built to last

ohmygoshIamsosickofcookies

2009-12-17T13:30:00.002-06:00

ugh. I have made (and eaten) all the cookies I possibly can for the day. They are all done save my beloved gingerbread ones as I know I'm the only one who will eat them and really, do I need my own batch of cookies right now? Uh, no. (my mom made my favorite cut outs...yummmmmmmy.)

So now my kitchen is a mess and I've never even had any coffee today and it's 1:30. Crazy. I want to clean the kitchen and drink about a gallon of water (and then coffee) before 3pm. Wish me luck!!

xoxo

cookies, cookies, cookies

2009-12-17T09:50:00.001-06:00

Please forgive my absence yesterday. Ruby and I were very busy meeting friends and getting some hairs cut. I had grand plans of making cookies yesterday afternoon, so the kids could decorate them after dinner, but in the end all I could do was fall asleep on the couch, waking up just in time to order some pizzas.

So, today is cookie day! There is coconut button dough chilling in the fridge, the chocolate cookies with cherries, white chocolate chips (chips from here) and walnuts are done (shown below...OH MY LORD), plain chocolate chip (James' request) are next on the agenda and while those are baking I'll mix up my other favorite chewy chocolate gingerbread dough. oh my. The coconut buttons and gingerbread can be baked any time over the next few days so I'll get to them when I feel like it. And Oh! I wanted to make another batch of these for them to frost. Goodness. We'll definitely be giving some of these to our neighbors. Some of them. :)

Thanks for all the nice support regarding my concerned reader. My sister left a particularly funny comment on that post yesterday. :) xoxo

the good stuff

2009-12-15T10:39:00.004-06:00

Neelone and I were just going to do self-serve buckets of goodies for the kids to pick from on their way out of the party but decided it might be too chaotic or provoke fistfights. ("I wanted the YODA notebook!!") So these inexpensive & cute lunch bags came to the rescue again. Red for girls, blue for boys...we're going to have 40+ kids there on Sunday. Ruby loved helping me put these together this morning even though it was awfully hard for her not to break into the shiny new cupcake chapsticks. I need a few more to have on hand for anyone who shows up without RSVPing but I think we're almost set.

A week or so ago I saw Hillary, of the lovely Wee Wonderfuls, post about making Shrinky Dink ornaments with her son. I loved the idea and was happy to find the plain Shrinky Dink (not the actual brand but that's how everyone knows what I mean) paper at JoAnn's on Saturday. It was $5 for 6 sheets and I had a handy 40% off coupon so it was a great deal. Sadly, the children lost interest pretty quickly as I made the mistake of letting on to them how much I wanted them to color on the "special" paper. Yesterday my sister said I should just have them out on the table, ready to go, so they can do one whenever they like and I think that is a brilliant idea.

Anyways, here is one from each of them. I love them. They bake up in about 4 minutes.
Actual size of mine...the original piece of paper was about 4x bigger. (I used a pint glass to trace my circles)
Here is the laptop on the kitchen table...this makes me very happy!
An old cardboard nativity I found at the dig this summer. I love it.
And just a couple shots of the living room. I didn't put nearly all my decorations up this year but am feeling happy with what we do have. I especially like this corner because for months it was piled high with my sewing stuff. The shelves are still full of my stuff but the rest of it is packed away downstairs for the time being.
and the other side of the room:

other good stuff:

-I get to go get my hair cut tonight.
-Late yesterday afternoon I was laying face down on my bed (taking a moment, not thinking of ending it all) when Ruby came in and crawled up next to me. She patted my head and asked if I was praying. I wasn't but she made me realize that I should have been. Thanks for that little reminder, Lord.
-James is back at school today. His eyes stayed puffy most of the day but the hives only came back once and only in the crook of his elbow. He was clear again this morning (eyes, too) so I'm hoping he has a non-itchy day at school.
-Only 8 more days until we head up to Duluth for Christmas! I am really excited to see my family and friends and looking forward to visiting some of our favorite spots. I am really looking forward to all the time with Patrick. xoxo

