The One With the Felt Pumpkin

Craft Time!

I've been seeing this super cute felt play Christmas tree on Pinterest. It's great for kids to play with independently. They can decorate and redecorate the tree over and over without messing with the real tree!

The tutorial online for the tree is here!

So I decided to make a big felt Jack-O-Lantern for the girls to decorate! I'm not hugely into Halloween, but I do love cutesy pumpkins. 

All you need is:

-1 yard of orange felt ($2.99)

-a few sheets of black felt  (25 cents a sheet)

-additional sheet colors of felt for optional "accessories" (brown for a stem, green for leaves, etc)

Total? Less than $5. Awesome.

All I did was cut the fabric into a pumpkin shape. (I just free-handed it.) 

To stick it to the wall, I tried a few different things. I read online to use command strips, but they didn't work very well.  I found that staples keep the pumpkin up there very well. 

Then I used black felt to make different shaped eyes, noses, and mouths. Wee! It took about 10 minutes for the entire project. 

Char decorating

Em decorating

(different piece options)

I really don't think that the girls understand the theory of decorating pumpkins, but they still are having fun. It gives them a new tactile experience. They love the way the felt feels.  We are also able to discuss the attributes of the pieces (oval, square, triangle) and body parts (eyes, nose, mouth) in order to gain new vocabulary!  I know that we will be able to pull this out again next year and they will really be able to understand and have a blast! You can't beat $5, either!

Hope you make one!

The One With Inaugural Nap-time

After some nudging from others, I've decided to make a blog. A legit blog.

You see, I've got 7 month old twins, so I don't have time for shenanigans.

This blog will probably include:

-real-life stories of insanity

-some funny stuff

-some crafty stuff

-some Jesus stuff

-some nerdy stuff

-child development stuff

-cute baby photos

That's what my life revolves around right now. I will be blogging during nap-times, so hopefully I will be able to get everything out.

Let me introduce you to the cutest little muffins ever:

Emily is on the left, and she is has tons of personality. When she's happy, she is a ball of giggles. She is always smiling with her two tiny bottom teeth showing. When she is upset, she will let you know. She loves to blow spit bubbles and roll around the house. She is methodical, and loves to slowly and hesitantly explore toys. She is all smiles around us, but sometimes unsure of new people. Her highs are high and her lows are low. (Just like me!) She had torticollis and plagiocephaly when she was born, so she wore a cranial band, and still goes to physical therapy weekly. She is a trooper! I love her joyful and expressive spirit.

Charlotte is on the right. She is hysterical in her own way. She is very even-keeled (just like daddy!) and isn't very expressive of her emotions. She is into everything and can army crawl all over the place. She is a tough cookie! If she bumps into anything, there are no tears. She loves to rampage her toys like Godzilla and steal everything from Emily (who inevitably cries). She will let anyone hold her or play with her. When she laughs or gets excited, it is more of a squeal than a giggle. I love her spirit of tenacity and her sweet, easy-going spirit.

And that's me in the middle. I am now a stay at home mom (SAHM for future reference), former elementary teacher, missionary, and camp counselor. I'm married to the most patient, dedicated man in the world.

Ok this was just my intro post, but more entertaining things are sure to come.

p.s. I will also make this blog a lot cuter soon! But for now...default fonts and colors!