For Mr. Magoo & the Peanut Too

So I've been wanting to be "crafty" for a while now but was having a hard time pinpointing just what I wanted to do. Then my briliant sister made these. I was lamenting to her about how it isn't fair that there is such cute stuff to make for girls and I have boys. She then informed me about softies and that I could make a robot or something. Google it she said. So I did. And I found these and fell in love. I showed them to my sister and told her I wanted to make an octopus. It was at that time she informed me they were squids. Whatever... I had my mind set that I could make one. So I set to it.... So for you Alissa...here is how I did it.

First I drew up a pattern for what I thought would make a squid. And have since altered a few of the pieces and added a circle piece. But you get the idea.

Then I cut everything out. Making sure to cut out a contrasting color for the tentacles.

Then I pulled out my broken down older that older sewing machine and occupied Tab.

Then sew the head peices together on the sides and top, and clip around the corners.

Then sew these little pieces together along the bottom edge with the scallops and clipp the curves. Then you turn them right side out and iron them flat. (Please excuse my old ironing board. And for Benton's I will be making these scallops even bigger so they lay flat a little better.)
Then you stitch the scalloped pieces to the top of the two rectangle pieces with very little seam allowance.

This is what I mean by very little.

Then you stitch the two rectangles together on the short sides with a 1/2" seam allowance with the scalloped pieces facing eachother. Then trim the seam close to the stitching. (sorry this picture really didn't turn out so that you could tell what it was)

Next you turn the rectangle so that the scallops are facing outward and you slip it inside the head, so right sides are together, matching up the seams. Stitch togehter with a 1/2" seam allowance. (It will look like this after you stich it together and pull the rectagle piece out of the head)

Next you stitch the fleece piece of the tentacle to the contrasting fabric tentacle again with very little seam allowance.

Then turn it right side out and press it.

Oh, this part kinda stinks to do unless you have one of these beautiful things. I guess a pen could work too.
And if you want it to look like this, I recommend doing the stitching before you stitch the tentacle together rather than after you attach it to the body. Let me tell you from experience it is a royal pain int he butt to decide after it is attached because then you have to detach it and slip a needle up and down the tentacle. I promise it is easier the other way.

Then you have to attach the legs to the body. You need to pin them to the body with the contrasting color facing the middle. Sew them with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Then turn him right side out and stitch on some eyes and a mouth. Isn't he so cute?Then turn him inside out again and pin the circle to the bottom of the body, making sure the legs are all inside. Stich with a 1/2" seam allowance. Make sure to leave an opening large enough to turn and stuff. Trust me LEAVE A BIG ENOUGH opening. It stinks to try to rip stitches out of fleece. I recommend that you pay enough attention to not leave the opening it the front, not like this. It doesn't really matter but I prefer that the hand stitching not be in the front.Then stuffAnd now stitch shut.
Then you have this:In case you were wondering, this is what the first one looked like. I made a few alterations before coming up with the one above.

Mommy, Mommy, Watch This!

Tab's new thing is doing the splits. He just thinks it is the greatest thing in the world. He has been practicing for about a week now. I have to say he is getting much better.

Benton in the Spotlight

Benton never has enough pictures posted. So although, Tab is also in a few of these, this post is for Benton.

Sacked Out

After his shots... This picture doesn't properly demonstrate what a crank he was for the entire day following the shots

Benton Playing with his toys... once again being dominated by big brother.
All of the cousins that were there taking a bath together at gradma's house. Ok so this one isn't just of Benton... but at least he's in the picture. I just had to share. Are they so cute? And you should have seen how disgusting the bath water was after. NASTY
Benton with Great Grandma Solter
This time Dad is sacked out.

Thanksgiving in PA

We spent Thanksgiving at parents house in Pennsylvania. We visited all of the places I love and enjoyed a lot of rain (that is the nice was of me saying dude it rained a freaking ton). Tab as well as my sister's kids thoroughly enjoyed my mom's chickens, as can be witnessed below.











Here is Tab encountering his first chicken, courtesy of my little brother. Can anyone guess what habit is being displayed in this picture that makes me want to scream?
And here is Tab taking his turn gathering "grama chicken eggs"



















Grandma showed them all the different parts of the chicken.
















Don't worry, he ain't scared. He loved holding the chickens. Weirdo.
























Hmm... maybe he saw grandma doing it a few times. Mom, it still makes me laugh to think of you snuggling your chickens.


The kids also had a blast playing in the soggy wet leaves.

Miles and Tab were the best of friends and the worst of enemies.
Exhibit A: Play Also known as chasing eachother in circles, which was very cute I might add.




Exhibit B: Hitting





Exhibit C: Now that we're friends again, let's play.




Again the boys playing. There was a LOT of this going on. And I just have to give Tab props for winning with a score of 153. lol




And just for fun, what happens when Tab has someone to play with 24 hours a day.

Headed Home

I think that no matter where I live and no matter how long I live there Pennsylvania will always be home. Friday afternoon we are packing up and driving the 16+ hours to Pennsylvania to visit my family for Thanksgiving. There are so many things I look forward to when going home and as I think about it they are quite weird. So to get some of my excitement out so I don't go crazy over the next few days, here are a few things I'm looking forward to.

