The way REAL doctors do it

Melody walked in the room the other day with this on her face and went about her business as usual. I waited to see if she was going to say or do something to let me know that she knew she looked silly, but nothing. So I questioned her about it. She responded with, "I'm a doctor Mom and I don't want the germs to get in me so I'm wearing my mask." She said it so matter of fact that it almost made me feel dumb for asking! She put it on again right before dinner and Jared just looked at her. Then he got up and started searching for the camera, really how can you NOT want a picture of this?

She has this really cute obsession with being a doctor. We have an amazing pediatrician who is supper loving and understands Melody so well. Ever since we started going to her Melody has started playing doctor on Katie. She even says things the same way as Dr. Jiawani! She'll tell Katie 'don't worry Katie I'm just going to listen to your tummy, it won't hurt at all'. Then she'll blow on what ever she's using as her stethoscope to warm it up and proceed to listen to the noises in Katie's tummy.

I found a pattern on that pattern sale at Joann's for a doctors outfit. I think I'll try and get it made for her birthday next year, by then maybe Katie will be a more cooperative patient!

Budding artist

I call this Melody's interpretation of figuring out the world around her. Kinda long, but oh so worth it!

Halloween Costumes

Since we managed to not get one picture of last year's Halloween I decided that we were going to take pictures before Halloween this year so I wouldn't have to worry about getting them amid the festivities. I've been working on these off and on for a while but I had to kick it in gear because we actually have several parties this week so I needed to get them done sooner rather than later! I took these outside our building. I wish we had more fall like weather with colorful leaves and what not, but it'll be another month or so before we get that!

These are the bags I put together for them. I found the fabric in a remnant bin and knew I wanted to make their trick-or-treat bags this year. Then I saw this really cute idea to add a monogram in a contrasting fabric. I can NOT remember which blog saw it on so if any of you know please leave a comment. I'd really like to give credit where credit is due! Anywho, I had a ton of fun making these and the kids just love them! All I did was cut a 10X12 rectangle and sew up three sides. Then I folded the bottom corners in 1 1/2 inches and tacked it down to make the bottom more square. For Katie's I sewed in the handle and around the top, the folded it over and went around again. With Mellie's I added the fringe and the handle then just sewed it twice to make sure it was reinforced. The second time I used a zig-zag to pretty it up a little. So simple and so fun! Hopefully they'll hold up and be around to use for a few more years!

If I do manage to get any pictures at the parties this week I'll post them on Sunday (hopefull). Now onto the Christmas projects!

Melody's Dinner Conversation

So Melody often carries our dinner conversations with various random statements if you will. She'll tell us about her dreams from the previous evening, about what she's done that day, or in this case what mom's done or said that day.

Melody: "Is it ok to say shit?"

Mom: "No we say shoot."

Melody: "Ohhhh. Mommy says shit when cars get in our cars way."

Dad: "Hahahahah!"

Making Lemonade

Being poor pretty much sucks, however, I'm discovering that I can do things I never thought possible. I've always enjoyed creating, mostly for gifts or things to decorate the house. In the last year or so I've discovered that my creativity can be a very useful tool.

For example:

• I wanted some new jewelry, but didn't want to pay the price so I (with the help of a good friend) figured out how to make it.
• My girls needed some new church clothes so I found an easy pattern and made some. (this was a VERY big deal for me having never sewn something to wear before!)
• I wanted to dress up my girls hair so I googled hair bows and learned how to make them.
• Needed some new bibs, but I was sick of the cheapy ones that kept falling apart, so I turned some of Jared's old jeans into new bibs!

I don't know how much money I've saved, but I know I've really enjoyed learning all these new skills and watching the things I've made be useful to our family.

