Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

Tatum has a gift. She sees something she wants in her head, then she decides to make it.

The other morning she woke up with a vision she wanted to make a reality in the morning. She imagined her bear being a watch on her wrist. We made it happen! This is the theme of most days. She wants glasses, we make glasses. She wants a new watch so she/we make a new watch. She wants a pup pad, she creates her own. This week, it’s iPads. Today alone, she has created about five. I just found her in her room making one with animal apps. It’s 8:08 pm. Again, she had a vision, so she made it happen.

Again, I love her brain. Instead of begging me for the latest “thingamabob,” she decides to create her own. She told me that when she wears her “homemade” glasses to school, she gets teased. Do you think it bothers her? No way.

Tot, you are my little creator. I love how God is purposing your life.

Seeing all things red raises the blood pressure because it means the holidays are nearing and the hustle begins. However, something about seeing orange makes one feel cozy and forward thinking to spiced cider and pumpkiny treats.

It all seems to start at Trader Joe’s. They seem to have the ability to make fall come alive with pumpkin EVERYTHING

Pumpkin Sunday started with these little orbs of tastiness

Then, we had a nice time at church, and although it’s not cold outside, we all felt warm and cozy inside.

After church, we continued the trend with a leftover Einstein’s scooped out pumpkin bagel with feta and cream cheese (my fancy addition) for Tot.

I wanted to surprise her for dinner for some more orange treats, so I made orangey lentil pasta with butternut squash and a few goodies thrown in like coconut oil, feta, and smoked turkey.

She devoured it.

The usual dinner guests were present:
Baby…being polite sitting quietly.

Coti, staring under her chair waiting…and waiting…and waiting for Tatum to be  bit of a mess.

No luck, Snuggles..she’s eating it up just fine; no dropsies.

Sorry puppy!

Feeling orange today. Warm, snuggly, and always a bit of spice too! Sundays should always be this wonderful.

 

to be warm! The itchy sweater wrap did not suffice as evidenced by her spending more time itching than skating.

So, earmuffs to the rescue.

Hopefully this gives her happy ears!

 

We were just winding down on my Thursday night with Tatum. Getting our teeth flossed, brushed, and ready for bed. Then Tatum asked me: Doug, could you make me some rainbow glasses? …..uuuh what? You know some rainbow glasses. Wait a minute, we’re going to bed in 15 ya know. Then I’m thinking this must be a test? (are you going to measure up Doug or not?)

OK, we can do this!

We traced around a pair of real glasses on paper. Then we colored in with emphasis on the rainbow!

All we needed to do was cut out and… Ta-Da!

 

I must have passed the test because the next week the same question: Doug, can you make me some glasses?

Sure!

This time we investigate the art cart for materials. I realize this art cart has EVERYTHING you could possibly ever need for art projects (and many home repair projects too I think). Steph, you should just go into the art cart business – seriously! OK, we find colored pipe cleaners – these things are the coolest!

 

Tot, you make our Thursday nights fun!

There is no more crafty artsy person than my dear cousin, Kelly. I learn so much from her with art. She is not only stocked full of supplies, but she has an imagination that lives inside her head and explodes onto her craft. Amazing.

We had the pleasure of hanging out with her and her kiddos, Morgan and Nyla to make some crafty things today.

We got all ready with all Kell’s supplies. Now, what to make?

Nyla got right to work with an idea to draw a night owl.

and voila! Beautiful.

Tot and I made some shadow boxes with little animals inside.

Morgan made an origami cat,  her version, morigami!

Kelly made teeny tiny spooky bats in a little black night box.

She had done some crafts earlier

and now I’m inspired. I have so much to learn, but I’m open to all of this fun. I have missed out so much on all this artsy stuff, so I have much to catch up on. We’ll do it, Tot!!

Thanks Kelly, Morgan, and Nyla for a super fun day.

2am. This was the reason. This adorable little poky………MONSTER! OK, that is me getting a bit nuts about this sweet little porcupine. I’m sure he’s not a monster.

But this sweet little poky guy was the reason for me being up at 2am. He gave my child nightmares all night. How? Why? It’s a mystery. All I know is I had a tug at my sheets saying, “Mommy can I sleep with you? I had a nightmare that a porcupine was poking me.”

Really?

Really.

And so, let it be known to never read your child a book about porcupines before bed. It may lead to YOU being up all night too.

 

 

We love going to the library. Full of diverse and fun books, the library holds the seeds of ideas for what to order from Amazon!

Well, one such book we discovered was this adorable elephant, Elmer.

I am buying the whole set. Not only does he bask in being different, he’s confident, funny, and so kind. Aha!
So after reading them, and I commenting on the colors, Tatum asks me to draw and she will color.

Okey dokey!

Her coloring is improving.

Then, the teddies of course. This particular Elmer book is about this baby elephant who loses his teddy. Elmer lets him borrow his own teddy until he can help baby find his own teddy.

I had to draw it and let her color.

I’m kind of setting myself up for more work, because every night after we read a story, she wants me to draw something from one of the books, and then she will color it. Fine with me!

The celebration of color and art with the Tot.