Christmas Shirts and Beautiful Beau

Mod Trees (on a size 3T)

Candy Cane (on a size 4T)

Lipstick Beau - and check out that shiner on his forehead!

Tonight Toby got called into work for a while so I spent the evening chasing the kids:) They seem extra hyper - I can't imagine why - wouldn't have anything to do with ALL of the Halloween candy that has been consumed over the weekend or anything. Anyways...while I was on the phone with Aunt Jody (bottom picture) Beau came running up to me after his bath talking about something or another. I looked down at him and had to do a double take. He had gone and found a tube of lipstick somewhere and very carefully applied it to his bottom lip. It was so funny because it was on so well for a 2 year old boy. Of course, Mommy took a couple of pictures right away and then left it on so Daddy could see when he got home. Of course, Toby was "take that stuff off" when he got home. I told him his son was the one that applied it. Maybe I should be worried!

The two shirt are my first two Christmas creations. They have been lots of fun to work on. I think the candy cane could go for a boy or a girl, but both of the above were done on girls' shirts. The above samples are for sale!! I just went ahead and made them so I could go ahead and let everyone know what some options were. I am working on several others, but I am waiting for my shipment of shirts to come in!! In the works are snowmen (which will be cute for the boys, I think), wreaths, more Christmas trees, holly, birds, and crosses.

Halloween Happenings and More

Ka-Chow (for those avid Cars fans out there - you will know what that means...Beau says it all the time...)

Before leaving to trick-or-treat on our front porch steps. Abby seriously would strike this pose every time she was holding this gun - hilarious. In case you can't tell, they are Luke and Leia from Star Wars.

Just a sampling of how very into Halloween our neighborhood is - so much fun for the kids. This is our neighbors' house two doors down.

Two blocks up on our street there is this big ol' white house that is so pretty that is owned by the guy who made the Roly-Poly movie, among other things. They go ALL out for this holiday. They had stuff all over the place - including a tent from a funeral home set up. Craziness!! They are really sweet, and she let the kids pick 5 pieces of candy each, which they just loved...

Snow White (by Mommy) and Lightning McQueen (by Daddy). We thought Daddy did a fantastic job of his "challenging" pattern of McQueen, didn't he? I was just happy you could tell who Snow White was (and mine was "moderate" difficulty - ha!). The carving of the pumpkins was so much fun, and especially fun to see the end results.

The kids posing by their pumpkins

The cookie gram sent by their cousin Will! Thanks guys - they LOVED this and ate one each while they carved pumpkins.

Picking their cookies

Carving pumpkins

Beau playing with the big kids after Abby's pumpkin hunt at her school

Lined up ready to hunt pumpkins

Giving out treats in class

The yummy cookie cake for Abby's class party

Enjoying pizza in the park after a masquerade/trick-or-treat with her class. Aren't they cute?

Abby showing of her masquerade mask she made - a witch

After trunk-or-treating - Abby is posing again with her gun...

With mommy trunk-or-treating

With Daddy trunk-or-treating

This about sums up how we all feel after this week!!

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!

Material and More

Apple Tree

With the matching ruffle pants

Bubble pants

Abby and Beau enjoying coloring in their new Halloween coloring books with stickers and crafts that Austin and Lola sent for them. A big thanks for the sweet package Niki!! Another big thanks to my mom for the Halloween treat tins you sent. The kids loved em'.

Beau and Toby on one of these many recent mornings that we have woken up with this particular child in the bed with us. As much as I can't stand how I fell after getting up several times a night, it does make an awfully cute picture!

I am thinking about making a separate blog for my sewing projects - may be easier than posting this stuff on the personal blog. Above are a sampling of some of the materials I have on hand to work with. I am about to start working on some Christmas shirts, so stay tuned!!

In other news, Abby and I went to see HSM3:Senior Year (High School Musical for those of you not there yet) last night. It was opening night, but the theatre was not totally full as I thought it might be, which was nice. It probably helped that we went to an earlier showing. I'm not sure that Abby breathed through the entire movie. She came home telling Toby all about the different songs, hairstyles, dresses, make-up, etc. etc. etc. etc..... She is already asking me when we can buy the dvd. She is definitely 4 going on 14. It was really so much fun to go on a "girls date" as she calls it and watch her enjoy something so intensely and fully. I thought the movie was every bit as good as 1&2, in case ya'll were wondering...

Today Toby had the WHOLE day off (a true rare treat) so we decided to take a day trip to Tyler, TX (about 90 miles away) to go to the zoo there. This was Toby's attempt to console me for not being able to make the 13+ hour trip to Pigeon Forge to spend a weekend with our families shopping, eating and going to watch UT play. It is a really fun weekend we have been doing yearly for about 3 or 4 years now, so I was bummed to miss it! However, the zoo was tons of fun and the kids loved it, so all is good. We were home by 3ish in the afternoon, so the kids still got a good nap and we are getting to watch UT get spanked by AL right now! C'mon Vols. Seriously. I will post pictures of the zoo soon - maybe tomorrow...

Sorry for the rambling flight of ideas post...

Selling My Sewing

So, after several months of different ones of you asking if I am selling my sewing, I have finally decided to give it a go and try. Maybe some of you are looking for some fun, unique clothes for your kids or some holiday gifts. I have posted pictures of several of my projects on the blog. I will try and refine this over the next week or two with more pictures, etc. I wanted to go ahead and get this price list out there. I have tried to make it reasonable and affordable for anyone who wants to buy, but still worth my time. I am definitely not going to make a million, it is more just something I enjoy doing! Please give me honest opinions and let me know what you think!

