DIY advent part 2

Well, I finished! I made it my goal to take every opportunity today to work on the advent calendar and it payed off. To find the first part of this DIY click here

       The next step in making the calendar is to sew your squares on your canvas. Again, I made 5 rows and 5 columns. Once you have your squares sewn on, you can go ahead and hem your canvas around the perimeter of the calendar. I used red thread to give a little hint of some Christmas color.

Finally I cut out 2 inch squares for the numbers and attached them on the pockets with paper clips.I like the idea of being able to switch where the numbers go each year. This is where you can get pretty creative. There are so many ways to print, paint, or draw the numbers. I love the idea of using mini cloths pins to attach the numbers too. 

Reintroducing the toddler bed!

Last night I set up Ruby’s toddler bed  because she has been sleeping in the queen bed the past week so I thought I’d try to keep up the change…it took about 6 trips back into her room telling her that it was night time and not awake time. I held her in my arms, as she laid her head on my shoulder, and we sang one of her favorites as of  lately, Amazing Grace. I closed my eyes in that moment, thinking of how much she has grown and how I used to rock her to sleep when she was Shepherds age. Nothing is better than your child sleeping so peacefully in your arms knowing that they find comfort there. I am so thankful that I can continue to make those memories with her and with her younger brother too.  Oh, by the way, she ended up sleeping in my bed :)

Now my next goal is to get that advent calendar finished in time for December! I think I need to work on my time management skills when I decide to post a tutorial…

We are so blessed!

Home again. We arrived safely back in Yakima yesterday. I am not going to lie, I was secretly hoping that the pass was going to be dumped on by snow so we could spend more time with Jeremy, but no such luck. God had other plans I suppose. As we got closer to home, Ruby was talking all about her pretty books that she is going to read, her many dresses that she is going to wear, and the long list of food she is going to cook in her kitchen. I can tell she missed being home. Right when we walked in the door she rushed right back to her room to do just those things, while I unpacked our entire luggage and got lunch made. It makes me so thankful to have a house to come to where she feels comfortable, but I also ache because it is not where Jeremy is. This long distance living is taking its toll on me. This whole experience has further engrained in me that my home is where Jeremy and my kids are, not a material home that will one day be gone. So if that is all four of us crashing in a guest bedroom at my sister-in laws house than great!  As long as we are together it feels like home, it feels safe, it is where we belong.

                Thanksgiving was quite the event this year for me! I have never made a thing for this holiday before, and this year I dappled in just about every dish that was devoured on the table. Thanks to my sister- in law who usually makes all the food for the day, I got to contribute and help her through-out Thanksgiving. It was such a fun time to share with her and see our relationship grow as we are scrambling around trying to get everything chopped, blended, basted, mashed, and baked! One thing I did make myself was bacon cheddar deviled eggs for an appetizer and with dessert Tom and Jerry’s to drink for the adults! Delicious! I cannot express how meaningful this holiday was for me this year. Being thankful for my husband and family has a whole new meaning to me this year; from my mother-in law continuing to be there for me while Jeremy is away, to my sister-in law and her husband opening up their home for our family. Without them I am not sure I would be able to be as strong as I am right now, two and a half hours away from my love.

 

colds bring cuddles

Normally I have a two year old running circles around me, tugging at my shirt, and squeezing in as much activities and play time as she can before naptime. Today, I am fortunate enough to have my day be full of cuddles and snuggles. Unfortunately it has come with a price. Ruby is under the weather. All morning she has asked to lay with me on the couch and snuggle. The most excitement we've encountered today is our mad dashes to the bathroom in hopes we make it there in time! In these moments I pray for her health and soak up every minute that I have her in my arms. Get well my Ruby, I love you and I am so thankful that I get to take care of you in your times of need.

2-week vacation

Sorry that this next post is not the second half of my DIY advent calendar...but I still haven't had a chance to sew it. I know all you mommy's out there understand that one. I promise it will be done before December 1st, I hope! Yesterday I got the pleasure to follow my husband, with the kids in tow, to Seattle! We are going to stay at my sister-in laws house for two weeks so we can be together as a family for the holiday...and for our 4 year anniversary. Yep, 4 years on November 17th! From our first date walking around greenlake, to traveling back and forth from Yakima to Seattle, I have loved every bit of it and am thankful that we get to continue on creating a life together.

