Fun in the Leaves

I know, it's a little late for a fall post huh? Well, I wasn't able to get my hands on and edit these pictures till today soo...
Yeah, a few weeks ago we made a seriously humungo leaf pile. We pretty much used all the leaves in Jen's back yard. The kids had so much fun, I mean I had a ton of fun! Who doesn't when it comes to leaf piles, right?

It's raining, it's pouring....

Aren't they such a beautiful family?

I think it's funny in this picture Malachi is smiling, but not looking and in the next He's the only one looking. :P

Okay, so Elsie was a bit worried at first.

Isn't she adorable? Withe her little tuft of hair sticking up?

Abner's first fall. :)

 

We totally rock the serious face, don't we?

Like mother like daughter <3

 

Now winter is here with snow and everything else that comes with it. I have been singing christmas carols like non-stop.It's the most wonderful time of the year, right? Now, go buy someone you know a gift. Or maybe even someone you don't.  :)



His peace

I read this verse today and just thought it was pretty cool and I'd share it.
John 16:33 "These thing I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

sitting, thinking......

And still my mind is blank.....yeah, I got notta, zilch. So, I have to write a paper on something, anything and I can seriously not think of a single thing to write about. Okay well, I have thought of a few things, but their so boring. Fact papers are boring. Ideas?.......ah, how about music for inspiration.(starts to dance and lip sing every line)....hours later I remember what I was actually supposed to be doing. Oh, well. It's late. My brain tired. I'm going to bed.

Pippin audition turn-out

Yep, found out yesterday that I didn't get in Pippin. I'm a little dissippointed, but hey! there's always next time. Plus I heard the cast is SUPER small this time. like only 35 people.  But, they asked if I would want to help out backstage so I'm thinking about doing that. So I'll still get to hang out with people and see the show all come together, one of my favorite parts.

Fall/winter is here. Yes, I wore my ugg boots for the first time this year, so now winter has officially started.
I just want to go out and run my whole pack of camera batteries down taking pictures of all the beautiful trees. But, since I can't I setteled for this beautiful picture of the smoky mountains I got offline. We got to go there this summer. It was beautiful. Unfortunately the leaves hadn't turned yet when we were up there.



Duty-Calls,
   IKT

What's up?

I have missed writing on here so much, it's crazy. You know, the whole just posting random things and pics is fun.
Well my summer was so busy, I'm still in a daze not fully convinced it's over. Right now my brain is so torn. One day I'm a rebel wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the cold weather trying to make summer last longer and the next I'm drooling over the beautiful oranges and colors of fall. The hats and the boots, I love fall. And yet I love summer. Ya know what I'm talking about?
School has started. It was a rough start for me, but I'm finally getting into the swing of it again..I think.
Friday is try-outs for Pippin! I am super excited. Really hoping that goes well. Am I nervous? Who isn't nervous at auditions. The whole like spotlight on you and three directors staring at you. And the people you know are hiding up in the balcony. ;) All my play friends know what I'm talking about.
Enjoying helping Jen out in St. Louie right now. Abner is still the cutest thing ever and Elsie still refuses to talk. And I still have more math to do.

TTFN,
   Ivy

OH, and I won't be able to post pictures on here for a while because our computer is shattered.....yeah, long story.

Number #7

So I know I haven't posted in forever, for enough reasons to fill an entire post to tell you, but I kind of figured my new nephew deserves a post all of his own. So here he is my new, 2 day old nephew,

Abner Malcolm Isaiah Szalapski

Isn't he adorable? I could just hold and cuddle him for hours......okay so I kind of did. ;)

Ten Random things about me

I recently saw a linky party going on over at shabby blogs. It looked fun. But, since I don't really want to link to my blog and no one can see it anyways I just decided to do my own little linky, type, party, thing. :P
So here's how it's going down. I list ten random things about me. Then you go and list ten about yourself on your own blog and leave a link in the comments, so everybody/I can read all about you and your totally random side. Sound fun? I thought so.
So here it goes...
Ten Random Things About {Ivy}

1. I absolutely love pickles, peanut butter, popcorn, and mustard.

2. I can't fix my hair or paint my nails to save my life! (Trust me, You don't want to see me try to do either)

3. I ate pretzels on my PBJ once (I will try any food any where)

4. When I was young I used to ride the lawn mower around our yard for fun

5. Goodwill is pretty much my favorite store in the whole wide world
(speaking of which, have you ever heard the goodwill Song? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oiyMyxY3SM)

6. I stayed up till two in the morning once reading a good book

7. I will roller blade as long as mom/zone will let me (Seriously. I can skate for hours.)

8. I would rather hang out with my nieces and nephews than anyone else in the whole world

9. My favorite colors are blue, lime green, and purple.

10. I'd rather swim at the river than almost any pool

{No sew} XL T-shirt to fitted

Hey y'all, About time for a tutorial don't you think? It's been quite a while. For more reasons than one.
This one is for that SUPER big T-shirt that you really like what it says or something, but don't want to wear it because it makes you look like.....well, ya know. And if you don't? You can just read along, even though your bored, to be polite. ;)
Really wish I had before and after pictures, but I did it at night and I could not find a good place to take the picture. So just 'Afters'. :/
I had been wanting to learn how to do this for a while now. But, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. The first T-shirt I did (and I seriously recommend you start with a t-shirt you don't mind messing up) a mixture of this tutorial Here and something I found on ask.com that I can't find now.
I will try to explain what I did best I can.

