So, since I've had a few people express interest in this bag - here it is.
Pocket side out.

Pocket side in.

Jodie, here is the pattern I used.

This is the beautiful fabric. It is "cotton duck" material so it is heavy duty but not stiff like canvas. Canvas might be better just because it would stand up by itself and this is more floppy. Still, it's sturdy, and a bit cheaper.

This is my next combination. I think I'm going to make the next one with pockets on the inside AND outside (just reverse pattern) so that it is very functional like that.

I had originally purchased these colors but they are more like quilting fabric and I'd have to line them. I've decided to save it for a blanket instead.

I am currently taking orders. Only $16 each and I accept paypal. :) Seriously, these things are big enough to fit ALL the stuff I need for church on Sunday. That's saying something.

Visit to the Orange County Zoo

The weather was so beautiful last week that we just had to get out and do something outdoors for the day. I found out there was a little Orange County Zoo a few miles away for super cheap so we decided to go check it out.

We packed a picnic lunch and headed on over. When we got there a million signs said not to take food inside so we sat on the lawn outside and ate our lunch before going in. The zoo was located in a regional park so there were many picnic tables and meeting areas but we picked a sunny spot on the grass.

Here, I knew you'd want a close-up of the tote bag I recently made. I think it was the first time I've ever bought a pattern and sewed something following a pattern. It's reversible and has pockets on the inside.

The zoo was very small and we walked around and saw everything in less than an hour, and that was being slow about it. They had a petting zoo and I held the kids' hands so they could feed the goats.

Ryan preferred feeding them this way.

There were a few larger animals including this bear who was sleeping with his foot up on the wall. It was hard getting any good shots of the animals through the chain link fence, but at least the bear worked out okay.

I also really enjoyed the porcupine walking upside down. I didn't realize they could have such a good grip to hang from the ceiling.

Ryan's favorite part:

I would've loved to take him for a ride on the train but I was $2 short. The engine was awesome and Ryan talked about how it had a cowcatcher but no side plates. He would run alongside the track when it started and loved to watch it go through a tunnel. I wish there was a real train station around here because I think he'd enjoy watching trains literally for hours.

He has been talking about it all week so we're going to have to go back one of these days. I was telling him that at the OTHER zoo (in Santa Ana) has an elephant that people can ride on. He's excited about that one but was telling me that the elephant was going to drive the train. There must've been some miscommunication somewhere in there.

Bird Owners for 3.5 Seconds

We went outside to play with Ryan's friend William this morning and I noticed a beautiful little white and blue parakeet fly out of a tree. He landed on the ground near our back patio and I slowly walked over to see how close I could get to him. This type of bird is obviously someones pet so when I realized that he'd let me get close enough to touch him I attempted to pick him up. We discovered that his wings weren't clipped and he could fly, though he was flying very close to the ground and not far at all.

That pretty little thing sure bites the pizzazies out of a person. We took him in the garage and put him in a box for safe keeping. I had bird seed and put some in there with him. We all went out and played in the park for about an hour and when Ryan was done riding bikes we went back to the garage to try and put the little guy in a better habitat. I found a clear tote and lined it with newspaper and then put a dish with water and birdseed. The shelf on my window box was basically like a screen so I realized it would be perfect to keep plenty of air circulating and we'd be able to see him without him flying away. Well, in the transfer he flew right out of the box and out the garage. If I had been smart I would've closed the garage door as I was transferring him, but I needed the light. Anyway, he's long gone and I didn't even get a picture of him. Oh well, at least we TRIED to keep him safe for his rightful owner. So ends the short, yet exciting, bird owning adventure.

Cheesy chompers

Here are a few cheesy faces from Katie to show off her four most prominent teeth. I think they look very chipmunk-ish and seem to make her face a little chubbier. Either that or the fact that she is eating MUCH more solid foods has taken it's toll on her petite little frame. :)

She has three more that have broken through the gums but are still so tiny that they are not noticeable.

