Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween this year!  Our friend Lisa B. had a great party at her house with games, food, and family fun! Plus she lives in great neighborhood for Trick or Treating!  I had my camera on the wrong mode so I don't have any group shots! Gah!


Mason and Reagan were vikings this year.  Mason was a combination of his favorite vikings from the movie "How to Train Your Dragon" and Reagan was Hiccup from the same movie.  They were pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Logan went as "overdressed, bundled, and stuffed into a stroller".  He was still cute too.

This week

This week:

-we had company over the weekend
-Logan had surgery for Tubes in his ears
-A dear friend lost the battle
-A visitation and a devastating funeral
-Brandon came home and I got to visit with him and tell him endless stories of my babies
-Reagan finished dyeing fiber to "sell"
-play group with wild and crazy boys
-I finished mittens, longies, hat, and frogged a sweater to restart
-school pictures
-progress reports
-two new baby teeth!  Go Logan!
-Superman was back at the Library.  Mason took it with him (the book) outside (while on day 2 of his superman shirt).  A good day for him.
-frantically made two Halloween costumes
-Nathan raked a billion leaves and broke the mower, again
-put costumes on and off a zillion times 

Reagan's dyed fiber.

Enjoying the weather.  Taken on Iphone.

Dashing Dach's Lion Cub

Halloween costumes waiting.

1,000 lap around the house of caped crusaders

I've got two teeth! 

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Some knitting finally done!

I finally finished Reagan's Tomten sweater.  It was a lot of knitting.  It weighs a ton. He loves it.  I'm happy.

 

Mason just wanted a Tickle Hat.  I've yet to convince him that he should be covered head to toe in wool.  A Superman Tickle Hat was just what he ordered. 

Oct. 15, 2010

Did you know what happened on Oct. 15, 2010?  If you lived in this house, you would.  It was -finally- the day that "How To Train A Dragon" came out.

If you knew my middle child, Mason, you would know why this date was so important.  He has been waiting and waiting and WAITING for this day like 'forever' now. 

While waiting for this momentous day, we have read, debated, collected, hoarded, played, surfed the net for every bit of dragon information we can.  Plus, he has worn a dragon shirt almost everyday of his life.  Wearing a uniform has been very challenging.

"Mama - what dragon do you like the best? "

"I like the Terrible Terror Mase.  Who do you like?"

"I think I like the Montrous Nightmare today the best."

"Mama what day is today?"

"Oct. 1"

"This is taking forever!"

and then finally.  It was here. 

We set up the projector and made it a special movie night.  I even let them have food on my carpet. 

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sugar Cookies

I have this recipe. I'm not sure where I got it.  It is in a binder of torn out pages and notes that are placed in those cute plastic sleeve things Before Kids.  When I read magazines.  Loved magazines.  Worshiped the Martha.


Anyway, this is just the best recipe for those perfect sugar cookies.  They hold their shape and are moist. 

Ingredients:

1/2 lb unsalted butter, softened (don't skimp on this - butter is most important)
1 cup of superfine sugar (regular works if you can't find it)
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg plus 1 yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2.5 cups all purpose flour (plus extra for work surface)
parchment paper

Mix this all up and try not to eat it.  Divide it into two sections and put in sprayed syran wrap to chill overnight or at least 2 hours.

When ready to work, only take out a little at a time returning remaining dough to the frig and work 1/8" thick.   Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper and put cut cookies spaced evenly apart and put the ready cookie sheet back into the freezer.  I do this until all the sheets are ready and bake one or two sheets at a time.  This keeps the cut shape when cooking.   Bake at 375 for 6-10 min (depending on oven) rotating half way through. They should not be brown and almost be a bit soft when they are done.   Cool on a rack.   


To ice them, Royal Icing is the best.
460 grams powder sugar
3 level Tbsp. powdered egg white
5 Tbsp water (add more water to get a softer icing for marbling)

My little friend

I'm not sure how I lived without an Iphone.  She is so wonderful.  It is like the whole world in your hand. 

I've become quite reliant on her especially when I have to take 'my three son's' places.  A diaper bag, stroller, sippy cups, snacks, jackets,...is so much to lug that I just don't have enough space, arms, or strength to take nice hands on activities or manipulatives to play with.  I'm at the point now, that 'she' has to come out to help me especially when we are stuck in a 4*4 foot cell (aka dr. office).  

So I've slowly been accumulating apps to help this poor mom out.  Here are my kids' favorites:

Animatch
Arcade
Matching Zoo
Preschool
Lightsaber
Thomas
Roundhouse
Super Why!
Dino Math
MacDonald
Dog Party (Martha Speaks)
Diego Music
Grover's Daily Special
Dragon Game
Dragon Mix and Match
Cars Match
Dinosaurs
Dino 360
Dino Surf
Dinosaur!
Fairies Lite
Toy Mania
Flame It
DinoMixer
PBS Photofactory

Now I also am a H U G E fan of audio books and ibooks for kids.  When my boys get to use 'her', they most often choose to read a book.  I love that...it doesn't make me feel so bad to rely on her.  Their favorites are:
MeeGenius
Reading Bug
ShelMovies
Dragon Book
Elmo's Birthday
Cat In The Hat

I have some for me of course but I don't use them too much.  I do really like Hipstamatic though.  I love to take pictures (and so does my Reagan) so this is just fun to use! 

this moment...

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend! via Soulemama

A s l o w WIP Wednesday

Is it only Wednesday?  It is almost over here as I quickly post this but it feels like it should be Friday.

I've been tediously working on Reagan's Tomten.  It is ever sooo sllloooowww.  The yarn, Cestari Fine Merino, is great once it is worn and broken it.  Even so soft and totally durable.  It is, however, hard to knit with.  It just doesn't move well on the needles and so hard on the fingers.  I don't know how I've knitted this and at least 25 pairs of pants with it.  I'll be ever so happy once this is done!  Talk about a labor of love!

My sweet boy is looking forward to it.  He knows how much I've worked on it for him and luckily, he is a bit sentimental already and feels attached to it like he was with last year's model.

Just the sleeve, edging, afterthought pockets, zipper, and button left.  Ha.  That actually is a lot!

To give my fingers a break I also started on a pair of longies for Logan.  Poor child has not one pair!  That is just wrong! I've had this colorway, Lion Cub, from Dashing Dachs for a long time just waiting for another babe to put it on.  Once I finish this sweater, Logan might have to have some more...after my planned frantic hat knitting I have next week! 

a book giveaway

I've found (yet another) blog that I really enjoy reading!  Go to Small Things and enjoy her posts.  Plus, she is giving away a sweet book!  I just can't get enough children literature...especially if it is about knitting!!

Small Things

I'll be giving away 2 books "Shall I knit you a hat -A Christmas Yarn" on my Hyena Cart store in the next two weeks too!  Be on the lookout for links to that! 

Family Fun

My Mom's Group hosted a "Family Fun" event at the local park yesterday.  It was great fun.  The weather was cool and crisp and almost cold in the breeze (aka freezing for me). 


It was so well planned and had a hay rack ride, bobbing for apples, a scavenger hunt, and food. 


What a great way to spend some time together as a family and with your friends.

 

Riding the hay rack 

 

Logan all warm and cozy (thanks to Bekah for letting me try out her Storch)

 

Bobbing or not bobbing for apples 

 

Yumm!  Eat! 

 

sweet babies 

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend! via Soulemama