Preston's Soccer Game

Watching a group of 4 and 5 year olds play soccer is just about the funniest thing ever. All those kids running around chasing one ball, tripping over each other, tripping over the ball, tackling each other, falling into the goal net. Its just one big laugh fest. I was delighted that Melanie invited me to his games. I've already missed a few, but it was so fun last night, I don't plan to miss many (if any) more.

Preston's team is the purple team. But it was pretty cold, so he is wearing a blue hoddie over his uniform. You can tell fall is here by the chill in the air in the evenings. I LOVE IT!

I'm not sure how much Preston loves soccer, but he definitely loves all of the running. 

Someone had just scored a goal. They were gathering the kids together so the other team could throw the ball back into play. Preston took that opportunity to score a goal of his own.

And then to fall into the net. That seemed to be a favorite among the kids.

I think he was getting ready to crash (on purpose I might add) when I snapped this picture. I just love the joy you can see in his face.

Among little kids, tackling is a pretty big part of soccer.

All eight players chasing the ball, that just rolled out of the picture.

The other team scored, but Preston still decided to fall into the net.

Getting ready to kick the ball back into play.

Tyler had fun helping the team gather up all of their practice balls. He's such a good helper. 

He's so little, but this picture makes him look like such a big boy.

The best part about soccer is the treat after the game. Preston had two fruit roll ups. I thought it was so sweet of him to share with his little brother.

Fabric No-Sew Pumpkins Tutorial

This is my first tutorial, so I hope I didn't miss anything. These pumpkins were so easy and fun to make.

You will need:

18 inch square of fabric

Stuffing

Empty toilet paper roll

Small square of brown paper (approximately 5 inches)

Jute string

Artificial leaves

Floral wire

Hot glue gun

Wrap stuffing around your empty toilet paper roll to desired roundness for pumpkin. While holding the stuffing in place, set it in the center of the fabric, printed side facing down. 

Stuff each corner of the fabric into the center of the toilet paper roll. I tried doing opposite corners, but liked the results better when I started with one corner and then just worked my way around. 

Make sure no under fabric is showing, just the pretty printed fabric. 

Roll your brown paper forming a stem. 

I found it easier to work with if I hot glued the rough edges down. Don't worry how ugly it looks, it won't show. 

Run a short strip of hot glue up the paper partially and then wrap your jute string around. Continue this until you reach the top. 

Cut the string off and glue your edge down. 

I forgot to buy floral wire, so I peeled the plastic off the stems of my leaves and used that wire instead. 

Wrap the wire around a pen. I then cut the wire into two shorter pieces   

Surround the bottom edge of the stem with hot glue and place into the center of the pumpkin. When it has dried in place, add some leaves and vines. 

Of you can do the pumpkins THIS way. 

You will need:

18 inch square of fabric

Two 18 inch pieces of newspaper

Full roll of toilet paper

Something for a stem (she used a stick, I used the same as I did above.)

Layer your fabric, printed side down, and 2 layers of newspaper.

Place your toilet paper roll in the center. 

Tuck all of the corners into the toilet paper roll. 

Finish as shown above. Or if you use a stick, place your stick in the center and then tie a bow with raffia. 

My finished pumpkin patch. 

I couldn't choose just a favorite (or two) Halloween fabric, so I ended up buying a yard each of 8 different fabrics. I still have tons left and need to make another Halloween craft. 

In this picture, the four pumpkins on the back are the ones I made with the toilet paper rolls. All of the other pumpkins are made with the stuffing. I also made some of these pumpkins several years ago. I used Josh's holey socks for them. 

Sleeping with Gaby

Gaby seems to be adjusting well. She LOVES attention. LOVES IT! I can't take 2 steps without tripping on her and if I ignore her for .2 seconds, she climbs my legs. I forgot just how loving orphan kittens are. Missy was an orphan and she was the same way.

This makes exercising a little hard. When I get on my exercise bike, she tries to catch my pants legs as the go around. But then I worry I'll hit her head. I've tried holding her, but she won't hold still. So I found another way to keep her entertained. I have to dangle a string for her to chase, while riding my exercise bike. That seems to keep her busy.