Alright, gots to go. xoxo

my first anonymous email

2009-12-15T09:53:00.004-06:00

I got an email from an anonymous reader last week who was concerned about me. They were bothered by the "disrespectful" post I wrote about my mother and were wondering if maybe I was depressed again as I get so upset with Ruby all the time. (referring to what I wrote in that same post that was about my mom, which when I now reread it, still sounds like my usual self to me)

Well, how kind. I think signed emails are a little easier to take seriously than anonymous ones but I do think that the part about my mom might have confused some. See, she left a funny comment on one of my posts gushing about my dad wondering where all her love was. So I replied to her, sarcastically, as we tend to do. I think most of you know how much I adore my mother. She is awesome and I have nothing but mad love for the old bag. :) See? We're just like that...we like to make each other laugh.

The part about Ruby, well, all I can say is welcome to reality. Sometimes I think harsh things about my children and sometimes I share them here if I happen to post in that moment of anger or frustration or whatever. This is my blog and I want it to be an honest reminder for me of my life. I am struggling with Ruby right now in a few ways, and sometimes I get really mad at her, but I am also trying to remind myself that this is typical kid stuff and it too shall pass. At 3.5 James liked to throw things, hit me on occasion, never stayed in his room when he was told...sounds fun, right? Ruby shows her anger and frustration in different ways that are physically harder on me because they are so LOUD. (she shrieks at James, and her cry is piercing to say the least...and she cries A LOT when she's frustrated.) And it's usually in the late afternoon when James is home and I am on the tail end of my patience. And I easily will give her a consequence for screaming at me or James but her emotional crying is harder to deal with...can you punish a child for showing their emotions? I need her to learn other ways to deal with that frustration but it's not as easy as it sounds. So, yes, it's a challenge and yes, I do get very mad at her sometimes but really, there's no need to worry about me. If I need meds I will get them. If I wake up some morning without seeing the fresh start ahead of us, that's when I'll be concerned about myself. And please, use your name next time. I normally wouldn't even address this but the email wasn't totally nasty and I thought it might be something that more of you had wondered about me.

Do you all think I'm a psycho b*tch?? Yikes. I hope I don't come across that way. I'm only that way sometimes, promise. :)

I have all this fun stuff to post about but I can't tack it on to the end of this business. I'll start fresh one...like I do each morning. xoxo

Christmas goodies

2009-12-14T12:36:00.002-06:00

This year I decided to make a trio of goodies to give to some of the people on our list. I made this caramel corn, this peppermint bark*, and of course, these pretzel turtles**.
I got these paper lunch bags at Target, (40 for 1.92...brown ones are just as cute but I was feeling wild this year) filled them up and sewed them shut. Ready to be delivered!
And because I like when other people do this...here is my "behind the scenes" shot.

Magic like this doesn't just happen, folks. ;) heehee

Any recipes you want to share?

*I also added a bottom layer of melted milk chocolate chips and added 1/2 t peppermint extract to each layer

**I always drizzle these with melted white chocolate and sprinkle...they look a lot more festive that way

xoxo

high tech, kind of

2009-12-14T09:56:00.004-06:00

WEll, after YEARS of waiting, Patrick finally has our wireless connection up and running. Yes, I am at the kitchen table with a lap top! How odd. Of course, it's an old lap top and my pictures just crashed the system so no pics right now. I'm too lazy to go up stairs. :)

My weekend was very nice. I hope yours was. Was it?

Patrick encouraged me to take some time to myself on Saturday and I did. I had called our babysitter earlier in the week and she never returned my call (bye, bye, girl!) so I spent the first hour I was gone kind of sad and missing Patrick. I always like to have at least one date with him at this time of year...just to sit together and enjoy the busy-ness around us. sniffle. my bunny. Anyways, I decided to have lunch at Pizza Hut (olive garden was packed) and it was very nice and cheered me up. The pasta dish I tried was not very good but I had a nice sunny spot, a nice waitress, and cute kids that were not loud or my own around me to eavesdrop on. I sat there and very nearly finished my Christmas cards after I ate my lunch. I hit Kohl's (a zoo!), 2 thrift stores (scored big!), Target (I am so sick of Target), JoAnns...it was a good day after all. I got everything checked off my list and that felt GOOD.

