We are kicking off to an insane week for the Shaffer Sisters.

Last night our dear sweet Grandpa John passed away. It was bittersweet. He was definitely suffering and it was good for him to go. Not only that but with every Christmas season that comes, he is left longing to be with Grandma Twila even more. This last weekend we all spent time with Grandpa John. It was good to be with family, share stories, and eat homemade rolls. I’m glad that we went to see him, but it puts us days behind since Momma Shaffer was going to watch the toddlers over the weekend so we could finish Christmas presents.
We are days behind, but trying to work as fast as Christmas elves can. We are trying to have a $0-2 budget per person.

As you can see the kids are getting along swimmingly. So maybe it will be a NFC for them, if they don’t start behaving.
We can’t promise that there will be a lot of posts this week. But we will try our best to keep the posts coming, even if they are in their most simple form. (We do know that these might not be helpful this year but maybe you can pin them and save the ideas for next year). If you have any questions about the how, comment or email us and we will let you know more.
Excuse our punny pictures, we are just in that kind of mood.

The Wampanoag native american tribe, was the tribe that helped the pilgrims, when they reached the Eastern shores of the United States.
For this unit study we made a Wikkiup.  This is a traditional Wampanoag home.  We used some twigs that we gathered, some moss from the dollar store, a fabric that looked a lot like tanned animal hide to me, some hot glue, and some card board.

 This was our first project, so this became the home for our class pet, Rocky.
 This is Rocky.  We painted Rocky acrylics.   He survives on Faith and Prayer.  Each child gets a turn to take him home for the week, use him as prayer rock,  and bring him back on Fridays.
 We made native american feather headdresses, like those that the Wampanoag people might have worn to the first thanksgiving dinner.
This was a super easy craft.  I let each child pick 10 feathers.  Then we used a banded elastic and a hot glue gun, we glued on the feathers and then tied the band on their heads.  This was a highlight for them, and they were excited to see how different they each were.



We made traditional Wampanoag jewelry using copper beads, seashells, leather strings, and wooden beads.
I bought most of the craft items from JoAnns and the DollarStore.  The kids had a blast.  We also talked about traditional Wampanoag food.  I provided jerky, popcorn, and dried cranberries for the kids to snack on while we made our crafts.
This was a super helpful site, when I was researching what I wanted to share with the kids and how I wanted to share it http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/history/first-thanksgiving/

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/11/easy-chocolate-peanut-butter-balls.html
We are getting a little low on funds here in Jo's house.  We are paying two of everything, until we get our Minnesota home rented.  So, when I say money is tight, it is tight with a capital T!
But, even though money is tight and I have only bought groceries once in a month and half, I am starting to realize what an abundance we actually have.  We have had plenty to eat every day.  We have had 1-2 loaves of fresh baked bread to go with our free range chickens, deer, elk, and wild boar meat (all from the great hunting men on Hubbins side of the family and some of his co-workers) .   Some of my nieces and nephews gleaned a huge box of potatoes from the field for us.  We have rice, pasta, oatmeal, whole wheat flour, beans, lentils, and every spice imaginable. I had several big bags of frozen vegetables, and even a case of butter in the freezer.   But, the thing that has made this 1 and 1/2 months so great is the case of peanut butter, and the case of Nestle Toll House chocolate chips.  We have had a little sweet treat every night.  As we have continually run out of ingredients one at a time such as milk, eggs, white flour, etc. I have had the chance to search for new recipes that fit my ingredient list.
Tonight was a HOME RUN.  We will be making this again.

                              
                                                         Aren't they pretty :)

1 12 oz jar of peanut butter-(remember I have a case)
3/4 c of brown sugar
3/4 c of butter (softened)
3 3/4 c of powdered sugar

12 oz of chocolate chips
This is where I changed the recipe a bit, and added 1/2 c peanut butter to the melting chocolate chips.  I just think it helps the chips go a little farther, and makes the semi-sweet chips taste a little better.

mix the first four ingredients and roll them in to small balls if you like more chocolate or bigger balls if you like more peanut butter.  then freeze them.

