The Train To Crazy

One of those days

I'm having one of those days. And it isn't even 11 a.m. yet. The babe has an ear and eye infection which equals no sleep. Okay, that's a bit overly dramatic. I'm sure you could piece my night together and find about 3 hours of sleep. Did I mention my back hurts? And I drove over my helmet with the car this morning? And the washing machine has been broken since Monday.  The landlord called and he can't fix it until next Wednesday? 10 days is a long time to go between doing laundry. I'm praying nobody wets the bed. I really don't want to go to a laundromat. 

What do you do on days like this? I'm thinking of calling in sick.

On the bright side, my 3 year old is walking around with her pirate clothes on and her hook calling herself a "hooker". Awesome.

My ladybug

My daughter changed her mind about her Halloween costume 3 days before Halloween. I searched for ladybug costume ideas and came up with a few cute examples. I couldn't find anything that was quick and easy and used what I had around the house so I invented my own. This method could be used for any type of dress up wings and took less than an hour to make. Most of the materials were repurposed.

What you will need:

1 old red t-shirt (or red knit, felt or fleece fabric)

1 small piece of black fabric (or old t-shirt or sweater)

28" of elastic (I used 1/2" width)

Old cereal box

Heavy stabilizer, or something equivalent.

Wonder under or similar for applique

Making the wings

Trace the shape of the wings onto the cereal box. Cut out one wing then use that as a template to trace the other wing so they are exactly the same shape. My wings were basically a semi-circle with a bit of a change up at the bottom. You could use a plain semi-circle and be just fine though.

 

Then use your cardboard as a template for your fabric. Using a pen (a fabric pen is preferred but it really doesn't matter) trace the shape of your wings onto your fabric. I used a men's XL t-shirt and had plenty of fabric. I put the template's straight edge on the fold so I only had to make one cut for each wing.

DO NOT CUT ALONG YOUR MARKED LINE! Cut at least a half an inch around your marked line. You will be sewing directly on that line you drew.

Trace 8 small circles onto your wonder under. I used a kids' cup as my template. Iron the wonder under onto your black fabric. Cut out the circles and iron them on your red wing fabric. Note: The first time I did this I was not paying enough attention and put the dots on the front of one of the wings and the back of the other. Oops. Pay attention.

Sew around the edge of the circles with a zigzag stitch. I recommend using a tear away stabilizer on the back of the fabric if you are using knits to prevent puckering. If you don't have a stabilizer any old scrap of fabric will work. Just cut out a piece a bit larger than your circle and put it on the underside of the fabric. 

Next, fold the wing fabric, wrong sides together and put the cardboard sandwiched in between. I sewed the wings up around the edges, sewing on my marked line) and then trimmed the fabric.

Next cut 2 rectangular pieces of the red fabric and 2 pieces of the heavy stabilizer. In a pinch, lightweight cardboard could work instead of the stabilizer. It won't be as flexible but it will keep the wings from sagging. In reality, no kid would know the difference.

Put the stabilizer in between the red fabric and sew around the edges. Trim the edges close to the seam.

Next cut the elastic into two 14" pieces. I made a casing for my elastic but that isn't necessary. 

Now lay the wings down, dot side down and place this connector piece in between them where you want. Position the elastic and then sew it all together. This is how I placed mine.

That's it! You're done. Now you have ladybug wings!

Green smoothies that aren't green

Everyone has their own reaction when they first hear about green smoothies. The truth is, you can pack a lot of nutrients into a smoothie without it being completely green. Because, let's be honest, it's the color you are afraid of, isn't it!

This is the smoothie I make for my girls.

1.5 cups apple juice

4 cups spinach or kale

1 carrot

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup frozen blueberries

3/4 cup frozen raspberries

This smoothie makes enough for my three girls. You can't beat that! One of the great things about this green smoothie is that it isn't actually green. Even though my girls help put the ingredients into the blender, they always act suspicious when the fruit/veggie combo produces a green (or brown) smoothie. So the trick is to use some dark fruit. While peaches and pineapple or banana are yummy in a smoothie, they aren't dark enough on their own. At least for my girls. 

Optional add ins:

1/4 c. ground flax seed

1 c. Kefir

1/4 c. wheat germ

How do you like your smoothies?

The last minute ladybug

My girls were going to be butterflies for Halloween. Until today. They decided against butterflies. Naomi chose a ladybug. Daphne a duckling. 

