My big boy

For those of you that know me and my family personally, this is a very monumental occassion. 

CX, who is 6, is very shy and doesn't deal with new situations easily.  Usually on the first day of practice for a new sport we have a huge blow-up just because he doesn't know the coach, doesn't know any of the kids on the team, and just doesn't do well in this kind of things.  We actually sent hime to summer school this past year because they were holding it in the same school building that he would be attending kindergarten at in the fall.  Crazy to some, but to us it just made sense to get him comfortable before the storm. 

So last night, we are on our way to CX's basketball practice when we realize that his new bball shoes are still at home.  (We live 8 miles out of town).  CX pipes up to me, "It's okay mom.  Just drop me off at the door and you can run home and get them." 

Do what?!?!  Is that my son that just said that?  "Are you sure?," I ask. 

"Yeah, I got my buddies on the team and my coach.  I'll be alright.  Just be quick and get my shoes, please."

Now to some, who don't know CX very well, this is probably not a big deal...but for my guy it is a HUGE deal.  Especially since he has only had one practice under his belt and that was two weeks ago.  He doesn't really know anyone on the team.

I drove home in a mixture of awe and fright.  I was so proud of my boy for taking a step like this, but at the same time, I was thinking, what if he actually puts it together that I am not there and has a meltdown? 

I got back to practice very quickly, but I didn't break any speed limits along the way.  To my delight when I walked in, he was happy as could be and didn't even realize I was back until about 15 minutes later.  But as soon as he saw me, he wanted those new shoes on....but had to wait til a break to put them on.

My baby is growing up right before my eyes.

Checking in

to say hello and that I am still alive and kicking.  I have been quite busy with my kiddos, holidays, gift making and having surgery.  Yes, now don't think it was life threatening or anything like that, but I have had to have a couple of days to get my sorts back in line.  (Does that even make sense?)  Anyway, I had Lasik surgery on both of my eyes this past week.  Let me tell you, if you need to wear glasses or contacts and you can afford it, you MUST get this done!  I have been a chicken poop for quite some time.  My husband has been wanting me to get it done for a few years now, and honestly, I have to say I was quite terrified of the possibility of never being able to see again.  I can live with wearing contacts and glasses for the rest of my life.  After all, I have been doing it since the 4th grade.  Yep, and I am in my dirty thirties....that is quite a long time.

Well, it was my birthday present from him this year, and I had to do it.  If someone gives you a present you don't say, "Sorry, I'm a little wussy and don't want it."  You buck up and take it like a man, or woman in my case. 

I went to my consult and let me tell you, I haven't worn glasses in years except at night when I needed to give my eyes a rest from contacts once a week.  The script was so old that I had to pay to get new lenses put into my old frames.  I had to wear glasses three days prior to my consult and then three days prior to my surgery.  Those darn glasses rubbed my poor little nose raw.  Seriously!  (Are you feeling sorry for me yet?!?) 

The surgery was very surreal and I don't know if that is my memory with the Valium or not, but it was a very strange experience to say the least.  You are awake during the whole thing and get to watch them move flaps of your eye tissue back and forth to get it just right for the laser to re-curve your eye.  Crazy! 

Now, I have 20/15 vision and it is awesome....night time is still a little bizarre because I see halos around lights, but that is supposed to go away with time.  And I also, get this, can't wear eye make-up for a week as well.  Now you may let the sympathy begin.  =)  Not for me, but for everyone that gets to see me without my make-up on.

So here is my final assessment.  If you need to wear contacts or eye glasses on a daily basis for all the normal things you do in a day....get it done!  You won't regret it!

Sweetness

Last night as I was cooking dinner and getting the kids ready to go to the basketball game with daddy, I noticed that I could see both of their cute little heads over the top of the bar.  I guess I had not noticed that before, but it made me sad.

I asked both of them to please stop growing and stay my little babies.  (Yes, they are 6 and 4, but they will always be my babies.)  And CX said every so sweetly, "Momma, even when I am grown up and an adult with kids of my own I will still be your baby."  Um, choked up and teary eyed is what followed after that. 

Then I get this from CX, "What is wrong with you?  You are so weird, mom!" 

Yes, I know.  One day you will be weird like me, as well. 

I had to share this because you think that you will remember all of the cute and amazing things that they do and say, and honestly, you don't.  It's not that it's not important, it's just that we have such a limited space of memory.  But if I can only remember the sweetness of each of them and how they smile at me and how they look so sweet when they are asleep, I think I will be good.

God has blessed me beyond anything I could have ever imagined with my husband and my children.  I never dreamed that I would have the life that I have and I thank God every day for all the blessings He has given to me. 

Ruffly Scarf (Updated!)

