Our Witch's Pantry (inspired by cutest kid's book 'Piggy Pie')

Our Witch's Pantry. Kids are doing good at staying out of the treats

 

The kids and Abbi and I had xtra fun decorating for Halloween this year. . . because of: PINTREST.

What a beautiful thing.  

 It's like: 

finely aged wine

to my. . .craftaholic heart.

It could suck my life away if my kids would allow it.

Most the printables can be found HERE. I found most of the cute glass jars and creepy stuff at the dollar store. The labels were just baked till they looked old and then modge podged by Abbi. 

(For those who are wondering -yes, I did start a kitchen fire in the process, but only once and there were no casualties so we called it good, and carried on.)

 

The Ky Funnies.

Ky: "I can't wait to read the new Unicorn book with you!!"

Ky's first grade dress.

Mom: "Actually, I didn't buy it because it talked about some bad things" (the dad leaves his wife and kids)

Ky: (noddling her head) "Like Mud?"

Another Ky funny. Last week I got a call from a friend who's daughter rides home on the bus with Ky. I guess this little girl came home worried that "Ky and her family didn't have food or a house because her family is so poor." When her mom asked why she thought this she said, "Kyanne said her family gives all their money to the kids in Africa. Do we have to do that mom?"

Wish I could take credit for this generous idea, but it's all Ky's. While we are trying to help her school raise money for a school house in Africa, we still have food of our own. Her imagination has been doing overtime this week.

She also came home from school on Friday after the field trip and told me her teacher didn't let her go because she didn't receive her permission form. After having called the school and left 3 messages last week to ensure they received the permission form, and finally talking to Ky's teacher that morning who said she had received it, I was livid.

I did what any over reacting Mother Bear would do, I called and wrote a "I mean this in the nicest way possible" email to the teacher. But, lo and behold this too was only due to Ky's imagination, she had attended the field trip. Awh, I only felt like a semi-idiot when the teacher called me back very confused.

An Easy Halloween Advent

I haven't put the numbers on them yet. But, I think I'm going to embroider numbers 7 thru 1 on white circles, as a countdown the week before Halloween. And, fill them up with goodies or fun foamy Halloween cutouts to make Halloween Grams etc.

Halloween Quilt

Playing rookie from church. I feel kind of guilty, taking pictures of my Halloween Quilt instead of being miserable in bed. At the same time I couldn't go to church, hacking up a lung, and spitting out mystery green stuff. right? t.m.i? Well, just enjoy my spooky quilt, then.

To Make a House a Home: A Tribute.

Early in the Spring this year I can remember fervently petitioning help from the Lord to move into a different house. One that would fit our family's needs. At that time we had 2 extra people that we loved dearly living with us and another staying half time, making our small home full with 3 small children and 5 adults coming in and out of the house and needing make shift sleeping arrangments at night. And, at the time we were possibly going to add another, my 17 year old sister, making a total of 9 people in our 3 bedroom house.

If anyone loves a party it's Jess and I, not only were we having fun but, it's fun to be helpful. At the same time our house started to feel like it was magically shrinking. Being disorganized by nature, these circumstances weren't helping me win the war.

I assumed if I was patient, the Lord would provide a miracle and our small house stuffed with a basketball team of people would sell even in a dead market, and we would end up with a roomier home for our family. As per usual, my plan was different than the Lords and I'm so glad it was.

Skip ahead to today, I sat down in our almost finished basement, watching the kids 'Backagon Doggy Show' (right), and felt overwhelmed with joy. Looking back I see how we got here, how a home that started out wrong in so many ways, became just right for our family. Had we of moved at that time we would have left the most wonderful ward we've ever been apart of, we wouldn't be living next door to one of my dearest friends, and we would have left a home that meets the needs of our unique family so well. As I reflect I realize I have fallen in love with all the houses I have lived in, it just takes awhile to make it Home.

Our first married Home was in Huntington Beach, California. It was just like a little cottage enchanted with magic and just a block from the beach, we lived there for our first 3 years, and it's the house I brought my first little baby, Kyanne, home to.

Our second home, and the first one we owned was in Raymond, Alberta, Canada. And, there we got to have a beautiful yard, another new sweet9 baby, Bridge, and could walk to grandma's house. It's the home Bridgey was blessed in, by his dad, grandpa Larsen, and Great Grandpa Bridge, who he's named after.

And, now our sweet home in Calgary. We've been so blessed. Every time I leave one of our homes I cry, and I know when we out grow this home in a few years I will cry again. Homes are sentimental places, that's why I wanted to write this post, as a tribute to these physical dwellings that have provided such wonderful comfort, refuge and joy.

Measure twice, cut once.

Here's a new dress I sewed for little Fin. The shoulders are a bit big, I didn't do any measuring beforehand. You all know me: Measure twice, cut once. Well, one day at least. One day I'll be that patient, that logical, but for now, I was just stoked it came out a wearable dress!

Believe It or Not?

Most people just don't seem that awe struck when I tell them my 4 year old sewed this adorable unicorn -minus the horn. But, it must be because they don't believe that she machine sewed it together, stuffed it with the help of a pencil, hand stitched the belly up, and then sewed on all those buttons, ALL by Herself! But, it's true. I know it's crazy, she's just one awesome talented gal. All I did was cut out the pattern (because she was napping) and I sewed on the mane for her. Way to go Ky!
Sad side note: When I enthusiastically asked her if she wanted to have a, Dress a Pet Party, where the kids could sew little tutus for their pets, she sweetly said, "Maybe, we shouldn't sew for my birthday mom." It was pretty cute.

