V-Day Prep

I really do love Valentine's Day.  I know it's highly commercialized and was likely created to sell cards, chocolates, etc. but, I can't help it!  A celebration of love is wonderful and so badly needed in this crazy world.  Admittedly, I was less fond of V-Day when I was single.  I now wish I had focused more on the people in my life that  I loved and whom I know loved me instead of focusing on what I thought I lacked.  In reality, I never lacked anything.  I was always surrounded by love even if it wasn't romantic.

Another thing I love? Novelty shirts for my boys.  It's not hard to find Valentine's Day garb for little girls or babies, but boys older than 2, well, there's a serious lack of options.  Instead of banging my head against a brick wall I decided to search Pinterest for ideas and I found this adorable gem compliments of Emily from The Boy Trifecta: Robot Love Valentine's Shirt. 

I decided to give it a shot.  To recreate this look I purchased (or had in my stash):

Two toddler size shirts

Fabric for Robot

Robot Template (you can use Emily's, but created my own)

Thread

Fusible Web

Black & Red Embroidery Thread

 

 I scored the t-shirts on clearance at Target for $3 a piece, bringing the cost for this project to $6.

 



 

 

I purchased my robot fabric, fusible web and embroidery thread at JoAnn's, for $7.13.  I already had thread and the cardstock I used for my template.  Grand total for two shirts: $13.13.  Not bad.

 

 

 

Of course, if we wanted to be technical, we could add the cost I originally spent for the thread, cardstock, and add a monetary value to my time,  but I don't feel like being a nerd.

 

I followed Emily's instructions.  I won't detail them here, because I want you to visit her site.  This is, after all, her invention.  I did make my own tweaks: I outlined the heart with black embroidery thread and I made my own template with my own dimensions.

 

 

 

And, drum roll please, here is the finished project!

 

 

 



My sewing is a bit wonky in places (i.e. the robot ears), but my whole life is a bit wonky.  The only thing I've ever done perfectly is bring two perfect boys into the world (and I can't even take full credit for that).  Oh, and beat my sister Samantha in everything we've ever competed at.  Everything else? Wonky.  I've learned to like wonky, so it's okay.

 

Plus, I usually sew under these conditions:

 

 

 





Tender Mercy? Try Miracle!

We are fortunate enough to own two cars: a 2008 Jeep Patriot and John's Kia Race Machine aka a 2001 Kia Sephia he bought brand new when he was 18 years old. 

There is nothing innately fancy about the Kia Race Machine.  It has a standard transmission, you have to manually unroll the windows and unlock the doors.  It's at a point in it's life where the radio doesn't always work, so you get the opportunity to drive around in silence.  Particularly fun with children or an overly-talkative person in the car!

This car has nine lives.  Sure, it's got dings and knicks crunches, but it keeps hanging on.  Everyone close to us has experienced the Kia Race Machine.  This last year it has had a number of issues, all that we've fixed, but the fear is that it may be on it's last leg.

The Kia Race Machine:  Keep on keepin' on

We had to take the car into the mechanic yesterday and leave it over night.  As a consequence, the boys and I woke up at 4:00 am to take John to work.  As many of you with toddlers know, this can be a terrifying experience.  The boys were in good spirits all the way to John's work and did not freak out when he left.

On our way home, I talked with them about how "it is still night night.  When we get home, we need to lay back down and take a little rest before breakfast."  They weren't thrilled with that plan and they made sure to let me know.

Upon arriving home, I wrestled them upstairs and back into their room.  The whole time I kept thinking, "S has preschool at 9:30 am. How am I going to get these boys back to sleep so they are not wrecked for the entire day?"

I put them in their beds, they cried.  I gave them cars, they cried.  I turned on night lights, they cried.  I sang to them for 20 minutes, they cried.  Finally, I asked them to say a prayer with me.  I prayed and said something like this: "Heavenly Father, I know you can help these boys return to sleep.  We have such a big day ahead of us and I want them to be happy.  I want them to have fun.  I know you love them and you want them to have a good day as well.  Please help them to return to sleep."  After closing my prayer I decided to have faith that Heavenly Father would help me and the boys.  I KNEW He would help them sleep, and quickly banished any doubtful thoughts.

I shut the door, entered my bedroom and, this is not a joke, within 60 seconds heard complete silence.  S and L share a room and typically spend at least 20 minutes playing, laughing and/or screaming.  Not this time, though.  Not a peep.  They slept for the next 2 1/2 hours before I woke them for breakfast.  If this wasn't a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, then I don't know what is.

I know God hears our prayers.  I know God cares about the small things in our lives.  I know He is ready and willing to bless us with miracles when we are in need and have faith.  I know God loves us.  I know God loves you.

I just hope He loves the Kia Race Machine enough to pull it through its latest malady.  :-)

The boys reading their favorite periodical: The Auto Trader.  They're always on the look out for our next vehicle.

*Update* The Kia Race Machine is back on the road and ready to party!  Two miracles.  BOOM.