Masquerade Ball

We had some mandatory fun this past Christmas for Jason's work.  The Christmas party was a Formal Masquerade Ball.  Jason looked dashing in his tux.  The kids thought he looked like James Bond.  We won the award for Best Couple Masks.  It was fun to get dressed up and go out without the kids.  I thought I would share the pictures that someone took of us the ball.

Another Harry Potter Wand Tutorial

Grahm asked for Harry Potter wands for Christmas.  Jason and I could not even think of buying the plastic model and I was not going to shell out the money for the nice wood version.

I know there are lots of tutorials out there.  I might have even done mine the same way as someone else, without realizing it.  I read a tutorial that made the wands out of paper and decided that paper would save my kiddos eyes, but be broken in .5 seconds.  So I used the ideas, but used very long chopsticks as the base.  One day Jason will have time to carve some, but by then they will have moved on to other interests.

How to make your own Harry Potter Wand:
You will need:
Chopsticks in desired length (mine are 13" long)
Heavy duty scissors
Hot glue (lots of it)
Hot glue gun
Fine grit sandpaper (120, 150, or higher)
Spray Primer
Craft paints in desired colors
Spray clear coat
Jar
beans or rocks
Opt:  Kitchen torch

Step 1:  Cut off the sharp point of the chopsticks.  There was no science behind how much I took off.  I didn't want the ends too sharp.

Step 2: Lightly sand the finish off of the chopsticks.

Step 3:  Warm up your glue gun.  You will start applying glue where every you want it.  I started on the handles.  I put some on and then kept rotating the chopstick to keep the glue from dripping off or forming any shape I didn't like.  I rotated it in a circle, end to end.  Just keep it moving.  You will get the hang of how the glue is going to act and you will be able to manipulate it to get the shape you like.  If you end up with something you don't like you can easily rip off the glue at this point.  Or grab you kitchen torch and warm the glue back up (it is okay if it browns a little on the outside).  Keep adding glue until you are happy with it.  (I fell in love with hot glue again.)  For the Elder Wand, I used a plastic chopstick dipped in water (too keep the glue from sticking to it) and as the glue cooled I poked the glue to make indention's.

When you are happy with it, place in jar with beans or rock to keep the glue from resting on anything until completely cooled.

In the picture you can see the Harry Potter wand in the back and the beginnings of the Elder Wand.

Step 4:  After you have the shape you want take it outside and place in jar with beans and spray with a primer.  After it is dry you can take it out and hold it while you spray the end.

Step 5:  Use the craft paint to paint your wands as you desire.  To darken the grooves, wait until the base coat is completely dry and then dab darker paints in the grooves and quickly wipe off excess before you soften the base layer.  Use lighter colors and darker colors to mimic the look of real wood.  It is hard to see in the pictures.

Step 6:  Place in jar of beans outside and spray a clear coat to protect your hard work.  Again, hold it to spray the end after the handle is dry.

We still have not had any accidents with our wands.  The kids enjoy playing and casting spells.

Photos for the girls

I wanted to have one year old pictures of Tennyson taken in a light pink dress that I was smocking for her.  Problem 1, it took longer than I thought to find the time to finish it.  Problem 2, life was crazy after it was done...  so the pictures are more like 14 month old pictures.  

Oh, and all you photographers - please give me pointers on what I need to improve on.  And Grandmas which ones do you want for your walls.

Charlotte turned 4 so these are her 4 year old pictures.  Well, I need to do retakes.  Even though it was cloudy, it was still too bright for her.  All of her pictures she was super squinty, except this one.

The balloons got away.

Larger than Life

So, I have spent a few years coveting all the beautiful canvas pictures everyone has on their walls.  Wishing I had the money and the picture to forever want on canvas.   Then one day earlier this year, I came across a picture system that was the answer to my problems - cheaper, big as I want, and because of the price I don't feel too bad about replacing it every now and then.  It is IXXI.  

For Christmas we ordered the picture I wanted.  In fact it might be one row too wide and one row too long.   My kids are now larger than life on my wall.  I smile every time I see it and can't wait to have a house again were it will fit even better.

Putting it together and hanging it was so easy.  No nails or screws in the walls.  Each piece is printed on plastic, so it is durable.  

There is an even cheaper option.  There are software options that will cut your image into smaller pieces that you can then print out on your home printer for a similar look.

Christmas in Japan

The best part about having Christmas in Japan is that we are usually done opening presents here while our families in the states are celebrating their Christmas Eve.  So we can rub it in a little that Santa likes us better because he visits us first.  We are definitely counting down to Christmas 2014 - In 2014 we will be with family (10 Christmases without our families is a long time).

Charlotte's Christmas wishes consisted of a "binky" baby (baby with pacifier), pink wig (pictures to come) and a fairy wand.

I decided that Tennyson wanted a baby to bath with, a teddy bear and a Japanese toilet seat.  In these pictures she is growling at her Teddy Bear after she noticed it under the tree.  They of course became fast friends.

