back to life, back to silliness

These days instead of gearing up for a semi-cold weather run I have been donning pj's and practicing Pilates. Bentley thinks I am his personal play yard. One day several months ago, Mandee came over and literally forced me to craft. This was somewhere in the September - October period when I was a little girl interrupted. Before she left she gave me the makings for this little doll. Well, yesterday we finally made her. Isn't she lovely. As of late I am no stranger to yarn hair. And my new favorite trick for yarn hair is just to stick a wad of yarn in the sewing machine and sew it together (to what you ask, to nothing, just to itself)! Then you have your own nice little part that you can very easily hand stitch onto the head. Trim up the hair and and stitch it down to form a cute do. Not the best instructions I guess, I could do better if anyone really wanted to know. {Oops, in adding that link I just noticed your comment, Mindy about making a mermaid for Z. All I did for that was draw a silly mermaid and then cut it out about 1/2" larger. Then I just cut the picture in half and used those as patterns for the fin and body. Not the best way to make a doll, but it worked I guess. This doll below is from the Martha Stewart Kids Mag Sept/Oct 2004 issue, just incase you have that lying around the house. It's not online, but I did find this. It may not be the best instructions if you don't already know what you are doing. I have gotten myself into many a crafting disaster attempting to follow MS instructions. I find they are a little too vague for the novice. One such disaster involved my sisters and I attempting to make a sugar cube house at Christmas. Very funny. It ended up looking more like a demo site than a serene winter scene. Well, that's not much of an instructional, but I'm not a doll making expert. I am dying to do a little instructional on something fun though. Like building a stretcher for a painting or canvas rug making. hmmm}
Today we had another fun visit from Mandee and crew. We cracked up watching the excitement on Bentley's face over this lolli-pop. And even more funny, Bentley's interest in the sign Ellie put on the playroom door. (not intended for him)

I had fun chatting with friends today about Christmas preparations and traditions. I liked Sarah's idea of reading the kids a Christmas story every night by candle light. I think I'll try that this year. That means a trip to the library tomorrow! I love the library! And since Chris is MIA tonight, I have a stack of Martha Stewart Holiday issues to keep me company. Yay! I'm so excited for Christmas. I'm so thankful that I'm finally unpacked and settling in, emotionally and physically. So glad to be back to the real me. Happy me!

Exploring the neighborhood

We live close to a park. Or so I thought. With Chickie riding her bike we live a very, very long way from the park. Although, she did great, I have to give her credit. This was her first long ride on her new birthday bike.

Seriously, could a kid look more chillin' in a swing than this? I think not! And he also discovered ants. Which was very cute.
Ah, memories....well actually this was just yesterday. Funny I feel like its so cold here. But really coats are still optional most days.
I'm thankful for parks. I really love love love them!

New Kid On The Block

There's nothing like hanging pictures in a new space to make you feel really at home.

I wish everyone felt that way. Tonight we were dancing in Chickie's room. We settled for Princess music since our New Kids on the Block CD was in the car. Don't laugh too fast, my awesome little sis sent me the CD and a NKOTB T-shirt as a nod to the good ol' days. It definitely gave some good laughs and provided major jamming sessions with the kids! I have the best siblings (& in laws).

So we're dancing and poor Chickie got all banged up running into her bed and the closet, etc.

After she was in bed I went in her room to tell her I love her (I don't normally go back in once she's tucked in) and she started to cry. She missed her old room. She misses it's pinkness and how big it was. I felt so bad for her. It's so exactly the opposite of how I feel. I love our little new house. It's so cozy and easy to keep track of everyone and everything. It seems so much more comfortable. Chris and Bentley are both now sleeping much better. I don't know. Sometimes Chickie cries about weird things when she's really tired. Like once she cried over a balloon she didn't get. So hopefully she'll survive. I don't really know if there is anything I can do. Other than paint her room pink. It certainly isn't going to get any bigger.

ah, well. Today I'm thankful that things are settling down....at least for me.

smell the roses

Kind of weird, really dark pictures. Better than nothing, perhaps? After all my camera issues (lost, found, dead batteries) that came with moving, I now have another one. WHY SO DARK?? Another TO DO: Read Camera Manual.

Chris gave us lovely roses and now that they are dying we decided to have a little fun with the petals! It was Chickie's idea as all the good ideas around here are. And it was a lot of fun. Now we have a lovely bowl of pretty smelling petals.
Today I'm thankful for JT's memory. Happy birthday little guy. You are missed.

still alive...almost

I'm sick. But other than that life is great!

I got a new car! It's a volvo and old as all get out. But not as old as my last volvo which was verging on antique. I paid cash for it and that is such a great feeling!

My daughter is crafting fake tylenol for her baby alive....she apparently caught what I've got.

I hope everyone had a delightful thanksgiving. We certainly did. Although I must admit I'm becoming disenchanted with one of our favorite family dishes. I won't mention which one for fear of being disowned.

Today: I'm thankful for soup!

FOUND

Well, the closing went great! We are moved and unpacking.

Fun moving facts:
I finally found my camera!
I found 18 lost bobby pins while we were moving and I put every single one of them in my hair. I looked pretty....pretty special.
Chris and Holland found $3 in change that rolled out of the dryer.
We found about 25 cheerios and my hairbrush under the couch.

Funny moving story:
Wednesday night I went back to the old house to clean. I was talking to my sister about our cross-country match making and taking out the trash at the same time. When I got to the edge of the back porch to swing the trash into the can I slipped and dropped my phone into a huge pile of leaves.
Our conversation at that point:
Me: Gasp
Leaves: crunch crunch
Me: (yelling) Katie! Hang on! (At which point I ran inside to turn that outside light on)
Leaves: crunch crunch crunch
Me: (Digging frantically through leaves and yelling)Katie, If you can hear me hang up and call back!
Leaves: crunch crunch mocking crunch
Phone: da da da da da da da da da da da da
Me: THANK YOU!!
Katie: I was lost!
Me and Katie: laughter
Katie: The funniest things happen to you! Remember this summer at the beach ......

I'm thankful for our new cute house with really hot water. I'm especially thankful that I don't have a picture of me on moving day (wed) or unpacking days (Thurs and Fri).

Chris said...

I made Chris take the quiz and he got Elinor Dashwood. I said, "Sam and Preston got her, too." Chris said, "I guess she must be somewhat of a man." For some reason that made me giggle quite a bit. She is the responsible one. Before that I took the quiz for Chris and I got Elizabeth for him. I should be packing.

Take the Quiz here!

Closing Time

So tomorrow is the big day! We are closing at 1:00. And if all goes well moving. So wish me luck.
As far as the Jane Austen quiz comments...very funny. I think if I could be anyone it would be Fanny Price. Remember, "Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint!"
I think I've really only fainted once. Now that's a funny story.
Actually that quote is from the movie Mansfield Park, not the book. What I like about Fanny: her name, obviously. She always tries to do the right thing. She is creative, likes to learn, and does a good job of weathering life's ups and downs.
I'm thankful for possibility.

How Awesome is this!

Take the Quiz here!

What do you think Jane Austen Fans? Accurate?

still packing

There is something about going through all of your belongings that reminds you who you are. How is it that it's so easy to forget. When it is always all around you.
Today I'm thankful for all my junk. And that I still have stuff considering what a non-keeper I am.

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone had fun trick or treating! I know we did. We had fun both trick or treating and trunk or treating. I made Chickie's mermaid outfit. It makes me laugh.