After they are frozen or you have melted the chocolate and peanut butter together in a sauce pan, pull them out and roll them in the chocolate.
                                     

 make sure to lick your fingers lots.  make sure to let your kids help.  this is a super fun, messy, happy, treat making party.


Thanks 6 sisters!  This recipe was a hit!

A while back we took the kids to an all you can eat buffet, I got Boston a plate of mashed potatoes and went back to get Ryder some food. And before I could start feeding the potatoes to her with a spoon she had it everywhere within her arms reach.As people walked by they chuckled and some people offered condolences that we would have to clean her up. And I chuckled as I realized that it would be impossible to get her cleaned up. Situations like this have become more of the rule than the exception to it.
Traditional Bibs only protect in the 4 by 5 inch space that the bib covers, so we usually just strip her down and then redress her.  Which she hates getting wiped down afterwards. On Friday I made a fitted vinyl tablecloth for a family friend as I was wondering what to do with the scraps I remember I had pinned this little bib pattern from fleetingthings, so after few modification I made this little number: 

PS. This picture was taken after I did the pudding test and then I just dunked it in water and hung it to dry

I used the pattern but adjusted instructions:
I omitted the toweling since my vinyl is waterproof and flannel backed.
I sewed bias to the end of my sleeves before I sewed them together (since vinyl is a beast to hem) and I thought that it would be a congruent look to the bias trim that is around the neck and bottom.
I tacked my seams open before applying the bias trip. And top stitched on both sides of the sleeves.
Instead of Velcro I used snaps because I don't like when Velcro ruins clothes when it is tossed in the wash. I should have (but didn't think about it until after I installed them) put interfacing on the back flaps so that it was strong enough to deal with the pulling of the snaps apart.
I added buttons at the neck and the arm for decoration so that it looks more like a stylish shirt and less like a bib. 

Step 1. Get annoyed at mom for giving you a pudding cup but not opening it yet

Step 2. Put your fingers in the pudding

Step 3. Work on Covering your face and bib in chocolate

Step 4: Test complete, have mom soak in water for a minute and hang to dry.

This morning I decided to put the bib to the test and give Boston a pudding cup. I was so pleased with how well it covered her PJ's. And as of right now its the best bib that we own, but I am going to the drawing board today to make slight adjustments to the pattern for full coverage. Because the vinyl is stiffer than cotton with toweling then it didn't drape as well as I would have liked so I will be adding a send tie back to keep the bottom in place. I also think I will be adding pocket so that it catches the food before it hits the clothes and making the top a little longer.
After I sold plasma today I went to the fabric shop and bought some really cute Oil cloth to make a new bib with the adjustments suggestions listed above. 

Friday, in our home-school co-op, I had the chance to teach about stars.
We talked about Hydrogen and Helium, the different properties that they each have, and how they help to create a star.  Then we built them with some fancy science blocks that we borrowed from one of the other teachers.  I am sure we could have used marshmallows and toothpicks though.
  \
We talked about the birth of a star, which is actually AWESOME!  Did you know that the gas starts swirling and it spins so fast that it creates energy and light, and it burns into a star.  Now imagine 5 little boys trying to become stars.  AWESOME right?

                                      
We did a little paint by numbers that in the end made a beautiful star.  Each one was a little different, since I had to draw them by hand, but that made them all the more unique and lovely. This is one of the completed stars.  I used to despise what I would call "busy work".  But now I choose to see it in a different light.  I recognize it for its good qualities.  In this case, the paint buy numbers teaches number recognition, following direction, and fine motor skills.



We read a story about the new star that lead the Wise men and the Shepherds to Christ.
                                                             
The children loved the cutout pages, the simplicity of the words, and knowing the ending before we started.  I loved teaching them about the birth of a star and then letting this story of the "new star" sink in.  Oh, it opened a myriad of questions!  I love their brains.  They are so magnificently built.  I can't wait to hear what they will say next.  I love how profound they are.
There are several songs with actions about stars.  "Every Star Is Different", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "I Am Like A Star" and many more Christmas songs featuring stars.  I love driving the lesson home with the spirit!  It is so fun to see them grasp something that leads them to a testimony of the divine creation.  As we sing of the Savior, teach of his divinity and Majesty, and then invite the children to do the same in their own way, the spirit is so strong.  Then I know the lessons they learn won't soon be forgotten.


