More Soccer

These are just more fun soccer pictures. The girls really love playing!

And here are some cute ones of Charlotte. (14 months)

Paper Star Tutorial

So, I've had some request for a Star Tutorial. Although I read a lot of tutorials, I have never created one myself. So I hope this is adequate for your needs and understanding. I also want to thank Ellie for teaching me how to make these.

First you will need a pattern, I have one at the end of this post that you should be able to print. It looks like this:

Next you will need six sheets of paper. I've done these with regular scrapbook paper and also with scrapbook card stock. The card stock is much better and sturdier, but the paper works just fine as well. Choose your paper according to how you want your star to look. If you want them all to be the same, or alternating, or if you don't have enough sheets to have matching, just use coordinating papers.

Next trace your pattern onto the backs to two sheets of your paper

Then I staple three sheets together with one of the patterned sheets on top. The stapling just makes for easier cutting. This way you only have to cut twice; two sets of three sheets of paper. Are you following me so far? 

Now all your paper should be cut and look like this -

Next, use a ruler and pen to "score" your paper following the pattern. Press firmly with your pen as you draw the lines. This will make the folding process go very quickly. Draw your lines just as they are on the pattern, matching up each corner. 

Referring back again to your pattern fold the lines either "In" or "Out". In means toward you and out mean away from you. 

All your sheets should now look like this - 

Starting with your first sheet of paper, glue on the larger inner edge.

Press both sides firmly together

Next glue on top of the two bottoms flaps. Do not press them down yet!

Put your next piece on top and then press down those edges over the top of the next piece. 

Tape these edges to secure them. Three pieces should do it, one on each side. 

With your final sheet of paper, glue the smaller bottom edges and fold them in.

Glue the larger edge just as you did the others. 

Now, you will need two pieces of string about 10 in. long, tie a knot on each end. 

Staple one string to each of the outer pieces.

Flip it over and staple one on the other side of your star. 

Next, open your star carefully, as the glue is still drying, and tie the two ends together. You may have to play with each piece a little to make them fit nicely in the center.

Viola! You are done!

I have seen some people use a hole punch to make little holes all over their star, and then they added Christmas lights to the inside. You can also untie them to fold them flat for easy storage, if they are seasonal. 

The pattern

Click on the picture and then print on heavy paper. (Ignore the little pen mark on the bottom near "out". I was too lazy to fix it) 

My Little Scientists

Carmen always wants to try different experiments to see what will happen. Most of the time I tell her no, but todays idea seemed do-able. Here's the steps if you would like to give it a try with your little scientist.

1. Gather ice cubes, salt, string and a bowl of water

2. Place ice cube in the water and lie the string across it. Then pour salt on the ice.

3. Wait several seconds and then give the string a tug

4. Ta Da! It should stick!

5. It's magic to them!

Praying for nice neighbors

My mom sent this post to me about a lady who is praying for good neighbors to move in across the street from her. The blog is called  A Daily Scoop. I loved her words and hope that someone on Bayberry St in VA is praying for the same thing! I guess I better start praying as well! 

Is it so wrong to pray for nice neighbors? We have two houses across the street from us that are on the market. One is for sale. The other is for rent. The families that have lived there are nice. But they have had older teenage kids that don't come out to play. So I have been praying for nice neighbors to move into those homes - preferably ones with nice little kids. 

Last week when I picked up my babysitter she told me she was fasting and praying for a nice family with a cute 17 year old son to move in across the street from her. I told her while she was at it she may as well include a 15 year old (she is 15) girl in her "wish list" family who would turn out to be her best friend. Most of her friends have moved and live 10-15 minutes away now. No harm in hoping right?

When I was a kid my parents bought some land with friends and built a cul-de-sac. I knew all my neighbors so well I called them all "Aunt" and "Uncle" even though they weren't really family. I have often fantasized about doing this myself someday. I think about what kind of neighbors I would choose in my ideal cul-de-sac. I don't think of specific people. And I assume I would only pick people in this dream universe that I really liked. Mostly I think about practical things like talents and professions. On my street growing up we all shared our talents. It was very handy knowing my doctor and dentist so well.

So far in my dream cul-de-sac there would be a doctor, a dentist, an orthodontist, a hair dresser or two, someone who knows how to build or fix things in a home (maybe a contractor), and a car mechanic would be good too. Maybe a caterer would be nice as well. You know what -- now that I am thinking about it. I have most of those in my neighborhood right now. I do have a pretty super neighborhood. Know any nice contractors looking for a good home? I have one available across the street. :)

Who would be in your dream cul-de-sac?

The Court

Oh how we'll miss these happy days of freedom and play on the court. We had a garage sale on Saturday and the only way we could convince the girls to sell their toys was to bribe them with new toys! Carmen really wanted roller blades because her friend got a pair for her birthday. It was kind of a rocky start, but she has gotten the hang of roller blading. 

A good friend will hold your hand when you are scared...

Will be there when times are shakey...

Will help you back up when you fall down.

And will let you stand on your own two feet when you are ready!

Aliza got a new Barbie with her garage sale money. Carmen kept trying to convince her to get skates, to which I was convincing her not to get skates. I finally asked if she wanted skates because she wanted them or because Carmen was telling her to get them. She said because Carmen was telling her to get them. I told her she could make her own choice and get what she wanted. She picked this Barbie.

And Charlotte is just trying to keep up with the big kids. She is loving her new found freedom of walking.  Now she will dig around the shoe basket and always find the two matching pairs of shoes and brings them to me to put on her. She wants to be outside where all the fun is. 

Just 4 Kicks

Aliza and Carmen have been taking a soccer class for a couple of weeks now. They both really love it and even picked soccer practice over a birthday party!

It's fun to see their different personalities come out on the field. Aliza is much more reserved and careful with the ball. She runs fast and is a great team player. 

Carmen is aggressive, runs fast and almost always makes a goal! She is good team leader.