Notes from Our House

Reporting from Fort Logan... The dining room table is just the right height for a baby-sized hide-out. Logan thinks it is funny when I peer down at him through the glass.


Look at me holding up a tree!

This kid can crawl fast.

The older three have been wanting to learn how to sew, which is something I don't have a handle on myself. My cousin Julie has agreed to get us started on sewing using the book Buckles and Bobbins for the boys and Stitches and Pins for Sophie. We have James' Grandma's old sewing machine which I need to take in to get fixed. Years ago I tried to use it, but the bobbin thread got snarled inside the machine every time, even after I had it adjusted. It did the same thing for Julie when she tried to use it. For the kids' first lesson, Julie showed them the tools we will be using and explained their use, demonstrated how to thread the machine, and had each of them practice that much. After the machine is repaired, we will continue...

Logan enjoyed the sewing lesson in his own way.

One evening this past week, Evan announced "I just finished Redwall."

I asked, "How many times have you read that book?!"

"Six" he replied, "but I skip over some parts that I know really well like sword hunting."

"What!" interjected Matthew, "That is the best part!"

Fake Food

In my recent egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free culinary adventures I have been pleasantly surprised by a food that at first glance did not seem fit for human consumption.

Fake cheese.

As a child, I detested imitation cheeses such as "American" or "Velveeta" which I sometimes had to eat anyway, because they were cheaper than the real thing. (I know! Poor me.)

Anyway, my longing for pizza led me to consume soy "cheese" in spite of its unappealing, clammy, gelatinous texture. Admittedly, I won't eat it cold, but melted on top of a gluten-free pizza, it is a reasonable facsimile.

On the other hand, my hopes for "Rice Dream" or "Soy Dream" ice cream standing in for the real dairy treat were dashed by the aftertaste. Yuck. Just yuck. But maybe what is bad for the tastebuds will be good for the waistline. ;-)

Dress for All Seasons

These two pictures show some long-sleeved dresses that my daughter wore during cool weather. (Admittedly, the lavender dress was a bit big on her at the time of the first picture, but it was spring, and she wore the dress throughout the following winter.)



And below are the same dresses altered for warmer weather! My daughter will grow out of the dresses by this coming fall, but the short sleeves add to the time that she can wear them.



The light colors and knit fabrics allow these dresses to span the seasons. Works for me!

Momsense

Here is a hilarious video that I saw over at Smockity Frocks and just have to share:

If You Were a Fly On Our Wall...

"Pillow Talk"

James: "I'm glad that I married you."

Me: "I'm glad that I married someone who lives in Colorado." (...Cracking myself up.)

James: Good-natured laughter

(I'm so glad that I married someone who enjoys my teasing.)



"Pillow-Talk" Part Two

Me: "I don't ask for much. Just get me something gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free."

James: "'Nothing' is easy!"


During the Televised National Spelling Bee

Matthew impersonating a judge: "Spell 'nonsense'"

Matthew impersonating a contestant answering: "Khwoihtksdtl"

(Get it? He made me laugh!)


Overheard on a Daily Basis

Any given member of this family: "Evan would you please stop singing Christmas songs?"

Sophie's Nature Journal

I scanned in Sophie's journal entry about the American Coot and posted it at Sophie's Side. Feel free to read it and leave a comment!