          I have been working on a few handmade gifts for him too and can't wait to show them to you! It usually is a bit harder for me to think of handmade things for him, but I was swarmed with ideas this year and I think I am going save some for Christmas presents.

DIY Advent calendar

Yesterday, to my amazement, the kids were napping at the same time so I was able to do some crafts with no interuptions. As I looked at the supplies I already had on hand, I found a great christmas craft to do with some left over burlap and canvas. I decided to make an advent calendar. December cannot come soon enough! Now, I wasn't able to finish it yet, but here is what I have accomplished so far.

tools you will need: sewing machine
                             rotar cutter/scissors

                             thread

                             fabric - 30in.x30in. for background (canvas)

                                         25-4in. squares (burlap)
                             needles

1. First I cut out my squares. You can make them any size you want, depending on what you want to put in the pockets.I want to be able to put either little notes or single pieces of candy/toys in them, so I decided on a 4 inch square.

 

2. After you have all of your squares cut out (25 total), you need to measure and cut out the background for your advent calendar. I am using canvas because it is thick and sturdy enough to hold the burlap and support whatever weight I put in the pockets. I layed out my squares on the canvas and left a 2inch border, so my total dimensions for the background were 30in x 30in. You also could arrange your pockets in any shape you want like a christmas tree. I kept it simple and stuck with 5 rows and 5 columns.

3. Now you are ready to pin down your squares. Again, I left myself a 2inch border, and then began pinning the squares in 5 rows, 5 columns. I also pinned the square in a 4in x 3 1/2in section so my pocket won't lay flat after I sew it.That will give me more options to what I can fit inside it.

4. Here is my last step before the kids woke up. I got all of the pockets pinned in their place,an inch apart,and now ready to sew. Now you'll have to wait until I get another chance to work on this to show you the rest. Hopefully that will be sooner than later !!!



cards cards cards

Hey everyone! So my father-inlaw asked me last night if I would be willing to make him 6 thank you cards for his volunteers at Sunrise Outreach and I gladly accepted...hoping that the kiddos would cooperate while I made them this week. Luckily my darling Ruby LOVES to do all things art! I pulled out my boxes of art supplies and went to town. She loved that she got to use all of my things like the stamps and stamp pad, glue sticks, tissue paper, etc. I make it a point to always try to include her in what I am doing, whether that be cooking, sewing, making cards, photographing, or even cleaning :) She has such an imagination while she is helping me and she always lights up when I include her in mommy tasks. I hope to one day have an art section set up in the house for her where she can access her supplies anytime rather than me pull out what she wants. I would love to see what she makes when no one is looking!



What kinds of crafts do you do with your wee ones?

tis the season

Is it too early to be listening to Christmas music??? maybe some sufjan stevens, or the new She and Him Christmas album! That would be a good early gift right there!

...On the quiet drive home from Seattle, my mind was rushed with ideas of gifts to make for Christmas and decorations for our house. Now if I just could fit those projects in this week while I've got the creative bug that would be great! I am trying not to procrastinate this year and finish my gifts before Christmas:)

-off to make some banana bread with my little helper

halloween

I have never really been into Halloween and dressing up, but things change when you got two cuties that look great in costumes! We had a frog costume for Ruby this year, but last minute she insisted that she wanted to be a ruby princess. She even was playing a game where I would have to keep introducing her as the Ruby princess, then she would run into the room, shaking my hand saying "nice to meet you!" Then we would do it all over again! Shep wore Ruby's 1st Halloween costume which was a skeleton. We had a blast at the harvest party at church. Every one's costumes were great, and the games were perfect for Ruby! But most of all, she loved the candy. Oh the sweet, delicious, mouth-watering candy. Which brings me to my next adventure...potty training. Yes, I am now using the Halloween candy as incentive for going on her potty:) So far 3 accidents and one reward has occurred. Wish me luck in the coming days!