So I am trying to be frugal this year for Christmas with presents for everyone.  So far I haven't gotten that far on my list, but I am starting to make a dent.  I wanted to show you my latest creation. 

I was inspired by this scarf over at ~Ruffles and Stuff~.  Disney is very talented and inspires me every time that I visit her blog. 

Anyway, I had some material lying around from Christmas presents that-were-to-be, but never created.  I took a half yard of linen like wool....I'm sorry, I don't really know what type of material it was.  I'll try to keep my stash a little more organized for the next time I do a tutorial.  I was wanting t-shirt material, but since it is hunting season, my big burly man is off trying to provide for his family and my kiddos are fast asleep in my bed.  Of course, even when my husband is away I still can't sprawl out all over my bed.  Sorry, getting off subject.

I cut 4" x 4" squares out of the material.  I didn't know how many to cut, so I just cut it all, the whole 1/2 yard.  Now, in hind site, that was probably too much.  But it is my first time making this.  And Disney said she cut 64 squares.  Alrighty then, I'll shot for that as well!

I then pressed out all my little pieces and pinned them all together.  Taking the middle of  each square and overlapping it onto the next.  Sorry, if you don't understand look at the picture.  I am more of a visual learner and don't do well explaining things.  But I can show you!

So, once the pinning is all done I hopped my happy little tush down into my craft room and sewed them together.  I made straight seams from one corner of each square to the next.  Working all the way down until you get to the end.  And that's pretty much it.  Now, I used a zigzag stitch and I also used elastic thread because I wanted it to have a really ruffly (is that a word?) effect, but it was my first time using elastic thread and I don't know if I need it on a larger stitch or not.  But it didn't give me quite the effect I was hoping for.  I'm going to do some research on elastic thread for my next project. 

Well, I am still very pleased with the results and honestly, I don't want to give it to my SIL, but I guess, since that is who I had in mind to make it for, I should probably go thru with it.  I am definitely going to make one for me.  But probably not quite as long.  I think 64 squares is a little much.  I'll have to do some experimenting for the next one. 

I think that this wouldn't have taken me near as long as it did if it weren't for those really bad movies on Lifetime.  Those things just suck me in and I don't know why.  I can figure them out in an instant yet I keep going with the punishment of those brutal movies.  It's a strange and sad addiction that I have. 

 

Tell me what you think.  You like?

Updated!!

Well, I tried out the scarf today.  Well, I was going to, but that thing is soooooo darn long.  Seriously, I think it is about 8 foot long.  A little much for a scarf, no?!?

So, as I had mentioned earlier, I wanted to make the scarf originally out of t-shirt material, but my kiddos were asleep in my room, blah, blah, blah.  Well, I grabbed a t-shirt before they headed off to bed.  This is the one that I grabbed.  Kind of has a little silver shimmer and print to it.  Thought that might be a little fun. 

This time I decided that I would make my squares 3" x 3".  And I cut the whole shirt up and only got 42 squares.  I also figured out how to sew with elastic thread and the second time it turned out much better.   I am liking this look a whole lot more.

It also didn't take near as long to make it....no sappy movie on LMN tonight.  I am still thinking that I can tweak this more.  It definitely turned out more ruffly than the first time.  Yay, I learned a new talent!  ;-P

Handmade Christmas

I just stumbled onto the most adorable blog and had to share it all with you!  And right now she is hosting 12 days of handmade Christmas tutorials.  I just got done looking over the first 4 tutes and let me tell you, they look super cute and super easy.  I am trying to figure out what all I am making and who I am giving them to.  I might make some things for me as well.  You might as well, you already have all the supplies and everything out while you are making them, right?!?!?!  So, if you are in my family or a close friend, which as of right now, I know that is pretty much all I have as followers, (I love you all!  Thanks for keeping up with my lil ole blog!) let me know if you see something you like and give me a hint!  ;)  Now if only all the men in my life would like some of these cute gifts!  Men!  They are so stinking hard to shop for.  Let me know if you try one out, I would love to see how your crafts turned out. 

Go over to Life In Grace and check out her blog.  She is a mom of 8, not a typo, yes 8 and still finds time to do great crafty things.  I have got to get my crap together, I only have 2.

Yum Yum!

So after a flop of a dinner last night, I decided that I needed to make something that the whole family would like.  Well, I have been trying to make a dinner menu for the week and I came across this recipe for Beef & Broccoli Lo Mein.  I was going to make it as the recipe instructed, but instead of using the beef, I decided to put shrimp in it.  The kids loved it!  Which, if they like it, then it is a huge success.  I will definitely be making it again.  Try it out, it is easy and yum yum!

