Christmas stuff

Kenna and Landon with "Santa." Riley and Matthew stayed at home because they weren't feeling well.


Riley's Christmas jon-jon.

Kenna's Christmas dress. Microcheck doesn't photograph well, does it? I still haven't gotten the button to complete the dress.

I'm embroidering kitchen towels for gifts. I love redwork. I'm also doing some blue farm animal toile on another set. These are flour sack towels and look alot like flat fold diapers. I am not terribly happy with the towels, but they look okay.

Kenna quips

Kenna has been on a roll today. These are some of the things she's said (I must write them down so I don't forget).

We were talking about Santa and how some people pretend that he is real and that when I was little my mom bought presents and put them under the tree for me and we pretended they were from Santa. She looked at me and said, "Nana lied."

I was embroidering towels in blue and she wanted me to do a pink one. I told her I couldn't do pink because my aunt's kitchen wasn't pink. She said, "When I get a house it's going to be pink, pink, pink." Then she told me I could come visit her anytime and even sleep over. I asked if I could live with her and she said, "No, because the middle biscuit is mine." (The middle biscuit has been "mine" since I was her age...no one else ever wanted it anyway because it doen't have a crusty edge...but Kenna always wants it).

She got a thank-you note in the mail and turned it over on the back and read, "Made in China" and asked me if everything was made in China.

A few weeks ago she saw a school bus at a stop light and read "Mississippi School for the Blind and Deaf" on the side. She looked at her dad and said, "They let them drive?"

After having her photo made with Santa tonight, she sat down to write him a letter (they had a table set up in the store). This is what she wrote...

Dear Santa,

I love the photo. I want to get another picture next year.

Kenna

I really wanted to keep it forever, but let her fold it up and put it in the mailbox. :)

Copied from the Borderland

I thought this was neat, so I'm doing it too.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. Especially fond of the recycled gift bags that my mom and I pass back and forth year after year. She ended up with all of them last year because I had a new baby was too busy to store bags, so I had to buy some new ones.

2. Real tree or artificial? Currently, no tree. But the one in the attic is artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving. I aim for the day after, but usually miss. I'm apparently skipping the tree this year.

4. When do you take down the tree? If my sister is around it comes down the day after Christmas. :)

5. Do you like eggnog? Boiled custard is better.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A dollhouse my parents made.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My father-in-law. If it's something he needs or wants, he buys it for himself and he's not into stuff he doesn't need or want.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My five year old daughter.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have several and most are child friendly and out all year for them to play with.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Just finished 50 today. They'll go out in the mail tomorrow, hopefully.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Underoos 2 sizes too small when I was about 12.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving (but not on Black Friday).

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift? Nope.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmastime? My mom's chicken gumbo.

16. Lights on the tree? Definitely.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? "Do You Hear What I Hear" and "What Child is This"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, but I consider it going home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yup.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Either. Though I think we have a star (in the attic).

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? In the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Christmas stuff out before Halloween.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love ornaments from Hallmark.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dessert? My mom's cheesecake.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Black leather gloves (no, really).

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? *shrug*

27. Favorite Holiday Tradition? Christmas Eve communion services.

Christmas card photos

I gave all three kids a bath, dressed them in their new matching, festive pajamas and tried very hard to take a really good photo for our Christmas cards (which just must go out in the mail tomorrow). Needless to say, it didn't go so well. Landon cried (and cried and cried, but he isn't feeling well), Riley fell off the bed, Kenna clowned (at least she enjoyed the experience). This is what we got....

Cute, but nothing with all three that's card suitable. I think I'll just use the one that I made before the Christmas party because I'm not so up for trying again...although they are still all wearing the pjs...maybe after breakfast. ;)

Finishing UFOs

So I decided sometime yesterday that the kids needed festive clothes for the clergy Christmas party and I should finish the Christmas outifits I started for Kenna and Landon last year while I was "great with child." Apparently I'm a really terrible seamstress when I'm that pregnant. Kenna's jumper had the yoke attached to the skirt, but I hadn't traced or cut the armholes first (oops) and the jon jon was a real mess. The leg fabric and lining weren't the same length or straight. I ripped and repaired as best I could and they turned out all right, even if the bottom is a little crooked and odd (I was afraid to cut anything) Riley got the jon jon since Landon had long outgrown a size 2 Jeffrey, and Landon wore a sweater vest that is supposed to be Riley's (it isapparently big for an 18 mo size). Because I was working with serious time constraints (i.e. hemming less than a hour before we had to leave) there were some unavoidable "flaws." Kenna's jumper only has three buttons instead of four (but the collar covered them anyway) and I didn't stitch down the lining. Riley's has two buttons of one kind on one side and two of another on the other shoulder.

It is difficult to take a good photo of all 3 of them together and you can't really see the dress, but I'll take another one when I get it really finished. :)

Now own the the christening ensemble (which hopefully won't come down to the wire like everything else!)

Sittin' on a guitar making phone calls (he's either calling Nanna or China!)

Vacuuming while holding the baby is possible, but it makes it more work (especially when he's so fascinated with the vacuum from that angle that he keeps leaning out of the sling).

One down...

I've gotten one outfit completely done and the other nearly done (just need to do a little more smocking and construct the bib).

This is one of the most versitale designs I've ever seen. (I can't take credit for it, I copied a store bought version.) The smocking is on a bib that is completely removable. I will eventually add an applique initial on the green side and a 3 letter monogram on the dotted side. It's really cute as just an A-line jumper as well.

I find it difficult to smock with little ones running about, so I'll finish all that once they go to bed and then do the other bib in the morning.

Right now I'm going to see to some of the things have been neglected in my mad dash to finish this project...namely the laundry, floors, and kitchen!