Grahm wished for Lego Pirates of the Caribbean Wii game, Ninja clothes, and Harry Potter wand.

Jayce requested a Chemistry set, Lego Harry Potter DSI game (the second one), and Star Wars Lego Ship.

Jason was blessed to receive the Doctor Drill-n-Fill, now he can practice whenever he wants.  Santa also brought some clothes and a glass fishing buoy.

Santa brought me a rice cooker, a baby carrier and the coolest picture of my kiddos (I will share later).

I loved having the chance to go to church on Christmas Day, it is to bad that our church does not offer Christmas services every year.  It helped me feel like the day was about more than Santa.  I am so grateful for the birth of our Savior and His life and example.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

We wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  We hope you enjoy the kids being home for a few days and all the traditions!
The template for the card can be found at Simple as That.

(By the way - Jayce was supposed to look annoyed (it fits this age) and Charlotte didn't feel well).

Tackle Football

The season is finally winding down.  We have 2 events left, trophy ceremony and Round One (fun day).  This was an intense season of football.  They started practicing in September.  The first 2 weeks they practiced every night for 2 hours.  Jason was gone during the first few weeks and I thought it was going to kill us, I had little kids getting sick at practices and trying to keep them happy for 2 hours.  Towards the end of the first weeks Jayce wanted to quit,.  I talked him into waiting until Jason was home so he could help him out.  I could only kind of help.  The couch cushion was a great tackling dummy (the big one with a little elbow in it!).  It helped a little until Jason was home.

Jayce did really well for a month or so, he was enjoying the games and practices.  Then suddenly he was sour again and we struggled with practices off and on until the last 2 weeks of the season when he really wanted to quit.  He decided to hang in there for $50 (no complaining was required).  Towards the end of the season he was playing for almost every offensive play.  He had come along way.  Their team is ranked #1 in the league for his division.  It is always fun to be on the winning team.  Our team won every game except the 2 we tied.

At his teams banquet he was given the award for Biggest Heart.  I can't think of a better award to win for an athlete.  They commented that they thought he was going to quit and hung in there and that he never cried (I think all of the other boys cried at least once).   You should see his arms, he is getting way to big.

Sumo Grahm

This was a really fun event the school sponsored.  I have a new appreciation and understanding of Sumo Wrestlers.  They might have belly's, but they are solid muscle.  They can even do the splits.  Sumo Wrestling is a sacred sport.  If I understood correctly it was meant to be getting back to nature - just man vs. man.  After their demonstration they let children volunteer to try out some of the moves they were shown.  Jayce did not get selected during his assembly - but Grahm did.  It was lots of fun.  I am glad I decided to go.

PS -  I turned on my heater today, finally!!

Thanksgiving Program and Honor Roll

Grahm performed in the first grade Thanksgiving program.  They recited several poems and songs.  It was cute and Grahm was a cheese ball.  Tennyson wanted to get to him so badly during the performance.  He is growing way to fast.

Jayce pulled through after he realized grades are serious business and ended up on the Honor Roll.  We are so proud of him for working hard.  

School Projects

I have a hate love relationship with big school projects.  I love them because I get to spend a little more time with my kid working on something together (and the crafter in me enjoys it).  I hate them because, well... they are work and one more thing in my already busy schedule.  We have a had a few this past month.

Jayce was assigned an Indian project.  Jayce wanted to do a poster, the crafter in me hates them.  So, I persuaded Jayce to build a replica of a dwelling.  We of course chose Cherokee (that is the tribe Jason belongs to).  After doing some research we started building.  We had to enlist Jason's help on the construction of the bones of it all.  We tried to not just have it look like a replica, but be built correctly as well.  We were close, but not exact.  I had fun and I think Jason and Jayce did too.

Grahm was assigned to make a vest out of a brown paper bag.  It was part of his costume for their Thanksgiving program.  We made it the day before it was due (of course).  I didn't like the design so I started trying to get it to lay down like a vest should.  We had it looking nice.  Grahm was a little nervous of it after I had verbalized that I had made it wrong.  I offered to get another bag and re-make it correctly (I was even hoping, then it would lay better).  He said no and ran off to play.  Well at 8:00 am the next morning (30 minutes before we need to leave) he announced that he was going to be too embarrassed to wear the vest we had made.  Why did he have to pull that card, why didn't he just say he didn't like it.  So we scrambled to finish packing lunches and made another vest.  At the program I saw lots of different looking vests, the first on would have been fine.  Oh, well.

Jayce was recently assigned to make a clothespin doll.  Why?  I still have no idea.  Jayce chose to make Harry Potter.  This was an easy project and I really was able to stress being careful each step of the way so the final looks good.  Lucky for Jayce his mom has a huge scrap bin and we were able to find black fabric to make a cape.  His teacher tried to keep it!  Now he is hanging on the tree.