Challenge, week 1

Okay, so I mentioned in a post earlier that one of the blogs I follow is hosting a recipe challenge.  Well, I tried one the last night, the Maple-Walnut Chicken.  Okay, I didn't follow the recipe exactly as instructed.  I am not a big one for cooked spinach, unless it is in a casserole or something similar, so I nixed that right off of the bat.  I made the chicken as directed, with a side of french style green beans and mushroom rice.  The dinner looked very pretty and smelled pretty good.....BUT it wasn't all that great.  My kids ate it, but with ketchup and country Bob's sauce.  Lil sis said that it even was spicy, really?!  So, I am not that impressed with it.  You can try it and might like it.  It really wasn't that hard to make at all or that expensive.  I had the majority of the ingredients in my pantry, except for the fresh thyme leaves.  I think that I am going to try the Banana Sour-Cream Cake.  I should have listened to my gut and gone with my first pick.  I think that it will be yummy.  I'll keep you updated.

Voting

Yesterday morning I was watching the news while getting ready for my normal routine of getting kids on the bus and myself around when something they said caught me totally off guard.  Okay, get this, it was voting day and they were taking a poll to see how many people planned on going to the polls to vote on the issues at hand.  Well, get this, seriously this drives me bonkers and I can't hardly comprehend this, but more people said that they weren't going to the polls to vote.  That's not really what thru me.  It was the fact that they would vote online to tell people that they weren't voting, but wouldn't get off of their tushes to actually vote for something that would affect them.  Wow!!!  Are you kidding me?!?! 

That is what is wrong with the United States right now.  Everyone expects everything, but nobody wants to get off of their tushes and do anything about it.  Jeez!!!  Sorry, I am ranting, but really, are we that spoiled?!?!?  People in other countries are dying to get the right to vote and to help make these important decisions, but we actually have the right to vote and we don't?  No wonder other countries don't like us.  I don't even know if I like us. 

I did vote and there was only ONE question or issue on my ballot, so it wasn't a huge deal, actually it was.  But the fact that however many people taking that poll yesterday morning, over 48% said that they weren't going to vote just blew me away.   I guess it shouldn't surprise me, seeing as our country is in huge need of repair and don't get me wrong, I have no idea how to fix things and I am not saying that I do, but maybe if we looked at ourselves in the mirror more often we wouldn't be in the situations that we are  in right now. 

Okay, I am getting even more peeved right now.  I am done and will now get off of my soap box.  Sorry if this offends anyone.

Behind closed doors

I was on the phone the other day with my Mimi.  We were on the phone for a good 40 minutes or so and the kids were so good at being quiet while I was on the phone.  That is one rule that we really enforce in our household.

Well, I get off of the phone and I am walking down the hallway to put the clean laundry away when I catch a whiff of baby powder.  Hmm....I don't recall getting that out anytime recent.  Well, Lil sis had gone to the bathroom, I thought to poo, but apparently she had other ideas.  I slowly open the door and find that I can only open it about 6 inches.  I hear a giggle and then the door opens all the way.  Behind the door I find this...                                                

"Momma, I'm a spooky ghost!"  Yep, you sure are little girl!  How can you get mad at a face like that?!?!?!?

A challenge

One of the blogs that I follow is starting a new challenge for the month of November.  And since I have nothing else to do with my time, yeah right, I am going to join in on this challenge. 

If you are interested it is a recipe challenge.  You visit this blog site and she has three different recipes for you to try out.  You can try one, two or all three of them, but she wants to know how you liked them.  If you liked them and if there was any difficulties or what-nots. 

I checked out the first set of recipes and they looked pretty yummy, so I am going to join in.  If you are interested in it, check it out here.  The blog is called somewhat simple and the recipes look just that, somewhat simple.  I think I am going to try the banana sour cream cake.  It looks yummy.  Let me know if you check it out and if you try a recipe.  And while you're there, grab a button as well.

I'm Done!!!!

Okay, I know that it is after Halloween and that I haven't posted on here in what seems like forever, but I have been busy.  With the flu swarming my house, soccer games, bowling and MOPS I finally finished the costumes for Halloween.  YEA! 

Lil' Sis wanted to be Pebbles Flintstone, so Jeff and I were Fred & Wilma and CX did NOT want to be Bam Bam Rubble or Barney Rubble.  He wanted to be a Shadow Trooper.  Great, and I am sorry, but I am cheap and I was not about to spend $60 on a costume that he was only going to wear one night a year.  Holy smokes that is crazy high!

I made Lil' Sis's first and it was pretty easy.  No I didn't use a pattern, I just basically made the hand towel dress but tweaked the arm holes and neck line a little.  I also made her a little bone for her hair.  You can't be Pebbles without a bone in your hair.

