Yelling and Whispering

Hey ya'll!  I'm coming to you L-i-V-E from...Branson, Missouri! : )

We've shopped till we dropped, and we've dropped at the hotel for the night.  We always take a shopping trip around my birthday..woohoo! : )  We found some good deals (Polo was 30% off the entire store, and then I had a coupon for 20% off my purchase ; )  Good thing..since Ches asked for 4 white polo shirts!!  What?...Yep.)  It's been a great day.  We also got to see our friends Dina and Sara who live here! : )


I've accepted that my kiddos are growing up..I made my maiden voyage into...Aeropostale!  The music was sooo loud-it was like being at a concert.  I actually had to yell at the employee and lean my ear to listen.  I wanted a size chart, and they didn't have one.  I had NEVER been in there, but heard from the "cousins" at the shore that it's a cool place to shop.  And it was, but there was a learning curve.  (for my fellow unexperienced Aero-shoppers, they only carry juniors sizes!) (so..your young child, 9 or 10-ish, will wear an X-Small, FYI).  I was totally asking if a Medium was 7-8 or 8-10.  They couldn't figure out what I was talking about...now I know why. ; ) haha, what an experience.

And tonight we went to the IMAX to see Tornado Alley.  It was not as emotional as I thought it'd be (especially seeing it with Angie, my friend from Joplin).  It brought up so many memories, both of tornadoes we've lived through, and the ones that have taken lives in ou lifetime.  They are still doing research to give us a 15-20 minute lead time to take shelter.  I'm thankful for the time and energy the TIV and VORTEX2 group has put in for our safety.  And thankful for the National Science Foundation for giving them a grant to continue their research.

and Tomorrow, more shopping! : )  I'm so thankful for our families, and the time they gift us with each year.  It's a restful, recharging, verbal catch-up : )  I love it, and need it.  I'm praying for you to have a recharging weekend too!  Call, visit, or email a friend and talk about your life.  Sometimes we have to share a whispered secret. ; )  ..maybe I'll share one with you?  heehee  Sending you big hugs! ; )

Preschool Stripey Sheets

I finally got my new blog layout! : )  Erin with Designer Blogs did it, and I love all the color : )  The stripes kinda goes along with the little project I just finished..

Ethan started a new preschool (yes, he's still in his Mother's Day Out on Tuesdays where he started two weeks ago, but this is a three-day-program! Yay!)..and he had to have a flat crib sheet for the cot he sleeps on for naptime. (have you ever heard of such a thing?) So, we inquired... and found out that it's half of a twin sheet!

I found a super cute stripey one at Wal-Mart (for $5.00! ..now that's cheap fabric!), and cut it in half.  I ironed it, put a new seam down the cut side, and ironed it all.  Then I added his name to the big wide hem, and voila: Flat Crib Sheet!

And then..since I had extra fabric (half a twin's worth!), I decided to try to make a matching mini-pillowcase for the pillow he loves for school.  It's just a boudoir pillow filler from Hobby Lobby (I think it's 12x18), and a little pillowcase.  We got the original pillowcase from Pottery Barn, but had his name added after we purchased it..and it was coming off! : O

Can you see the top left of the 'E' missing?

Anyway, I wanted a new one to match his stripey sheet. : )  So, I laid down the pillowcase onto the fabric, and cut about 1/2 inch all the way around it.  On this side, I added an extra 4" so that I would have the little "tuck" feature (where you tuck in your pillow so you can't see the filler).

This cut side is 12.5" W x 26" L

And this cut side is 12.5" W x 22" L (just enough for a turned-under hem and a 2.5" end to monogram ; )

Then I ironed down the seams, pinned, sewed the end seam and folded..remember it has to stay open for the "tuck" inside the pillowcase.

I placed right sides together, and sewed the three sides together.

Finally, I kept it inside-out, and sewed a line all the way around the pillowcase making the "end"..turned it right side out, and monogrammed it! : )

Here is the "tuck"..see how you can't see the filler? ; )

And here is his matching set.  All ready for preschool.  (and his kinda-matching Toy Story blanket in the background!)  Yep, all for $5!

And?  He loves preschool-totally makes my day. : )  I told him we had all day together tomorrow (doesn't school make you appreciate the home days?), and he just whined that he wanted to go to school!  (I guess I should be thankful?)
 

The Making of an American Girl Bed

So..yesterday we had a little extra time (no, my baseboards aren't dusted or my laundry put away..but it was Sunday! haha!) (and they never are and it never is!)

Anyway, we've had this piece of wood for a while..and Mary Claire finally figured out what it was for.  I'd bought it about a month ago with the intention of making her an American Girl bed..but then it got SO hot!  (My tools are outside..and the large amount of wood shavings keep them outside.)

But, even in the 100 degree heat..we persevered (and dripped).  First I measured her doll.  We determined we wanted her bed 12" wide x 24" long.  (She has a little room for a buddy in bed and a dog at the end.) ; )  Then, we decided it should be 4" off the ground.  (Easy math, people.)

So, I drew all the dimensions:

Then I added a rounded top to the headboard and footboard (I folded a piece of paper in half, cut it till I was happy, then traced the paper.)

Then I cut a 2x4 into a 12" length, cut it down the middle lengthwise to use to nail my pieces to.  Obviously I didn't take pix of me all sweaty over the saw..but here are all five pieces together.

Then, I covered the headboard and foot board with batting and stapled. (with my regular stapler-the wood was too thin for my big staple gun!)

Then I monogrammed some fabric (Too Tiny), and made a slipcover for the headboard and foot board.

Finally I added a sheet/bedskirt (the two are connected together, and it just lays over batting stapled to the bed like a mattress: three layers.) and a quilt. : )  (The pieced quilt-looking fabric came all sewn together..I'd bought it to make her a dress, but never made it!  But..it matches her bedding!)

Oh..and a PiLLoW! : )  See how tiny her name is?  Poor planning...

But she likes it just fine. : )

So..an American Girl bed, and Mary Claire is happy.  And I think it cost about $5.  So much better! : ) heehee  ...and we can change the bedding and headboard covers! : )  (..and there's actually enough wood for one more..do you need some wood?) ; )

Back-to-School Top Ten

There are things I *love* about back-to-school time, and things that make me not-so-thrilled.  Let's see if I can sum up the greats in just ten:

10: Buying school clothes!
9: Buying and organizing back-to-school stuff (I really like it..sorry!)
8: Seeing friends and other parents! : )
7: Writing those first-day-of-school notes for their lunch boxes!
6: I'm up and moving super early.
5: The laundry is more likely to get finished (and put away!)
4: The kids are passed out by nine. ; )
3: They are so happy to see me after school!
2: Grocery time alone. ; )
1: They have AMaZiNG rules! : )  All thank you's, yes sir's, and no bragging:

And the not-so-greats for people like me?

Yep, read the starred area entitled Late Fees.

Late Fees do not apply to paying your (automatic draft) late.  No, they mean if your four-year-old is late to preschool!  Can you read the print?  50 cents/minute/student (thank goodness it's only one!) for the first ten minutes, then $1/student/minute after ten minutes!! Umm..maybe we'll be on time?

And tomorrow?  ...an American Girl Bed! : )

*I remembered another one... #11: Sometimes I can sneak in a nap! : )  Do you have any more to add?