Hoot Cute

Playing catch up from Halloween. I got started on Ellie's costume really early last year. Good thing I did since Spenser was born 10/17 and came home from the hospital on 10/30. I may just have to have an early costume deadline every year.

I made her costume and love how it turned out. I just raided my fabric scrap stash for the feathers on her wings. All the tutorials (mask, shirt and wings)  are linked below.

Mask: Here
Shirt: Here
Wings: Here 

Look at You

A couple weekends ago I snuck away to my friend Casie's house for some much needed CREATIVE time. My friends Jess and Kim joined the fun as well. I was able to complete 4 pages- one for each child. Here is the first boy page I ever created. 

TITLE: Look at You

Happy Valentines Day!

I made Scout and Ellie's outfits last year (for Bennet and Scout). Just one of the many perks of having 3 girls- hand me downs! I modified my friend Amy's tutorial HERE.

Santa I made Bennet's shirt for Christmas but it works for Valentine's Day too. Tutorial HERE.

And of course Spenser had to have a little handmade something too, so I made him a bowtie.
A-DORABLE! Of course he'll probably grow up to be a hard rock punk dude who only wears black and will look back at this photo in horror- but too bad :)

2012 Good Reads

I love to read. I love getting lost in a good story. I love thinking about a character long after I've turned the last page. I consciously make time to read. 20 minutes here, 20 minutes there. I read when I nurse Spenser or when I pump. I read in the pick up line at school or right before bed. Follow me on GoodReads.com

Here are the books read in 2012. My top 10 (in no particular order)

The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach

State of Wonder, Ann Patchett

The Passage, Justin Cronin

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness

Before I Go To Sleep, S.J. Watson

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Katharine Boo

The Secret Keeper, Kate Morton

The End of Your Life Book Club, Will Schwalbe.

Honorable Mentions: Gillian Flynn books, Divergent series, The Twelve and The Night Circus. 

Lists/Layouts from 2010 and 2011
2010
2011

10 Things on Tuesday

10 Things on Tuesday

1. I haven't blogged in 4 months. No excuse, just still trying to adjust to being a family of 6. For us adding a 4th child made much more of a difference than adding the 3rd. Wouldn't change it for the world! 

2. When we had Spenser 5 weeks early we were in the middle of a big basement remodel. Knocked down a wall, built a wall, drywall, new windows, electrical, floor, cabinets, counter tops, paint. Nick and his brother Mark were laying floor the night before he was born. I was painting walls the weekend before. It was a BIG undertaking- but the end result is nothing short of amazing. It's like a brand new room and we love it! Spenser was in the NICU for 13 days and that was just enough time to finish it up before he came home. 

3.  I scrapbooked for the first time since Spenser this past weekend. I really missed it. Now to get layouts finished and posted. 

4. Bennet Snapshot: In early January I surprised B with a last minute "Mom Date" to get her ears pierced. She wanted them done when she turned 6, but then changed her mind. At 7 she was ready! She's been really good about taking care of them and can't wait to wear some different pairs. 

5. Scout Snapshot: We went to Cedar Creek Waterpark for Ellie's 3rd Birthday. When we were last there Scout kept to the kiddie pool area. Not this time. She went down the bigger slide at least 30 times. So tuckered that she fell asleep in the car on the way home. 

6.  Ellie Snapshot: Ellie turned three on Jan. 26th My entire family came from MN to celebrate with us. She is without a doubt her own girl, much different than her sisters. She's either 100% adorable or 100% stubborn. 

7. Spenser Snapshot: He's almost 4 months old. We are all smitten with him. Scout is easily his biggest fan. He is still up once or twice a night- but since he's our last baby I don't really care :) Although I think Nick would like me to stop falling asleep every night on the couch when we try to watch tv together. 

8. Read this last week. It was engaging and though provoking. I recommend.    

9.  Reading now: 

10. Wrapping up Valentine's for the kids classmates. I actually enjoy it!