Caleb had to make a box for his classroom valentines. I think this can be difficult for a boy, seeing how most decorations for these kinds of things are typically hearts and flowers is shades of pink. So I did what any mother would....peruse Pinterest for ideas!
And this is what Caleb and I worked on yesterday. I did help him, but he had his own ideas as well, so it was a joint effort. I think Caleb will have Tge best box in his class! And I'm only biased a little bit.
Ryan and I went through our closet last week and pulled things out that we don't wear anymore. And I've been starring at a pile of jeans and shirts thinking that I could repurpose them in some way. At first I thought I could take Ryan's jeans and button-up shirts and make a blanket. But I really didn't want to make a quilt. Then I thought I'd make a purse for Mae because hers broke over Christmas. But she had other ideas.......she wanted a bag. So she gave me her input (size, dimensions and other details) and I got to to work.
For the bag and straps, I used a pair of Ryan's old jeans. And for the lining, I used one of Ryan's shirts (Mae's choice). It was her idea to distress, the edges of the straps and add a fringe across the front of the bag.
Wah-lah - the finished product!!!!
I have been less than pleased with our dishwasher lately. It's dirty and is putting a sandy finish on my drinking glasses. Well, I didnt know it was dirty at first, but it got so bad that I've had to get new glasses for when we have guests over and I can serve drinks in a glass that LOOKS as clean as it is. But the dishwasher is still putting some sandy residue on things. And I didn't want to pay a service guy to come out and tell me we need a new dishwasher (also meaning, I don't want to have to buy a new dishwasher!). Then I saw this link on Pinterest and it got me to thinking that I could fix my dishwasher problem. I didn't actually read the article, but it was about taking apart the dishwasher and cleaning it. That was all I needed, an idea to propel me forward. Forward into unknown territory - the inner-most workings of my dishwasher.
There are many things that people told me when I was expecting my first child. How I wouldn't get much sleep the first few months, how many diapers I'd need per day, how to get on a feeding schedule. Then they told me more things on what to expect as each additional child came along. But through all the advice and suggestions, no one ever told me or prepared me for one of the most annoying things......
how craft and office supplies vanish!
I wish that instead of baby wipes or onesies, I was given scissors, tape and pens. My junk drawer is always severely lacking these things, and mostly when I need them! It never fails that I'll need to write a check or mail a package and I'll look to the junk drawer for a pen or packing tape and not find any! It's inevitable that these items have been lost in the vortex of childhood inspiration and imagination, never to seen again. I am convinced!
True to motherhood, I've had to get creative in securing my resources (ie. hoarding and hiding). I buy a 3-pack of scotch tape and put one in the drawer, one in a cabinet up above (for me to use, secretly) and the other in a closet (up, out of sight and reach). I have also purchased a cheap pack of pens and declared that NO ONE IS TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE ROOM! The pen(s) are to be used and immediately returned to the drawer from which they came. And under no circumstances am I to EVER find them in someone's room! But it has not worked. No one listens to me. *sigh* And so I bought a new pack of pens yesterday.
And don't get me started on printer paper and glue sticks.
I was totally unprepared for this part of motherhood. Why did no one tell me that office supplies would be a hot commodity and hoarded and hidden like candy? I had no idea I would one day find myself secretly snickering and congratulation myself on a well-hidden, good pen.
The other day Ryan decided to walk to the store. He needed some fresh air and thought a walk would be better than a drive. Since the store isn't too far away, he asked Isabel if she wanted to go with him. She said yes.
On the return trip, there is a somewhat of a hill to climb. It was at this point that Isabel got tired and started to verbally regret her decision in joining her father on the walk. Here are a few of her regrets:
My legs are tired.
My back hurts.
I wish I could fly.
I wish I had said 'no'.
Isabel has an uncanny way of expressing exactly how she is feeling and what is going on inside her little mind. She didn't get that from me, but maybe that's a good thing.
This year Mae has decided to give a couple gifts to her friends for Christmas. She bought a couple candy bars but wanted something else to go with them. This got me to thinking about friendship bracelets. I knew it would be something crafty and easy enough for Mae. I used to make these bracelets back when I was in Jr. High, but I can't remember any of the patterns except for a basic braid. So I went online to find some simple patterns for her.