Supplies:
T-shirt
scissors
sewing machine {optional}

First turn your t-shirt in-side-out and lay it as flat as you can. You could iron it if you want. I didn't. Cut the hem off the bottom of the shirt. Then you can either eye-ball it or use another t-shirt as a guide. If your using another shirt lay it on top matching the shoulders, as flat as possible. Again, sorry about bad pictures.

Then (using the extra shirt as a guide) starting at the bottom corner of your shirt cut a curved line up to the under-arm. do to both sides. Should look something like this. Note: I cut mine to much. I, was an idiot, and didn't leave enough room to cut the fringe. I would leave at least about 2 in. bigger than you want it finished on both sides. 

Then cut about 1 in. wide by 2in. long slits all the way up.

Just start knotting each strip with the one directly across from it.

 Trim off excess and there you have it. A, at least, more fitted t-shirt. Now This didn't work for me. I ended up making it way too tight. So I did pretty much the same thing only I didn't cut a curve I just cut straight up to the arm. And then cut the slits. It worked a lot better for me. That is what I would do if your t-shirt isn't just falling off huge. And if it is, I am seriously wondering why you kept it.
Also if you like the look of the tassels on the outside you can do the same thing only don't turn your shirt in-side-out at the beginning.
And I know I said this was no-sew, but I thought with the shirt now fitted the sleeves looked a little big. And on me a little goofy. So I just sewed a straight stitch along the under side of the sleeve. Like this.
(I know weird hump in my stitching. So I'm not the best seamstress in the world.)

TA-DA!

                                              (This is with the tassels on the outside)
Steelville, I may not live there anymore, but I'm still rooting for you.

Now I know this is a horrible finishing picture, but it is all I have. It was very hard to get a picture. And I couldn't even get a good side view. Maybe I will get Rebekah to take a few pictures of it outside. Then I'll post better ones. But till then hope this suffices.

Well, it is super late and I seriously need to get some sleep. So TTFN!

~Ivy

2014 edit:
  I found just totally skipping the part about the cutting the curved sides was better. Instead just cut the sides straight up to the under-arms. Curving it just made it too fitted for my tastes.

Gifts {46-52}

46. The bugged eyes of a baby girl

47. Snowflakes falling one by one

48. Colorful oblong jelly beans in a pile

49. Little round buttons

50. Soft pillows

51. A piece of wire bending and weaving

52. Bubble wrap


~Ivy

[Post title here]

My bro is now a graduated E2 Combat engineer of the 35th battalion. ( I would post a picture, but blogger and iPhones don't collabarate well)
Ben's graduation from basic/ AIT ceremony was...... Interesting.
First Thursday ( a week ago) we were supposed to go to "family PT" and watch them do their normal exercises and what not. At 5:30 in the morning! And since it was in fort Wood we had to get up at three! I was so tired that day. Well we get down there where were supposed to be and its just pouring down rain. Nobody is sure what to do. Well we see these official looking people
e get in their cars and drive off so we decide to follow them.  They go in this building so we go in there and ask the lady at the counter whats going on. Shes like " family PT"? Uh..... Eventually she figures out it was canceled.  But there was still going to be the family briefing at nine. So its like six to six- thirty in the morning and we've got like three hours to kill. So we did the obvious thing. We went to the store, parked, and went to sleep.
It was fun finally seeing Ben after four months. And the rest of the day we got to just hang out with him. Eventually we had to take him back to bis barracks and we went home.
Then Friday was the official ceremony. And then Ben got to finally come home. Now hes here and Im wondring why I missed hime so much. About to send hime right back there. Jk

I'm finally done with school! I'm so happy. But, very bored now. And summer is creeping it's way along. This back and forth weather though is driving me crazy. It's supposed to be really nice tomorrow though. Speaking of driving I need to go log my driving hours. Till next time all.