                                       

In my mind, a unit study is the most effective way to teach a group.  I love delving in to every aspect of the subject so that, in the end, it is firmly secured in the child's mind.  Some children are auditory learners, others kinesthetic, others learn visually, and there are many more learning styles.  With unit studies, everybody has a chance to learn in they're own preferred method.
The children I have the privilege of working with range in age from 3 to 7, so it is imperative that I have a variety of activities to do with them.  I also work with mostly boys, which is actually perfect, because they are the "movers and shakers" literally.  And I get that.  That means we switch directions often.  If I didn't have the stability of the unit study, I don't think I would be able to maintain the ebb and flow of momentum in our little corner of the classroom.
Today we covered less material because we are practicing for a play we will be preforming in two weeks.

Yesterday I submitted my Pretty Tangerine Poppy Dress to Project Run and Play Open Auditions. I spent all of my extra time this week on it (staying up extremely late one night). I felt like I did the very best that I could and I wouldn't have changed a thing about my design.
Yesterday, after naps Slim Jim's Grandparents took us out to dinner and I was so proud how pretty our baby girl looked. After dinner we went to the hotel with them and spent a couple of hours talking in the lobby as the kids played, using the furniture as a jungle gym. I was so pleased with how well my design fit Boston and accommodated her movement. She was able to get up, down and move all around, but still look classy and graceful.  
When I went to Project Run and Play Website this morning and saw that I didn't make the top 5, I was disappointed and sad (there were a few little slow rolling tears). Then I looked at the pictures of Boston in her outfit and I was reminded the reason why I sew.
It isn't so I can be a household name blogger. It is so that I can have my kids wear high quality clothing that fits their personality and body shape well. Our tight budget makes it hard to clothe our kids even in the cheapest options (used baby clothing or Walmart) and I am usually disappointed by the quality and fit. 

I am grateful for how Project Run and Play (both the open auditions and the sew along challenge) have pushed me to become a better seamstress and have given me a sewing community that  is supportive and kind. I look forward to further participating along with P.R.and P. as long as I feel it is best for me to do so. I have never had the pleasure to met any of the women that I am sewing with but I am impressed by the comradery among the participants. Each working toward the same goal of sharing love through stitches for the children in our lives.
Congrats to all those that did make it to the top 5. I look forward to seeing who all the designers will be this season and to start thinking about the themes.
Today, I am working on finishing all of my undone projects so that going into 2013, my unfinished project queue can be zero. I am joining Design by Sessa's FINISH WHAT YOU START IN 2012 Flickr Group and probably going to overwhelm it with entries.

A few weeks ago I was thrift store shopping with my mom and the moment we walked into the small thrift store my eyes immediately zeroed a polyester kimono, that had beautiful tangerine poppy print. As I approached I was devastated when I saw several large spots on it and a 5 dollar price tag (if it was going to be that much I would have loved for it to be in perfect condition). My mom came in a few minutes later and saw me eying it she decided that I needed it and she purchased it for me. When we got it home I scrubbed it to get any dirt or stains out of the fabric. One scoop of Oxy Clean and a wash cycle and I was in business not a single stain!

Front View

Back View

The Design 
I looked through my inspiration board on pinterest and I decided that I wanted to make a dress with a high yoke, flutter sleeves and a high contrast between the top and bottom textures. I drew up a few different options but they didn't feel quite right. I tried to pair scraps of material with the polyester but everything seemed the wrong scale, wrong color or too overwhelming until I remembered about Point D'Esprit Lace.