Next, I made Fred.  Fred was pretty easy as well.  I just cut two pieces of material and sewed up the sides leaving room for the arm holes and then sewed the shoulders leaving room for the head hole.  Sewed a little felt collar onto the head hole and then I sprayed painted a few black dots onto the costume.  I already had a fat, blue tie.  And there you have it, Fred Flintstone.

I decided that I should probably work on CX's costume because mine wouldn't be that hard and his I really didn't have any idea how I was going to make it.  Well, I bought a black pair of sweatpants and a black long sleeve shirt.  I also bought a black beanie and a pair of black gloves.  I got all of this at Target for less than $12.  I thought that I would buy some shiny material that would make the pieces on the shirt and pants look like it was actually a shield.  And honestly, I had no idea what a "Shadow Trooper" looked like, but I know what a "Storm Trooper" looks like, so I basically pictured that but only black.  I cut out pieces of the material and sewed them directly onto the shirt and pants.  I thought that they would look more realistic if i put a little bit of stuffing under the material.  Well, apparently, I stuffed it too much because my poor little boy all of a sudden got a really good size package in his pants thanks to his momma.  Needless to say, I got rid of the stuffing and decided to just go with the material. 

Then came the fun part of his costume, the mask.  I new all along that I was going to do a paper mache mask but I had no idea how I was going to do it.  I bought some plaster material from Micheal's.  It is material that already has plaster dried onto it, so all you have to do is get it wet and then go from there.  I bought some balloons, even though I only needed one and blew it up.  I then took a cheap mask from Wal-mart or the dollar store and placed it onto the balloon.  Then I began applying the plaster.  After it dried, I added a toilet paper roll to tweak the mask.  CX said that it looked right, I had no idea, but if he thought it was good, I was okay with it.  Then I baked the mask to make sure the plaster was completely dried and spray painted it black.  I painted a little bit of silver details onto it and there you have it.  A shadow trooper.  CX thought that it was awesome, but didn't enjoy wearing it that much.  Said that it smelled funny and that little bits of plaster kept getting into his eyes.  Without the mask he looked like a cat burglar.

Then came me, Wilma.  I made it one night very late at night and man, if you have never sewn with fur (faux) don't, it is a furry pain.  I had white fur floating all over the place.  It was in my hair, my eyes, all over the place.  I kept trying the piece on, pinning, taking it off, sewing, trying on, pinning, taking off, sewing......You get the idea.  I don't think that I could explain how I did it, I don't even know that I was completely awake when I was working on it.  Anyway, I was pretty pleased with how it turned out.  I hadn't made the necklace yet, but a friend of mine said that she had the perfect necklace for Wilma.  So, here is a picture of all of us.

 I was pretty pleased with the outcome and Lil sis is already talking about what she wants to be for next year.  Well, if she comes up with something soon I will have plenty of time to get it done before next year.

"Swine Flu"

Well, my family have finally gotten over the dreaded H1N1 "swine" flu.  I am just going to tell you all, that yes, I am that mom that let my kids get it.  If you can actually "let" someone get it.  And honestly, it was probably one of the easiest flues that we have ever had run rampant in our house.  Seriously!

Last Wednesday, CX got off of the bus from school and didn't want a snack and was tired.  Who the heck is this kid, is what I thought, but didn't push it much further.  A little while later he snuggled up to me while we were playing Legos and he felt hot.  Really hot.  Took his temperature and yep, 102 degrees.  Not a biggie....no school tomorrow and gave him some Tylenol. 

The next day, he got up into the 104's and was NOT acting like he was sick.  Seriously, running around like a mad man, wrestling with sis, playing, he was acting like it was a great day to play hooky from school.  I had to MAKE him take a nap so that he could get to feeling better.  "But mom, I feel fine.  My head just hurts a little."  Alright...but you still can't got to school tomorrow either.  You still have an outrageously high fever.  Called my momma, who is a nurse, told her the weird symptoms and she told me to all the kids doc.  Which I did and they didn't want to see him unless he showed other symptoms or had a fever for longer than 3 days.  Okay, not a big deal.

So, Friday rolls in, still running a fever, high in the morning but by afternoon, down to 100.  Cool, not going to be taking him to the doc.  Just stayed inside and had another day off.
 
Saturday daddio was home and slept the majority of the day.  Great, whatever CX had daddio has now.  He said that he felt bad for sleeping so much, why is all I said.  Obviously you are fighting something.  Sunday comes, and here comes CX's fever again.  No church for you kiddo and now no school on Monday.  Great we are going to the doc, now!

