Halloween Fun Fest

This morning Lou's school had their annual Halloween parade, followed by activities in the playground. Lou was tired and a bit cranky this morning, but she warmed up to the idea of being there, eventually. It was a sunny, chilly fall morning, just perfect for Halloween.

Chasing bubbles


Ghost bowling


Making noisemakers


Our Lou

Trick or treating

We met up with the McGoughs and their family and had pizza before heading out. So different from last year- Lou ran ahead with the other kids and did not need me to hold her hand and walk her to the door. She remembered to say thank you and to wish the nice people handing out candy a happy Halloween!




Candy time!

Happy Halloween!

More to come.....

The Halloween Costume

Not a fairy princess, but a dinosaur/dragon (depending upon when you ask her). She's even been practicing her roaring.

Components:
sweatshirt and pants
fleece to match
polyfill stuffing
polyester felt
tacky glue
thread
one mother willing to work the Halloween Sweatshop

I cut out 60 3-inch triangles. It could have been worse; I used a rotary cutter and a self-healing mat (which I have wanted for a long time!).

Gluing triangles together to make 30 double-thickness triangles that would stand up straight:

Then I made a tail:


I tried using the sewing machine to make a strip of felt triangles that I could then sew to the body and tail. After three attempts and a broken sewing machine needle, I gave up. I hand-sewed all those little buggers on.
This took a long time.

Then I stuffed the tail and attached to the body.

The finished product.....I love the way the spines resemble a mohawk.


Lots of work. But look at this face. Won't she make the best dinosaur/dragon ever?

Trick or treating tonight....more pics tomorrow!

Steve-o

A very happy birthday to my older brother Steve....we love you Steve Nason! Hope you have a great day!

More crafty fun

The Viking baby hat:

Shown with adult Viking hat for scale:

Delivered to Aaron and Sarah, awaiting a small Viking to wear it, sometime in late November/early December.

Pete's hat, re-knit as the first one was too big for his head....

And on my head for scale

Monday all over again

Busy weekend. We went to a baby shower for friends on Saturday...the men went off to escape the baby stuff and the ladies and children ate and looked at baby stuff and ate some more. The hostess had a little girl just a bit older than the Lou, so she had a good time.

Sunday we headed up to North Conway for Nathan's baptism. He's just shy of three months old. I found it strange that he seemed so big and so small at the same time. I haven't seen him since he was about 6 weeks; you forget how quickly and how drastically they change at that age in such a short time.

After the service Amy's parents hosted a reception in the church hall. They are just such nice people. I realized on the way home that I have known them almost as long as I've known Amy, which is almost 10 years.

After a trip to the library and groceries, we had some quiet time for a bit. Lou was tired and did not seem herself, so we snuggled up on the couch and read stories. I was excited to find the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel at the library. I remember having two or three of them as a child- the I Can Read books that came in the mail!

I have decided that I am Toad and Pete is Frog. For those who have not read the books, Toad is the pessimist- he hides in his bed rather than clean his house. Frog usually persuades Toad to do what he should be doing and cajoles him out of his grouchy moods. And Toad is fiercely devoted to Frog. In one story, he swims to an island with a picnic lunch because he thinks Frog may be lonely.

Then Lou tended to her babies:



Then dinner and bedtime. Then vegging on the couch for tired parents.

And Monday. Another term start next week, orientations this week. It will become really busy by the end of the week, and then it will all be a blur until November 3rd. Today I ran out to the fabric store at lunchtime to pick up some supplies for Halloween costumes. We'll see how that goes. Lou refuses to commit to a costume idea. I've decided to invoke executive privilege (I am the Mama and have to make said costume, therefore a decision will be made) and have purchased tulle, glitter, ribbon and various other girly things. More on that as it develops.

Adventures with wool and hot water

I decided to make the Lou some felted wool mittens for this winter. She picked out the color; I started knitting.

Once finished, they (sort of) fit me:



After a ride in the washing machine in hot water:
I had a feeling that they were still too big.

They dried; I knitted cuffs on them:


I am happy with the finished product- they're beautiful, screaming pink! mittens. The fabric is, well, felt. I love felt- it makes me think of elves, and I find elves amusing (think The Elves and the Shoemaker, not so much Santa's elves). I asked her to try them on, and she agreed. Too big? I asked. "Too big for me, Mama." Obviously the Lou will not be wearing them this winter. I'll put them away.

So now: take 2? Or head to Target? We shall see....

Three good things about today

1. The Lou went to bed without incident the last two nights, and slept from 8:30/9 last night until 7 this morning. No getting out of bed, no crying, no one had to make repeated trips into her room. Same thing tonight. Keep your fingers crossed that this is the wave of the future!

2. Since I was downtown-ish returning library books anyway, I stopped in at Cafe on the Corner this morning. The short walk, good coffee and berry blast muffin (so good!) were a great start to my day.

3. I have been making plans with my girls Tina and Emily, and we're going to get together in Providence in just over two weeks! Woo hoo! It's been way too long since we've had a chance to just hang out. Love the cousins.

Maybe I'm easily amused

I stopped at Rite Aid to pick up a prescription on my way home from work. I saw this at the end of one aisle:
In case it's not obvious.

It made me laugh though. Not sure what was better, the Coffee, or the woman at the pharmacy who informed one of the pharmacists that he looks just like Cheech, "you know, from Cheech and Chong?"

Bwah ha hah!

(It was a long first day back from vacation...)

Surprises

I was singing songs for the Lou at bedtime. One that she likes is "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. After I finished, she said that she would sing now...and she did. She knew all the words. The best part, though, was "...doorbells and sweigh bells and schitzel wif noodles..." That, and the feeling she put into "...when I'm feeling sad..."

I love that kid.

Sunday afternoon

Making manicotti (serious business)





Tired Lou



Lazy Catboy


I am Mama, hear me roar. See me drink wine and stuff pasta with cheese and herbs.






There were other things this weekend- hanging out in NoBer with the girls, the Coppal House Farm corn maze, a birthday party for one of the Lou's friends, a new hat I knitted for Pete...but I'm tired and lazy. Plus dinner is ready.

Pirates

ARRRRGGH!