This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -Soulemama
-Jenny, my sister, I love you so much and am so happy you were able to visit. Miss you lots!!

Porch sitting... in December!

So, Kansas, I guess I'm alright with no snow on Christmas, as long as it's in the 60's. We are porch sitting right now and have been all morning. We might even get to go outside without our winter coats today.

Hey there...

we are hiding out! As family is here visiting we are letting Christmas linger on just a little bit longer. Posts should be more regular by the first week of the new year. Oh, how I love this restful season.

Oh, come let us adore Him

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

surprise!!

Amidst all of this Christmas gift making, I've been able to make a few more things for sale... that is baby carriers! I've been wanting to do this for a while and finally it's all coming together! I'll be selling slings, wraps and mei tais at a very resonable price. I think every mom should have at least one baby carrier and not have to worry about the price. So here it is! My little etsy shop!!
I hope this is fun!

nesting: part 1

I've been making new corners in our home along with some new art and some new books. I'm reading for my doula training starting in February!

Christmas Making: part 5

Even the dog gets some mamamade knitting around here. Jasper, for the most part, is an inside dog. This dog sweater was made just for fun, was a super fast knit up and is very stretchy. Here is the pattern used for it, I think you have to be a ravelry member to view it.

Christmas Making: Part 4

This was an impromptu knit. I was just playing around and ended up knitting dear Elli a sweater. It's knit with Bernat's Roving and has vintage buttons for closures. It was simply yoked and the only seams were under the arms. This sweater is super stretchy and does fit her well. For now, though, it's wrapped and under the tree waiting for Elli. I enjoy making baby sweaters, especially the ones that only take a few hours.

Christmas making: Part 3

This year right before the tree went up, I HAD to make garland. I had seen Soulemama make it in years past, but instead of making an icord, I just put two balls of yarn together and chain, chain, chained. I think I chained for about 45 minutes until it was long enough. I bet this would look really pretty with some really sparkly yarn- just a thought.


Then this garland was made, which might just stay up all year. It's made from recycled sweaters and just adds that element of handmade to our home. Amanda shows how in her newest book that I love so much, Handmade Home.

Christmas Making: Part 2

I've seen little handmade quilts all over the web and have always wanted to make one, (or many :)). Through our new church I joined a group called iMom and last week we had our Christmas party. We were told to bring a $5 gift for the gift exchange. This miniature quilt was given along with some handmade soap from Mullers Lane Farm. Whenever I make anything, whether it be a doodle, baking or an intentitional gift, I always pray for the reciever. It is very easy to keep God in mind in whatever I'm doing and is just something nice to do for others. How amazing it was that at the end of the gift exchange, my very good friend, (the first to ever come to our house here in KS,) recieved it!

Christmas Making: Part1

These simple watercolor paper bookmarks were made about a week ago back in IL. They have some of my favorite bible verses and a little bit of artwork on them. To finish them off they have handspun yarn from Mullers Lane Farm for the tassel. These ended up being Christmas gifts to old high school friends that I hadn't seen in years.

This moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. -Soulemama

Toads in November

Last week, while we were in IL there was crazy weather! We missed a tonado and got to be outside in 72 degree weather during late November. Even the toads came up from the river at my dads house. Of course, the weather changed drastically and within a few hours we had temps in the high thirties.

Art in the house

Addysen has always been a little artist. She's been able to test and use an array of media since I saved all of my art supplies from college. She prefers to paint. Every day. I love it. I have a huge bin of the works I save. Sometimes I even sit and paint with her, baby permitting.

Addy also likes to paint her body. I'm okay with that as long as she doesn't have clothes on... On this night, she was very quiet and I knew she was up to something. When I found Addy, she had painted all over her belly. She had lifted up her shirt to do so and was trying her hardest to not get it on her clothes. She still was though, so I set Elliot down and ran Addy a bath. About thirty seconds later, I realize Elliot was all too quiet. She found the paint tray and decided to have a snack... (non-toxic paint of course!! But why, dear Elliot?) Elliot went into the bath as well right after I snapped this photo.



