i have pneumonia.

minus the forks, of course.

We saw that movie this weekend.

I had mixed emotions; I loved loved the creativity and the soundtrack, but it was very deep. Too intense and sad for the boys. Jake liked it, but Andy and Joey were upset by all the seriousness and sadness. Too much to interpret for little kids.

My favorite part was when Andy leaned over and said "Mom, I don't care much for this movie, I'm just happy to be with you." And hugged my arm real tight.

And my second favorite part was when he said "Mom, that is very inappropriate behavior when you're angry. He needs to read a book." We had a good talk about that.

Dani, on the other hand, could seperate the sadness and appreciate the movie making; and is now an official wild thing. Minus the forks and the attitude, of course. She promptly came home and fashioned a wild thing fort and outfit, and growls every once in a while.

I figured she needed a more fitting ensemble. We'll see how it goes.

infant carseat blanket.

Jaclyn emailed me a while ago and asked if I knew of a pattern for a carseat blanket baby cover...thing. I needed clarification; so she sent me some pictures and I told her I have no idea where to find a pattern for that cool contraption, but who cares because we can figure it out!

My favorite. Figuring it out.

So may I attempt to explain in some sort of mildly understandable fashion how to make the lightweight infant carseat baby blanket cover to keep the wind out but you can still hold the handle...thing.

• Cut out a piece of fabric measuring 42" x 50". {I didn't have one piece of fabric large enough, so I pieced mine together.}
• Make it look like this:

• Here are some measurements:
  

• Make two straps in contrasting fabric using this tutorial, but measuring 5 1/2" x 2".
• Sew them onto the top of your blanket 5" apart. I did three lines 1/4" apart to secure them real good.
• {Because my blanket was pieced together, I had to add a bottom fabric to cover up my seams, which is why there are straight machine quilting lines in the picture below. You don't have to do this with one piece of fabric.}

• Finish the edge of your blanket however you want. Some suggestions are a zig-zag stitch, serging, one straight stitch so it kinda frays {I like the fray}, quilt binding {which is what I used on this one}, ricrac, whatever!
• And there you go. Jaclyn now has a nicely covered baby.

owls.

Dani and her cousin Camryn decided they wanted to make owls. So they did some designing, and walla...owls. I love them.


Then the boys decided they needed owls. Walla, walla, walla. more owls.


Poor Scooter there on the end kept running into walls and "slapping his brain silly" until Andy figured out the poor bird needed glasses.

Walla. Owl with glasses.


His swooping skills have improved considerably.

Andy is still concerned, however, with Scooter's lack of pants.

10 points for delicious. The champion.

{almost} Every night, Joey and Andy argue over who gets to be the taste tester for dinner.

The job of the tester entails taking tiny bites, or sips, of each item offered on their plate (even their no-thank you portions) before the actual eating ensues, and gives it a number which they somehow magically mathematically generate into a final score. And there is born the point system.

Here's my formula for a perfect 10.

Rule #1. Keep it simple. Make the making the fun part. Complication is stress and usually results in a low score for a bad attitude.

Rule #2. Put all projects and addicting magazines aside and listen to some inspiring Oh Love on the pod. I'm not a country girl, usually, but for this you mush love the Oh Love. Because you love making dinner.


Rule #3. Make it little. Little is good.

Little Pizzas:
Spread some Arnold Select Multi-Grain Sandwich Thin halves (at Sam's Club) with pizza, spagetti, or alfredo sauce and top with veggies and cheese, a little mozzarella and Lots of freshly grated parmesan cheese (none of this fake chalky cheese in a shaker mumbo jumbo. That's for toddlers), fresh herbs, and a little garlic salt. Yum-o.

Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.


Rule #4. Must have yummy drink. Because.

Caramel Milkshakes:
In blender...vanilla ice cream, a little ice, 2 scoops of brown sugar, and some caramel ice cream topping. We're going for a 10-er here, not nutrition. Keep your eye on the prize.

Rule #5. Apple bars.

Thank you Meg Duerksen. Thank you.

Now sing a sweet victory tune, as you clean it all up.

2 points for creativity.

They decided to make lunch.

I was with them on the Nestle morsels, but had to back out when they dumped the cheese.

happy creepy halloween from picnik.com.

Too much freaky fun.

necklace hangers.

I've been needing a new way to hang up my necklaces. I don't have many, but this is where I kept them:

A jumbled mess of a hand towel holder.

So I was at Hobby Lobby and saw these decorative wood blocks with a knob on them that had pretty paper decoupaged on them and thought..."hmmm. Those would be nice and simple, but they're too pretty, and cost $7. No thanks."

Then I walked in the wood aisle and saw the same wood blocks for 30% off of 50 cents. So I grabbed 3. Then I noticed that their cool drawer pulls were 50% off, so I picked 3. I spent $6. And hurried home.

Now I have this:

Much better.

First I painted the blocks white, then sanded them down on the corners a bit.

Then I drilled a hole in the bottom half of each wood block for the knobs, using a bit the size of the screws on the knobs.

I had to trim the length of the screw on the knobs or else they would stick out the back and not lay nicely against the wall. So I took the knob apart so I wouldn't damage the pretty part, and used a chisel and hammer to pound the end of each screw off. I guesstimated.

Once I reassembled the knobs, they screwed into the wood quite nicely. I did have to use pliers to tighten them, but they're good and secure. I would place some washer in between the knobs and the wood just to give more room for your necklaces to hang. I didn't do that.

Then I hammered in two staples into the back (hammered because I can't find the staple gun) just slightly and layed a piece of string under each staple, then hammered them in tight. I tied a couple knots and trimmed the ends.


Then hung each on a basic picture hanger. Easy.

my kids are wizards.

I'm such a proud muggle.

Works of her. Of course.

Festivities will include but are not limited to:

The Sorting, Basic Magic 101:Wand Safety, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Quidditch practice, and of course, an endless feast in the Great Hall.

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.

cookies. kites. and conference.

such a great day.

a little bit of sweets.
a little bit of wind.
and a lot of relaxation, inspiration, and resuscitation.

I love this weekend.

easy Halloween window clings.

Andy has been going crazy wanting Halloween decor. I mean, the gigantic mummies and skeletons that talk and move their head to scare the b-geebee's out of you when you walk up to the door. He really had his eye set on those mechanical spiders that jump down in your face. Or just something to stick in the lawn, he says. Like a big nice witch on a nimbus 2000.

I told him we'd have to go non-electronic this year (uh, like every year) and maybe do the creepy show when we live on the land (because all our dreams will come true when we build our house on the land. Like the pet zebra.).

So we got out our Elmer's.

Here's how to make simple, non moving or screeching or jumping or croaking Halloween Window Clings. I love 'em.

carefully peel the glue clings off the tinfoil.
If you did the glue thick enough, this should be easy.

Make sure you put your words on backwards.
You don't want people to see a big "ood" on your house.
And stick the glue side on, not the colored side.

Sweet. Go with the glue and leave the jumping spiders where they belong. Far away from me.

Happy October!