Disney 2014

This was the first time in 7 years of marriage, and the first time in my sons' lives, that we spent Christmas at home! It was wonderful for my boys to wake up in their own beds and come out to our own living room and open presents around our own tree!

However, a few days after my parents and brother left to go home, I also experienced my first bout of post-holiday sadness. I think I usually don't feel this, because at the end of a vacation I'm usually so anxious to get home to my own creature comforts, that that wins out over any potential sadness of the trip ending. But this time I just had to sit and stew about how sad I was for my family to leave, and I literally spent the day in bed alternating between crying and sleeping.

My husband, who gets this often, suggested that I focus on the next big thing in our lives...so I took his advice! And to battle my sadness, I started thinking about our Walt Disney World Vacation that is 4 months and 23 days away!



When my family went to Disney last year, I made us all matching tshirts. And I liked it so much (not only is it cute, but it was also very helpful when a kid wandered off, because people could identify us as a group and say "he went that way!"), so I am making tshirts for all four days for our entire family!

The day we go to Magic Kingdom, we will wear traditional matching Mickey/Minnie heads (will be done using applique and embroidery):

The day we go to Epcot, we will wear colored tees with different character silhouettes (will be done using the freezer paper method):

For Animal Kingdom, I originally proposed tie-dye tees with Mickey heads, but I was overruled by my teenage/early 20s nephews. So instead, we are doing black shirts with animal fabric Mickey heads.

And the day we go to Hollywood Studios, we will wear Star Wars inspired tees (my favorite!), using the good old fashioned iron transfer method:

My Back Up Plan

My back up plan, for if/when Thing 1 and Thing 2 decide they don't want to wear their costumes for very long.

They'll also be great just-because tees, dontcha think?

Cut the mustard

As a reminder, my 4 year old twin sons wanted to be ketchup and mustard for Halloween this year.

Thing 1 is my mustard eater and Thing 2 can't get enough of his ketchup. So, in my mind that is how I would dress them. But over the past week and a half, they have each been telling me that they are dressing as the other condiment. I have no idea how this will shake out on Halloween night.

But for now, I finished the Ketchup costume last weekend.

And spent this morning finishing the Mustard costume.

I used the ketchup costume as a base for size and height. Then made the slightly more bell-bottomed shape and narrow squirter top. It fits Thing 1 great so far.

Then I hot glued the labels I'd already made, and I added his weight in ounces to the bottom. Then used yellow puffy paint to make lines on the squirter to look like ridges.

Finally, I had to bribe Thing 1 to try it on for me. But once he had it on, he really had some fun with it pretending to soak Superman with mustard.

Next step: the hotdog cart!

Ketchup catch-up

Thing 2's ketchup costume is finished!

One I finished making the labels (materials: felt, hot glue gun, and puffy paint), I just had to make the actual bottle shape.

I didn't have a pattern, so I literally laid my little ketchup kid down on the felt and did a police outline of his body.

Unfortunately, my ketchup kid (Thing 2) wasn't being very cooperative after the initial measurements, so luckily I had a clone happy to step in for the "fittings".

Finished product.

I plan on having Thing 2 wear a red shirt under the costume.  I'll have to have a long sleeve one on stand-by in case it gets cold.  No jacket is going on over this costume!

And, I've already finished the labels for Thing 1's mustard costume.

Seriously, I love Halloween!  When Steve Jobs tells the world to follow your passions, I think to myself "Self, why can't you find a job where you get paid to make Halloween costumes all year long?" :)

I love fall

School started this week, which can only mean one thing: Fall is on its way!

I love fall!

I love the light jacket weather, the falling leaves, the cool nights, wearing scarfs, drinking hot chocolate...and I LOVE Halloween.

Right about this time every year, my mind starts racing with possibilities of how to dress up Thing 1 and Thing 2 that will make them even cuter than they are everyday (if that is possible, right?!).

For their first Halloween, they were, what else...Thing 1 and Thing 2.

For their second Halloween, they were Bert & Ernie.

For their third, they were rock stars.

And last Halloween, they were train engineers (complete with their very own ride in Thomas the tank engine).

What will they be this year?  Hmmm....  the possibilities are endless!

They like firetrucks.  And dogs.  Maybe I can make them a fireman and dalmatian.

They love acting like animals.  Maybe I could make them a puppy and a kitten.

They are really in to space and astronauts.  Maybe I could make them an astronaut and an alien.

But then again... a lot can change in two months, and by then, the boys may have all new favorite things!  So unlike last year, I resolve not to begin buying costume parts off of ebay in August!  (Although, those purchases will come in handy if the boys do decide to be firemen this year!)

Patience never was my strong suit.