My mom's crazy messy sewing room: My mom always lets me pick a pattern or project or whatever to work on. And she helps me make it. Did I mention that she always just happens to always have the perfect fabric just sitting around? She is seriously amazing.

Roots: Prounounced with the best Pennsylvania Dutch accent you can muster. Every Tuesday in Lancaster there is a huge farmer's market type of thing. I LOVE this place. They have all sort of booths with people selling their produce and various wares. And in the evening they have an auction-a food auction. I love going to this with my mom and sisters. I'm always way too nervous to bid for some reason. But I love watching my mom do it. And I love the randomness of what we end up taking home with us.

Gabriel Brothers: This store seriously rocks. They sell clothes from all different stores that for one reason or another didn't quite make the cut to end up in that actual store. So they are generally cheap! I'm talking Limited, Express, Aeropostale, Abercrombie, The Children's Place, Gap etc. etc. etc.

D & K: This is a surplus grocery store. (Read: An old, semi-dirty, hole in the wall, tiny aisles, freaking cool store). Another cheap cheap cheap store. They get in some of the most random things. It is fun!

Fall: Fall is gorgeous in PA. I can't wait! I'm seriously jumping up and down at the thought of it. The crisp air, the leaves, the smell, mmmmmm (deep inhale)... oh the smell.

Wood Stove: I love my parents wood stove. It is the smell and feeling and and and...it is home.

Martin's Potato Chips: You can't buy these out west. Ok... I guess that I am technically in the mid-west now. What are they, you ask? Only the best Kettle Cooked potato chips in the world.

Really do I need to go on to demonstrate how much I love it or how excited I am to go home? Because let's be honest, I could go on all day and night and the next day.

Hey there blue eyes...

Which one of us are you referring to you ask? Yes that is right, Benton definitely has his daddy's eyes too! I am quite pleased. How couldn't you be- I mean just look at them. Now if only I could get a picture of him where he doesn't have red eye so you can tell. Alissa you are going to have to teach me that one.


And lest you all think that I forget I have a second child. Here are a few more of Benton.

I don't take good pictures...

... But I'm trying. I've really been trying to take somewhat better pictures. I'm rarely successful. I think that these are some of my best. Kinda sad huh.

I know I really need to get and learn how to use photoshop to crop and brighten up these pictures a bit.

Now if only I had the camera of my dreams and could learn how to use it...sigh.

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned

Yes, I know that I didn't post Halloween pictures immediately. I've been told, by several people. As penance I will be posting several times over the next week as I have some cute new pictures of the boys. But for now here are the boys in the Halloween costumes I made them. Tab is obviously a cowboy. Benton is a peanut upon Jason's request as it is his nickname for Benton.

First, a picture from the Homecoming Parade for the local university. (not the one Jason is attending). Tab was excited to see the firetrucks... oh wait, excuse me Tab, the Fire Engines.

We had a bit of a hard time getting a good picture of Tab in his costume. He was always to busy playing or eating candy or throwing a fit because we wouldn't let him suck on 5 suckers at the same time. Sigh...

And Finally a picture of both of the boys. Here we were trick-or-treating in the dorms.

Tab's First Prayer

Tab said his first full prayer all by himself last night. I thought I would share:

Fader Heaven. Thank you day. Thank you drums and daddy home, mommy, Benton, Tabby. Thank you help sleep. Name Jeez Christ, amen.

Ho my moley moley and other 2 year old ramblings

All 2 year olds seem to pick up on language quickly and as we know, we have to start watching ourselves because sometimes things that we say don't sound so cute coming out of the mouth of our kids. But sometimes they do... Tab has a slew of things that make me laugh when he says them. For example:

Ho My Moley Moley: Interpretation- Holy Moley. Apparently he heard Jason or I say this and now says it quite frequently. Usually in reference to his brother's poopy diapers when he is "helping" me change them.

Oh My Goodness: This one makes me smile every time. He draws out the "oh" and then makes his voice lower when he says "my" and then makes his voice much higher when he says goodness. Such attitude.

Oh Gracious: He recently heard me say, "Goodness Gracious". In an effort to add that phrase to his vocabulary he started saying "Oh Gracious" with great exasperation in his voice.

Hi Peanut: Used with a high voice when talking to his brother. Daddy calls him peanut, why shouldn't he?

Calm Down: This is the newest phrase that he has picked up from me and I'm not sure if I think it is cute yet or not. Whenever he starts throwing a tantrum about something or is otherwise crying I tell him to "Calm Down". So lately when I start scolding him and using my "Mean, I'm serious, you better stop before you get yourself a timeout voice", he turns and looks at me and tells me to "Calm Down". Like I said not so sure if that is a cute one or not.

Make a Rock: Before I explain this one, I have to say that his dad gets full credit. This is used with great excitement whenever "something" is dropped into the toilet. I'm sure you can figure that one out.

Hip Horray: I just love this one. He uses it when ever he gets excited. We tried to teach him that it is Hip Hip Horray, but he insists on saying Hip Horray.

