Sewing for Cherubs

Hungry Hungry Hippos

Reason #641 to be a parent: Re-discovering (at age 39) how much fun it is to play Hungry Hungry Hippos.

 

Sewing Room Snapshot :: Tons of Tees

Wow, I am actually in my sewing room today! It's good to be back in there. Here is a sneak peek at what I am working on today. I cut out a stack of newborn lap tee/hat sets and am busy sewing them up. Some of this is for a baby gift for a dear friend and the rest is for my shop. Whatever I manage to get done by Monday, I will stock at Universal Mama. Watch this space or my Facebook page for details on Monday.

 

Unfortunately for me, my sewing room has also become a storage area recently. In the above photo you probably noticed (1) evidence of late nights playing Guitar Hero with friends; and (2) leftover balloons from our New Year's celebration. Maybe I can re-claim this space and organize/re-decorate it for a 2011 project.

Wordless Wednesday :: In the Rain

 
{Radar and The Princess boarding the plane to Disney ... The rest of us were not far behind. Photo taken by my Dad.}

 

Ten for Tuesday

Well, what's on my mind today?...

1.) Due to budget cuts, our local school system elected to lengthen the school day and take longer summer/winter breaks this year. The end result is my kids are still off from school and not going back until next week. I am surprisingly OK with this; it has been nice to have them home, and they haven't started driving each other crazy or fighting like cats and dogs yet. I'm expecting that to commence any minute now.

2.) Because of this extra-long winter break, we decided to take a family vacation to Disneyworld! It was our kids' first time there, and yes, it was indeed magical.

3.) Not so magical: The flights there and back. Can you say turbulence? On the last leg of our flight home in a ridiculously small plane with 20 mph winds, even the flight attendant looked nervous.

4.) Interestingly, my kids were not the least bit scared by all that turbulence. In fact, they conversed LOUDLY and with glee about how much it felt like Space Mountain. I am not entirely certain that the surrounding adult passengers enjoyed that conversation. I guess kids' minds don't go where adult's minds do.

5.) Despite all that, I will fly again. It is still my preferred mode of travel and I don't think we should make decisions based on fear. Besides, the world looks pretty darn amazing from 30,000 feet.

6.) My kids brought home Mickey sweatshirts, Mickey ears, and new toys from Disneyworld. I brought home a nasty head cold. I think there should be a law that Mommies are not allowed to get sick. It hardly seems fair. Even if I feel awful, there are still meals to be prepared and bottoms to wipe. Hopefully not at the same time.

7.) I'm not sure I should have typed that little joke about preparing meals and wiping bottoms. I promise I don't do both at the same time.

8.) Back home today, it is cold and dreary outside with a dusting of snow (not enough to play in). It's definitely a soup-in-the-crockpot kind of day. Too bad my kids won't eat the soup; I'll have to make them sandwiches or some other alternative. At least my house will smell great and feel cozy, and The Bossman and I will enjoy a warm, soothing dinner. How do you get kids to eat soup? I guess it's something about all that stuff being mixed together that freaks them out. I have no room to talk though, I didn't eat soup until I was in college.

9.) Speaking of fighting like cats and dogs (see #1), my father related a very funny story yesterday. He and my mother were driving the kids somewhere, and all three of them were packed into the backseat. Not surprisingly, these close quarters inspired some sparring. As The Princess punched Radar, Superman joined in and began throwing punches too. My father sternly lectured all three kids, and told The Princess, "You are being a bad influence on Superman." Superman did not agree with my father's assessment and responded matter-of-factly, "I was born punching!"

10.) My sewing room has been calling me. I think I feel some creativity coming on... just as soon as I can get these kids back in school.

 

I Don't Knit...

... But my mother-in-law does. I am in awe of her and anyone who has the required patience and skill. I suppose one of these days I should try and learn. Until then, I will continue to thank my lucky stars that my kids get to wear snuggly handknits all winter long, no thanks to me. :)

 

The Ingenuity of Childhood

I am always amazed by the things my kids will think up to do if I don't tell them what to do.

 

This afternoon, The Princess made some paper aircraft ("Hoopsters") and she and Superman have been teaming up to fly them from the top of the stairs.

 

They came up with an interesting solution for getting the paper airplanes back up to the landing.

 

Yep, sometimes the greatest creativity is revealed when the grown-ups just stay out of the way.

 

Family New Year's Eve Party

Maybe I was inspired by all that comfortable nothingness. This year, we decided instead of taking the kids out for New Year's Eve, we would have our own celebration at home. The kids had a great time, and I think we created some wonderful memories for them. Maybe this is the start of a new tradition!

Things got started early in the morning, as The Princess helped me prepare some sugar cookie dough. Our favorite recipe is the one in Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cookie Book.

 

We put the dough in the fridge to chill for a few hours, and it was time to make the invitations. While The Princess worked on these, I blew up 72 balloons. More on that later.

 

At the appointed hour, we began the party by baking sparkling cookies. We took our chilled cookie dough and rolled it into walnut-sized balls. I set out plates of sparkling sugar, and the kids had fun rolling the dough in the sugar and putting it back on the cookie sheets.

 

 

 

We baked them at 375 for 10 minutes, and they turned out like this:

 

Next, it was time for the violin performance. Radar and The Princess teamed up to plan a concert.

 

After that, we played some Just Dance. and then it was time for dinner. We had tacos by candlelight (because everyone in my family will eat tacos).

 

And then, to ring in the New Year (at 6 p.m.), we had a balloon drop! We took the 72 balloons I had blown up earlier and put them into a sheet... which is harder than you might think. 

 

The Bossman and I stood at the top of the stairs and the kids were at the bottom. The kids counted down and we let the balloons go! I didn't get any pictures of the balloons in flight; it was too complicated to do the balloon drop and hold the camera. I did get some shots of the aftermath though.

 

Yes, a great time was had by all, and I think we welcomed 2011 in great style. I hope you had a Happy New Year too!