I Just Need Some Elastic

These are the words The Professor hears from me as I head out the door to the craft store.

I think he's no longer surprised when I come home with this. No, that's not all from one trip, but it's also not all I came home with. Between the patterns I bought at $1.00 a piece, and the fabric for $1.50 a yard, I couldn't pass up these deals. That's 17 yards of beautiful, adorable fabric just waiting to be used for my next project - right after I get back from the store, I just need some buttons.

On A Roll

I will no longer fear the buttonhole. I will no longer fear the zipper (ok, I may still fear the zipper a little). I will no longer not buy the cute pattern I see in the pattern book just because it requires a technique I've never done before. I will sew clothes and they will be cute despite my lack of sewing knowledge. And before I start to get too proud and the Lord humbles me with my next sewing project, I'll just show you the finished dress.

Comic Book Writers In The Making

Our kids don't eat fast food very often, and when they do, we usually try to avoid the "happy meal" thing. However, last week I wasn't feeling very well, so The Professor stopped by my favorite chicken serving fast food restaurant and picked up dinner. The item that came in these particular kid's meals was a comic book. I'll be honest here, I've never understood the whole comic book thing. I don't get them, don't find them the least bit entertaining. I graduated from the whole picture book thing in elementary school, but to each his own. Maybe I'll have to get my comic obsessed brother to explain the whole phenomena to me someday. So where am I going with all this? Well, needless to say, my kids loved them and immediately wanted to make their own comic book. We helped them come up with a story line and figure out what pictures needed to be drawn to portray the story. We had to do the drawing for them, but almost all the rest of the creativity was theirs. Here is the result of mine and Patty's collaboration.

I know, before you say anything, I am aware there is already an Ant Bully. Patty was adamant that this be the name of her villain. He is apparently no relation to the Ant Bully in the movies. This was so much fun to do with the kids and I learned that it's not as easy as it would seem to just sit down and crank out a comic book. One thing that did help though was these printables. Petie's isn't finished yet (it's the whole coloring issue) and honestly, like many things he starts, it probably never will be.

Trick-Or-Treat

We had a fun time taking the kids out Trick-Or-Treating. This is actually the first time I've ever gotten a chance to go out with them. In the past The Professor has taken them out and I've stayed home to pass out candy, but this year we all braved the bitter wind and went out together.

Patty chose to just wear an old dress up outfit of hers. She didn't care that it was ripped, she still wanted to be The Little Mermaid.

Petie was a Ninja - a costume we bought on clearance last year that I can't believe held up all year.

Peanut was supposed to be a fairy. Here's where my little bit of advice comes in. If you have a two year old who is in the beginning stages of potty training, don't let them put their costume on until right before you head out. As you can tell, I didn't follow this advice, so she ended up having to wear this too small ladybug costume she wore last year.

Penny was just along for the ride sporting this adorable Tigger costume that all the siblings before her have worn at some point.

We hope you all had a fun Halloween. Cold as it was, we had a great time and have consumed more than enough calories to make up for the walking we did.