Archive for March, 2008

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Rainbow Bird Magazine
3/30/2008

We have been in the throws of a very gross stomach virus over here.  I had it all week, last night Barry came down with it, and today I had Jonah and Ian puking along with other gross stomach virus-y things.  Hence the blog neglect, which is sad because we’ve got an Easter dress to talk about and a birthday, not to mention the homeschool convention I attended this weekend!  Geesh!

But, today I will leave you with this:

rainbow bird magazine

Poor Brenna was desperately bored without her constant companion (Jonah) by her side.  She worked hard on this to cheer him up.  I think he’ll be excited about it tomorrow.  In his delirium today he didn’t have much to say.

rainbow birds

get well soon!!

(Mush-mush is a little toy mouse.)

Click here for details of the birds.

Happy Easter!!
3/22/2008

 In honor of our twittering friends that are finally returning to our yard I made these little birdies for my kids for Easter. They are felted wool stuffed with wool batting with Barry-engineered copper wire feet.  I also got this book.  It has been hiding in my closet and I can’t keep my hands off of it when the kids are in bed.  It is way, way cool.

happy easter!

Snow has been fluttering down here all day, but still thoughts of rebirth and renewal are at the forefront this weekend.  My mind has been so full of mental clutter.  It seems like the “We’re moving” thoughts are bulky and distracting– taking up so much space, sucking up my time in thoughts of getting the oven fixed, researching carpet prices, finding a match to the white paint on our baseboards and doors.  And while these things are necessary and even exciting in their own way I’m excited for tomorrow, the Sabbath, the most important Sabbath.  I am thankful for the time to focus and reflect on what life is really all about.

It seems the things I read, the lessons I learn from my children, the conversations I have with friends, the sad, painful experiences of loved ones in my family highlight so much what this season of rebirth is all about– love.  Pure, selfless love.  Knowing, believing, seeing that we are all of infinite worth, of infinite potential, full of infinite beauty.  That is what Spring teaches us–and that no matter how bleak and gray and cold the winter is, no matter how dark and deep we are buried, there is rebirth.  The little green shoots will poke their heads up again.  Blossoms will bud, meaning fruit will grow.

There is an infinite source of good, of peace, of renewal, of love.  The sun will always rise, there will be warmth and growth, because the Son did rise.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

out the window
3/19/2008

I am so ready for spring, but March hasn’t been very spring-y in these parts.

just a week and a half ago

Our favorite window looked like this a couple Saturdays ago. Yikes!!

new visitors

But, things are looking up. We’ve made a new woodpecker friend and Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow are setting up house. It is so funny to see Mr. try to force his head through the little door with his mouth full of sticks and grass.

first robin!!

And today…THE FIRST ROBIN!! He sat and soaked up the rain for a good twenty minutes this morning.

Other things running through my head–

–Did you know Denver boasts 300 sunny days a year?! Good bye gray winter. I will miss green grass and trees, but I will not miss gray skies from November to February March April.

–I had Ian in a disposable diaper this evening and when I went to pick him up and carry him upstairs for bed the whole thing fell out his pant leg. What? How?

–You have to check this out. I am having serious chicken envy.

February crafting catch up :: necklaces and a shirt
3/15/2008

I put together two more ginkgo leaf necklaces:

more ginko necklacesmy new favorite

T he bigger one up top there has little wooden beads on it and will replace the necklace that got lost in the mail.   This bottom photo is a close up of my new favorite.  We got the kids a rock tumbler and rock drill for Christmas.  I’m not sure what kind of stone the little green rock is, but I used the drill to make a hole in it and used silver wire to attach it to the back of a tiny leaf.  I really like how it turned out.

new shirt

This shirt was made from everyone’s favorite Built by Wendy pattern, I just used knit fabric instead of woven cotton.  From the measurements on the pattern I needed a 10(?) and it was humongous.  I ended taking it in at least 2 inches.  So I should have made a 6.  Has anyone else had similar sizing issues with this pattern, or was just the fabric?  I really like it– flattering, but not too tight.  I’m getting excited about sewing clothes.  This is the first shirt I’ve ever finished for myself.

February crafting catch up :: a monster and baby pants
3/14/2008

Other things sewn in February:

baby pants

First, these little brown corduroy pants lined in soft blue knit.  I have an old Kwik Sew “Sew for Baby” book that my mom used to sew clothes for me when I was a baby.  I haven’t sewn anything from it since I was pregnant with Brenna, but I had this idea brewing in my head for soft lined brown pants for Ian and re-discovered this book when I was digging through patterns.  It worked up super fast since the pants are just two pieces.  They fit cute, too.

big monster

And then there’s this belated birthday present for my nephew.  He’s a big version of the gremlin pattern I made for this book .   Super fast and simple, but he’s  not very good at packaging himself up and taking himself to the post office.  He’ll head out this weekend, Jason, I PROMISE!!