Settle a small dispute

I cannot find much help on the internet so can you please fill in the blank for me. Which lyric do you remember as a child for the Mr. Potato Head jingle?

"Mr. Potato Head,
and his bucket o' _____.
Buckets of fun for everyone."

Derek and I each recall something different and I think we bet a spicy chicken sandwich on what the actual word was. Your input would be appreciated.


On a side note: Katie took her first step last week. Today she did it again and stayed up and balanced afterwards. Making progress!

Ode to Galiftum and Fifsheese

For Christmas Katie got a baby doll from each of her grandmas. She likes them equally well, whichever is around she picks up and kisses and chews on a little. Ryan, on the other hand, has taken a particular liking to the doll from Grandma Cookies. (I think he likes that one because it came with a little bottle to feed her with.)

Some days he is in a very paternal mood and will carry the doll around or rock her with a blanket or put her in a little box as her bed.

I asked him what the baby's name was. He was a bit confused with the idea that he can name something and asked ME what her name was.
"You can pick one," I told him. "Whatever you want, you can choose."
After a long pause he said, "Baby Cow."
Sounds good to me.

He sticks with his name choice and always calls her Baby Cow. It reminds me of when Rachel named her dolls Galiftum and Fifsheese (Jana might correct me on how one would spell those names) and she regularly called them that. Ryan has also named Grandma Bayles' doll, Cow. Katie has one other baby. That one is Mama Cow. Creative, AND distinguishable. If only naming children were REALLY that easy.

Newest form of exercise (for Derek and I, not the kids)

I've been looking for a good way to get some exericise so we asked for a bike trailer for Christmas. That makes it possible for me to do something active AND have the kids with me. My Mom and Dad gave us Christmas money to go toward the trailer and requested that we blog pictures of the kids in it. So, here you go mom.

One complaint... the safety straps aren't very impressive. As you can see, it doesn't hold Katie in very securely and the straps connect WELL above her head. It was made for kids more like Ryan's size apparently. Though, you can see that his legs are getting long enough that he won't have more than a year's left of growth before he'll be too big for the thing. Still, they love it.

One small note: we found this one used on Craigslist for super-cheap (which is why it is less than perfect) and the Christmas money from my parents will INSTEAD go toward a different present. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Katie's just a month away from her 1st birthday.

I'm starting to see her as a toddler rather than a baby even though she isn't walking. She took 2 steps yesterday. I still think it will be 2 or 3 months before she's actually walking, but it was fun to see.

She has a little ride on/push car like Emma and will walk around the house with it. (Okay, I realize that she's only playing with her bracelet in this picture, but you get the point).


Here's another tongue picture for Jamie.


She climbs up onto the toilet seat.



She also claps her hands, waves goodbye, and occassionally signs, "milk" and "all done." My favorite is still when she says, "ba-bee" and means it.

A new haircut

A funny side note about these pictures - For the first picture I said, "Say 'cheese and crackers.'" The second one was, "Say 'cheese and pickles.'" SO, when I showed the pictures to Ryan on the computer he said, "Is this one "cheese and crackers?""

Balloons, balloons, who'll buy my balloons...?

On the top of my "wish list"

I don't expect anyone who isn't one of my sisters to understand why I am itching for this new book so terribly. It was just barely published in June and I've been emailing the folks at IAHP.org for the past year trying to get more info on how to teach my baby to swim. I can't bear the thought of buying a full priced book. Especially one I've never read before. It looks like I will have to go browse at a bookstore. Barnes and Noble, here I come!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

My first resolution was "Early to bed, early to rise." I want to become a morning person and finally get up and ready before everyone else wakes up. To be dressed and showered before my kids wake up, priceless. That being said, I resolved that there is no day like today and I went to bed after the new year rolled around in Australia. I was up before 6:00am. I resolve to make this a habit so that I can be sure to have some time to think, pray, read my scriptures, and shower before everyone gets up. Happy New Year!