The Human Sticker Book

This page of stickers kept Emma entertained for a long time.


She loves to play with stickers! If only she always stuck them on her skin, and not the walls and hardwood floors....

Emma scissor hands

 

This is why you should always know where all your pairs of scissors are. This is also another one of those times when your 2 year old is being very quiet for a long time and you don't know where they are. It's true, when they are quiet and happy they are usually doing something that they aren't supposed to. I'm just glad she only cut up her shirt and that it wasn't something new - although it was still in great condition. I just think it's funny how many times she cut her shirt. It was sliced from top to bottom in a wide path. Josh has done this before, but I think he was old enough to know better and he only cut his shirt in one or two places. Also, in my defense, she had a pair of child scissors that David had left out. Who knew they could cut through fabric? I guess the next time she is being very quiet, I should go and find her right away.

Singing in the Rain

We had just arrived home. It was one of those brief, but powerful, late summer rain storms. I could see the look in my kids eyes as we pulled into the garage. I said "go ahead, you can play in the driveway for a few minutes." At first, they were hesitant. Is mom really letting us play in the rain? Can we really get soaked and dirty? They were probably hesitant because this is the sort of thing I usually never let them do. They had a blast. They found a small puddle to jump in. It was totally worth it. It reminded me of something that my siblings and I did. We had just moved to Virginia. In fact, I think it was one of our first days there because we were still at a hotel. We had moved from Oregon where, when it rained, it rained all day. It has a hot, humid summer day. All of a sudden, it started raining buckets. We were in the parking lot of the hotel, jumping around in this sudden rainstorm that only lasted a few minutes. That was fun too.

I'm a winner!

It seemed like everyone I knew had won something from the contest that Ryka was doing. I was even reading a blog that was linked from a friend of a friend - she got shoes and her mom got a shirt. My sisters both got shirts and everyone they knew that had entered had won something as well. My sister-in-law Ginger (whom I referred) won some shoes. I was feeling pretty left out. Then today, when I was leaving to get my kids from school, the fedex man was in my driveway. As soon as I saw him, I knew - I had won! Was it a shirt (not as exciting) or a new pair of running shoes? The weight and shape of the box gave it away. I won some shoes! Well, I'm not really that special - they were giving away 50 pairs of shoes each day for a month. But it's still exciting to me! Hopefully they won't give me shin splints when I run :)

Costume update

Well, I am 99% done with Dorothy and the Tin Man. I bought a green shirt instead of sewing one for the scarecrow and I found some ruby slippers. I think I'm going to make it!

Halloween Craziness

I'm one of those moms that likes to make her kids Halloween costumes. It's kind of fun and the kids really like it too. For the past several years, we have always had a costume from the previous year that the younger kids don't mind wearing - in other words, I have never attempted to make 4 Halloween costumes at once. This year I thought I would try it. We are doing a theme (4 characters from the Wizard of Oz) and I am making all of the costumes. There aren't too many places they get to wear the costumes. There is a parade at school and Trick or Treating (where it's dark and cold and you usually have to wear a coat over your costume). But, there is usually the Church Halloween party where it's warm and well lit and I get to show off my sewing skills. I haven't really started the costumes other than buying all the patterns and fabric and cutting out some of the patterns (the paper, not the fabric yet). I kept thinking I had a few weeks - Halloween isn't until the 31st! We just got an invitation to our church party. It's on the 19th!!! I have a little over a week to make 4 costumes. I think I may have gotten a little over my head. Let's hope I can finish them so we don't end up with Dorothy, Bob the Builder, a pumpkin, and Peter Pan. Wish me luck!

Open window weather

We have had some beautiful fall days! I love it when the weather cools down enough so that I can open the windows in the house and let some fresh air in. The afternoons are warm and the mornings are delightfully crisp. I love having a long fall where winter doesn't start too early. You can say what you want about the weather in Nebraska, but ever since I've lived here, we have had a nice beautiful fall and spring. You definitely get a taste of each 4 seasons here. So, I'm enjoying the fall and I'm hoping for no snow until at least after Thanksgiving :)