Forgetful Pregnancy Brain strikes on Halloween!

Our Pirates at the Carnival

This year, for The Boy's school Halloween Carnival I was in charge of decorating the class booth, the Pumpkin Squirt Game. I had planned on setting the kids to work, drawing simple Jack O' Lantern shapes onto orange construction paper....but I discovered too late that I was out of orange. *sigh* I had plenty of pink and navy blue, though.

I'd already gone to the craft store with the boy and bought the poster board and glitter glue and there was no desire in me to go back to the store so we made do with what we had. I designed the sign that hung over the booth and it looked pretty good. We used a sparkly lime green spider garland, cotton spider webbing and pipe-cleaner spiders that my cousin's wife had given to the kids at their party the day before. My tall hubby was in charge of hanging everything on Saturday afternoon before the Carnival started. Thank goodness for tall, unpregnant people.

Did I think to take a picture of our finished booth?

Nope.

Last year I was a Halloween baking fool. Of course at the time I was still living at my parent's house and had not yet started the preparations for our wedding. I did recreate the Jack Skellington cupcakes I made last year to give to the school for the Carnival bake sale & cake walk prizes.

Did I think to take a picture of the cupcakes?

Nope.

Saturday afternoon before the Carnival the kids and their dad cut and decorated their pumpkins! Where was I? I'd gone upstairs to rest and read for a little while and fell asleep. My husband let me sleep for over an hour and I was so groggy when I got up. So I missed pumpkin carving, but I was able to avoid digging out pumpkin guts and that's okay by me!


So, this is as good as it gets in the photography dept for that, the kids dressed for church on Sunday with their pumpkins.

However, I did make up for all the slacking off with plenty of photos taken during the Carnival and on Halloween day!



The kids in their finished costumes! This was actually the first time I'd seen them all put together and wearing all the parts.

The only thing I bought here were the coordinating stripes, I had everything else on hand. The black faux velvet was from The Boy's spider costume two years ago, I always keep plain black and white cotton on hand and the trims and ribbons are just random things from my stash. My favorite recycled part are the brass buttons that used to be my dad's from his military and police uniforms!


I know this probably only irritates me, but the serged edge of their head-scarves is showing...I only finished one side and then accidentally put them on backwards...ooops!

I crafted a basic twirl skirt for The Girl with a drop waist. Double the size of the child's waist for the upper section and then double the size of that upper section for the skirt. Gather the skirt section and attach to the upper section. Then create a casing for elastic in the upper section and insert elastic cut to fit the waist measurement. So much twirl!

I added a bit of swag in faux velvet to one side of the skirt and then handsewed on some draped sparkly trim and brass buttons. The waist cinch was from last year's Halloween fairy costume.

The Girl's vest is just two simple shapes with grommets at the sides and then tied together under the arms.

The Boy is wearing his glow-in-the-dark pajama top from Gymboree from two years ago (it barely fits!). I made him a simple open vest with button trim and faux button holes on the opposite side. A long sash was edged with decorative white stitching. I created the jagged edges on the pants by first ironing on black fusible webbing and then cutting the edges.


Back view

For the simple applique on the backs of each vest, I drew out the basic skull & crossbones sketch, traced each piece (upper & lower skull, each individual bone, eye and nose sockets) onto Heat n' Bond, ironed the pieces to white cotton, cut out on the lines, peeled off the Heat n' Bond backing, ironed onto the vests and then straight-stitched around the pieces close to the edge.


Pirate Princess


Pirate Prince


The Boy with his skeletal classmate


Blow yer boat down!


The Girl won this doughnut biting game handily (I think she was so anxious to get at that doughnut before Daddy-the-health-nut thought better of it!).


The Boy was not getting the hang of this doughnut biting game, but he sure did smile sweetly!


The Boy with his big brother and cousin before Trick or Treating.


My nephew, with some handsome facial adornments!

See, I made up for the spacey parts of my weekend with some fun photos...I would have never forgiven myself if I'd not taken pictures of them in their pirate finery!

Happy Fall

We are looking forward to a fun weekend of Halloween activities in our house!

My buffet is nicely decorated with pumpkins that the kids chose from the patch, a Halloween countdown calendar, a jar of candy corn, seasonally colored candles and some pretty brush that my husband found on a nature hike by the lake.


