My skirt...Finished Object

Here is my Finished Object for this beautiful Friday. I made myself a corduroy maternity skirt this past week. I was very proud of myself...that is actually fit and the seams look very good.

I don't really care for the tummy panel being black but that is the only color I could find. Anyway it gets covered by my "tent" shirts anyway. If you would like to see more finished objects go on over to Chari's blog and check them out. If you have not already you need to visit her blog and see the adorable knit purse she made, she is so amazing.

Ladybug, Ladybug fly away home...

I used to think ladybugs were cute little insects but that is until I spent a fall in Iowa. Every fall they invade our house, yesterday was no exception. It was a very beautiful day the weather was about 60 degrees, the sun was shining and someone was combining bean across the road from us.
When I went outside late in the afternoon this is the sight I saw, a polka dot house. I could not even leave my storm door open to let sunlight in cause they were just coming in a making themselves at home.

Well anyway that is the joys of living in the country. All we need are a couple of good cold days and nights and the problem will pretty well be taken care of. Hope everyone has a good rest of the week. I am off to town and then to get busy making some more Christmas presents that need to be completed by Monday.

It's here...

My new camera arrived yesterday, I am so excited to learn what everything does. I started reading the manual yesterday but did not get to far, Keegan kept wanting to grab it. Well I am off to pack Eric's lunch, the weather is supposed to be nice this week, we are praying they can get a lot of harvest done. It makes for some really lonely nights because Eric doesn't come to bed until after 2 or 3 in the morning but it is worth it since we are over a month behind getting the harvest in. I know it would be appreciated if everyone would pray that the rain would stay away. Well I got to pack him a lunch and work on some more Christmas presents. I have nine gifts out of twenty six done so far.

Week 26

I went to the Doctor yesterday for a checkup, everything is looking great. The baby has a very strong heartbeat and is kicking like a football player. I have to go for another appointment towards the end of November and then I will began going every two weeks. I am getting very excited about being a Mommy (only 100 days until my due date) and am hoping the busy holiday season makes the time go by quickly.

Here I am large and in charge.
I swallowed a beach ball!

I am ready for Christmas...

I know some of you are groaning that I am even thinking about Christmas. But the truth of the matter is I am and there is nothing you can do to change that. I am eagerly awaiting the day I can get my wonderful husband to bring the tree up from the basement and I can enter the world of snowmen, travel back in time to the nativity and all the other magical things that happen during this wonderful season.
I was planning on starting on the decorating the first week of November but now I am going to be taking a Girls getaway trip(more details later) and so the decorating must wait another week or two. I am putting a poll on the sidebar, I would like to know when you do your decorating. Well now that I have said all that I hope everyone had a great weekend, I am off to clean the house and listen to Christmas music.

Finished Object for Baby...

Our baby now has a bib made by Mommy(I just love that name). I have been working on this bib for a while now and just this last weekend sat down and finished it. I thought the bear made a great prop. He was very cooperative. Hurry right over to Chari's blog to see her Finished Object(so cute) and maybe see a few more, we would love to have some of you other bloggers join in and show us more of your finished objects.

It is hard to see but the button is a little white star, I wanted a turtle but could not find one I liked. Now I need to decide what to do with the rest of the yarn, a hat, burb cloth or does anyone have an idea? It needs to be easy because I am not an expert yet. Well hope you enjoyed seeing my FOF. I have to go to the Dr. today so I will update about how baby and I are doing later.

I ordered it...

Thanks for every ones advice on a camera. After much reading and comparing we finally made the decision to buy a Canon ELPH. I ordered it yesterday, Matt said the company ships very fast so am hoping to have it before the weekend is over. I've got to get to reading the manual and learning how to operate the new hi-tech equipment before the first week of November. I am taking a little trip that week, I will give you more details as the time gets closer. Well I am off to work on more Christmas gifts. P.S. Thank you for my Mom's birthday greetings, I know she enjoyed reading each one.

Happy Birthday Mom

Mom, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I love you so much, your the bestest Mommy in the world. Can't wait to see you again.
Love, Eric & Melissa

A great fall cookie

I thought I would try a new Pumpkin cookie recipe from my Gooseberry Patch "Fall, Family & Friends" cookbook. So with a little help from Payton I set out to make some "Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies."

All the ingredients for the cookie.
Can I stir? Can I stir now?
Onto the cookie sheet.
Ta-Da finally finished.

Sorry I did not get any photos of the icing making but my patients and time were running out. They turned out to be very yummy cookies and very easy to make.

Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies

2 eggs beaten 4 c. all-purpose flour

15-oz can pumpkin 1 T. plus 1 t. baking powder

2 c. sugar 2 t. cinnamon

1 c. oil 1/2 t. baking soda

2 t. vanilla extract 1/4 t. salt

Combine eggs, pumpkin, sugar, oil and vanilla in a large bowl; set aside. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture; stir well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each to a 2-inch circle. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or until set and bottoms are golden. Cool on wire racks. spread half the cookies with filling and top with remaining cookies. Store in refrigerator.

Filling:

8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 16-oz. pkg powdered sugar

1/2 c. butter, softened 1 t. vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth.

Recipe says makes 3 dozen, mine made 4.

And the winner is...