Ruffle Pant - $28 ($20 if you provide material yourself)
Add embellishment (ric-rac, pom-poms, ribbon, etc.) - $2 and up
Long-sleeved shirt with appliqué of animal, shape, letter, etc. - $15 ($13 if you provide material yourself)
Lounge Pant - $22 ($16 if you provide material yourself)
Lounge Pant and appliquéd shirt - $35
Ruffle Pant and appliquéd shirt - $42
Lined A-line Jumper/Dress - $40
Lined Jon-Jon - $42
Lined Longall - $45
**Any item can be monogrammed with a name or single letter for an extra $4**

What's Your Name?

So, I went to bed late and then Beau proceeded to get up 3 or 4 times last night and come into our room, get in the bed with us, toss and turn for a half hour each time, and then go back to his bed...or be taken back to his bed. I got up at the usual early hour to get Abby up and ready for school. Toby took her, so at least I did not have to get dressed. We are all somewhat sick, though I venture to say that this is not why he is getting up as he is very cheery and ready to talk and play. The only problem is it is 3am!!! The magic pink liquid might have to make an appearance tonight...
Anyways, I have been sitting at the computer for a good 30-45 minutes trying to wake up (coffee is brewed, but I am literally too lazy to go in there and get any). I came across a link on Parents.com for the meaning of names. I then proceeded to look up my entire immediate family. I am crazy. What a waste of time. I figured since I have gone that far I might as well put them on the blog so I can remember them...
Toby - God is good
Ray - protecting hands (love that)
Karmen - fruitful orchard
Danielle - judged by God
Abigail - a father's joy (love that, too...)
Renee' - reborn
Beau - handsome, beautiful
Michael - who resembles God

So, I pretty much knew what the kids' names all meant prior to naming them that. I think names are so special when somewhat purposeful, and/or when they are a namesake of some sort. I like my name meanings the least, of course. Fruitful orchard? Ok. Anyways, they made me smile so I thought I would pass them on. If you don't know what your name means or your kids names mean, look em' up! It may make you smile!

I'll post new pictures soon. I caught one of the boys asleep in the our bed this morning. I have more sewing projects to share, too, of course! Meg - the pants are done - I just need to iron them- I am mailing them today if I get out of my house!!!

Pumpkin Patch and More

The newly exposed, about to be gone fireplace in our bedroom

Another attempt at applique' - so much fun to do when I have time (whenever that is...)

Abby posing at the patch

Beau taking a spin on a tractor

They had these huge bins full of corn for the kids to play in, which they loved.

The hayride took us out to the pumpkin patches. It was really neat - you got to go pick your little pumpkins right off the vine, and pick your bigger pumpkins and have Daddy cut it off the vine. The kids just loved it. The weird thing for me is how flat it is here compared to Tennessee...

Scarecrow Abby

Mommy and Abby on the hayride

Beau and the farmer that drove the hayride - Beau told him he had a boo-boo on his hand so he is checking it out.We had a fun weekend going to the pumpkin patch. We managed to squeeze it in on Saturday evening despite Daddy being on call and working A TON of the weekend. The patch was neat with lots of fun things to do. The kids loved everything with the exception of the corn maze. They complained (per Toby) the entire time they were walking through it, and Beau insisted that Toby carry him. (Mommy was paying for the pumpkins and sadly had to miss this experience.) I told Toby afterwards that Abby is way too Type A to take into a corn maze anyways - no direction, no plan, etc. Not her idea of a good time at all. We got to watch a pig race, play in corn bins, swing, hayride, ride tractors, pick out pumpkins, etc. etc. Lots of fun. We have been staying fairly busy here. We also (finally) started trying to redo our bedroom. Notice in the top picture the newly busted out fireplace!! We are getting rid of that thing and reclaiming about 1/4 of our bedroom! Yay! Also getting rid of the green and yellow crackled walls, new carpet, etc. I am very excited, so stay tuned for more pictures!

A Visit From Papaw

Papaw and the kids prior to going to the market to pick our pumpkins

Abby and Beau painting paper, then pumpkins Saturday night.

Abby in bed with her friend from school, Betsy Ross (in the red, white and blue dress) - She got to bring her home for the weekend last weekend.

Abby modeling her new outfit.

Close up of the shirt

This weekend we were treated to a visit from Papaw. We have been relatively lazy, mostly just enjoying his company. Toby has had to work a lot, but the kids and I still got to enjoy quite a bit of time with him, and Toby a little bit. Larry braved to greyhound bus ride (20 hours) down so he could see us and pick up Toby's Camry that he bought from us. The kids just love having him around, as do I. We have watched lots of football and the kids have dragged out every toy they own. He is going back tomorrow :( I have to say for Larry that I think he has clocked the most trips down to see us so far! Thanks Papaw!! It always means so much when we get a visits from friends and family. We miss everyone so much - anyone else who has lived away from home knows what I mean on that one!

The kids are doing well. Niki scolded me for not having a first day of school picture for Beau on here. I thought about that, but have totally forgotten to take his picture before MDO. Maybe I will put a belated one on later in the week. He is really enjoying going, and I am not complaining either!! Last week I even got to take a lesson on how to use the monogram machine my mom sent down about 6 months ago! His very first day I went and got a pedicure!! It is amazing having a little kid free time. I feel like I almost forgot what that felt like!

I have been sewing when I can. There are not as many good fabric stores here as there are in Nashville. Boy, do I miss Textile Fabrics! It is very fun to create when I can find the time between wiping noses, reading books, and potty training! My newest addiction is getting bows made at this little shop up the street that are custom to match the outfits. I guess I am going to have to learn how to make bows now...

We have another busy week to look forward to. Abby's big school carnival/fundraiser is Friday evening, and we have a birthday party to go to on Sunday. Maybe Mommy and Daddy can squeeze in a date on Saturday night if we can find a sitter and he doesn't have to work! Until next time...