Happy Halloween!

So it is Summer's second Halloween, but the first year we could actually seize it. For having snow a couple weeks ago already it was a pretty nice night for it. I didn't want to get Summer a costume that we would have to cover up, and since we were just going to a few of the neighbors I threw something together this morning. Procrastinator, I know!

We turned out little monkey into a cute little bunny. I made up some bunny ears and sewed them on a headband and made a tail too. I think it was pretty cute, and she stayed plenty warm!

The tail, hehe!



John and Evelyn gave her an apple, (thank you!) A brand new shiny penny and of course some candycorn (she loved!), a sucker, and some Andes mint, which she was trying to eat with the paper on! Then we went to Dave and Sandy's where they gave her three handfuls of chocolate bars! Yum!!

The big score!

Thriller

Auntie Brandi and Jayden stopped over this afternoon, after she said she would never talk to me again, since her and Jayden stopped over earlier while Summer and I were upstairs taking a nap and she was locked out about ready to pee herself. LOL, sorry Brandi! It is hard to stay mad at me apparently, since she can back over 15 minutes later!

Jayden kept playing music on Brandi's phone and Summer was dancing, and stomping her little feet. Jayden had some moves as well! Thriller by Micheal Jackon was a favorite.

Summer was really interested in how Jayden was doing that.

"Jayden can I see? Can I?"

Isn't Jayden face hilarious, I think he was looking at the dog.

If you can tell Jayden has black hair, Brandi sprayed it with some color in a can. He had his halloween party at school today and was a vampire. Wa-HA-Ha-HA!

Walking fool

Our daughter has become a walking fool, but I tell you it is really hard to get a picture of her without a blurred face, once she sees me with the camera she comes running! See what i mean?

Playing with her learning table

Some down time

This does not happen often, and check out that hair!

Summer recieved mail from Papa and Pat, and she loved it!

Thanks Papa!!

Curtains, aprons, and irons, OH MY!

I have completed project two and three! Another apron, and valances. The valances really excite me, and I'll tell you why. I could not find curtains with the fabric I like. I made four valances for two rooms for $4.50. I don't know, but I figure I just saved myself $30.

Thia apron pattern was difficult and didn't come out right so I had to modify it all by myself. It was supposed to be a round neck, but when I put it on it looked like I cut a hole in a potato sack and was wearing that. But I made it into a "kimono" style apron as you can see. LOL

This summer Brandi and I had a rummage and I sold my iron, because lets face it, I don't iron our T-shirts. =) Well now that I'm am sewing I need an iron. So I saw this on Craiglist. A super cute ironing board and iron for 5 bucks! Funny thing is the iron is the very same kind I sold I wonder if it my original... Onyx says hi!

Here, I thought I should throw in a picture of the little piggy eating spaghetti at lunch today.
She's a pasta lover!>

No bib, I live on the wild side!

Daddy's day off!

My two favorite people.

Chris had the day off which was NOT ordinary, but that just made the day twice as good. Chris had to run to walmart to get me another 78 cent pack of buttons we paid for but did not have once we got home. Grrr. He had football on the TV all day, the Vikings lost their streak. Summer and I went for a walk and played outside, while Daddy was working on inside projects.

Yucky ugly brown leaves, time to cut the grass for the last time!

"Hey, there's my Dad!"

YAY! I love when projects get done! Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of work and I used to enjoy home projects. But I just don't have time to start and finish a project with you know who running around, and clinging to my leg. So the trim is painted and the windows are complete! They look beautiful, thanks to my wonderful husband.

This is Chris taking a break to come see what we were up to.

This did not last long, but check this out!

Thats right my friends, I put her down and she didn't wake up, until her dad came in the house and loud mouth Bailey had to bark as she ran to greet Chris at the door. 2 minutes of "me" time wasn't enough but, oh well there will be more naps to try again.

Sewing project #1 complete!

Isn't she lovely? I love the color, black with hot pink polka dots.

I will not be keeping it though for myself, I'm selling this bad boy, (or girl) if you are interested let me know, Christmas is around the corner!

I was inspired to start sewing, because I wanted to make Summers diaper wipes out of super soft flannel recieving blankets. If you wonder why cloth wipes, here's why. When I'm done with a wipe I can just throw it in the diaper and wash it all together, just like people that use disposables, put their disposable wipes in the dipe and toss in the garbage. Thanks to Grandma Teri, I can sew now. I couldn't remember how to use a sewing machine, so she brought hers over and taught me.

One other thing I have made makes me really happy! You know those plastic produce bags at the grocery store? I made draw strings cloths bags for our grocery trips. And they were (sew=)) easy to make, I took an old white sheer curtain I was not going to use and used twill for the draw string. These weigh 4 oz compared to plastic that are 1 oz, but it's worth it. Marine animals find these plastic bags in the ocean and think they are food and bring them home to their babies, and then they die because of these bags. Reusable are the way to go!

