I Love Wool!

So, I'm still working on my diaper cover pattern and I think I'm just about there.

Here I used chalk to give a rough idea of what I wanted. I like them to be a bit on the big side so we have lots of growing room. For us, after about 6 months old (which is just where we are right now) is about the largest cover we will need because all 3 boys have hit 20 lbs at this point, so with a cover that has room for getting mostly taller and just a little wider we are really set until they are in undies all the time. Wool is nice and stretchy, so as long as the cover is tall enough you really get a wide size range! I like to have 2 covers in a small size and 2 in a medium, but at least 3 or 4 in this large size so if I have 2 children at a time that need one (like a new baby and another that needs one at night) there's enough to go around.

I traced it on paper, then made a new line on one side that I wanted to try for a better fit.

I used chalk to trace the new line on the cover and sewed around, putting elastic in the sides.

I use 1/4 inch elastic in the sides and 1/2 inch for the back. Usually :o) Or whatever I have at the time, but I like bigger at the back.

I try to use the bottom of the sweater for the back so it's finished already.

Just a zig-zag stitch and leave the top open.

 Add some velcro.

And finished!

And here's my BIG guy :o)

It comes up just over his belly button, so there's plenty of room but it still fits fine now.

These are kinda funny pictures of him, but it's hard to get a good one when he's flapping around constantly!

I think it's just as hard to get a good picture of Tim :o)

I live with boys all around me and none of them know how to be serious for a minute, but I love it!!!

Airplanes and Automobiles Part 1

So this is my latest addition-in-progress to the boys' room.

I started about 1 year ago painting their room with cars, trucks, helicopters and now a big blue airplane.

I did most of the room last spring, and sometime in the summer before I was too sick pregnant I painted the helicopter, so now I thought it was about time to finish everything I was planning before I got so pukey last year :o)

I always start by drawing whatever it is on paper, then tape it together and cut out the shape so I can trace it onto the wall.

You can see a faint outline if you look close.

Here with a little more detail.

And here with one coat of paint.

This is maybe 3 coats.

And the helicopter on the other wall.

It took me 2 Full days to hand paint all those stripes. But I did that part a year ago. Thank goodness I won't have to do that again!!!

They have cars and trucks all the way around.

I still need a few details like yellow lines on the road and maybe some clouds around the top. That will have to be part 2 :o)

A Dress For My Mom

I've been meaning to make this dress for my mom for a while now, but I'm really glad that now is when I did make it because they have something very special coming up, and she will have something special to wear! 

To start at the beginning, my mom bought this pattern and the fabric and trimmings about 3 years ago. She cut out the pattern and started sewing some on the bodice, but then set it aside and never got back to it :o(. 

About a year ago I was over at my parents' house looking for some sewing supplies and mom gave me a bag with her cut-up pattern and said maybe one day I would have time to make it or do something else with all the fabric. She looked so sad! It was a pretty crazy time over there because they were getting ready to go to the Ukraine and adopt 4 siblings to add to our family. There were already 5 kids, my Grandma and my parents, and their house is big enough for them, but trying to make room for 4 more was not easy! All that to say I wanted mom to have her dress. So they've been home for about 8 months now and are going for the final part of the adoption process here next month. You can read their amazing journey HERE. So earlier this week I thought it was time to pull everything out and get started, and when I was about half way done with the dress I called mom to come for a fitting :o). She had no idea what she would need to be fitted for, because she didn't remember giving me the pieces and pattern. I was glad she was so surprised, and very glad now that it's done, and that it fits PERFECTLY!

Maybe I can get her to pose for a few pictures later, but here's what I have now.

    

I'm so happy I got the zipper to look this nice!

I used the special stitch on the machine to do the hem.

Not sure the right name for that stitch but I think it made it look really finished.

I also added some lining so Mom wouldn't have to worry about sharing more than she wanted to with people :o)

I ALWAYS line everything! Maybe it's just me, but I'm always worried that I'll end up standing in a sunny spot where everyone can see right through my dress, and I won't know, and no one will tell me.

So I just line everything as much as possible :o)

Who likes my dress form?

I plan on making a duct tape dress or body form this weekend so I will have something a little more accurate to hang things on while sewing.

But this actually works ok for right now.

Here it is in action. It really did help for pinning the hem to have the dress hanging the way it would on a person, not just laying it flat and trying to get it straight.

I think the dress is all 3 of the variations put together. The sleeves on the left, the trim in the middle and the trim at the bottom on the right.

Glad you like it Mom!

The Incredible Stacking Josiah

Josiah loves to stack things!!! 

