The Handmade Dress

 I haven't made bread in ages! I have this thing about not doing (knitting, picking out fabric, you get it) or eating my favorite things while I have morning sickness. If I smell something in my house all day while feeling sick ALL DAY, I'm the kind of girl who NEVER wants to smell that smell again. So last week I broke out the bread pans! The kids thought that they were in heaven! Poor babies, they had been so deprived of homemade bread that they ate a whole loaf before it cooled completely! I made my special honey butter too. (The picture above was at breakfast the next morning.) Boy does it feel good to be back in my routine a little more! The kids took some bread and honey butter to my neighbor and she called back saying "Teach me!", so I did. That afternoon she came over and left a few hours later with two loaves of bread and a batch of honey butter. We had a good time!  I typed up my recipe (a jumble of other recipes that has changed over time and is now

Today I'm practicing with these bitty needles that I bought a while back. Aren't they tiny?! I thought they would be perfect for sleeves (sleeves aren't my favorite) which I usually knit on two sets of circulars. They are a little fussy at first, but my hands got in the groove pretty quickly.  In other bitty news, thanks so much for all of the baby love yesterday!! We feel so very blessed, and your love, support , and prayers mean a lot to us. Isn't God amazing?! How can one family possibly deserve so many precious blessings? And more on the way?? Ahhh! I'm going to drink some buttermilk while I ponder that thought. :) Oh yeah, buttermilk is where it's at these days! xo, Sam

I won't be able to see these shoes anymore. :) Coming this fall....a little playmate for Claire Louise. We are pretty excited! xo, Sam

To celebrate this Mother's Day weekend I plan to do a few "flash giveaways" on our Facebook page. It's going to be fun! Be on the look-out!

Last night at 11:00 I decided that I would like to try my hand at making Claire some little TOMS style shoes. I LOVE soft soled shoes for babies, I also LOVE shoes that slip on like socks. So I combined the idea of TOMS style with soft sole and elastic back..... ...and this is what I got. I like them! I want to draft them a little less wide next time, but I love the look! I used a fabric for the sole that was almost an outdoor weight fabric so I think they will wear well even though she is running around now. Claire Louise was not in the mood for a photo shoot today! Shortly after this picture was taken my little angel fell asleep, and is still OUT! Sweet baby! I think she needs a purple pair too! I'm thinking of getting an old worn in leather jacket from the thrift store to cut up and use for soles. Wouldn't this make a cute baby shower gift? Especially for boys, I always have the hardest time thinking up boy gifts! xo, Sam

 This is what I found this morning when I went to wake the big kids... they have discovered what cool club houses they can make with their new beds! They look like little meerkats crawling around in there with all the different tunnels and passages. Here is a look inside. :) I wish my camera could do better inside clubhouses. When I was little we used chairs. We would have sacrificed a limb for this set-up! But you know how it was then, walking to school, uphill both ways, and all that... :) Have a great day friends! I will be at the dentist with four kids. All of them have appointments at 10:30. What was I thinking?? xo, Sam

Ben and the kids are working on the airstream today. It's getting me so excited! I can't wait to decorate!! And hit the road! Eeek! We were talking about the layout last night and we are thinking of adding a set of triple bunks, and a set of regular bunks. It will be tight, but we need the room for this growing family! I pray our adoption is done when it's time to hit the road. We don't have any news yet, but you never know! I'll keep you posted on the progress. I have a feeling that soon you guys will be sick of hearing about our airstream! Have a great day friends. :) xo, Sam PS. I'm thinking of painting a few tiny framed pictures for the walls. I'm thinking of little camping scenes, Airstreams, picnics, flowers, pretty tablecloths, campfires....so fun!

I'm sitting in my hammock chair in my pajamas this morning....being serenaded by our newest musician (we got her a ukulele because her little arms wouldn't fit around a real guitar)...  .....watching the Tim, Uncle Matt, and Claire catch bugs and critters while Maddie jams out near them....  ...receiving special gifts....    ...occasionally yelling "She's about to get the bucket!" when Claire gets near the lute...  ....staying far away from that creepy crawly bucket myself...ick!... ...and just having an all-round wonderful Saturday mornin' while I wait on my sis to get here with her four little bug catchers. The plan is to henna her pregnant belly today. :) Happy Saturday friends! xo, Sam

Here's your hook up we promised. :) You can all thank Ben for this! He typed up and illustrated plans for both versions of the triple bunk beds! Writing "patterns" and such isn't really his thing, but he did it for you guys. He's such a good boy. :)  If any of you make beds using these plans could you send us a picture? We would love to see your take on it! xo, Sam Edited to add: With the increased interest in these plans there is no way that I can email them to everyone. I'm sorry! But you are more than welcome to follow the link and download them for free through our shop. When you give your name and email address a download link will automatically be emailed to you. Edited to add:  We now know the meaning of viral! Ha! That's exactly what happened to the triple bunk bed plans. When the idea came to give them away for free our thought was that a few other big families out there may like the idea and we would be able to help them out. O