Reaching my goal and looking back

I am so glad to hear that Jocelyn is going to continue having Book of Mormon forum blog hops after this month because I enjoyed posting about the Book of Mormon. 

I have been really immersed in it this month and it has been a great experience. However, there were so many things I still meant to post about. I sat down numerous times over the past two weeks to write out an idea I had and the inspiration just wouldn't come. I didn't want to write anything if I didn't feel that push to it. I hope that makes sense. But there was one more thing I really wanted to write about and since today is the last day of October.. today is the day!

I had a goal to finish the Book of Mormon by today. There were days when I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. I finished yesterday. Like I have said before, even though I have read it before many times, this time felt like the first time for some reason. It has changed me. I still have so far to go. As Jo in Little Women says, " I am hopelessly flawed." but I feel like this experience has given me a new perspective and a stronger desire to work on those flaws.

I had so many testimony building moments over these months. I have had so many in just the past few days. I know this Book is true and therefore I know this Church is true.

I have found a happiness and purpose that I never had before. 

I want to thank Jocelyn for allowing me to be a part of the Book of Mormon forum. She truly does an amazing work with her blog and I feel blessed to have been a part of something like this no matter how small a part it was. 

If you haven't read the Book of Mormon, I urge you to. If you have but it has been a while or you have stopped believing, please pick it up again. 

I was inactive for quite a few years in my twenties and I never prayed to know if the church or scriptures were true at that time. I never asked Heavenly Father if I was on the right path because I didn't want to hear His answer. But I have prayed this time. And I received confirmation. I know it to be true. And you can know too.

Trick or Treating

Our town is weird and does trick or treating on Sunday afternoon no matter what day Halloween is on. The only exception since we have lived here was two years ago when it was on Saturday and they switched it just for that year. 

I wasn't sure if we were going to go out this year. We usually don't. But Abi has made some friends around here now because of school and riding the bus and she really wanted to go trick or treating with them.

I decided that since she was not sick that I would take her out while Doug stayed with Maddy to pass out candy. 

I asked Abi what costume she wanted to wear this time. She said unicorn. I reminded her that we had got the cat costume because I couldn't find a cute hoodie set to make a purple unicorn with. She said that was okay. She would just wear her new purple coat and gloves and all I would need to do was make a horn. 

I decided to give it a go.

I told her to wait a minute and went into my closet to see what I could find. 

She came in a moment later with her unicorn pillow pet and told me I could use it for "inspiration". 

She had told me to make a gold horn so I made a cone shape out of gold cardstock. But then she wanted a pink one. I got pink ribbon and wrapped it around the cardstock. It didn't even cover the whole thing. I didn't know how I would attach it. I decided to use a hole puncher to make two holes on the bottom of it. Then I put a piece of white ribbon through the holes and then wrapped it around her head and tied it on her ponytail. 

It worked. 

She put on some pajamas pants and a tee shirt, her Hello Kitty boots, and the aforementioned coat and gloves and I attached the horn.

It was the silliest costume ever. 

But she loved it.

Every time I looked at that horn I would try not to giggle. I think it looks like a giant ice cream cone coming off her forehead.

In this picture you can see how the ribbon is tied around her ponytail.

Her hood of her coat started out up but it was majorly windy and it wouldn't stay there.

She quickly found one of her best friends, Emma, and had to trick or treat with her.

Emma is in first grade but they play at recess everyday and ride the bus together sometimes. 

It was cold. It started to rain a little on us so we quickly went home. She got quite the haul....

As silly as it was I am so glad that I can make a cardstock/ribbon unicorn horn that looks like an ice cream cone and she will be thrilled. She is such a sweetheart.

Trunk or Treat

Friday night was the event I was most excited for... our ward Trunk or Treat. I was saving Maddy's main costume for this night. I let Abi decide if she wanted to be the cat or pick something else. 

Maddy loves her Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls. (We have two of each, 2 big and 2 small) She calls them "Aggy". So, I thought it would be cute to make her Raggedy Ann for Halloween. I just used her pioneer dress I made this summer and sewed Raggedy Ann across the apron with red cross stitching floss. Then I bought some red and white striped tights. She wore her black shoes. I made her a wig out of red yarn and we topped it off with Abi's bonnet we got at Williamsburg and some makeup.

