Playing Catch Up On My Blog

I used to love blogging and since Facebook became so popular I pretty much quit blogging and became addicted to Facebook.  I do enjoy Facebook, but I really miss blogging.

Lexie and Jake were blessed with another healthy baby boy, Wesley, a month ago.

Mallory is 5 months pregnant and doing wonderful.

 

Ezie and Jace are doing well.
 The boys have been spending some time with a family friend and learning to ride ATV's.
Jace played baseball again this year.  It was his first year in the Major's division so he didn't get to play as much as last year but he did really well playing with the older boys.
Jace had a music recital so I bought him a new suit at the thrift store for a couple of dollars and he was pretty impressed with himself.
He has as you can tell opted from getting a haircut for the last year.
He has to get his swag on you know.

 

I haven't lost any weight yet.  My knee's hurt so bad from the arthritis and I'm looking forward to a knee replacement soon.  I'm trying to exercise some but it's really hard to even walk.  I'm determined to loose some weight though and build up some my muscles in my legs before surgery.

 

I'll do more catch up over the next few days.

Seriously.....

I will be a better blogger.

 

 

Anthony, Owen, Lexie and Jake in their pregnancy announcement photo.

 

 Lexie at around 8 1/2 months pregnant with Wesley.

She's so beautiful and glowing. 

 

 Jake, Lexie. the 2 Big Brothers and Wesley

 

 

Such a handsome grandson I have!

I love you Wesley!

 

 

Mallory and Anthony's pregnancy announcement.

 

 Jace in his suit going to his 4th grade music concert.

 

 Jace getting ready to steal a base.

 

Ezie and Jace on our friends ATV's

 

 



Baseball with Jace and Matchbox Gifts

I LOVE watching the kids play sports and it's now

Baseball season with Jace!

 

Jace is on a knew team this year and his coach is letting him try out different positions.

I am really happy with this and Jace is having a lot more fun than being stuck in outfield all season.

 

 

Our little friend Amber and my Mallory at the game.

 

 

Between ball practice and games

I've been making some matchboxes

 

 

 

The top matchbox I decorated like a little suitcase for one of my neighbors.

His sister-in-law is going to Germany this week

and he thought this would make a cute going away gift.

 

The other one is 1 of 3 that I made for Mother's Day Gifts.

 

So cute and fun to make!

 



Wowzie! I Haven't Blogged in a Long Time!

Boy how time flies!

 

Where do I begin??

 

Since I last blogged we've moved to a 2 bedroom apartment.

It's tight and we had to get rid of a lot of stuff,

but all in all I like the apartment.

 

The kids are all doing well and adjusting to the new place.

Our kids are the greatest....they are so adaptable and don't complain.

We are lucky that the kids are so easy going!

 

Here's a few photo's of our lives lately

 

 

 My balcony that I can't wait to enjoy once spring gets here.

 

 

 Ezie, Mallory and Jace sledding together

 

 

 Part of a table runner that I crocheted for my brother

 

 

 Mallory playing basketball at one of her school games

 

 

My Ezie turned 15....can you believe it?!?!? 

I can't!

 

 

Jace turned 8 and had the "best birthday party ever" at Chuck-e-Cheese

 

Just a little update and hopefully I'm on the road back to blogging!!

My Crochet Projects Over the Last Couple of Weeks

First I have to thank Mallory for modeling for me.

 

Mallory would like for me to buy a mannequin so she can quit modeling for me.

 

Life is so hard when you have a mom that crochets and sews!

 

 

 

 Mallory is wearing a ruffled shawl I crocheted out of Caron's Simple Soft yarn

 I made this beach or shopping bag out of a cotton crochet thread.

 

 

 Don't I look attractive in a beard?? 

 

 

 I made this owl pillow out of some acrylic yarn.

 

 

My grandson Owen and Anthony with Jace in the middle wearing their beards.

Saturday Savings

I decided to start a new "thing" on my blog called Saturday Savings. 

 We have had a really rough last couple of years financially

and have learned ways to save some money.

 

 

 

I'll start with the kids Halloween costumes.

I've been doing this for years now, and we did it again this year.

We try to make the kids costumes out of clothing that they can reuse throughout the year

instead of just buying an expensive costume that they will only wear once.

 

Here's some examples:

 

Ezie's suit is the same suit that we bought from the thrift store for $3.00 last year for Mallory's hobo costume.  The shirt we got from the local Resource center for free, the hat from a wedding, and I had a new pair of pantyhose in my drawer for the mask.  We did buy him a gun for $6.00.