Good morning everyone. I know you are waiting patiently for me to announce the winner of the Christmas apron. Sorry I did not get up bright an early and draw the name but this little mama was tired. So now without further rambling I will tell you who the winner is------JULIE. Congratulations Julie, I hope this helps make you Christmas a little brighter. Julie please email me to claim your prize. To some of you bloggers who may not know, Julie's husband is a Marine and is deployed for several months, he will be gone over the holidays and I know this will be a difficult time for them both. Please keep them both in your prayers, I know they will appreciate it. I am so happy that I was able to do something that will bring a little bright spot into these lonely days. And a big Thank You to all who left comments, I loved reading each one. I had a great time doing this give away, maybe I will try it again sometime. Have a great weekend everyone.
P.S. I know some of you thought you were to late to join in but that was my mistake, it was supposed to say midnight Friday night. Sorry about the mix-up.

200th post Give-Away

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...Well I guess it's not quite time for Christmas but someone sure is going to look good doing their Holiday baking if they are the winner of this give-away. I am giving away this cute candy cane apron that I made, it might not be perfect but it was made with love.

Now for the rules of the contest:

1. You must tell a favorite Christmas tradition or perhaps a holiday recipe.

2. You must tell at least your first name, just in case I don't know who you are.

3. All entries must be received by 12:00am Friday.

The winner will be announced Saturday Morning.

Good Luck everyone and I hope this helps brighten someones holiday.

This is also my Finished Object Friday post. Go on over to Chari's blog and see more finished objects.

Tomorrows the Day...

Just wanted to let everyone know that Friday I am having a give-away right here on my blog. I will have a photo of the object that is to be given away and also the contest rules. Can't wait to hear from each of you and to have a winner for this very cute item. Good Luck and see you in the morning.

Camera Advice Please

Good Thursday morning to all my fellow bloggers. I hope you are having a great week, I am having fun making Christmas presents. I have either bought or made four of my presents already. Talking about presents brings me to the topic of this post. Eric and I are going to buy a new camera as our present to each other, we would like to buy it in the next month or so before we take a little anniversary trip. But our problem is we know very little about buying a camera so that is where all you blogging buddies who take great photos come into action. We need some advice on a good camera, we want a smaller one, something that will fit easily in to a purse or diaper bag and also one that takes good quality photos. If anyone has any suggestions we would love to hear them.

And for all your great advice and for just reading my blog I am going to be having a give-away in the next couple of days. I am coming up on my 200th post and have been wanting to do something like this for awhile so now is my opportunity. Check back and see what you could win!

Parade watching with Payton

Are they going to throw Candy? That is the question Payton kept asking me this morning. I went to a small town close by for their Fall Festival and Craft show, and to go to the parade with Payton. I ended up taking her down to watch it by myself because her Mom was helping run a garage sale. We had a great time seeing all the people and floats and most of all getting Candy.
I have had some fun playing around with these photos, I have been using Picnik to edit them. Does anybody know of a better photo editor, I am always willing to try new ones.

Old Glory!
Waiting for the Candy.
Getting stickers from the clown.
The source of the "banging" noise. You could hear them before you could see them

and she wanted to know what the noise was.
Best Buddies Forever!

My finished objects...

Here are a couple of things I have finished recently, so I thought I would join Chari's Finished Object Friday. I started this card quite a while back and just a couple of weeks ago finished it in time for my Sister in-laws birthday. Click on it to get a better view. I know it is not the greatest but I am new to card making.

And here is an other project that I finally got done, a new bulletin board for my Juniors class. The kids will put their reward tickets in the cups and after a few weeks, they can take them out and "shop at the store." Well I am off to work on some more projects.

Beginning of week 24

Here is the view that I see when I look down. AAHH, I can't see my feet any more. Oh Well, who needs to see their feet just wear your most comfy slippers and you look great no matter what.
And here is an update of the baby bump, I know it does not look like it is growing much from photo to photo but believe me it is!
I have been doing great and baby is very active especially the last few church services, I hope that does not mean it is going to be bad in church. All had been going well until today when I almost fainted in Wal-Mart. I have never fainted in my life but I was standing in the checkout line and had to hurry to a bench, sit down and put my head down. I was also having terrible pain in my side, Eric thinks maybe the baby was pushing on a major blood vessel or something. Anyway I called the Doctor and they asked me quite a few questions and then told me that it did not sound like anything too bad but to call if the pain got worse. So needless to say most of what I had planned for the day did not get done because I decided to take it easy and just lay around. I am feeling much better now and hopefully will have no more problems.

Our weekend...

We had a great weekend babysitting the kids, it is good practice for us. They came over Saturday evening and we played, ate supper, gave bath's and just had a great time. They also went to church with us, which went pretty well considering Payton goes every once in a great while with her Grandma and Keegan never goes. On the way home from church Payton told me "When I come to your house again we can go to church." I think she liked it.
Well I guess I'd better go and make my husband an Apple salad I promised him. In other news they have begun some harvesting but not what they would normally be doing at this time, all the rain this spring really messed things up. Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

My finished object...FINALLY!

Well I barely made Chari's Finished Object Friday but I guess it is better late then not at all. I started making this apron a couple of weeks ago and just got it finished today, problems with the pattern and many other things. It is complete and now that I understand the pattern better hopefully the next ones will go easier, I am making them for Christmas gifts.

And now that he is three weeks old I finally have a picture of my nephew, Colter. It is not the best picture He did now want to look at Aunt Melissa and I could not get all the way down on the floor to his level. Well I guess I better call it a night, tomorrow is a busy day, Payton and Keegan are spending the night with us Saturday night.