After finding a few simple patterns, I dusted off my friendship bracelet making skilz. Funny how quickly it all comes back, kinda like riding a bike. I made a sample bracelet for Mae, and then I passed on my mad skilz, which incudes; jeans, safety pin, thread, and an intense concentration. Kinda like this
The other day Isabel and I were hanging out in the living room. We weren't really talking about anything in particular or playing any game. It was during this span of time when she, while doing a cartwheel, blurted out "I really wish I could swing on a vine!".
It was one of those moments where you stop for a second and try to connect the dots and figure out where this statement came from. The next second finds you laughing out loud while the child just stands there, aghast that your laughing at what she said, staring at you.
It couldn't be helped. Isabel says the silliest things sometimes. And we love her for it.
I think I'll get the kids one of these for Christmas. It'll make for a nice addition to the backyard, dontcha think?
When my parents came to visit for Thanksgiving they didn't come empty handed. They came bearing gifts. For example, they brought one of these
I was at Target yesterday, getting some flea stuff for the cats, when I saw this other stuff
The day after Thanksgiving I made this for breakfast
The other day I was in my bathroom getting ready for the day when I heard Jane, our cat, meowing at me in her diminutive little voice. She was outside, this I knew for sure, but I could tell from the sound that she was very near. And as I looked up at the sliver of a bathroom window that we have, I saw Jane's little head peeking in at me. It had begun to rain a little and Jane found a dry spot under the eaves and close enough to my window to tell me that she'd like to come inside, please.
It's the day after Thanksgiving and...
1 - you still have guests
2 - put up the Christmas tree and started decorating
3 - played a few rounds of Mexican Train while the kids were distracted with a movie
4 - wrapped Christmas presents so my parents can take them home when they leave so I won't have to jam the truck with them when we travel next month
5 - stayed up late and was about to go to sleep when I realized I have a handful of minutes to get a blog post in before 'today' turns into 'tomorrow'
I'll tell you what you do....you lay in bed as your husbands sleeps soundly next to you and you type out a blog post on your iPhone and hope that typing with just one finger can be accurate and fast enough to make the 11:59 deadline. That's what! Yikes!!
It's late and I'm too tired (and full of good food) to write anything of worth today.
Maybe tomorrow.
When my tummy is not quite so full.
I am busy getting my house ready for visitors and guests for Thanksgiving. This includes the vacuum, cleansers, paper towels and child labor. I"m also getting food things ready. For that I am employed the use of my Kitchen Aid mixer, oven, rolling pin, and lots of flour. Put all those things together and you have a house clean and ready to serve guests and good food.
But don't forget about the decor!
I rummaged through my yard and found some good things throw into a vase and adorn my table. I'm putting my college education to work here (well, some of it anyway) - thank you floral design classes!
cozy socks on chilly days
a good movie on rainy days with the kids
those tiny marshmallows that melt in hot chocolate
a new twisty scarf (made by me, admired by others)
the word 'sale' and 'clearance' followed by a color
gift cards for stores I frequent
coupons
stores that accepts coupons from their rivals
my crockpot
my crockpot when it's plugged in and turned on
getting Christmas shopping done early
having the presents wrapped early
Pinterest
new recipes
new craft ideas (also related to Pinterest)
chocolate covered almonds (protein AND antioxidants!)
I used to keep a running list of what we owed the kids for doing chores. It was handy to have, I thought. I'd add to the column of each kid after a chore was completed, then I'd dole out cash whenever I happened to find any in my possession (which wasn't often, hence the running list).
But we don't really have the accumulative list anymore. Not since Ryan opened bank accounts for the kids. Now we just transfer money into their accounts when they earn it. Which is handy, too, in it's own way since I rarely ever have cash to give them.
Now, instead of them being excited when I pass out the cash and as they load up their piggy banks, they get super-excited when their bank statements come in the mail. I've never seen such excitement over a bank statement. Though I can imagine what it's like, if I were a kid receiving one.
I wish I got that excited over mail with my name on it.
Isabel is a little preoccupied with cats. I have no idea who she gets that from either!
If she's drawing, it's about cats.
If she's writing a story, it's about cats.
If she picks out a new toy, it's a cat.
And if she's picking out books......
