Accelerando: January 2010

I jokingly told me boys last night, that by the time they are raised, I'm going to need a BIG room just for costumes. They have spirit days & pep rallies throughout the school year that require some new and creative costume for me to make for them. This weeks' theme for the elementary was something to do with Noah's Ark. Personally, I think my boys are a little big to be dressing up like an animal....soooo.....they are dressed like a hammer and an ark today. I was very happy that these costumes cost NOTHING to make. I had the brown fabric leftover from a children's worship theme I did years ago. (It was actually stored in the attic!) The silver fabric was scraps leftover from a Mr. Goodbar costume made for Simon last year. For the animals, we used little people animals and the blue water is a rib knit hand-tacked onto the ark. I'll take that off when he comes home and store it back with my knit fabrics! :) It took a couple hours on 3 different evenings this week to make these. I'm happy they are finished and the boys love them. Can't wait to see the other costumes when I go to the pep rally later this afternoon!!

Seth wanted water/waves for his ark. I thought it was a very creative idea! I love it when the boys get involved in their costume making!

Mr. Hammer, with his sidekick, Mr. Nail

Mr. Nail was Simon's idea! :)

Samuel turned 5 last Sunday, January 17. He had talked about his birthday for WEEKS!!!! Thanks to some wonderful ladies at church, Samuel had a big lasagna dinner and a chocolate birthday cake. My mom & I went out shopping late Saturday night for a few gifts for him. He was one VERY excited boy after church to open his presents and eat his special meal! I can hardly believe my baby boy is 5 already!!!!!

~Seth & Grandpa watch Prince Caspian~

Samuel LOVES construction equipment!

Mommy & Callie sang "Happy Birthday" to Samuel!

The construction playmat I made for Samuel the day before his b-day! I found this fabric on clearance at Hobby Lobby and thought it would be the perfect gift for Samuel. He LOVED it!

Daddy bought Samuel a new John Deere tractor set. I hid it under the perfectly smoothed out playmat while he wasn't looking. When he turned around and saw the bump on his mat he had to fix it.

He was excited with his find!

Callie plays with Samuels Hot Wheel set from his Uncle & Aunt.

A neat game from his Grandpa & Grandma McIntosh. We've all played it with the kids! :)

Seth takes it easy.

Samuel playing with his birthday gifts.

Callie begged Samuel to let her play with his new toys. He was NOT happy with sharing with his little sister.

Samuel's birthday dinner compliments of a wonderful couple at our church!

Samuel blows out the candle of the cake made by another lady in our church.

Samuel being silly!

Callie hid when I tried to take her picture.

~The story of the Candle~

Once upon a time, a mommy went shopping. It was the day before her sons' birthday. She had no gifts, no cake and no candles. She had spent the last several days in the hospital with her oldest son and had no time to plan a nice party for her youngest son. Late Saturday night, the mommy went out shopping with her mommy. They bought lots & lots of liquid food for the oldest son. They bought gifts for the youngest son. The mommy decided to splurge and buy a 'fancy' #5 candle for the little boys' cake. She got home and put the candle down. She wrapped presents and got the table all ready. Someone came and brought dinner and a cake for the candle. They even brought a can of candles for the mommy to use. The mommy said, "No, that's okay! I bought a candle for his cake." She gave back the can of candles. The gifts were opened. The food was eaten. The cake was brought out. Where was the candle? It was NOWHERE to be found. She searched high and low. She had every member (minus Seth) of the family searching for the candle. She was very sad when it could not be found anywhere. She scrounged around in her drawers and came up with one lonely balloon candle. That would have to do. The candle was lit. The pictures were taken. The candle was blown out. The mommy said, "I imagine we'll find it sometime later." Sure enough, it was discovered on the fooseball table underneath an instruction booklet for the Hot Wheel set. So mommy sent the now 5 year old boy off to get his picture taken with the #5 candle that missed being put on his cake by a few minutes. The candle is now stored away in the drawer in hopes that it will be found to put on a little girls' cake in 2 years time!