Point D'Esprit Bridal Lace available at Joann's for $4.99/yrd. regular price

I did the math and I figured with 1/8 of a yard of lace I would have just enough to use it for the sleeves, the yoke and an unlined band near the bottom of the dress. To do it again I would have bought 1/4 of a yard because 1/8 was cutting it incredibly close and the closest Joann's is 30 minutes away and none of the other stores in town have much fabric beyond simple quilters cotton.
When we were at Joann's I found a set of fun tangerine buttons that were juvenile but still classy. I loved that they were in scale to the dots on the lace.
The Pattern
Boston is incredibly slender (at her 9 month appointment she was in the 6% for weight and the 67% for height) so I usually have her in a onesie or dress one size smaller than her size and then on bottom she has leggings that I have made her from knee high socks (Trick my friend Becky taught me) and/or circle skirt. I knew that I didn't have the time or the patience for a commercial pattern not to fit right  so I took one of the dresses she looks best in (it is a Carter) and copied the yoke. For the sleeves I used the sleeve pattern from Simplicity 3854, instead of hemming it I decided to double it over and decrease the height of the sleeve. For the skirt I made it 1 1/2 times her waist measurement and so after putting it together it would be knee length, so it would be easy to craw in. I gave her a little more room in the back yoke so that it will fit for a while.
Should we ask her how she likes her new outfit?

I'll take that as a Yes!

My mistake that became happy accident
Like I said I didn't have much of the lace fabric so when I cut my front yoke a lot too wide in the middle, I was figuring out how to save it. I pulled out a pintucking foot (which is a little naughty because it is a Christmas present) and went to work until it was just right. I loved how much depth and texture the pintucking gave to the yoke.
A few of my favorite things

	The whole dress is lined (except for the lace cut out)so it will be soft against her delicate skin.

The tangerine buttons against the white yoke.

Yet again I have to say I love the pintucking it was such a fortunate accident.

Accounting for growing & accessories
It is  always sad for me when I work on something for the kids only for them to grow out of it a month later. I knew I would be putting quite a bit of time into this project I made it so that there would be extra room in the back as she gets larger all I have to do is move the buttons over a little bit and she will be able to wear it as a tunic.
As a dress I felt like it needed a pair of leggings so her legs wouldn't be exposed to Idaho winters. I used some of her sock leggings as a pattern adding a little extra room to the sides so they would like satin pants and not leggings. The leggings were made out of a 1 way stretch knit that looks like satin (found it last year at Walmart for $1.50/yd) and added a band of stretchy lace so that when they get too short to be pants we will be able to be bunched higher.
Before her I give it to her for too quickly approaching first birthday I want to make some soft soled ballet shoes.
Just one more picture, okay two, before I let you go. 

Great idea Scary!
What revealing things should I put on display?  Should it be my parenting, reverence, financial standing, house keeping, hygiene, auto maintenance, time spent online daily, familial nutrition, or timely visiting teaching.

First things first.  I really struggle to maintain my personal daily walk with the Lord.  It is a habit I have been trying to form.

When I was single I had a pretty good schedule.  I would get up every morning, say my personal prayers, read the scriptures, and then quietly as I went through out the day meditate on the Savior and his plans for me.

Then, I got married and then pregnant- ahem! With pregnancy came morning sickness.
But, then I had #1.  Once again my schedule was not my own.  I got up when he cried and went to bed after serving and loving him all day.  The same has happened with 2,3,4, and 5.  I can not believe that I have not had consistent scripture study and prayer for the last 10 years.  It is something that I often try and try and try again.
I have frequently said that it is a good thing I had kids or I would have had no idea I wasn't perfect.
There are many many posts that I will be able to add about imperfection and truthfulness.

I love this little blog. I love how the four of us have a chance to unwind, create and share. As much as I love this blog, I don't love this blog more than I love the sisters that I share it with. MY SISTERS are amazing.
This morning when I woke up I was frustrated for the last time with my hair. I was 10 minutes from doing something drastic like going all Britney Spears on it. Luckily right then Al called and asked if I needed any help today. I told her I needed my hair cut. So she agreed to cut it right then saving me from a terrible hair cut by my own hand and my husband's hair clippers. She double, triple, quadruple confirmed that she wasn't cutting off too much. I then proceeded to encourage her to take off another 1 1/2 inches. As she clipped we talked about money stresses we were both dealing with and tried to provide emotional support for each other. 30 minutes later my head was lighter (physically and emotionally) and her floor was sprinkled in brown curly locks. She then took Ryder on an adventure so that I could clean my house.
While Rhett was out of the house I called Jo and we talked about parenting, marriage and lack of money. As we talked we compared emotional battle wounds. I thought  that yesterday Rhett's running from one end of the chapel to the other during the closing prayer was frustrating and embarrassing. Then she recounted her Sabbath experience and I was immediately grateful that the Lord has given me stewardship over two of his children and not five because I know I don't have the emotional strength like she does.
After talking with my sisters today I decided that the thing that makes me love them is that they aren't perfect. But it is because they are as flawed and as overwhelmed, as I am. And sometimes there is joy and strength in knowing that you aren't alone. I watch them some how make it through one more day and know that I can do it too.
I decided that at least once a month I am going to be honest about something that I am dealing with that is hard for me (hopefully as I practice this will get easier). I hope by doing this that I can give someone else the chance to know they aren't all alone. It would be my hope that my sisters could join me in this at least this one time and if they feel so inclined to continue it with me in the future.
Today's honest moment: We are broke. Our lack of money occupies most of my waking and some of my sleeping thoughts. I am often overwhelmed when I think about the percentage of our finances we have have going out each month. In recent months Slim Jim and I have had to sell plasma to make ends meet. It makes me not want to go out on dates with my husband because we have to think about spending money, it is the reason that I want start to potty training Boston at 18 months.

