Last Minute Valentines

Here on the Island if you are not shopping 1 month in advance you can forgot being able to find anything you need.  We finished shopping for Christmas before Thanksgiving.  Anyone who knows me knows I function best last minute and in a crunch - I think because I am forced to focus.  I don't like to slowly work on anything.  Projects get all of my attention until they are done.

Currently my project is a quilt (oh, and taking care of a baby and 3 kids and a husband - you know - laundry and stuff).  So, I have not been thinking about Valentines day, until it was time to make them.  I didn't want a project.  So first, I avoided looking at any blogs for ideas (so glad I did).  Second, we will just buy the goofy ones from the store - none to be seen.  I couldn't even find a conversation heart.  Third, come up with a quick  - make the kids - happy idea.

They couldn't be too girly.  Origami Envelopes with Tokyo Tape and Chocolate Hearts.

Face Painting

At the Dental kids Christmas Party they offered face painting.  This is what my kiddos chose to have painted on their faces.

 Nothing says Christmas like blood - Maybe he got run over by the sleigh?

A skull, cross bones and a snake - super Christmassy (is that even a word?).

Sorry - these pics were forgotten on the cell phone until this week.

The Nursery Rocking Chair

I have been really slow to post the finished pictures of the rocking chair we refinished.  I wish I had before pictures.  It started out in  pieces in a 5 gallon bucket.  I snagged the pieces from my Grandma's basement, it was an unfinished project of my Grandpa's.  Jason figured out the puzzle, replaced a piece or two and then it waited for me to get around to doing something with it.  So I brought it here to finish up and to use. This is the first time I have had a rocking chair that I have used for rocking a baby to sleep.  Tennyson just needs a little more snuggling to get to sleep than the others did.  We have loved it.  The re-upholstery job is not perfect - we don't have many tools here.  The next time it gets a face life I will have my Mom and my Grandma handy to help me make it look even better.

Any ideas of what to do with a bunch of tacks?

The Pursuit of Beauty

I think a universal human desire is find or create greater beauty in oneself.  It is a billion dollar industry and worldwide.  Here are a few off the shelf beauty aids I found here in Okinawa.

Here we have a "belt" to wear at night to keep your face from sagging.  I recently read that running can make your face sag (bounce and gravity), maybe we could start wearing theses to run in.  The other item is used to roll away cellulite.  Charlotte and I like that it is pink, Jason thinks it would be better if used for a massage.

Nose too big?  They also have something similar for your mouth (forgot to get a pic) - too narrow and it will widen you smile.  If your smile is too wide it will pull it narrower.

These are the ultimate for your face - I think they fight wrinkles and help your skin - keep your night creams in place for more effectiveness.  As you can see - they do have lots for the men as well.

Dental Visits

During the Holiday break we took the three older kids in for a dental checkup.  It was the first time Grahm or Charlotte had been to see "The Dentist" - Jayce endured a visit while "The Dentist" was in school.

They all enjoyed getting a few X-rays.  Tennyson and I bounced around in the hall and tried to keep the other two children entertained with whatever I had in the Mary Poppins Bag that day.  So far so good - No Cavities!!

Football

Football season is in full swing for us.  The boys have spent December practicing and gearing up for the season and now we enjoy practice twice a week and games on Saturday.  With both boys enjoying their first season of football it keeps Jason busy.  We are lucky that they practice the same days of the week at the same field one after the other.  Jason plays catch with Grahm while Jayce is at practice and then they trade. 

They are in different age brackets.  The crazy thing is that they are both Packers.  I guess I had better go buy some green and yellow to wear.  Half the season they both play games at the same time, which is too bad - but then it is only 1hour of our Saturday. 

Any one who knows me knows that I try to keep things looking brand new for as long as possible.  They came home from their first practice covered in mud (new cleats and my car!).   Quick initiation into the club.

The Next Big Project

Here is a peak at what I will be busy trying to get done in between feedings and naps.

Photo courtesy of http://www.mccallsquilting.com/articles/Candy_Apple_Pinwheels

The Circus

If Jayce ever tells me his going to run away and join the Circus, I might have to actually take him seriously.

 I think with some time and practice he could really creep me out with his ability to bend/fold, etc...

Caution Label

I know I shouldn't make fun of their attempt at an English translation.  I really appreciate it when they do, it makes figuring out what to do with things much easier.  However, this Caution Label made me chuckle.  It is on the back of some plastic Japanese alphabet pieces (they look like alphabet magnets - but without the magnet).

The third one is my favorite.
And what will the missing parts do?

Christmas Morning!

A Be-lated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Every time I try to finish this post Tennyson has other plans for me.

This Christmas we invited over Jason's tech - her husband is deployed.  Christmas is no fun without family and little children.  She was a huge help Christmas Eve!

Jason was again in charge of taking pictures and video (he had his hands full and the kids don't hold very still - so some of the pictures are blurry).  Here are some of my favorites.

 Grahm wanted Power Rangers and also found a Leapster Explorer and Camera attachment under the tree.

 I think I will be doing some craft projects in the near future!!!

 She loved the scissors more than anything else, they have interchangeable blades so she can cut decorative edges.  The are all plastic - so hopefully only paper.  Her new hair accessories were a gift from her cousins.

 Jayce made the switch to electronics this year.  He asked for a Nintendo DSi.  One of the favorite activities is to take pictures and distort them - yes my behind has been stretched.  BOYZ

She really wanted a Strawberry Shortcake doll (I remember mine).  Santa gave her Lemon Meringue and Raspberry Torte (he messed up, so Mom and Dad fixed it after Christmas - she didn't seem to mind). 

The girls found this under the tree and Charlotte has been cooking every since.

Tennyson and her first doll.  Hair accessories from her cousins.

Santa put all sorts of balloons in the stockings this year.  Jason has been busy - mouse balloons, whistle balloons, tie dye balloons, ...

This is a shampoo hat.  Grahm hates to wash his hair, he doesn't like water on is face and the idea of soap in  his eyes is more than he can handle most days.  Washing his hair is now fun.

Watch out American Idol!   Modeling a new outfit from Grammy.

Multitasking - balloons and Lego's.