Tuesday, December 28, 2010

holiday highlights


we did a lot of cooking, baking and creating this holiday season...

making/baking gingerbread and sugar cookies...






a quick trip to Zoo Lights. it was freezing and we weren't dressed warm enough so our stay was brief but impressive as last year...


making buckeyes...



the goods for posole...






opening some gifts Christmas morning...


Monday, December 27, 2010

Star Wars Legos Freeco Speeder


Think I'm just laying around, doing a whole lot of nada during my week off? 
Of course.
But first order of business on our first morning together was to build the Freeco Speeder (Anakin Skywalker's jet flying thing). Last night Woody showed me the ropes as we built the Echo Base as a family (w/ a Tauntaun and everything).

177 pieces!


Yes! 


I think it took about an hour. 

The instructions are Ikea-style: pictures, no words. (dear legos, please spend a little more on printing, as light grey and dark grey aren't easily distinguishable in the little booklet. thx.)

It was in fact, a fun way to start the day. 


He liked it too...

Friday, December 24, 2010

a Christmas miracle


Please behold the rollie pollie in Christmas mode! 
Yes, finally.
This new cover just did not want to get made.
The original version, while lovely, had some construction issues that needed addressing. Primarily, I didn't sew the zipper in well. So my uber-helpful, very fine sewist mother sat down for a couple hours and took out the zipper for me during one of her visits in September. 

(the naked rollie pollie)

But me and the green version could not get our groove on and I couldn't get the zipper back in. So now it's in a pile waiting to be something else.

So then Owen picked out new material @ Ikea.


Of course, I didn't buy enough so we went back and he had to pick something different.

Anyway, last weekend I was almost done. I just had the last circle part with the handle to pin on (a serious feat), zigzag the edge (I don't have a serger), turn it right side out and sew on a top seam. 

Multiple interruptions ensued to find lost star wars legos and ask terribly important questions like, 'mom, why does Chewbaca have a bow and arrow in my video game but in the movie he has a gun and a bow and arrow. He should have a gun in the video.' OR 'mom, I think I know how I can battle the At At's in my video. If I just...'

Should have looked for Star Wars material. Hmmm, maybe that will be the new birthday version in July.

Anyway, you know where this is going. I forgot to turn it inside out and sewed the stinkin' cirlce on the RIGHT side. UGH. So, so sad.

A few days later I got over it and sat on the couch for a few hours and ripped out the seam (I had sewn over and over and over the handle to secure it).

Last night they all went to grandparents place and I had uninterrupted time to finish. 
Whew! Hooray! Merry Christmas!


I leave you w/ my sweet dreaming Moo-moos. When dream time comes a-calling she's flexible w/ wherever she might be:



Saturday, December 18, 2010

sew/handmade-fest in progress

Dear ones,
I'm busy. 
Sewing. Crafting. Cooking. Handmaking things. (Also taking care of little ones w/ fevers and naughty attitudes and such).
In lieu of my own post I implore you to read this one. Right now. 
You're welcome.

xoxo,
kkm

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Polar Express

 Last Sunday we took OM and our nephew AJ on the Polar Express: a train ride from Hood River to the north pole to see Santa. 

When they finally opened the train station doors and the conductor bellowed out, "all aboard" Owen and AJ's eyes widened in amazement and I tell ya, it was the most endearing sight ever. They were SO excited and couldn't believe they were there. 



The fella that took our picture here made us all say 'I believe' and no one was having it. I said it to be polite. :)









The helpers handing out cookies and hot cocoa (very tasty btw, I wasn't expecting much but they were just right).





Collecting tickets...

O holding out his ticket...

The conductor excessively punching holes in the ticket and showering O with them...



AJ getting a better view of the snow and Santa...




The hobo from the book/movie...


And finally, Santa. He gave all the kids a jingle bell:)


They jacked around for most of the car ride but in the end their little bodies were tuckered...

Happy Holidays!