26 Acts of Kindness

Things are crazy these days.  I finally broke down and talked to my kids about the shooting in CT the other day.  I was donating some pillowcases to a charitable cause for the effort and Sam kept wanting to know what I was donating for.  I finally broke down and told her.  She didn't seem all that surprised.  She had heard about it at school and I guess they've talked about it.  Neither one of the older kids seemed all that surprised actually.  Fortunately neither one of them seemed stressed or worried about it either.  Kudos to their teachers.

This morning, the school district canceled school at the high school in Hyrum.  Apparently, last night a student at MC tweeted he was going to bring a gun to school and "kill myself and possibly others."  The district and police department felt that since they didn't know who the threat came from, the safest thing to do was to cancel school at the high school.  I was surprised they didn't cancel school at my kids' school since it's DIRECTLY behind the high school.  What they ended up doing was stationing teachers and the principal at each door or lock the unmanned doors.  They were told that any student who was not a member of the student body at that particular school was not to be allowed into the school.  There were also 2 police cars at the school when I dropped Nash off.  The principal also took some other precautions.  The kids had indoor recess so they weren't out in the open.  The teachers kept their classroom doors locked all day and for the most part, the classroom doors were shut.  This prevented a lot of extra kids in the hallways and no one could come in or out without someone knowing who was coming in or out of the room.  I think they did a great job.  I told Nash that I was going to drop Caleb off at preschool and then I'd come to his school.  I had to be there at 11 to help with Sam's class party anyway, so I figured I would feel better being in the school with the kids for that extra two hours.  After I dropped Caleb off at preschool I went back to the school.  I checked in at the office and got an awesome fluorescent orange sticker that identified me as a visitor.  I then went to Nash's class.  His teacher was very welcoming of me in her classroom.  I told her I was just there to be an extra body/help for two hours.  I was able to help monitor while they took a spelling test, help with minor needs while the kids made Christmas cards for their parents and then help with m&m math.  At 11 am I went over to Sam's class.  We had her class Christmas party that lasted for an hour.  While I was in Nash's class I learned that one of the parents that was suppose to come to help with their class party hadn't sent her child to school that day.  I told Nash's teacher that I could come back and help.  So, after I finished up in Sam's class, I took a short break and then went back to Nash's class to help with his class party.  Turns out I was at the school for the entire school day although I had only originally intended to be there for about an hour!  I was impressed with the way the teachers talked to the kids about what was going on and I was impressed with how easily the administration was able to increase the security in the school.  Kudos Canyon Elementary!

A few days ago I read the article that has been circulating about the 26 Acts of Kindness.  I decided I'd join the effort.  Here is what I've done so far:

Act of Kindness #1: I donated 4 pillowcases to My Girlfriend's Quilt Shop.  I read an article online.  They had received a shout out from a quilt shop in CT that was trying to get 600 pillowcases.  They wanted to give one to each student, faculty and staff member at the Sandy Hook Elementary School as well as each of the first responders.  My Girlfriend's Quilt Shop had extended hours on Tuesday this week and at the end of that day they had around 400 pillowcases.  I stopped in on Thursday on my way to take kids to get their allergy shots for the week and dropped off 4 more.  I asked if they knew how many pillowcases they had and I was told, "Over 1,000 now."  That is amazing!

Act of Kindness #2: I measured out my long, blonde locks and got them packaged to send to Locks of Love.  My cousin Nat told me she had measured my pony tails at a little more than 10 inches.  After we chopped the pony tails she told me she took off another two inches.  Well, in measuring my pony tails I learned that they were actually just over 12 inches!  That means I cut 14" of hair off!  I did not think my hair was that long!

Act of Kindness #3: A friend of mine has a sister who was in a very horrible car accident the other day.  The accident left her mother in law deceased.  It also left her left leg in shambles, her 2 1/2 year old looks like he had a baseball bat taken to him and her 2 week old baby was injured as well.  They live in Montana and hadn't been able to go Christmas shopping yet due to weather.  She and her husband were going to go this weekend.  Now she's in the hospital along with the 2 week old and they are planning a funeral.  Meanwhile there's no one to do the Christmas shopping for their five kids.  So, we "adopted" the family and are sending some love.

 Not sure what I'll come up with for my other acts of kindness yet.  I did join Sunset Crochet on FB and am going to help out with their 12 days of Christmas challenge.  The challenge is to make 12 crocheted hats for babies in the NICU.  I hold a special spot for NICU because I've had a nephew and a niece spend time there after they were born.  This challenge actually runs Dec. 25-Jan. 6 so I know I should be able to get this one done on time!  Just crossing my fingers that the patterns aren't too complicated to figure out - I'm still very much a beginner crochet-er!

