We're still alive...

It has been a busy month. I wish I could blog  every day because so much happens that I want to share with others or even just keep for myself for the future. I love looking back at my old posts and rediscovering those moments. I love reminiscing happenings I had long forgotten. I want to blog for myself and for my babies and for my family and friends who don't see us on a regular basis, but sometimes, it just gets to be "one more thing" and gets to be too much.

Christmas was wonderful. We had a crazy week after Christmas with family here from out of town and many for dinner every night. I loved it but it was tiring at the same time.

The week after New Year's was tiring for other reasons. My best friend's mom died suddenly and my heart just hurt for her and her family. I didn't do much other than love them the best I could and be there and listen but it was a wearying week just the same. I can't imagine how exhausted she was.

I just haven't been feeling the best or having the energy and motivation to do much more than the bare necessities (assuming food is a necessity, and a path through the house). Sometimes it takes all my energy just to answer the phone.  I'm so thankful that even though I haven't been running my home the ways I would ideally want to, I have been able to be so patient and loving to my chiddlers, and this last month has been probably my most mellow yet (i.e. no loss of temper).

We're redoing the guest room and making some big changes in its hospitality.

The girls and I are taking the train this week to see my sister and family in Colorado. I am so excited to be able to surprise them. It's their Super Summer Challenge Surprise. We'll be out there for five days. It will be a wonderful trip, if I can find the wherewithal to get ready for it. :-)

We had five inches of snow yesterday so now I have to help the chiddlers get ready to go o!ut in it to play

Random bits

The girls spent Christmas morning writing their thank you notes so they would be ready to pass out after they opened their gifts.

Denton turned 16 months on Christmas Eve. We're still breastfeeding and he's never been sick. Coincidence?

I'm a huge fan of peppermint coffee creamer, even if it does have soybean oil in it.

Cadrian has a new favorite Iowa State outfit that I'm afraid is going to be worn every other day. (and that's just because I make him wash it, otherwise he would never take it off).

I started something called The Tens List for Bible reading in April. Yesterday I just finished reading the entire Bible for the first time!  I've started a book called Crazy Love.

Our kitty Goldenmane is 14ish weeks and likes to spend time in laps and inside the Christmas tree. She also has a purr you can hear in Colorado.  Her favorite place to sleep is in the scarf drawer.

Aviana can do some magic tricks with her new magic set. It's pure joy to watch her blossom.

I cleaned out the guest room. It's never looked so good (if you ignore the ripped wallpaper, green shag carpet, dated furniture and the torn and sullied duvet cover.) 

Brielle is super sweet even when her face isn't covered in tea ring frosting.

Cadrian's favorite games to play are "Bad Guy Fight" and "Roughhouse". Aviana loves the paper and pencil version (probably because we don't have the branded game) of "Battleship". Brielle enjoys look and finds, like Where's Waldo? or 1001 Wizard Things to Spot.


I read the first Hunger Games in less than a day. I'm a little afraid to start the next one because of the amount of time I'd have to ignore my family.  But I can't not start it!

I organized the storage and got rid of a bunch of stuff. That felt pretty good. I'd forgotten one should actually be able to walk into a room.

Aviana can't wait until our 'sewing for 18" dolls' books come in at the library.  She can't wait to make Laura Hope Grace Lacy some clothes. (I hope it's EASY!)

We still haven't had any snow. Cold without snow just isn't fair.

Countdown to Christmas

I saw a fabulous idea for an Advent calendar on Pinterest, so I made it.

You make little cards from cardstock and fold them over ribbon stapled to the back of a picture frame. I just so happened to have a frame that was newly glass-less, so I was all set.

You clothespin the cards to the ribbon so you can't see what's inside.  Aviana and I decoupaged clothespins with scrapbooking paper, but it turned out that the regular sized clothespins were way too heavy for the ribbon.


I used some mini clothespins that happened to have a summer theme, but ah well. On the inside of the cards you write an activity for the day.

The blog I read this on ((The original post is here)) suggested using post-its, so you don't have to re-make the cards every year, and it gives you flexibility to change up the activity if something comes up at the last minute. Is she brilliant or what?!

A few of our activities were ice skating...

and making popcorn strings...

do our Advent candles...

make Christmas cookies...


and go see Santa.


Even though Aviana made all the cards for me, I've since then found some K&Company paper that had beautiful vintage Christmas numbers. I did feel a little guilty about covering up all her painstakingly placed stickers, but I do love the calendar all the more with its new Victorian feel and matching numbers.

