Tea Party and Thanksgiving outfit...

Today Kayleigh put Willy in his Sunday shirt, nice pants, and broke out the Christmas tea cups. It was adorable...Willy was listening intently to her explain how to "properly" hold his cup, take a sip, and put it back on the saucer. They kept saying "cheers!!" Willy kept trying to talk in a deep voice...with big words!! Sometimes they make me laugh!!



Here is a picture of Kinsey's Thanksgiving outfit...finally!! I bought all different color polka dots this year and made turkeys out of them. I made a few for some friend's children, a few for the store and sold a few on etsy. I love love love this pattern!! I also found some denim fabric on the clearance rack for 2.00 per yard at the local fabric store. I have been wanting to make Kinsey some ruffle pants out of denim...ones she can wear dressed up for church or with a shirt for everyday. I decided to add some lace...so cute!! Great outfit for less then 5.00!! Sewing your own clothes can really save money!!

Look at her modeling pose...she cracks me up!!

We have a tradition in our family of hosting Thanksgiving...we pack everyone in...my family, my husband's family, friends....anyone!! We started deep frying our turkey a few years ago when we raised our own for 4-H. Yummy...if you have never had a deep fried turkey you are definitely missing out!! It only takes about 45 minutes to cook a 12 pound bird!! We also decided to try our hand at a smoked one this year. My parents gave us a smoker last year that was my grandfathers and we have been dying to try it out. We started a 12 pound turkey at 7 a.m. and it was ready by 2. It was delicious!!

Anyone that knows us well knows that after dinner is finished we all head back outside to the hot oil and "experiment" deep frying other things. With a simple pancake batter you can deep fry oreos (yum!!), twinkies, candy bars, brownies, even pickles and onions...

We are all so full after dinner and dessert we settle in for some games and conversation. This is one of my favorite days of the year...food, family and a million reasons to be thankful!!

This year the girls helped me make thankful trees...I sent all the kiddos out to search for branches and twigs. We filled 2 mason jars with them wrapped the jar with ribbon and used the cricut machine and some festive fall paper to cut out our leaves. We punched holes in them and put them at each place setting. Each guest filled in what they were thankful for and helped us decorate our trees. They turned out great..I will post a pic soon... We kept them on our table for the past couple of weeks and love to read and re-read what everyone wrote...we truly have a lot to be thankful for!!

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season!! Only 17 days until Christmas!!

Blessings,

Rhonda

New Designs in the Store...

New styles added to my etsy store:



Two-Piece Christmas tree outfit...Appliqued shirt with ruffle pant...so comfy and cute!!

Owl Appliqued dress...I also have a shirt with ruffle pant option coming soon...I had so much fun picking out fabrics and designing this owl....

Hello Kitty shirt...My girls love this design...I decided to use felt and hand embroider around the edges.

Christmas Tree Pillowcase dress...I love this fabric from Michael Miller...Fun colors, so cute with a turtle neck and tights!!

I have a few more I will post later this week...I love designing for the holidays and I love that I can make the "example" pieces in my daughters size and kill two birds with one stone!! She has some adorable new clothes and I have some examples to take pictures of for the store!! I just ordered some fabric and leggings for Valentine's Day :) Looking forward to designing some cute new things!!

Hope you have a blessed week!!

Rhonda

One more: Black shirt with black and red damask Christmas tree appliqued on. I made the cutest skirt to match for Kinsey...with dark red ruffle fabric...if you haven't seen this stuff you must check it out!! rufflefabric.com...so fun, so easy and so stinking cute!!

I'm Still Here!!

I know it has been FOREVER since I posted, amazing how fast time goes!! I'm still here, we are all still fabulous and I am as busy as ever!!
School is going well...the babies are loving their crafts, letters, numbers, and math books. The girls are settled into a good routine with school and activities. We let Kayleigh go back to gymnastics one day a week...amazing how much she has lost in 2 1/2 years...she loves being back but is sore and tired after her class.
I am sewing like a crazy woman...mainly at quiet time and several hours in the evening. I am blessed to be busy on etsy and in the boutique. I am also preparing for my first ever craft show in 2 weeks. My goal is to take 50 onesies, plus blankets, hats, socks, hair bows, and leggings. I hope to make enough for Christmas. I will let you know how it goes...


Here is my latest pattern...so fun!! A reversible cape for little boys....size 2 or 4. I am making one for Willy for Christmas because dressing up is one of his favorite things right now!! I am also going to design one for Kinsey in pink with a crown on it. She loves all things princess!!

Here are a few pics from Halloween...we had so much fun this year!! The girls designed their own for the first time....Shelby was a Diva..and Kayleigh was a farmer!! The babies were supposed to be Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, but when our neighbor gave Willy this Spiderman costume he wouldn't wear anything else!! Pick your battles is my favorite motto these days...so I counted my blessings that I only had to make ONE costume this year!!

So fun!!

Have a blessed week,

Rhonda

Fall!!

It is Fall here in Colorado...has to be my absolutely favorite time of year!! We have started the fire place and settled in to a great school routine. My husband is so prepared...we have a full wood pile and piles ready to dry for the next two years!! He stocks up when he hears of someone with a tree that needs to be cut down or when a customer of his has extra wood. We have never had to pay...such a money saver all fall and winter!! Willy loves to be his helper this year...stacking wood as Daddy cuts it or splits it.


Our 5 chickens have started laying eggs. So fun for the kids to go into their nesting boxes and find them!! Another great money saver...my kids love scrambled eggs, hardboiled eggs, and cakes and cookies baked with eggs!! We are giving some to friends and neighbors because they accumulate so fast and who doesn't love farm fresh eggs??!!