Because of all this every time I see something I like, but can't afford I start looking at it to see if I can figure out a way to make it. Thankfully lots of other women in the blog hood do the same thing! I came across some silk flower hair clips the other day that I just loved, but they were $5 a piece! I don't think so! Then I found this tutorial on a blog my sil told me about, Little Birdie Secrets. Walla! I now have my flower hair clips! Not to mention a pin that can be used to pretty up any number of things. Best part...I bought all the satin in the remnants bin for less than $3! I think I may go get some organza and tulle to make a few more because I like the look of hers. All fluffy and full! So pretty!



I know we won't always be where we are now, but I am so grateful that we've had the chance to be here. To have the opportunity to see how creative I can get with what we have and learn new skills to get us the things we don't. How funny the way blessings come wrapped in packages we don't always want to open! I guess you could call it making lemonade ;o)

COSTUMES!

Growing up my mom often outdid herself at Halloween. She always made our costumes, and they were always very different. I remember the year I was the night sky. She dressed me head to toe in black then wrapped me with that sparkly wire with the foil stars attached. Then there was the year she thought it would be a good idea to make me a Christmas present. I was 13 and I still can't figure out how she talked me into that one. Imagine a 4x4x4 box wrapped in cheery paper with holes for my head and arms. Needless to say, it ended badly! Due to her incredible creativity she has acquired quite the collection of Halloween costumes that will no longer fit anyone at her house, except maybe Taylor, but I don't think he's terribly interested in dressing up in a flapper dress this year!

Being the kind hearted person she is, she sent some my way. I told Melody we had a box coming from Grandma Carter and she's been watching for it ever since. Today when we got the notice that there was a package in the office she was nearly beside herself with excitement! She speculated all the way there and back what could possibly be in it. I actually told her what was in it and she replied, 'No mom! It's a surprise!' So I just let her continue spinning her tale of what was in there.

When we got home she darted up the stairs and yelled, 'I'll clean up the floor so you can open it!' Of course cleaning the floor consisted of picking everything up off the floor and dumping it on the couch, but it's the thought that counts right? Once I got it opened the girls dug right in. I barely managed to get the present for me that was on top out of the way (btw thanks guys!). I got a cute video of them exploring what was in it (check out the video bar on the side). Then we tried everything on and posed for pics. Well, Mellie posed, Katie tore them off as fast as I put them on. She was ready for the next one! Most of them are just a little too big for Mellie, but I think I've got Halloween covered for like the next 4 years! Not to mention dress up clothes! I may never get that leotard and tutu back from Mellie :)

After she put this on I told her to dance like a ballerina. She started bustin a move. I'm not sure she's dainty ballerina material :)

I think this will still fit next year. I wore this when I was 4, but I wasn't a giant like Melody! She insisted that she could not be a clown unless she had a squishy nose. No idea where she got that but in lieu of a attachable nose she just held up the pompom so she would look like a proper clown!

This one was Whit's I think. My mom made Whitney and Cassie both flappers one year. They had head bands and everything. We're going to have to make another one for Mellie, seriously, so cute!Katie adored it! She kept looking down and twirling so she could watch the shimmery sparkle!

I think Cassie wore this when she was about 4, but she was a teeny little thing so she could've been older. Won't fit Mellie much longer though. She insisted that she pull the pants up above her belly button because it wasn't modest to show her tummy! I misted up with tears of joy! If we can just hang on to that mentality!

Katie couldn't see because the hat was too big, but she refused to take it off!

I remember wearing this when I was 6 or 7. Seeing all of these makes me feel old!

Finally...the sun!

It has been a dreary and wet start to October here in East Texas! It rained the first 15 days of the month. Ordinarily I like the rain, but here we get freak thunder and lightening storms that come out of no where. A girl died recently after being hit by lightening and a house burned to the ground a few days later. It's nuts! Needless to say these instances make me a little leery about being outside. However, I had recently revamped my dedication to my daily workout and decided to take the risk. If it started raining too hard we'd just take cover under someones front porch for a minute until it passed. I mean, are they really going to tell me no? Now that we've made it past that very long two weeks we are now enjoying some very comfortable, very Texas weather and the kids and I love it!

