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.