I try to incorperate art everyday here. Especially if one of us is feeling grouchy we just quiet down and use our hands. Elliot drew her first picture not too long ago. I've got to make some pudding so she can finger paint because she just might try to eat the paint... :)

Home again

We are all so happy to be home again. How I love knowing just where everything is to bake and cook in my own kitchen!! So many pictures to come of this last trip we've came back from. I hope verybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

It came!

It's here. The UPS fairy put something in my hands today that will forever change our lives. Addysen now has an insulin pump. I have so much learning to do becore we get to use it, but it's HERE. I've got workbooks complete and pump classes to schedule. We've got lots of phonecalls to make and praying to do.

Last Friday when we left for IL Aaron and I were unsure if Addy was even eligible to get an insulin pump since we just switched endochronologists. Now I have it in my hands and am just astounded at God once again. He just loves us so much:)

Posts on here might get a little infrequent and may just be a little bit more about this permenent guest we have in our lives called diabetes. Of course holiday making will show it's face as well... My hands just never stop making.

Addy's pump

Hi!
I have some exciting news!! Addysen has a prescription for an insulin pump.
This means that after a two week trial using saline, (but still doing insulin through shots,) Addy would then have a site that insulin would go into and I would change that for her every 2-3 days!! This would cut her number of pokes down from up to 6 times a day to a fraction of that. The diabetic aspect of her life would become much easier. Of course it would be a little bit more for me to get the hang of but I am so ready to do this for her.
We've been trying get a pump for her since June. In theory, Addy should be controlling her diabetes with pump therapy by Christmas.
We are just so excited for her and happy that we don't have to hurt her as much. Addy's such a tiny little girl and managing her diabetes can be really hard/frusturating. Just last night she dropped from a blood sugar of 202 to 115 in 10 minutes- not good! This next step in keeping her healthy is huge.
Addy's been diagnosed for about 6 1/2 months now and it is such a life changer. Just learning about food and what it does to our bodies is amazing. Whatching your own child go through a disease like this can be haunting yet so empowering. Addy is by far the strongest person I know... and I'm her biggest fan. Much more on this as we go through the switch from syringes and pen needles to an insulin pump.

making, making

there has been lot's of making going on here in Kansas. A lot of baking, as we are trying to save money on snacks. Also, lots of knitting, crocheting and of course sewing. Here is a little preview of a gift that's almost done for one of my oldest friends. She just became a mama.




And, since Addy went as a kitty on Halloween I thought she would like a kitty hat that she could wear more often. And she does. She says its itchy but will wear it outside if we go anywhere. There are bells on the ends of the ties. I did not use a pattern,just winged it again... I searched all over ravelry but couldn't find a pattern. We like it:)

picnicking

A few days ago we picnicked in the rose garden, played in the leaves and smelled all the beautiful roses.

Happy Halloween

Happy Birthday, Dear Elliot!

She's one! I cannot believe it. It seems like I just had her and now she's romping around, playing with her sister.

My dad was here over the weekend so we opened presents from him and mailed in presents from my mil then. She's also been wearing her birthday sweater all week!



Her birthday shirt was appliqued and a tutu was made in honor of her first year:) This peg bear was made using the pattern in one yard wonders. He even has a bell in his belly. Addy named him (her) Rosalita.

Remember Addy's birthday banner?


After a birthday dinner of mac n cheese and bananas, homemade applesauce spice cupcakes with browned butter frosting were eaten. She is one. Oh how I love homemade birthdays in this family.

Third Day!!

Aaron and I got to see Third Day last night. This was his first time and my second. God is amazing. Worshiping Him is a second close. Here are a few pictures from the show.

Max Lucado^


Micheal W. Smith, Toby Mac & Mac Powell^


Do you know Jesus? I do and would love to tell you about Him:)