 

February crafting catch up :: the apron
3/13/2008

Since my blog was occupied for the month of February, I have some catching up to do.

emmiline apronemmiline apron

This was Barry’s Valentine’s day present. He loves coming home to a yummy dinner and often comments that I need an apron to go with my domiesticity. When Meg published this pattern I knew it would fit the bill! I tried to work on it as a surprise, but when my best sewing time happens at night, well, he knew it was coming. We still had a fun Valentine’s day. We just had soup and grilled cheese (because I spent the day sewing this apron!!), but the kids made us a restraunt– set the table with a table cloth and fancy napkins, took our orders (for soup and grilled cheese, of course) and served us while they ate at the kid table in the other room.

It is so hard to buy presents for my husband. The things that he wants but doesn’t have are too tricky for me to buy. I just do not have mountain bike part expertise. I have come to accept that fact. Anyway, all he really wants doesn’t really cost me any money. Just being happy and forgetting the sewing machine, book to be read, blogs to surf, etc. etc. after the kids go to bed. Focus on him, and all us right with the world.

Good excuse to make an apron? I think so!

::NEWS FLASH::
3/7/2008

The word has come from the powers that be that we will be moving to (drum roll please…..)

Denver, Colorado!!!

Hurray for mountains!!  Hurray for the west!!  Hurray for new adventures!!   We’re scheduled to leave Ohio the last week of May.  Wish us luck on the figuring out of housing stuff (selling, buying, renting, etc. etc. etc.).  I’m praying to find a good homeschooling community and a friend(s) with kids the ages of my kids.  If you home school and are reading my blog and are in the Denver area let me know!!!

yoga kids

Once a week or so we lay out our yoga mats and start our day with some breathe and movement. Yoga, you see, is my excercise of choice. I feel so centered and aware and gleeful when I practice regularly. My kids like to be in on that.

trees in the breezedown dog cute bum, where ya from?baby yoga

Who wouldn’t be happy after starting the day like this?!

 

(There are more pictures here. )

 

the branches were strung with a million diamonds
3/6/2008

diamonds at sunset

tiny prisms

 

This little place I live is so amazing. Trees and light and birds. I will really miss it when we move this summer. Still don’t know where we’re moving to, so don’t ask. I’m super impatient about this whole thing and have absolutely no control. I could start deep cleaning my house or something productive in preparation. I will one of these days. Probably on a Saturday when there is a grown-up here to keep me on task.

 

Anyway, I got tagged for a “write 7 random things about you” meme, so here goes:

 

1. I’m messy and generally disorganized. I try to be on top of things and do fairly well in spurts. It is a very good thing I married the man I did because I have gotten pretty good at maintaining some routines when it comes to the structure of our mornings and evenings, but as for maintaining self discipline with things that I don’t like to do (read dusting, cleaning finger prints off walls, dog snot off of windows, or even sometimes pee off of the bathroom floor) I’m not so good. This has been a problem as long as I can remember. Ask my mom.

 

2. I worked in a wood shop in college. We took trees that would be taken to the dump and turned them into lumber, then into jewelry boxes. I got to use lots of power tools and learned to identify all sorts of woods. It was an awesome job– much better than the two weeks of phone calls I made for AT&T. I couldn’t handle that for long.

 

3. Um, I have to sleep hugging something soft, but inanimate. I slept with a big white stuffed reindeer until I had two kids, then decided that I should try to be a grown-up, so I gave up the reindeer. I absolutely must have my hugging pillow,though, or my back is all tweeked in the morning.

 

4 . I’m irrationally afraid of making phone calls. To anyone. If someone can explain this to me please do.

 

5. I really, really want a tree house some day.

 

6. Hmm… my favorite color is green. Brown and blue are right up there. Well, it has to be the right blue– a light turquoisish bluish grayish. The color of the walls in my kitchen, dining, family room area– that blue.

 

7. I watched American Idol tonight. People seem to be surprised when I tell them I watch American Idol. I guess I don’t seem like the American Idol type? I’m really not much of the TV watching type, but watch American Idol I do. I’m rooting to the two Mormons. Oh, and the kid with the dread locks.

Now, if you have a blog and feel so inclined to write 7 things about yourself on it consider yourself tagged.

Is it really possible?
3/5/2008

One year ago I was snuggled up in a hospital bed exhilarated and exhausted. Ian was born, all round and red with a head full of dark, dark hair. And he was just so beautiful– the perfect little features, his button nose and rose petal mouth. Oh, and that fresh baby smell, and the feel of baby breath against my cheek, rubbing my nose and chin in his soft hair. Could that really have been a whole year ago?

One year old?!?!sorry about the wrapping papera new toy

We started the day out in new jammies, opening presents. I had planned to include a haircut into the festivities of the day, but that didn’t happen.

I did make a cake, though. I tried to be all prepared and on top of things by making cupcakes last night– cupcakes of the healthy variety. While I did fill them full of things like honey, whole wheat flour, carrots and zested lemon, I forgot the baking soda. Oops. Results– not chewable by a baby.

So, I tried again

that is way cool!

and he was impressed. For a little while.

let me seeget it off!really, I'm not a fan

Until he tasted it. Logan said, “Mama, can I not have carrot cake for my birthday?”

Sorry, I promise there will be chocolate next year.

And lots of ice cream.

 

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