-last week-

Finishing up some school work.  Ah...math.

Jesse Tree Ornaments (from this etsy shop). I purchased the multi color set, and they are so lovely!

Ornament crafting.  I found this cute little ornament craft at Target for $3. My kids loved it, and we attached them to our cookie gifts for neighbors.

Lots and lots of cookie baking.  I think I gained three pounds over the past three days.  Shouldn't Christmas baking be calorie free? *sigh*

Special Christmas toy playing.

This has inevitably all led up to the annual Christmas sickies.  We all have horrible coughs.  Pooh.

-ramblings on friday-

I had so much fun sewing for Kid Clothes Week!  I blogged every day except for the last day!  Sunday got away from me, but I did make a pair of Big Butt Baby Pants for Josiah (top left corner).  We don't cloth diaper currently, so they definitely are a bit baggy on a small disposable diapered bottom.  Rae suggests going down a size in the bottom part if you don't cloth diaper, so next time I make these I will definitely follow her advice.  Otherwise, super cute pattern that was easy and fun to put together.  He calls them his cuhr phunts (aka car pants).  I really appreciated this challenge because it got me sitting down to my machine on a more regular basis again.  I also stuck with easy and simple patterns because sometimes I just don't want to deal with a million pattern pieces, and I knew I would quit if I didn't do easy.

I took a break from sewing for the past few days, but last night I whipped up two pairs of bright yellow leggings for the girls.  I used Lil Blue Boo's leggings pattern.  I like this pattern, but I think it runs small.  I made the 7/8 for both girls, but they fit Felicity who is almost five better than they do Juliana (7). 

Sarah over at Amongst Lovely Things started a challenge to more regularly shoot in manual mode.  I love our DSLR, but I always shoot in auto.  I am determined to learn how to shoot in manual.  I took some practice shots of Sammy.  Some of these are blurry.  Bummer.  However, isn't she the cutest?  I could just squeeze and kiss her big chubby cheeks all day. (In fact, I usually do.)  She is already six months old!  Really, it has flown by.  Six months seems to be a magic time for our babies.  They seem to really become less fussy, and she is sleeping so much better at night.  She is my first baby to suck her thumb. and it so cute to see her big cheeks pudge around her tiny thumb.  She is a big fan of all her siblings and watches everything they do.  She has quite the fan club and is welcomed with great joy when she wakes up.

This has been a hard week, and I am so glad the weekend is here.  To celebrate I made these One Hour Cinnamon Rolls.  I followed the recipe except for the filling I used half white and half brown sugar.  Then I made a cream cheesing frosting because I *love* cream cheese frosting.  All I have to say is...wow.  Make them.  You will not regret it.  Well, you might when you step on the scale.

I read a lot of really good mom related posts this week that touched my heart.  Looking for a little weekend reading?  Read these.

A Little Encouragement - Clover Lane

A Shadow of My Former Self - Kate Wicker

10 Survival Tactics from Surviving a Bad day - Like Mother, Like Daughter

-Sampler Week Two-

My sampler is coming along nicely.  I am really enjoying this project.  I like to pick it up while listening to Juliana's reading lessons or when I crash on the couch at the end of the evening.  I am ahead a little bit, but I am sure at some point this will be a good thing.  I already have my eye on the spring cross stitch sampler.  I wish Alicia had a kit for that one too!

I think we have a new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.  We recently got the King Arthur Flour cookbook from the library, and wow!    So many great recipes.  We have long been fans of Cooks Illustrated  Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies, but this has such a nice chewy center with a crisp outside.  Perfect combo.

I am getting ready for Kid Clothes Week, which starts tomorrow!  I already have some things cut out and sewed a little bit today.  I have lots of things on the list, so lets see how much actually gets done!

What are your plans for this week? 

-Sunday-

I have been working on my sampler in the evenings and enjoying it so much.  I am further along than this now, but I will show more next week.  I am in love with this variegated thread.  I really think it makes each sampler unique because everyone's thread is going to be a little bit different.

We have also been doing a little bit of baking.  I love baking.  There is nothing better than a freshly baked goodie fresh from the oven.  These are Glazed Doughnut Muffins.  One of my favorite recipes that I have found via Pinterest.  These muffins use basic ingredients that most people have in their pantry so they can be made pretty much year round.  They are a perfect combination of doughnut and muffin. 

We also got a bunch of Granny Smith apples, and we made our first apple pie of the season.  Lets just say there is only one slice left, and we just made it yesterday....*rubs belly*