Merry Christmas!

Dance recital, funny girls, hair cuts & Santa

Sam & Kylee are so excited to be in the same class again.  They were in the same class for a year or so when they were just little and then they were in Dyna-kids together for a year before Sam moved up to Jr. Company.  This year Kylee moved up to Jr. Company too!

Brookelyn never ceases to amaze me.  This little girl is more like her big sister every day!  I caught her reading a story to the snowmen the other day.

And speaking of Sam, I found these notes on her door the other day.  I about died laughing.  Completely cracked me up.  I had to get a photo.

Nash has been getting festive with the LEGOs.  He built Santa for us.

Today I finally took the boys in for a hair cut.  I've been debating about chopping my hair off for awhile.  The first time I got the inkling to do it I just permed it instead.  The perm never did take too well so I still had the inkling to do something different.  My sister in law chopped hers over Thanksgiving and it gave me another nudge to do it.  So, while I was there with the boys, I cut my hair.

Before (the last time I chopped my hair was Jan. 2010 & I cut about 11 inches off):

After:

It hasn't been this short since I was pregnant with Nash.  When I chopped it off last time the back was a little longer and it was an A line so the front just about hit my shoulders.  My cousin, Natalee, cut my hair for me and I asked her if she thought it was long enough to donate.  I didn't think it would be.  I've never donated before but have always wanted to.  She put my hair into two pony tails and chopped them off so they were a little more than 10 inches each.  Now I just have to send them in!

 After we got our hair cuts I went and picked the girls up (I left them at my in laws' house) and we went to see Santa.  I worried B might freak out but she did really good.  I think it might have something to do with the fact that we put her on Sam's lap instead of Santa's lap!  Santa had held his hands out to put her on his lap and she turned around to run away!

Photo Catch Up!

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving this year.  

I made the Thanksgiving turkey that has been Maughan Family tradition!

Little Sister and her goofy self.  Notice the plate just to the right?  Sister didn't have pie, she had whipped cream, whipped cream, oh did I mention whipped cream?

My sister in law made this.  How cute is it?  I so want to make one now.

Festival of Trees 2012 - Sam's Jazz costume.  I'm afraid we are going to have to beat the boys away with a stick before I know it!

Caleb making a Santa with a curly beard in the Kids Korner at Festival of Trees.

I went in to check on the girls before bed several nights ago and found them like this.  I told Sam now she knows how I feel when they all jump in bed with me!

Little sister is going to make Caleb look like an angel!  I had her pjs on and the boys were in the tub.  I had told them both a few times to keep the dang door shut so B wouldn't go in there and play in the water or the toilet.  Nash got out of the tub, got dressed and came out - leaving the bathroom door open.  A few seconds later I hear Caleb scream "MOM!  Brookelyn is in the tub!"  I walked in there to find her like this:

I had to take a photo!  She was so stinkin' happy to be in there!  Sippy cup and all!

Fabric Doll House

So my sister found this link: http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-dollhouse-tutorial.html  There's a tutorial on how to make a fabric doll house.  Cass told me she wanted to make Sunny one for Christmas and was wondering if I'd either help her do it or do it for her (I think do it for her ;)).  So, while B was napping today I made one.  I probably should have done my Thanksgiving baking, cleaned the house,done laundry, finished the 5 I Spy quilts that need to be done for Christmas, or any number of other things.  But, I didn't.  I made the doll house instead!  Now I'm trying to decide if I want to make another one and give one to each of my girls.


Step 1.  Cut three pattern pieces.  Before cutting fabric, see step 5.
--Cut one rectangle (top piece) 6" by 2 3/4" -- you will  need 2 pieces of this out of fabric.
--Cut one house piece (piece on the right) 4" (bottom of roof to ground) by 4" (across the bottom) by --2 3/4" (roof incline).  You will need to cut two pieces of this out of fabric.
--Cut one rectangle (piece on the left) 6" by 4".  You will need to cut 3 pieces of this out of fabric.
**When I did this a second time with my sister, we made the pieces a bit bigger.  The size for this is ok, but I think it would be good to have it a bit bigger.