So far I've made it three weeks with the daily workouts and I'm off to a good start on my fourth week. I mapped out a two mile loop that ends at the park up the street, so I could do my running/walking and the kids would get to play at the end of it all. When I first started it was taking me 45 minutes to do the whole loop, sad right?! Today I made it in 25 minutes! WAHOO! I was so excited that I called Jared the minute I reached the park to tell him. He's been so supportive of this whole get healthy kick I've been on.

Melody and I have talked about why I run and how it's important to take care of our bodies. She decided that she also needed to be getting more exercise so she now runs the first quarter to half mile with me. She actually runs fast enough that I have to do a slow jog to keep up! She's so cute, she tells me, 'We just have to make it to that stop sign and we can rest. You can do it mommy!' My own little cheerleader! Then when we make it to the stop sign she has to do a little dance and give high five's, then we're off to the next stop on the run!

Once we get to the park I let Katie get out and run with Melody. It's too funny watching them. If Melody jumps on a certain spot Katie makes a point of doing it also. If Mellie stops to look at something interesting, Katie quickly catches up so she can observe along with her. My favorite is when Melody will just randomly stop and drop to the ground then groan, 'Katie! I fell! Help me up!' Then Katie hustles along to help her sister stand back up. It's a hoot!

Katie's new favorite thing to do at the park is not the slides, nor the swings, it's chasing the birds! We have these really horrible birds here that make the worst squawking noise and they are everywhere. I swear they taunt Katie. She'll spot them and try to run up and catch them, so obviously, they fly away. However, they don't fly to the trees or anything out of reach. No they fly about ten feet the opposite direction. Katie will watch them for a minute to make sure they're not going to fly away again, then she takes off as fast as her legs will let her go. The birds then fly back to the spot they were in before. I like to call this the back and forth game. It's pretty entertaining and it definitely gives Katie a work out!

I hoping that the good weather will hold on for at least another month. Once it starts actually getting cold I'll have to do just the run and only let the kids play on the sunny days. At least we don't have to worry about snow stopping us! There are some things about Utah that I simply do not miss!

I heart holidays!

I'm having way to much fun with Halloween this year! Between making decorations, on my own and with the kids, and all of the fun food we've been making I'm staying busy! Having kids just makes holidays more fun in my opinion! This is the pot pie I made a while back, it turned out so cute I had to post a picture. I made one big one and 6 small ones. The kids thought it was pretty cool having their own little pumpkin, and dug right in. Considering how often they actually eat what I make for dinner it was worth every minute I spent making it! I posted the recipe on my recipe blog if your interested.

I've almost got the kids Halloween costumes done and I think I outdid my self this year! They turned out really cute and they only cost $10!! I only had to buy the shirts (on sale), leggings, and the felt. I had everything else on hand.

I got the shirts a size too big then took off the sleeves. Then I ran elastic through the collar and bottom casing of the shirt so it would keep the stuffing in, and gathered the sleeves at the top. I kinda fudged the sleeves, but they turned out kinda like cap sleeves and I think they look good so I guess the fudging worked ;o) I used this tutorial to reverse applique the faces on. Then I free handed the leaves and ran a wire through the middle to make them a look a little more 'alive'. I just have to attach the leaves to the collar and stuff 'em and they'll be the most adorable jack 'o lanterns in the world! I'll get some pics posted as soon as I get Katie's finished!

My Melody

My dear little Melody has been my challenge straight from Heavenly Father since the day she arrived. Constantly challenging me to be better, more patient, more loving, more Christ like, a better example. I love her dearly. Some days I'd like to ring her little neck with that long beautiful hair of hers, but most days she's everything I need her to be with out realizing I needed it.

The other day we stopped in at the office so I could take care of some stuff. While I was writing the lady was talking to Melody. She started with the basic questions what's your name, is this your sister, how old are you. That last one opened a flood gate.

Recently we went to a baptism of a little girl in our ward. I thought since Jared and I both wanted to go we should take the opportunity to start teaching Melody about baptism and what exactly it means. She's been very excited about it ever since and reminds me daily that when she turns eight she gets to be baptized. We've talked about it several times, but I don't think I realized just how much she understood.

