Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Teaching the Kids to Sew

It all started with the Personal Progress Pouches that my sister saw online. She wanted to make one for her niece for her birthday and wondered if I could show her how. I saw the site and didn't really like the pattern. So I made up my own. My daughter liked it so much that she wanted to make up her own. She had such fun making it that she wanted to make one for her entire beehive class. That's 11 girls!!! Needless to say she is using this to pass off a 10 hour project in her personal progress book. Up above is her second one! She is really getting the hang of sewing and wants to do more.
I started from pattern making, to cutting to sewing! She did great. For the project I am helping her out with the cutting and ironing. the sewing alone will take up the 10 hours. Well it started a sewing frenzy in our house.
Seeing his sister sewing and creating made him want to learn how to hand sew. I have taught classes at the local elementary school and my kids were there. But they were never really THAT into it. Now he really wanted to learn. So we started with a pattern. He wanted to make mittens for his sister or brother to play with. I had him place his hand on a piece of paper and bubble traced mittens (making sure to have plenty of seam allowance and wrist room. Then I had him cut 2 pieces out of felt. I then showed him how to thread a needle, make a knot at the end and make a running stitch. He did an excellent job with his running stitch. they were surprisingly very even. I was really impressed! The needle, thread and knot was a bit hard to grasp but maybe next time.Charlotte loved the glove so much that she wanted to make her own set. I let her use her brothers pattern and told Sam to show her what to do. She traced and cut out the pattern and then I showed her how to thread a needle, make a knot and make a running stitch. She, like Sam did a really great job at the running stitch. She was very ambitious and made 2 gloves. She plays with them all of the time.Jack loves the mittens too!Scott wanted to make a bean bag voodoo doll (silly boy).They all did a really good job but the house needed to be cleaned after a long weekend, dinner needed to be made and Family Home Evening needed to be had. I was really tired by that time. After a full day of home schooling, teaching the kids, I forced my self to round every one up to clean, made a super easy meal and assigned FHE assignments. We recapped last weeks family song "Come Thou Fount" that Nina taught, the boys made up a bowling game from plastic cups, Charlotte lead the Wheels on the bus and Rick and I helped the kids memorize the first verse of D&C 4. Scott needs to memorize all of D&C 4 before becoming a deacon. We finished off with some easy and yummy cake mix cookies!
Luckily I had a lot of energy that day because it was all used up. The next day I had none! Can't wait to get my old self and body back!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Trick or Treating, a Family Affair!

We went Trick Or Treating at my sister's new house in Moorpark! I was really tired from a 7 hour work day and in my 9th month of pregnancy. I had to get out of my house. My house represented (at that moment) a place of endless clean up! I had to get away from it (this nesting thing is really hard with 5 kids, home schooled in a tiny house). My wonderful sister made us dinner, meatballs and spaghetti! Here Jack is eating them. It was really funny to watch. He is really into theatrical eating and even makes cute little piggy noises for an even greater effect!Uncle Jeff lent Jack his head light to go Trick Or Treating! Rick, Jeff, and my parents took all the kids around while my sister and I got to talk, relax and pass out candy! My idea of Trick Or Treating while this big and fat :) Even Rick was in a silly mood :)Uncle Jeff bought the kids some make up and Wyatt and I went to town on the kids faces! A Pirate Zombie Sam, A Hooded Zombie Wyatt and a Zombie Park Ranger Scott. They all made up these outfits!Nana even got into the Halloween Spirit! Isn't she awesome! Princess Bride Charlotte and Maleficent Charlotte!The Trick Or Treating Gang!

After scoring a bunch of candy Rick and Jeff took the kids to a Haunted House. These creative neighbors have been putting this free event for the local kids for years! Charlotte cried and the boys loved it so much they waited 45 minutes in line to go again!!!

We all talked til late afterwards while the kids played and watched movies. This is my idea of fun..Good company, good times!