UPDATE: Mouse 'A'

Miss A was kind of enough to model her new hat for us!

Despite her odd expression and the strange angle that I took this picture at, she really doesn't mind wearing it all that much!


Haven't tried it out with her whole costume yet and not sure if I will until it's actually time for trick-or-treating so we're all going to have to wait until then to see it!

Hey, there! Hi, there! Ho, there!

Last year I couldn't decide what to do about Miss A and her participation in Halloween-type activities. On one hand, D and I really try to establish and maintain core Christian family and lifestyle values that are very much the determining factors of how we live and what we do. Though it seems as though the decision to participate in Halloween-type activities might not seem like a big deal, we looked at it from a different perspective. Did participating mean that we were condoning some of the dark themed elements of Halloween that were the polar opposite for what we strive to believe in? Did participating open us up to maybe falling into other things that we never believed in at first but would end up believing in by proxy and thereby compromising our personal values? We really weren't sure what to think. And since neither the church that we belong to nor the school system where I'm a faculty member condone the recognition of Halloween because of some of it's historical connections, we've been on the fence about what to do. Lots of other Christian families participate in some of the festivities of this season but how do we fit in with that?

After a lot of discussion with D, we ended up deciding that letting Miss A dress up and show off her costume to friends and family - whether it's during trick-or-treating or not - didn't necessarily make us believers of some of Halloween's dark themes and ideas. And thus we began the brainstorming of what kind of costume she could have!

We tossed around lots of ideas between last year and this year some of which were the following:

• Tootsie roll
• Princess Leia
• Yoda ( I know! This was Dave's choice over Princess Leia.)
• A peacock

Last year it ended up being decided that Miss A would be a penguin strictly because we happened to find a really cute pajama set/costume of penguin styling for really cheap! It was a big hit and I was so glad that was how it played itself out. This year though the major determining factor was this adorable outfit that Miss A got from Aunt H and Uncle J at her 1st birthday. It was a really cute Carter's skirt and top set of black/white/red color combo that looks exactly like something Minnie Mouse would wear! And since Miss A did very much enjoy the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show, we decided to just go with it and make her a Minnie Mouse/Mouseketeer.

To complete Miss A's outfit the only thing that I really had to do was make her mouseketeer-style ears. And since I cannot break myself away from being practical, I decided to make them in the shape of a hat that she could definitely use throughout the cooler months/season. I started making this last week sometime but gave up part way through when I got to the ears because they just wouldn't work. The whole thing was almost "frogged" (as they say in needlework terms) because of how frustrated I became. Thankfully, last night I figured out how to get over the hurdles that I was coming up against and finished it in no time!!

Wish I could show you a picture of Miss A modeling it but she was sleeping and I didn't dare wake her. Perhaps it's better this way though because then I will be able to show you her completely dressed up. What do you think? The bow was quite possibly my most favorite part of all to construct. It's beautifully shiny and the widest satin ribbon that I could find! Perhaps I can use the excess to make a pretty rose for another headband...

What's wrong with this picture?

Oh I love Miss A like nobody's business but I don't know that my heart (or my sanity) could take more than one of her! Could you imagine four of her all at once? Here - let me help you...

I really hate good-byes

Today was a sick day for me! I wasn't feeling well anyway last evening and then I spent all last night and into the wee morning hours up dealing with Miss A. We think she's cutting some of her bottom teeth and though she's being a real trooper about it all, it's definitely cut into what was once a very nice sleep-all-the-way-through-the-night schedule for me.

So today I woke up at my usual 5:30AM (after I had gone to bed for good at 4:30AM - mind you!) and I knew almost immediately that I should probably stay home instead. I could barely focus my eyes much less walk in a straight line to get myself ready for work! I stayed up for a little while longer to get Miss up and ready to go with D and then I crawled back into bed and fell asleep for a solid six hours straight!!! It was WONDERFUL!!!
I'm still a little tired but I feel 110% better than I did this morning and I've managed to do three loads of laundry, clean up the kitchen, mop the laundry room (with the water that accidentally flooded it - UGH!) and also run the dog around the yard a little.

While I was outside enjoying what I'm sure will be one of the last warm-ish days of the season I noticed a smattering of dandelions in the yard and pulled my camera out to capture them. I know the end of summer has come already and we are officially in autumn now but I can't help but feel like it's only now that really we're finally having to say good-bye to it. So bittersweet...

See the heart in the center of the dandelion? I was able to find just the right angle to really get its shape just right! If that doesn't capture the essence of what summer really is, I don't know what would! I like this picture so much that I think I might get it printed and hang it someplace in the house! :)
Anyway...

Time to bring on the hot cider and sweaters and scarves and fleece jackets now!!! Always a bright side to things, right?

Miss Piggy

Before I ever knew I would end up with children (because there was a time when I had sworn off marriage and/or kids - but that's for another blog posting), I fell in love with the work of Tom Arma. Do you know him? He's kind of the opposite of Anne Geddes who is a whole heck of a lot more fun! And ever since discovering him, it has been a secret dream of mine to have a child who enjoys dressing up in ridiculous costumes for no reason whatsoever.

Boy did I hit the jackpot with Miss A!!!


I picked up these masks from the dollar bins at Target. I got a monkey one and a piggy one. Ever the pink lover, Miss A completely latched onto the piggy one. And though she won't wear it on her face, she LOVES wearing it on her head visor-style. And we just happened to have some pink piggy footed pajamas so when she wears the whole get-up together? She's a walking piece of Tom Arma inspired creativity!!!



I absolutely adore her!!! She is the best EVER.