That night James woke up at 1am with hives covering his body. They were everywhere. Patrick said he had given them a bubble bath with some kids Method shampoo/body wash we've been using and we figured that must have been it. ?? He hadn't eaten anything else different at all. So he gave him a shower, I slathered him in Eucerin and gave him a dose of Benadryl, and he was off to bed again. (with us, of course.

Yesterday the hives came and went all day. My friend and I had to finish shopping for the birthday party next weekend (James & Zach are sharing a party) so James stayed and played with Zach while we were gone. They played outside and I think the sweating in his snow clothes was not good for his poor skin. He looked HORRIBLE last night when he went to bed. I had gotten hydro-cortisone for him and that just made it worse.

He woke up this morning with a clear body, which was unbelievable, but a swollen face? I kept him home today for observation and am waiting for our allergist to call back. I gave him Benadryl again but his eyes are still puffy. How odd.

Anyways, that's it for now. An update, nothing more. :) Have a good Monday and don't stress out because Christmas is next week. Just let some stuff go...it really feels good. :) xoxo

happy weekend

2009-12-12T09:11:00.001-06:00

to you!

xoxo

my mother is amazing, too

2009-12-11T12:57:00.000-06:00

Hey you guys! I never told you about how when my mom was here at Thanksgiving she spent one whole morning cleaning our disgusting refrigerator! She did! And even though she slacked off on the microwave this time, we totally forgave her because the fridge was such a mess. And then she fell down my stairs Monday morning, making this horrible noise when she landed, a noise I will never be able to fully erase from my mom-ory, and the first thing I thought was, "She's staying longer." HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA. And it wasn't a negative thought, just the realization that I'd have to keep talking to someone all day long.

And then, 38 years ago, she gave birth to me!! She did! She is pretty creative and likes to start lots of projects but doesn't usually finish them. Luckily, she finished me (and my brother and sister!) and look how I turned out! My mom sure can grow those kids. (and push them out of her vagina, as she likes to remind us.)

So, while my Dad might make lots of things that last forever, my mom does, too! Well, maybe not forever, but I'm hoping to hit 90.

Thanks, MOM!!!!!! (okay, dear readers, lets hear some MOM love so she will pipe down a little.)

The picture above is just from this morning. Ruby is a rolo-unwrapping pro. For reals. And the morning was nice but now she is making me S-I-C-K.

And all that crap I like to say about slacking off on my parenting?? What a load. No, 3 year olds are hard. James almost killed me when he was 3 and Ruby? Ruby is even MORE 3 than he was if that's possible. So add her three-ness to my pregnant-ness and OH MY GOD.

And I feel guilty saying that because lots of times she is my little ray of ruby with the softest bum in the world but, well, lots of times SHE ISN'T.

xoxoxooxo

milk free egg free sugar cookies

2009-12-10T13:41:00.001-06:00

I made these tasty little cookies yesterday afternoon. The recipe is actually a recipe for Thumbprint cookies but I know my kids wouldn't dig the jammy center so I rolled them into balls and pressed them flat with a sugared drinking glass. I baked one sheet for 8 minutes which gave me a very soft (but not mushy) cookie once set and one sheet for 10 minutes which gave me a crispier edge with a still soft center. My family liked both and at press time there are only 4 left. I plan on making another batch of these (they are super quick and easy) for them to frost and sprinkle and skip the cut outs altogether this year.

Here's the recipe:

1 cup dairy free margarine, softened
2/3 cup white sugar, plus extra for dipping your glass in
1/2 teaspoon almond extract & 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (or use all vanilla)
2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in extracts. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Dip drinking glass in sugar and press down on each ball to flatten until approximately 1/4" thick.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.

If you want to make the original thumbprint cookies, the recipe is here.

Enjoy!

the beautiful aftermath

2009-12-10T13:37:00.002-06:00

good morning

2009-12-10T09:25:00.001-06:00

done

2009-12-09T12:33:00.002-06:00

He added a fireplace. Of course he did. It's perfect, no?

