2.19.2013

what happens when...

This is what happens when one stubborn girl doesn't get her way.  Mason was trying to get some of his trucks out of the drawer and she was sitting in the way (in front of the drawer) and wouldn't move.  After Maosn asked her a few more times, she started crying and got in the drawer. 
 
This is where I decided to intervene, after I took a picture of course!

2.17.2013

right now

A few things we're loving right now:
 
 
-enough sunshine for picnics in the snow
-coals still glowing in the stove in the morning (love that maple!)
-chocolate fondue (tonight!)
-putting the dollies to sleep
 
 -valentines, chocolates, and flowers from second graders
-seedlings coming up in the greenhouse
-18 new meals in the freezer
-time to read
-making forts with daddy
 -an extended deadline for my National Boards
-attending CCIRA (my favorite reading conference) with two of my favorite teachers
-new friends at bible study
-tea parties
-phone calls from my best friend
-plans for stamping with friends next weekend!
-new baby chicks set to arrive around Emma's birthday

Not so much:
-sick, sick and more sick (yuck!)
-laundry (mostly piles of clean clothes that won't put themselves away)
-back pain
-morning recess duty (brr...)

What are you loving these days? We really do have so much to be thankful for and it's nice to stop and count our blessings.

2.09.2013

pocket purse

We found ourselves making a couple trips to Oklahoma City over the past two weeks as Ryan bought some surplus sleeping bags and military cold weather gear from an auction.  The first time I got to go with him for a little mini-roadtrip (think lots of snacks and time to talk without being interrupted by the littles as we travelled there and back in 22 hours).  The second time he went by himself and got a hotel (think of me getting the kids and myself ready for school and daycare with a little boy who was unwilling to get dressed, chicken water leaking ALL over the kitchen floor,  a little girl screaming in her carseat where I parked her while I attempted to stop the flooding in the kitchen and arriving to school a bit late--thank goodness for my student teacher!) 
 
So, our house and garage has turned into a bit of a surplus store with phone calls and emails coming in from the ads on Craigslist and more and more of the gear going out.  And a little extra spending money.
 
And new purses and bags. 
 
As Ryan and I were going through and sorting all the clothes we came across a few pairs of coveralls that were in really bad shape.  I didn't want to just throw them away though.  So, I ripped out all the zippers and cut off all the pockets because I thought surely I could make something with them.
 
At the same time I was doing a little knitting and found myself getting annnoyed at my ziplick bag of knitting notions.  I pulled it out and found that it was full of holes.  Again.  It's a little bag where I keep some crochet hooks, extra knitting needles, scissors, etc.  And it's constantly getting holes poked through.  
 
This is where I got the idea to take one of the pockets and turn it into a bag to keep all my knitting stuff in.  I had a little helper (of course!) so I decided to make her one too and turn it into a little purse by adding some ribbon.  

 See my old ziplock bag?  And my new bag with the heart?  I put an E on Emma's purse.  So easy.  And so free.   I literally just cut around the pocket and fused some fabric on.  The velcro closing was already done for me.  I love using old things and making them new. 

Emma loves her purse.  Lately she has been wearing it around the house, keeping it full of all her horses.  And I don't have any holes in my knitting bag! Sweet.

2.02.2013

saturday

Little Emma...getting ready for the day.
 
 
We have big plans for our Saturday.  We already cleaned up the house, did a few loads of laundry and made granola energy balls.  We're busy picking out seeds for the greenhouse.   We've colored and raced trucks.  And after naps we're going to meet Nana for dinner!  Enjoy your weekend!