Alaskan Ashton Christmas Tree

		Noah Safe Tree VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Here is our Christmas tree this year.  If you ever spend time with Noah, or even look at some of the pictures of his activites of choice, you will know that a traditional Christmas Tree would not last long at our house.  So we decided to make one that was off the ground, away from little fingers. This is what we came up with.

Brian and I went to Joann’s—Yes, Brian was inside a Joann’s actually looking around for ideas. I first thought of felt.  I love felt.  It was not on sale and the color that I liked was over $10 a yard.  Also, Felt does not hold its shape when stretched.  Fleece was on sale for $3 a yard.  We found some nice green.  For the lights I got some floss and off we went.  Total price $8. 

I cut the felt into five different levels and sewed them all onto bent hangers.  I sewed on the details for the lights and placed the layers together. We first thought that hanging it by itself would be the best… it didn’t work.  I couldn’t mold the metal the way I wanted it.  Also it kept falling off the wall. 

So I pulled out all the hangers and sewed them onto some cloth that has been around for years and attached it to a frame I got at a garage sale a few months ago and TA DA!! Our Christmas Tree.  After sewing on our ordainments it was ready to hang up. 

I am so excited about this because when Christmas is done the tree can be rolled up and put away till next year.  And next year it will only take about 5 min to up the tree.  Really, who can say that…. The Alaskan Ashton’s Can.

 

Merry Christmas

Craft Projects

I don’t know if it is because I am a stay at home mom or because I need something that I can look at and say I accomplished this and it stays that way (until it get destroyed).  The sense of accomplishment is hard to find in a house where the destroying angel follows me, and I mean that in a loving way.
So I have found a love for crafts that I didn’t have before.  FYI  I am that good but it fills the need none the less.

Food Bags

I am trying to use less plastic and more non toxic, reusable, earth friendly products.  Snack bags get used once and tossed out, not to mention Noah likes making a mess with them.  I looked online to purchase them and they are about $10 each.  So with my early Christmas present of a sewing machine, Thank you Brian, I can now make mine own.  So off to Joann’s I go. 
It is a small store but it fits most needs.  I look and look for the waterproof, food safe fabric that I need and guess what… there is not a demand for it.  They don’t even have diaper fabric.  I head home a little disappointed and search the internet trying to find some I can order online and have shipped to me.  I would have to buy $100 or more of it.  $10 each seems reasonable now doesn’t it.
So, I decide to make them out of the cloth I ready have at the house. I made it with a zipper to have easy safe access that was quiet.  I also put a bias tape loop on the corner to help little and big hands carry it. Although it is not waterproof on the inside, meaning I will still need plastic bags for a few things.  I have the bag I need to go from place to place. Now I am not the mom who forgot to bringt treats for her hungry child. 

Noah loves it.  He instantly knew what it was and hands it to me when he wants a treat at church or a friend’s house.
 

I decided that they were just way to cute to not share.  So I went to Joann’s and got some more fabric and made some for my friends. I hope they like them.

  

Crayon Art

This is something I made a few months ago.  I just love it.  it was super easy and really fun.  Here is how I did it.
Two small boxes of crayons
One Canvas
(I used painters tape to secure my crayons.  I would suggest hot glue. As you can see my crayons are no longer in a straight line and that really bugs me.)
Glue the Crayons on in the order you would like them to be.  Rainbow looks the best.  I tried many different patterns when planning it.  The next time I make one I will use more yellow and orange shades. It seems like blue and red are a little over powering to me.
Then HEAT. 
There are a few ways you can do this.  I used the oven which I really liked because it was so fast.  You can use a blow dryer or torch. 
And in 10 minutes you have a wonderful piece of art that everyone will love.


  

Noah’s Painting

This is the panting I blogged about a few months ago.  Noah made this with his body.  There are a few places that you can tell what body part made them.  Some of the places he will be very embarrassed about when I show the girls he is dating.
 

Duct Tape Photo Book

This is a photo book that I made out of duct tape.  I got a cheap book at Wal-Mart tore it apart and hot glued it in to a double sided duct tape page I made.  I sewed on some buttons and lace so it can be lassoed closed. 
I cut out pictures in the Ensign before tossing them and now they go into this book.