 

Total for Ezie:  $6.00

 

 

Mallory's Dorothy outfit was a little more expensive, but it can all be worn separately throughout the year.  We decided to make an apron instead of a dress so that she could use the apron for cooking.  The fabric cost me $6.00 for the apron, she had a white shirt, we bought a pair of capri white leggings at Wal-mart for $5.00 and the shoes at Payless for $10.00.  I had the ribbon in my stash.   

 

Total for Mallory:  $21.00

 

 

Jace's Tin Man costume included buying him a long sleeved t-shirt for $4.00, a pair of sweat pants for $5.00, a funnel for the hat cost $1.00, the oil can (watering can) cost $6.00, a can of spray paing for $1.00 and we had the hat. 

We made the heart out of an old pocket watch, the plastic lid to a coffee can, duck tape, and old chain and spray paint.

 

Total for Jace:  $17.00

 

 

 

So for all three kids we spent $44.00 on costumes and these things can be reused throughout the year:

 

apron, capri's, shoes, t-shirt, sweat pants, watering can, funnel, hat, panty hose

 

The suit can be donated back to the thrift store or saved for another year.

The gun was the only thing that was kind of a waste of money,

but the boys have had fun playing with it....so that is worth the $6.00.

 

 

I don't know the exact cost of the kids costumes from last year, but I'll try and remember.

 

 

Ezie's costume was a reuse from Mallory's costume the year before.  I had made a cape out of a cheap black sheet and the mask I'm not sure where that came from.

 

Mallory's suit came from the thrift store for $3.00, the suspenders, shirt and tie were another couple of dollars.

 

Jace's Powe Ranger outfit I got off of Ebay for a couple of dollars.

 

I think Halloween that year was under $10.00 for all 3 of the costumes.

 

 

We have had kids be babies that we used jammies for, bomb victims that we just used old clothes for and burned a few holes in, Catholic school girls that we used clothes we had on hand, G.I. Joe with clothes that we had on hand and I was a chef one year with clothes that I had on hand too.

 

 

 

a Zombie baby

Reusable: Jammie's and hat

Bib was an old stained one that we bloodied up

purchased a pacifier.

 

Devil and Witch

clothes that they could wear again, made capes and bought cheap accessories.

 



 

So my Saturday Savings Tip is:

 

Try to make costumes out of things you have on hand or things that can be reused and then accessorize those items.  You'll come up with some really cute and creative costumes and feel good about what you've created!

 

Trick or Treat

Our Halloween started off at Jace's school for a

Halloween Parade around the town.

 

 

Jace as the tin man with his oil can for candy.

 



Ezie as a faceless gangster.

 



 

Mallory as Dorothy.

 

 

 

All three of my kiddo's.

 

 

We went trick or treating for 2 1/2 hours with two of my grandsons,

Owen as a Dragon and Anthony as a Star Wars character.

 

 

 

 

We had fun and then on the way home Jace wanted to know

how many more days until Halloween would be her again.

 

Actually, I would rather repeat Halloween then have Christmas!

A Haircut and My Birthday!!!

My birthday was Sunday and it was such a nice relaxing day at home with Earl and the kids.

On Saturday we all went shopping and did our errands together.

 

It was so nice to have a car that is legal to drive and not have to worry about getting a ticket and we actually got to go places besides those places that we can get to on back roads.

 

 

 

Mallory and Jace made me a scrapbook for my birthday and they did a really good job!!

 

Mallory made me a cake and even piped words on it. 

 Great Job Mal!!

 

Before

I have been dying to get my haircut, but we couldn't drive the car into Troy so I could go to my favorite hairdresser and friend, Nancy. 

Since we got the car though Earl took me to get my haircut for my birthday.

 

 

 

After

What do you think?

Much better?

 

I think so!!!!

 



Thank you Earl, Ezie, Mallory and Jace for a wonderful birthday!!!

Yesterday was an Awesome First Day of School!!

The kids started school yesterday and everyone came home happy!!

 

What more could a Mom ask for?

 

 

Ezie is now in 8th grade and Mallory is in 7th

 

 

 

Jace is in 1st grade

 

 

 

Glad you guys had a great first day!!!

Some of The Things I've Made Lately

I'm really trying to get lots of things made for my shop

 

 so I can earn some money for the holidays.

 

Hopefully I'm going to be able to do a couple of craft shows

 

so I can get some local exposure.

 

Anyway,

 

here's a few of the things I've made lately.

 

 

 

 

 a quilted tote bag that I used selvages on

 

 

Lots of scarves

decorative gift bags

 

 



and hats

 

 

I'm hoping to sell lots so we can have a really nice

 and Christmas season with a little less stress!!

 

Is that possible??

 

Here's hoping!!