Step 2. Cut pieces out of plastic canvas.
--2 house pieces
--3 of the 4" by 6" pieces
--2 of the 2 3/4" by 6" pieces

Step 3.  Cut pieces of batting to cover each piece of plastic canvas.  The way I did this was lay the piece of plastic canvas on the batting, cover the plastic with the batting and cut.  Once you cut your pieces of batting out, you have to tape the batting in place.  The original directions I had found said to use duct tape or electrical tape.  I tried using electrical tape (the black on the bottom left piece).  It didn't work too great.  I found that masking tape works quite well!  The only thing I was worried about was that you'd be able to feel the tape through the fabric.  Not so!

Step 4.  Once you have all your plastic canvas covered and taped, lay them out like this:

Step 5.  Here are the pieces of fabric I cut.The original directions I had said to cut 2 pieces that were 9" by 21".  The 21" wasn't long enough.  I had to go to 27 1/2".  It also said to cut 4 pieces of fabric that were 6" by 9" (pieces on the left).  The blue pieces are my exterior pieces and the purple is my interior.  After doing this once, I would NOT do the 6" by 9" pieces again.  I would cut the fabric slightly larger than the pattern pieces for the house shaped piece.

Step 6. Using the 6" by 9" piece of batting covered canvas & fabric, place fabric right sides together and sandwich the pieces of canvas between the fabric.  Using your fingers to guide you, place pins along the edges of the plastic canvas.  Make sure the pieces of plastic fit snuggly between the pieces of fabric.  **See why I'd suggest cutting the fabric to fit the house shaped pieces?

Step 7.  Remove plastic canvas from between fabric pieces and stitch where your pins were.  Make sure you stitch from the bottom of the fabric to the bottom of the fabric, otherwise you end up with a seam that isn't long enough.  Once you have finished stitching, cut excess fabric off and turn fabric right side out.  Replace plastic canvas between pieces of fabric.

Step 8.  Lay the 9" by 27 1/2" pieces of fabric out.  Place fabric right sides together.  Evenly space your other pieces of plastic canvas out on top of the fabric.  Your two smaller rectangles go at the very top and the very bottom.  The larger rectangles will be your wall, floor, and other wall.

 Step 9.  Remove the 3rd piece of plastic canvas and place the house shaped pieces in its place.  The pointed ends will point in opposite directions.  It is extremely bulky to sew through here.  Go slowly and double check to make sure that you catch all the edges when you sew over this area.

Step 10. Place the second fabric over the top of the plastic canvas pieces.  Pin along long edges and top.  Leave bottom open.  You need to cut 2-5 pieces of elastic (depends on if you want 2 latches or 5).  I used 1/4" wide elastic and made them about 4 inches long.  You also need something to create a handle.  The original directions I had said to use fabric pieces sewn into strips.  I ended up using ribbon instead and it worked very well.  I cut 2 pieces that were 9 1/4" long each.  Place your elastic and ribbon, pointing in to the inside of your fabric.  Notice you don't see them sticking out of the sides in the picture below.  Your handles will be separated, one on each of the short ends.  To place your elastic, you will put one between the handle ends, and two on either side of the last small rectangle.  I just guessed at their placement and they ended up being about one at the top and one at the bottom of the last small rectangle.  **After having done this once, I'd only put one piece of elastic on either side and I would omit the one at the top between the handle ends.  If I put only one piece of elastic on either side, I'd center it along the short edge of the last small rectangle.  Once all your elastic and one handle is in place, remove all the plastic canvas rectangles and then stitch along both long ends and the top short end.

Step 11.  Trim excess fabric and turn right side out.  The spot where your house shaped pieces are are a bit difficult to turn, just go slowly.  Gently and carefully slide your plastic canvas pieces back into your long piece of fabric.  Fold the edges of the open end in to create a finished edge.  Place your second handle to line up with the handle you've already stitched into place.  Stitch closed.  Space out your rectangles so they are evenly spaced.  Stitch between each rectangle to create a defined fold.

Step 12. Fold the back and both sides up and pin in place.  Hand stitch along the seams so that your house will only have one side that opens.

Step 13.  Stitch on buttons.  If you close the side that opens you can place the buttons in the correct location.  I used buttons like you'd find on a shirt.  They were kind of a beast to sew on and they elastic doesn't go on too easily.  I'd suggest using a button that has a raised back to stitch on.  I think that this will make it easier to sew, easier to hook closed and look better.

You can see that my house doesn't close exactly perfect.  If I take the bottom elastic and hook it around the top button, it closes better.  That's why I'd only use one button next time.  I also don't need a button at the top because the top stays closed quite well on its own.