Mini Fig Display

Mini figs have infested our home, they are everywhere, in the dryer, at the table, in the cushions and even sometimes in my shoes.  The boys have enjoyed the thrill of collecting series 3, 4 & 5 and trying to guess what character is inside.  They've named each one and have used them to compose all sorts of funny brick films.  

But as much fun as they are, we were in need of some mini fig crowd control.  I've been searching thrift stores and antique stores for an old thimble case and finally came up this old printer's drawer.  William was with me and happened to have his boxer mini fig in his pocket and we were thrilled to find the letter boxes to be a perfect fit.  We spent $22 on the drawer and another couple dollars for the hooks to hang it, not bad for such a functional and decorative piece.     

I like how the boys can stand up there for extended periods of time rearranging the display making all sorts of stories involving battle droids, fishermen, ninjas and aliens. Their playing kind of reminds me of the gods on Clash of the Titans, taking each one down and deciding their fate.

Here's a record of William and Peter's current collection (James chooses to keep his in an enclosed tube).  Hopefully they'll be able to keep better track of them here on their wall instead of in their pockets or lost in the van or around the yard and house.  They are anxiously awaiting series 6 and have reserved enough spots on the display to welcome them.

The Joy of the First Snowfall

Look what we woke to this morning!  Before I even looked out the window I heard Clara declare from the other room "this is the most exciting day ever"!  She then ran into my bedroom and with excitement asked "is it winter? is the baby coming today"?  I explained that winter lasts for weeks and there will be several more weeks of winter weather before the baby is ready to arrive.  

The kids gobbled down breakfast and Peter had most his school work completed at 7:30 while Paul scrambled to find the winter boots and winter clothes bins from the barn.  The kids sifted quickly through them.  Maryanna refused to wear her brother's old black boots and Henry refused to pass his small blue boots onto George, so I let it be.  They change their minds soon enough, you can only play so long in the  snow in too tight of boots.

George never likes getting dressed, nor do I like getting kicked in the face or belly in the attempt to do so.  He found his own hat and stood at the door mad that I wouldn't let him out in just a diaper.

But a little singing, and a little toe and tummy tickling usually convinces him.  I was already to head out and surprised how comfortably I could wear my snow pants unzipped with just a sweater and a vest.  Extra body heat is what I love most about a winter pregnancy.

William dug right in as he usually does.

While the other boys were preparing for battle.

They got good use out of the snowball makers and snowbrick molds a friend gave to us last week.  The battling lasted for almost 2 hours and ended with Maryanna running inside crying about getting hit in the face with a very nicely packed snowball.

She is a brave little girl to join in such a battle with her brothers.  

Aside from the excitement of the snow we were all a little bit sad to lose a few large limbs off the willow tree.  We also realized the added complication snow will add to caring for our animals.   

As for the mess of snow gear, I'm really glad we got the lockers up when we did but also realized I needed a solution for all the hats and mittens.  I went right to work on sewing these hanger bags for each child to hang in their locker.

Looks like they may work, and it looks like it will be a beautiful and fun filled winter out here in the country.

A Quilt for 2011

With colder weather drawing in there was need for another quilt to drag around and cuddle in.

I am not a quilter so I like to keep it simple with no plan of an expected end result.  I simply cut and sew and let the quilt become itself.  In this case I got to do it along side of Peter outside on the most beautiful day of Fall.

Most of the fabrics were from a pile of scraps from my sister in law Eva's mom.  We then used a lofty wool batting, Quilter's Dream from alewivesfabrics and an old sheet as the backing.  But well before that Peter added his own special touch of hand embroidery to remind us of the year we made it.  What I enjoyed most was the quiet focused conversation we had as this quilt came about.  Hand embroidery may be just the thing that very active little boys need.

This quilt is sure to see much use so machine quilting was the most durable (and quickest) way to finish.

I think one simple quilt a year will be just enough to keep these growing kids and this growing family cozy.

At the end of a long day

There is so much to be thankful for.

Warm fire, sleepy kids, and a belly round enough to excuse me from picking up everything scattered from a full day of work and play.

At the end of a long day I am thankful for the many ways my children made me smile...................

