Good Dog!

Hazel often pretends that she's a puppy.  She even has a puppy name -- Tootsie Roll.  One day, on the way home from church, Tootsie Roll rolled down her window to bark at passing cars.

click here to see video

The funniest part though, which I missed getting on video, happened when we pulled up to the stoplight and there was a real dog with it's head out the car window.  Hazel started barking at the chihuahau next to us.  I'm sure that dog's owner thought we were a little strange.  But hey, Hazel loves making new friends of all varieties!

15 loads of laundry

Washed in 25 minutes.

My washer broke again. It was broken before Christmas. I was without a washing machine for four weeks. They got it fixed a couple days before Christmas. Then it broke again a week later. Kind neighbors let me do a couple loads when I was desperate for whites or jeans for the kids. But we finally ran out of towels, gym clothes, church and work clothes, and socks. By then we had 15 loads of laundry and I couldn't bring myself to impose on anyone for that. So we found a laundromat. The nearest one is 15 miles from our house!

Kids thought it was very fun to put the quarters and soap into the machines.

We brought a movie to watch on the laptop while we waited (although it wasn't very long).

Everyone chipped in to help.

I decided against spending more than the $25 I had already spent to wash my clothes, and I took everything home wet.  My dryer still works at least.

Fast forward a week.

The repair man came on Tuesday.  It worked fine when he came to check it out. (of course)   So I ran a load after he left.

Still broken.

He can't come back until the 29th.

That will make 2 months without a washer.

Is it a sign?  Maybe I should just get a new one.

Looks like I'll be at the Laundromat again this weekend.

Seriously? Again?

I'm sick.

And this was me at 7:30 this morning, trying to take kids to school.

Maybe I'll add it to my weekly exercise routine.

At least the tire place repairs them for free. The will even change the spare back out for me and put it back under the car.

Next Project

Table saw, compound miter saw, 2 drills, belt sander, dremel tool, coping saw, some clamps, hammer, 2 extension cords, 300 watt halogen lamp, super glue, wood glue, sandpaper, gram scale, a can spray paint, miscellaneous parts from the parts box, 2 trips to Hobby Lobby, 1 trip to Home Depot . . . need to go to Hobby Lobby again tomorrow.

Napoleon Bonaparte costume

So here is the costume:  I love how it turned out.  Just like what I had in mind.  We got Isaac baseball pants and black mud boots and Nate's red tie to finish the costume.  It really was very fun for me.  I changed the cut of the jacket and added the red trim.  I made up the shoulder/fringe things and the red cuffs from scratch.  I really want to try making more things without a pattern, or try drafting my own patterns.  The possibilities are endless!
Click on the picture to see a bigger version.

Project progress update

I finished the Napoleon costume.  And I must say, it turn out fabulously!  It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.  And it only took 4 or 5 hours total to do, including all the hand sewing of 10 buttons and gold trim and blind hemming facings to the inside.  It was so fun.  I kind of felt like I was on project runway and had to complete this outfit in one day.  And it totally turned out just like what I had in mind. 

I tried to take pictures of Isaac last night. But he wasn't cooperating.  So I'll try it after school today.

Isaac did a great job on his solo.  I still can't believe he tried out for this on his own.  Really. Getting him to sing in Family Home Evening is like pulling teeth.  And getting him to wear the rest of the components of the costume was difficult too - lots of tears.  In the end we compromised - he wore the pants I wanted, and I let go of the tie.

As soon as Nate has a minute, (which lately is never, but I'll continue to hope), I'll get the video of Isaac singing up.  And later today I'll post pictures of Isaac in his costume. 

Now, what can I do for my next project?

Current unplanned project

I've got to make this costume (view C)

look like this:

by thursday morning at 7:30am.

Isaac is Napoleon in the Fifth Grade Musical.  I didn't realize I had to come up with a costume until today at 1:45 pm, just before a full afternoon and evening of appointments. I just got back from purchasing materials and now I'm debating...do I go to bed now (it's already 10:30 pm) and work hard tomorrow and perhaps into the night?  Or do I start now and work most of this night, and try to finish tomorrow, but will most likely end up staying up tomorrow night as well?  Either way, looks like I'm going to be losing some sleep over this.  The funny thing is that Isaac hates to sing.  So how did he get roped into singing a solo in a musical?  My kids constantly surprise me.