When this lady asked Melody about her age she launched into her baptism speech. The lady took it in stride and asked her if she would have water sprinkled on her head. Melody said no you have to go under so all the bad stuff gets washed away. Then she told her that she would get to take the water in her mouth. At first I didn't know what she meant, but later I realized she was talking about the sacrament (we decided to make her wait until then to take the sacrament hoping it would help her understand the significance a bit more). After talking with her a little more the lady asked what church she went to to which Melody responded "the one down the street!" LOL! I told her that we were LDS and she looked confused. Then I explained that sometimes it's referred to as the Mormon church. She had heard of that and asked a few more questions before we left.

As we were walking home I ran over the conversation in my head and was astounded that my three year old had just done more missionary work, more boldly than I ever had! I'm always praying for the opportunity to share the gospel, but I think I worry too much about offending someone so I don't speak up as often as I could. Melody's child like enthusiasm about the gospel inspired me in a way that I think she may never know. I love my little girl so much and some days wonder at the impossibility of the task ahead of me. Raising her and teaching her what she needs to know so that she can return our Father in Heaven. When you think about it, it's a LOT of responsibility. I think that she's headed in the right direction!

cooking with kids

I just found the coolest website with some of the funnest ideas!

gourmet mom on the go

I don't know how many of you have this problem but I have the hardest time getting my kids to eat lunch and dinner. Breakfast and snacks are never a problem, but lunch and dinner are the bane of my existence! I've gotten stuck in this slump of making pb&j's three out of five days a week. Quite frankly I'm SICK of pb&j's! I just don't really know what else to do! When I saw this website and started looking at these recipes I realized that they took little to no effort and I would be able to get the kids involved in all the preparation. Spending quality time with the girls and making dinner/lunch at the same time! SCORE!

So far we've made pb&j sushi, hot dog jelly fish, ghost pancakes, and tonight we're making mummy meatloaf. She has a ton of ideas for themed dinners based on each holiday. I think I'm having more fun than the kids with all the Halloween stuff!

Just wanted to share in case any of you have kids like mine that have to be entertained by their food before they can ingest it!

AURGH!

Some one please explain to me how it is humanly possible for a 1 year old to empty the DVD cabinet, then empty the DVD cases, half-way unwind ALL of my spools of thread and then take her path of destruction into her bedroom all in the time it takes for me to go to the bathroom!

Pics for the family

Since we're here in Texas and no one else is I try to get as many pics up as I can. However, some of them don't have a funny story or what not behind them so they never get posted. So I thought I'd do a post of just pics for the family to enjoy.

No instruction required

I knew when I married my husband almost five years ago (ACK!) that my kids would be widely exposed to gaming in all it's glory. What I don't think I realized is how young it would begin! Both girls love to sit with dad while he's on the computer, whether he's gaming or just surfing the web they love it. However when I walked in the living room last night and saw this I was blown away.

Not only did she find them herself, she put them on herself! Then got comfy and started pushing any and all of the buttons!

Then Katie tried to get involved and nothing good came from that!

I'm not sure if I should be amused or afraid!

Texas Rain Storm

We get the craziest rain storms here. The streets are actually paved at a slant with the outside lane the lowest so when it rains it won't flood the road. I didn't understand what this feature was for until I had the pleasure of driving during one of these freak floods. There was a massive storm front that came through today that made Jared kinda nervous. He called and asked me to check and see if there were any tornado warnings. We've had them sneak up on us before, but it didn't seem that stormy. When he got home he showed me these pictures that he stopped to take. Honestly I would've been nervous too!


Then shortly after he got home the rain started. You can't see it too well in this video, but it was coming down so fast and the wind was blowing just right that the rain seemed to be falling horizontally! Craziest thing I have ever seen! The mist you see is actually rain just blowing around. It only lasted maybe 20 minutes but I bet we got almost two inches in that time.