Monday, we roll into the doc's office and it is crazy in there!  Seriously, the doc was the one who called us back to the exam room and did all the charting.  Weird was all I thought.
Found out CX has all the signs of H1N1 and don't be surprised if the rest of the fam comes down with it.  Great, what do I need to expect to happen?  Fevers, headaches, coughs and possible GI problems.  (That means pooing, alot.)

So later that day, I come down with a fever and my head is killing me.  It feels like it needs to explode!  So, I have it, Jeff had it last week we just didn't know it and little sis never came down with it.  Not that she didn't get exposed to it, because she definitely did!  We are all healthy now and ready for our lives to get back to normal.
 
One thing that I did find out that didn't sit well with me.  The first two days that you have H1N1, you don't show any symptoms, but you are "shedding" it.  Which means you are sharing with everyone, everywhere that you go.  Nice.

If you do happen to come down with it, I hope that you have it as lightly as my family did.  I would much rather have it than the regular flu.  I would have gone on with my normal routine had I not known the symptoms to watch out for.

Stay healthy and remember to wash those hands!!!!

Sweet Porcelain

This may be the strangest thing anyone has ever posted on, but if you know me at all, you will so understand.

This is my new favorite thing in my house.  Seriously!

My family of 4 that has had two bathrooms for as long as we have been in this house, which is since we became a family.  Well, we took the toilet out of the master bathroom for another project and have been without it since May.  Yeah, no joke....we have been with only one toilet for almost 6 months.  Which, if you only have one toilet you won't understand, but it has been some adjustment.  Thank goodness we removed it in the summertime, because I have been sending CX outside if sis and I are using it or if dad is camped out with heavy reading. 

I don't know why we waited so long to get another one, but I am so glad that we have it now.  I am a big, big fan of indoor plumbing!

Two dollar wreath

I wanted to make a "spooky" wreath for my front door, but didn't want to spend a fortune on it.  I am a rather tight person when it comes to spending money.  So, I thought I would check out the dollar store to see what they had in store for me.  This is what I found, a bag of fall leaves (the bag said there was 90, but I only counted 81.  And I counted twice!)  and a floral wreath.  So far I have only invested two smackaroos!  I already had a can of black spray paint at home.

Then I sprayed the floral wreath and all the leaves with matte black spray paint.  Once it dried, which didn't take any time, I hot glued the leaves to the wreath along the sides and the front.  (I am thinking of buying another bag of leaves to finish off the back.)  Then I tied a piece of black ribbon to it.  I like it this way, but I feel that it needs a little "umph".
This is what it looks like before.  Don't you agree?!?!?  Needs something.

Then I won this cute little sign at Bunco the other night and I think it is the cutest thing!

So now I have this cute little sign and I thought, why not?  I'll add it to my 2 dollar wreath.  Now it has a little something extra and I still didn't invest anymore into it. 

I can't decide if I like it like this or if I need to put it on there differently.  Either way, not bad for $2!  I am thinking the dollar store is my new craft store.

Hand towel dresses

I know that this may not be the most new idea, but I had to try it.  I found this adorable idea here and had to try it, of course!  I found these dish towels at the dollar store and in the dollar bin at Target.  Gotta luv me some target!!  So, anyway, I took two dish towels turned them right sides together and sewed up the sides to about 7 1/2 inches from the top.  I then turned the top side over 1 inch to make a sleeve on each open end.  Sorry, I'm not much on sewing lingo, but I do know how to use my machine, a little!

So, now you have two sleeves at the top of each towel.  Turn your dress right side out and insert about a 30 inch piece of ribbon into each sleeve.  Tie at the shoulders, and, viola!  You have an adorable little dress for under 5 bucks and in under 30 minutes. 

Here is a picture of lil sis with it on.  She really liked it, but couldn't really walk around in it too well.  It was a little long for her.  I took about 4 inches off of the bottom of it and kind of tweaked it a little.  She absolutely adores the changes and wore it to preschool on Friday.

I just added a ruffle made from 2 of the 4 inches that I removed and I also added a little flower. It is hard to see in the picture, here is one close up.

Not too shabby for $2?!?!?

I still have to tweak the purple one.  I need to shorten it, and I need to figure out what to do about the back.  It has a black cat on the bum and I think that really screams dish towel.  Any ideas?!?!

Home Made Gummies!!!

I found this really cute idea and easy recipe to make homemade gummies.  Yes, you read that correct, it is easy!  I found it here and it turned out so great.  The kiddos had a blast helping me out and we found some really cool ice cube molds at the dollar store to make the gummies even cooler for the holiday season.  What you see in the picture is skulls, pumpkins and eye balls!  Yum-O!  Want to make some?  Here is how I did it.....

 

Here is what you need...

