Jack-O-Lanterns

I found a cute Halloween craft here.

I changed it up a bit and we ended up with these
Here is how we did it...

I mixed a little water with white glue (just to dilute a little) and Miles painted it onto the milk jug with a foam brush.
We applied orange tissue paper. By the way, do you have any idea how hard it is to find orange tissue paper? After 4 stops I learned that Hobby Lobby has it.
Let that dry.
Smear glue all over the table while mom cuts out face shapes from construction paper.
Glue those on.
I do plan to cut the backs out and put in Christmas lights like they did, but I haven't made it up to the attic yet for them.

That's it, enjoy!

How's the quilt coming?

I'm so glad you asked!
It's coming along pretty well.

Here is a photo taken on September 7. This was how I picked it up at that time.
Here is one letting you know what still needs to be done. Click on it if you want to read the text.
Now, here is where I am now....
Again with the labels.
I have a couple more hours before I'm ready to quilt the border, but I'm getting very close!
Currently I'm planning to do the border by machine, but I'm also going to go by the quilt shop where I had the class and talk to them first. This is about the last chance I'll have to work on it until after Christmas. I want to be sure to save time to work on gifts!

September/October Goals

I think overall I did well on goals for the month during teh begining of the month. I really petered out at the end of the month. In fact I had a real motivation problem toward the end of the month that I'm still working on getting over. I've had a post with these pictures ready since the 7th of the month, but no words to put in it. Here is hoping this doesn't last much longer. The goals for September were:

Personal Goal: I'm going to work on the Bible study again. I'll combine this with the nails. That will give me a good 6 weeks with no biting. I did pick back up on my Bible study. I was able to finish Luke and begin on John. I also stopped this about mid month so I'll continue to work on that. I also did well on the nail biting for the first half of the month. I needed to get another manicure. That is where I always fall off the wagon, I never get the second one soon enough.
Fun Goal: I'm thinking we'll try roller skating this month. We are also going to go to each of the museums we have memberships with as well.We didn't go roller skating. We did go to both of the museums though. I think we might go back to the flight museum tomorrow.
Teaching Goal: Potty training! Yikes! We began last week, but that is what we are learning this month. I'll also continue with the letters. I think potty training was a success! He's doing great now and even tells me when we are out and he needs to potty. Letters are also going well. He knows all the capital letters. We haven't worked on lower case at all.
Resolutions Goal: I think I'll pick back up on my sampler quilt. No reason to drag that project into next year! I didn't start back on this until a week into the month, however when I did I was pleasantly surprised at how much was already done! I have another several days to finish the inside of the quilt, but I hope to begin the border of the quilt this month. I'm planning to do that on the machine.

Next up? October's Goals!
Personal Goal: NAIL BITING!!! I have got to stop this nasty habit!
Fun Goal: I am not really feeling this one right now, what with the lack of motivation and all, but I think we will try to take the light rail one day. I know Miles would love that!
Teaching Goal: I think we will work on numbers. I need a break on letters. He is loving books right now. We are really in to Uncle Wiggly. Those stories are so sweet, but we need more of them.
Resolutions Goal: I need to keep going on the quilt. I think I'll also work on helping Miles pick up his toys every night before bed. We've been pretty good about this for a day or two, but we need more structure around here.

Potty Training: Day 6 & morning of Day 7

Yesterday we had no accidents! I'm so proud of him!
This morning he didn't want to put underwear on (I still have him in a diaper overnight), but after he got it on he played happily. Then he told me he needed to go to the bathroom again and went. Today he goes to Mother's Day Out so that I can go to work. I hope all goes well there. I'm basically expecting at least one accident. Their bathroom isn't very close to the classroom, and the teacher has several other kids she's helping too. We'll see though. He's surprised me before.
I can't say how proud I am of him. At the end of the day today we will have been at it for a week, and he really seems to be getting it.

August/September Goals

August is ending and September beginning. The weather is beginning to cool too (thank goodness). It's time to review monthly goals!

Here is what I had for August:
Personal Goal: Bible Study daily. I'd like to pick up where I left off on the gospels.
My Bible study was a bit hit or miss. I did begin again. I also decided to bring up reading through Mark as a family on vacation. We got a bit more than half way though and...well, you know how family vacations are. After about a week him I continued it. Doing good!
Fun Goal -Camping vacation.
Well that one was easy! We'd already planed the trip before the month began. We went, and had fun.
Learning Goal -We are going to work on potty training, but that is likely not to be finished. We won't work on it until we are back from the trip. I think we'll work hard on letters this month.
This is coming along. We did several letter activities on the trip. He is really more interested in letters now than he has been. He's doing pretty well with capitols, but we haven't worked on lower case. We also started potty training. *sigh*
Resolution Goal -I'm going to have to figure out where we are, but I want to work on the Christmas goals. I don't think I'll have time for this with going out of town. Perhaps we'll work on the nail biting.
I'm doing well on my resolutions goal! I stopped biting my nails on the trip. It took a week after we got back to get in for a manicure, but my nails are looking good now! I just have to make it to get a "refresh" in a week or so.

Now for September goals.:
Personal Goal: I'm going to work on the Bible study again. I'll combine this with the nails. That will give me a good 6 weeks with no biting.
Fun Goal: I'm thinking we'll try roller skating this month. We are also going to go to each of the museums we have memberships with as well.
Teaching Goal: Potty training! Yikes! We began last week, but that is what we are learning this month. I'll also continue with the letters.
Resolutions Goal: I think I'll pick back up on my sampler quilt. No reason to drag that project into next year!

How about you? Do you have any resolutions you are just beginning to remember? Do you have a goal for the month?

Potty Training: Day 5

Saturday there were plenty of accidents. Nothing remarkable other than trying to poop in the back yard. Sunday morning I woke up and felt very little stress about the potty training thing. He had a couple of accidents in the morning, and it didn't really get under my skin. I knew we'd get there. Then *presto* he tells me he needs to go, we rush to the potty, and he did it! Three times! There was an accident in the middle somewhere, and I think one after that too. It didn't matter...he'd done it. After that I realized that part of the stress was that I was afraid he wouldn't go on the potty for me, then I'd take him to Jared's parents house and he wouldn't have a single accident. Well he finally went for me and the stress was off. This morning he did it again. Then I took him over, and he had an accident and then peed in the front yard. When I got over there to pick him up I took him to poop in the potty and that was it. I know it can't all be downhill from here, but I do think the hard part was the first 3 or so days.

Potty Training: Day 2

Oh man!! Potty training sucks! We are on day 2. I am having him clean his own messes, and it's a good thing too. I don't know what I would do otherwise.
Today we had 5 accidents. I asked him every 5 minutes if he needed to go to the bathroom. That means that 5 different times I'd just asked him if he needed to potty when he peed on my floor. Argh! This is worse than yesterday!
Yesterday I don't actually remember how many accidents we had. I have got to think it was less than today. I can hardly stand to hear myself talk this evening. Certainly not him. Bah! I have no idea how much longer this will take. I will have Monday half off though.
Jared's mom gets him on Monday. What do you want to bet that he has no accidents AT ALL then. Jared and I never fight. We are really easy going, but this is getting under both of our skins. I'm so exhausted tonight.
I hardly have energy for anything. Sorry this post sucks. If you are still reading, I'll leave you with the good stuff.
Man, I love him so much! Bedtime always brings it into perspective too. Hopefully we will be done soon and I'll have something to say.