Making my Ursula halloween costume!

So two years ago I dresses up as a black cat for Halloween... and while out and about that crazy night I already had the best idea for next Halloween... URSULA! What a fantastic costume that would be!! So two years later, my dream finally came true... and all for 16 dollars!!

Matchin up the sides of fabric

My hand-crafted pattern made out of taped Winco bags

All legs designed

Each leg took a minimum of an hour to sew by hand. Then

I sewed up the sides of the skirt

Each leg was stuffed with pillow stuffing and a wire hanger

I pinned the skirt on me to measure, then I sewed around

and up the back to complete the bottom half

View looking down on my legs! ha ha

THE FINAL PRODUCT!

After using a glue stick to paint through my eyebrows, comb through and let dry (repeat) I painted on the blue eyeshadow with a wet mix. Continued the same with the purple, and finished with a black liquid eyeliner for the eyebrows! I even sewed the shell onto the black ribbon and used my black thread to create the earrings!! It was a very successful costume!! I already have my costume idea for next year!!!

Yeah thats right....

Last Fall My brother in law Evan became super stoked about Guns and shooting.... I was super excited too because I LOVE to go shooting out in the woods and finally I had someone to go with again!!

Ethan took Evan, Jim, Uncle Gary and me out shooting on his grandma's property in Washougal! I was a very happy girl! I grabbed the video camera on their way out and captured this footage...looks like a good time! And all the guys were surprised by my great shot!

Kelsey's wedding dress transformation

We couldn't wait to help Kelsey pick out her wedding dress. I was really excited as I felt she had missed the dress hunt for Lindsay as I was still as WSU. We made appointments with Tower Bridal and Bridal Exclusives. We chose a lot of fun and crazy styles for Kelsey to try on and they all looked good on her, but I couldn't believe how expensive they all were!

Kelsey heard about this show called Making Memories that was out in Beaverton, only for the weekend. It is a traveling bridal show where the proceeds go to terminally ill breast cancer patients providing "a wish", sort of like the Make a wish Foundation. Unfortunately, mom was out of town, so Lindsay and I went with Kels, on the way she said, "I was thinking, that I would rather spend a lot less for a dress and have it be almost 'the one', than spend a lot on a dress that is 'the one'." I agreed and was happy Kelsey came to that decision.

There are racks and racks of dresses and you go through the ones that are your size, but if they have been altered, a 10 can fit like a 10, 8, or 6. Some of the smaller sizes too have been hemmed up a lot, so they were way too short for her. We found one that she really like, and quickly sent text message pictures to mom. Then just as we thought the hunt was over, the gal who was helping us brought one more out. You could tell Kelsey really liked it.

We played around with it, helping her show what it would be like if it got altered a bit. It was 100% silk and made by Waters. We paid for it to be put on hold so Kelsey could talk with mom about it over the phone and think about it. The next day, Kelsey drove out by herself and purchased the dress!

When mom got into town we headed over to her house so she could see Kelsey in it. In the living room, we used our make shift clips and jewels to dress it up a bit and decide what could be done. Mom did some serious seamstress analyzing.

Kelsey with a pretend ribbon in her hair and chip clips to hold the dress in certain spots.

Kelsey got Rosie's name at the bridal show and looked up her information on the internet. Rosie works out of her home full-time and only alters bridal dresses. She knew she was up for a challenge after the first meeting. The first step was getting the train gathered to the side of the dress and take in the dress down the sides past the hips.

The train is now gathered on the side, pinning the lace to the bottom, placing the flowers on the side where it gathers.

We all spent a lot of time over at Rosie's, Kelsey probably had about four of five fittings, making small changes each time Kelsey was there. Rosie also did all the work on the suits for Chris and dad, our bridesmaid dresses, and Mom's outfit.

Then, finally Kelsey's dress was done!

A video of Kelsey walking down the hallway to see how it will be walking down the aisle. Narrated by Courtney.

I think Kelsey really is pleased with it and it shows her traditional yet unique style. She is really looking forward to her wedding and thinks it will go with the theme...vintage glamour!