• 
  
  one 3 oz. box of Jell-O (any flavor will do....it is whatever you desire)
  
  
  
• 
  
  3 packets of Knox Gelatin (Find it on the top shelf of the Jell-O isle)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Candy molds or ice cube trays (again, whatever you desire)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Glass measuring cup (This will come into play later)
  
  
  
• 
  
  1/3 to 2/3 Cup of water (depending on how gummie or chewey you want them)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Double-boiler or big pot of water
  
  
  

First, I mixed 2/3 cup of water in the glass measuring cup with the packet of jello, then each packet of gelatin.  After adding one packet I would make sure to mix well before adding another packet.  After you have mixed all the Jell-O and gelatin together cover the measuring cup and wait for 10 minutes.  While you are waiting....start your water to boil.  (I don't have a double boiler, so I just got my big pot going!)

  

After 10 minutes, it should look something like this.  Seriously, this works....stay with me on this!

Then you want to take the glass measuring cup and set it inside the simmering pot of water and SLOWLY melt the mixture.  You want to get a nice smooth consistancy.  You will have a soft layer of foam on the top once it has completely melted, but that is all good....It is just a lighter color of the gummie mixture. 

Next, you want to take your candy molds or ice cube trays and pour away.  See....the glass measuring cup was handy with the boiling water and now even more handy with the little spout on it!  See, there is a little method to the madness! 

These are the ice cube trays that I bought at the dollar store. 

Stick the trays into the freezer or fridge for 10 minutes or so and...Viola!  Home made gummies!  They shouldn't stick to the molds because they are gelatin, so no need to spray the molds.  Also, I made my first batch with orange jell-o and only a little over 1/3 cup of water and they turned out really chewey!!!  So the berry blue batch I tried with 2/3 cup of water and they turned out a much better texture.  More like gummies you buy at the store! 

Don't forget, store them in an airtight container so that they won't dry out and get crusty!

Have fun and let me know if you make any!  I would love to know how they turned out!

I'm weak! Dangitt!

Okay, so here is the story....I have been trying my darndest to not shop at this place.  My husband thinks that it is the root of all that is evil and wrong with this world.  You would need to sit down and talk to him about why this is, but when he explains it, it makes perfect sense.  Soooo....I haven't spent money or even stepped foot in one of these places for almost 2 months.  Yes, it is possible to get your shopping done without having to venture to this place.  AND.....I have been saving money as well!  Go figure! 

I was out running a few errands today and my lil one was totally cranky and wanting a nap.  Well, I still had a few things that I really needed to get today, so instead of going to three different stores, which I normally would have done....I broke down and stopped in on the one stop shopping mart. 

Yes, granted it did save me time in the long run and I only spent $15, but it's the whole principal of the thing.  And, it didn't help the lil one out, she never went down for a nap.  Gosh dangitt! 

I broke down for no good reason, I  am so ashamed of myself!  Please forgive me, Jeff!?!?!?

"The Ugly Truth"

Since I am a stay at home momma, I don't normally get to go to the movies, and even when I do, it is usually something that is computer animated.  (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)  But I went to the movies (cheap, old) last night and watched "The Ugly Truth".  Oh my gosh!  I laughed my butt off!  It was so freaking funny and it is soooooo true!  Unfortunately, but it is!  I can say this because Jeff sat me down one time, before we got married and we had "the talk".  The talk that men aren't really our friends...they are just trying to find an angle to get into our pants.  It is a hard pill to swallow, but once I started thinking about it, it all clicked.  Why the heck aren't moms having this talk with their daughters when they have the "birds and bees" talk?!?!?!?  If I had known it probably would have changed a lot of things, not that I would go back and change anything, but you know what I mean.  Girls, if you don't believe me and you have a significant other, ask him!  Tell him to be totally honest with you, have him give you the ugly truth and he will tell you everything that this movie tells you. 


I honestly didn't know anything about this movie besides this hunk of meat!  Yum-O!!  But I am so glad that I went and honestly, I want to see it again.  I missed so much laughing the first time!

Girls, if you are single you probably won't like this movie, but if you are married, you will totally get it!  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  Maybe I just needed a good laugh, I don't know, but I loved it!

Fun Fabric Pumpkins-The Sequel

Remember my post a while back about those fun fabric pumpkins?  I told you to check them out here.  Well, I decided that I needed some of my own.  They are pretty cute and very easy to make.  The hardest part was finding fabric that I liked.  I even made a few for a couple of friends of mine, one just like this and then a purple silk embroidery one.  Yes, it was purple and it turned out super stinking cute.  I'm not that big into purple, but I would have it in my house. 

Here is my stairway landing and I had to dress it up for the holidays.  This is my make shift mantle since I have no fire place.  We hang stockings from it and everything else.  Here is what it looks like now for the fall season.

I think it looks festive.

