Gluten Free Gingerbread houses

So we had our first ever gingerbread house activity since I was diagnosed with CD.  I finally decided to make some GF graham crackers, and we had a fabo time.  Michael put a few candies on his house, but mostly he ate them:)

Hiking to Cave Springs take 3

So we've been trying to find this cave with a spring in it for a few months.  The hike is in an area where there are a ton of burro trails so you have no idea what the real trail is.  So far I don't think we've found the right one, but the area is amazing and there are a lot of caves.  Here's a few pics. 

Michael thought this was his cave because it was just the right size.  He called  it the "Michael cave"

Crochet Christine

So here's a pic of everything I crocheted for Christmas. I made Michael a "mommy" elephant, a "baby" elephant, and a lion.  I made Andrew some slippers and some gloves.  Now bring on the praise! Haha

6 Months Old!

 Happy 6 month birthday to Eva tomorrow! I know everyone says this but I can't believe how fast it's gone by.  Eva is approximately 26 inches long and weighs about 14 lbs.  I know she weighed that last month but that's because I forgot to weigh her at the beginning of the month so her 5 month pictures are really 5.5 month pictures.    

She loves being held by her mom or dad and really loves playing with her dad.  She likes watching us drink. She likes grabbing things (sleeves of the person changing her diaper) and tapping things with her hand (like clapping with only one hand).  She can shake a rattle (very cute!) and loves talking to herself or her mom and dad.  She's getting pretty strong and can sit by herself for a couple seconds before she slowly has her nose between her legs, smelling the carpet.  She still doesn't like sleeping very much and she especially doesn't like sleep training.  She's been rolling onto her tummy but doesn't like being on her tummy so she eventually cries until I come turn her over.  Thirty seconds later she's back on her belly.  Can you tell what we do all day?    Oh, one more thing: she had cream of wheat and rice cereal this month.  She ate it with little expression but she didn't spit it back out!  She also had a banana.  She was interested in it but eventually the texture of mashed bananas made her gag. 

I made this owl graphic and the pants she's wearing.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

We were sitting on the bed this morning and I took some more pictures of her.  Notice her bum once more, all 4 seams match up again!  Whew, I'm good!

Eva could be saying, "I absolve you of any sins.  Now go in peace my son." Or (in a Jedi voice), "Credits will do fine."

More Fashion

 So, I've been sewing lately, as you can tell.  Here are the dresses I've made Eva.  Let's just say that the ones that I followed a pattern turned out good and they actually fit her.  The ones that I just made up and guessed, those... not so good.  Turns out that following a pattern is important if you want clothing to fit right.

This dress turned out really cute.  I found the fabric at the goodwill (I think it was a table cloth from Target that had never been opened).  It doesn't fit Eva yet but maybe at around 9 months or so it will.

 This purple dress was from a free pattern that I found online.  It turned out cute!

 

 This orange dress looks pretty cute but don't be fooled!  It doesn't fit right because... dun da da dah (trumpet sounding) I didn't follow a pattern.  It doesn't even cover her diaper.

 This flowering,charming specimen was made by following, yes, a pattern.  I like how bright and colorful it is.

 And this little dress/shirt doesn't fit Eva at all.  It could possibly fit a newborn but I made it 4 months too late for that.  I had a hard time getting it over her chest.  Poor girl!  I made her try on all my failed attempts.  If you know how much babies like getting dressed, try getting them dressed in something that doesn't fit at all.

We decided to transition from the straight jacket/sleeper that Velcros Eva's arms down (think of swaddling but for Houdini) into a sleep sack.  I made this one from a pattern (so it worked) but it won't fit for very much longer unless I add some fabric to the bottom.  

Baby Fashion

I've been making baby clothing lately while Eva takes one of her three 40 minute naps during the day.  I'm a little disappointed with the options of baby clothing available because I want bright colors with fun stuff on the shirt but no one sells that stuff.  Usually all I can find is pastel colors with words like, "Mommy Loves Me" printed on the front.  It's been fun thinking up what to make and then actually achieving it in 40 minute spans.  

 I made these pants and sewed the giraffe graphic on the front of a onesie that I bought.  Project Runway would be proud because my lines all meet up! Woo!

 Here's a little hedgehog graphic that I made and sewed on a onesie.  Also, Take a look at Eva's bum area below!  All four seams match up perfectly!  Just wanted to point that out.

I've also made a few bright dresses but there's only so much dress up a 6 month old can take in one day.  I'll post pictures of them a little later.

My Grandma wears the same sunglasses

Katie made the little hedgehog onesie for Eva, she also made one with a red paisley giraffe on it.

Just past 5 months

Katie has been taking a monthly picture of Eva to measure her growth. I thought this one was perfect. You can't get an idea of how long she is but you do get an idea of how much she loves to move around. She has finally mastered rolling over.

We have finally gotten around to decorated Eva's room. It is still a work in progress, but here are some pictures of what we have so far. 

Here is a picture of Eva after she finished her first meal of Cream of Wheat. She was quite happy with herself. We have a video of it that we will put up later.

Bennett Solves the Book Shelf Problem

Pretty cool, eh?

Christmas Lights on Kirkwall Circle

What the Kunze see when they look out their windows: 

What we see when we look out our window: 

What you see when you come to our porch:

What you see when you come to their porch: 

We are really in the spirit of the season aren't we!

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