my vision

This song has been running 

through my brain 

for the past few weeks.

Saving me in moments of 

downright desperation.

I seem to get a little outta funk 

once in a while.

You know... 

poor poor pitiful me kinda thinking.

Anyways. 

I just started belting this out 

the other night

and other than traumatizing 

my entire family with my 

offbeat n outta tune vocals

I felt better right away.

Usually I listen to it from one of 

my favorite chicks, Ginny Owens

but I couldn't find a video 

of her singing it.

So I was searching away and 

you know how one thing 

leads to another online?

Well, I stumbled right onto this genius!

(o wow just had to spell check genius 

which made me feel like a dummy)

So unless you have 6 minutes to kill,

you should definitely fasty forward to 

about halfway cuz

he is just warming up for a 

loooong time.

but the man can beat this guitar!!!

Quick and deeelish!!

diaper tent

What you're gonna need:


15-20 size one diapers 
clear tape
1 regular size roll of toilet paper
1 yard ribbon 
scissors
poster board
dinner plate
hot glue gun
paint
toothpick
decorative paper


1. To form the "walls" of the tent, roll diapers from folded end and secure with tape.
Gather diapers into a circle.  (I started by placing some around a roll of toilet paper, tied those together with the ribbon, then removed the tp roll and filled in with remaining diapers.)

2. Trace a dinner plate onto poster board. Mark the center of the circle, then cut from the edge of circle to center dot.  Pull the edges of the circle to overlap a bit, forming a cone.  Adapt size of cone to the top of diaper circle. Glue edges. This will be the top of the circus tent. 

3. Cut a strip of poster board about 1-2 inches wide and long enough to go all the way around the topper. Scallop one edge, then put a line of glue around the edge of topper and stick on the strip.

4. Paint topper.

5. Trace a 3 inch circle onto poster board. Scallop the edge with scissors then form a cone. Again,securing with hot glue.




6. Make a small flag from decorative paper and a toothpick.  Insert into center of small circle.  Turn the circle over and glue flag in place.

7. Set the small circle with flag into the center of the topper and glue it.

8. Place roof onto diaper circle.  I didn't attach it since it was used as a table decoration, but you could tack it to the walls with a bit of tape.

And there ya have it! 

A diaper circus tent for that sweet mama to be!!

Scenes From the Circus

The Mama To Be!
And her amazing friend Frances.

Fun Games by Frances:
Name the Baby
Guess how many Animal Crackers
Gift Bingo
Guess the baby's traits
Belly Measurement with Circus Peanuts

Winners' loot!

The cakes were done by the Grandma to be!  

Celebrating her very first grand baby!

Parting gifts:
Caramel corn

listen to this!

My hubby showed us this video.

I thought it was amazing.

Although, it made me wonder how one would cope if ones offspring decided to practice this endlessly......

whatamigonnado??

Been spending days in the "Laboratory" as Miss Josi calls it;

my babies at my feet with their trains and animals.

Me at the craft table surrounded by a conglomeration 

of tissue paper, peanuts, and red striped straws.

We are playing circus, you know??

The baby shower we are throwing is in 

just a couple of days.

So of course here I sit at the computer.

I had to take a break. 

My brain sometime scares me.

Tonight I considered making a paper garland of elephants. 

Finally had to stop and have a little talk with myself.

(Which happens frequently 

only I pretend that I am talking to 

one of the many children in my midst.)

The other day I went to the store by myself.

And had a discussion to the imaginary child over which 

shampoo to buy.  I didn't even notice how that might

appear until someone kindly noted that I was 

talking to myself.

Thanks Carol! ;0)

but I digress...

So the self help talk concerning circus obsession 

went something like this:

"GIRL!  HELLO! GET A GRIP!!!!

You have approximately 

48 hours to 

get 

this 

done!!

FOCUS!! 

To which I reply:

"HOLY MOLY!! 

YOU ARE RIGHT!!

WHATAMIGONNADO???

Mmmm look at these cool popcorn 

party favors!!! 

I should totally make those too!"

spooked.

Was gonna put together a cutsie little 

Halloween blog post 

with amazing collages 

of perfectly edited pics of my little darlings...

Instead I realized I only 

took a few snaps of the day 

and have since scarfed bags of candy

and wondered wide eyed 
onto the next distractions.

As a reassurance that I am not 

an entirely defunct reject...

This years pumpkins made it to the 

trash before they

were sloppy moldy nastiness on my porch....

Yeppers.   

Years of training finally kicking in!!

But wait that gives me an idea...

We are carving a couple weeks 

earlier next year

so our pumpkins will be wicked on Halloween 

instead of the week after!!

So anyways....

Here's what i got:

Milo on the bus going to 
visit the nursing home 
residents.

Somebody said told him they 
liked his
rhinoceros costume.
Offended he told them 
he wasn't a rhinoceros, 
he was a rhino.

Duh...get it right,People!!

Of course Josi had a fantastic
costume as an old nerdy guy.
my camera...AWAL!!!

Miss turtle.
After dissolving Martha Stewart make-up 
plans with snot and slobber...

Refused more pictures
and crawled back into her shell.

Levi, dressed as the 
fuzzy headed big brother,
was in charge of de-gooping the pumpkins
and making everyone scream!!

Sure enjoyed my spooks this year!!

not so trivial pursuit

Last week Elsa got new glasses.

She is asserting her 

rapidly growing independence 

by chucking them across the room 

every 5 seconds.

So if you are wondering 

what we do with our days,

We have entitled this stage of life:

PURSUING PURPLE PASSION

laryngitis leaves it's lessons:

been meaning to post 

but things got a little 

outta control last week

and i lost my voice so i couldn't type.

 with the voice box locked up all tight 

I began to realize a few things:

1. Milo casually mentioned that the world had changed since I lost my voice. 

Hmmm...What does that mean????

I guess I yell use a higher decibel too much. 

2. Kids listen way better when you hafta lean over and whisper in their ear. 

(And make dramatic faces to enunciate your point)

3. "what???" gets old fast when you are sporting a scratchy little whisper in the first place.

4. I sing all the time, but didn't realize it.

Sorry.

5. As my voice came back I could sing just like Stevie Nicks.  Just ask my kids. 

6. You can get away without answering a million questions when you are mute.

7. Our family communicates frequently by shouting clear across the house, 

even Elsa, who at the ripe age of 16 months has mastered yelling 

"Stop It!" 

any time she is frustrated.

Thankfully the voice has reappeared. 

I have returned to my rambling,

and the world has gone back to 

the way it once was.