Sewing in my spare time

Thanks for all your ideas and advice! I loved reading them.

Now for the crafty part of the blog. I have had this Heather Ross fabric for a couple months now. I LOVE it and I just had it sitting on the dresser as I dreamed of what I would do with it. I knew it would be something for Ella to wear, but, not being a great seamstress yet, my imagination was greater than my talent. I finally picked something easy, and of course, I still had to take it a part a few times. I'm not thrilled with it, but practice makes perfect. The top is reversible, and I hope to use this through all seasons. I like it better without the cropped pants--I need to find a new pants pattern.

Look at this face! Doesn't it look like Josiah?! She looks like a baby and I love it.

We had some horse accessories from Gymboree that go perfect!

Try It Tuesday

Jess came home to a few changes around here. I've been taking "baby green" steps, feeling like a little is better than nothing, and maybe, eventually, we'll be living out of our vegetable-oil run motor home. The cloth diapers, the organic milk, the new cleaning products and body care products. . . and this one: Soap nuts!

The soap nut is just that: the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree. These have been used as a natural, safe detergent for thousands of years. I admit it took me a while to try these. My friend, Julie has been using them to wash her diapers for a while and recommended them when I was having issues with detergent buildup in my diapers (there are many chemicals left behind on our clothes after washing and mixing them with urine is really, REALLY stinky.) When my friend and cloth diapering/sewing/crafting cohort Sarah told me they were available at Brighter Day and I wouldn't have to order them, I ran out there, picked up my bag of soap nuts and had an avocado and bean sprout sandwich (OK I'm getting closer to that granola girl. . . ). As long as I don't have to have them shipped they are no more expensive than other high quality detergents and they really do work. I have been saving them for my diapers, because I am afraid Brighter Day will run out, but they do the trick!

To go along with my soap nuts, I also bought a couple of wool dryer balls (suggested by the aforementioned cloth-diapering-Sarah) from a work at home mom who gets her wool straight from the sheep farm. These replace dryer sheets in our house, and, although they don't work quite as well, I've been told I would see more results if I used more than the two I have.

So what new things have you tried lately?

Now, blog, where to take you?

Not really sure where to go with this blog now. . . I really do love writing it so I am going to try to continue. But will it be a momblog? A crafty blog? A going green blog? I think it will be a collection of everything. A family blog. I have lots of ideas, but it will be much better if you chime in!



We're trying to decide whether to enroll Ella in ballet. She loved her ballet camp, and the same teacher has an opening that fits perfectly in our schedule. This particular studio has impressed me and I have no fear that she'll be dancing in a cut off top to Britney Spears. But when we're talking about that kind of money and time commitment, we really need to decide WHY. Why is it important for a 4 year old to take a class like that? Sure, it's fun, but, again the money and time thing. Will she be behind everyone else if she starts at 5? These days moms are driving their children from sports practice to music lessons to playdates--time to play at home is rare. I know this is in my future--does it need to start now? I fought these questions when we tried to decide about preschool. Why is it better for my child to be taken from her mother and put in school at 3 or 4? (For the record, we did decide it would be a good idea for Ella and the family to go to school 2 half-days a week). So, I want to know what you think. What do your children do at 4 (or what do you see them doing at four) and why?

He's home!

We are together again! Jess arrived by commercial airplane yesterday evening. We were given gate passes (available to family members picking up loved ones from deploymnents) so we were able to stand at the very same window and watch Jess's plane arrive just as we had watched it depart. I regret now that the video camera did not have a tape in it, and the camera was almost out of batteries, so I have few pictures for you. But needless to say we have been enjoying ourselves and it almost feels like he never left.


Today we went to Sam's soccer game and-oh my goodness- Sam was great! He went after the ball! We lost count of how many times he kicked it. After some chick-fil-a and some icecream we walked around the block so Sam could show dad how well he rides his bike. Ella is happy to have someone treat her like a princess again, and Si is bubbly. Adeline, well she just stares at him with her big eyes, but she's warming up and giving a few more smiles. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!! For your prayers and encouragement and help over these last months. God has been so good to us.

I guess this is an answer to the question "Will I blog after he returns." Yes, but not as frequently.

A Sweet Surprise

Six months ago a friend of mine learned her husband was seriously injured in Iraq, just before he was to come home. Her last six months have been nothing like she imagined it as she and her husband work toward his recovery. I thought of her a lot today as Jess made his way from Baghdad to Kuwait. And then, this evening, as I was trying to decide how we'd celebrate his arrival, a package from this sweet friend showed up at my door. A box of fresh apple cider doughnuts! No one in the world would fault this couple for being a little self-centered right now. No one would expect them to be reaching out to others at a time like this. But this woman sent me doughnuts! (Oh, and a funny story via facebook about how she convinced her wheelchair-bound husband to brave the apple orchard for them!) She is what I love about army wives. She takes what is thrown at her and does her best, and then she takes time to make me feel special.


We thought about saving these for breakfast, but then we decided they went excellently with our black bean chimichangas (thanks for the recipe, EMJ!) OK, they didn't' really go well, but it didn't matter, they were yummy.




















Oh, and about that sweet soldier of MINE. 13 years ago today we went on our first date. He took me to a Cubs game and then the Drake Hotel for dinner with his Aunt Ginny. I liked him. And even though I really didn't want to start dating as soon as I got to college, I just couldn't pass him up. He was sweet, he was cute, he played baseball, and this whole "Army" thing was just a way to pay for college--he'd do his 4 years and then get out (PS I'm glad he didn't). I am blessed. And now I am trying to wrap this up because it's 11pm. I wanted to end on an Office Quote, just for my husband, but I am at a loss. If anyone thinks of a good one. . .

Some things while I wait for the Office Premier.

There's this boy we take home from school sometimes. Yesterday, the 3 kids got in the car and settled in the backseat. "How was your day, children?" I asked. "Good," said Ella. "Fine," said Sam. "I glued my butt to a chair," said the kid we take home from school sometimes.

Speaking of funny things kids say, here's one I love and will be sad when they grow out of it. My kids call a sneeze a "bless you." Yesterday, Ella said "My teacher gave me a tissue just in case I bless youed." I love that.

We are counting days til Jess comes home. Its a wonderful, painful, exciting, agonizing time.

I'm on my last case of Caffine Free Diet Dr. Pepper with no more in sight. sigh.

Now go watch some tv!

Becka's Right! It's a Candy Corn Dress

I'm still trying to get the hang of making clothes and using a pattern, so this is far from perfect. The top is a little too big and the hem is not right. But I really loved seeing Ella in something I've made. We've been eating candy corns by the tons here so that's what inspired it. Now what to make for Addie to match. . .