Summer is waning...

Hello.

I hope that you've enjoyed your summer holidays like we have.  It's not that we've had extravagant plans, we just did the regular kind of stuff.

Thankful for Family

Although travel with kiddos is always a bit crazy, we are so glad we made the effort to visit my Arizona family for Thanksgiving last week.

Traveling with family is love in motion.

Halloween 2012

Better late than never...

Sweet Reward

We're finally getting settled.  It's going to take a while to sift through the boxes, some of which haven't been touched since we moved last summer.  

In the meantime, I wanted to share the sweet reward our children received last week.  

Meet Mack and Buddy.

Wherein we surprise our kids (and ourselves!)

If you've been reading along for a while, you know that our family has been working hard on building our own home...kids included. It's been a tough slog at times, but we're nearing the end. Less than two weeks ago, Mr. Pickup decided we needed to take a break, and we decided to do something crazy...surprise our children with a trip to Disneyland. So, we booked a trip and left less than a week later.

It was the best thing we could have done.

Black Apple Doll

Yesterday my younger son came home from kindergarten and announced he needed to give a gift to his friend.  A friend that's a girl who had birthday this week.

As this was such a rare request from my son, I thought it might be best to comply with such noble desires.

Trick or Treat Bags + mini tutorial

Remember this post? I shared a couple of fun applique designs for making a Trick or Treat Bag based on my Easter Basket tutorial. I decided I should make a couple for my girls.

Love @ Home

We've had some issues in our home lately. Like being mean just for the heck of it.

Locks of Love

Hello there.

I had to share these photos with you all...I am so proud of my girl. Big Sister's best friend in Boise has been fighting leukemia since just before Christmas. Our boys got to shave their heads to show their solidarity with Andy, but Sis didn't want to do that. I suggested she grow her hair out and then donate it to Locks of Love, in Andy's honor.

County Fair Parade

My children have looked forward to the county fair parade since we attended last year.  We even had the same awesome seats we had last year...thanks to dedicated aunties!  What fun to sit with beloved cousins and vie for candy.

Independence Day

I love celebrating the Fourth of July.  I make a lot of effort to respect the freedoms I have been granted, the opportunities that my family is blessed with because of that freedom, and to do what I can to help my children understand their blessings.

Easter Bunnies

I actually finished these before Easter! I'm really excited about how they turned out. Last year I made these Fabric Easter Baskets for my kidlets. We keep things pretty low-key, there is no "Easter Bunny" for our family, but we do a little springy basket Sunday morning with a special token and some candy.

Five.

This sweetheart of a preschooler is five now.

He gets a lot of mention in this space, partly because I revel in having him home with me most of the time. (Don't get me wrong, he has his moments!)  He is funny, loving, creative, athletic, and imaginative.

He is our first miracle baby.  After a time of infertility, we were so grateful to have a healthy baby in our home.  He was the sweetest baby.  I took him with me to a business conference in Las Vegas.  Many attendees had no idea there was a little baby in the audience.  As a toddler, he was so quiet, it was easy for him to get into trouble, like climbing onto the kitchen counter to help himself to brownies.  He is the one who comforted me when my grandpa died, who will spontaneously come up and give me a hug or rub my back.  

He is also our athlete.  He lives and breathes football and baseball.  He'd rather play than watch anytime.  All he wanted for Christmas 2009 was a football helmet and "big shoulders" (shoulder pads).  To balance out all this ruggedness is a tender heart that is quite shy in public.  He's struggled with our move and feeling comfortable in a new place, new congregation at church, and new preschool.  He prefers to have a friend come play at our house than go to friend's house. 

Happy Birthday, little one.  We love you so much.

Ten.

My first born turned ten yesterday.  I've been in some serious denial.  I'm not old enough to have a ten year old, right??

He's grown into such a capable, kind, and smart kid.  His dad and I really depend on him.  He mows the lawn, he loves to help his dad build stuff, and he is even handy around the house.  He enjoys sports, and is incredibly competitive.  He usually decides to cheer for the team that his dad is routing against.  He loves his younger sisters and brother, and watches out for them.

Happy Birthday, Big Brother.  We love you.

p.s. He designed his own cake.  He wanted a rectangle covered with chocolate, and a football in the middle.  I made the football and lettering with marshmallow fondant. 

Everyone loves a parade

We live in the country in Southern Idaho.  Part of country living is the excitement surrounding the county fair, including the parade.  Thanks to a dedicated aunt and uncle, we had some pretty sweet seats. 

 The parade included lots of horses, which baby loved.

 Local high school cheer teams...Go Declo!

 Vintage vehicles.

 A crazy guy riding his motorcycle on a semi and specially made cage.

 My children's favorite part...folks handing out candy by the bucketfuls. 

And local kiddos showing off their skills.  How would you like to do back handsprings down a 3 mile parade route? 

When we first moved here, I was filled with trepidation.  I had grown up in a large metropolitan area, and was worried about living in a small community.  But, I have grown to love it.  Now we're preparing to relocate.  I got a little misty eyed during the parade.  It is fun to see folks you know and love marching down the road. 

Edible playdough

Summer activities are in full swing in the Pickup Household.  I thought I'd share one activity that was so fun last year that we had to do it again...edible playdough.  Warning...this can get messy!

Here's the recipe:

• 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)
  
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 6 tablespoons cocoa
  
• 3/4 cup powdered milk
  
• 3 cups powdered sugar
  

Cream the sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla. Beat in the cocoa. Then add the powdered milk and powdered sugar. Mix well.

Now you're ready for some fun.  If the playdough gets too sticky, just add a little powdered sugar to your work surface.

We pulled out the rolling pin, animal shaped cookie cutters, and plastic spatulas.  I left the kids alone to play for a little while, and this is what I found:

Happy, silly kids...