I wish I had the energy to gather up photos of all the creative stuff my Dad has made over the years...a lot of it is in my own house. Even more in my memory...from the gift wrapped in carpet Baby Beans doll I got for my first birthday to the carpeted walls in our basement (and his van!) to the pieced together Thunderbird logo rug to the soldered metal art to the multitudes of Thunderbirds & Amphicars & one-of-a-kind vehicles he's restored...my Dad can do anything. And he does it all beautifully. xoxoxo

(James is hollering for cereal or I'd come up with more...they are right on the tip of my brain!)

snow day

2009-12-09T09:40:00.001-06:00

yesterday...

2009-12-08T13:24:00.005-06:00

While I baked,

she played "water stand", a self-created game where she sells bowls of water to me at a fair price, which then morphed into bath time for her baby.Then she played with the "widdwe wod Jesus".
Then she helped me bake. Then she played trains,
and then "cleaned" the bathroom. (that is vinegar in that spray bottle, don't freak out, mom)
Then she gave all her babies Christmas gifts.
Then I realized that baking banana oat muffins, cranberry orange bread, and a vanilla layer cake left me with this....
well, and these...

but then also this, a little girl who was suddenly bored:So I let her do this,
while I cleaned the kitchen.

Then James got home and all heck broke loose for a while. Then she was in her room for a long time, she calmed down, we had dinner, Patrick got home, Patrick taught James how to play poker (?) and they thankfully went to bed. I was pooped.

James had a very good birthday. He didn't want any more cake, though, so now I have a vanilla layer cake, 4 dozen buckeyes, and a pan of cranberry orange bread in the freezer. That is a nice feeling.

Tomorrow, or maybe later, NO TOFU LEFT BEHIND.

Oh, and thank you for the birthday wishes for my sweet boy and also for encouraging me to trust my instincts. I will. Thank you.

xoxo

caution: extremem randomness ahead

2009-12-07T09:14:00.004-06:00

It's James' birthday and part of me wants to write some meaningful post about him but I just don't have it in me this morning. All of you mothers know how much I love him...that doesn't need to be said, does it? God, I love him.
Ruby, on the other hand. heehee. She is challenging me today. We're just going through a period of constant parenting. I think I was sliding with her for a while and there is always a catch up period after a slow period. She is also just physically hard for me to take...her cries are so piercing. She screams a lot, too, but luckily that is only when James is home. If I had to listen to that all day I'd go mental.
I made some buckeyes this weekend. They are delicious and safely tucked away in the freezer. I used Sunbutter and Earth Balance margarine. Yum!
We took the kids to see the Fantastic Mr. Fox yesterday. I loved watching it, it was beautiful & funny in a way that I imagine only a stop action film from Wes Anderson could be. Parts of it were a little dark for James but he seemed fine. (Patrick & I put the P in PG) I think all of his hunting books helped prepare him for the farmer's hunting Mr. Fox. Ruby was oblivious to a lot of it, she watched it all but seemed mainly happy to be snacking on licorice and Icees. I loved sitting in a theater with all of them. How fun.
Yesterday afternoon Ruby told me she didn't like the boy teacher in her Sunday school class. She said he always asks her to help him and she doesn't want to. This gave me pause because Ruby always loves to go to church. The first time we brought them to this particular service I remember when I picked her up. I didn't like the way this man looked at her. Now, I am NOT saying he has done ANYTHING wrong. I am talking about a tiny feeling that I pushed away and didn't think of again...one I've had many times. (if you have a little girl, you have experienced this, no?) But when she said this yesterday it bothered me. If she had said that about a female teacher I wouldn't think twice. I would tell her too bad. But since it's a guy? We didn't go and we'll go to morning service from now on. I just want to try and trust those tiny feelings I have and I want her to know I will trust the tiny feelings she has. I don't know if this is just her not wanting to help or her having some intuition about this guy...I believe we all have intuition and should trust it. It's hard to do and sometimes leaves me feeling foolish. I've prayed about this and will maybe try to talk to her more this week and see if her story changes. What would you do? (again...I want to be clear that I don't think this guy has done anything wrong at all, but I do think certain people creep you out...even when you're 3.5.)
James brought a cake to school today but Ruby and I are going to make him another small layer cake for tonight after dinner. How could we not sing to him on his birthday? He opened his presents from us & Grandma this morning and LOVED them all. His party is on the 20th.
We are supposed to get up to 12 inches of snow by Wednesday. I'm kind of looking forward to it.
I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging these next couple of weeks. Right now I'm enjoying getting all of this out of my head but earlier I was thinking I would only do pictures for the next couple of weeks. I guess we'll just see what happens. Whenever I feel overwhelmed this is always the first thing I think of cutting back on...this hour I spend online in the morning reading blogs & writing my own. I love it but don't like when I feel like I'm being taken away from something more important. I really enjoy the blog habit and thought about doing the same kind of thing on my own. Is that kind of blog-stalker-ish? :)
Ruby has been playing pirate ship on my bed this whole time. I love her constant chatter & singing to herself while she plays.