Teachers That Make THE Difference

Ok, I know that it has been about 6 years since I have been in high school, but I just wanted to spotlight a few teachers that made a difference in my life. These are teachers that taught me a lot more than their particular subject. Although I am currently a stay at home mom, these men all contributed to my decision to get my degree in History Teaching. I fell in love with the way they taught and their dedication to mentoring me and helping me to become the person that I am. So in no particular order:

Joshua Naylor: Until I had Mr. Naylor I was terrified of all things Math. I had been semi-unsuccessful in math up until this point. I had convinced myself that I just wasn't smart enough. He completely changed my mind. He helped me feel like I was smart. I felt like every day that I walked into his classroom that I could be successful. He taught me that I could think differently and that I could think the way that I needed to in order to do Algebra. He was always so enthusiastic. Not just about Math, but about life and teaching and about my life. I honestly felt each day that he cared about who I was and who I was going to become. I guess that it didn't hurt that he pole vaulted too! I was amazed when I found out on one of the last days of school that that was his first year teaching. Who ever said that well seasoned teachers are the best teachers?


David Hively: Not just another math teacher. This man deserves a medal for putting up with my constant sarcasm in his classroom. Mr. Hively taught me about trust and reliability. I knew that every morning at 7 AM Mr. Hively was going to be at his desk to help me (and anyone else who needed it) with whatever silly problem I couldn't figure out from the previous night's homework. I know I always entered his room flustered and he probably shook his head as I left his room by my apparent better mood simply from figuring out what I was doing wrong. Mr. Hively showed me that a real teacher cares and wants his students to be successful. Not just successful in his class, but in life. Another thing I loved in Mr. Hively's class where those silly word problems he gave us every week. It was something I stole when I started my student teaching (just changed a little to make it work for history). I don't know if I got it then, but I don't think the purpose was ever to "just get the right answer", but to extend ourselves and think abstractly or simply just THINK. Thank you for believing that high school students are capable of thinking and stretching themselves ... something that I have learned through my observations in various schools that so many high school teachers don't believe.

Henry Stoner: I think I may have litterally cried when I learned that this man retired and my younger siblings would not have the joy of learning from this man. Mr. Stoner was a very very sarcastic person. Now sarcasm I could appreciate. I think he owes Mr. Hively an apology for making me even more sarcastic than I already was. This man taught me to LOVE history. He taught me to appreciate the little things. I still remember the stories he told about being in the army to teach us about insubordination. I remember the story about his cat being put through the dryer...can't remember why he told us that one though. I remember the excitement with which he taught. He was a great story teller. I remember the time he spent to really teach us and make us formulate our own opinions about history. I remember him listing out the various participants in the holocaust and make us vote if they were guilty or not. And then we had to decide what their punishment was supposed to be and we had to defend our vote and share our reasoning. What I wouldn't give for this man's knowledge and supplemental materials. The man was serious about being to class on time too. This still makes me laugh to this day. A very good friend of mine and I both had choir prior to his class which was on the opposite side of the school, and could be difficult to make it there on time if the halls were crowded or you needed to stop by your locker. So each day this friend and I participated in Operation Period 8, aka let's try to get to class on time so we don't have to put our names on "Stoner's Tardy List". Totally lame and very high schoolish, but what can I say we were in high school.

Tim Smith: This man was the icing on the cake for me. He made me decide that I wanted to be a teacher. For a while it was a debate between Math and History, but History won out in the end. Anyway Mr. Smith. Another man who I am truly convinced loves his job. He helped me really find my love for Political Science. He is the reason I got my Associates in Social and Political Science. He helped me get involved in Teenage Republicans, and helped to make me aware of other programs available such as being a guest page for our State Rep. and Girl's State. He instills in his students the love for and importance of our country and how it works. He taught his students to care about the world they were living in and that the only way to do anything was to be involved because soon it was going to be our world to participate in, vote in and run. Mr. Smith is another teacher that taught students to think and not be limited by what other adults told us we could or could not be.

I only hope one day to be able to be as good of a teacher as these men. I hope that I can take the various things I love about each of them to make a difference, even if only in one student's life.

Tab's TeePee

I finished making Tab's TeePee recently.

He loves having it in his room, however he has refused to spend time in it since his original discovery of his new "toy". I finally discovered this is because there isn't a light inside. Sigh... So now we will have to see if a flashlight will interest him in it? I think that I had more fun making it for him than he has with it. Alas. Perhaps when it gets warm again and we can take it outside, he will enjoy it more.

A New Baby

So I know that it has been forever... But I am jumping back into the blogging world. It is my goal to blog once a week, so here's hoping.

For those of you that know and those of you that don't, we had a new Baby. Benton has joined our little family. I am sure that there will be many pictures to come, but for right now enjoy a few pictures of his first 8 weeks of life.

Here he is right after birth. He looks blue, but he is breathing. He was bruised from being posterior and coming so quickly.




Please excuse the silly look on my face. Remember I did just go through labor.


He was a little jaudice, so he got to spend some time under the lovely bililights.


And this one just because I think his feet and shoes are too cute.

And Tab just loves his little brother.



The Poor chubber had a bout with thrush.

My Boys!