I am thankful for time alone, for the quiet of nature, endless sky and fresh air that fill me,

I am thankful for the faithful animals that surround me..........

and the cozy home that draws me back in again.

I am thankful for time well spent with those I love.

I am thankful for helping hands.

I am thankful for the man who dares to live shared dreams,

and the way he works to make it work.

At the end of a long day I am thankful for life, to laugh, to love, to cry and sweat; to lie in bed at the end of it all, the days that I thrived or when I've simply survived, there is always so much to be thankful for.

Lockers Up

The one thing our new home is lacking is a mud room, all that was available were 5 hooks next to the back door.  I wish I took a before picture of these hooks over loaded with stuff, and even worse the mess that was left as coats and bags were tossed to the floor in search of the one favorite hoodie.

I've been nagging Paul for a solution since the weather is quickly changing and snow clothes are sure to complicate the mess.  I designed in my head all sorts of functional beautiful pieces and even sketched them out with dimensions.  Paul laughed them off reminding me he lacked the tools, time and experience to build such a vision.  Instead he got really lucky at the UM disposition center and found this set of 10 barely used lockers from the business school.  They fit perfectly!

They are finally anchored to the wall and everyone has their own locker.  No more excuses for lost shoes, hats and coats, and no more excuses for a messy back door area.

Our homeschool kind of does look like school now.  It sounds like one too with the distinct sound of slamming metal doors. 

Paul and I had lockers not too far from each other in the English hall in high school and it was always a treat in between classes to meet up for a few minutes there (and even steal a kiss).  So it is now, just before I'm running out the door or Paul's coming in from the barn office we can meet up at our lockers and "catch up".

The kids honestly have more fun climbing inside them (don't worry they are anchored securely), it actually is kind of cute to see them all lined up poking their heads out.  I'd have taken a picture but we set the rule no hiding in the lockers.  Instead I got a little action shot of them cleaning up.  

How we celebrated William's birthday

I don't know what is moving faster, the weeks or the years - how can it already be William's birthday?!  How can he already be 10?!  This boy loves bacon so continues the traditional birthday chocolate bacon bar.  

Another fun fact about William is he loves cherry flavored frosting, but he doesn't love the color pink.  I like how he got creative with his birthday cake.

William also loves to make small piles of burnt cheese - so I thought it was time to introduce him to fondue.  This is the old fondue set my Dad got in Switzerland over 25 years ago, I remember using it with my family as a child and now the thrill continues with my own children....... and there is nothing more thrilling than sharing fondue with a big hungry family.

Here is one of his favorite gifts that Peter picked out for $2 at the PTO thrift shop, it was a buffalo trophy kit from cardboard safari.  And here it is now assembled and hung proudly in our home.

And since this was a year of birthday parties we pulled something together with a handful of his cub scout friends.  It doesn't take much to entertain young boys outside, the party plan was simple:  toilet paper dodge ball, pinata and campfire.

William helped make the pinata the day of the party and it was still drying as it hung up on the tree waiting to be hit.  Apparently we didn't make the hanging wire strong enough because it only withstood a few hits before falling flat on the ground.  It didn't break though, so the kids took turns going at it with a stick on the ground, it reminded me of that classic scene from Office Space where the employees were hitting the computer with baseball bats.  The pinata finally split and this activity ended in a pig pile and pockets stuffed with candy.

I had also planned for cake filled campfire oranges but it was getting windy and cold and the kids seemed happy enough roasting hot dogs and marshmallows along with their pinata loot - tooties rolls, starbursts and candy bars.

Instead of gifts the party guests contributed small amounts of money that William will donate to Heifer International to buy a flock of chickens for a family in another country.  

After the party we were left with bags of oranges and a bowl of unused batter so the next day we continued the birthday celebration as a family and made the campfire cake filled oranges.  They are simple, scoop out an orange, fill it with cake batter, wrap in two layers of foil and place in coals for 15 - 20 minutes.

Carefully open and enjoy!

Not everyone loved this combination but William did. Maybe we'll recreate it for his birthday next year, or maybe we'll just try roasting some bacon with our hot dogs and marshmallows instead.