Happy Fall!

Rock Garden

So, I finally decided to post for all to see.  We have been a little busy around the casa trying to spiff things up a little bit.  I decided to put another rock garden in the back yard underneath our stairs coming down from the deck.  It was hard for Jeff to mow and there were so many rocks and what-not that we decided to do it.  So.....here is a pic almost done.

We planted azaleas and mums in it right now.  I don't know if the mums will come back or not.  But I think it looks great!

While we were busy digging holes and planting, the kids were busy doing their own thing.  They were actually staying out of our hair, but not out of our earshot. 

Here are a couple of pics of them hard at work...

It's tough being a kid! 

Here is the end result of the rock garden...

B-E-A-U-T-ful.  No?!?!?

And then this is what the kids did once we kicked them out of the back of the truck because we needed to unload all of that rock.  One whole ton!  AGH!

Yes, that is them playing naked on the back patio.  It's a good thing we live in the boonies, because my babies have no shame in running around totally natural.

Halloween signs

Are you all ready for Halloween yet?  I am sooooo ready and would love to have a couple of these cute signs around my house.  Check it out here.  She is having a give-away!  Maybe someone I know will win it!  Good luck!

Impressive

I just had to share this little thing from my little girl this morning.  She is such a smart bottom!  Gotta love a kid who is quick witted and sharp. 

So, we were heading to the car to take CX down to the bus stop and lil' sis wanted a frozen yogurt to take with her.  Not a problem...I told them both to get into the car and we would be going.  As I am coming back up the stairs from putting my things into the car and making one last round to make sure I didn't forget anything, I pass them on the stairs.  I see that lil' sis has a yogurt in her hand and I tell her that I already have one for her waiting in the car.  Well, you know what that little monkey said to me?!?!?  "Wow, mom, I'm impressed!"

Huh?  Like I'm forgetful or something.  Gotta love kids, they are so honest!  Anyway, that's all.

Favorite Things

This is a lame post, but I want to post something and don't remember what it was that I was going to post so.....I am going to list some of my favorite things.  Let those of you who don't know me, get to know me just that much more intimate.

• Fall
• Sweaters w/day-worn jeans and boots
• Football games
• That crisp bite in the air when you know fall is on its way
• Halloween
• Dressing up and pretending to be something we aren't for a while
• Decorating my house for the seasons
• Going to craft festivals
• Making crafts that I see at those festivals  "I can so make that!"
• The smell of hot apple cider
• Sitting on the porch swing watching the storm clouds roll in (still working on that porch.)
• Laughing until I snort
• Watching my children sleep and wondering how I could be so blessed with being the mom to these wonderful creatures
• Sitting by candlelight for no reason at all
• Music, pretty much I can deal with anything within moderation
• Antiquing  (they just don't make stuff like they did back decades ago) 
• Buying the ugliest thing in the store because I absolutely love it!
• Licking the cookie dough bowl (I know, I know, raw eggs....I still do it!)
• Driving with the windows down and my music up loud
• Going to church on Sunday and praising God
• Making lists
• Eating sushi with Jeff
• Watching baseball
• Snuggling with my favorite boy in the whole wide world
• Teaching my tom-boy of a daughter girlie things
• Spending time with good friends
• Traveling.....anywhere!
• The smell of freshly sharpened pencils (Dork alert!)
• Bowling with my mom-in-law and aunt-in-law
• People watching
• Taking extra long showers until the water turns cold
• Rooting for my kids in their sports
• Rainy days and snuggling up with a good book and blanket
• Bargain shopping
• Looking at everything I have and trying to figure out how I got so blessed
• Bill Murray (totally random, I know)  He's funny!
• Shopping with my momma

Okay.....I think that's all for now....if you stayed with me that long, you got a good view into the bizarro world of Autumn's head.  Hope I didn't scare you off!

Fun Fabric Pumpkins

You guys have got to check these super cute pumpkins.  Fun Fabric Pumpkins, she is so stinking creative and why didn't I think of this?  Check out her website, she is giving a box of them away.  You never know who might win!!

First day of Kindergarten

Once again, better late than never, right?!?!  Well, here is CX on his first big day in Kindergarten.  He was a little nervous, but you can't tell in the picture at all.  He was ready for us to leave him alone so that he could get on with his learning, as he said. 

I am so proud of him.  He has turned out to be the boy I always dreamt that he would be and then so much more.  He is sweet and charming and tender and strong.  I love it and praise God everyday for the wonderful boy he has brought into my life. 

CX loves riding the bus and was very upset when he found out that I might have to take him to school on the days lil' sis had preschool.  He loves the bus, I think it might have something to do with this little one....