It seems like with all my creativity in the budget we will never have enough but some how I am sure we will just keep chugging along.

Dear Sisters,
Tonight I was diligently working on my project for Project Run and Play Open Tryouts hoping that tonight I might be writing a tutorial and posting pictures for it. Tonight, Slim Jim had to close so after dinner I put on a Dennis the Menace for Ryder and Boston was cheerfully I crawling around the house getting into stuff. But she is 10 1/2 months so really can't get into that much trouble. Or so I thought!
I was taking pictures of my progress (for tutorial writing), pinning and ironing to work on the hem. I think to myself it has been a little while since I have seen Boston but she is probably into the mixing bowls again (one of her favorite places in the whole house). I resolved that I would go check on her as soon as I placed 3 more pins.
Ryder must have had the same idea because he got up from his movie and ran to check on Boston. He ran back into the living room saying, "Boston 'pilled (spilled). She made a big mess!"
I got up from my sewing table immediately12 feet into the hallway connecting the dining room to see Boston poking her head around the corner a large puddle of Canola Oil anywhere from 2 to 5 feet around her in every direction. Don't worry she didn't ruin any clothes she, she was just in her diaper (it was within the few minutes everyday where I let her go naked). She was slip sliding all around having a grand time. And all I could do is smile and know how blessed I am to have my sweet babies. I let them play in it for a minute while I grabbed my camera and started a hot soapy bath. As I dropped them into the water I then brainstormed how I was ever going to get over 1/2 gallon of oil off the floor. Then I thought maybe I should look on Pinterest because Pinterest usually has the solution to every cleaning problem, but I was pretty sure not this one.
I am writing my cleaning solution down just encase someone somewhere on the web has half a gallon of oil spill all over their floor and end up searching for helpful suggestions. 
First I removed my pants so they don't get oil on them.
Clean most of the oil up with kitchen towel clean between swipes in hot soapy water (we don't use paper towels for budget purposes so this might have been easier with paper towels)
Call mom and laugh about it then I listened to her suggestion to dump flour on the floor.
Sweep up the floor.
Mop with the Homemade Mop Solution trying to pick up all the oil-glutenous balls.
My sister stops by chat so I put my pants back on to answer the door but tell her briefly what happens and why she can't come in. She suggests corn starch (a texture I hate. I decided to follow her advice and I had great success with it clinging to the remainder of excess oil.)
I then dump out the mopping solution and replace it with vinegar/water mix and finally it was good enough to walk without slipping.

As I was cleaning I got thinking about how so often as mothers we drop what we want to do most at the moment and put our children's desires and needs first. I had a fair amount of reflecting time between coats of clean up, and I realized that right now is just the beginning of that saga. Now it is putting two greesy kids in the tub to clean up the oil off of them before they go to bed. In a few years it might be going to talk to their teacher about a problem. And when my children are my age I might become for them what my mom has become for me the person that provides them with encouragement, compassion and direction when I am feeling sad and need a reminder what is really important in life.

Now off to sewing before the kids wake up! I think this project might be one of my favorite projects I have ever sewn. I look forward to putting it on Boston.