Aidan's 8th Birthday

My poor Aidan. He has somehow ended up not having very big parties compared to the other kids for the last few years. I swear it's not a middle child thing. Last year I just wasn't up to it right after having Lucy. This year, eight, was going to have to be huge! Aidan is in love with Harry Potter, so we were going to go all out. My parents were here in town for his baptism, and my Mom is also a huge Harry Potter fan (who isn't, really?). She's thrown huge HP parties before, so I was very grateful for the help. 


We made wands for the boys, which they got to pick when they arrived. We had a sorting hat and sorted the boys into their houses. They got felt ties with their house colors. We had a huge assortment of treats, including cauldron cakes, chocolate frogs, owl snacks, chocolate wands, and acid pops. We also had the absolutely necessary drink, butterbeer! The kids seemed to have a blast, especially running around and casting spells at each other. Aidan thanked me over and over for the party, so I think he felt loved and important, and that's exactly what we wanted for this special day. 

My Dad as Lucius Malfoy

Lucy was in LOVE with the Butterbeer. 

She was practically trying to climb into that cup!

Crafting

I have been very busy this year, crafting a lot of things for gifts and I want to document them. Some will be given as gifts to the little ones, so I will post those after Christmas.

I had the opportunity to make some hats to be donated to a NICU for preemie babies to wear on Christmas morning. Such a small thing, but I hope it will bring a little joy to families that are struggling.
(Please know I am not trying to seem like I am wonderful for making the hats. I was just proud of the hats, since I am new-ish to knitting and wanted to display my work and forgot to take pictures before I mailed them.)

I did the red/white striped on the top, the green/white  striped, and the red w/ white brim on bottom left.

I also finished a hat for my Grandpa that had been in my project bag for almost a year. It matches a scarf I made him for Christmas last year, but didn't finish in time and sent him a few months ago. It's such a relief to finish some projects and I love making things for those I love! Don't mind the picture on my head in the mirror. I wanted to show it on and Spencer wasn't home, little ones were sleeping and I wanted to get it packaged to mail right away. I'm a little bit of a freak; don't worry, I already know! ;)

Mama made

Do any of you go by the name of Mama? I always called my own mother "mommy" but I have become "mama" to my own little ones and I have to say I love it. I don't know where it all started, but I never want it to change. There is a blog I found through a friend and I adore it. It's peaceful, quiet, reflective and she makes so many handmade crafts. Soulemama is always sewing, quilting, crafting and knitting. Knitting, knitting, knitting. It was always something I had wanted to learn, but never felt I had enough time. Once we moved here, I found I had a lot more time on my hands and taught myself to knit finally. I love it. It can be quite addicting and the only thing tempering it is Walmart's meager offering of needles and yarn.

On the blog she talks about mama-made items and how special they are to our children (and friends and family). For Christmas I knit a scarf for Spencer's brother who is serving a mission for our church. He was in North Dakota, but he just transferred to Minnesota, so I know it could be put to good use. I also made one for my dad. I also got my first sewing machine for Christmas this year. Those of you who know me and sewing are probably wondering how that is possible considering how much I sew. One word: theft. I would steal my own mother's for extended periods of time and use it. Now that I don't have that luxury, I had to break down and buy my own. I brought some fabric from Utah I purchased there intending to make myself and Sienna aprons, so what a better to way to break in a new sewing machine? But Madelyn loved Sienna's and a tiny apron is cuter than a mama-sized, so we made one for her. I think it's her new favorite thing. Here are a few of my creations. I am sure there will be much more to come...