ALL THE PICTURES: The Lion King, Valentine's Day AND Snow Days!

Earlier this month, my mom, Autumn and I went to see the Lion King at the Orpheum! Autumn isn't a huge fan of the movie because she thinks it's kind of scary but the show is so popular and she liked Phantom so I thought we should give it a try! The show started at 8 and, despite a nap, Miss Autumn was wilting a bit. But from the very first, she perked right up. By the intermission, she was all THIS IS AMAZING.

I asked Autumn what her favorite part was and she said, "ALL OF IT." My mom didn't get to have dinner with us like we did last time but Autumn and I had some Panera and dressed up anyway. Since the show, Autumn keeps asking when we are going again. I don't think she quite understands that it's only here for a little while and costs a little too much to see twice. She wants Mike to come so I told her we'd all go again next time it comes.

In other news, Autumn is getting her dog book fix in! Some of our friends gave Autumn a stack of books from when they were into animal books, too! Autumn has these on her bookshelf all arranged by topic and series and order she plans to read them.

Last week, I'm sure everyone knows we had SNOW DAYS. Except there wasn't really any snow. It was ice. Most of the main thoroughfares were fine after the first couple of the days but side streets and sidewalks were iced over so we only had one day of school last week. One of the ice days, Autumn and I went out and slid on the ice, made the Tiniest Snowman, and looked for animal tracks.

Molly did this during the cold.

We stayed busy by keeping up with online homework, reading, straightening, shivering, and Autumn learned to sew! We started on paper plates with a big needle and embroidery floss. She wanted to make a nine patch quilt like Laura in Little House. Autumn did a pretty good job when she remembered to not wrap stitches. She has a whole 9 patch quilt block (I don't have a photo yet!) and I think I'm going to get a charm pack of precut patches to let to her make a few more.

Oh, we also played some Warcraft! Autumn was able to drive her character on her own! I stayed nearby to make sure she was headed the right way but Autumn completed an entire quest by herself! I have it set so that she can't see anything written by anyone except our guild (which consists of Mike, Donnie, Liz, and me!) and no one can duel her or invite her to anything which is great.

And, FINALLY, I hope everyone had a fun Valentine's Day. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I enjoy it because I like holidays and excuses to celebrate. Mike did great. He got Autumn the coolest chocolate ever! He also got me chocolate and flowers AND ordered the new Laura Ingalls Wilder book, Pioneer Girl, however, it is out of stock. T_T

Autumn made a really cute Valentine mailbox featuring Peso from Octonauts. We printed a coloring page and she colored and cut it out. Then we put sparkle modge podge on it. Too fun!

On the other side, she drew her own Peso! SO CUTE I LOVE IT. After she made her box, Autumn made her own Peso costume with a black track suit, a white circle, a paper medical bag, and a paper hat. No, we don't really get bored here. :)

I'm teaching Monday nights in a late time slot and having a bit of a hard time updating the blog after class. I'm going to give Tuesday mornings a try! Until next time!

Mobile Moments: Violins, Memories, and Molly is Weird Part 5002

So, I totally forgot to get Mike to share his album of our trip sooooo you get THIS. AUTUMN PLAYING THE VIOLIN.


Sunday was pretty fun. We got to skype Uncle Brad and he and Autumn played a Twinkle Twinkle duet. I should have recorded it but I did get a photo! I know a lot of people aren't fans of social media, technology, and other advances but, personally? I love it.

Last week we had Autumn as Fancy Nancy. This week we have mismatch day! Autumn got to participate for reaching her AR goal, yay! There are things I miss about Autumn over the years as she has grown up way too rapidly. One of the big things is when she had that cute cartoon sounding voice. I think another thing I'll miss is when she doesn't play dress up all the time. But then...maybe she'll be like me and wear a costume every chance she gets!

Okay, I have to post this video that's on my youtube page of Autumn and her cartoon voice.


Sigh. Anyway, we got pie Saturday. Autumn ROLLED through her piece. It was kind of amazing. I almost didn't get her a piece of her own but, holy cow, I am glad I did. I wouldn't have gotten any! This child eats as much as I do and I eat a LOT. If you are ever in the Germantown area, be sure to stop by Pie Folks. It's good stuff!

Other than eating and skyping and violining, Autumn is still doing her kiwi crate every month (um, if you're ever tempted to buy a subscription or a crate, go to my other blog and click the banner!). This crate was pretty fun. She made a hobby horse! I have no idea where it went but before we even started, Autumn lost one of the ears. She named the horse Holy after our friend's cat. The cat has a damaged ear so they named her Holyfield. Recently, I explained to Autumn, at her request, the reason behind the name. "So there was this boxer named Mike Tyson and he was CRAZY and there was this other boxer named Evander Holyfield. Well, one day..."