Here she is...

Abi decided to wear her pink Cinderella gown. This is what I was trying to talk her into using for all the Halloween events so I was glad to see her in it.

Doesn't she look beautiful!

This picture is kind of random but I love it for two reasons: the way Abi is laughing at/looking at Maddy and the fact that although you can't see much of Maddy, you can see that she is holding her Mickey doll. Her Mickey and Minnie dolls go pretty much everywhere in the house with her. 

We had to have a photo shoot before leaving for the party.

Have you ever seen a cuter Raggedy Ann? 

The girls and their pumpkins...

Maddy kept pretending to eat it and then she would say, "Yummmmm!"

Cheesy Abi...

Then Abi started imitating Maddy and pretending to eat her pumpkin. Maddy would laugh and say, "funny!"

Little cutie pie...

The Trunk or Treat was packed! There were so many people there this year. They had dinner, games for the kids, a costume contest, and then the main event- trunk or treating.

I love this one of Maddy inside the gym..

The trunk or treating was great. I didn't get many pictures because it was all we could do to keep both girls from getting trampled by the big kids. I'm thinking we need to start having young kids go first, then big kids. 

They had a lot of fun and were so excited to have gotten so much candy!

Maddy was so exhausted and done that we ended up not staying and passing out our candy. I felt bad about that but knew we would give it out on Sunday. But the next day I was glad we left when we did as Maddy woke up with ear infections at 4am Saturday.

Friday part one

 I had to drive Doug down to work today since I needed/ wanted the car that day. 

We got home around 12, had lunch, and then dressed the girls in costumes again.

Abi decided to be the cat again for this outing. Maddy wore the Alice costume. 

Abi decided to take Maddy's ba-ba and drink some milk because cats like milk. 

I am always telling her that whatever she does, Maddy wants to do and this proved it. After she laid on the floor Maddy did it too.

We ran some errands and then stopped by the library for the Halloween activities. It was so packed. We had to wait outside the door until three people came out before we could go in.

The girls got to color...

toss some beanbags...

color pumpkins...

this part had me a little anxious since they were permanent sharpies...

they made Styrofoam cup ghosts...

and had a little puppet show...

It was fun for the girls but I was definitely ready to get out of there!

This past week

This last part of October has flown by. Doug was out of town for a week at Blizzcon in California with some friends and for some reason that week decided to test my limits of patience, then last week there were Halloween happenings almost everyday. I can't believe the month is almost over!

Tuesday Doug got home and while he stayed with Maddy, Abi came with me to Activity days for our Halloween party. She decided to be Alice for this. It was a really fun night with all the girls.

Wednesday Abi had her class Halloween party. I didn't get any pictures. I was able to go and take Maddy with me but it was pretty busy the whole time so I forgot to take the camera out. It was a fun party though. She has a great class.

Thursday and Friday Abi didn't have school so we were able to spend some time relaxing at home and watch Halloween cartoons and make some crafts. 

We got a package from my parents with candy for each of us, cards, and stickers for the girls. 

Within moments the girls were making masterpieces with their stickers.

Santas Elves

I have mentioned that at Christmastime we get visits from a an elf named Elvin. We adopted the idea of Elvin from my sister. This year I wanted to expand on it a little. I like the idea of having an elf that is tangible like the Elf on the Shelf or Magic Elves but I knew I could make one much cheaper.
I found a great tutorial with a pattern on pinterest. It is by GwennyPenny. But since I wanted to make a boy elf it wouldn't work out exactly the way I wanted it to. Then I found these cute printable tags, also on pinterest. They looked so much like I picture my elf.
It was at that point that I decided to make a boy and a girl. Elvin was to have a friend- a girl elf that would be training with him.
I gave Elvin a longer name- Elvin Eggnog and named the girl Peppermint Sprinkles.
One night last week I got out some fabric and felt and started figuring out the pattern. I used the face shape (although I altered it a little), hair, the ears, and the arms, mittens,boots, and legs of the pattern from GwennyPenny and then I drew the hat, some of the hair, and the outfits myself basing them on the tags and then cut them out to use as a pattern.
This project was a prime example of how I mess my way through sewing. I cut out some of the arms and legs with the stripes going the wrong way. I wanted them all going horizontal. So, I decided to use the vertical for Elvin.
I put all the pieces out after I had cut them out to get an idea of what they would look like. Notice how they are the same size.



