knitting project

For the last few days I have been MIA in bloggyland.  Pretty much any free time I have had for the past 4/5 days has been sucked up by my current knitting project.  The project was a winter hat for Malachi.  I really wanted to get it done before it got cold since he didn't have a hat.  And of course, for the past few days, it has been really warm around here.  I just finished his hat last night and had him try it on this morning (that's why he's in his pajamas!).  These are some pictures I took of him in the hat.  Sorry that they are not better.  This is the best I could do with a child that kept running away from the camera and closing his eyes.  The pattern for the hat can be found here.

I think that I actually messed up the top of the pattern because it doesn't look quite right.  Also, I made the pattern size for a child (suppose to fit a 2-4 year old) but it seems a touch too small.  I think that I will make another one soon but add an inch or so to the length so it completely covers his ears. 

The Pillowcase Dress

A year ago or so, I found a bunch of old pretty pillowcases.  I decided to send them to a friend because I knew that she makes pillowcase dresses and sells them on Etsy.  You can check out her store here!  She asked me if I would like her to make one for Alyssa and I said "sure".  The dress came out super cute and Alyssa loves it!  Here are some pictures from our "photo shoot"!

Cute girl in a pretty dress!

Strike a pose!

Malachi wanted to get in on the action!

I'm back!!! Camping trip

Hey guys!  Sorry I have been MIA for the last two weeks.  We have been really busy so I didn't have much time to upload pics and post. 

Last week, I spent the first part of the week packing and getting ready for our camping trip.  The babies and I spent the rest of the week and part of the weekend actually camping in Boyne City at Young State Park.  We met my brother, his wife and her family up there.  It was fun and we had a good time, but it was a lot of work!  On the way home, I realized that I didn't take very many pictures, so sorry for the lack of pics.  Maybe it was because I had to chase the kids around and didn't want to carry my camera in my pocket??   ;-)   Here are a few of the pics that I did get.  The beach pics are courtesy of my sister-in-law.

Our tent

Trying to entertain the children at 6:30 am so they
don't wake everyone else up

Playing on the bike rack while waiting for the showers

Beach time!

Malachi loved this raft!  We went out on it 4 or 5 times!

Tired, Fun times!

Also, I forgot to mention that Alyssa got sick Friday morning and took a 5 hour nap on the beach! I think it was a combination of the sickness and lack of sleep from the previous two days.  She only had a low grade fever but it lasted until Monday night.  Not sure if it was just a cold or what. 

thrifted camping chair for the kiddos!

Sometime last winter, I went to a church rummage sale that was down the street from my house.  I usually don't find a lot at rummage sales but I really wanted to get out of the house and I love looking.  It must be the thrill of the hunt or something.  I was almost at the end of the sale and about to leave when I saw some little school chairs they had by the wall.  I made a bee line for the chairs but decided I didn't want them.  I don't just buy things because they are a good deal.  I buy them because we can or might be able to use them.  I am a bad thrifter like that and have kicked myself more than once for choosing not to buy something, only to need it months later and have to buy it new.  Next to the little chairs was a tall dark blue canvas bag with a $2 sticker on it.  I thought it might be one of those foldable camping chairs, so I pulled it out to check out the condition.  I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be this:

It was a camping chair alright, except there were two little toddler ones together.  Perfect for Malachi and Alyssa, and in great condition (they do need a good scrubbing though!).  And for $2, what a deal!  One of the guys working the sale said he had no idea what it was.  I am thinking he didn't take it out to check.  We are going camping next week with my brother and sis-in-law and will definitely be taking this with us!

Sprinklers and outdoor fun on a hot day

Playing in the sprinklers was on our bucket list of things that we wanted to do this summer.  It was so hot outside yesterday so I thought we would try it out to cool off a little.  Neither of the kids were super thrilled about the sprinkler, so I am sure that we will be going to the water fountains more often then playing in the sprinkler.  I gave them ring pops to eat after playing in the sprinkler and Malachi got it all over.  Here are some pictures from our time outside:

What you lookin' at??  

spying on the neighbors

The ring pop aftermath

impromptu picnic

Hey everyone!  Remember to check out my giveaway and enter here if you haven't already!  It ends tonight and I will be picking two winners tomorrow!!!  I hope you win!

