Three News' (I don't actually think that's a word;)

I think I just started a new hobby: sewing. I always thought that it was way too confusing, "How do people do it?" answer: simple, sign up to 4H (if you are still a kid that is;). That's how I learned! We made skirts (which I was able to sew the elastic the night of... woo- hoo!), then after I went camping, I made this... a CUTE pencil bag! Or a pencil box, but I don't think it's very box enough to say so.

Above shows the magnets I put inside the brim.

Just a random picture of the inside...

and another of me holding it up. Just so you know, the ribbon switches/alternates sides (however you want to say that) on both sides.

I also used fabric glue to put some ribbon on it just in case the magnet plan didn't work. All in all, it only took me about a half hour to sew. Even though I had to change colors of thread and pick out the old one when it ran out. My news is: one, I learned how to work a sewing machine. Two, I made a skirt. Last but not least I made my own pencil "bag" with no help!
Thank you for reading my post!
Tia

My New Talent

So for Ari's Birthday party, I needed to figure out how to make balloon animals. They're really fun to make, and most are simple!

Here is my latest "accomplishment"..... The Flower!

Kai had to "smell" it for my picture above.

Come One, Come All! These Puppets Are Wonderful!

During Spring Break our class had to make our own sock puppets. I did an alien named Mars, and then decided it was too much fun to just do one! I made a pizza chef for Kai, and the first thing he said I had to put on it was the mustache. I guess that's how he remembers them! I also made an artist, and started working on a pirate.

Sorry, I didn't get a picture of Mars, and these photos are a little bright. Right now, Mars is at school right now. I haven't finished the pirate yet . Oh well!

Monoply

So, today we played Monoply, and Kai and I were winning, I had already said this, because of the talk in either general conference, or in sacrament meeting: 'I just don't know how to lose!' So now, about an hour later, he's in there winning like crazy. Maybe next time will be my turn to win!

Pulla

On Saturday, Ari and I made Pulla, a Finnish coffee bread (from Finland, and no, we don't drink coffee with it- try hot chocolate). We did 3 cups of gluten, and the rest whole wheat flour, we also added a bit more milk in the end, and sprinkled cinnamon-sugar on top. You can see that the loaves were pretty long, so I had to take three different pictures so you could see the braiding (which, by the way, we did four way braiding; take the first bunch of dough, and go over on one, under next, then over last). Here's the recipe at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Finnish-Pulla/Detail.aspx

My Homemade Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day!
I know it's tomorrow, but the parties are always the day or days before. This year I made my own valentines again. I just get tired of the same ones every year, and they aren't the kind I'd want to use. They're always too goofy, or otherwise, Jonas Brothers or Hannah Montana (who I'm not a fan of). That's why I like to make my own. You can decorate them however you want, and you don't have to make them super fancy either. Remember, people always just throw away the valentine, and keep the candy. Sooooo..... here's what mine looked like. I kinda ran out of time- couple days before to be exact. I did almost every color combination you could imagine. There were only two left over. P.S. (They weren't all Snickers ;)

Bookworm

Today I finished a book called: The Looking Glass Wars.
I borrowed it from a neighbor, as well as Pillage, by Obert Skye; the same
author of Leven Thumps. I also borrowed The Alchemyst-Secrets of
the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, by Michael Scott. Both are really
great books; but if I had to choose one, it would definitely be The Alchemyst.
The Looking Glass Wars is by Frank Beddor, and it's another version
of the story Alice in Wonderland. It has a few blood and gore parts, but
they weren't so bad that I had to put it down. I liked it, and the
author is making a trilogy out of it, so I'm gonna see how those
turned out. Hope you'll try them!

Bubble Mania!

Today Ari and I blew up water balloons again... it's just too much fun!
This picture all started this afternoon when I was playing with bubbles,
the sink filled with water, and the balloons. Then Ari showed me a trick on how to make
the bubbles faster...... it worked a little too well!

Here's an up close on a leaning tower of overflowing bubbles.

If you ever want to try this at home, it's not messy.... it's actually the
exact opposite! We used straws; any kind would work, but we preferred the double black
straws. They're a bit smaller, though.

You'll also need a cup. We used plastic and Styrofoam.

Fill the cup (or cups) half way full (or half empty ;) with water and bubble
solution. "Miracle Bubbles" worked really well. You can also use
liquid hand soap. A few squirts should do.

Next you need to fill a sink up with water..... we plopped in the balloons then.

Put your choice of straw into the cup, and blow! You might
want to do it over the water filled sink, too! Most everyone knows that
this is bad manners at the table when you're drinking, but in this activity, your cup can
overflow! Not to mention the water balloons- soon you won't be able to see them!

Have Fun!!!!!

Sleepover Craft

A few nights ago, we had a sleepover at
Keaton's house, and it was so fun! One of the
things that I did (thank you Aunt Kira!) was
make flower clips. I took a couple pictures (which are above).
It was really fun to make them, and even more fun
to make the English Toffee and brownies for the
New Years party. The top one is the
one I wore yesterday. The one I wore today
was one of the red and white ones, I made two of those
so that I could wear one, and Ari could wear one, also for pig tails.

Thanks again, Aunt Kira!