New School Year

The kids have been back to school for almost a month now. I'll tell you, last year we were cramped into the smallest room in the house. Which I don't really think its a "room" I think it was just extra space the builder decided to close up slap a window in and call a room. But this year I turned a bedroom into the school room and bunked up a couple kids. So much better now. One of the families I visit does home school too and she has her dinning room converted into a mini classroom. So that gave me the idea. All day I spend with her kids doing home school and its just so much easier. Having the space to move around and have everything not an arms length away really makes a difference.

So Tuesday I started my quest to turn a bedroom into a classroom for all the kids. I figured I'd started both my 3 and 4yr olds out in Kinder together, and make it to where the older ones could enjoy it too. I put in shelves for all the books and supplies. Hung up some home made alphabet signs, which the older boys helped with, complete with picture, capital and lower case letters. We used construction paper for that. Of course we had to do classroom rules on poster board. Tacked up the world map, hung the globe, the corkboard and top it off with a flag. But my favorite has to be the table. I used some index cards as name placecards so they know where their assigned seat is and covered them with clear packaging heavy duty tape. So the little ones could use their dry erase markers to practice writing their name. That got me to thinking about making the whole table writable. So I taped down a clear white paper as their white board, their numbers, alphabet, and practice sheets from an old workbook. Now they have a huge dry erase activity center on the desk! SO neato!

We even have a class pet compliments of Anthony. He caught a cricket and put it in one of his tanks. We named our school mascot the "Hoppers". So cute, the kids really got involved and excited with this change. We held our first class in our new room yesterday. It was a huge success. The little ones learned the letter A and its sound, and got to color an alligator and put it on a Popsicle stick. In history we learned about the Wright Bros and they made their own plane. So all went well.

As for the old room, I'm thinking of turning it into my sewing room. It would be the perfect size for that, and it has such great light. My poor sewing machine has no home, its constantly moving around to the next available spot. With the season almost changing (ALREADY!) I have to get started on their warmer clothes. Maybe this year I'll be able to do their costumes early for Halloween! Maybe, but I'm such a procrastinator.

Been Sick Sorry

Sorry for no posts...I've been so sick this last week. And it really hit hard the last couple of days.

I was told "oh it's just vertigo" by the dr's but OMG it really interrupts your life! Constantly dizzy. It makes it so hard to do anything. They gave me sea sickness meds and they don't help at all. Sleeping or lying down doesn't help either. My world is always spinning. UGH!

I made another appointment because I don't think it's "just vertigo" like they say. I don't think it should last a week. So, hopefully Monday I'll better understand this.

Well, yesterday I tried sewing something to take my mind off things. I had some pants I cut into shorts and I really didn't want to just toss the scraps. The pants were practically new. So with that and some left over material I made Caitie a new shirt. Its so cute.....







The faux pockets are my favorite!! It sort of makes it more girly. (They look crooked but they aren't. Its the way its hanging.) I tried to get her to wear it while I took the picture but she wasn't having that. She's a bit grumpy this morning. I don't feel like fighting her so the hanger wore it instead.

I have so many clothes that are too small for the kids but still in good condition, it's ashame to toss them out. And sometimes the kids don't want the hand me downs. So heres a good way to make something new using old stuff. Plus it doesn't cost you a dime!

And Sew It Begins

I just love writing corny headlines! As you can tell I've started sewing the spring/summer clothes. I've come down with the "Sew in Love" bug!


I began sewing again when we decided to live basic. A little over a year ago. Growing up my mom made us clothes on occassion and taught us young! We'd make clothes for our dolls or barbies, hair accessories little stuff. We had a blast! But like most things you love as a child you eventually move on and stop doing. But I always knew I would start up again when I had a little girl.

I just love shopping for material. It's your chance to get creative and a little daring!! Having a daughter just brings this outta me. She's my little doll and she just loves playing in her new clothes!


I went ahead and let the boys pick out their own material. I want to do a sew class with them just to teach them the basics. Measuring each other, reading a pattern etc. Last year we did pillows and man did they have fun!

Here's what the boys picked out:



Anthony chose this because we're taking the boat out for Cinco de Mayo and he loves fishing with his Dad. So these will become his fishing shorts he says! He wants to make a matching fishing hat with it too..... They have way more confidence in me than they should I don't even know where to begin a fishing hat??? We shall search and find out I guess....


This is Cody's choice......Why??? Hmmm good question I think he was just in a hurry to get outta there.. and he loves dogs.


This is Wyatts..... Need I say more, every little toddler boy loves McQueen. We watch NASCAR and he patiently waits for Speed to come out.


And finally Caties I chose it because its soo dang cute!


These are what I've done so far.....




Isn't she sooo cute! Look at her face in that first one. LOL a model she is not! She hates standing still for pictures.. Mommas sorry baby!