1 Summer 5 weddings!!

Lori & Robert
June 18, 2010

Conrad & Corina
July 3, 2010

Dominique & Josh
July 10, 2010

Kelsey & Chris
July 17, 2010

Stephanie & Josh
Married in Hawaii May 5, 2010
Reception July 31, 2010

It was a crazy few weeks with weddings back to back but it was so much fun too! I was up in Battle Ground for Lori (who cuts my hair) and Robert. Down to Bend, Oregon for Conrad (my cousin) and Corina. Back down to Sunriver (Bend), Oregon for Dominique ( a former close co-worker) and Josh. Kelsey (my lovely sister) and Chris got married in Portland, Sellwood Park. And up to Olympia for Stephanie (my soccer friend since we were 4) and Josh's reception!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE LOVELY COUPLES!

April is Autism Awareness month!

I have been working with my kids for almost a year now, and I have loved every minute of it. Yes, working with 3 boys on the Autism Spectrum is very challenging at times, and quite often, but they are so full of love, laughs, and surprises!!!

My 8 year old, had a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese on April 10 and I got to come! I invited my whole family because they all just love Zach, and the stories I share, or the times they get to hang out with him! I loved seeing him so excited about having a party and seeing Chuck E!

I think the best part of the day was seeing Zach take Chuck E by the hand, asking him if he wanted a piece of cake, handing him a cupcake saying "here you go" (in Zach's special voice) and then him waiting for Chuck E to eat it!! So much fun!

Also this past Sunday was the Autism walk at Oaks Park. Its a short 1 mile walk around the park. Its fun to see all the kids, and go on all the rides after the walk! Zach and London are a great pair, because they got to enjoy all the rides over and over again because they never get sick from ALL the spinning and spinning, back and forth, up and down!! I swear they went on the same SCREAMING EAGLE 3 times in a row!!! Here are some pictures from that day.

Me with London in my arm and Zach in my hand

me with the mom's Erin and Christine

one of London's little sisters

The big slide! It was fun watching Zach get brave enough to do it on his own. The first time he went down with me and then the 2nd all on his own!!!

Ruckle Creek Trail

I went on a great hike this past weekend! I love hiking, but usually have no one to go with so i joined a group at my Mom's church and this was my first hike with them. Originally it was supposed to be a 9 mile hike, but it turns out that we went 11! I had a great time and can't wait to go again!

super cool rock pit

crossed this log!

snow about 3200 feet up

I made it to the TOP!

snack time on the way back down!

February Birthdays!

February is a BIG month for birthdays in my family. My Dad celebrates on the 21st, Mine is the 22nd and Evan comes in last on the 26th. Well this year was even BIGGER because my dad turned the BIG 60!! Here are a few of our pictures from the weekend adventures!
We surprised Dad with a bunch of 60th birthday signs and such and took him to Cinetopia! He had been wanting to see Avatar, so why not see it in 3D in the livingroom lounge!

Surprise!! Dad waited in the car for us to come back and he sure was surprised!

We headed to Dairy Queen after the movie for some more yummy treats! I made Dad these cupcakes!

On my birthday I got a bunch of family and close friends together to have some dinner!!!
We headed to a new restaurant called Lapellah.

For my music room!

Some of the girls, not sure where Rachael ran off too

I'm picky, so I order a burger! ha

As a 2nd Birthday adventure, Evan asked me to go on a hike, I LOVE HIKING! We hit up Elowah Falls, beautiful hike for sure!

You know you're from WASHINGTON when...

So I love running into people from out of state, or traveling on a plane and the conversation is about how different Washington is from other states, or my favorite is how many people don't even know where Washington is or that it even exists! So here are some of my favorite You know you are from Washington when....

1. You measure distance in hours.

2. You buy new sunglasses every year because you've lost last years pair after such a long time not needing them.

3. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, and Enumclaw

4. You see a person carrying an umbrella and know they must be a tourist.

5. You know how to pronounce geoduck and know that it doesn't quack or have feathers.

6. You don’t leave off the “G” in “ING” words

7. You feel guilty throwing something away that could be recycled.

8. You've used every setting on your intermittent wipers.

9. You often switch from heat to a/c in your car in the same day.

10. You can drive from your home to a lake, a river, a mountain in 20 minutes or less.

11. You know the real meaning of Four Seasons… Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer

12. You know you better enjoy the snow the first day it falls before the rain washes it away.

13. You talk in complete sentences… grammatically too

14. You know the difference between an evergreen and a deciduous tree.

Christmas Time At the Apartment!

My 12.00 dollar tree from Goodwill!!!

My hand created wreath I made from Michaels!!