 Her and Zipper are slowly becoming friends. Just this morning they were chasing each other around the house. The only time they don't get along is when she tries to nurse on him, which she does often.

Have kitten, will travel. :) I had to put her in the pocket of my bathrobe so I could comb my hair.

Back to the nursing. Poor Gaby still wants her mommy. She does a lot of self soothing sucking, especially at night. Like I mentioned, she tries to nurse off Zipper, but he won't let her. When she tries, he just leaves the bed.

So she sucks on the blankets. And my fingers. And my hair. I woke up Monday night; she was laying across my neck and sucking on my hair. Last night I decided to take my camera to bed with me. That's why I look so groggy, these pictures were taken at like midnight and again at 3:00 AM.

Nursing on the blanket. In the morning, several of the strings are wet.  

Trying to nurse off my hair. I don't mind, until she perforates my head. 

Once again, sleeping across my neck. I kept my eyes closed for this picture because the flash is bright in the dead of night.

Little Gaby, I'm glad you are a part of our family.

From Kirsti

At the beginning of the year a thing went around Facebook where you promised to send something homemade to the first 5 people who responded. I know I wrote down the people who commented on mine, but then I lost the list so I never thought much of it.

But my friend Kirsti didn't forget her list. A few weeks ago she emailed me and asked what my favorite color was. Then a few weeks later, I got a package in the mail. I love it!

 

So excited for Halloween

Last year I was in a deep depression and pretty much missed Halloween. (That's when I realized just how bad the depression was.) But not this year. This year I can't hardly wait. I've already started planning a party and a few other get togethers. 

A few weeks ago, Jessica showed me the latest Sur La Table catalog. I knew I just had to have everything in the Halloween section. I was going to order it all online, but decided to just visit the store when we were in the city for the Rascal Flatts concert. I have never spent that much money in the store before now. We had to wonder around for a bit, but I was able to find all but one item I wanted. As they were ringing up my order, I was looking through the catalog so I could order the apron they didn't have in stock, and I realized, there was only 2 other items in there that I didn't get. So I ran back and grabbed them. It was the mini spatulas and the cat measuring spoons. I figured with everything I was buying, getting those two more items wasn't a big deal. 

They didn't have the apron in stock, but they went online right then and helped me order it. I already have a few aprons, but I have a feeling I'll never wear them after this one gets here. Maybe I'll go to work dressed as a chef for Halloween and wear my apron. Maybe I'll do that once a week. I seriously LOVE this apron and I don't even have it yet. 

I also decided to indulge myself and I bought an electric fondue pot. Our fondue party last New Years was AWESOME and I think it will be a yearly tradition. And since it was so good, I'm thinking of adding some fondue to my Halloween party menu. I really wanted 2 (one for cheese and one for chocolate) but decided to just buy one for now. 

Somehow, the rest of the day ended up being more Halloween shopping. I bought this cute bowl and cups at the DI. I already have several of the ghost cups from a few years ago. 

At Zurchers, I bought some paper plates and cups for my planned parties. I want to own real Halloween plates someday, but for now, paper will work. I also bought some black roses and a pumpkin pen.

Then I went to several stores to buy Halloween shirts for all the nephews. This is a tradition I started years ago (I think I've been doing it since Preston was born) and its one I plan to continue forever. 

Preston is growing into the size that seems to be hard to shop for. He's only 4 years old, why do they make such gruesome shirts for kids that age? I had to look pretty hard to find something cute and not gross. His size also seems to make it hard to find a matching shirt for him and his little brother, so no matching shirts for the brothers this year, although I did buy two of one shirt, but one is for Tyler (Melanie's boy) and the other is for Valex (Vanessa's boy). 

For Preston, I got the skating ghost and the dinosaur. I think the dino is border gruesome, but not terribly, so I decided to get it. And really, my choices after that were horribly gruesome. 

For Tyler, I got the skull and candy monster. 

For Valex, I got the candy monster and the bat. 

And for Daxsen, I got the ghost and the 1st Halloween onesie outfit.

I also couldn't resist this cute turkey shirt for Daxsen. 

I can't wait to give the shirts to the boys. I love this time of year and love being able to share it with them.