Waiting to Fall

I'm sure I have mentioned this before...my favorite season is Fall. It didn't use to be, especially growing up. But having boys both born in the autumn months and after living in Hawaii where there wasn't such a season, it has grown to be my favorite. All of August I've been dreaming of those cooler temps, the gorgeous tones of yellow, orange, and red on the trees, wearing sweaters, drinking hot coffee, feeling the crispness in the air, and hearing the crunching of leaves (okay I really could go on forever). I'm anxiously waiting for September 1st so I can break out the fall decor and go purchase mums. In the meantime I decided to do a craft to get me ready for the change, as if I wasn't ready already.

Thanks to Pinterest I stumbled upon this wreath:

 Source

I have seen these yarn wreathes before and didn't think they were all that great.  But for some reason this one stuck out to me.  I couldn't get it out of my mind! I actually laid in bed, as I was trying to go to sleep, thinking about how to execute such a wreath.  And because I'm OCD crazy, the next morning I zipped on over to Hobby Lobby. 

I bought a straw wreath, yarn, felt, yarn needles, and thread...all for $8.18 (did I mention the above is selling for $45?).  Naptime I started wrapping the yarn.  That's when it clicked why this simple wreath is sold for so much, wrapping yarn in an OCD precise, neat way is extremely time consuming. 

I sketched out some leaf shapes for a template to be used on the felt.  That's where it didn't turn out as I had hoped.  Perhaps I didn't have "the" touch that the person who made the one above did.  The next day I remembered I had some fake leaves I had used in last year's decor around the house.  Yep, that made a world of difference.  I used pins to stick them on there; after hours of yarn wrapping I decided I could reuse the base of the wreath at Christmas if I wanted (I was not going through that again!)

Simple and pretty.  The yarn reminds me of a sweater.  I have a cute ribbon that I'm going to use to hang the wreath on one of those removable wall hooks.  I plan on hanging this on our back door that's in our living room. 



Needed an Update

I realized I've been neglecting the blog.  I've tried to think of what is new in our lives, but nothing really.  Just every day to day life. 
Well, some thing that has changed is that my days have consisted a lot of this:
"Stop screaming."
"Don't you dare!"
"It's not nice to hit."
"Go to the corner!"
"I know you're frustrated, but you don't need to scream and hit."
"Oh my gosh, I can't take this."

The terrible twos are here.  2 weeks early.  Actually, it's been longer than that. 
I thought C had "terrible twos" but those seemed like a breeze compared to this one. 
It will get better I tell myself.  It will get better. Who am I kidding?! We're going to have our hands full with this one.  I love him with all my heart, but holy little screaming terror! :)

Reunited Day 2

I could really get use to these homecomings.  Words can't describe the excitement and energy during these ceremonies!  I was blessed again to be a part of another friend's hero's return home.

Reunited

There is nothing more rewarding than the day your soldier comes home after a year long deployment overseas (well giving birth is way up there too).  I had the honor of being with a family, whom I have become friends with over the past year, when their hero came home.  Homecomings are such an awesome experience, having done that twice, and it was a new experience being a spectator...I saw things in a different perspective this go round and it was a lot of fun.

Dot that i & Cross that t

Well, I did what I said, now let's hope I keep it that way.  School training is in session at the Armstrong residence.

HomeBoy

This time next year C will no longer be a home boy, but a school boy!  The kids are all getting ready to go back to school here, around town and on post, at the end of the week.  Since he was a baby I was disappointed when I realized that because of his birth date he would be starting school later.  But now that the time is here, I'm kind of glad he won't be going this year.  (He missed the cut off date this year by 1 week)  I'm not ready to let him go, for my own selfish reasons.  He's such a great kid and he keeps me entertained, albeit he talks A LOT but he keeps me on my toes with his random questions. 

My goal for this year (by year I'm referring to school year) is to prepare him for kindergarten.  I'm really going to buckle down and try to work with him on a daily basis with writing, art (which he has no interest in doing), and introducing reading fundamentals.  I also am going to instill personal values in him so that he will continue to be a well rounded individual.  When the time comes, I don't want him to fall into peer pressure, bullying (either side of it), etc.  Lastly, I just want to enjoy our days together as a trio before that new chapter begins in our family life.

My Brain is Rotting

I need to find something to do.  A craft or a hobby.  Something inexpensive.  Not being in school for almost 2 years now is driving me to pure boredom.  I love my boys, obviously, but there is only so much playing I can do.  I need something fun for me. 

I found photos in another camera of the last "craft" I did.  Camera strap covers for a few friends.  It was fun til Susie (my sewing machine) and I didn't get along any more.  She can be a real pain in the bum! (Although I'm sure it goes both ways) 

Maybe I should just start taking some more classes and finish up this degree!