Back in the Saddle....

Hey gang! I'm back home from out of town! It was fabulous to get away, spend time with the family, but now we're home, and time to get cleaned up, wash the mountain of laundry, and get back in the swing of things. November is fast approaching and it's my favorite time of year!

What's your upcoming to do? As you can see on my right sidebar, I'm going to attempt to stick to a new blogging schedule! I'm also as always, streamlining things in life to I can truly enjoy the time I have, not just check things off a list.
But still, I love my lists. So here are my November Goals:

*Crochet and Knit as much as possible! It's fall here and I had wanted to finish some things before it got really cold!
*Prep for Thanksgiving. I LOVE Turkey Day, it's one of the few "traditional" Holidays my family celebrates. So I will be buying turkeys as they go on sale, decorating the house for fall, and snagging up after Halloween candy deals! :)
*Reopen my shops and have some sales!! I have a ton of new buttons to list for badge reels and can't wait to show them to you!
*Make my boys some winter pajamas...and possibly some for ME! They grow SO fast, and I have all this fabric...it's high time I sew for US!
*Plan some fun activities for the boys during Thanksgiving break. A week off from school means I'll go on semi vacation again then, because I want to enjoy our break!

As as matter of fact, many of my creative goals are to utilize some of my supplies for us. The handmade business is great, and I enjoy it, but I also have to remember to create for my family and friends!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous fall and enjoying the changes in the air! To me, fall is the best season!

Happy Fall Y'all!!
~~~Amy

Jenga Sentences

Since there are only 12 days til school starts here, I thought I'd do a few things to make sure my monkeys' brains don't turn to mush. We've done a few science experiments, but my dad just gave us a Jenga set. I doubted they would stay together as a set, nor would my children have the patience to play it, I decided to turn it into a literacy game!

What You Need:
Jenga Blocks (lego blocks would work too, particularly Duplo)
Address Labels. I used Avery 8160 size. Use what fits your blocks

What to Do:
Print the words you want to make sentences on your labels.
Peel and stick to the Jenga blocks. Print enough to do both sides if you want.

Make some sentences!!

Enjoy!

It's the Most WONDERFUL time of the year...........

BACK TO SCHOOL!!! Yes I LOVE back to school time! For the past two years Harrison has attended Head Start, which I was delighted in as I am a former Head Start teacher and firmly believe in the program. He is absolutely a better developed child because of Head Start. Many of his sensory issues have subsided due to his time in the classroom already. 

Naturally, I'm excited and nervous for my "baby" going off to kindergarten. I'm also excited for me. I have always LOVED back to school. I don't know what it is about the new supplies, the possibilities, the education, the joy and anticipation of a 'new year'. I actually been enjoying the preparation, the supply shopping, picking out his little bookbag, etc. I have no idea if he'll love school like I did, or come to hate it as his daddy did. Hopefully I can help mold him into a good student who does enjoy it and can help him learn what he wants to learn.

Yes, I am looking forward to some time alone. :) I do have Eli at home, but any mom will tell you the difference between 1 and 2 (3,4,5) kids is all the difference in the world. I enjoy that alone time with Eli because it gives him the same solo time Harrison received by being the first born. Eli also needs a lot more time with me so we can work on his therapies to keep him moving on kicking Autism's butt. 

Eli himself may start school at least part time in January when he turns 3, which I really look forward to because he absolutely needs to be around other kids so he can learn the social cues so absent with Autism. But until then, he and I will enjoy some solo time. :) I will substitute when Head Start needs, they know they can't be rid of me :) 

And if you need some nifty stuff for Back to School, then hop on over to my shops!! :) I have back to school ponytails for the girls at Mama's Little Monkeys, nap mat covers at Nap Mat Covers and even some badge reel ID Holders for your favorite teacher at Badge Reels.

Back to School Ponytails

Back to School  Badge Reel

Michael Miller Nap Mat Cover

Back to School RIBBON Clothespin Magnets

And hey, even if you're kids are ready for school or you homeschool, you still have to keep your house clean, right? So check out my lovely shop Micro Mops full of green, clean, and organizing items to keep your home healthy and happy!

Happy Schooling Everyone!!! :)

Amy

It's Almost SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone sing it with me now...School's Out for Summer!! School's Out For EVER!
Ahhhh. Freedom is almost so close I can taste it. Easing back into the working world at Harrisons' school has been a tad hard for me. I enjoy the job very much even if there is that one person who tries to make your life hell (isn't there ALWAYS that one no matter where you go?) But no matter where you go or what you do, returning the work force after 4 years off to raise babies is hard! But for the most part I've enjoyed it, made friends with some awesome people, and would go back if my position comes back (not sure on that part...hopefully will know next week...)

But as much as I do enjoy the job (ok and the money)...I do miss my life at home! I miss being with Eli all day, and having my time to sew and craft! My handmade business had gotten to a comfortable steady selling point when I had to go back to work. So I'm looking forward to my summer! I hope it's filled with crafting, swimming boys, ice cream and snowballs!

Naturally I have big plans this summer...and little time to do them in! I will probably barely make a dent in my fabric pile!! (especially if I keep BUYING IT!) But here are some things on my to do list:

1. Make more red heel sock monkeys, using up all my red heel socks. 

2. Make more stuffed rocket loveys in various shapes because I have lots of cool prints for them, waiting!

3. Make a HUGE pile of swiffer pads because those are my best sellers and I need a nice stockpile done to last me awhile!

4. Sew a cute smocked dress for me!! (this is supposed to be done by May 28th, our work party but um yeah...)

5. Make Saints soap to be ready for football season reopening of my soap shop, Amelia Amos

6. Play around with the cricut, stamping and paper--just for fun!

7. Make more fabric yo yos and buttons...of course...because I can't stop!

What are your summer plans? I probably won't get to half of this list but it's nice to dream!!

~~Amy

Operation Simplify Update

So. I have a new job starting Monday. That is probably the opposite of my Operation Simplify plan but I am going to learn to roll with it. It's a 'temp' job that ends in May so there is an end in sight. It means extra money that is much needed in our household. The job is at my sons' school so he literally goes to work with me, 8am-3pm. How sweet is that? It's with a company I used to work for from 2002-2006, so I'm familar with everything (although the job itself is new to me).

The job may turn into something permanent in the fall when they open a new center (www.rcddc.org) but we shall see. A lot depends on my mother in law being willing to continue to watch Eli, because even if I could afford daycare, we can't just put him anywhere. Him having Autism makes me far less willing to put him in any old daycare (particularly when you work for one of the top rated child care programs in the COUNTRY you're a little pickier about child care..) But if he's not with someone who understands his Autism, he can have regressions. Since he's doing AWESOME, I'm not willing to take that chance.

So when Moms isn't around, Grandma is just as good :) God Bless my mother in law. Even though she may drive me batty sometimes, she loves those boys will all her heart and is always there when we need her. Grandma's rock!

Now you may ask, how can adding a full time job simplify your life? Well for one, it will probably force me to give up even more in the handmade/online world. Much of what's for sale in my shops is done and ready to ship. So this will force me to be pickier about what I spend time making when I DO have time to create (weekends and holidays. I sense a Spring Break of sewing for me!)

At this point... we needs da money! So I shall make it work..somehow..someway!

And the best part is...I get a desk! A real live desk!! I've never had a job like that before! And I can wear almost grown up clothes (could be pulled into a classroom at any given moment) and be around adults! Talk about things besides diapers and autism!

Now...don't go thinking ya'll can get rowdy while I'm gone.
Don't make the Drama Llama mad...

MUAH
mama