thank you!

A quick note to say thank you to two very dear friends.
In one week's time, the mailman brought me an apron pattern (one I didn't have, no less!) and a marvelous box of chocolates.

Thank you ladies muchly. You proved what I've been saying for years....I'm a lucky girl! =D
XOXOXO

Great Attitude and/or Gratitude Award

Oh my goodness!! Look what I got!

See that spiffy little button up there??
Yes, that! It's from Miss Martha Yvette.
Isn't she a doll?! Thank you, Martha! xoxo

Now, on to do my part to be worthy of the award....


Please follow these instructions and share the LUV!
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE
Oh dear...are there 10 blogs I read?! Let's see, I read about....
1. Sanja over at Die Hausfrau....lovely lady in Austria and a wonderful friend
2. Kayla, who can be found at Life in Small Town, Wyoming
3. fellow boy-mom, Kathy, at A Queen in a House Full of Men
4. Dawn, at 1001 Meatballs Served--who really needs to blog more often (yes, you can tell her I said so!)
5. the lovely Monique...her blog is Beauty Girl Musings...such a sweetheart, and so nicely answers all the beauty questions I throw at her.
6. Deanna at Domestic Chicky...she's the chicky that started me blogging to begin with...
7. Ah, yes....Gemma at Life as a Homemaker...such a dear...I'm so glad she's blogging again :-)
8. Christy, my chat and phone buddy...her new blog at That Christy Girl
9. dear Dana at Day by Dana...new homeschooler/same old pitbull (said with love and affection!)
10. and....I guess I'll just re-nominate Carleen at Robin Egg Blue because I really do love her photos!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

Thank you again, Martha!! I love it (and you!!).

camo crochet

Finally, the camo crochet post I promised.

It all started when I made a hat for myself (no, not camo).
Sprout took one look at it and requested one of his own--in camo.
Voila! His hat...
This pattern came from the The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller. Great book, by the way. Loaded with lots of illustrations and fabulous patterns.

Also in the same book, the pattern for Mister's hat.

Yes, it fits him like a beanie; but he's cool with it.

*
Next came Dude's hat...or beret. It quite suits him and he's received multiple compliments on it. This pattern was very straightforward, but tended to get a little tedious by the time I was halfway through. I finally thought to mark my stitches using a safety pin, thereby saving much time counting.

Ah, and here is Bean's hat. This pattern was a breeze.
It worked up beautifully, in about 3 hours' time.
Though it is called a 3-Way Cap, I have been informed there are about 100 other ways to wear it. And yes, most of those 100 ways have been demonstrated. Repeatedly. ;-)

Next came Bub's hat. I tried and tried to make this pattern work, to no avail. I started (and ripped it out) at least half a dozen times. Most frustrating to Bub who was waiting not-so-patiently for his hat....

At last, I found something different for him. Great pattern...had a few new stitches for me to try. For instance, carrying the unused color up the wrong side of the work. More experienced hookers (don't go there) will see nothing amazing here, but it was intriguing for me. Sure beats tying off a zillion times!

And lastly, Squirt's hat.

No, I did not run out of camo yarn...I just thought it'd be 'better to see you with, my dear' if I used hunter's orange. ;-)
It is another easy pattern, though I will confess I am amazed this can/will actually fit a man's head. I began using the recommended needle and my gauge was perfect, but it became evident after just 5 or 6 rows, that either I was making a doll's hat or I was going to have to start over. I went up two needle sizes and made my stitches very loose--almost sloppy-loose. The end result fits him nicely...and it's oh-so-easy to spot the little stinker in the yard.


And that, as they say, is that.

This is pretty amazing...and the song's good too. :-)

2 new faves

First up, a lovely young lady who has a splendid repertoire of makeup how-to's posted on youtube. I find her technique stunning, her presentation charming, and her sense of humor quite tongue-in-cheek. Oh, and her accent is to die for. You can find her here.

Next is a wonderful site for a myriad of household products, ranging from microfiber dusting cloths to makeup and shampoo. Really a wonderful site....good prices rivaling, and often beating, your local big-name warehouse-type establishment. They run regular specials, free shipping is easily attainable, and you can pay using PayPal! Check out drugstore.com and see what you think!

they are always listening

Kids are, that is.

