Pumpkin Patch and Carving

Coming in under the wire for making it to a pumpkin patch this year.  Just couldn't seem to squeeze it in this weekend, so I let the kids stay home from school.  We don't believe in perfect attendance.  Was a beautiful day for playing hookie.  Seventy degrees and so sunny, Randy couldn't stand to look up at the camera.  He has sensitive eyes.

Levi's first patch.  Tried to get a full-on photo of him, but he too, was hesitant to look toward the sun.  I was commiserating with the ladies at the patch about them having so many pumpkins left to discard tomorrow.  I remember what a pain that was when we did a pumpkin patch to raise money for Marina's adoption.  So during the course of the conversation, it came up that some of the children were adopted. One of the ladies was particularly interested, and I could tell by the questions she asked, that she knew quite a bit about how adoption works.  Turns out her and her husband suffered from secondary infertility and then a failed adoption (birthfamily changed their minds).  She asked about, and I shared with her a little of how Levi joined our family, but her questions were rather direct, and it wasn't long before she realized that Levi basically fell into our laps.  I think it hurt her.  She got real quiet and then busy with something else.  I don't know what to say to people.  I don't want to lie, but the truth--that a family with six beautiful children was blessed with a healthy, beautiful seventh in an "accidental" adoption--is such a bitter, bitter thing for so many.

This evening we ate some left-over non-prize winning chili with our friend Kenny, and then the master used a sawzaw to carve the pumpkin. Now that's country.  The kids called the two pumpkins we carved Jack O. Lantern (not real original) and Peanut (because it was shaped like one).  We also bought a HUGE pumpkin at the patch--it was so tall and handsome, I couldn't resist--but having spent a pretty penny on it, I did not feel like carving it tonight and having to throw it out tomorrow or the next day.  I think I'm going to try to paint it with acrylics for the Thanksgiving season.

Through the Looking Glass

I give you Fall Festival 2011--Alice in Wonderland.  I know what you are thinking when you see these pictures: this chick has a serious problem.  These costumes are pretty over the top, I admit, but one of the first things the kids asked when we told them we were selling the daycare, was, "Does this mean you will make our Fall Festival costumes again??!!"  So what is a mom to do?  Especially a lame, stay-at-home mom with a tendency to over-do anything theme related?  And as you will see, I was very frugal in my madness.

Abby is the queen of hearts.  I made her dress from two formals I bought at G**dwill.  These formals usually cost around $10.00, while the specialty fabric would run you $7.00-$8.00 a yard. The netting for the petticoat, too, came from the dresses.  I bought the trim at H*ncock's and the tights at a party store.  Pattern is Simplic*ty (bought during the five for $5 sale they have at H*ncocks once every two months).  Estimated cost for costume--$35.00

Ian is the Mad Hatter.  Hat purchased at party store for $25.00. Ouch!  Really should have tried to find a cheaper option.  But bringing off this costume depended on a big hat, so I did it.  Coat made using a Burd* pattern.  Yuck!!!  This was my first time sewing from a Burd* and will definitely think twice about buying another pattern.  The instructions--while technically written in English--did not make ONE lick of sense.  I basically had to take the pieces and just try them out by basting to see if that was the way it was supposed to go.  Tweed suit fabric was on sale for $2.50.  We used a Sunday white shirt and black slacks, the bow tie came from scrap pieces, and the vest was sewn from a bolt of bargain basement fabric.  This costume was around $35.00 as well.

By virtue of her blond hair, Marina was Alice.  Cheap polyester blue fabric--$2.00 a yard.  Pinafore cut from an old sheet. S*mplicity pattern, $1.00.  We had white tights and Mary Janes in our wardrobe, so no cost there.  Cost--not counting labor--<$10.00

Randy is a card soldier.  Poster board is the sturdy kind, $3.00 a sheet.  Black scrapbook paper $.25 a sheet.  Black hood sewn from an old curtain, black sweat suit-$10.00 (but doesn't count, because he will be able to wear it through winter as a regular outfit.)  Costume cost $5.00

Cara a most adorable Cheshire Cat.  Pretty proud of this one as pink and purple striped fabric could not be found I designed this costume and added my own stripes with RIT dye in a spray bottle.  Pattern is Buttr*ck (bought in the $2.00 a pattern sale), RIT dye around $3.00.  Sewn from felt (very cheap fabric that is sold in a wide length), I think I paid $2.00 a yard, and one yard of the 72" fabric was plenty.  Also < $10.00

Sweet Levi as the White Rabbit.  $1.00 S*mplicity pattern. Fabric is soft fleece.  Not cheap, but I wanted him to be comfortable in his costume.  I think it was around $5.00 a yard.  Probably 1 1/2 yards for the jumpsuit and headpiece.  Cuffs and neck fabric from an old t-shirt. Inside of ears cut from scraps of the Chessire Cat, and orange vest made from an old tablecloth I found at a garage sale or G**dwill. Nana brought him a pocket watch to wear.  I meant to make him a little bow tie, but never got around to it.