Oh, and speaking of cats, if you were wondering how Molly is doing, she has a new hobby. She found the unpaired sock basket. So now we find socks in random places all over the house. The strange thing is that we have never actually seen her carrying the socks. I don't know when she does it or why. It's kinda funny and weird. One day last week we came home to Molly standing over an entire pile. Maybe it's like how some cats bring chipmunks? Molly brings SOCKS.

February Fun!

I hope everyone had a super fun Valentine's Day!! We did. Mike got to stay home from work Friday as a surprise. He's been working extremely long hours so it was nice to see him for more than a few minutes before bed time. We went to Autumn's Valentine's Day party and I totally have photos of that but they are on my camera downstairs and I'm too lazy to go get it! But, we did some other things, too. Like the dentist. Autumn has gone from being absolutely terrified of everything about the dentist to looking forward to her visits.

It helps that she and her friends can slide on the chair.

We also made Valentines for Autumn's class. I got the kiwi crate valentine kit for her. We also thought about Doc McStuffins or Lalaloopsy Valentines but decided that she likes crafts so much that it was worth doing. I love what she did. She did the pop ups and then wrote a special note to all of her friends. SO SWEET.

I don't remember if I've mentioned this but Autumn is in a new ballet class. It's great because she's one of the younger kids so it's a challenge for her. It's been going well. Even better? It's during one of the aikido classes I teach. So, She hangs out for a little while, goes to ballet, changes into pajamas, and then I'm done and we go home! Soooo convenient. We didn't do swim team this semester because the timing was just too hard on our schedule as a family. With Mike's work going crazy, it turned out well because he can't take Autumn to swim on Tuesdays anymore. We'll probably do some swim lessons this summer and then see if Autumn wants to try out for the swim team rather than doing the Lil' Gators. I guess it's going to depend on how into ballet she gets. Anyway, this is Autumn waiting on me SO PATIENTLY (not) while I talked to some students, hahaha.

Oh, some of you might have seen this but here's something funny...a failed project. I made these fun yarn balls to put in some vases for a shower I'm giving next month. Well. Only one turned out. It was suuuuper messy so I haven't decided if it's worth doing again!

Here's your monthly Molly report. She's doing fine. She even survived the onslaught of teenagers determined to pet her!

Until next week! I might even have a video of Autumn belting out Let It Go from Frozen!!

No...energy...must post...pictures /collapse

So, in case anyone is wondering, it is chilly and rainy and so I am cold and unmotivated, haha. Donnie and Liz came over (pics later!) because they were in town for a short visit. I made mini chicken pot pies and an ice cream sandwich dessert. I ATE TOO MUCH. Then we had too much fun and cake at our friend Aurora's third birthday party. Mike was laughing at me and said I was "so pretty" in my Halloween socks, pink sweats, black shirt, and blue robe. I WILL GET MY REVENGE. But, later, after the naproxen kicks in. In the meantime, I wish I could just do this.


I haven't been a bum all week. I made stuff. I'll post the moss garden, the update of Autumn's fairy garden, and the cart I redid on the Pinwheel blog later but here's the Minnie Mouse tutu I made Aurora. Lindsay gave me the idea and I am happy with how it turned out!


And here's the birthday girl with her brother Josh and Autumn. Yay for Minnie Mouse!


I also made Autumn's cape for Halloween. She's going to be Ming Ming from Wonder Pets! I also have a yellow outfit and orange leggings to complete the look. I think we'll sew a boa to a shirt for the wings. TOO FUN. If you've never seen Wonder Pets they are so adorable. Mike and I even sing the Teamwork song even when Autumn isn't around, hahaha. The hat, by the way, is from when Autumn was Amelia Earhart!


I got to have lunch with Autumn. I tried to surprise her but Autumn caught me out. I filled her lunch bag with just stuff and let her teacher know what I had done. Unfortunately, Autumn decided her lunch felt or sounded weird so she looked in it. Her teacher tried to cover and say that she'd buy Autumn's lunch but Autumn was all, "mama is going to come todaaaaayyyyy!"


Happy girl with chocolate soy milk on her chin.


Oh, and here's that other tooth fairy drawing! It's pretty awesome. And I did get some pixie dust BUT Autumn is in here so a picture will have to wait. I have no idea when the tooth is going to finally go. It got loose and then decided it was loose enough for now.


This is my favorite part. Autumn is dreaming about the tooth fairy while the tooth fairy is flying in! Love it!


Next week, I think I'll introduce you to someone new! Kiri the Kiwi! Some of you have seen/met her but it's a fun story. :)

A couple of weeks of miscellany

Autumn has a loose tooth. Mike and I are freaking out because teeth are gross. To both of us. WHAT WILL WE DO. One thing we did do is order some rainbow tooth fairy dust. She's been writing letters to the tooth fairy letting her know that instead of money, she wants pixie dust. Autumn actually drew a better one but it's on her desk in her room and I don't want to go in there and potentially wake her up. Although she usually sleeps like a stone so it's really that I'm lazy.


