Some Scotty Dogs and a baby gift

Just sharing these sweet scotties I made for a baby shower.  The pattern is from Allsorts  and you can find it on her sidebar.  I was a little nervous making my first 3D stuffy, but they were really easy!  I made these for a friend whose hubby is in the army.  The big dog is made with fleece and for the big brother.

This smaller one I put a bell inside to make a fun rattle for baby.

Scotty dog paired with some bibs and a hoodie towel.

I also made this tee for the big brother as well.  I got the idea from here.  I just used the freezer paper to draw and cut out the letters then ironed them in place.  Squirted with bleach and waited for it to dry.  Peeled off the letters and gave it a good wash.

Back pack charms

The weekend before school started for the big kids, we made some fun back pack charms.

They were super easy to make and a fun craft.

All you need is printable shrinky dink paper (got mine at Hobby Lobby), permanent markers, hole punch and a key ring.  I googled some coloring pages and found what they wanted.  Be sure when you print your image that you set your printer to print on transparency paper.  Once printed and dried, I let them color the images however they chose.

I then carefully cut them out along the lines and punched a hole in top.  We baked them in the oven according to the directions.  Then I carefully attached a key ring and then to their back pack.  Have no idea why the unicorn's head is green...hope she didn't eat some bad fairy soup or something!  :)

This post is participating in Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednesday.

Home Alone

Last Tues my baby started preschool.  She goes 3 mornings a week.

She was SO excited to start.  She sat down to her play dough and just waved goodbye without any fears or tears.  She absolutely LOVES it.  For the first time ever I got to volunteer to be room mom.

Though it's kinda weird being alone...first time regularly in almost 9 years.  I'm getting used to it...sort of.  Maybe.  This transition doesn't bother me too much (though I did cry the first day), it's the thought of that in 2 years she will be in full day school.  And no more babies at home.  :(  So we are taking advantage of the Mondays and Fridays she is home with me.  Story times and play dates and having fun together.

And my mornings free I am able to clean the house and bake fresh banana bread for after school snack.   Mmmmmmm....the house smells wonderful.  :)  Can't wait til the kids come home to hear the stories of their day over some banana bread and milk.

A Super Cool Drawing pad

Last week I was out of town.  I went to SC to be with my sister who is sick and to help her family out for a bit.  While I was there I went to a 5 and dime kinda store that had a bunch of miscellaneous stuff.  I found this super cool drawing pad.  I was instantly in love for it picturing all kinds of cool portraits the kids could make.

When I got home I commissioned my 2 oldest kids to make some portraits of the kids.  Zachary drew himself and Micah.  Kalla drew herself and Maressa.  I hung them in our playroom with poster putty.  Sorry for the horrible picture...it was either no flash or really really washed out.

I am also working on finishing up some final touches of redoing the playroom.  

Can you spy the major change in the above picture? 

Coming up a mantel and spray painting the awful brass fireplace.

Then I show you the whole thing. ;)

Today

Today the big kids went back to school.  This is Z's third year going to our neighborhood (and tiny and WONDERFUL) elementary school and entering the 3rd grade.  This is K's very first year at this school and entering 1st grade.  I was so nervous for her.  You can read a tiny bit of her story here to know why.

She did GREAT!  She loved it and made new friends.  Talked to her new teacher even!  On the first day (we met her a few times already though)!!  She can't wait to go back tomorrow.  

I can't even tell you what a relief this is!

To distract the littlest ones who just lost half their playmates for the day, we went to story time.  They read When a Mouse Goes to School and did craft.  For some reason Maressa wanted her bus green.

I used to take Z for every week for years when he was a toddler.  Every single Monday.  We loved it.  We go to our local Barnes&Noble for those wondering.  Then things got crazy and I was always pregnant or nursing.  And he started preschool and all that encompasses.  The years are flying by and my baby Maressa is starting preschool next week.  Three whole mornings a week.  So I will be a mess next week.  I may not be around here.  I will be totally useless and sad at home probably eating way too much chocolate or pop tarts and becoming zombie like in front of the tv.  Then I will snap out of it.  I hope.  Then I will find things to do to occupy my child free hours of the morning. :)

Anyways, I promised myself I would make the most of Mon and Fri mornings that she is home with me.  No cleaning or computer on those mornings.  And we are going to story time every Mon.  Just me and her.  

And Target.  She's my shopping buddy!  It wouldn't be the same to go without her.  

Me with my Starbucks and her with a starbucks cup of water and her chocolate cheerios.  

Singing and shopping down the aisles of Target.  :)

Today, I made a special after school snack.  I mostly just wanted to try out a marshmallow based frosting. 

 I used this recipe, but halved it and it made plenty to cover all the cupcakes. 

 It was yummy, but a bit too buttery for my taste. 

 It tasted kinda like you were eating rice krispie treats before you add the rice krispies and added more butter.  It was super fluffy though and the kids happily licked all of it off before eating their cupcakes (something my 8 yr old doesn't do often...he usually doesn't like frosting.)

YUM!

And before all the homework, cub scouts, preschool parties and fall baseball starts up we finished up a craft.  Inspired by this post, I pulled out these letters that I bought last winter to do a very similar craft and let the kids have at it.  With Maressa, I just sat and she pointed where she wanted glue and then she placed all the pretties.  Micah used foam stickers.

Goodbye summer break...we will miss you!!