Somewhere in Middle America Family Vacation - Part 3

A big part of our family vacation was Thanksgiving.  We had a big crew in a tiny apartment all week but we made it work it was like Michigan but with less beds.  We fixed a big meal for thanksgiving.  Traditional thanksgiving.

We all went shopping together as a big team.

Lo's mom taught her how to make turkey.  

Jono carved his first turkey with guidance from Dustin.  

Dustin saved my lumpy gravy.

Momo cooked my friends corn casserole recipe.

While the meal cooked we watched the macys day parade.

It was a feast for champions.

We even shared things we were thankful for.

After eating we went bowling and to play laser tag to burn some calories.

Then we came back to the apartment for a fun photo game.

Here's a group photo I think I must have just glanced at Jono.

And in this lovely one my eyes are closed - lol sometimes it happens.

And my personal favorite snap.  Dusty and his big turkey leg.

Family vacation 2013 ended with a really long drive.  

We tried not to stop much but with 5 people you just can't avoid stopping sometimes.

And in closing I am reminded about how awesome it is to be part of this family, I miss us being closer in distance but we still treasure the moments we do have.  And I look forward to next years trip to Florida for the Jono and LoLo wedding (even if I will be eight months pregnant).

Somewhere in Middle America Family Vacation Roadtrip - Part 2

While on Family vacation in Omaha we went on the Jonathan Jones POI tour.  It took us down dodge into the city, past the yellow house I lived in as a baby, and to see all good Jono Points of Interest.  I documented the tour for other future visitors.  We also stopped off for lunch and to see the wagon train.  The wagon train is a super sculpture right in the city.  

We also went across this bridge Jono had never crossed before.

We saw a giant cornhusker.

Rode a Ferris wheel

Visited with Ronald Regan (jj is way taller).

Ate jones brothers cupcakes - super appropriate for Joneses.

And we went bowling.  

348/365

Monday - I made meatballs

Tuesday- NYC for doner veggies and pitas

Wednesday - ugly carpet

Thrusday - flatiron from a cab

Friday - baking Christmas cookies with Kathleen

Saturday - I made this chicken ornament for the IMQGswap

Sunday - IMQG party

Freezer Paper Shirt

So I saw these tiny baby onesies made by PUP ( people for urban progress). And I thought they were adorable with Indiana on them and a little heart in Indy.  But then I saw the price tag and I could not make myself buy it.  Sorry PUP while I might pay $50 for an RCA Dome bag I will not pay $22 for a baby t-shirt.  I immediately knew I could make my own.   And who needs an excuse to craft???  Introducing how I make freezer paper shirts.

Supplies: 

Shirts (in this case onesies)

Paint preferably fabric (I have also used acrylic and spray paint all seem to work)

Freezer paper

Scissors

Iron

Newspaper

Pen

Steps:

1. Cut a sheet of freezer paper about the same size as the front of you shirt (bigger is ok you just don't want to paint the wrong part of the shirt).

2. Draw a design on the matte side of the paper keep in mind the size.  I free handed mine.  Keep in mind that the negative space is what gets painted.

3. Cut out the inside of your design (where necessary label/save the pieces).

4. Place design on shirt and Iron on the freezer paper shiny side down.  Iron til it's good and stuck.

5. Insert a few sheets of newspaper between in the shirt to prevent bleeding.  Paint or spray paint the design.  Where needed apply variation of coloring or second coat.

6. Allow to dry a little - maybe 30 minutes.  Peel away the freezer paper while still wet.  I usually only leave the detailed portion attached until dry like the eyes or the heart.  In my head this prevents bleeding truly I do not know.

7. Allow to dry completely.

8. Wash and wear.

I made my own Indy Blues shirt this way and it's been washed many times and is still going strong.  

Here are a few other designs I made. PAC Man only variation was I painted black dots in the eyes when dry.

rooster I also added a little detailing like the eye and gradation in the paint to make this rooster like.

The only cost for the project was the onesies which were like $5.77 everything else was already in my craft room.

#51 Bake Pies with LoLo

51 on the list was to bake with LoLo (my almost sister in law). Well this Thanksgiving we did just that.  We made pies.  Apple Stresudel and Cherry - yum.

Lo likes baking.  I like baking. And we all like eating.

Our pies were quite lovely even though I under estimated how many cherries were in a bag. 

Yay for spending time with LoLo and crossing something off the list.

Somewhere in Middle America Family Vacation Roadtrip - Part 1

This years family vacation took us to middle America - Omaha to get specfic.  Jono and Lo now live there so we brought our trip to them.  On the route there we went and saw some big and ridiculous things because that's what we do.  Of course this makes a 10 hour drive 13.5 hours but whatever it's family vacation right.

We saw the giant Indian.  We were not impressed with his cheapy looking loincloth, but then realized it was necessary. (Someone stole his junk).

We stuck our faces in the wizard of Oz.  Dusty makes the best lion.

We sat in a jumbo chair.

We saw the giant Rooster.

Walked the yellow brick road.

Randomly discovered a giant cone.  Sadly they were closed.

Stopped at the worlds largest truck stop.

Saw the great and mighty Mississippi at sunset.  

Back soon with more family vacation adventures.

341/365

December?  Really?  It seems like just last week was September.  Last week was all about vacation (more on vacay soon).

Monday I worked on what ended up being a disaster project.

Tuesday - we leave on family vacation which means 10 hour drives are 13.  And we go see the wizard

Wednesday - Jono point of interest tour in Omaha

Thrusday - Lo made thanksgiving with the help of her mom.  I made pies with her assisting too.

Friday - shopping then cupcakes and steak (my brothers the jones at jones brothers)

Saturday - Ferris wheel and more driving

Sunday - big news

Big News!

334/365

This year is rapidly ending, it feels like winter here.  I spent part of the week in New York and part of it home.  Traveling two days is much better than five I must say.  I have one more week of travel for work in December then I am done for the year.   

Monday - I took a limo to the airport.  In all fairness I ordered a town car and this showed up. 

Tuesday - the view from my room.  

Wednesday - I found this street art note interesting.  I hope KP and Michelle found each other.

Thursday - I forgot to snap a photo. 

Friday - I went to a concert with Amy and Sophia 

Saturday - I was pretty much the laziest person all day but I got up early for regulars breakfast and we finally found a spot.  Ma and Pas Cafe.

Sunday - the makings of soup.