Halloween Prep

This year I did too much for costumes. I thought that I had given myself enough time . . . well I did have enough-everything got done. But it was so annoying that it felt never ending!

We had a cool Batman mask (Lori, we still need to get that back to you), and Batman cape that my little brother Jacob had when he was a kid. I have been wanting to make another superhero cape just like it for Max. So all these came together to implement Zac and Max being Batman and Robin for Halloween. Zac was soooo excited!

I wanted to find plain pj's that were gray and bright green-no luck. So I decided to make them. This is the first time using a pattern with out my mom assisting or me assisting her. I didn't realize that patterns were sooo much bigger that what you would want. I resewed the seam where the pins are, and cut off all the rest!

I did the same on the shirt too. The neck was still big, but I wasn't going to redo it. Overall I think it worked out fine.

I couldn't find a pattern for a Robin mask that was the right era, so I just free handed this one. It looks less cat like when its on.



Zac's school had a Halloween party so he got to dress up!


We went to a ward Halloween party too. But Zac's costume wasn't complete and Max's wasn't even close. He was a Monkey for that party. I'll get a picture later.

Then Jon and I were going to a Halloween party and wanted to do costumes. It took a while to decide what we wanted to be, and then it took a few days to figure out how in the world we were going to make it happen. Luckily, the internet is a great resource.

Jon:


Me:


How'd we do?

The Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday, we took our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch. The Grossen's came with us this year. The Barn seems to have changed things a bit with when they make hayride runs so it was more busy and I think we came at a pretty slow time.


Traditional Family picture 2009

(Love the big rig in the back! :)

Traditional Family Picture 2006

I love to see these time changed pictures. This was the first year we went. We didn't go in 2007 and I forgot my camera last year.

When the tractor pulled up to the patch and Max saw all the pumpkins he was soo excited, and started saying "pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin" over and over! He LOVES pumpkins. One of his books has a pumpkin in it and he learned to recognize it pretty quickly. He calls it a "bundin". As soon as I got the pumpkin candy buckets out he puts things in them and carries them around.

My strong man, unloading the kiddos. Two looks like a handful. I can't imagine 3! And, NO I am not implying anything!

Max was totally into venturing out to explore. He just took off. Although navigating the terrain gave him some trouble.


Zac looking for just the right one. (It was a beautiful day!)


Max wanted to stand and sit on the pumpkins most of all.




I grabbed a few pumpkins for me for my porch. I am not so into carving pumpkins. I am going to try something else this year. Inspired by my friend, Shelly. Now, if we can just fit pumpkin activities in with costume making ;)

Then we all went back to get some fantastic doughnuts and AMAZING apple juice...I am craving it right now! It was soooo good. I'm not a fan of biting into an apple (weird childhood dislike caused by crooked teeth, that has stuck with me). So the juice is like drinking delicious crisp apples. I wish we had bought another gallon!

Then we went to a friends and enjoyed a victorious BYU game (obviously, not yesterdays . . . :(

Kitchen Repainted

Here are the before and after pictures of our kitchen and family room. We finished the kitchen back in October.


Before (Summer 2007)


Mid


After


(Jon got these great stools from work. The office was getting rid of them. I really like how they look and the style. But they aren't the most practical for little kids and their messes.)


Jon also installed hardware on the cabinets and drawers. There was none before. It was a very detailed project and Jon did great! And it was just what we needed for the finishing touch.


The kitchen was inspired by: http://lifeongrace.blogspot.com/2009/04/retro-cottage-kitchen-and-painted-wood.html

This is what the family room looked like right after we moved in. We painted it last year.


We finished this room in the fall.

(Back posted on Jan 17, 2010)

As of Late

Here are some random pictures of what we've been up to lately.

This year I ended up making the boys' costumes. Probably a bad idea. In the end they are going to be more expensive and have taken tons of time! Zac is going to be Batman and Max will be Robin, the comic book versions. We had a few Batman elements already and Zac really wanted to use them. But I couldn't find pajamas that would be the right color for the base of the costumes. So I had to make them, and even at that, it wasn't exactly what I wanted. I couldn't find any stretch knits (t-shirt/sweat shirt) material in a bright green so I had to go with flannel. It worked ok, but not ideal.


