39 - Play date with Brooks

Over the weekend we got together with lots of friends but we also included Brooks (and uncle Joe and Auntie alicia) we hit up the Irvington festival the kids loved the parade of Halloween costumes which is quite impressive.  Thea enjoyed walking with Brooks and holding his hand. She was very helpful as Brooks wanted to do his own thing but was very compliant to her when not to adults.  My kids also enjoyed sharing his goldfish snack as well.  

9 - Unfinished Quilt - Heart for the Ross’s

Over two years ago when my life seemed to be drama city.  I was spending over $400/week for daycare on one income.  And out of the blue my friend Kari says “do you need a sitter for the summer?” - I couldn’t accept her offer fast enough.  I hadn’t even talked to her in several months.  I truly do believe that god provided her for that summer so I could then research and find another daycare that was more affordable.  But also so we could bless each other.

But she was a true blessing for me she came to my house and her then foster (now adopted) kids were roughly a year younger and two years older than mine.

She has taught me that mothering isn’t always perfect and that being a single mother is hard but we gotta lean in and stick together.

Anyhow at least 100x she has asked me if she could buy a quilt from me.  I continually have told her no.  But secretly I have been making her one.  I was hoping to have it finished by the time she adopted her kids.  But I missed that date this past winter, but better late than never right.

This pattern is all 5inch squares made into a heart with low volume trim.  It’s entirely scraps except for the back. 

I quilted in “the Ross family” someplace but I doesn’t really stick out in the free motion quilting of the heart

It has a good crinkle after getting washed.
Can you see where I stitched in “the Ross Family” - it’s hard to see but it’s there. 

Halloween Crafts

We’ve been working on Halloween crafts.  We saw these cute pumpkins at Kroger’s that had hair and faces and the kids wanted them but since we’ve already bought like 10 pumpkins we just made our own.  We got our supplies from our craft bin and glued things on.  Jones glued a little of everything Thea however was very particular about what eyes and pieces she wanted.  

jones found eye cartons in the recycle bin and needed to make something with them.  I suggested Monsters.  And some we made monster puppets.  

Here’s Thea’s she wanted it to have a True hairbow (the Pom poms)
And Jones’s  this one has a package in its mouth.  
This guy has eyes in his mouth and a big mustache.

And here’s mine 

We are planning some found item fall crafts too but haven’t done them yet.  

Pumpkins and Sunflowers

This past weekend we hit up the pumpkin patch.  We opted to go to the same patch as last year - Burwinkle Farms.  It naturally was super hot as we never go to pumpkin patch in sweater weather.  The kids were really into searching for sunflowers, the corn pool, and picking pumpkins (we got 6).  The kids also LOVE a hayride they would have ridden it all day if we could have.    

We went before lunch having snacks at the patch but it was lunch time so the kids were very crabby when we left and unable to share the apple cider slushee we had.    But we quickly picked up hot dogs and then it started pouring down rain so we left at just the right time. 

25 - Fancy Tacos

So I made fancy tacos last night apparently it was also national taco day.  First i made carnitas meat with this Recipe from Gimme Some Oven https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/crispy-slow-cooker-carnitas/ I did leave out cumin as I couldn’t find it and instead tossed in some Mexican grill rub we had.

They turned out very good I do wish I had crisped up the meat a little more.  Also it was soooo simple to make this meal and now we have left over carnitas meat to make taco bowls.  We added onion, cilantro, cheese and fresh salsa as other toppings and served with rice and beans.  I wish I had made fresh pico too but I didn’t have time.  

Anyhow I will for sure do this again.  

Hurricane

The other day we took my kids to a new park and while they were playing a girl came and instantly Jones said to her “hey do you want to play hurricane?”  This girl was totally in.  jones then explained to her that hurricane was a big storm that comes and you have to get up high from the water and wind.   They proceeded to run around screaming “oh no hurricane” then climb up high - they could climb down presumably when all was safe.  At one point they did go into the low lying tent playground structure which must be hurricane withstanding because this was acceptable.  As hurricane was being played out two boys came and Jones invited them to join and a “vampirate” aka dog that was nearby added another dynamic to the game as it was also to be avoided as it was leaking lava from its mouth and it could fly. 

Anyhow I watched and marveled at his imagination and ability to just bring in people.  Also side note:  he is really is into the weather and seeing things like hurricanes & volcanos you know natural disasters.