Showing off the next generation of nerds

This year for fathers day I had a idea to have the kids take a picture for my husband.  It wasn't any of the super cute "We love Daddy" pictures I have seen on Pinterest.  Nope.  Instead I wanted to make it personalized for something he would really love.  I knew exactly what I was going to do.  His newest obsession is Dr. Who He has become a quick fan and I will admit he has sucked me in as well. I decided I would dress the kids up in Dr. Who costumes and have their pictures taken.  This was no small feat and I needed my moms help with some of the sewing but after several months of putting these together I took them into picture people for the final product.  I loved how it turned out but I wished the photographer had done more fun Doctor poses with the boys.

From the beginning I  knew that for the the costumes I was going to make the boys the 9th, 10th and 11th doctor and I wanted to make Lilly a dress that was modeled after the Tardis.  I tried to pick which boy would fit best with each regeneration of the doctor and then I set to work putting together their costumes.

I decided Joe would be the 9th Doctor (Christopher Eccleston).  Joe is a little goofy and just loves to be silly so I thought that would fit the character.  This costume was actually the easiest one to put together.  I bought a pair of black slacks and a grey t-shirt from Target.  Then I ordered a kids costume "Greaser" leather jacket.  It was a bit too big for Joe but I think it still gives the proper 9th Doctor affect.

James was the 10th Doctor (David Tennant).  He is a bit more quiet and reserved than the other boys.  My goal was to figure out a long trench coat and a pin strip suit.  I couldn't find exactly the right suit but I waited until Easter time, yes I was working on this way back at Easter time, to buy the one of the boys dress suits that are on sale during that time of year.  I don't know if David Tennant ever had a tan color suit but it was the best I could do at the time.  He has on tan dress pants a pin stripe vest, yellow shirt and striped tie.  It all came in one set form JCPenny.  I couldn't find any trench coats so it went onto the list of things I needed to make.  My mom and I got an coat pattern from Joanne Fabric Store.  We had to lengthen it to make it a full length trench.  I also got him a pair of Converse shoes, which he absolutely loves and wants to wear every day.  I have to say I think this one was my favorite costume.  I just loved the coat.

Nick was the 11th doctor (Matt Smith). Nick is my sly but silly one.  His smile reminds me of the 11th doctor, plus he loves to say that things are cool.  It was a perfect match.  Obviously the key to this one was the bow tie.  I found a pattern on pinterest for bow ties the only odd thing was that it turned out a little big.  In the end I like the way it turned out with the exaggerated size.  We also made the red suspenders.  I used a pair of black corduroys and a grey button down shirt that we already had.  Little boy sport coats are a bit hard to come by so my mom and I made that too.  We used the same pattern as the trench coat but we shortened it.

Each boy also had a different sonic screwdriver.  I wasn't able to match the right screw driver with the right doctor regeneration. Each of them picked one that they liked.  Since they each picked one and didn't fight I let it be.  Its rare that when they have to pick three different things that there isn't some sort of fight.  So I figured it was just fine to leave them as they were.  Plus one of the sonic screwdrivers was a replica of River Song's  screwdriver so I know I couldn't have everything be a perfect match.  They loved playing with them and trying to open doors and save the planet.  It was hilarious to watch.

Lilly was being a bit of a stinker during the photo shoot but we managed to get one good shot of her.  I decided to make a dress modeled after the Tardis.  My mom and I picked a ruffled jumper pattern and used blue and white knits.  I was a little nervous about making the Tardis pattern on the front and ruining the dress we made so I made a separate piece that I attached to the front of the dress.  The Windows are white knit sewed on to the front and then outlined with black fabric paint.  The white lettering was done free hand with fabric paint.  I was really scared about screwing up the paint.  I don't have great writing but I wanted to make sure I did I good job.  I really loved the way it turned out.  I put a white shirt and leggings under the dress plus my mom made a super cute flower head band to match.

I really loved the final product.   I tried to get the kids to keep a secret but they kept letting little hints outs.  Ray had it figured out but he didn't get to see it until father's day.  I had the kids get dressed up in their costumes and run out with their Sonic screw drivers to surprise him.  He really liked their costumes and even commented on how I matched their personalities to the right doctors.  After opening presents the kids wanted to play outside and pretend that their play house was the Tardis. All in all it was a pretty great day.