She is a pretty cute one.  We love to tease him about her.  He doesn't seem to find it quite as funny as we do!  The feeling is pretty mutual between the two and they go to church together as well.  What more could a mom want for her son?

First Day of Preschool

I finally got the first day pictures off of the camera, I am such a good mom that is on top of everything!  Ha!  Anyway, this is lil' sis on her way to the first day of preschool.  She was so stinking excited to be going back to school.

We did have her in the morning sessions, but with CX getting on the bus so late in the mornings, it would make her late to preschool.  So, it just so happened that there was an opening in the afternoon and viola, she won't be late to school and neither will CX, who loves to ride the bus!  The only draw back, her best buddy from school last year is in the morning class.  It stinks and lil' sis was upset, but she still sees her friend for soccer and other social activities.  It's good for her to make more friends, the more you have, the more well-rounded you will become.

Preciousness

Is this not the most precious thing that you have ever seen?  It is a picture that my 4 year old daughter drew of her friends that she has made thru preschool.  You can't see it, but each girl has her name written over their head and one girl is from her preschool class last year, that she is still very good friends with and the other is of a new girl in her class this year that she is fastly becoming good friends with as well.  I just think it is super sweet and had to share with you all! 

Lil' sis and I are going to the firestation next week and are taking these two precious girls with us.  I might be insane for inviting them, but I have to get used to her having friends along sometime, right?  They are both adorable girls and the three of them get along so well.  Lil' sis is blessed with good friends, and honestly, I can say the same for CX.  He has made some really good friends that I think he will keep for years to come.

seriously?!?!

I am just a little upset about what happened to my family after leaving church this morning. And I think that it should upset us all!

Today when we got to church apparently my husband left the Sirius, satellite radio, on while we were in church. Not a biggie right? Well, we came out, started the car up and left. Turned into the gas station to fill up and left the Sirius on again, because it was one of lil sis's favorite songs, Kings of Leon-use somebody. Well, after filling up and running inside to get a Sunday paper the car was dead. Dead as a doornail....where does that expression come from anyway?

Still, not a big deal, I grabbed my jumper cables out of the back of the car. (My momma raised me to always be prepared.) As I come back up to the front of the car, Jeff has the hood popped open and is heading over to this other car that has pulled in to get gas. It is a Cadillac and filled with two elderly gentlemen and two elderly ladies. As Jeff is asking them to politely pull their car over to ours to jump it the one old man says,"well, my car doesn't jump and I don't think this one does either." HUH?!?!? Since when do Cadillacs not have batteries in them? Seriously? The old man then walks over to the driver of the car, whispers something to him and I swear if that car could have thrown rocks when they drove off it would have caught on fire from all the sparks!

Wow, I am still in a daze about that. Is Jeff really that intimidating or me for that matter?

So then, as the Cadillac is speeding away, a nice older lady pulls up to the pump right next to us. No, she can't help out either, she isn't that car knowledgeable and plus it is an acura, you have to have special jumper cables to do that. Okay, if that is your story, stick to it. Amazing, I didn't know that about acura's, darn foreign cars!

So then, we walk over to this van, with "normal" looking people and they are more than happy to help us out. They are from Indiana and traveling back home from vacation down in Branson. They aren't even from here and they are nice.

I am just befuddled and don't know what to think. I always have my jumper cables with me, and I don't know how many times I have helped people out. Are there really that kind of people out there in the world? Apparently, because I ran into two different sets of them today, after church. Nice christian people, eh?!?!?

Homemade suckers!!!

Okay, so I found this really cool and easy way to make suckers out of "Jolly Ranchers". They turned out super cute and they really are super easy to make. Anyone can do it! I promise!

First, I just bought a pound bag of regular "Jolly Ranchers", I have also made these with lifesavers and they work pretty good also. You will also need popsicle or sucker sticks.


Next, you pick three candies to melt together. I chose to make mine with stripes, but you can do them all the same flavor if you like.


Unwrap the candies! Sorry, I need to put that, sometimes the obvious gets ignored.


Next, lay the candies onto a foil covered cookie sheet. I would recommend only putting 4 or 6 suckers per sheet at a time into the oven.

Heat your oven to 275 degrees. Once oven is warm, place cookie sheet into the oven for 6 minutes. The candies will melt into one another and form some pretty funky shapes.
As soon as you remove the cookie sheet you need to stick the sticks into the melted candy. Make sure to roll the stick to cover it with the melted candy.

Let it cool to room temperature then you can wrap it and it is ready to go. I found this recipe
here http://chiccookiekits.blogspot.com/search/label/hard%20candy. And apparently, after re-reading the blog, I over cooked my suckers. That didn't seem to stop anyone from eating them. I kind of like the funky shapes anyway! Enjoy!