel" to Egypt every night...they loved it!

At the end of Bible School they had an ice cream/pool party for the kids and their families...what a nice end to a wonderful week!