Funny family

Last night Aviana asked me to tell her a story from my childhood. So I started telling her about one of my childhood houses and some of the games we would play there and some of the activities I remembered doing there.

After a few minutes, she said, "If that's the story Mama, it's more like an essay!"

Too true, too true. Called out on my plotless story by my seven year old!

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The children asked for ice cream after dinner. I told them they could have pickle ice cream.

They thought for a few seconds, and readily agreed!

I guess pickle ice cream is better than no ice cream.

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Cadrian hid his stuffed animals behind something and told me:

No budee see 'em dere! No buddee can eagle eye 'em!

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Brielle calls our sweet friend's sweet baby "Jewelry-a".

Her name is Julia, but I'm kind of fond of Jewelry-a and call her that in my head...

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"Aviana," I said, "A dirty old sock is not a very good bookmark."

"Mama," she replied, "a dirty old sock is better than NO bookmark."

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SIze matters

I saw an adorable elf hat pattern in a knitting book. I knew I just had to make it for my one year old sweet boy. Only it had me making cables.

I've never done cables. I've been knitting for about two years now, but I've never done cables. Or color changes either. Or anything with true shaping, like a sweater. Or anything else that requires a lot of attention...

But this time I thought, I can do it. So I watched a couple of how to videos just to reassure myself, and soldiered on. I went out and bought special yarn, knitted a size swatch because I wanted to make sure it would fit him, and began.

The hat turned out ok (except for the very first cable turn).

Oh, and except for the fact that it didn't fit Denton! It was too big for ME! I have no idea where I went wrong (unless I mixed up centimeters and inches or some crazy thing).

So I tried again. This time-- was pretty cute!

Now if I could just get him to keep it on for more than eight seconds.

Smart Bottom Kids

When I find something that I love, I feel compelled to share it with others who may love it too. While messing around the other day, I ran across an Etsy store called Smart Bottom Kids (and with a name like that you know it has to be good right?)

The shop owner, Darcy, puts together craft kits for you and your kids to do together. Darcy is a former elementary teacher and has a seven and a five year old (kind of like me :-) so one would think she's pretty much a genius when it comes to small child craft kits). (Turns out she is.)

I ordered the Christmas Ornament Banner. It was a little pricier than I would normally spend on a craft, but I love to support Etsy shops and I love to do crafts with my chiddlers. I don't relish the setting up and cleaning up part though. I was hoping the kit would take care of the setting up.

I wonder if Darcy would come and take care of the cleaning up too...

I wasn't sure what to expect when I quickly got the kit in the mail. She said all would need is scissors, but is that really all I would need?

A great big resounding YES!

The kit came with everything clearly labeled in nifty little packets. Even the craft sticks were labeled "glue spreader". Her proportions were extremely generous, we would actually have enough sparkles and decorative paper left to make an entirely different garland, all I would have to do is cut out the ornament shapes.

It was perfect for two children--it came with 2 each of several ornament shapes.

It was also the perfect size craft for them--they were almost to their crafting limit by the time they finished their last ornament. It was also wonderfully sparkly, and especially for the five year old, whose favorite color is "glitter", this was another perfect.

This guy helped by playing nicely in his chair and

also finding, and subsequently, emptying, my wallet; having a dirty diaper; getting into other various and sundry mischief.

I originally hung it here,

but then we moved it to the archway.

( I am just posting this review because I want to, not because I've been asked to or given anything free ;-))

Mama's Daybook

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...frosty

I am thinking...I should really be in bed

I am thankful...to spend time with my brother and new sister

From the learning rooms...elving and Advent

In the kitchen...Chicken tortilla soup was a big hit tonight. Not a smackeral left

I am wearing...a bright striped sweater jeans striped socks and Ugg knockoffs.

I am creating...Christmas gifts--also knitted an elf hat for Denton with a CABLE--too bad it ended up being too big for KEVIN! (and I did an accurate gauge swatch, so I have no idea what happened)--also got a spinning lesson Saturday!

I am going...to my mom's again tomorrow

I am wondering...if I'll be able to get my hair highlighted this week

I am reading...the fourth Harry Potter book--I'm reading the books then watching the movies after each one. Fun times.

I am hoping...this week continues to be wonderful

I am looking forward to...more "Telestration" and laughter tomorrow

I am hearing...Kevin shuffling papers

Around the house...keeping up with the clutter

One of my favorite things...watching my children grow--how Aviana wants to be with grown-ups so badly and truly can hold her own

A few plans for the rest of the week: being in the arms of my family

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

A repurposed sweater :-)