  

Time to Read

Today Noah only wanted to read books.  He handed me a book signed and said please then would sit on my lap.  We would get about half way through the book and he would jump off to find another to read.  If I set it down he would run back to finish it with me.  We read Good Night Gorilla about 20 times in an hour.  When Brian came home from work Noah was so excited to have him read stories.  But Noah is picky.  He knows which stories he wants.  We would search through his box and he would only have us read three different books.  Good Night Gorilla, Kisses and the Magical Fish.  I am so happy I have a son that loves to read.

Drinking Dinner

During dinner Noah asked for my water (yes we drink of of used Prego jars) Instead of drinking he filled it with his left over food.  I told him it was gross.  He got this twinkle in his eye then drank it.  SEVERAL times!! I still think it is gross.

Tricky little guy

Noah wanted to help me in the kitchen.  I was fixing dinner when I noticed he was a little taller.  Brian and I have a bet going on when Noah will need his first set of stitches. 

Scary 

Notice what he is stepping on!!

Happy to help

Noah was sitting on Brian’s lap when he decided to jump ship.  Brian caught him just in time.  Noah used his time wisely and played with a well positioned car.


   

		The Sound of Silence VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 These pictures were taken within a week.  It wasn't until I looked through them that I noticed the pattern.  He talks and screams a lot. 

New Hair Style

Decided to do a Mohawk today. He grew three months just with a new hair style.  His attitude fit too. Good thing I love this kid

Communication Barriers

The second Noah wakes up he is talking… speaking his own language.  So, I don’t understand most of the things he says. But some words have many meanings. Bapple is one of his favorites. It is derived from Pineapple.  When we visited Hawaii fresh pineapple was 90% of what he was willing to eat.  He still eats a lot now but it is canned. Bapple turned into meaning any tasty food.  He will even say it while nursing.  To help me navigate the desires of a growing toddler I have worked on teaching him some signs.  For the past 6 months I have been showing him, off and on, the sign for milk.  He finally picked it up last week.  But now, just like bapple, he will sign milk if he wants a drink, food or even a toy.  If I ask specific questions I can usually figure out what he wants. 


The other day at dinner he was in his highchair behind me.  I had given him some food and then  started to eat mine.  When suddenly Noah started screaming.  I turned to see what the matter was and he instantly went quiet and was signing “more.” Smart kid. He knows that if I am not looking at him I can not see but I can still hear.

Woke up and he is two (not really it just seems like it)

Noah is growing so fast.  I can't believe it.  He is starting to talk.  I am teaching him signs.  When he signs he tries to say the words too. When we read books he copies some of the sounds I make but mostly the rhythm.  The other day he was taking off his coat after a walk and once the coat hit the ground he shouted "I did it" as he threw his arms in the air.  I was astonished.  Where did he learn to say that?? It took me a whole day and talking to Brian to figure it out.  Whenever he completes something I will tell him, "Good job, you did it."  It is amazing what he picks up.

So, it's not even 10am and Noah is taking his first bath of the day.  I say first because he usually gets 2 on a good day 4 on a really fun one.  He is one messy kid, and he loves baths but he likes his privacy.  If I am in the bathroom with him the bath will last about 5 min.  If I sit out in the hall with the door halfway closed he will take a half hour bath.  Such a funny boy.  So here I am peeking into the bathroom so my son will take a long bath.
Now the reason he needs this bath... macaroni and cheese of course.  He woke up today around 8 and wanted to eat.  I feed him a large banana.  Once he is done he asks for more.  Crazy kid.  Yesterday he ate 4 bananas.

So I cut him another one but I guess I got his signals wrong.  He is hungry, he makes the sign for eat, but he doesn't want a banana.  I know this because he is tossing them on the floor.  So I run through the foods he usually eats.  Apple, Pineapple, Mac & Cheese?  "cheeeee"  he says. (Yes, I know a very small list and heavy on one food group but the kid likes what he likes.) So here I am making Annie's Mac & Cheese for breakfast.
I put it on Noah's plate and he starts stuffing his face.  Funny kid.  when his is done he is covered with cheese and he is now ready to play.

Art projects

Noah likes to hit the tile with his hands.

        

talking (screaming) at the tile

I tried to make some cute Christmas presents.  The way I envisioned them they were a perfect print of Noah’s hands and feet on a paper, possibly a frame.  Something people could keep to remember how small these feet used to be. All it was was a mess.  These pictures were taken 8 min after the paint was opened. All Noah wanted to do was eat it or open the bottles and squeeze paint onto the paper. Both he and I were covered.  At least we had some good memories.