This is my new to me sewing machine, a vintage Singer sewing machine in console, (that works perfectly) and this cool retro chair. I found this on Craigslist and gave the guy $30. What a steal! Though it's hard to get any sewing time in with Summer running around, but I manage!

Bubbles and belly buttons

These are a few of her favorite things...da da da da. She has found a great interest in bubbles. We have a couple bubble bottles and wands lying around house and I tell you, you can not go through a room with out hearing, "bubble." It is so dang cute. We ran out of the bubbles in the wand, which is her favorite. So daddy looked online how to make your own bubbles and voila! I came downstairs after getting Sum to sleep and Chris is in the kitchen experimenting with a bubble mix. Chris asked me to save the milk jug, he means business with these bubbles! Summer will now have a never ending supply.





Please blow bubbles? No right now Summer.

NOW! NOW! NOW!

This is a bubble hissy taking place

Oh, and if you have a belly button, watch out! This kid loves hers and anyone else's she can find. She lifts our shirts so you will show her your belly button and she giggles, she thinks they are so funny, and since she just found hers I think she thinks it's funny that other people have them too.

What the heck is this?

Fun! I can put my finger in there!

I like this thing.

Green tips

The good stuff

I'm a bit of a frugalista, I admit it. I also love being green, and actually the two go hand in hand. When you buy less stuff, they don't need to produce as much, which means less chemicals harming us.

Anyway, did you know we make our own, detergents and cleaners that are natural? I think everyone is so caught up in their busy lives that they forget we can easily make these things that you already keep in the house!

Window/glass cleaner: 3/4 rubbing alcohol and 1/4 water in a spray bottle

all pupose cleaner: mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon of water.

Air fresheners

Dab a cotton ball in real vanilla extract and throw it in a unconspicuous spot, like behind a pictue frame!
lemon juice and a little water in a spray bottle and mist through the house.
Fresh coffee grounds/beans on the counter
or grind a lemon rind in the garbage disposal.


Dishwashing soap for the dish washer: Mix equal parts of Borax and baking soda. I kept this in a sour cream tupperware thing, but now I hand wash and use less water! (Thanks Brandi)

Here is the real gem...Our laundry soap I have spent $8 since last October, one year ago on laundry soap. Amazed? It pays to spend 20 minutes every 4 months to make it.
It works better than cheap commercial soap and has a fresh clean yummy smell! Or you could add an essensial oil to it to make a certain scent.

2/3 bar of Fels Naptha or Ivory
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
this makes 4 gallons of liquid soap but you can make it powder form if you prefer. If you are interested, you can get step by step intructions with pictures at http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

Yackitty yack, sleep come back

Summer's vocabulary is growing fast! Her words consist of Mama, Dad, Daddy, Bear, Bailey, Jayden, ball, bye, dog, squirell, and most recently, bubble, ducky and poo-poo! The one she uses most often is "uh" while she's pointing at everything. I'm sure I forgot some, but she is moving right along. She's taking more steps through the day now, I'd say she walks 25% of the time and crawls still 75% of the time. She also signs for when she needs a diaper change, by patting at her hip.

She's doing great, and doing everything she should be for a 13 month old. Except for one little thing, sleeping through the night. In fact we are still waking up 5 or 6 times a night. Please pray for me, God, I miss consecutive hours of sleep, and being comfortable in bed.

Chris is doing great, likes his new position at work. I think he especilaly likes coming home now. Summer squeals and throws whatever she has in her hands when she sees her Daddy walk through the door so she can gets to him as fast as she can. She is becoming a Daddy's girl, she loves hanging out with him.

Baby, it's cold outside.

Around here the weather has blown, literally. We are going stir crazy, and we lounge a lot! We have had 2 dry days this October, and it is almost over! Summer's favorite past time is playing outside. We played outside everyday this summer, and she absolutely loved it! Because of this weather we have already purchased a winter coat, hat, mittens, and snowsuit for this poor kid. All of which are size 12 months and she about drowns in, so she doesn't like them, which in turn she doesn't like going out if she has to wear them. Also, you may have noticed, I didn't say anything about buying snow boots. Apparently, they do not make snowboots in a size 3. Hmmmm, interesting, considering they will make a snowsuit for a 6-12 month old. So I'm mad at the shoe companies, because my child is dainty.


In good news about a month ago Summer started liking her stroller. Haleluja! So Chris, Summer and I go for a little stroll after supper on nice days and she doesn't mind her big coat if she doesn't have to move around, so all is well.