"I heart wallets" GIVEAWAY!

Look at this little sweetheart. I had so much fun doing the giveaway for her a few months ago that I thought I'd do another. For those who have been following Mia's story you can get a better update than I can give by going to her website.


And, to enter in the giveaway all you have to do to is leave a comment on the Help Baby Mia website, and for extra entries please help get the word out by posting about it on your blog.

To ENTER Giveaway Click Here: HELP BABY MIA

Holiday Traditions? Recipies? Crafts? Leave a Comment.

Last night I crafted with firends till just about 3am! Totally worth it, dark circles and all. And, here she is the Larsen's very own: Advent Calendar!

I can't wait to fill it with goodies and wonderful Christmas-y Activities to do during the respective day.

Speaking of which I'm really needing ideas if any one has a tradition that they do during the holidays, a great recipie, or fun craft??? Please post!!

Also, if anyone wants to make one, I have tons of left over boxes from 10 thousand Villages (such a gorgeous shop! Everyone should go there.)

Quilt Giveaway to Help Baby Mia

 GOOD NEWS UPDATE!
Mia got a Heart!! The transplant took and she now has a new beating heart. Please keep them in your prayers as well as the family who generously donated after their loss. Thanks for all the donations, they are needed now as much as ever, as the expenses will continue to escalate through this transition and especially recovery. Hooray for this good news!! MORE DETAILS IN NEXT POST.

THE STORY:

I'm so happy to be doing a Quilt Giveaway, in hopes of generating donations for Baby Mia. Mia is my friend's baby, who was born with a dysfunctional heart and is on a waiting list in Seattle for a heart transplant. I read their family blog everyday and just cry. My heart aches for Mimi (the mom) and is so inspired by her strength and faith. She's with Mia everyday, but because of all the tubes isn't allowed to even hold her.













Mia has been patiently holding on for the past 3 months. But, she's one of 7 babies in the Seattle Children's Hospital on the Washington waiting list. Sadly their insurance is falling short of paying for the surgeries and health care Mia has already received. I ask all who read this to please help, by adding the banner at the bottom of this post to your blogs, email, or Facebook. Donate if you can and read about sweet little Mia: HERE

TO ENTER:

Please leave a comment on this post. Your comment earns you one entry. (Make sure to say if you've been able to donate, or post this on your sidebar/facebook etc.)

You can earn an extra 5 entries for each of the things below, (for a total of 20 entries):
1. Please take the time to write about sweet Mia on your blog (nothing helps more than this).
2. Post about it on Facebook with the link.
3. Email your friends and family with the giveaway post link.
4. Post the banner below in the sidebar of your blog.

Not only an I excited to do a giveaway but, I'm so thankful for any and all of your help in getting the message out there. Really I'm so grateful for all the love that's being spread for baby Mia. Thanks. The contest entries will go until 11pm MST on Wed. November 12th. I'll tally up the entries and let the random # generator decide the winner.

To DONATE:

To those who donate a dollar or more if you can, I will give an ADDITIONAL 20 ENTRIES. I'm grateful for this opportunity to help. I read about baby Mia's updates everyday on their family blog and wish there was more I could do to help. Thank you for your generosity and kindness. Good Luck!

To post the banner in your Blogger sidebar.
1. Go to "Layout"
2. "Add a Gadget"
3. "HTML/Java Script" and paste the code from the text box below.


<a href="http://a-mama-drama.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post.html" target="_new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/tickled2bmum/miasbutton4-1.jpg" border="0" alt="stephhhead@yahoo.com" width="175" height="350" /></a>

THANK YOU!! So much to everyone who's helped! And, small donations can go a long way! Imagine if we could get the word out to 500,000 people and each one donated a dollar, that would half a million dollars!

"By small means great things come to pass." Thanks again!

"I wonder if I could make this..."

While I was shopping at Home Sense with Rachel last night she kept teasing me about thinking "Could I make this?" I never realized this about myself. But, as we kept shopping I realized, when I find something I like my first thought is "Can I make this?" or "How could I embellish on this one?" I just love to create. It just seems more special if it's made by hand. I can spend hours on Etsy appreciating all sort of handmade goodies.

Speaking of which, due to my love of the homemade I've been a Blog Slacker. Here's some new projects. Including my new puffy dress. I was so excited when I designed it, and even as I sewed it together, and then I tried it on. Disappointing. It just doesn't look nearly as puffy or cute as I imagined in my head. So, I'm in the process of making alterations. Then I made a couple of button bows for the girls and finished Fin's black dress. In the background you can see the new fireplace and wallpaper. I love it! It's so cheery and bright. Now I just want to find a way to incorporate more fun colors like, hotpink, red, and soft lime.

Sewing till 2am!

What can I say, this Mama likes to party, especially if it involves my trusty little machine, some cute fabric, treats and good friends.

It was 2am when the police broke it up, so really it was a call from Jess, but I was just as worried. He said he was a little confused when he woke to the cries of a hungry baby, and there no wife to be found. Who knew sewing could make for such a late night! Here's the little booties I made for new baby Piper Williams who was born a couple of days ago.


Great tutorial for these Here.