moving 101

We are moving.

Chris has a new job in Corpus Christi, Texas. We will move at the end of the month and packing is well under way.

I've learned many things while packing for this move:

1) It doesn't matter what you pack first because you will need it and have to open every box you pack to use what is in it at least twice before you actually move.

2) Pack toys first. Yep, toys.

3) Replace the toys with empty boxes and stand back in wonder while your children have more fun with the boxes than they did with the toys.

4) Don't believe the stores when they say they will save boxes for you. This is how I obtain boxes for packing--I ask a store (target or walmart) to save boxes after re-shelving and they tell me when to come pick them up (some obscene hour like seven am). I then don't sleep all night for fear that I won't make it to the store in time to get the boxes. Then, at the store I learn there was a "communication error" and the boxes have all been crushed. So why do I do this? Because once or twice they actually do save boxes for me and I get free moving boxes by the shopping cart full.

5) Selling unwanted furniture is easy if you want to give it away for free, but impossible if you want to sell it for money.

6) Be as organized as you want, but you will still have to reopen boxes to add items that somehow didn't make it into the designated box (ie: the tennis racket Chris has hidden in the bedroom that is not packed with our other tennis rackets.)

7) You can not eat everything in your freezer if you wait until the week before you move to start planning meals around what you already have.

I'm sure I will learn more before we actually move, like whether or not hiring movers to load and drive our everything we own is a good idea. I'll let you know...

my star

Yesterday my little girl graduated from preschool. We were lucky to have her attend Little Busy Bodies Preschool. There were only five children in the class and the teacher, Miss Amber, was fantastic.



Ella loved preschool. She loved playing with her friends, doing arts and crafts, and learning.

There was a graduation presentation on the last day of school. The children sang their three favorite songs to us and performed Caps For Sale. Ella was lucky enough to be the peddler and I thoroughly enjoyed watching my girl be the star of the show. Here, you can watch it too...

click here: Caps For Sale

I love my big little girl.

reversible no tie Mei Tai

I recently made the best baby carrier ever! I combined a couple different patterns to make my own and love it so much that I have made this tutorial to share the joy. See how happy it makes my son?

Mei Tai carriers are for babies six months and older. They can carry your baby on your back or your front with the baby facing you.

Traditional Mei Tai carriers use really long straps that wrap around and tie in place. I prefer the simple buckle method. I cross the shoulder straps to distribute the weight better and cinched the waist buckles over to one side for easier solo access.

I made it reversible for added fun. Now it will match any outfit I wear =)

Reversible, No Tie Mei Tai

Materials:

1 yrd Heavy weight fabric 60" wide. (canvas, denim, duck cloth)
13”x14” outer fabric (quilter’s cotton is fine)

13”x14” inner fabric (quilter’s cotton is fine)

2 yrds 1” webbing

2 1” back pack buckles
1 wide back pack buckle

Fleece (for padding)Cutting

Webbing:

two 26” long strips
two 3.5” long strips

Cut:

canvas:

51” x 11” (one of these-for the waist strap)
32” x 12” (two of these-for the shoulder straps)6” x 5” (two of these-for strap attachments)
13” x 14” (for the body)

Fleece:

two 12” x 19“one 12” x 24”

Sew:

Fold the fleece pieces lengthwise so the two raw ends meet in the middle. Then fold in half so there is a 3” wide, four layer thick pad. Stitch together briefly just so it keeps its shape.

Fold 1/2” on long sides of all straps (waist, 2 shoulder, 2 strap attachment)

Iron.Fold shoulder straps in half lengthwise so the folded edges lay on each other on the inside. Insert a the 12” x 19” fleece pad in each folded shoulder strap. (Place the pad five inches up from one of the ends of the strap.)

Sew along both edges of the shoulder straps 1/4” from edge and again 3/4” from edge. The fleece pad should fit inside without being sewn on by these stitches.
Fold the strap attachment in half lengthwise and sew down both long sides 1/4” and 3/4”.

Fold the waist strap in half. Sew along the folded edge 1/4” and 3/4”. DO NOT sew the open edge together yet.

To sew the 26” long webbing to one end of the strap attachment--overlap by 1” and fold down edge. Secure with rectangle with an x inside. Attach the male half of the 1” buckle to the webbing. Fold down the end of the webbing (3/4” or so) and sew in place--this keeps the buckle on the webbing.)Repeat for second strap attachment.

To sew the 3 1/2” webbing to a shoulder strap--slide the female half of the 1” buckle to the webbing and fold the webbing in half. Sew ends together to trap the buckle in place. Fold down the edge of the strap and overlap webbing onto the end of shoulder strap by one inch. Center the webbing and fold the sides of the strap in to cover the webbing and over lap on each other (see picture).
Fold down the top corners of the canvas body. Overlap the end of the shoulder straps onto the corners by two inches. Attach by sewing a rectangle with an x inside.
Attach the strap attachments right under the shoulder straps. Secure by sewing a rectangle with an x inside.

Lay the canvas body down on ground. Fold the four straps onto the body so none of them stick out the sides.
Lay the outer fabric face up onto the canvas body.

Lay the inner fabric face down onto the outer fabric.
Pin together.

Sew with 1/4”-1/2” inseam along top and down sides. DO NOT sew edges where straps are attached.

Turn right sides out. Pull straps through holes.
Top stitch with 1/4” seam around sides and top of body. (Fold fabric in where straps are to make look nice and protect edges from fraying.)

Insert bottom of mei tai body into remaining fleece pad where it opens lengthwise. Fold waist strap over pad and overlap onto the body of mei tai. Sew along the edge of the waist strap 1/4” and 3/4”.

Attach wide buckle parts to ends of wast strap. Fold down ends and sew to protect edges.

TADA:

best bath toy ever

I came across this idea on another blog (I wish I could give credit to this blog, but I don't recall what blog it was.) You buy the colored foam sheets at the dollar store and cut them into shapes.

These foam shapes make the best bath toy ever. They stick to the wall when wet and fall down when dry and they don't stain the wall. They provide never ending fun as long as you have an imagination. Eli likes to stick as many on the wall as possible and Ella likes to create pictures from the different pieces. It is a great way to learn shapes and colors too. I just can't praise this enough.

windsock/jelly fish

We did a craft today. I forget how much children love to make things. My goal is to do more art with my children. I've already done some blog hopping and have a list of craft ideas. Today was the first from my new list. We made mini wind socks. I believe this project came from Family Fun Magazine.

Eli said it looked like a fishing pole. He caught a jelly fish.

Ella liked dancing with hers.

my yogi.

Perhaps I did too much yoga while pregnant, because I think Rhys is doing yoga. Would this be up-dog or plank position?

Or maybe he's trying to show me how tall he is. He can't stand but he can stretch way up on his tippy toes.


Or he could be playing London Bridge is falling down...


I guess he could be learning to crawl. Should I tell him he's doing it wrong?

Easter

We had a great Easter this year. Ella taught us the Easter story in Family Home Evening--I was truly impressed by how much she knew. Ella and Eli spent the week before Easter practicing hiding and finding plastic eggs. Eli gave his binkis to the Easter Bunny (!!!). And Chris even made it home from his night shift in time to join in the Easter egg hunt.