So, yesterday we made Macarenas (sp?)
I bought smaller size party plates for $1.00 at the dollar store, the kids decorated them w/ colors and construction paper, we then folded them in half, dumped some dried beans in there and stapled the edges..  VOILA.. new noise makers (just what they needed of course)

and yes.. Lorien IS wearing Rohan’s clothes again.. why do you ask?

today’s pouch held a small toy and a new go fish card game so no craft today..

So, We started our month of crafts today.   I ended up going with bigger pockets than some I’ve seen and just did 6.. one for every day of the week beside Sunday.   Some day’s aren’t crafts.. there’s some new card games like old maid, etc.. in 2 of the days along with small treats for the kids.  The other day’s are crafts.

So.. here’s the garland..

that curtain has came in SO handy LOL.  I bought it from goodwill to use as a tablecloth for the kids tea party.. now it’s a garland and I’ve still got a ton of it left.

The girls hard at work on their thankful tree.

(excuse the grain on these first 2)  I forgot my last shoot was at night indoor so my ISO was up high)

and yes.. Lorien IS wearing Rohan’s shirt.. and his pants.. and his shoes… she regularly raids his closet.

and… our first day’s craft is complete.   We made a thanksgiving tree.    I took a few branches off of our crepemrytle tree in our flower beds since we live in town and have no trees in our yard… put them in a tall pitcher (you could use pebbles and a shorter glass/jar), and then we cut out leaves, used a hole punch, and tied their leaves onto the tree after they told what they were wrote what they were thankful for on them.

their thankful leaves ranged from the normal God, Jesus, Mawmaw, Mommy, etc… to my pink bear and macaroni’s

I’ve been inspired by all of these awesome advent calendars you guys have been making and I’m going to make us a “month of crafts” calendar.    I’m sewing it up tonight and filling the first few day’s pouches w/ the craft supplies.. I’ll post pictures when that’s done.   For now I’m posting my links of ideas here that way I won’t lose them.

http://crafts.kaboose.com/yarn-octopus.html

http://crafts.kaboose.com/paper-plate-noise-maker.html

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/thanksgiving_crafts_hand_wreath.htm

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/christmas-crafts-for-kids-bead-napking-rings.htm

http://tuckerstaketennessee.blogspot.com/2009/12/advent-day-2-handprintfootprint.html

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/thanksgiving/a/GivingThanksTree.htm

make pillow cases..

make mittens http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=09cb27b07593f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

I’ve wanted to learn how to knit for forever but just couldn’t make myself like it.   So, I thought I’d try crochet.  I like the look of knit better but it seems crochet is what my mind wants to like.

My first project..

scarves for the girls.  Don’t look close!  not only was it my first project I did the stitches wrong.    But they love them.

I’ve made myself a scarf, a scarf for a little girls gift, and some dishcloths.. made my first hat last night.

Made it a bit long so the part that was supposed to be rolled wasn’t quite enough.. the reg. hat needed to be rolled too but hey.  I think it’s cute!

I took these when she was four days old I think.. isn’t she precious?   I saved back the pictures Kimberly chose for her Birth announcements that way they’ll be new for you guys..

A color one similar to the next one is on the birth announcements so I won’t share here but it’s SO cute that I made it my iphone background.

this weekend was great.   Now back to the grind… Got a website to finish and pictures to edit.

Jesse took off thursday, friday, and today.  We had Esther and Curtis over for lunch on thanksgiving.. was a super simple lunch but tons of funs and the kids of course had a blast playing with theirs.    I stayed up all night thursday doing black friday shopping (and the lack of sleep is STILL kicking me in the booty).. but got some awesome deals and have birthday gifts bought for all next year LOL.    Friday we slept in (which meant I got 2 hours of sleep) and then took the kids to the park for a picnic and let them play.. went home and played mario cart with them and just lazed around.  Today we slept in again, ate pancakes for lunch and then went to the thanksgiving fair at homestead heritage.  That was a blast!  I’m hoping we can start doing it every year.

So…  fun weekend!  We have a church dinner tomorrow and I put off making my dessert until now.. and just realized I’m out of butter.  Looks like a trip to walmart is in my VERY near future.

We had the family over on Sunday for my mom’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

And.. Valerie finished the mural in Rohan’s room today.. isn’t it awesome?

Rohan turned 2  yesterday    We had his and Lorien’s party last night.  They had a BLAST.  The house isn’t quite recovered still though LOL (mainly cause I have no more trashbags and there’s ALOT of trash to pick up)

Here are some pictures

click on the thumbnails to view full size..

I have another niece!  One on each side of the family all in one week!  Kimberly had her baby this morning     Here’s one quick picture..

a much needed coffee break after baby arrived