Oh! Autumn started swim team! I didn't post last week because it was my birthday and I decided to take the night off, haha. But, she has been amazing!! Seriously, even Mike is impressed and he's pretty much never impressed. I take her one night and Mike takes her the other night. I got this one this past week. They had to swim with a weight forward, kicking their legs, with one hand straight up. SO CUTE.


I wasn't sure she was going to make it to the first day. Autumn came down with a fever two Sundays ago. I should have known something was wrong when she woke up and started crying because she couldn't sleep. Poor thing was like fire in the morning when I woke up. She missed two days of school with the fever but only looked **really** pitiful like this for one day. Usually even when she's sick she's all bouncing and silly but, no.


In other news, a friend of mine from kali back in the day took Autumn and me on a tour of Brussel's Bonsai in Olive Branch. He had an easy to care for bonsai that someone had given to him and gave it to Autumn! We had a great time. The bonsai were amazing and, frankly, I had no idea there were things like BONSAI FORESTS. Autumn fell for a couple of bonsai and I told her that if this bonsai stays alive until her birthday, I'd buy her one that flowered.


And, to wrap up, have a happy day picture. :) Autumn is very happy about the first day of Autumn. Unfortunately, the lighting was really harsh so you get an Autumn in sepia.


NEXT WEEK: Kiri the Kiwi!!

Art and MORE

Bad News: I can't sleep. Good news: I remembered that I didn't do my Sunday blog post, haha.

We're plugging along with school and work and getting caught up on everything I've laid by the wayside...like my files. I have finally cleared off my work table. Glory! I also realized that it's time to get a new art folder for Autumn. I have one with her preschool art and projects in it and another for kindergarten. I already have some fun things to put in the first grade folder after they come off the art wall here in the playroom. Autumn drew this one for Mike. Once, they were in the ocean with snorkels and they found a yellow and orange fish and they followed it for a while. I think this was back in May so I thought it was pretty fun that she just decided to commemorate the event. AREN'T THE SNORKELS ADORABLE??


I think Autumn drew this one before school started...I was doing something and had the bathroom cabinet open. There's an opening inside the cabinet that leads underneath the tub which is encased in tile. I have no idea why and, quite frankly, it's kind of creepy. Molly was curious and got most of the way into the hole before I rescued her. Oh, man. Can you imagine if we lost her in the tub abyss? Autumn thought it was hysterical so she drew a picture for Mike so he'd get to experience it, too. Text: Molly was sticen her hed in the cavin.


Oh, we were to curriculum night. I got to sit in Autumn's desk. None of the parents of the kids who sit in Autumn's group made it. I told the teacher no one wanted to sit with us, heh. Anyway, I took this because I thought Pd would like it: "I hope we learn about subtract and math."


We've been doing non-art things, of course. We made fried apple pies! I counted it as one of those things that if I wanted it bad enough to make it, then I can eat it! Autumn is getting enough dexterity that I've had her actually helping rather than just playing with dough while I make the real food. With the pies and with samosas (the Indian food, not samoas as in the Girl Scout Cookie, sorry if you know that but we've had people really confused about why we'd eat chutney with cookies), I had her start rolling out the circles and then I'd finish them out to the right thickness and diameter. Soon she'll be able to do all of it on her own! She really was a big help this week.


Um, ignore the dusty floor but I love this picture so much. I saw Autumn stop on her way to feed Molly to play in a sunbeam. So cute. She was batting at dust particles but then realized her cat ears (what every kids needs in their before-school wardrobe!) made a cool shadow and was all "MAMA COME TAKE A PICTURE!" So, I did. I loved this one so much that when I went to the grocery store, I got a frame, converted the photo to black and white, and put it in the living room! I cut out the storage container. :P


Oh, one fun thing. Autumn read this book about starting kindergarten and last year she put one of her old loveys in her backpack "to remind me of home in case I miss you." She asked if she could do it again and I told her I'd think of something else. Well, we LOVE Pete the Cat. We have 4 of the books and the doll. His recurring theme is "did Pete cry? Goodness no! He kept on singing his song..." Well, I got the backpack pull for her! Autumn was soooo excited. And we talked about how if she got worried or homesick, she'd see Pete and think about singing her song! Too fun. She's loving going to and from school but she still likes to walk with Pete draped over her shoulder.


Last one! Check it out...first home work at Autumn's desk! Craziness! And this used to be Aunt Lauren's desk. Even crazier! Time sure does fly, wah!


If you haven't been to Passing Pinwheels lately, stop in! We have had a lot going on and tomorrow (ahem, this afternoon) I should be posting our Day of Hope prayer flag.