Christmas 2011

Someday soon, I will have real Internet, not just iPhone, and I will add pictures to this post, but for now, I must get this post up before I forget:
*That I had completely blocked an entire pre-Disney shopping trip, and had ample provisions for a traditional Christmas dinner with all the fixin's. I was so happy, but did wonder about my mental state that I should have erased doing this from my mind?
*How Cara giggled each time a gift was brought out for her from under the tree.
*How K was almost in tears when I refused to allow him to spend all of his money on presents for his brothers and sisters. When I saw those tears in my big boy's eyes, I relented and took him up to the thrift store where he bought everyone a gift and only spent $40. Everything was in new condition and he was careful to pick something they would like. His gifts were some of the favorites of the day.
*I want to remember how sad it was to walk into an almost empty sanctuary on Christmas morning. I'm really sorry that more people did not come to Your house to tell you, "Happy Birthday," Lord. Are you sorry, too?
*That even though we had(thanks to cuponing) a huge M*tie C*vendars pie, everyone asked for my humble, homemade pumpkin instead.
*The look of excitement on Abby and Marina's faces when they opened their flat and curling irons. Sigh. I'm afraid they are leaving dollies behind forever.
*Watching Levi happily explore the chaos of the morning--his first Christmas.

Disney Recap and Christmas Forecast

Well, we are on the LOOOONG trip home to Texas. Disney was great, but very happy to be headed toward my sweet Levi and all the Christmas traditions. The only problem is we are flat busted broke. Spent right up until the last dime we needed for fuel for the return trip. All of our presents are bought, but it just occurred to me that I didn't buy our groceries for Christmas dinner. Oh, well, give us this day our daily bread. We might be eating deer jerky and cheerio treats for Christmas, but we will all be together.
The master's hip started to cause him pain about a week before our trip. We hoped against hope that it would miraculously recover, but that didn't happen. On the third day of Disney it gave up. He spent the rest of the trip in a wheelchair. I am really worried. His company insurance does not kick in until after the first of the year, but I'm not sure if there is a waiting period after that. Please pray that there is not. I really thought with his amputation three years ago, we were putting fibris displacia behind us for good. At first, I was just angry that it had reared its ugly head again, but as the pain has continued and worsened, I find myself hoping it is only displacia and not something worse. "At what time I am afraid, I will trust in You."
The fireworks and light show at Magic Kingdom was something to see, and the weather throughout our visit was perfect, but otherwise, I would not recommend a Christmas break visit. I have only been twice before, but this was, BY FAR, the most crowded I have ever seen it. If we ever go again, I will simply un-enroll the kids from school and go in late September or the first week of October--or whatever random week a travel agent can tell me is the least busy time of year.
It is my turn to drive.

The Happiest Place on Earth

At the most wonderful time of the year. We are on our way to Florida at a high rate of speed. Some of you may remember that our reward for getting out of debt was a trip to Disney World. Sadly, this is not THAT trip, but, happily, my sister wanted to give this trip to our family for Christmas, so she financing around 85% of our holiday vacation. You can't beat that! This is my third visit America's fun capital--I went as a teen in the summer, in 2006 (7 months pregnant) in the spring, and can't wait to see what a Christmas visit is like. It is just eight of us speeding down the interstate. After much internal see-sawing, I agreed to leave Levi with his Ne-Ne (very dear sister from church) and Grandma. Levi, for all of his many virtues, is a terrible traveler. He will not remember it, and I would spend a good portion of my day sitting on a bench trying to figure out how I was going to heat the next bottle. Blech! But it will be the longest I have ever been away from any of the kids (with the exception of Rina)while still in their infancy, and I will miss him horribly. I know better than to think He will miss me. He will be too greatly spoiled.

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!