Better late than...well, you know

We got really sick after Halloween, and I never got to post these. I'm really sad that I didn't ever get a really good family shot... (Or any good shots for that matter).We were the Croods for Halloween. The kids picked the theme and they had fun quoting the movie ALL MONTH! I watched the show a lot while I was sewing, to get inspiration for each costume.













Brooke is Eep, Madi is the Grandma. This was the only picture I got of Brooke in her costume. She was sick on Halloween day... this was at a Party earlier in the week.

 Brett was Grug (the dad) and Q was 'the baby' (and he WAS in character the whole time! If you've not seen the movie... it just means that this kids was zooming around the whole time, terrorizing everything. We kept laughing and saying "release the baby!"

Connor was Guy... The boys all grew their hair out so they could look caveman-ish. The feet for Connor's costume, I made to be slippers so he could use them afterward. It was funny watching him clomp around in these things.

Ben was Thunk... he was cracking lines from the movie all day and making us laugh!

 Madi's costume, which you really can't see, was the most challenging. She had this filmy scale looking material that was a nightmare to sew with... the back had aligator like ribs down the back and a stuffed tail.

 I was Ugga, the mom. This was the only picture of my costume. 

Stuff

Doesn't this face just make you want to laugh! 

Stuff I've been sewing

Sew, what-ch-doing?

Do you ever have one of those days where, you have so much to do, that you don't know where to start? Those come quite frequently around here. (There is nothing wrong with days like that... it's better than being bored I suppose). Well, on days that seem to be threatening craziness in the forecast... I sometimes play hooky.
Not that I leave... just mentally. HA! No, I mean from the stuff that I do on a daily basis... the regular stuff.

Thursday was one of those days, and I decided to sew. I thought, "If I can just use my energy and 'creative powers...' - cue personal theme song- (No I don't have one, but if I did, this is where it would be played... and any other time I use the words 'creative powers')... hem. Back to my thoughts... "If I can DO something that will stay DONE, I will fill fulfilled today." So I sewed. And it was fun, productive and it stayed DONE. (Unlike that shining kitchen that was turned into a war zone an hour later at dinner time).

And the next day, I sewed... and it was even more fun. I had to put my sewing machine away to force myself to focus on real life again. But I think I'm developing an addiction. Ha! Its so fun to make things that fit and are cute... (well I think they are cute). My latest thing is searching pinterest for (my level) sewing projects to work on next. I'm so excited, I can't wait to get started on three more! (And I can't wait to wear the lace overlay skirt I made for church). Sew, what-ch-ya working on?

Just a little fun.

I didn't want to clean yesterday... sewing sounded like more fun!

So I made this shirt yesterday... funky and fun!

So would you be brave enough to wear this outside?

Remembrance

I love Veterans Day! I love my county and freedom! I love history and learning about the people and events that have changed the world. I love the music that honors the people who have served (and those who have died) to protected freedom. I want my children to learn and appreciate all that has happened in the past that has brought them to this beautiful future of freedom and knowledge.

I have appreciated Veterans Day since I was a teen, but didn't come to a full understanding until I was in Europe on November 11 and Remembrance Sunday. We, in the United States are so sheltered from the devastation of the World Wars. We lost many good men and women in the battles, but not our homes. Our cities and country were not ravaged by the wars. Our land was not littered with the bombs, barbed wire, guns and bodies of soldiers. Few in our nation even know what an air raid siren sounds like.

I was in Wales on Nov 11...Everyone wore red poppies. I walked through cities that had been reduced to ruins. I saw the fields of France that had once been red with the blood of soldiers. It was a different feeling to be surrounded with the reality of what so many had witnessed first hand. To them, even the children, the day seemed more sacred. 

I realized that in the United States, we might look forward to parades or performances or time off... but many have forgotten the reason this date is a "holiday." And we have one day... I loved that in Europe they had Remembrance Sunday as well... a sacred day. 

The history of  our"Veterans Day" is interesting, changed so we now use it to honor our veterans, which is wonderful... but Nov 11 has a larger historical importance to the world. And we are part of that. We forget too easily. Make things "comfortable" to quickly. It is healing to remember sorrow and learn from our mistakes.

 I am determined that at least five little Americans will be taught and learn to appreciate the past! Have a wonder Remembrance Day/ Veterans Day! Pin on a poppy or wave a flag and be thankful for all you have!

Quarantine

We are in quarantine... at least that's what it feels like. Five of the seven of us have had strep throat this week. When on person starts improving, another one comes down with it. So life is slowly getting back to normal... but things are crazy, messy, and no fun!

Punkin's and Pumpkins

Another one of our family traditions is pumpkin carving with my little punkins. We all go together to pick them out (if we don't grow enough that year in our pitiful little garden). Picking out is super fun and later, closer to Halloween, comes the carving mess!

Some kids love the pumpkin gick... This girls does! Even when she was a baby, Madi would laugh and dive into the guts of her pumpkin. She really got into it this year as usual.

Brooke loved being creative, but NOT the pumpkin guts!

My boys knew exactly what they wanted for faces! They sketched them out first on paper. I loved their creativity!

Madi's pumpkin had braces, piercings, and crazy hair!

Q did NOT want anything to do with the pumpkin guts! He freaked out when Madi tried to put his hand inside... and if any seed got on him, he would get upset. This kid makes me laugh!

Ben's was a pirate and Connor's was just happy to be there.

Brooke went for a bat.

And of course, the Picasso of Pumpkins carved a globe for his. Brett acts like pumpkin carving isn't his thing... but then he really gets into it and shows us all up. Nice work huh?