Homemade Skirts for the Girls

I haven't been around the blog much at all lately. With all of the kids home for the summer, it seems that the time is just flying and I can't find a minute to sit down and much less to sit, think, and write. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I will get back to writing and blogging once school starts again.

For now though, I had a few hours available last week and I found this super easy pattern for skirts. So, I thought I would try my hand at making skirts for the girls. I am not that great of a sewer yet, but this pattern was so easy and it explained things really well, although I did have to ask a few instruction questions to engineer daddy. I seriously made two skirts in a couple of hours and they cost about $5 for both of them. I found this lovely fabric at Hobby Lobby. They have some gorgeous fabric right now. I think I will be going back and getting more fabric for skirts for school.

I thought I would share a few of the things I am working on right now. I am also working on a project for Zoe's room and I will post pictures when it is done too.

Pillows

I found this fabric at the fabric store a couple of weeks ago and I fell in love with it. When I bought it, I didn't have any idea what I would use it for. I just knew I wanted it for something. The other day, I was out walking and I noticed a couple of houses had benches on their front porches and they had decorative pillows on them. It then occurred to me, my answer was PILLOWS, for the chairs on my porch. And since I'm not the best at sewing yet, pillows would be something easy for me to do.

That afternoon, I got to work. I measured, cut and pinned. Once the kids were done with homework, I sat down at the sewing machine to do the sewing. Just as I started, Cason showed up and asked if he could help. He reminded me that grandma told him he was a better sewer than I was. How could I say no to someone with such claims. Let me say that he did an excellent job. That night I ran to the store to get the stuffing. I stuffed them that night and sewed them up tight yesterday.

This is what my porch looks like now. A bit more decorative for summer, I think. Thanks for your help, Cason. We make a great team.

Things We've Created This Break

With the kids off school for Christmas and lots of company, we tried to keep our hands busy. Following are some of the things we've created over the break.

Lethal Peppermint Chocolate Cake

for a very SPECIAL BOY'S SECOND BIRTHDAY on Christmas!

Felt Tic-Tac-Toe game, thanks to my sister, Laura, for the great idea, the help and the motivation to actually get it done.

Lace Snow Flakes (the kids made these)

Knitted hats (again thanks to my sister for the idea and the use of her nifty looms). We now have our own looms and I'm sure there will be plenty of hats going around.

Cason just finished his today and he is so proud.

And last, but not least...

***MEMORIES***

We'll Just Make Our Own

We've all been a little bummed lately about the lack of snow we get here in the UK. Last Thursday, I decided that if we don't get our own snow, we will just make our own. That is exactly what we did. The kids were bored so I showed them how to cut out snowflakes. They absolutely loved it. Leah and Anna even joined in. By the time we were done we had a pile of snowflakes. We taped them all over our family room so it would feel like winter. I know a lot of you are thinking you would gladly send some of the snow you've gotten this winter.

Leah with her snowflake mask

Tristan with his snowflake mask

Our family room (Winter Wonderland)