Today was a fun, lazy day!  After church my hubby and I decided to get Burger King for lunch (healthy, I know!) and the kids fell asleep in the car on the way home.  They rarely fall asleep on the way home.  They stayed asleep when we got home so we opened the car doors and had a picnic on the front lawn.  Here are some pictures from the picnic after the kids eventually woke up:



Alyssa wanted to get right in the camera!

 



Malachi trying to feed Alyssa french fries

 

hairstyle #8

Here is today's hairstyle:

View from the front (with my son)

View from the back

It's a half up bun.  This took me about 5 minutes to do.  Super easy and cute! 

I let my daughter take pictures today and these are a few of the pictures that I got.  I think that she did a good job for an almost 3 year old!  Here is another shot:

Off with her head!!!

I think it's a cute pic of my son but not so much of me. 

So my 10 for 10 is coming to an end soon and I want to do a giveaway when it's over!  My first giveaway, super exciting.  I am thinking some hair accessories......  Watch for details of the giveaway in the next few days!

Kokomo weekend

It is already Wed. and I am only now blogging about this past weekend.  The kids and I went to Kokomo, IN.  We used to live there when Leonard was with Delphi.  It is about a 5 hour drive from our current house.  I managed to only stop once, each way, for an hour to let the kids run around at a McDonald's to eat, get some energy out and stretch their legs.  This really worked well! 
Friday we left in the late morning and got to Kokomo around dinner time.  We stopped at our friend Sharon's house along the way.  She lives only 15 min from Kokomo.  Sharon feed us dinner then we went to play at a playground by her house.  The kids were so dirty!  On Sat., we played at a playground in town then went to a graduation party for the son of the pastor at our old church.  I really miss that church!  We knew so many people and were very involved.  I guess that's what happens when you have kids.  The babies had fun!  It was sooooo hot but to keep cool, Malachi kept getting sprayed with the hose and both babies played in the bins with all the ice and drinks.  It was great to see everyone!  After the party, we went to see my friend Michelle that I used to work with.  She has two kids that are right around the same ages as mine.  There ended up being a horrible storm and some funnel clouds were seen not too far from their house.  It was a little scary but we were ready to take cover in the basement.  Luckily, we didn't need too. 



Alyssa riding the bike




The boys riding the bike



All the kids eating dinner

On Sunday, we went to church then went over to see the Stages.  We had lunch with them and were able to see Patty's daughter Katie's baby.  She was so cute!  They are such a nice and welcoming family!   We also saw Sharon again and her granddaughter, Cassie.



Cassie and Alyssa blowing bubbles



Sharon, Cassie, Alyssa and Rosie

Sharon and Malachi

 Later, we went back over to my friend Michelle's house so the kids could play.

Michelle's boys playing with the bubble machine



Malachi poking the bubbles in the grass



 On Monday we headed back to Michigan.  It was a fun weekend but very exhausting.

Welcome home!

A Trip and friends

 



Car Ride Activities

 

 

                                                                            

 

A few weeks ago I got the chance to visit with two of my college friends, Amanda and Kelli.  It was so

good to see them.  Kelli lives outside Chicago so we don't get to see her very often.  The kids and I decided to take a trip to go see her and her son Elijah.  This is the first time we met him and he was really cute.  He will be walking very soon.  On the way to Kelli's, we picked up Amanda, who lives approx. half way between Kelli and I.  It was great to get in some adult conversation.  Here are some pictures from our week together.

 

Kelli and Elijah

Amanda, Kelli and Elijah at the Michigan City outlets

Elijah playing

Kelli, Malachi and Elijah

Two babies playing

All the kids playing