Busy, busy, busy...

Lots of stuff going on around here (besides mom and KynnLee being sick).

A few weeks ago my sister-in-law (self-proclaimed non-crafty) called me and said that her little boy is totally set on being an Orange Triceratops for Halloween. She found the perfect costume online but they didn't have his size. So she's thinking of making one and wanted me to give her ideas. After finding out that she doesn't have a sewing machine, and she doesn't even know WHERE to purchase fabric (Michaels??), I told her I would take care of it. I've never done a project this big. I have never even used a pattern before. YIKES!! But I'm so glad that I did it because I learned SO much. Including how to sew on a zipper! That was fun trying to figure out. I also couldn't find a pattern for a dinosaur or even a dragon, so I bought a pattern for a bear for the body. I had to make up the tail and the hood. The hood was not easy, I honestly just had to free-hand it and pray that it worked out. I can't believe that I forgot to take pics of it before I mailed it off, so you get cruddy cell-phone pics.

Here's Jaden-boy trying it on for me.

And here's little Wesley in his new costume!! (you think he likes it?)

I wish I would have taken close-up pics because I put a little button in the hand that ROARS when you push it. HE he he...

And while I was in the sewing mode, I made a new basket liner for KynnLee's laundry basket. That was actually a lot trickier than I expected. Good thing you can't look at it closely :).

Another project that Jaden and I started is the gate. We want to gate-off the driveway so the kiddos and the puppy can't escape the back yard.

Well, can I just say that my dad taught me well??? (and was a lot of help over the phone). Jaden and I dug the holes AND cemented in the posts. They're perfectly level and everything! And we did this during test week, so you know Trevor wasn't even around. We did it all by ourselves!

(yes, he dressed himself that day)

Jaden sweeping leaves, it was hysterical!

Things that I'm lovin' right now

Things kept popping into my head. So I thought I would share...

1. My cute husband. Trev had to go home after Sacrament meeting today with a very grumpy little girl. When I got home he had dinner done, the table set, the whole schabang. Thanks Trev!!!
2. Books on CD. Jaden is one of the hardest kids to put to bed. He's been like this from day 1. He got a Halloween book on CD in a kid's meal. It's probably a good 45min long. He's listening to it for the 2nd time since I tucked him in bed.
3. My clean house. Sunday night is a crucial part of my week. We do dinner group on Monday and between that, grocery shopping, and kindergarten, I don't have time on Mondays to do any cleaning. Starting out the week with a clean house helps the week go so much smoother.
4. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpin candle. Picked this up at the Bath and Body Works semi-annual sale last spring. Busted it out tonight... SO YUMMY!
5. My Swiffer Wet Jet. If you need a new mop, this is the one to get.
6. My sweet baby girl and my handsome little man all dressed up for church today. KynnLee was in desperate need of new church clothes. I got some GymBucks when I bought Jaden's school clothes, and redeemed them for some church clothes for KynnKynn. Today was the first day she wore them. I just couldn't get over how cute she is!! And of course Jaden always melts my heart when he wears his suit with the STIHL pin on his lapel.
7. Grey's Anatomy. I've been wanting to watch this series for a long time now. Couldn't find anybody who had them on DVD. I recently found out that the library has them!!! I've seen a whole 3 episodes, but it's fun to have something to watch when Trev is gone studying.

More strawberries!

Like I said, KynnLee's room is coming along slowly but surely. Here's what we've got so far...

The wipes box on her dresser was becoming an eye-sore for me, so I had to cover it...

The bookshelf looks kinda cluttery right now. But I'm hoping she will get some really cute strawberry stuff for Christmas that would look fantastic on the shelf. Like maybe a cute Strawberry doll, a Strawberry Castle, anything cute like that. :)

I moved her bows to this ribbon on the inside of her closet door. The collection was just getting too big to keep on the wall. And you all know I can't resist but to just keep adding to the collection :). I have 2 more strands of ribbon ready to add more bows, so there's plenty of room!! There's also her adorable Strawberry Shortcake hat that Beeda made her... yes, my little princess is going to be Strawberry Shortcake for Halloween! Darn, I so wish I still had the Strawberry Shortcake dolls I played with when I was little. I've seen a lot of them go for a good chunk of change on eBay ($75!!). Not that I would sell them, but KynnKynn would enjoy them.

And of course we still have her ballerinas on the shelf in her room along with actual pointe shoes worn by none-other than Karie Lee Hellewell :). They've all been there since she was 6months old and she absolutely LOVED them the second I put them up. She still reaches for them, and when I give her one she will gasp and then just hold it and look at it. She won't settle for the sturdy stuffed ones either, she has to have the fragile, breakable ones... several of which she has broken. I actually found some Strawberry Shortcake Ballerina fabric!! I'm so excited to use it to tie everything together... I just need to figure out what to use it for.

And on a non-strawberry note, we had "family movie night" last night. Jaden has been looking forward to it all week. So he could "watch movies downstairs and eat junk food!". We put together our pirate pumpkin, ate our goodies on the halloween platter, trays, and cups. Then we watched Monsters vs. Aliens. Good times!

A Christmas Carol Train Tour

The Christmas Carol train came to Cleveland and we had the chance to visit!! The kids LOVED it! Looks like it will be a fantastic movie, we will definitely have to go see it.

After the tour of the train we got to see a sneak peek of the movie in 3D. The people told me I might want to sit close to the door in case the kids need to leave because some of it is loud and scary. They both just sat there, perfectly content and loved all of it! I'd expect that from Jaden, but it really surprised me with KynnLee. :)