This is how we make lunch fun!

We found these cute sandwich cutters at Fred Meyer. We have 3 different kinds- 2 dinosaurs, 2 dolphins with a heart in between, and 2 hearts. Today was dino day. And the kids insisted on cups with lids and a straw! What is it about straws that make drinks so enticing?

Alona's dinos and drink


Natalie was eating one dino, and took the head off the other!

Following my blog

They added a new gadget for the sidebar! People who regularly read blogs can now become Followers. It sounds a bit silly! But it is pretty neat. I will be able to see how many people are reading my blog! Add yourself if you read my blog! I want to be popular! (just kidding) But please, add yourself so I have an idea of how many people out there like my blog!
Thanks

The Thousand Faces of Alona (well, maybe only 86....)

There are a lot of pictures in this slide show, but it gets pretty funny! Well worth watching- at least in my biased opinion!

Nothin' Much

We haven't had a whole lot out of the norm going on around our house. Jeff got the hot tub up and running about 2 weeks ago. I've been in once. He took Ashley and Alona out for a soak yesterday. They loved it. Jeff has also fixed a few things around the house. The kitchen sink was having real problems draining. It would get backed up and when you turned on the garbage disposal water and junk would come out in the other drain. He went to the home improvement store and found a drain pipe with a baffle plate that blocks anything from going back up the other side. Now it drains perfectly and I don't have to turn my garbage disposal off and on for a second over and over again. Yipppeeeee!
Jeff got asked to help with the scouts. I think he would be an assistant scout master? Not sure though. He said he is going to mull it over for a bit before he decides.
I am actually thinking ahead this year and am planning our family picture for this Wednesday. My friend Marianne has agreed to take the pictures and her husband will help her scout out a cool architectural place at the U of O to take them. I might get the Christmas cards out before Christmas this year! Sure beats February- like last year (or this year, technically). Be on the lookout- I will post pictures after the shoot!

Stamps and Art Tutorials

My friend, Marianne, is the most talented artist I have met. She has been working on some stamps found here. She also has a blog that is pretty much an art tutorial. It is very informative. She is incredibly intelligent and oh so talented! If you like to do anything creative you should check it out!

Funny Face

Jeff must have gotten the camera out while I was gone one day this summer. I just found this picture of Alona in iPhoto when I was looking for pictures of Natalie. It was too cute!


Alona has always had the best expressions I have ever seen. This one is by far the funniest. She is very expressive facially. She makes faces for every mood and emotion. I will have to try to compile a slide show of her different faces.

Some Lil Tiny Bags For M' Natalie

Natalie refers to her things a m'Natalie's (mine Natalie's). She also thinks anything she owns is lil tiny, because she is the little one in the family. So she took over a tote bag I made for Jessica and was so excited about it. She carried it around the house until we left to take it to Jessica. Jessica wasn't there, so we left it on the door. Natalie cried because she didn't get to see her, but more importantly, because we were leaving the bag. I promised to make her a bag. I finally got it done. (finally being a week or so later- which is actually pretty good, for me)
Of course, if I make one for Natalie then I must make one for Ashley and Alona as well. So off to the fabric store we went one day. Ashley was at school, so it was Alona, Natalie, and myself as Ashley had picked a fabric a while back. They each picked out two fabrics for a reversible bag.
I cut down the Amy Butler Swing Bag pattern I used previously for gifts. It is the perfect bag for the kids to take their coloring supplies to church. The pattern is quick and easy. I got each one done in less than 1 hour. Only took a little under 3 hours of my Saturday evening. The kids absolutely love them!


Ashley's is the lavender paisley bag. Alona picked out the ladybugs on green. Natalie liked the dots!


Alona wanted a picture in her new hat and scarf!


Ashley did, too! She put the hat on backwards!


Of course, Natalie insisted on a picture, too. Its like she's giving herself a hug! Awww!