Pumpkins, Field Trips, and A Wedding...

The past week has been very full so rather than just tell you, I thought I'd show you as well.  October tends to be our crazy month with two birthdays, the fun fall season and Halloween.  This year has been no exception.  One of our favorite tradition is hitting the pumpkin patch, usually the same weekend as Noah's birthday.  Lydia's getting old enough to really get into it as well.  And no doubt about it, they love the bouncing structure.

A rare "sibling love" moment as he helped her down the slide

Wow, looks like it wasn't so rare that day

Searching for her perfect pumpkin

She's two so she couldn't go for the round one near the end that Mommy picked out

She had to find her own

Being in charge as always...

He insisted that he could do it himself

Family photo

That same week, on Noah's birthday, I help chaperone a field trip to the local Convention Center.  Lydia was allowed to come along as well and did a great job.

Her first time on a bus

Noah lining up with the kids for his first time on the bus as well

The New Christy Minstrels

Mommy had a great time too

This past weekend, we were in Tahoe, so we went to a local park for the Salmon Spawning.  I love having the flexibility to take a few days and homeschool and this was a perfect opportunity.  I couldn't believe how much the kids were into it.

Pointing out the crazy bird we saw

Both fascinated by the salmon swimming up stream

She insisted that Mommy read her EVERY sign

By the end, she wanted to read them to me.

Our real purpose for going to Tahoe was my sister in law's wedding.  My husband performed the ceremony and the kids were the ring bearer and flower girl.  Noah took his job very seriously.

Another family photo, Mom?

We'll be good

So that's a world wind tour through the past week or so in our house.  Actually looking forward to a week of doing "house stuff."

Made by Me Monday

Hey gang,
How was your weekend?  Did you enjoy the changing of the seasons?

Our fall season has finally arrived and I couldn't be happier.  We left for the weekend to attend my sister in law's wedding and returned home to glorious fall weather.  It was so nice to soak up temperatures below 90 degrees.  I'm ready to spend some time outside with the kids this week.  And still have a cool enough house to do some baking.

I did do a little last night.  I found a new pumpkin muffin mix that I wanted to try and played with the recipe a little bit.  They turned out wonderful.  In fact, my plan is to do more baking this week and post several pumpkin recipes for you later this week.  I love this time of year and pumpkin is definitely my favorite.  So be looking for that post.

What about you?  Write a blog post highlighting your project with a link back so that others can join in on the fun.  Then link up below to the blog post itself.  You can post more than one project; just add more than one link.  I'll be picking one of your projects to highlight next week.  So start linking up!

*Linked to these Parties

Give Me Jesus...

Lighting a candle, baking, praying for bedtime... and listening to this...

Lee's To Do List

I love this DIY Chandelier (@ Brassyapple).  Wish I had a space to do this in my own home.  So pretty and doable.

What better combination!  Peanut Butter Banana Scones (@ Bake At 350) would be a huge hit in our house.  My kids would go crazy.

What a great Halloween idea!  Check out these Superhero Headbands (@ CurlyPops).  Maybe have to add to a dress up box.

Speaking of Halloween, these Spider Web Cookies (@ Skip to My Lou).  So cute!

Twelve Weeks of Christmas: Hair Clips

A few months ago while I was searching the internet, I came across these Fabric Flowers @ Sew Mama Sew.  I was blown away by how simple and yet stunning they really were.  I mean, really?  Who came up with this idea?  They are amazing!

Needless to say, I loved them and bookmarked them immediately.  I knew I wanted to make some for my daughter.  But I kept putting it off and putting it off.  I don't sew much and with all the other hobbies I have, I just don't have time to learn.  I thought they looked really pretty, but since I don't sew, I was afraid they would be a bigger job than I could handle.

Boy was I wrong.

If you can thread a needle and sew a basic stitch they are so doable.  I took me about a hour to put together four of them.  And really the majority of the time was spent figuring out the first one.  

I found the trick to be that when you're folding and adding the extra stitches on the back, make your stitches bigger.  If they are too bunched in the center, you won't get any dimension.  Make the line longer and the stitches a bit wider.  Perfect.

I added a basic clip to the back of each with hot glue and instant hair clips for a little girl.  These came out very boutique-y.  Put together two or three sets of these and you have the perfect gift for a niece or friend.  You could even add a trio to a larger clip.

I love them and am already thinking about who else I can make them for.  I only spent $3 on material and have a TON left over (I bought 1/4 yard each instead of 1/8 yard each).  The clips come in a package of about 20 and can be bought with a 40% off coupon at your local craft store.  Frugal and elegant,... now that's my kind of gift.

What are you crafting up this week?

*Linked to these Parties
& Weekend Bloggy Reading