Shelby loves to cook and she is getting quite good at it. She spoiled us all this week with oreo pudding pie!! Yummy!!

I began Christmas sewing...seems to be creeping up on me this year. I love making gifts, outfits, and Christmas decor. Fall is a great time to start because some days it is too cold to go outside and sewing, crafting, and baking sound so fun!!

I hope you are all having a blessed week!!

Rhonda

Homeschooling and our annual Sand Dunes Trip

So today I thought I would give you a look at our homeschooling day...now I know each day is different, but I am a planner by nature. So, our day "normally" looks like this....
We start school at 9:00 am....everyone is dressed, had breakfast, made their beds, and completed their morning chores. We always do math first...I think because the girls have always loved it and because it is something that takes up a large chuck of our day and is good to get out of the way. Math usually takes an hour. We use Horizons for the younger years and start Saxon when they are in 3rd grade. I started the girls a year ahead...they were ready for it and I am thankful they have gotten a firm math foundation and are ahead of the game, so to speak. Then the girls can do whatever is on their lesson plans next. This includes reading for 30 minutes from our Sonlight readers, handwriting, grammar, science, geography, spelling, and history. We usually break for lunch around 11:30 and finish around 2:00. This year with the babies has been wonderful...I plan preschool activities for them in the morning until lunchtime, then they have free play time in their room or outside. Then the girls have free time and the babies have "quiet" time for an hour.
Shelby volunteers at a local vet clinic one afternoon a week, the girls have piano and guitar one afternoon, we visit grandma at the library one afternoon to check out books and movies, Kayleigh has drawing lessons one afternoon, and we try to spend one day just vegging at home!!

On Fridays, the girls go to a fabulous homeschool program with other homeschooled children. This program has been such a blessing to our family. The girls are able to take science labs, P.E. team sports, art, robotics, and other subjects that are taught by teachers who are amazing and passionate about what they do. The class sizes are usually less then 10 kids, who could ask for more??!! I am able to spend an entire day with my parents and the little ones.


A Tradition we have is to go to the Sand Dunes in our camper every September. We wait until school has started, when it is empty, and spend 4-5 days together. We all look forward to this trip and we make so many memories...





Here is Willy after a day at the Hot Springs Pool...we just discovered it this year and had such a blast playing in the pools, going on the slide, and jumping off the diving boards!! Last year we found a great hiking spot that has waterfalls, and the year before we went to the alligator farm. We love to explore new places!!

One advantage in going in September is the changing colors...I love Colorado this time of year!! God's work at its finest!!

Here are the girls at our favorite picnic/sledding spot. We discovered this a couple of years ago. It takes a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get there, but so worth it. Streams, tall sledding hills, picnic spots, and fun!!

Here are the girls at the top of our favorite hill...

So thankful and blessed!! So many memories made sitting by the campfire at night, singing songs, telling stories, snuggling, eating smores, and laughing!!

Have a blessed week!!

RHonda

Sewing, school, and some fabulous news!!

What an awesome week at our house!!

Here is a picture of the Girl Sock Monkey shirt I just added to the store...I love Sock Monkeys!!





It has been years since I have taught preschool and I forget how much I love it!! Each week we do a letter of the alphabet...we start with A and end with Z. Each day I try to plan crafts, activities, and they use their dry erase boards to write their letters. Last week our letter was "C" and Grandma Smith was so sweet and dropped a treat off everyday for the babies. Here are a couple of pictures...they loved it!!

This day she dropped of crayons and cat coloring sheets....so fun!!

THis was our favorite day....Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Candles!! Yummy....we even ate some for breakfast....

Here is some good news.....

Here is a picture of Thanksgiving 2009...the day before we found out Kayleigh had a tumor. You can see in this picture her right arm bent. This was the day she told us she could no longer move it. The day my mommy instincts told me something wasn't right. Little did we know a large tumor was growing just above her elbow, inside her bone. It was hollow and she had a large hairline fracture thru it. She is one tough little girl!! After 5 days in the hospital, 8 bone biopsies, 16 appointments with an orthopedic specialist, xrays, and physical therapy....we are proud to announce that Kayleigh is officially tumor FREE!! So thankful to close this chapter of our lives...so thankful for family, church, and friends who stood beside us, prayed for us, brought us meals, babysat, and loved on us. We have seen God at work, not only in Kayleigh, but also in our family. We are much closer, so thankful, so blessed. It is in times of trouble you find out how strong you truly are. How strong your family is...

Hope you have a blessed week,

RHonda

Happy Birthday Kayleigh!!

Happy 10th Birthday Kayleigh!!

My Sweet, funny, gentle, caring daughter turned 10 today. She has had an awesome Birthday this year. One I am sure she won't soon forget...many fun memories were made.

My husbands boss gave us tickets to the local water park, Water World, and we were able to spend an entire day with just the big girls going on some pretty amazing rides!!

Kayleigh also had the opportunity to spend a night with Daddy at the Zac Brown Band concert!! They were able to get really close seats and had an amazing time together!!

We also had a triple family party...we celebrated Willy and Kinsey turning 4 and Kayleigh turning 10 with their grandparents, aunts and uncles. We are so blessed to have such a close family.

Kayleigh has been asking for quite some time for an old-fashioned typewriter. The old kind with no plugs or wires. Grandpa and Grandma Smith were able to find one for her birthday at an estate sale and she was soooooo excited. I can hear her most nights and mornings typing away!! (she leaves little "notes" for me everywhere!!)

I am finishing up 8 etsy orders the last two days!! So thankful for the opportunity to sell what I make, to be creative, and to have alone time most evenings!! Finishing some new things for the store...will share those later this week!!

Rhonda