I hate curtain rods

So, I thought I should resurrect this blog in the hopes of getting more blood flowing to my creative brain.  I recently got a sewing machine for Christmas.  Well, it was really for Nubbin to use - if you remember, Nubbin is my oldest son.  He's 9 now, so I may have to come up with a different name.

Anyway, I decided I'd make curtains for our playroom... Mind you, it didn't matter that I'd never used a sewing machine by myself before.  After 1/2 hour of 'threading the bobbin', I figured out how to stitch with it.  Not straight, but I did learn to stitch.  Now to make curtains.  I figured it would be easy.  I can make rectangles right?  Well, after internet searching and conferences with ladies who were well versed in the art of sewing (aka mom and my dear auntie), I took the plunge.  I bought curtains from the Goodwill store for 3.39.  Not a bad investment except there were only two.  My plan?  Simple.  Cut the curtains in half, sew it down the middle.  It initially seemed daunting since I could barely sew in a straight line. 

But, to my surprise, it was easier than I thought.  My hems were turned in twice and I figured out how to rip a seam to make my curtains longer (darn 9 foot ceilings).  I'm feeling really good about myself... until, I have to hang the curtain rods.  I need explicit instructions, not this 'it's your preference' stuff of where to put the rods.  Oh, and apparently, my inability to sew straight line extends to my ability to draw a straight line.  Despite the crutch of a level, I still don't know how to make a line.  Now, I know why none of my windows downstairs have curtains.  This sucks.  Well, back to the grind, but I will post pictures if I can get them up... mantra.  don't hate the rods, don't hate the rods. 

Give Them An Inch...

...and they take the whole mile.  I decided to let the kids pack their own lunches as I've seen many of my friends and neighbors do.  They're 5 and 6 and fully capable of doing this chore.  This comes on the heels of Nubbin asking for more chores in order to earn money. 

Well, Nubbin did a great job.... turkey and cheese sandwich, apple slices, chex mix and a cookie for snack... Fafa?  well, let's just say I'm coming up with guidelines this afternoon for healthy choices to 'help' them make good decisions.  He packed 2 cookies (one in it's own ziplock bag), apple slices and water.  He was quite pleased with himself, so I didn't steal his thunder... but, husband's concern made me think that I should have laid down the ground rules beforehand.  More independence will give them confidence right? 

There's a Logical Answer To All This

I thank the stars every day that I grew up speaking English.  Not because I'm elitist, but because the rules of the English language are just too complicated.  In English, rules are meant to be broken.  The 2nd son is my rule follower, even when it comes to language.  

We were playing a game the other night and Fafa was reminding everyone what place they came in during the game.  I, of course, was last.  As he's rattling off the places, he says, 'And mommy "comed" in last'... In our language, 'come-d' should have been 'came'... It really does sound logical when you think about the rules.  When he's talking about 'third', he also says, 'three-th'... again, it really does make sense.  Alas, I pity any non-english speaker... we really did make it harder than it should be.

Because You Asked Me

My New Year's resolution is to find a hobby... oh and a job.,, and be a better wife... well, I should probably quit while I'm ahead. So, I'm resolving to start this thing back up again. Here's the first picture of the new year. Can you tell that the boys have grown since the last post?

We're too old to play dress up.

Husband and I had a costume party on the night before Halloween. We went dressed up as Jack and Jill after they fell down the hill. Husband used his crutch from last year and I wrapped my ankle in a bandage... you can't tell from this, but we tried to smear some 'dirt' all over us to make it look authentic... thanks Sissy UncleT for all the help with the costumes

Halloween night I went as a rocker chick... really, I just wanted to borrow my neighbor's wig for the night... brought back many memories of strangely colored hair.

Happy Halloween

Halloween night - Nubbin is a bat and Fafa wanted to be a race car driver. I made Nubbin's costume out of an umbrella and Daddy made the hat with light up red LED's with the ears on top. Nubbin didn't wear the hat for long, but it was the coolest part of this whole costume.

Preschool Halloween parade for Fafa's class - dinosaur costume was too cute and he kept pulling it up because it was too long in the back.

I'm the room parent for Nubbin's kindergarten and took pics of the kids before the book character parade (the public school's version of a Halloween parade)... Fafa wanted to be part of the party too and he wouldn't get out of the picture :)

This side up only

Husband picked up Fafa by his waist and was trying to flip him upside down. However, Fafa forgot to mention that he had been playing in the neighbor's sandbox and had decided to put sand in his shirt pocket to 'save for later.' heehee. sandy daddy :)