My Autumn-themed buffet this month

We kick start the festivities with a Halloween party at a relative's house. This will be the first time the kids will wear their costumes. I still haven't seen them all put together yet, so I can't wait to see how they look with accessories. Still need to complete their head scarves, but honestly it won't take too long. I just need to carve out the time in front of the sewing machine to get it done...maybe tonight!

It's been pitch black when we walk out of the house each morning to leave for work and school. The kids have definitely noticed (The Girl asked why we were going to school when it was still bedtime!). I've not been paying attention to what time it's getting dark at night though, I'm usually inside doing laundry or fixing dinner. Hope it's not too dark too early so it won't be terribly dark on Halloween night.


Mmmmm...candy corn!

I am started to feel a tad bit stressed by the things that do need to get done though. Along with work commitments and homework there are always those little things that start popping up along the week: Unexpected doctor visits for the kids and planned doctor's visits for both me & my husband, making sure the kids get their flu shots, decorating the school carnival booth and baking cupcakes for the carnival and an order for three tees on my Etsy site. There just isn't much that I can pass on or put off, so I'm going to suck it up and get it done!

And of course Saturday morning we'll be carving their pumpkins!


The Girl's pumpkin

Saturday afternoon is The Boy's school Halloween carnival and the kids are very excited about that. A few hours of game-playing, cake-walking, costume-showing-off, candy-eating and Haunted-House-visiting should have them ready for Trick or Treat on Monday!



Happy Fall everyone!

Showered

I'm rounding the corner towards the end of this pregnancy, I can't even believe it!


Photos from my company co-baby shower. Jessica & I are a week apart!

I'm definitely rounding out in my figure as well. There is no hiding it now, even when I sit down I have a full, rounded tummy. I didn't look like this in my first pregnancy. My first born didn't go head-down until about 10 days before I delivered. He liked to lay side to side, so I was very wide and more flat across the belly. This one has been head-down for over a month, feet stuck up under my ribs. He does rotate his feet around, sometimes they are on the left side, sometimes the right. But he's still head-down and he'd better stay that way, at this point!


Big ol' round me, at 33 weeks

My official due date is December 6th, which would give me about 7 more weeks. My doctor did say at my last appointment that I was measuring about a week early which would put me at around November 29th. So long as I get through the week of November 21th, I can go anytime after that! I have so much work to do the week of Thanksgiving, they would never forgive me at work if I went into labor before Thanksgiving! So, I'll do my best to get to at least the 25th...




They did a cute job "baby-ing" the existing Halloween decorations!

My husband and I spent the last weekend rearranging some furniture, going through the older kids' play clothes and pajamas and sorting out what doesn't fit. Of course, those are still sitting in piles on the floor. I have a desk at my parent's house to bring over that I'll set up for the baby's changing table and would like to have some shelving installed over that area.


An amazing cake bought for us by our wonderful boss

My husband would like the crib purchased and assembled in the next few weeks but I told him no rush on that, the baby won't be sleeping in his own room for a few months anyway. Ideally, I'd actually love to have the room set up and ready to go before he's born too. I have some decorating ideas like artwork for the walls that I'd like to purchase and it would be lovely to have it all in place when we bring him home from the hospital.


Mercy me, this little lamb pillow and blankie is sooooo soft!

I didn't quite get to do all the fun projects I wanted to do for the nursery...yet. The quilt is complete and ready to be used. The mobile is getting the finishing touches this week. I'm detailing the pieces with embroidery thread and will buy the hoops to hang them from this week. I've already instructed my husband that I'll be having him tie them on with monofiliment and he was grinning with the thought of how the finished product will look.


Sweet octopus toy to match the nursey theme

I started Heather Bailey's stacking toy but was slowed by the hand stitching sections. I have the idea to machine stitch all that I can and then have all the hand stitching parts ready and in my craft bag downstairs to work on while I watch TV in the evenings when everyone is in bed.


Isn't that pennant so cute?

Crib skirt...fabric purchased and washed but not cut or sewn anything else. Guess I can wait on that until I actually have the crib!

Blocks have been cut with fabric and I was held up because I really wanted to personalize them first. Of course my husband's indecision on finalizing a name has that project on hold for the time being. Same with the personalized fabric banner. I suppose some things can wait until after he arrives and has an official name, right?

Everything else has fallen by the wayside and that's okay. I'll get to what I can and live without the rest (or buy it at the store!).


Thank you to all my Chinaberry pals for the wonderful afternoon!