Surprise Daddy "We love Dr. Who"

The three Doctors

Lilly as the grumpy Tardis, Ray says she is thinking "look out don't mess with the Doctors"

I think it was a successful Fathers Day gift.  Plus I really think I have some of the cutest future Whovians in all of time and space!

Welcome to our new family member Jake.

I know that I have not been updating this blog very much.  It seems like the weeks just fly by and I never get anything on my to do list done.  Before I show off our new family member I have some sad news for our family.  Over memorial day weekend our sweet pup Bailey died.  He was diagnosed with lymphoma 6 weeks prior.  Luckily it seemed peaceful but it was hard none the less.  We dealt with explaining death to the kids. My friend (who also happens to be our vet) brought over the book Dog Heaven.  The boys love it and we read it often.  It really helped ease their concerns about death.

I will miss our sweet guy

Things seemed to happen way faster than I thought the would in the next week.  I did notice that Raya was lonely and sad.  The kids were also sad since Bailey was the dog that really interacted with them.  Raya is still a bit hands off but in her sadness she was even tolerating the kids petting her and playing around her.  Ray and I decided maybe we should be on the look out for a new dog.  We both agreed that a shelter or rescue dog would be best.  I looked on petfinder.com to see what was out there and to look up shelters near us.

I came across Pet Adoption Fund which is a non kill shelter in Canoga Park that I never even knew existed.  They had tons of dogs listed online so I thought we might as well go check it out.  Ray and I went on a Thursday afternoon thinking maybe we could put our application in and they could keep us in mind when a dog that would fit well with our house was there.  We never thought we would find one that night.  We went in and told them we had an older dog and four young children.  I could tell they were trying to think about which of their dogs would be a good match.  They said they might have a few and they would show us around. 

We went with them through the kennels and there were so many dogs.  As we walked through she pointed to a lab mix and said keep this one in mind he might be perfect.  Then we looked a a Vizsla puppy about 6 months old and another 7-8 month old lab puppy.  She asked which dog we would like to interact with and we decided to try out the first one that she had mentioned.  His name was Jake and he was a two year old lab/shepherd mix.  When he came in the patio he was calm and mellow we played with him for awhile and then took him for a walk.  They told us he was abandoned in his home and found by the real estate agent who was selling the house.  I just can't believe how some people do that with their pets.

After walking him and thinking about what he would be like at home the women working at the shelter said that we could come back tomorrow with the kids and see how all of them interact together.  I couldn't believe it.  We were just going in to get the application started and now we might have a dog the next day.  I was pretty excited and we wanted to share with the kids.  We brought home a picture to show them and talk to them about meeting a new dog and how the next day would go.  James kept asking when we could bring Jake home so I guess we picked a good one.

First meeting Jake "The Doctor" Turner

The next day we came back with the kids and Raya to meet Jake.  Every thing went so well.  He was great with the kids and Raya didn't bark or growl at all.  We were really amazed.  Raya is usually very cranky with other dogs.  James was a little shy and wouldn't go near Jake but I quickly realized it wasn't the dog he was afraid of it was the woman from the shelter.  He gets so shy around new people but it was kind of funny.  Once Jake was comfortable and off his leash James pet him and talked to him.  So after a great first meeting we decided to adopt Jake!  We couldn't take him home with us because they had to come and inspect our home and yard.  The kids were a little sad that they would have to wait a day but they said good bye to Jake and we headed home. 

Later that night they came by to look around the backyard and the home.  We passed except we had to move a bag of potting soil that had been there since before we moved in.  Apparently it can be toxic to dogs.  So that was an easy fix.  They told us they would bring him by the next afternoon.

Along came Saturday afternoon and they brought Jake to our house. The twins had decided we should keep his name Jake but that it could be Jake "The Doctor" Turner.  We just call him Jake for short.  He has been with us for almost two weeks now and it has been great.  He growled a couple of times when the kids ran at him at first and he flipped over on Lilly when she hugged him but other than that he has been a fantastic family dog.  He was house trained already and hasn't had a single accident.  He does pull on his leash and barks at other dogs a lot when we are out walking so I am thinking about taking a behavior class with him and trying to get him better socialized with other dogs so he doesn't yank my arm out of the socket.


A man and his dog, prepping some Steaks to grill

The kids really love him and want to help walk him but he is a little strong for them

Jake

So Bailey we will always love you and miss you. And Jake welcome to this crazy family!