It seems like every time I turn around I find random objects stacked up. They're all over the house, outside, it's even his favorite way to pass the time while sitting in the shopping buggy. He likes to see how high he can get the cans before they crash - and usually end up smashing our bread :o)

The first time I realized just how talented he had become was one day while they were playing with their army men, and Josiah made this. I thought that was talent to have a man on a car on a tree and get it to stay!



After the boys were in bed the other day I noticed something unusual on Tim's desk.

He's always so proud!

He always has to stack the play-doh before any actual playing with the play-doh can happen.

He gave me a present on my present :o)

A frog on a nickel on a train on a helicopter.

He's so funny!!!
He told me the other day that he made a funny, and I cracked up!!! I'm not sure if he heard that somewhere or if it's just one of those things that just came out that way, but either way he was right :o)

Super Daddy To The Rescue!!

I asked Samuel a few weeks ago what he wanted to give Tim for Father's Day. He came up with all kinds of ideas that I knew I would not have time to make, but it was so fun to see him think about all the things that would be special for his Daddy. One of the first things that he said was a Super Daddy cape. I've said before that their favorite game to play with Tim is dragon-fighting and princess-saving. This can start as fighting dragons and, as they play, turn into anything from bear hunting, fly chasing, super hero flying, really anything where they can be loud, run, jump, shoot and just be boys. Samuel also wanted me to make a sword, a shield and a helmet, but I thought I could maybe get a few things rolled into one.
I came up with a Super Daddy logo on a shield on a cape. I didn't have a pattern, but knew I wanted some kind of collar and I'm really happy with what I ended up with!

I made my own bias tape and used that to finish the edges, instead of doing 2 layers of fabric, because they always play when Tim gets home from work and he's already hot and tired, so I wanted it to be as light and breathable as possible. 

I put a few extra stitches here so nothing gets lost during those flying rides.

Super Hero Super Daddy!!!!

To the RESCUE!!

They LOVE their Daddy sooo much!

What sweet boys :o)

Samuel also asked what kind of animal cake I was going to make. I said that I would make his Daddy's favorite cake but it wasn't going to be any kind of animal :o). My birthday's coming soon and they asked me what animal cake I was making for myself. Tim told them that my birthday present to me was that I didn't have to make a cake :o). I guess with the last few birthdays I've set their expectations a bit high :o).
I don"t have any pictures of the cake because Tim eats sweets too fast! But here is the recipe from a 1940's cookbook:

Hot Milk Cake
4 eggs beaten lightly
2 C. sugar
1 ts. vanilla
2 C. flour
2 ts. baking powder
Mix well in order given.
In small pot melt 1 stick butter in 1 C. milk.
Add and beat to mixture.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until done :o)

I always serve with cool whip as icing and green grapes around the side.
Sounds funny but it's REALLY good!

Bugs Bugs Everywhere

As y'all have probably noticed, my boys LOVE bugs!

I saw THESE that Disney made at Ruffles and Stuff and thought that would be a great fast present for a friend of mine that just told me she was pregnant (and I could make a few extra for my little ones). This is the first toy that I've made for Caleb so far (poor guy, he's 5 months old now and I just got around to making something JUST for him) 

This is the same caterpillar, just different fabric on each side.

I like that it's a caterpillar made with a butterfly print :o)

I didn't use the pattern that Disney gave, but mine looks pretty close. I loved the idea of adding wings for an instant butterfly transformation :o) I plan on trying to make a few different kinds of bugs for my silly boys to play with. It doesn't really matter what I make for them, they just love having something new to keep busy with.



It's nice to have things that can attach with rings. I think next time I'll try to find some little jingle bells to put in the middle for a still somewhat quiet sound :o)



Most people know that I can't stand things that make NOISE! Anything with batteries that ends up at our house only lasts a few minutes before the batteries "get lost," and I tell the boys that they're still fun to play with even without making noises :o)
I love wooden toys! I think that a child's imagination can be used and grow much more when they have to use it to play and not just watch flashing colors or listen to loud sounds. I would rather them play and learn - not just be entertained by something.
But that's just my opinion :o)

My Sweet Husband

I love my new hydrangea !

Tim's been working so hard in our yard in all his spare minutes the last few weeks! Here's a few snaps of the almost finished project.

He added a few strips of sod to fill some bare places and pretty flowers all around :o)

This will be a sand box for the boys whenever we get some sand to go in it, and till then it's a dirt box that is just as fun I think.

Samuel loves finding bugs to follow around!

This was his new pet until he lost it :o)

Here are a few more pictures taken about 2 weeks later. See how much everything has grown, and you can hardly tell between the new sod and old grass.

Look how BIG!

It looks so good Tim. Thanks! :o)

(You're welcome! I love you!! [the perks of being the editor... :o) ])