Popular Posts

The most popular posts of 2012 were...

Maxi Skirt Tutorial

An easy fun favorite, that has been serving me well during this pregnancy!

Monster Patch Tutorial

It's about time I make some more of these since my little guy has grown out of this pair.

Swimsuit Coverup

Hopefully I look like that again one day.

Shag Pillow Case Tutorial

I am sooo glad I made the pillowcase covers.  These have been spit up on, spilled on, and colored on several times but each time I just pop them off and stick them in the wash.

I am looking forward to another year of tutorials.  I learned a lot about crafting and made a lot of neat stuff while doing it.

Watch What I'm Wearing

I'm just over 28 weeks pregnant and into my third trimester!  I am also officially into maternity clothes and can't really avoid them any longer. I am not sure what I don't like about them.  Maybe it is the fact that they remind me of how big I am.  Anyway, I'm not posting outfit pictures this week so be sure to link up and show me yours.

My Brother is Getting Married

My brother is getting married today!  It should be a fun and exciting day!  I even get to take the pictures so hopefully we don't freeze before we get it done.  Wish Isaac and Kim good luck!

Oh and in case you didn't know he is getting married in the Seattle WA temple. That is where Bob and I were married over 6 years ago.  It is a beautiful place where we can be married for all of time and not just until "death due you part".  For more info on the temple go here.

Fudge Recipies

I love fudge.  Especially this time of the year.  It is so easy to make and delicious   What isn't there to like? Just in case you need more treats here are my two favorite fudge recipes.

Peanut Butter Fudge adapted from this recipe.

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup peanut butter

1) Place chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter or margarine in large microwaveable bowl. Zap in microwave on medium until chips are melted, about 3-5 minute, stirring once or twice during cooking.

2) Pour into well-greased 8x8-inch glass baking dish. Put globs of peanut butter on top and swirl it around. Refrigerate until set.


Mint Fudge adapted from this recipe.

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk or white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon peppermint flavoring
Candy canes (optional)

1) Place chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter or margarine in large microwaveable bowl. Zap in microwave on medium until chips are melted, about 3-5 minute, stirring once or twice during cooking add in peppermint.

2) Pour into well-greased 8x8-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle candy cake crumbs on top.  Refrigerate until set.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! From the Woestman family!

Christmas Video

I hope you are getting in a lot of great family time.  Make sure you don't forget the true meaning of Christmas.  I love these videos the church put out and will be watching them tonight with my family.

For more information or videos go here.

Watch What I'm Wearing

So what are you wearing for the holidays this year?  I haven't decided quite yet.  This is my last weeks outfit so it isn't very festive.  I am loving this black and white striped skirt.  It goes with so much.  And, another bonus, it still fits even though it isn't maternity.  I'm 26 1/2 weeks pregnant in this picture and not sure how much longer I can go without wearing maternity clothes on here.

Shirt: Walmart ($1)  Skirt: Ross  Shoes: Ross   Tights: Target

The most clicked on link was...

by Red Tag Chick

Bob's Birthday

Today Bob turns 29!  Happy Birthday Bob!  We love you.

A couple facts about Bob:

He likes to record music.

He makes pancakes for me and the kids on Sundays.

He rides his bike the 6 miles to and from work everyday.

He wanted to eat chinese food and cherry pie for his birthday.

My night out!

Our ward (church members in our congregation) has a night where the young men and young women watch all the primary age kids one night so the parents can go out Christmas shopping.  This is a yearly tradition and I must admit it isn't my favorite because in past years my kids have been too young to go and my husband is a leader so it is just another night of me at home watching my kids while Bob helps watch everyone else's.  But this year, even though Scarlett and Penelope are not technically primary age, Bob was going to bring them all leaving me alone to do whatever I want.  Too bad it got cancelled due to slush.  Tucker was sad about it, so instead of going to several stores alone we all went as a family.

Here I am on my way out.  We returned a few things and let the kids eat and play at McDonalds.  It was nice how empty the place was.

After we got home we watched Charlie Brown Christmas.  It turned out to be a good night.

Let it snow!

I was happy and surprised when Bob woke me up at 5:30 to tell me it was snowing outside.  He wanted to show me because he didn't think it would last.  I was even more happy when I woke up at 7:30 and saw it was still snowing and I had missed a call from school saying it was cancelled!  I then waited around for the kids to get up and by 8:30 we were outside playing in it.  I wanted to hurry and play because it was only supposed to last a couple hours and I wanted to play while Scarlett was still sleeping.

The snow was wet so it was perfect for making a snowman.  Tucker and Penelope were even able to roll out a decent size ball.  It was fun because they were really helping this time.  The only problem was because it was so wet it was very heavy.  I am not supposed to lift a ton but we had to get the middle piece of the snowman up onto his body and it was too heavy for me.  I almost gave up because there was no one in sight to help us but Tucker kept saying things like, we can do it together, and teamwork. So I felt like I had to manage it.  We ended up knocking a lot of the snow off so I could lift it and then building it back up once it was up.

I think the trees look so beautiful in the snow.

Below is the picture Bob took before he left for work.  He wanted to be able to show us in case it melted before the kids and I really got up.  He is the best.

The snow didn't last too long but I am happy we had some this year to play in.  I feel like the kids are missing out when they don't get to experience snow.  Luckily we have had some to play in the past couple of years.

...

How are your christmas plans going?  Last week I was super bored but this week I am really busy trying to get everything ready.  I guess that is how it goes sometimes.  I didn't really have much to write about so I will just share a little about what is going on at my house.

