some fallish things

I finished up these apples last night, after taking the girls outside to collect sticks for the stems. This little garland is hanging in our dining room. Sure makes it feel like Fall :) The rest will be given away to visitors who happen by.


The pattern is from the book, Sew Pretty, Christmas Homestyle, in case you were wondering.

Yesterday, I took the kiddos out to collect some leaves and it was great fun for us!

Even Kelby, although he mostly just played with his shoes :)

The skirt Natalie is wearing is one I just made for her out of a dress that I had. Sooo easy, I have plans to do this to a few other of my dresses, instead of just giving them to charity.


That night, we made some leaf rubbings. They turned out pretty! The girls thought this was a pretty cool trick.

Pine Cone Pets

Sometime last Spring, the kids and I went on a little picnic and Natalie started collection pine cones, with the intention of making "pine cone pets." I have NO IDEA where she got this idea, but she has never let it go. FINALLY, last night, I busted out the felt and googly eyes and pine cone pets morphed into these little pine cone people. It was lots and lots of fun and the girls have been acting out scenes from The Little Mermaid II with them ever since :)

We made this little lady for Papa for his birthday box. What a cutie!

He made and loveth all

Yesterday's reading in Daily Strength for Daily Needs had the following poem:

Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth,
Speak peace to my anxious soul,
And help me to feel that all my ways
Are under Thy wise control;
That He who cares for the lily,
And heeds the sparrows' fall,
Shall tenderly lead His loving child:
For He made and loveth all.
-Anonymous

What a needed reminder that our ways are not hidden from the Lord and His sovereign plan is in the works, even in periods of waiting.

A few things I've been working on--some more nine-patches and some little apples--some for a garland for our house and the rest to give away. The kids are going to help me scavenge outside for some stems :) Feels like Fall!!!

We did something fishy :)

So, this post wins the prize for the most pictures I've ever put on one post :) We went to the Downtown Aquarium last Saturday. It was SO much fun and refreshing for all of us.

Here's Granny and the kiddos posing with Sharkie.

Layla touched a stingray! Not Natalie, though, she's my scaredy-cat.

Jelly Fish. Ooooooh, pretty.


Look, there's Nemo!

Kelby watched fish, while eating Goldfish. Only appropriate, right?

oh, so girly...

I made my girls some new nighties. Just for fun :) My friend Jenn sent me the light pink kitty fabric and I got Layla's at a garage sale last summer. They loooove them. I bought some fun corduroys yesterday to make them some Fall skirts and jumpers next. I have lots of posts up my sleeve, so I'll be back tomorrow night with some pics of the kiddos at the Downtown Aquarium!

backing up a little...

Before I left to visit Casey, I managed to finish this beauty. It's been quilted, bound, washed and gifted! My Aunt Teddi loved it. I knew she would :) Giving away quilts is sooo much fun. On to the next surprise! I won't be blogging about the next gifty quilt because it would totally give it away. Don't worry, though, I've been itching to start some Christmas things, with the weather cooling off and a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte in my hand ;) so I still have plenty of things to show you!

Here's the back. Pieced together with what I had. Actually this stripe that my friend Jenn sent me is what started the whole color combo in the first place.

I spent the weekend...

...with this handsome dude :) I left the kiddos with both Grandmas and flew out to Richmond on Thursday to spend the weekend with my hubby. We drove up to Washington D.C. on Friday (my first time!) and saw the sites. We stayed in a super nice hotel and Casey walked my feet clean off. We got a chance to practice our mad photography skills while we were there ;) I was SO glad I carried on my whiz-bang camera!!

Casey took this one of the window washers. Not a job I would want--ever! but someone has to do it.

Here's Casey at the WWII memorial. We both had Grandpas who fought in WWII so we were proud.

LOVE this one of Casey at the Lincoln Memorial. My favorite part, I think.

I was continually amazed at the sheer size of every building and monument that we saw. Amazing.

Our first time doing this too! Pretty fun. It's a shame every big city does not have something like this!!

The rest of the weekend was spent, relaxing, chatting, eating and shopping :) I was NOT ready to part with Casey for another 6 weeks (finally, the home stretch!) but I was very ready to be back here with my little ones.