We are alive!

So...life has been so busy that I haven't had time to sit and really record everything! I vow to make more time!

Let's start with my munchkins..



Jordan...you are my sweet little guy. You are so responsible and always making sure everything is in order and done in the correct manner. I hear you talking to Grant in such a loving manner. A few days ago I heard the two of you in the playroom playing and your precious voice says,"Grant..you know you are my best friend. I really love you!"

You have such a love for babies and the other children that have come through our home as foster children. And anytime someone will listen out in public..you tell them proudly how you are a foster brother and take care of children while their mommy's are sick.

God has big plans for you my oldest son...big plans!!

Next there is Grant....

Oh my..you are full of energy!! Words can't even describe the joy you carry around in your little presence. You are silly and goofy and ornery and such a lover. I constantly hear you singing and giggling. But mainly I worry when I don't hear you at all...

You are full of adventure! I'm am sure you don't even know what the word fear means. In any given week, I find you deconstructing a toy, "cu-lor-ing" with permanent markers I swear you stash away somewhere, and climbing up the drawers in the kitchen with your monkey toes. But you have this side of you that has such compassion and love for others. You get sad when others cry and can't resist the temptation to kiss everyone you meet. Even the checkers at Walmart. I love hearing you call for your big brother when you wake from your nap. "Dor-dee!! Dor-dee!!"

You are amazing my sweet middle boy...and God has mighty plans for you too!

And for the smallest one in our home...

I have loved you since I didn't even know you. I think I cried while praying in the middle of every night, for the first week, as I feed you and wondered about your future. You are so fearfully and wonderfully made sweet Zeke.

You love your brothers immensely! Everytime you see one of them, you shriek with delight! I love watching you army crawl your way anywhere you want to explore. I fear you and Grant will make the perfect partners in crime. I crave your whole hearted chubby-kid giggle.

As the possibility of you being forever part of our family increases...I jump with joy! What a cute trio the three of you make!!

As for Brian and I..we are doing fabulous! We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary in June. My, how that has flown by! I love him more and more every day. I love seeing him with our boys. They delight so much in their daddy.

And onto other projects in our life....our historic house. We have loved you and we have hated you through this last year. After putting so much time and sweat into you..we have decided that during this season of life, we need to part. So on the market you go. In this past year, we have completely changed the looks of you for the better. Another family will come along and love on you as we have!!

Haley

New Pants on the Block

My least favorite request in our house is.."Mom..will you button my pants please!!" I know it sounds so simple, but I get tired of buttoning pants all day long!! So..to prevent more button issues, I made Jordan a pair of pull on jeans. With soft material..since he is so picky about how his clothes feel. He will even only wear Gymboree unders because the other kinds are "scratchy"! I wanted them to mimic real jeans as best they could, so I stitched a lot of detail on the pockets and made a fake fly.

As you can see..I had to cuff up the bottom because they were too long. Got some more hemming to do on these!

And if you give a boy some new pants..he is going to want a new robot shirt to go with it!

I made baby Z some too, but I ran out of thread while I was hemming them...so pictures will come of those later! I did make little bit a cute romper. Well..I have made several. Once I constructed one..I couldn't stop. That meant sewing until the wee hours of the morning, praying my kids would sleep past 7am. Which they never do. sigh..

So wish I could show you his precious face..but for those who do not know..we are foster parents to this sweet little one. I sometimes forget I didn't give birth to him. I don't even like to say we are his foster parents. It is kinda a 'sting' word or stigma when I say 'foster'. God has given him to us, just like he gave us our other boys. We pray he will be in our home forever, but if not, he was born in our hearts..and will always have a part of our hearts.

With that being said...here's our middle bro wearing his obsession shoes. Bish!! Bish!! Translation: Fish!! Fish!! He never wants to take them off. He even naps in them..

Interested in a pattern for the pants Jordan was wearing? I found it here. This is a great pattern for pants. The author tells you how to make a custom pattern for your child based on their measurements. The little romper that baby Z was wearing can also be found at the same site. But, I do have to mention, the pattern pieces themselves are great, but the directions to put the romper together are not so great. The author tells you to construct it so that when it's done and you look inside the romper (the part that touches baby) is full of unfinished seams. Too home-made looking. There is a way to sew the romper together so that all the seams are inside. Which means you construct the romper completely inside out leaving a small hole to pull it right side out when finished. A much better end result, and so much more professional looking. I chose that route when sewing mine.

I am currently making a list of all the summer clothes the boys will need. Several shorts, long khaki pants for church, some shirts and dress shirts. Polo's are on the list, but those will be store bought. Next post, I will give a short tutorial on drafting your own pants pattern, and how to adjust it to your child's correct size.

Toodle-loo

Haley

A great giveaway...

Got to share something wonderful for all you crafty gals out there! The DIY Dish web show is giving away two awesome Janome machines! One sewing and the other embroidery. So..head over and check it out!!! You just might win!!




They also have an awesome show..check it out!!

First Projects...

I have been a busy bee sewing this week! Still have so many things on my list I want to try out...just need an extra few hours in the day! Or night..since I've been staying up late humming away at my sewing machine.

I am always combing through blogs about sewing and crafting. It's one of my favorite relaxing hobbies. Well, I came across THIS one and thought she had some fun ideas! She not only had a pattern for a toddler sized backpack...but it was free! That's right ladies...FREE!! And, it was so easy to assemble with her great tutorial. I found this groovy fabric at Hobby Lobby. It is the new line of fun canvas prints now being carried at HL. The only thing I added from her pattern, is a piece of velcro to keep the opening shut while stuffed full of little boy treasures. And I also double stitched all the seams, because we all know how 'gentle' little boys can be!!

And then I whipped up one of these:

and the cutie pie wearing it....(not the easiest one to photograph!)

He wore it around most of the day..putting in and taking out little treasure all by himself.

More boy projects are in the making...here's a sneak peak of some for little bit and big brother:

My number one rule of sewing...always stop to kiss the head of the sweet little one strapped to me. I think the hum of the sewing machine puts him to sleep!

Happy Sewing!

Haley

And it just keeps getting exciting...

I couldn't be more excited for this!!! I didn't even know February was going to be boy month....and it IS!! Whoot! Whoot! Sorry Brian, you may be sleeping in the bed by yourself this month...I've got a lot of sewing to do!!

I'm Turning A New Leaf..

I've decided to completely overhaul this boring blog. I am a chronic girl clothes drooler. I love the little frills and ruffle bums, mary jane shoes and big hair bows. I'm not giving up hope for those wonderful things one day...but its time to move past it, and fall in love with the cargo pants, dinosaur appliques, and fisherman sandals. I'm going to attempt to blog my creations for the little men in my life. So many ideas in my head..so little time to sew!!

STAY TUNED!!!!

Haley

Yes...we have been busy busy busy with our new/old house. Best thing right now....is big trash day this week! Going out Tuesday evening to find free!!! treasures people are throwing away. Could there be anything more fun???!!!

Haley