10 Years.

 Recently, my oldest daughter, Abbie, celebrated her tenth birthday. This baffles me. She isn't supposed to be ten. I'm not sure what she is SUPPOSED to be, but it isn't ten and it isn't a fourth grader.

 But I suppose if you're going to be ten, you couldn't be a better ten. She's the kid who is liked by everyone. She's the kid who other parents say things like "Abbie is welcome in my home ANYTIME" about. She's the kid who doesn't give me a moment's worry about her grades. She's the witty, hilarious kid that everyone wants to be friends with, including me. She's the helpful, empathetic older sister, the tremendous girl who thinks of others before herself and puts her trust in the Lord. She is a reminder to me of why we were sent here to this Earth...so that we could know of the Godlike power of creation and the ability to love someone so unconditionally. And yes, in the ten years I've known her, I've learned that. 

Happy Birthday to my dear daughter, who made me a Mother.

Read More

Dumping Ground

Doing a quick PFMP update (that's Pictures from my Phone) for those not in the know.

I am sick and tired of not being able to find exactly what I want in the way of Sunday clothes for me... so I've resorted to sewing my own. This fabulous skirt cost me less than $12 and that includes the price of the reusable pattern. Love. Abbie is so jealous that she has requested I make her some church clothes too.


Lucas is crazy! One moment he's got you laughing your heart out and the next moment you're tearing your hair out. Yes, it feels a bit bipolar. He's 3.5 and I'm ready to ship him off to college most days.


Abbie decided to get brave on Black Friday and broke her arm. Awesome. In all actuality it wasn't that bad as far as injuries go. Nothing to do to set the bone, cast for four weeks. She had it removed on December 22nd right before we left for our Christmas vacation to Pennsylvania.


Speaking of Christmas... every year I make each of my kids a handmade gift from me. This year, Anna was the big winner. She received this sweater. The Pattern is Gondry. She loves it. Me too.


I took the time, even though I am not a big fan, to make sugar cookies with my children. I ended up enjoying it so much that I made a second batch a couple days later. Yum. I've been converted.


Libby, sporting her handmade by mom Christmas present. She loves her little hat. Wears it all the time.


For any of you out there who are on Operation HowLongIsAlissaGrowingHerHair. The answer is still longer.


Abbie and I won a game on New Years Eve. Toothpicks and Marshmallows. It was a blast.


And then while I was at a totally sweet Goodwill in Roanoke VA, I scored this vintage American Tourister bag for $2.99! I love thrifting.


My Christmas present from me to me. Love these mittens and I would absolutely knit this pattern again. Can't recommend it highly enough. The pattern is Wintergreen.


And Lucas wears his Christmas hat which was knit entirely on the trip. I started it in Florida and finished it in Pennsylvania. Space Invaders themed too. Fun stuff.


Miles took some time this week to design a bunch of inventions. This was my favorite. Apparently, he felt it would be helpful to me.


And finally, this week I put on my big girl pants and learned how to make curry. It was yummy.

I hope you enjoyed this random smattering of goings on in our world.

Read More

Halloween Costumes 2011

Because I feel the need to brag, I have decided to post something.

I know. I'm filled with humility.

I have probably talked before about how when I grew up my mom didn't usually help with Halloween costumes. You were on your own. Not because she didn't want to, but because she had nine kids...
Basically, it has lead me to believe that the very best costumes are the ones that come from the bowels of your imagination. Pieced together with duct tape and elastic.  Yes, the homemade ones.

This year, I did have one child elect to use a costume we already had on hand (that we were given about 4 years ago and which FINALLY fit).

I present Anna as Mulan.

Might I add that she doesn't actually like the movie Mulan; she thinks it's too scary.
And yes, she's wearing makeup. In keeping with the tradition that my mother allowed, my girls are permitted to wear makeup one day per year: Halloween.

Lucas's costume was an easy recycle from a couple of years ago. Totoro.

He's such a little squirt that the hat totally swamped him and no one knew what he was... which didn't bother me in the least. I like the obscure.

The only instruction I gave Abbie on choosing a Halloween costume this year was to encourage her to choose a literary character.  Having just read both Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie, she immediately selected Laura Ingalls.

And while I realize that her costume isn't exactly period correct, we sure tried. And also, yikes. I'm in trouble. Check this girl out:

9 going on 19, eh?

Miles wore an entire 14 piece ensemble that I spent a really long time agonizing over and working on. I sewed him a vest and gun holster (of my Dad's design). We borrowed chaps, boots and a gun.  He also had a hat (not pictured because it was in the back of Matt's car who wasn't home from work when these pictures were taken).

He would like you to know that he is NOT Woody. And yes, it is time for a haircut.

And finally, my crowning glory. Libby as Octopus. Wait, you're on Pinterest, right? If so, follow me!
At any rate, I found this costume idea from a link on Pinterest.
I must admit, I think my execution is better. Also, their octopus has 10 legs.

I filled the polka dotted socks I had lying around (supposed to have been turned into Babylegs for Lucas) with grocery sacks (I'm so green) and used safety pins to attach them to a harness I fashioned out of elastic. Safety pins, so I can use the socks again. The hat was whipped up out of some rib knit and felt.