Fun, fun, fun Fall Fest. I worked a hair braiding booth at the festival, and I love to braid me some hair.  Got a hair stylist to come and put feathers in the girls' hair at cost, so all of us are now sporting feathers.  The master's chili did not place in this year's contest, but the barrel train he built for the kids was a HUGE success.  K put on his "Choot 'em" shirt and Bubba teeth, and went as a alligator hunter from Sw*mp People, but I didn't get a picture of him on my camera.  Sure hope someone at church did.

Happy Harvest!

Evening at My House

 The first hot cocoa of the season was well enjoyed by all. I felt inspired by a chocolate cake my mom made for us this weekend that included cinnamon. I added a dash of spice to the pot tonight.  YUM!

 Cara found her way to the nail polish--without any one's knowledge or permission--just before Bubba's football game.  Doesn't look like a career as a manicurist is in her future, the little stinker.

***Had a really good picture of Levi, but sitting right under the master's monogramed name on scrubs. Pooie****

 Levi right after the hood came off.  He's going to have some wild hair this winter.

Abby was proud to break out the winter jammies and drain her cup.  We are PASSIONATE about our hot chocolate in this house.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...October 17, 2011

Outside my window... a first chilly front is making its way across the region

I am thinking...oh, many deep and troubling things, but I am blogging to de-stress, so I won't go in to those.

I am thankful for... a safe return from a weekend trip to my hometown and I'm thankful that though I forgot Cara's meds for the first time in three years, the W*lgreens agreed to release an emergency dose.

I am wearing... blue jeans and aqua-green peasant top

I am remembering trying to remember...what did I do, when the master and I were dating, to "fill his love account?"

I am going...to drive half-way back to hometown tomorrow to rendezvous with parents and retrieve Cara's medicine. Fun, fun.

I am currently reading... Fall in Love to Stay in Love by Willard Harvey (you might have guessed that from the "I am remembering" section), Secure in the Everlasting Arms by Elisabeth Elliot, and Heroes of Nine Eleven (picked it up at kids' book fair this week for me and Ian to share.  Not exactly sure who wrote it).

I am hoping...that $1,300.00 will fall from the sky so that we can finalize Levi's adoption this month.

On my mind...again, this post is meant to diffuse the burdens of my mind.

Noticing that...not two months into this new gig and I am already neglecting my blog.

Pondering these words..."But if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."

From the kitchen...tried a new R*chel R*y recipe today: Chicken Cord don blue sandwhiches.  They were o.k., I guess.  Kind of reminded me of something the master and I ate in Russia called Piguant Meat.  I may try it next time with a mushroom sauce.

Around the house...Seven sleepy puppies.  Too sleepy to bark.

One of my favorite things...catching up with an old friend.

From my picture journal...

"What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

Saturday Nine-Someday We'll Be Together

1. Have you ever left a relationship but knew that eventually you'd get back together?
No. Yes, but I was wrong.  I had one serious boyfriend other than the master--I use the word 'serious' but we actually only dated a year, but still, at the time, I could picture myself marrying him.  He broke up with me in mid-July after I graduated high-school.  He didn't give a reason, except that I would be going off to college soon.  I remember sobbing in bed that night--my parent's bed, I crawled up beside my mom to cry--and thinking, "He can't really mean it.  He'll want to get back together."  I just knew he was "the one." He called a week later, on my birthday.  He said he wanted to wish me a happy birthday and talk.  My heart began to beat fast, thinking this quasi-friendship might be a way for us heal the relationship--and maybe that is what he was trying to get at.  Part of me was ecstatic at the thought, but another part asked, "Until he decides to rip your heart out again?"  I realized I would constantly be wondering and worrying where I stood with him.  Besides my heart, I had--thankfully--not invested any other part of myself--with him.  If I gave him one more year, five more years, ten, would the same be true?  I got off the phone quickly and never spoke with him again.

2. Are there things that you hate to buy? Items that you either hate to spend perfectly good money on or hate to spend the time it takes to buy them? Clothes shopping for myself.  Loathe it.  Because I spend money on it, and get it home and hate the way it looks on me.

3. What is your favorite cartoon show and why?
The old Tom and Jerry shows.  They are funny, I don't care who you are.

4. Are you anywhere close to doing what you wanted to do as a kid?
Yes.  I wanted to be a mom. 

5. Now that you're in the "real world," is your current job now really what you want to do for a living? If not, what would you ultimately like to do?
Does not apply

6. A local university has asked you to teach a class about the one thing you know the most about. What would you be teaching and what would the name of the course be?
Procrastination 101-how to put off what you know you should be doing--to be followed by Justification 102-how to make up a legitimate sounding excuse for procrastinating.

7. Commercials ... they can make us laugh or can annoy the heck out of us. Tell us about your favorite commercial and/or a commercial you simply loathe.
We don't watch tv here, but the master and I went to a showing of "Courageous" tonight, and can I just say that the previews (glorified commercials) were totally inappropriate?  You would think that even godless advertisers in Hollywood would realize the folly of attempting to market those t.v. shows/feature films to an audience who came to watch a Christian movie.

