November Crafty Stuff

This month we got a lot finished.  Not exactly what I wanted to get done.  But hubby took a two week vacation in the middle of the month.  And we had Thanksgiving and our anniversary thrown in there too.


First hubby had this grand idea about making our own bed.  We were in desperate need of a new one.  And well, I found plans.  He bought lumber and new tools.  And I built a bed.  HAHAHA.  It's definitely the biggest thing I've gotten done so far.  I may make a duplo table for the the bigger legos.  I'm just not sure how the drawer parts work.

 So I got the plans from Ana White.  And instead of putting drawers in right away and spending an extra $100-$200 worth of lumber, we decided to keep the shelves.

 Not too bad for being made from a pile of work.  And well, I probably should have started with something a lot smaller.  But I'm kinda proud that it looks as well as it does.

And even more proud that it has held us up for over 2 weeks now.  We'll put the drawers in once the holidays and boy's birthdays have passed.  So March maybe.  

I decided to build the bed when hubby was on his "staycation".  And his job was to keep the boys occupied while I was cutting and drilling and nailing.  So he had them build their own project.  Well, it was more of the younger watching and bothering the older.  But they can call it their own.

Yep.  Every boy needs a fort.  And they have done a great job with theirs.  However, I'm not sure what to do since they used firewood to build it.  We may have to build a real one.  Out of 2X4's and everything.

And finally.  I did some baking.  Lots of pumpkin rolls, pumpkin bread, and brownies.  But I did make pineapple upside down cupcakes.  From scratch.  

It wasn't as hard as I expected.  And hubby's coworkers loved them.  I just wish I liked cooked fruit. 

But I did taste one with the boys.  And they were good.  

And I did taco cups.

They were good.  But I think I like the taco egg rolls better.  They tasted the same.  The egg rolls were just easier to eat.   

And that's about it for November.   I almost got 2 Christmas presents done and ready to ship.  I'll post about them next month.  I still have to start and finish a quilt, 5 overstuffed floor pillows and maybe something small for the boys.  

Thankfulness

This post was hard to write.  I've been in a funk lately.  And I'm pretty sure nobody has even noticed either.  We've been so busy.  Karate tournaments, 4-H meetings, school projects, Christmas sewing.  You get the idea.  And I've seen people on Facebook, twitter, and instagram posting things of what they're thankful for.

And while that's great and all.  This month has been hard.  And I'm glad it's almost over.  I've watched people post about their fathers and mothers and jobs and husbands and kids and stuff.   But I don't have my father.  He's been gone for 4 years now.  And my mom and step dad pretty much blew us off this year.  And then a couple days ago, our 4-H club donated food to a family in need.  And this mother, who has had so many hardships, cried because we brought her and her family food.  She ugly cried.  And she was so speechless.  It got me thinking about we have as a family.  So I decided to throw all that funk out the window.

Here's what I'm grateful for.

My husband.  Its been a long road for us, but here, today on on our anniversary, we couldn't be happier.  And I'm so glad that we gave up listening to everyone else out there and started listening to each other.

My kids.  My boys are such a blessing.  Before we had kids, hubby was told that he couldn't have kids.  And that was ok.  I was "THAT" woman who didn't need kids because I was going to be a neurosurgeon.  And kids would hold me back.  Then we had one.  And well, the neurosurgeon thing went away and my heart has been captured by these 2 little boys.  And that's ok.  I couldn't imagine my world without them.

Our house.   It might not be the nicest house.  Or the biggest.  But it's our house.  And while life gets crazy, it's our safe place.  The place where we can go and breath and shut the craziness of life out for minute or two.

My career choice.  Ok. Maybe I don't have an actual job.  But I have the most important job ever.  I get to stay at home and raise my boys.  And while, it doesn't pay much, all those hugs and kisses make it worth it.

My "other" family.  Yep, those would be my inlaws.  I haven't quite figured things out with my family.  And there's not any of my family near us.  I'm so very thankful that my mother in law and hubby's family has taken me in as one of their own.  It makes not being near my family easier.  Especially on the holidays.  Not many people have great inlaws apparently.  And those of us who do should treasure that.

I think I'll end my list here for now.  I'm not usually one for those cheesy holiday posts.  But with my funk lately, I think that I needed to post this.

It Was A Success!

We had our first arts and crafts meeting with 4-H.  I needed to have something that all ages and capabilities could do.  So I headed off to pinterest.  And found a great wreath idea to  help destash my quilting fabrics.  And since it was a few days before Thanksgiving.   I thought it might be a great idea for a last minute decoration item.

So I started with strips of fabric and wire hangers.  And surprisingly, the kids all beat me to finishing them.

My wreath.  I used all the leftover strips after the kids were done.

Rionn's wreath.  He was so proud of it that he promptly hung it up before everyone left.

The kids liked them.  And the parents were happy for an easy project and that all the kids were involved.  Except my unhappy baby, who was either overly tired, overly hungry, or mad because Dad wouldn't let him participate.  We had fun.  And everyone finished without any problems.  So I'll call this one a success.