Half a year, triple the fun

My cousin brought over her triplets for a little photo session in my parent's front yard. I've said this before....They have the perfect yard for portraits. There is a huge tree that makes the greatest open shade for capturing light in the eyes. The babies were having a blast rolling around on their blanket.

Here are the babies at 6 months old. They are really pushing up from their stomachs well and rolling back and forth. Can't wait until our next photo session, I bet they'll be sitting up!

This is the "big" guy. He has always been eager to please with big smiles and eye contact.








3 months old


About a month old

This little lady is a tougher nut to crack, she really makes you work for any smile. Her mom says that smiles are only to be had from this one when Daddy is around!








3 months old


About a month old

This guy has really filled out and developed a lot in the last few months and was so happy to laugh and smile for me this time. And he was showing off that he's the first of the triplets to have two shiny white teeth!








3 months old


About a month old

Party Planning for Year 8

So, The Boy is in second grade this year and he's been clambering for a birthday party with classmates since well, kindergarten. He has a small class (thank the Lord!) of only 11 other kids, most of whom he's been with since kindergarten.


Happy First Birthday!

But because we are apartment dwellers and my husband has an aversion to anyone traipsing through the house and to messy kid hands and to clutter and to rambunctiousness indoors, The Boy has never even had a friend over to our house, let alone considered having a party with classmates.


#4 A Finding Nemo Theme. His brother drew the picture and we propped it on the cake with toothpicks!


The fifth birthday cake, totally designed by The Boy. He wanted Darth Vader and Indiana Jones playing soccer...done!

Planning The Boy's birthday parties is a challenge because it falls right between Thanksgiving and Christmas and around here in SoCal, we never know if it's going to be 80 degrees and bright or 50 degrees and raining. I've hosted small parties at my parents' house (they are more open to accepting messy kid hands, clutter and rambunctiousness). And they have a yard for all that good stuff to happen in! Generally The Boy's previous parties consisted of me, my parents, a few aunts and uncles and perhaps a cousin or two.


My big six year old


Bug themed cupcakes...that one with the fake bug looks NASTY!

Last year we did host a small gathering at our apartment and it was fine. Tight quarters but okay for the hour so we could have cake and ice cream.


Opening gifts on his 7th birthday




Super simple cake designs since I'd cut my finger and required stitches the week before...booooo!!

Earlier this year we hosted a family party at the park for The Girl, whose birthday is also in a tricky weather month...March. Fortunately it didn't rain on us that day, just a little windy.


Alice in Wonderland themed cupcakes and cookies.



Of course, this year The Boy's birthday is going to be very close to the arrival of his new baby brother, so planning a party for him around the actual date is out of the question. So it will definitely have to be a November party this year. My husband thought that was weird, having the party a month early. He even suggested that HE host the party in case I was in the hospital or at home nursing a newborn but I said, "no way!". #1. I can just imagine if my husband was hosting a party (hint: he's very health-conscious and frugal, which equals out to boring food and not much of it!). #2. I want to be at the party, for heaven's sake!

So now that I have the hard part out of the way (convincing my dear husband), I'm diving into the party planning!! I love planning out the details of a party and Pinterest is making it really fun.

Source: craigandwhitney.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

Great tent invitations!

Source: amandaparkerandfamily.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

The pine cone garland would probably work for us...

This year for The Boy, I think we are going to brave hosting something at the local lake. He's so into camping and nature and fishing that his party will have that kind of theme. He was hoping to be able to fish with his friends but the cost of buying everyone a license for the day is a bit prohibitive. But I think a nature scavenger hunt, a prize for who guesses closes to the number of rocks in a jar, goodie bags with do-it-yourself smores kits to take home, simple camp food and a rockin' cake will be easy enough for me to carry out in my "T-minus-4-weeks-till-delivery" state.

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Julie on Pinterest

LOVE this camping themed cake! Check out the campfire.

Source: happyhomefairy.com via Julie on Pinterest

Very sweet Owl snack bags.

Obviously some of the photos of parties here won't be do-able for me in the great outdoors and on a shoestring budget, but for sure I'll be making a totally cool cakes and having plenty to eat (Hebrew National hot dogs, corn on the cob & plenty of fresh fruit have already been requested).

Source: craftsbyfriends.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

Probably not do-able for me, but what a fantastic idea! I want to eat them up!!