It was pretty much the most hysterical thing anyone had ever seen. It helps that Libby's so tiny that it blows people away when she runs up to their door, holds out her bucket and says, "Trick Treat" just like a big kid. Then a "Thank You!" and a "Bye!" with a wave!  I love this girl so much.

Her joie de vivre is infectious. Absolutely.

Read More

Better School Pictures - Episode 4

Can you believe we've been doing this for four years?

Here's this year's information:

The Better School Picture Day

Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 8am - 11am at a location TBA in the Longwood/Lake Mary Area
                                                                       $25 per child. 
How it works:
I spend 5-10 minutes with each of your children. Just time enough to get 3-5 great shots of them. Your pictures will be fully edited and presented in an online gallery. The $25 pays for the sitting and ONE fully edited full-resolution file on a Data DVD with rights to print. If you decide you would like all 3-5 files, the cost is only $50 total (or an additional $25, make sense?)


Why?
Have you seen your children's school pictures? Last year, I used my own daughter's picture to demonstrate. Here, I'll show you again (much to her embarassment.)


Here is the picture that was sent home from the ACTUAL SCHOOL PICTURES.

Oh Mah Gosh.

Seriously.

I think you've all seen my daughter.

You have, correct?

She's not usually so demonically possessed.

I promise. 

No really.






Here is a picture I took of Abbie around the same time.

So yeah. Not really even the same child.

Here are some more samples.

Please Email Me or send me a Facebook message if you're interested!

Because honestly, you do not want Regular School Pictures to happen to you, and neither do I.

Read More

I knit stuff.

So, I mentioned at the beginning of the year, that I was hoping to knit through 5 miles of yarn in 2011. By mid August, I had met that goal.

Obviously, I haven't posted many of the finished objects I've knit. That would be because I haven't photographed them. Two of those items are sweaters which, frankly, it's just too dang hot to be wearing long enough to get pictures of.

But I do have two items to share with you.

 The first of which is this adorable sweater vest which I knit for a colleague of my husband They just had their first little baby boy. And if we're being honest with each other, we can admit that there isn't anything cuter than a baby boy in a sweater vest. Right?

 And the back. It ALMOST makes me wish I had a teeny boy to wear it.

 As it is, Libby looked adorable in it. This was just so I could make sure of sizing. It's about 12 months.

The other project is probably the most favorite thing I've ever knit.

 This is the Clara Dress. Unfortunately, you can only get the pattern by purchasing it as a kit. But I was desperate. I had to knit this tiny dress.

I think you can see why.

 I only wish I'd have made it a couple inches longer. I was worried about running out of yarn, but I totally shouldn't have been. I could easily have knit another 2 inches and still had plenty left over.

But I actually adore the length. I just put a pair of frilly bloomers on her and we're good to go. And I think she can continue to wear it as a tunic type top for quite a while.

I'll be back with more knit items soon.

Read More

And Good Riddance.

Due to the nature of our incredibly long summer spent cooped up here at home, I was really about to lose it.

School couldn't have come soon enough. I'm not kidding. Not even a little.
Monday was the day.

 We all, the entire family, trekked on out to the bus stop.

 There was a great fanfare as Miles headed out to his first day of Kindergarten. You know, where he will probably be extremely bored. I was informed they are working on the letter C this week. Have I mentioned Miles reads on a 2nd grade + level?

 And ohmyword, I have a 4th grader. FOURTH. As in, old. As in, the originator of all that sass. Save me.

 And I also possess a 2nd grader. Everytime I look at her, I have the sneaking suspicion that in about 6 years, I'm going to be in a LOT of trouble. BOYS BE DAMNED!

And there they go! Buh and Bye. See you at 3:30. But I can't celebrate too much. I've still got these two waiting at home for me. 

 Herein he informs me that it is time for us to go buy HIM a Star Wars Tshirt. 

And my Libby Mae, who I'm fairly certain thinks Abbie is her mom. At least a little.

Read More

What I did last summer. A report.

As you probably know, on the Saturday before Memorial Day Matt decided to take Anna to a wall to wall trampoline facility. Fun times. Except the part where he shredded his patellar tendon. He had NON arthroscopic knee surgery on Memorial Day.

It would be 10 weeks before he could drive again. 10 weeks = our entire summer.

So, our summer. Yeah. Blown, mostly.

We did end up flying to a family reunion in Branson, MO. Our original plan had been to drive the 20 hours. Not really all that broken-hearted over that one.

But the truth is, having to load all five of your kids into the car and drive your husband the 20 minutes to work and then home and then turn around at 6pm and do the same thing, really wears one right out. So, we had an incredibly low key summer. With an enforced quiet time between 1-4pm. Yes, my children read a lot of books.

The last thing I wanted to do was any more driving. So we spent a long summer here at our house. Several times a week, it looked almost exactly like this:

 Bikes.

 The sprinkler.

 Playing in the gutter.

 The kiddie pool.

 Races.

And sass. So much sass.

Today is the first day of school. That's why I can post this.
Matt can drive. His knee bends again.
Here's to hoping I'm on the other side of this Bummer Summer.

Read More