I then spent a few nights last week and this week putting them together. One night I went back to them only to realize how badly I had sewn the night before and had to mend some spots. * I was tired!*
Finally a few nights ago I finished the sewing and last night I drew on their faces. I really like them. I think they are cute and fun and they look funny sitting up (you'll see that later!) but you should notice that they are no longer the same size for some reason. I have changed their relationship to Peppermint being Elvin's big sister.

 

http://www.gwennypenny.com/2010/12/haul-out-holly-day-11-with-jane-of-all.html

Read

 I just saw this commercial and I LOVE it!

The future's so bright....

Admit it. You sang the song right?

I kept thinking that driving around Saturday when I would catch a glimpse of Abi sitting in the backseat wearing Doug's goggles.

And for some more randomness...

Abi and Maddy were playing dress up earlier and while Abi came down in full princess regalia... (and a lei)

Maddy was decked out in some beads, the Snow White broom (chewing on the apple of course) and a pair of Abi's panties over her pants.

2011 Christmas planner

I have been getting busy this past week with all my holiday planning. I like to have everything planned and prepared before December so I can really enjoy the holidays along with my family. This year I saw an idea for a cute little Christmas planner book with free printables on pinterest. I visited the blog eighteen25 and printed them out. 

I didn't use a composition book like they show in their tutorial. Instead I picked up this cute little notebook for $1 at Michael's...

I made the tabs with cardstock circles cut in half and glued in.

Then I used all those cute printables and some of my stickers to decorate it.

I got the mini calendars from organized christmas.

Mainly I posted these because my mom wanted to see them. But if you have been looking to make something similar I loved the way this turned out. I have been filling it out and making notes and every time I pick it up I get excited!

Fall Family Fun Night

Friday night the girls and I went to Fall Family Fun night at her school. The kids can't dress up during school hours so they were allowed to wear their costume to this event. We had such a hard time figuring out Abi's costume this year. She kept changing her mind and when she would finally settle on something I would either deem it too expensive or it would be sold out. Finally she decided on a unicorn or a cat. I looked all over for a matching hoodie/pants set to make into a unicorn but finally decided to get her the cheapo cat kit at Target. I don't think she was too thrilled but once I dressed her up as a cat on Friday night and she saw herself in the mirror- she was so excited.

I didn't have Maddy in her Raggedy Ann costume but I did make her look like a little pumpkin for the night...

And here is Abi getting into character...

I wanted a shot in front of her school as well...

The first thing we did was go through trick or treat alley. Abi has a few special ed children in her class and so they have an extra teacher that works with them. Mr Bean. Abi was watching a lot of the animated Mr. Bean series so she thought it was hilarious when she met him and heard his name. I know, from hearing all the kids get super excited when they saw him, that he is a favorite.

I think I mentioned before that Abi's teacher is on maternity leave for the first part of the year and so she has a long term substitute. This is Mrs. Ferguson. Abi adores her. And it turns out she lives about three houses down from us. 

After trick or treating we went into the cafeteria to have our pre paid dinner. It was here that I captured a moment of crankiness. 

All was well a few minutes later as we went into the gym to do the activities. Our first stop was a coloring station.

then Abi went fishing...

and caught a Laffy Taffy!

Next came the Haunted House beanbag toss. She got one beanbag halfway in a window and that was it but they still gave her a little piece of candy. So nice.

" I want a picture of my tail." 

Well, that is one way of doing it. 

Doesn't she make the cutest cat?

Then she did another beanbag toss..

This picture cracks me up because it is classic Abi. She has such a hard time deciding on something when people let her pick out of a bunch of things. She will sit there forever if you let her.

Then she got to spin the wheel for a prize. I think she got a kit kat.

The girls crashed when we got home. It was so much fun!