The End. xoxo

he's 6

2009-12-07T09:10:00.002-06:00

and I thank God every day that he is ours. I love you, buddy.
one million x's & o's

my dad is amazing

2009-12-04T16:04:00.002-06:00

My Dad wanted ideas for what to get Ruby for Christmas. I really wanted her to have a dollhouse but the really nice ones are sooooo much money. Both my mom and my sister said I should just ask Grandpa to build one for her but I thought it seemed like a lot to ask. Yesterday morning I threw caution to the wind and replied (by 10am, CST, per his request) with a link to the above house from www.novanatural.com. I said this was one I liked and did he think he could build something like it for Ruby?? A few minutes later I got his positive response. I was so excited!! Now, just a few minutes ago, he sent me this picture.
HOLY CRAP. That man works fast. (windows are going in tomorrow) Quick! Help me think of what else I should ask him to build for me! :)

Ruby is going to be beside herself. It is GORGEOUS, Dad, and she will give it to her babies someday. xoxoxoox

23 weeks

2009-12-04T08:46:00.001-06:00

I don't have much to say about being 23 weeks pregnant, I just didn't have any other pictures or titles for today. :) I'm thrilled of course and I am very happy that I feel this little boy every day, usually in the morning and evening while I'm lying down. (my placenta is in the front so that blocks most movements of one this tiny.)

Ruby and I survived yesterday and actually had a nice day. (until 6:30 when I stormed out to go to the library and told them that they had drained my energy so much (by being wild savages) that if the living room wasn't picked up when I got home (thus restoring my energy) I didn't think I'd be able to read them any books before bed. It was all picked up.) Today we are headed to the mall for a while to meet up with a friend to discuss birthday plans. James and her son are sharing a party so we need to figure out who's going to buy what and all that. I am looking forward to a coffee from Gloria Jeans.

Other fun news: Last week the giving tree at our local bank had tons of kids names on it...what I thought was a lot for our town of around 1200 or so, anyways. I stopped back in there yesterday and there were only 4 names left!! Yay! That was really neat to see. I mean, I feel bad for those 4 but woo hoo! for all the rest. Just kidding. The teller said she was certain they would all get picked off of there and that some people had donated cash for shopping so they'd get gifts no matter what.

I have to go get ready now. I finally updated my link list to include some new friends I've made...check them out! Happy Friday. xoxoxo

oh what a night

2009-12-03T08:54:00.001-06:00

Ruby also has a cold and it's making her a little tired. She passed out in her room immediately after her bath last night, little dear. HA! No, it was really all good...the house was so quiet the rest of the evening. She woke up at 10:00 for a snack (she missed dinner) and crawled in our bed with us and fell right back to sleep. Until she woke up around 3am from a sneezing (snot filled) fit that kept us both up until around 4:00 or so. (she sneezed soooooo many times.) Then at around 6am? She peed OUR bed.

Needless to say, I am tired. I didn't much like the look of her this morning but her charming ways won me over after a half hour or so. I did decide that we are heading out for the day. I will either A) pass out or B) lock her in her room if I have to stay here all day. It's kind of gray and gloomy and my house is very cozy...which is not a good thing today when I must stay awake.