8. Tell us about your favorite comedy movie of all time.
I really like the National Lampoon's movies

9. Tell us about your favorite black and white movie of all time.
So many of my favorite black and whites have been remastered to color.  "Sound of Music" was originally black and white, so it would have to be my favorite.

Normal

My friend Debbie posted about how couples who build their families through pregnancy don't get comments from their kids that are simply "normal" for children of adoption.  We are a mixed bag here at LameSAHM, with birth and adopted, but I still totally get what she is saying.  We hear some pretty funny things around here.

• Now that we are in an open adoption with Levi--and talking quite a bit with an actual person, whom the children have seen and talked to--Randy keeps wanting to know who his birthmother is.  I keep telling him that I am his birthmother and his forever mommy, and he looks really disappointed each time!  Sorry kid.  Facts is facts.
• My sister has five children all by adoption.  Around the time they finalize they have them Christened in the Episcopal church.  The whole family comes and it is a special time of prayer and commitment. The kids have come to equate the ceremony--which I guess would seem a whole lot more official and binding to a child's mind than standing before some strange man in a robe--to "being adopted."  When Abby accepted Christ and was baptized at age eight, my nieces and nephews all came for the service.  Afterwards, they kept congratulating the master and I on finally deciding to adopt her!  They clearly thought it was about time we got around to that. 
• Before we brought Levi home, Marina kept asking if the baby was a boy or girl.  I was really getting concerned that she wasn't able to remember this simple fact, and when I questioned her as to why she continued to ask the same question over and over again, she revealed that she thought boys were born and girls were adopted.  So naturally, it was confusing for her that we were adopting a boy.   I did my best to explain it to her. Sure hope that has been cleared up in her mind and heart, but with Marina you never know.  She adamently believed for years that we went to Russia, I gave birth to her there, and then left her in an orphanage.
• My children assume that all bottle-fed babies are adopted.  Several times I have been SO embarrassed by them going up and blurting out, "Where did you get your baby?" I've learned to just grab their hand and pull them away, because once when I corrected, "No, she is the baby's birthmother," they gaped at the woman, dumbstruck, and demanded, "Why you not give your baby breast milk?"  Can we say, AWKWARD??!

These are humorous, but there are poignant ones as well.  I love that my children totally get the spiritual concept of adoption. You can have a fairly deep conversation with them; they've lived it.  I love how angry K gets at Disney's Finneas and Ferb cartoon because it refers to one of the characters as being a "step-brother," when in actuality the story line tells us he is adopted.  I can hear him now, shouting at the screen, "If he is adopted, he is not a step anything, he's just your plain brother!"  And I cry whenever something makes Marina think of Russia and she sobers and says, "But I wonder about the other orphans there."  This is normal for us.

Saturday Nine

 

1. Do you ever go to sleep to simply dream?

I don't have that luxury, but I've fallen asleep hoping to dream of a certain place or person.  Maybe to repeat a specific dream.

2. When you’re having trouble staying awake, what are some things you do to make sure you don’t drift off to sleep?

Oh, I'm a singer.  Big time in the car, loud and proud to stay awake.  I will also make up imaginative stories in my head.  I get so interested in the plot of my imagination that I no longer have to worry about falling asleep. 

3. What’s most likely to cause you a prolonged period of not enough sleep?

A newborn baby.  Owning my own business.  A  time of ailment in my sickly lungs.  An argument with a man who believes that the mandate, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger," is a literal one...

Most recently, a promise to my six youngest children to make their Fall Festival costumes...

4. When you’re going through a prolonged period of not enough sleep, what parts of your daily routine are likely to change, and how?

I'm not sure anything changes--except maybe an increase in mid-day naps--but I tend to get a whole heck of a lot grouchier. 

5. In what ways does your personality change when you go through a prolonged period of not enough sleep?

See above.  I'm also not near as smart, and ain't no genius to start out with, so it behooves me to rest up.

6. Who in your life seems regularly to have not enough sleep?
Used to be my Daddy.  Poor man--his job made sleep a difficult thing for most of his career.  I could always tell a difference in his personality depending on which shift he was working.  So glad he is retired now. 
Marina requires more sleep than any person I've ever known.  I know immediately when she hasn't had "enough," and I send her back to bed.

7. When you're sleeping, do your closer friends tend to be male or female? Why do you think that is?

I'm guessing this is in dreams?  I'm mostly alone, or with people I don't recognize, but if I do have a dream with other people I know it is usually friends from my past (mostly all girl friendships) or the master (definitely male)

8. If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would it be?

Without a doubt, I would play the piano really, really well, be able to sight-read, ad-lib, and play by ear, and never get nervous about performing. 

9. In a dream, is your past something that you can go back to?

Yes, I mostly dream about the past.  I'll be at school, or college, hanging out with friends, playing in the band, etc.  But the funny thing is, at some point in the dream, I will think, "Wait a second, where are my kids?" "Whose taking care of the children?"