The Torbetts: Gifts! Presents! :)

Anna Ruth loves to "stand". Oddly enough, this is one of her favorites ways to stand. I think she has dancing feet. :)
and Hallelujah for fat rolls! Our girl is growing at last :).

I didn't make this hat-but it is homemade! I purchased it from Krista, who runs the "Homemade Saturdays" blog, and The Sunshine Shop. Check the shop here: http://homemadesaturdays.blogspot.com/

To start, here are some of my store-bought gifts that are super neat! This is a "scanimation" book, which means as you turn the pages it looks as if the pictures are moving. So. COOL. They also have one called "Gallop" and "Swing"!

My favorite cooking bloggers ever (besides Jana and Becca-of course) have a cookbook!
I bought this for someone else. I want one very badly and want to open the packing to take a peek so bad! But I won't. :)

Two of my most favorite illustrators ever! This Charley Harper coloring book is awesome!
There's even one with just birds. Also on my someday list. Yes, a coloring book for myself :)

Let the homemade begin! This is a Photo Memory Game, made with small wooden squares from Hobby Lobby, paint, spray adhesive, computer printer, and Crystal Lite containers.

Next up is a Pen-Pal Kit. I have a niece who loves to write little notes to people so I thought this would be the perfect way for her to keep in touch with whomever she pleases. :) The original idea and Pen-Pal letter can be found on eighteen 25 blog here: http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/06/pen-pal-kit.html

Mini chalkboard books and chalk! For two of my mini nieces and nephews :). Found the idea via Pinterest. My suggestion for this is to use spray paint. I used regular chalkboard paint and it took a lot of layers and a lot of painting for them to turn out like this.

Camera kit! This is actually a digital camera we no longer use, and I am happy to re-gift it to my niece. I also found an idea via Pinterest for the "I Spy" page that someone had done for a wedding. I changed it up and made a little book she can take along on her photo journey :), wherever that may be. Some of the pages say things like "I Spy..something interesting, something funny". I'm curious to see what she comes up with for this particular page!

This is an alphabet book I made with photographs from the farm and our travels. Each photograph also has a page with text that accompanies it.

I Spy jars! I bought/gathered a bunch of miniature items and put in these plastic containers. I then filled the containers with rice. Before putting the mini items in I laid them all out and photographed them together, making the tag for the bottle. The point is to see if you can find all of the items on the tag, in the bottle. For the record-glue these lids on tight! I have two very curious nephews :).

This last idea is for Brett's birthday next week. He never checks the blog, haha,unless I specifically show him something so I really doubt he'll see this. We always end up at the weekend, wanting to spend an evening together (not doing chores or doing our own thing), but not knowing what to do that won't be centered around Anna Ruth, money, the house, etc. We love our girl more than anything. But, we need a strong marriage to make a strong family. So, I "researched" some and came up with one date idea a week for the next year. I typed them out, and put them all in this jar. Brett can pick one each week.