We did some decorating yesterday afternoon, after a nearly hour long game of Battleship that James admitted he cheated on (I just moved it once!, he said), and the kids had so much fun. James said he loves Christmas decorating. xoxoxo Then Wendy said she has a 6 ft artificial tree we can borrow so we won't have to buy one. Awesome. I'll just get some real pine boughs for the smell. (Also, my Yankee Candle in Pine something-or-other scent is so delicious and REAL smelling. Those Yankees are good.)

Alright. I have to go comb Ruby's hair. Wish me luck! xoxo

busy busy busy (but happy happy happy)

2009-12-02T13:50:00.003-06:00

I am busy cleaning and rearranging our living room today in hopes of getting a tree this weekend and the rest of our decorating done. Above are some of my favorite ornaments. Don't you just love getting out your ornaments every year? I sure do. I packed up most of my "sewing corner" in the living room so there will be plenty of room for a tree without feeling crowded. Now it just needs to be hauled downstairs. Patrick??

I have also gotten James' party invites out to his classmates (with his help), got a good start on my Christmas cards (but not mailing for a while so no one thinks I'm some freak), and have ordered a bunch of gifts. It's been a nice week...we've been home every day and it's been good. Ruby has been painting up a STORM, realized she does not like candy canes and happily does like Christmas carols. (good thing or there would have been trouble between us.)

I want to get some cookies baked on Friday for the freezer (to bring up North at Christmas) and will share the recipe here in case anyone is interested. I get so many hits from the milk & egg free sugar cookie recipe I posted a couple years ago. Lots of vegans and allergy sufferers out there! That reminds me I still have to tell you about a really good cookbook I just got. Maybe tomorrow.

xoxoxo

our boys

2009-12-01T10:48:00.001-06:00

my spot

2009-11-30T09:05:00.002-06:00

Here are a couple pictures of my spot on Saturday. I was pretty happy with how it looked...I liked my little signs...but now that I see it in photos I realize that it looks a little like Christmas threw up on my table. :) Oh well. It worked for me, I suppose.

My mom is packing up to leave and Ruby is hollering at me from in her room. (she just smacked me because she was frustrated with her batman mask. nice.) I've got a pretty messy house to get picked up today, want to get the bills paid (so I can buy some more gifts! no, not everyone is getting button stuff), and make my cookie baking plan for the next few weeks. I have to say I'm glad it's Monday and I have a little quiet around here again. (well, relatively quiet, you know.)

There was lots of other stuff I wanted to mention about the Craftacular but I can't think of it all right now. It was fun to see some friends and also really cool that Teresa stopped by. I love meeting other bloggers because there is already a little feeling that you know each other...it's not at all like meeting any other stranger. Thanks, Teresa. :) (your son is a doll.)

Alright, I gots to go. I can hear Ruby, "And I'm not sharing my room with any baby! This is my room!" heehehehehheheheheee.

xoxoox

buttons schmuttons

2009-11-29T19:40:00.002-06:00

(Thanksgiving night, listening to Christmas songs on Pandora and
sewing cookies with Ruby on my lap)

Man, that Craftacular wiped me out. Today I have felt exhausted for most of the day and also have a small cold that is enough to make me feel even sorrier. (not for myself, just sorrier in general.) Luckily my mom and Patrick have been here so I could just be a sloth. I am feeling a little better right now but, shhhhhh, mustn't let on to that. :)

The Craftacular was great. I really had a good time and remembered why I liked being a part of it so much last year. It was lots of fun to have my mom with me and we sat by a couple of really nice sisters (not nuns, actual sisters) that were fun to talk with and got us slices at Ian's for lunch. I had really good sales and made a personal goal I had set...almost to the penny. You know how they say to "put something out there" when you want it to happen? Well, I did, but I put mine out there to God, just tacked it on to my morning prayer so He'd know what I was hoping for and why, and I made that mark, almost exactly. Now, do I think God gives us whatever we ask for? Of course not. Do I think that He does stuff like this for me (and for you) as a blessing and as a fun way to show He listens? Definitely. And I'm so thankful for it.