Who were literally sugared up!

Linking to House of Hepworths, Somewhat Simple, A Few of My Favorite Things, Kojo Designs, Tatertots and Jello, and Creative Jewish Mom.

Making Christmas for Each Other

This year, my older children, ages 8 and 6, are old enough to stop thinking so much about what they are getting for Christmas, and more about what they are giving. Since we have had such a long break before Christmas arrives, I decided to help my children make presents for each other.  (Masochistic...maybe!)

 

The first project was a lot of fun. Using the Cozy Car Caddy tutorial from Handmade by Jill, the older kids made this for their 3 year old brother.  They picked out the fabrics, ironed on the interfacing and heat n bond, and even helped stitch things together with LOTS of supervision.  It was the first time I've tried freezer paper stencils...and it was fun, especially for my daughter. 

We used scraps of the David Walker fabric I used for POD Swaddlers, and denim cut from daddy's old jeans.  I didn't have belting, so I used doubled up grosgrain ribbon I had on hand.  This project was entirely made with stuff I had on hand...bonus!

This was my first stenciling effort, and so I still need some practice with how hot to get the iron to adhere the freezer paper.  My 6 year old had a ball painting the stencils.  They were SO excited to get this project put together and wrapped up for their brother.  It's killing them not to just tell him what they did. 

The next project was for baby sister.  Since she loves to have mom wrap up her doll and stuffed animals in blankets several times a day, I suggested we make her a swaddle blanket for her menagerie.  I shrunk down and adapted the POD Swaddler pattern for a dolly size, and the kids helped me to sew it together.  Typically, the kiddo sits on the piano bench in front of the sewing machine and operates the foot pedal while I help guide the fabric and give directions.  It was a little scary at times, but they were thrilled to say they were sewing.

Then, it was older daughter's turn to make something for her big brother.  He mentioned the other day that he'd like his own apron when helping in the kitchen, and so I used the pattern from Joanna at Stardust Shoes to make an apron.  We stopped Monday at the fabric store, since I don't have a lot of "boy" fabrics in my stash, and she picked out what she liked.  We tandem sewed it together last night:

 

(Ignore the mess behind her, please!)

The last project I forgot to photo before we wrapped it, so I promise to post it later.  Big brother wanted to make Sis a toy similar to the car cozy, but for girls.  He helped me to design a Polly Pocket Cozy based on Jill's design.  It's the same dimensions, but instead of a road, there is a couch, rug and bed for Polly to lounge upon, and two of the pockets have flaps to hold in all of her accessories.  It turned out really cute...I confess my inner little girl went a little crazy.  

The best part of this experience is that my older children got so excited about making things for each other.  It was SO worth being up past midnight the last two nights to see the light dancing in their eyes.  We will definitely be doing this again next year...with more planning in advance! 

Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar

Well, here it is, warts and all. First off, in order to make the one charm pack stretch for three calendars, I added a few other fabrics. I couldn't find the felt by the bolt, so instead I used an ivory quilting fabric...and then had to add more to make it the right size. I struggled getting the fabric not to stretch in places. It did give me room to add the family name on the bottom, which I really like.  In order to not go nuts, I decided to bind the calendar like a quilt to not fight the stretchiness. I also attempted machine quilting the backing fabric to the warm and natural batting before I sewed on the pockets. So, it's a little bunchy in places, but over all, the effect is pleasing, and I'm happy with the results. I used 12 of my favorite ideas for gratitude from A Bushel and a Peck of FUN, adding my own activities to tailor these to my family's needs, and also added a scripture for each topic. If any of you are interested, I'd be willing to post my version to Scribe ID. I cut each out theme and backed it on some cute scrapbooking paper to give it some weight, ideally these will be reused. We'll be starting our countdown to Thanksgiving on November 14. I'm excited to have a means to focus my kidlets on what is important this month.

Hope you had a fun Halloween

We had a fun time as a family for Halloween.  We had a bumper crop of pumpkins, and so each child got their own jack-o-lantern this year.  They each designed their own (except Baby), and the older children just about carved their own by themselves.  It was fun to see what they came up with.  Little Boy used a press to make freckles and hair on his jack.

Scary Skeleton, Little Red, Kirsten the Pioneer, and Jedi Master

The skeleton costume was passed down from when my brother was little, Red was Big Sister's cape I made 5 years ago, Kirsten was the most work this year, which I've chronicled here already...and Jedi is on his third Halloween.  I found a quick and easy robe pattern, and used this funky army type fabric I found at WalMart.

Because we live in a rural area, our neighborhood had a "trunk or treat" party on Friday.  It's a parent's dream...all the cars parked in the local church parking lot, people you know (so no worrying about x-raying the candy) easy walking on a cold night, you're done quickly, and can get home and enjoy the loot.

Oh, by the way, the jello worms were a big hit.  Sorry I didn't get a photo of the finished product.  I was in a hurry to get the little ones dropped off and to the party in time.  I've finished one of the Thanksgiving countdown calendars, and will post photos tomorrow. 

New Fun for Me

Alright. I don't often splurge on myself. However, when I find a deal like this, I have to jump on it. Have you ever noticed that Lowes has awesome clearance items? I have found some amazing things for really cheap. The latest is this:


I needed a new iron in the worst way. My old one quit holding any water, and would splutter and spill if I added any. So, no steaming possible. It also didn't get as hot as some cotton fabrics needed. It was on it's last leg, and I was just waiting until I could afford a new one. This super cool Rowenta iron was on clearance for $28.44, discounted from the original price of $89.99. I couldn't pass us such a deal! Today is our anniversary, so here is my practical gift...my new Rowenta iron! (We are going to do something fun this weekend, don't worry!)