~Ivy

{Gifts 39-45}

39. Yarn twisting and weaving into something beautiful

40. Hot lattes on a crisp winter day

41. The tangy aroma of oranges

42. Waves breaking

44. A football lying in the grass

45. A flag blowing in the wind

Easter Sunday

Easter was awesome for me. Started the day by getting up at 5:30 for the sunrise service. It was beautiful. Praising our risen god, And watching the sun come up. Well "feeling" the sun. We couldn't actually see it because it was too foggy. But, we knew it was there. Just like with God. We can't see him, but we know he is there. Because he is ALIVE!
Later that morning we went to normal service. Visited with friends, ate some awesome food, and just had fun.

Now I am at Jen's for another week. She could really use your prayers. She has not been feeling well. Combine morning sickness with post concussion... not very nice.
The kids are growing up like weeds. I seriously need to get some new pics of them. Soon...maybe.

Been just working at the new house. Hauling bricks and such. Trying to finish school. Only a couple more weeks though! (If I get it done while I'm here)
 I'm excited for summer. Can't wait to wear shorts again. And play in the sprinkler on the really hot days. Makeing plans with friends and......yall know how it goes.
Just more ways God has blessed me:

{Gifts 31-38}

31. Nights spent listening to the wind in the trees

32. Lyrics to inspire

33. paper snowflakes hanging in the window

34. A child snuggled beside me

35. The hands to fix a plate for another

36. Burnt soups that teach us lessons

37. Squeals at the sight of snow

38. Sliced tomatoes sliding gently off the knife

First day of spring!

It is spring. Oh, how welcome those words are. I am so ready for warmer days.
For the past week I have been up here, in st. louie, just helping Jen. I am so glad I can help her, but I'm looking forward to a free weekend. Though she feeds me cinnamon rolls, so I can't complain.
Well, I meant this to be a longer post, but the kids are squabbling again. So seeya

~Ivy

Ok, a question for you....

I have been thinking about this for a little while and now I figured I would get your oppinion on it. I have really been trying to think of ways I could make money, but still keep my dad happy.
And I know I haven't made much yet and I am still learning a lot. But, what would you say to me trying to sell some of my jewelry? Is it just horrible and you think no one will buy it? Be honest. If I decide to do it I am going to buy lots of supplies so I can make better quality jewelry. You know fancy things like clasps, and jumprings. lol And some round nose pliers.
And if I do it I am trying to decide how I would sell it. So if you have any ideas on that too. I thought maybe Etsy? But, I'm a cheapie and don't really want to pay them. :/
I really want your oppinon.

I just found some great verses when I was reading my bible and thought I would share them.

Isaiah 30:20-21 "And though The Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, .... Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way,..."

Isaiah 40:28 "...His understanding  is unsearchable."

Sitting, lying, thinking, waiting....

Such is what you do when your sick. Yes, I have been sick since Tuesday! It stinks.
I was sitting, like what I have been doing for the last five days, thinking how I didn't really have much to post. Then I thought, I haven't have posted since we moved! And I have so many things I need to say, so many pictures I want to take of our new beautiful farm. That's right! We bought a farm! Who saw that coming? Honestly not even I saw that coming. Mom and dad had talked of several things, but never a farm.  It is an awesome two-story house sitting on 9 beautiful acres. (I should be a realtor). And as soon as I get better and get some batteries, I shall take several hundred I'm sure. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could make money from thin air? Then I could buy the camera I want so bad right now.  How many times have I mentioned that camera? I'm not sure. But soon it will be mine. I know I know. You are all probably saying the bible says to be content. I know. And I , through all the ups and downs, couldn't be happier with my life.

Basketball is over! I am sad;(  but the participation acknowledgment thing-a-mabob is tomorrow. So I'll get to see my team again. Yeah! That is if I can get better.  Praying and hoping. I suppose I should go take my vitamins and drink my orange juice so ill get better. Good day all. Go have fun sledding on this Saturday....... without me.

Gifts {26-30}

26. Scarves wrapped tightly around warm necks

27. The sweet and tangy taste of gummy worms

28. The crisp cool air of winter

29. Lights shing from a city like stars

30. Christmas carols making moods a little brighter   (I told you I was behind :P)

Evergettiredofmakinguppostnames?

That is why I didn't bother to come up with one. :P
Sunday was Sabrina's birthday, She is two! The whole thing was Brave themed. I love that movie.

Unfortuanately my camera died. So I only really got pictures of the pinata. :(
So I didn't get a picture of the cakes Ashlee made that were a lot like the ones the boys are always stealing.

They were amazing! I tried to get a picture of Sabrina in her beautiful dress, but she was getting anxious.

Oh, well. I tried.
Ashlee also made  an awesome pinata to look like the little bears the boys turned into in the movie.

Doesn't it look just like them?

The bat was a little heavy.

Sabrina is such a girly. She kept just lightly tapping it. ;P

Elsie's trun! jk

Silas had trouble finding it to hit it.

I just thought this was an adorable picture of Malachi

And that is about when my camera died.

Here's a verse for ya
Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

TTFN,