Here’s the coloring page for other little joke lovers out there, and get more kids jokes here.

Happy Friday!

It’s nice to meet you 35. I’ve got 6 grey hairs that I refuse to pull because I think I’m running out of hairs. Also, my smile lines are becoming more prominent, which is a blessing because that means I’ve had  lots of reasons to laugh and smile in my 35 years (and Lord willing, many more). I certainly don’t feel wiser with each new year, but grace certainly does get sweeter.

Soul loves this dress because it’s pink. It looks white in pictures, but it’s a subtle pink with geometric lines. When I found it at the thrift store, I did a happy dance because that’s just what you do when you find a vintage piece with a “Made in USA” label. I especially love it paired with my favorite pair of shoes and a bigger version of my favorite basket. This one can hold my journals, art supplies, and camera when I need to tote those things around. You know me and my love for baskets. When some of my friends travel, they know to bring me home a basket.

These days I no longer heat style my hair, so it’s been all my natural waves you’ve been seeing. I stopped using a curling iron mid-summer when I chopped length off to get rid of split ends and most of my ombre. Though I still have lingering bits because I didn’t want to go too short. I’m hoping the lack of heat styling will keep my hair healthy and prevent hair breakage. While the waves help my hair look fuller, I have really thin hair. If anyone has suggestions to remedy my thin hair issue, I’d love to know!

Anyway, cheers to 35! If anyone needs me., I’ll be in bed all day reading a book.

what i’m wearing: dress, vintage. boots, rachel comey. Birkin basket, space rocket store.

The girls and I kicked off November with a visit to A la Minute for some salted caramel and pumpkin spiced ice cream. The adventure almost didn’t happen (see why here), but it was much needed. Plus, I thought it would be a good way to start the birthday week. One of the reasons I love November is because I love celebrating my birthday. I don’t have any grand plans (or expectations), but I just like having a day to do whatever I want (within reason of course). We’ve gone on trips in years past, or had the girls stay at my parents while I cleaned in peace, but my favorite way to celebrate these past couple years is to stay in bed and do nothing except read a book or watch movies. Ben and the girls even bring all my meals to me in bed! I’m eagerly anticipating it.

Another reason I love November is because I get really excited about Thanksgiving. I love turkey and all the family time that goes on. And it also means that December is right around the corner. I can’t believe we have only 2 months left in the year. Insane! And what’s even crazier is we will find out who our next president will be next week. Despite how crazy this election is, I can rest knowing that God is still sovereign over all and that is where my hope is.

Welcome November, we are happy to greet you with open arms!

I sewed this top/dress. If worn by True and Brave, it’s a top, or if worn by Soul or Glow, it’s a dress. The fabric is from this old skirt I made for myself 8 years ago (see here!), and I no longer wear it, so I cut it up and sewed it into this top/dress. I’ll probably make another style of top/dress for the girls since there’s still plenty left of that fabric. I love recycling fabric and that the girls can all share clothes too.

Where did this big girl come from?! She is the most similar to me in personality, but also the most similar to Ben too. She’s Ben and I split 50/50. True hates skinny jeans (and it isn’t my preference either), and much prefers wide legs and flares, so it’s another way we are similar. Brave and Soul are cool with skinny jeans, and Glow hates jeans in general. True tries to mimic how I dress (Soul does the same), so imagine her excitement when a mini Birkin basket arrived in the mail (Thanks Ana!).

I have my basket collection, but my girls have their own going on too. They used to throw all their stuff in my bag, but I’ve cut that off (they put so much junk in my bag!). They’ve started carrying around their own baskets/purses to tote around their own stuff.

These baskets are handmade in Portugal and are commonly used as lunchboxes. I’d say that would be the coolest lunchbox around! This particular day, True was toting around her notebook, a magazine, and sunflower butter and jelly sandwich in it. Thus, it is quite a utilitarian little basket.

on true: top, homesewn. jeans, gap (similar here). clogs, hanna andersson (similar here). mini birkin basket, c/o space rocket store.

For True’s Alton Brown costume, we went thrift store shopping to find the pieces to make her suit. We bought a tie, but it’s lost somewhere in our house, so she wore a bow tie we had from Forage Haberdashery. We printed copies of Alton Brown’s face onto card stock, and cut out the eyes and mouth. We taped the masked onto her glasses, so that’s how it stays on her face the whole time. When she walks around the house with her mask on, I totally freak out for a second.

I made Brave’s Rey costume in the spring when she went to Disneyland with their cousins. I used gauze fabric to make her vest and pants, and a knit jersey to make the top and arm pieces. An old belt and scrap leather made up her belt pack and wrist bracelet. Her quarterstaff is very special because True made that on her own for Brave’s birthday present. She used a dowel and lots of duct tape. It’s one of Brave’s most prized possessions and it’s always near her bed (if not on her).

Soul specifically said she wanted to be Luke Skywalker from Star Wars Episode VI. She used her black pants and sweatshirt for the top and bottom, and I just had to sew the vest and cape. We ordered these gloves (for her one robotic hand) and these boots. She wears this outfit any chance she gets because she loves Luke Skywalker. If you doubt her love, visit her bedroom and you’ll see a huge Luke Skywalker wall decal on her side of the room.

Of course, my sweet Glow is BB-8. To get the details on her costume, read about it here.

If you have 11 minutes to spare, don’t forget to watch Cutthroat Kitchen: Bratcher Edition!

After Halloween last year, True decided that she wanted to be Alton Brown for the next Halloween. The other 3 decided after watching Star Wars Episode VII. True and Brave blended the two ideas together and came up with Cutthroat Kitchen: Bratcher Edition.

We are huge Cutthroat Kitchen fans, so they were so excited to bring one of their favorite shows to life. We even had some arguments because they wanted to film a full 1 and half hour episode (each cooking time is 30 minutes). Obviously, they cut it down a bit. What you see here is completely planned by them. They wrote a script, True directed (my sister filmed and edited the video together), and they would even practice for it! I just came in to do my “judging” and I was having a hard time keeping a straight face as I played along.

The girls are so proud of their episode (Ben and I are too!), so we hope you enjoy it!

Have a look back at some of our past Halloween stories…
2015: The Mystery of the Missing Leia and Yoda
2014: The Zookeeper’s Wild Day
2013: The Mystery of Pinkie Pielilocks and the Three Bears
2012: The Adventures of Spider-Girl & She-ra
2011: Barbershop Quartet
2010: The Three Little Piggies
2009: Hannah and Gretel
2008: The Untold Story of Oz
2007: Little Red Riding Hood

Happy Halloween friends!

video filmed and edited by: Reinna Sherie