So I have been working on the boys' costumes any chance I can get, and I am still not done! (We also decided to do costumes for ourselves this year, which also have to be hand made....well see how that works out (pics to come, as we haven't even started yet!)...next year will be simple :)

I love this picture of Max!


Then it was Dave's Birthday so I made him a Birthday Cake and we went and sang to him at his apartment.

And we started a very big project: painting the kitchen cabinets. Here they are after being primed.


"After" pictures to come later.

Jon reading with the boys. This was too sweet to not take a picture.



This is a common occurrence while mopping the floor. . . a fort with the chairs. It takes quite a bit more work to mop when a fort is involved. But the boys love it (and it keeps them off the floor for . . . 5 mins? :P). I just hope Max soon realizes the fragility of some forts. Its a lot of work to come in every few minutes to "fix it". After a few times of fixing it, the couch cushions became jumping pads instead of walls-much less maintenance.

Little Sewing Projects

I saw these at the Swiss Days and I thought they were so cute! So I looked online and found the supplies needed to make them. They are pretty quick and easy. And they make it easier for me to lock my car with 2 kids in tow and unlock it when coming back with 2 kids in tow.

I made 2 others with different fabric, but somehow the picture got lost. So I will have to make them again. These are what I am giving for my "Craft it Forward". So that's Emily, Callie and Radene. I already gave Emily hers when she had her 3rd baby a few weeks ago. How are you doing by the way?!


Then I also made these 2 little boy receiving blankets for my friend. She had her first boy after 2 girls. It was fun and easy to make these.


And I made this Ikea pillow case for Rachel. It was really simple too-after I figured out how the pattern measurements were wrong, that is :)

I like this fabric so much I am going to incorporate it into my house too! It looks like it belongs on my couch :D


I love making simple, quick things. It makes me feel so accomplished!

Projects This Weekend

Since I am sooo behind on blogging, this was a few weekends ago.

Remember this?

and this?
and this?
Well after 6 months or so, it is now this . . .


I LOVE it!!!! I love having my space to spread out, and there is a place for everything and it is accessible when I need it.

Also, our ceiling fan broke so we installed a new one. We had really been wanting a new one so it was perfect timing.

The Melting Pot

We got to go with Rachel and Jeremy to celebrate Rachel's birthday and their wedding anniversary.

We went to the Melting Pot.

Here Rachel and Jeremy are trying to decipher the menu. It wasn't in a different language, but there were so many options to choose from (but not as much as the Cheesecake Factory).



Check out this silverware!! This is the same silverware my parents had when we were little! It was funny to see it again and very nostalgic. A three pronged fork?!


I normally don't take pictures during meals, but this was a one of a kind place. We decided to get the whole sha-bang. $78 per couple, for the whole 4 course deal (not worth it! More on that later).

We got house salads, which were bagged, and a little brown at that. Then the cheese course. The cheese fondue part was really good. We got a Mexican cheese and a spinach artichoke cheese (and they were out of spinach . . .) They give you some vegetables and apples to dip. The carrotts were dry . . . I love the apples in the artichoke cheese dip. Then we got the meat course. You choose a cooking method. We both chose a poaching method (boiling in chicken broth). I suggest doing a saute one. The potatoes never cooked all the way through. I think the broth had some kind of wine in it. . .it tasted a bit funny. Personally, I only liked the filet minon meat-it was sooo good, even though we over cooked it a little bit.

This is the meat course. The plate looked really pretty with all the meats (such as "marbled meats" . . .)


Then the dessert was really good too of course! We got a white chocolate and a turtle chocolate (with carmel and pecans). As far as the treats to dip, they are basically the same as Zupas fondue. But the chocolate dips were amazing.

We were pretty full when we left. I have heard before that people don't get very full eating here.

All in all, I think we would go back, and just get the cheese course and dessert. But perhaps we'd leave still a little hungry??

Steam from the stove top and us


It was a really good time. I always love going out with these guys. And I wish we did it more! We live so close for the time being. We need to be better at planning. Rach- when are you guys coming for dinner and bringing Monopoly??