But then there were the buttons. Apparently God isn't into the buttons. I sold NOT ONE thing that had buttons on it. No magnets, no clips, no magnetic clips...NOTHING. Also a no go? My vintage bingo card magnets. Didn't sell a single one. (but did give some away to those that admired them, which was fun.) It was fun to see what sold well (a lot of the stuff that sold well last year and a some of my "new" items) and what wasn't so hot (buttons and oh yeah, my lollipop ornaments! no lollipop love, either.) (but I still like these things I made. no regrets. (but also, won't be making them again!)) Some really nice women I spoke with at another booth told me that every year you do shows your sales grow because you learn what works and what doesn't. I can see the truth in that and while I probably won't do this next year, it would be fun to test their theory. (one never knows...perhaps I will have a docile infant that loves to watch me craft??) HAHAHAHAHA! (I am not wonder woman like some I know. (cough, Naomi, cough) ) ;)

Okay, enough rambling for now. I have to put some socks in the dryer as James' sock cup is the opposite of running over and he can't wear his soccer socks again tomorrow.

Coming up this week! Cookie plans! Yay!

oh my goodness, it's tomorrow

2009-11-27T14:28:00.002-06:00

Please forgive my absence the last few days. My mom arrived on Wednesday and yesterday we were consumed with, well, consuming. :) I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving filled with people & food you love.

If you're in Madison, please come and see me (and LOTS of other artists & crafters) at the Craftacular tomorrow. It's from 10am-5pm at the Masonic Center at 301 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Madison. Please introduce yourself if you stop by...I'd love to meet you. :)

My palms are a little sweaty now just thinking about it. Luckily I am just about all packed up and tonight I get to have a date with my husband.

Wish me luck! :)

xoxoxooxoxo

do you ever

2009-11-24T13:51:00.001-06:00

have this much laundry?

Patrick was out of town most of last week and we did really well without our 4th wheel. I got and kept the house clean (which it hadn't been in a while) because that really helps me feel calm in the midst of daily chaos...especially at the end of the day. We did some fun stuff, had some friends over...it was all really good. The only thing I didn't do? Laundry. Not a bit. So, if you're a mother you know what 4 days of no laundry looks like. The photo above is just the tip of the cotton iceberg in our basement.

Ruby and I are home from doing some errands. A friend returned some baby gear I had forgotten I even gave her (exersaucer & bouncy seat) and added a few things of hers to the pile for us to use...a mini swing and bumbo seat. All of a sudden there is all this baby stuff around again! crazy. I don't really think we'll need anything else before the little one arrives. Oh yeah...a car seat. hehe. And a pack and play at some point, mainly to protect him from his siblings at certain times.

I'm not sure what is going on with me. Perhaps the pregnancy hormones are calming me way down? I feel like there's lots of stuff that I should be bothered about but am not. Like, where will this child sleep? Will James & Ruby share a room, or Ruby and the baby or James and the baby? I guess I know that at first he will sleep in our room so we'll have some time to figure it all out. I also think the nesting instinct might kick in during that last trimester, which is conveniently after the holidays. (if I turn into a psycho list maker/whip cracker, please remind me of this post)

Speaking of the holidays...Patrick will be off for 12 days. Ahhhhh. Love that. We'll be in Duluth for a couple of them (hahahahahahha!) but will have some time at home, too, which is always nice.

This reminds me of how James likes to stay home a good chunk of Saturdays now...he calls it Stay at Home Saturday. (how very clever of him, no?) ;) I did persuade him to venture out with me late last Saturday afternoon and we had a really nice time walking around on State Street a little and eating at Ian's Pizza. yum! I had the chicken alfredo slice. Don't be a hater if you've never tried it.

I know this is so random. I am still tired and trying to decide if I want to meet Patrick and hand off the kids this afternoon or if I just need to go to bed at 8pm. James is home with us tomorrow and we had talked about doing a little Christmas decorating. I'd like to start our long festive weekend out well rested, so I should just stay home.

(shakes head to clear the fog)

I will sign off now. I hope you are all sufficiently bored and have a good source of caffeine nearby to counteract the effects of this post. You're welcome.

xoxo