I whipped up a pair of butterfly wings for Naomi out of items I had around here. An old t-shirt, cereal boxes, and a bit of elastic and stabilizer. 

 

I'll get it on the girl in the daylight and take a better picture tomorrow. I'll also give you a little taste of the duckling costume.

Enjoying the last drop of Fall

A week ago it was snowing. Since then we've had beautiful (warm) weather! We are trying to take every opportunity to get out and enjoy while we can. Bikes have been a hit. I love those little bikes. So easy to toss into the back of the car. They'd ride them all day if I let them. Or, if the baby would let them.

 

And look! Someone took my picture! Isn't she cute in her helmet?

What is your weather like right now in your part of the world?

Preparing for preparing

I didn't grow up celebrating Advent. Sure, we had an Advent calendar, of sorts. We got to eat a Hershey's Kiss every day leading up to Christmas. So, in our way, we prepared for and celebrated the coming of Christmas. I am sure some of you had a similar experience.

It wasn't until last year that I even thought twice about what Advent really is. For those of you who aren't familiar (as I wasn't), Advent is the season of preparing and waiting for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Many traditions light candles in the weeks before Christmas and have different celebrations and traditions to prepare themselves. Last year I had the Advent candles and every intention of lighting one every Sunday in Advent leading up to Christmas. I thought we might even do some of the activities I had found. It didn't happen. I think we lit one candle. I think I'd really like to go for it this year. Really celebrate Advent.

One thing I did do, however, was try to think about how to teach the children about Jesus. Most of you are aware of Advent calendars. Many people have little cards or prizes for each day of advent for children to open. I took that a bit further. I decided to teach the girls about giving. Thus birthed the "25 Days of Giving". If you were reading last year you will, no doubt, remember my efforts to have a giving activity each day. Most days we succeeded. A few days we failed. I'm blaming the weather. Really though, it was one of the best experiences. We had so much fun and I think the girls learned a little bit about the experience of giving

We are doing it again this year. We'll be doing a repeat of our favorite. We'll do some of the ones from last year, and maybe throw in a few new ones. I'm excited. Will you join us?

Dimples

I can see where she gets her dimples.

 

 

They aren't even smiling and you can see their dimples. No fair.

The girls loved having grandpa (and grandma) around recently. I especially enjoyed it. I'm missing all the clean dishes! I'm missing them too...

Grandma came for a visit

Wordless Wednesday

Taking the plunge

Well, I did it. I opened up a little shop. Now you too can get your own little monster shirt or birthday shirt for your favorite little ones. Check out the cutest shirt applique shop. Everything is pretty cheap right now while I'm getting the store off the ground so if you want something grab it up!

We've been enjoying the weather around here. It has been cold and even a bit snowy but the girls are very excited to build their first snowman. I'm hoping we don't get enough snow for at least another month. We have a great little playground about 2 blocks down the road one way and a little park with a boardwalk and marshy pond the other way. What a great place to capture leaves!

 

 

 

and check out these sisters!

First steps on a first birthday

She did it. She took her first steps. She was so proud of herself. I know how she feels, I'm proud of her too.

The cutest question ever

Have I told you what Daphne has been asking me every morning for the past couple months?

"Mom, I love Maggie. Can we keep she?"

Seriously, every morning. I'm not sure why she thinks we might not keep her, but I'm awfully glad she wants her to stick around. I usually answer her by saying, "Of course we are going to keep her! She is my daughter, and your sister, forever."

She then giggles joyfully and says, "oh good!"

For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7

Gratituesday

Tomorrow my baby turns one. I'm sure I say this every time one of my babies turns one, but it has gone so quickly! Sure, there have been some long nights and crazy days, but it has all gone by in the blink of an eye. 

Maggie has been the most laid back baby. She has been so easy going and content just to watch what is going on around her. She always wants a hug and gives out plenty of smiles and giggles. Sure, she's had a rough time sleeping for the past three, maybe four months (or has it been 5?), but it is really just a moment in time. Who needs sleep anyway. 

As her personality begins to blossom before our eyes and her stubborn side begins to rear it's little head, I can't help but become excited to see where that stubbornness will lead her. Where it will lead us. I am thankful for every moment she expresses her opinions and for her ability to point and scream for what she wants. I thank God she is content enough to venture out on her own and still a baby enough to cry when I venture out on my own. These days are numbered, I know, so I chose to celebrate them for what they are. 

