Pile of Pajamas

Not sure why but the word "Christmas" stirs up a compulsion to make pajamas for the grandchildren!

I used to make matching pj's for the clan but found I got mighty bored sewing on the same fabric hour after hour.

For the teenage.

For the babies.

For the girls.

For the boys!

This year I went with a variety of flannel prints scarfed up on Black Friday 2010. Not much left of that stash now! I sewed basic elastic waist pajama pants and then embellished ready made long sleeved tees to match. Two pairs of the 14 were already mailed when the photos were taken.

I thought this was a lot until I met a friend with 49 grandchildren! She is making them all personalized pillowcases!

Christmas Time's A Comin'

Starting to get in the holiday make-a-thon mode that I seem to think is a good idea every year.  

Not sure how much will actually get done in time for December 25th, but this little dress feels like a good start.  

Diva-fied

Thank you, Chuck E. Cheese... where a kid can be a diva.

"K" is for Birthday

Lucy was invited to her third birthday party since moving to Hot Springs.

Her friend's name starts with "K", so that's what we made.

 Tutorial:  Monogrammed Pillow

}Enlarge your letter of choice using Microsoft Word or other document program as big as it can go while still fitting on an 8"x11" piece of paper.  Print the page-- this is your pattern.  

}Cut (2) of fabric and (2) of fusible interfacing.

}Iron interfacing to the wrong side of each fabric piece,

}With right sides together, stitch around the entire letter with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving a 4" opening on the outside edge.

}Trim corners and turn letter right side out.

}Use a chopstick to push corners out.

}Stuff with stuffing and sew up 4" opening.

Sometimes, a Girl Just Needs...

Things have been a little rough around here lately. 

Lots of change.  Lots of uncertainty.  Lots of hurrying up, only to wait.  

I've started working evenings and miss being home to make sure things go smoothly for dinner, bath and bed. I miss having that intimate end of the day time with the kids to chat about important things and read stories.

Living in limbo has been hard on all of us, but especially Lucy, who thrives on stability and routine.  I have been trying to think of ways to help her adjust and cope.  Last night, I got the feeling that she needed some extra attention.  We put her hair in curlers, painted her nails and I pulled out an Oliver + S Ice Cream Tunic I'd been saving for Christmas.  She is auditioning for the school musical today and I wanted her to feel extra confident.   

 Speaking of the school musical... she misplaced her script last night and was in a panic because she was suppose to have a small part memorized for the try outs.  So, guess what I spent the better part of the night doing...  Googling and YouTubing that little play until I found the line she was working on, then typing out the part for her to look over this morning.  

I don't really think a new outfit and cute nails will cure her anxiety and quell the mood swings, but I'm hoping it helps her know she is special and loved, without a doubt.

My Bird Whisperer

This is what  Billy and I woke up to this morning.

  Lucy found this cardinal in the grass.  It let her pick it up and she promptly brought it inside the house.  

Billy was a little grossed out.  Henry and I thought it was really neat.  Lucy thought it was magical.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Bread pudding

• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground clove
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 vanilla bean seeds
• 10 cups 1/2-inch cubes crusty bread 
• (like French bread or use egg based bread)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk milk and cream, pumpkin, dark brown sugar, eggs, spices, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean in large bowl to blend. Fold in bread cubes. Transfer mixture to 11x7-inch glass baking dish. Let stand 15 minutes. Bake pumpkin bread pudding until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

Caramel sauce

• 1 1/4 cups (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup whipping cream

Melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat in a heavy sauce pan.  Whisk in the cream and stir until sugar is dissolved and sauce is smooth.

I got this recipe from Epicurious, but made a few tweaks to their recipe.  If you'd like to view the original, click here.