Win an Ergo

Win a Free Organic Embroidered Ergo Baby Carrier Hands Free System from Along for the Ride

I really have gotten alot done...

...there's just so much *left* to do. The outfits themselves are mostly finished (just a couple of buttons to sew on, one waist casing and ruffles to put on the hems of the pants) but I've run out of thread and have to go get some more before I can finish. The scary part is that I have to do another insert...pleat it, smock it, block it...and then get both insets into their "bibs." Did I mention that this has to be done by tomorrow? Well, actually, I'm going to give myself another day, but that means I won't be able to go to my Mom's Friday like I had planned. I think I'll go Saturday and stay through Tuesday instead.

Here's my Landon, standing on his head. :)

Will this work?

I need input from those of you who were thinking about coming to Riley's christening. We're considering having it on Saturday the 27th. We are just not going to be able to get it done before Christmas (too many conflicts and not enough time to finish his gown) and a Saturday just might be easier for some people to come and less stressful all around.

If you don't mind, email me (crsta33@bellsouth.net) and let me know if you could make that date. I'm thinking early afternoon, but we could be flexible on the time. We'll have a small birthday party for him afterwards.

We went to the parade last night, but of couse I didn't take my camera. There were alot of disappointed people (the parade wasn't exactly spectacular) but Landon was not among them. There were fire trucks from every fire department between here and Memphis, ladder trucks, engines, and a tanker, lots of motorcycles, dozens of antique cars, a county road maintenance vehicle, a school bus, and several 6 foot tall animals (a dog, a raccoon, and a bear). When Santa came along at the end of parade, Landon looked at me and said, "What that guy?" Supposed to be the highlight of the parade and Landon didn't even know who he was. :)

Birthday photo shoot

We went to JCPenney for Landon's birthday pictures. We had a great time and got some great shots. Here are the best ones.

We are back from our nice, long Thanksgiving holiday. I've got to finish a smocking inset, smock another, and construct two outfits before Thursday. I'll post pictures as I get things done. I'm having issues with a reindeer...the pattern has him facing one way and I need him to face the other and am not sure how to do that quickly and easily (I don't think I can reverse it in my mind) If transparency sheets aren't too expensive I'm going to get some and copy it onto that, then I can flip it and have the reverse image on the back side.

Birthday boy!

Landon's birthday was Friday and we had his party on Saturday afternoon. It was a small party at home and we all really enjoyed it.

Lots of help and interest in the present opening.

Present opening went great, until Landon opened the gun Papaw got him. He loved it so much that he didn't want to let go of it to open anything else...

and had a little meltdown (this was too cute and I just had to include it!) I embroidered his t-shirt and Kenna had to have one too...hers says "Look at me I'm 5" though I think it probably should have said, "Look at me I'm green with envy." She ended up not even wearing it to the party!

This is the gun, which he slept with last night, and took with him in the van this morning. I drew the line at taking it into church though. He also took a nap with it this afternoon.

He did realize he'd gotten other really cool toys, too. This has been another favorite and the other kids love it, too. Thank goodness I had the foresight to get two remote controlled vehicles to go with it, though they all want the same one anyway.

This is why Kenna didn't wear her shirt...

she went to a Fancy Nancy birthday party Saturday morning and got all fancied up.

Hair, nails, necklaces, makeup, feather boa, and a Dole Banana sticker (from breakfast)

Riley was having a ball grabbing for the camera...

which is probably why my lens is always smudged.

Landon had to pull baby duty Friday to help me out...

he did a good job (though Riley woke up because I kept taking pictures).

Shh...can you keep a secret

If you promise not to tell, I'll let you peek at some of the Christmas presents I'm making.

I *love* this tote bag. I got two, and I'm very tempted to keep one of them. But I think I may use one for my SAGA Christmas party gift and dig out my seriously underutilized Vera Bradley tote for me. I can even monogram it to make it feel special and new. The red tote came from http://www.lakeside.com/. They are terribly slow shippers (I placed my original order Oct. 28 and the last part of my order just shipped today) but they have lots of cool stuff reasonably priced.

Close up of embroidery.

This purse came from Lakeside too.

The first of many, many kitchen towels I'm doing. I'm a little worried because the rest of the designs are split and I'll have to stitch and rehoop. It'll give me lots of hooping practice though.

I'm also working on Riley's christening gown. The date is a little up in the air, either Dec. 7 or Dec. 14th...I've sworn to get this kid dedicated before he's a year old, so if it gets pushed to the 21st I guess I can live with that too...if you want to come (and all are welcome) the 14th is the most likely date, but I can't say for sure yet. Actually, we are planning on combining the christening with his first birthday (especially since the poor kid doesn't really have any "baby" friends), so if you can't make it for church, come for cake and ice cream.

I'm smocking a couple of Christmas outfits also that must be done by Dec. 7...nothing like a deadline to make me dread working on something. I'll post pictures when I have something to show.

Birthday weekend

Big weekend for birthdays and long drives. My stepson celebrated his 12th and some little friends of ours turned 6 on the same day. Saturday was a really long and really awesome day.

I actually have some "sewing" to share...I did these shirts for the girls' presents.



Happy 12th birthday to Wesley!

We took a wrong turn on the way to our friends' house and didn't regret it one bit because this is what we got to see. Though a photo doesn't do it justice...it was just miles of this on both sides.

Six years old! Happy birthday Emma Kate and Gracie.

Eli and Kenna...old friends.

"Aunt" Amy's house....where a boy can be a boy!


Riley got so dirty, he had to have a bath before we left for home (Landon, too).

Twister!

Fall Frolic

Playing in the yard...