Aren’t you happy Halloween is over? I’m not really a Halloween lover, it’s a lot of fuss for Candy. I do remember how much I loved it as a kid though, and I try not to be a ‘Scrooge’!

This year, I decided that the kids could be whatever they wanted, only rule … we weren’t buying any costumes or expensive supplies.

You saw Lizzy’s Headless Marie Antoinette (she won first place at school … YAY!). We did have to buy some spray foam and duct tape for this one, otherwise this was totally made from stuff around the house.

**EDIT: Lizzy’s Costume has been chosen as a finalist in the ScanDigital Halloween Photo Contest — to vote you just have to click on the ‘like’ link under the photo (it’s on facebook, so if you are a member there is no sign up … just one click) or go here: www.facebook.com/scandigital - Thank you! **

Sam decided to be a hobo. He did his own make up and used old clothing etc. I sewed some patches on his shirt for him.

His costume was inspired by one of my favourite bloggers –> Broke but Still Drinking. Read his blog, he is hilarious.

I was a hobo pretty much every Halloween of my childhood. Hmmm

Georgia as always was a little bit more difficult. For several weeks, she told anyone who would listen that she was going to be a ‘fashioner girl’. What exactly a ‘fashioner girl’ entails … we’ll never know. She changed her mind and decided to be a ‘witch with a dog’. Lizzy dug the witch dress and hat out of the dress up box for her on Friday for Sam’s school Halloween parade. It lasted about 3 minutes … she went ape-shit … apparently the witch dress is itchy and the hat covers her eyes. She went to the parade in an ‘I <3 NY’ tee and a ballerina tutu.

Halloween day she decided she’d be a black and white dog. That was fine, she had a clean pair of black pants and tshirt in her drawer and I planned to draw her a puppy face. Screw the ears, I was tired of her changing her mind.

Over supper, she started talking about how she was going to be a ‘girl who was scratched by a lion’. WTF!? Fine! Who am I to squash the dreams of a 4 year old diva child?

By this point, she was lucky I didn’t scratch her myself!

Her Dad took her trick or treating. I didn’t have the courage! Apparently she told the neighbours she was a ’scar victim’.

Did I mention I am happy it’s over?

MK xo
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Sam is home sick. He’s definitely not well, but not unwell enough to lay in bed all day. Truthfully in a non-H1N1 world he’d be at school. They sent him home yesterday, as he was pale, complaining of a sore throat and didn’t go out for recess. Apparently, if he doesn’t go out for recess … he IS sick.

I think he has a cold, nothing more. He is stuffed up and not much else.

He was definitely up to helping me make a lunchbox out of Kool-Aid Jammers drink packets.

You’ll need:

Sewing machine
Thread
15 clean, dry drink packets
Tape
Ruler (or measuring tape)
Stick on velcro fasteners

Slice open the bottom of each packet. Wash, rinse and dry each one out.

Your lunch tote will consist of 5 parts: 1 front and 1 back (each 2×2 packets each), 2 sides (2×1 packets each) and a bottom (2 overlapped packets)

If you are a competent sewer, you could just start sewing these parts. However, because I am a beginner, I decided to tape my pieces together first.

You don’t need to tape each and every seam. Just here and there, enought to keep them from slipping and sliding while you are sewing.

The front and back are made using a 2×2 pattern like the piece above. The sides are 2×1 stacked vertically.

The bottom is a little different.

You’ll need to measure and then overlap two pieces to this length.

Once you have the 5 pieces taped and ready sew up the seams.

We used a zigzap stitch with a bright coloured thread. Sam did most of the sewing. In the above photo he is sewing up a back piece.

I think the orange thread Sam picked out looks great.

Here he is sewing the overlapping pieces that make the bottom of the lunch sack.

Once you have your 5 pieces made, you can start piecing them together.

Start by sewing the sides to the bottom piece. You’ll end up with a long narrow strip.

Next sew the back and front to the bottom. You should end up with the above. Sew up the 4 side seams, I sewed from top to bottom, carefully lining up the top edges taping with a tiny piece of tape and then sewing.

If you want a ‘brown bag’ style sack, you could be finished now. Sam and I were making this sack for Lizzy and I wanted her to be able to close her lunch sack.

I cut the 15th packet in half, folded over the cut end and sewed it to the top of the sack.

Then we added adhesive velcro fasteners.

Below is the finished product:

I hope you like it! What kind of creations have you made from recycled items, or what’s on your list?

MK xo
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I’ve mentioned Canmore before. We love it. The scenery. We love it.

Everyday we walk downtown, along the wooden boardwalk, along a sleepy creek. Did I mention that we love it?

I can’t help, but stop to photograph flowers in the meadow.

It’s bright and sunny.

The kids interrupt, “can we play in the creek”.

“Sure, but don’t get your clothes wet”, I say.
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Sam is having a sleepover. The activity of the night is highly addictive computer game. When his buddy arrived, they went straight to the laptops.

That was 3 hours ago, buddy still has his backpack on.

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Under my supervision backyard activities include: swinging, sliding, a little tree climbing, trampoline jumping, the odd home-made zip line (that never work) and impromptu boxing matches (Lizzy please quit hitting your brother).

When Mr. MK is in charge, however, it really gets …

all lumberjack like, and destructive.

Don’t be concerned, he comes from a long line of lumberjacks. REALLY!

According to Mr. MK, that dead tree needed to come down, NOW! Sam was just the man to do it.

It’s all in the swing …

and the placement of the tongue. That’s in his genes too.

These are the pretty flowers beside his hospital bed.

JUST KIDDING … these are the pretty mum’s on the dining room table. The part of the house where I’m in charge and everything is perfect, ’cause I can blow sunshine out my ass. Can’t you just see the sunshine in this photo?

Sam’s fine … the tree isn’t!

His first fall … “TIMBER” … with a little help from Dad and a hoe (a garden hoe that is!).

MK xo
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