Tucker said he was sick Thursday morning so I kept him home but made him stay in his room.  After a little while of him being really bored he said he wanted to go to school.  I got a call a couple hours later saying to come pick him up because he was sick.  So he stayed home on Friday and was better by Sat.  Too bad Saturday night Scarlett started throwing up.  It was extra sad because she isn't old enough to use a bucket and when Bob got her up Sunday morning there was dried throw up all over herself and her bed :(.  So we have been hanging out and resting.  No one else has gotten sick yet.

I went to Good Will Monday and got a couple nice maternity shirts for only $1.29!  I was excited.  One even still had the original tags on it.  Penelope and Scarlett each picked out a book.  Scarlett's book had a star that would glow if the batteries worked.  After I explained that to Penelope she said in a mater of fact tone, "Then I will break it open, put battries in, and tape it back."

For family home evening we made treats and dropped them off at neighbors and friends houses (I don't think any of the people we did read this).  You know, ring the bell and run sort of thing.  The kids loved it.  Too bad, half the people weren't there and that night we got a call from one person saying they saw Bob and Penelope in their security camera!  Bob and I had a good laugh over that.

I started painting Scarlett's knew dresser/armoire.  It is going to be adorable and I can't wait to get it done.  Especially since it is taking up our garage and we have been parking in the driveway.

Now off to go make more Christmas treats and get ready for a fun date with Bob!

Elf on the Shelf Update

I was a little surprised to find my elf on the shelf was not bendable.  You see all these cute pictures of him in different poses but they are actually really hard to do because he just doesn't stay.  So I figured out not only how to make my elf bendable but to add velcro and magnets so he can hang and grab things.  Also, Tucker saw a picture of an elf online and thought it was Blitz.  I decided that our elf needed a little personalization.  So I made elf on the shelf clothes.  Right now they sell a skirt for the girl elf but I haven't seen anything for the boy one.  It was sooooo easy and I am very happy with how he turned out.

Materials Needed:

16 gauge wire (michaels)

1" velcro

small magnets

stitch ripper

needle and thread

felt and hot glue gun (for clothes)

1) Rip three seems at the end of the hand.

2) Measure the length of the arm, double it and cut the wire.  Then fold it in half and twist it up so it is sturdy.

3) Fold the ends so they aren't sharp and push the wire into the arm.

4) Sew up the hand.  Then repeat the same process for the other arm and both legs.

5) My velcro was sticky so I cut the right size and stuck them on.  I then sewed a few stitches around the edges to make sure it stays.  If you don't have the sticky velcro just use your hot glue gun.

6) Stick, or glue more velcro onto the back of magnents so your elf can now stick to things like the fridge.


7) For the clothes I just used felt I had  and my hot glue gun.  I didn't measure so there is no pattern for you.  I just kind of wrapped things around cut them to the right size and glued them.  I didn't glue anything to Blitz except the roll of paper behind his ear.  I gave him overalls shoes a scroll of paper and a little ball at the top of his hat.  Very easy and fun.

Above you can see he is zip lining and below he is climbing up our back door like spiderman.

Did you know his head can turn?  Don't feel bad if you didn't it took me over a week to realize it.

Bob is a huge hang gliding fan so of course our elf on the shelf had to hang glide.

Here is is making a snow angel.

I love this next one.  I even used the magnets to help him hold the note although you can't really tell.

Having him steal from their piggy bank was really funny to me.  But I will admit the kids didn't get it at first.  Penelope had no clue she said she found blitz and he is laying on her bank.  Tucker said he is a superhero.  I told tucker it looks like he is taking the money out and then Tucker smiled and said 'oh a burglar.'

Be creative and have fun with your elf!

Dipped Peanut Butter Oreo Recipe

Bob had this great idea for a treat.  He took apart the oreos mixed the filling with peanut butter and sugar than put them back into the oreos and dipped them into melted chocolate.  They were a little too peanut buttery for me but aside from that they were delicous.  If I were to make them again, and I might, I would do less peanut butter and put a popsicle stick into the oreos so they can be dipped completely.

The kids also loved them and they were very quick and easy to make.  This could be good for one of those Christmas cookie parties, where you trade cookies or recipes.  I actually haven't been to one before but they sound fun. 

Kind of a funny story about this picture.  Bob stayed home from church with Scarlett because she was sick.  I wanted to post pictures of these cookies on the blog but didn't take pictures yet because I was waiting for daylight.  Anyway, I asked Bob not to eat them all for that reason.  But when I came home I found Bob ate all the cookies but before he did that he took a picture for me.  So this picture is courtesy of Bob.  Thanks.  I was surprised that he put them on a nice white plate and everything, he must have seen me do it before ;-).

Watch What I'm Wearing

On Saturday we took family pictures.  It was freezing, but at the same time fun and I got to pick out everyone's outfits!  That means trying to figure out what 5 people have in their closets that will go together.  Ok, I'll admit I couldn't sleep night before because I didn't know exactly what I should wear and for some reason I couldn't stop thinking about it.  I was a little obsessive, but I am happy with how they turned out.  By the time Sunday rolled around I didn't want to put one thought into what anyone was wearing, including myself, and I just grabbed what fit.  Definitely not my most glamorous week, but it is still what I wore so I am sharing.  I am 25 1/2 weeks pregnant in this picture.

Shirt: Down East   Cardigan: Sears   Skirt: Old Navy   Shoes: f21

The most clicked on link last week was...

by Lily Among the Thorns