Tonight when I hear her crying out for my comfort, I'll go to her, grateful that she has a voice to call me. When she coughs her way through the night, keeping me awake, I'll thank God that I am able to comfort her. If she throws up on me again in the middle of the night I'll grumble be glad I am there for her because time goes so quickly and I don't want to take any of it for granted.

Visit the Heavenly Homemaker for more Gratituesday.

Kids will be kids?

Have your kids ever said something in public that made you want to crawl under a rock? How about said something that could potentially hurt someone else's feelings? A while back one of my girls said, "mom, that man is in the girl's bathroom!" rather loudly. I made eye contact with HER and apologized. It is true that my daughter is young and didn't mean any harm, but I still hate to imagine that my children would cause someone else pain. No matter how unintentional. 

Not all people agree with me on this issue. Some people think kids are kids and they don't mean to hurt someone so it is okay. I understand that argument, sort of, but I still don't buy it. How about you? Is it cute or offensive?

Of course, sometimes they say things that are just plain funny and only embarrassing to you. What have your kids said in public that you wish they hadn't?! 

If another plate or bowl slides off the table I'll scream

When we got married we registered for nice, heavy ceramic dishes. They are great. Of course, the dinner plate is too big to fit in most cupboards, they are thick and take up a lot of room, and the plates are too heavy for kids. But they are pretty. SO, with this last move, I kept them in the box and ordered myself a few boxes of plain white Corelle dishes. They are light weight, break resistant (we test this theory daily) and my favorite part is they stack so well that I can fit the whole set on one shelf. Who could ask for anything better?

The downside: They are light. Light and slippery. Slippery and light. What happens when a smooth table, a Corelle bowl full of sticky rice and a preschooler collide in one location? Well, rice stuck all over the floor, of course! I have had to retrain my children to hold on to their dish with one hand while they are eating so that the scooping fork or spoon doesn't shove it right off the table. Sometimes multiple times a day I was pulling my hair out cleaning up breakfast, lunch or dinner off the floor while a hungry kid cried because she just accidentally tossed her food on the floor.

 Enter: my solution. The silicone hot pad. Sent to me from above... the stove. I now put it under cereal bowls and plates cluttered with grapes and bananas to prevent what had become the inevitable. Brilliant, if I do say so myself. A silpat will also do the job. It works for me!

An old friend

You know that person you met when you were 5 and instantly bonded with? You know that person who shared the moments of your childhood with you, from birthdays to pony rides to field trips and sleep overs and graduations and crazy vacations, and life? 

Colleen is one of those people for me. She was there from near the beginning and we shared life together, until we were about 18. She went into the Navy and I went in the other direction. Life took us different places. We kept in contact here and there. I knew she was married. I knew she was a lawyer. I knew she was sick. I had sent a few emails. I knew she was a talented cyclist. I knew she got her dream of sitting down for an afternoon with Lance Armstrong. I watched her life from a distance. A distance that is far greater today. Colleen lost her 5 year battle with breast cancer yesterday. She was 31 years old.

As the tears roll down my cheek I am struck with regret. Wishing I had made better efforts to support my life long friend. Regrets that I didn't pick up the phone more often. So Colleen, I am sorry. I'm sorry for all of it. 

But really, isn't that how life is? We grow and move and change and not everyone in our lives grows and moves and changes right along side us and sometimes people fall out of touch. Sometimes people mean just as much to you, even past time and space. Sometimes you love people for who they are from a distance and that is enough. Or, I thought it was. 

Enjoying the moment

You know when days run together because you never quite finish the list and the kitchen is never quite clean and you are always thinking of what is next and what you haven't done? I hate that. I'm tired of cleaning and cooking and cleaning and cooking and cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. 

 I kept the girls all out until 3 in the afternoon one day this week. We bought lunch and ate it in a park then went for a little nature walk along the river. We saw a baby turtle, a chipmunk, geese, ducks and sticks. My girls were in heaven. Nothing better than getting out and running. So much better than a playground. Instead of heading home for nap we went to the farmers market and bought food and, what else, ice cream! Even Maggie got a few bites (third child) and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

I love throwing the schedule away every now and then and just enjoying what is around us. The cold days are closing in on us and we are doing what we can to enjoy the fall. I'm trying not to stress about the things that aren't getting done. I have gifts to make and projects to complete, and a sewing machine to figure out. I have 5 things to make too! I haven't forgotten!

So here's to living in the moment and enjoying what we do get done and focusing on the most important "to do's" like enjoying and loving one another. 

Do you enjoy the moment or worry about the future and you "list"?