I know this, and yet from time to time, I am amazed at just how well they listen. For instance, today the 4 older boys were odd-jobbing over at Nana's house, so I took the 2 little ones to Hobby Lobby. We found some more camoflage crochet yarn (more on that in another post) and some clearanced hot pink yarn. We had fun, and Bub was a good boy. He stayed right with me and was most charming to all the ladies we saw.

Before we left, he asked if we could go look at stickers. I agreed, and away we went to find the stickers. We found them, and ohhh, the bind he was in! The cowboy stickers, or the bugs? The smiley faces or Thomas the Tank Engine?? The motorcycles or....wait! No puppy dogs?! Heaven help us.

Then he found construction truck stickers and were off to the checkout! Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks. "Ooooh, Mom! Wait just one minute!" he said. He came back to me slowly with a serious look on his little face. "Are these stickers on sale? 'Cuz if they aren't, I don't want them." I stifled a laugh and assured him that yes, indeed, they were half-price. He smiled a beautiful smile and my heart swelled with pride. A 3-year old who wants stickers only if they're on sale?! That's my boy!!


In a similar vein, a few weeks ago Bean was at the table, feverishly working on a project. There was much cutting, gluing, stapling and taping. We were all bemused and several of the boys ventured to guess what the end product would be. No one could figure it out.

Finally, he was done and held it up for us to see. "Wow!" was about the only thing I could think of to say. "That's amazing!" He grinned from ear to ear. "D'ya know what it is??" he asked with a twinkle in his eye. (Ahh, these are trying times for a mama. What to guess, what not to guess...) I don't remember what I guessed, but I only had time for one or two before he blurted out, "It's a wallet!"

"A wallet. Wow. I never would have guessed that!" I said. "That's amazing." Without missing a beat he said, "Uh, yeah. You already said that."

He continued, "But here, let me show you how it works." And he began to demonstrate all the pockets, flaps, secret hiding places and yes, places that were completely inaccessible because of all the aforementioned gluing, stapling and taping. It was really something to behold.

The boys came along and pointed out a large area free of glue, staples and tape and asked (as older brothers are wont to do) if he had used up all the 'fastening supplies' before he got to that area. He looked at them (as only he can) and said, "Oh good grief. As if you don't know it's for my coupons. Sheesh!"

Oh, the boys had a field day with that one. "Coupons?!" they laughed. "Everyone knows you put your paper money in the big pocket. You need more of that than anything else."

He didn't even blink. He just said, "Maybe that's the way you have to do it. I use coupons. In fact, I use so many coupons, I don't even need money!" And with that, he turned and left the room. And, for one small moment, his brothers were actually speechless.

I enjoy shopping, and the boys have had to suffer through more than their share of it. However, the first place I look for anything is the sale rack. Sale this and coupon that is what the boys hear every time we go shopping. It's not anything I've really spent time lecturing about; it's just the way we do things. Evidently they've been listening.


Now....if I could just figure out how to get them to hear me about the chore chart.....

fun in the kitchen

The boys have always enjoyed helping in the kitchen. I don't know whether it's because they're so fond of eating or because their Daddy has always cooked and baked.

One day last week, Mister and Dude offered to make supper.

I wasn't about to refuse such an offer, so away they went to work their magic in the kitchen.

When we were summoned to the table, this is what we found.

Salad and a pile of sandwiches!

Check out this salad!!

They used lettuce, cabbage, spinach, black olives, mushrooms, tomatoes and scallions. On the top, they sprinkled shredded cheese. Then they steamed some carrot quarters and added them to the design. The whole reason they steamed the carrots was so the baby could eat them without choking on them. Aren't they the best big brothers evah??

And it's not just the older ones getting in there and helping.

Bean and I made gingerbread today. He was quite the helper....

He got out the ingredients, measured the molasses,

and the flour, then sifted the dry ingredients together.

It was sooo good Squirt tried to climb in after the crumbs!

Yay for my kitchen crew!!

mesmerized

Well, we have snow!
Not a lot, mind you, but snow!
And it's been snowing pretty much all day.

I was thinking how mesmerizing it is for me to watch the snow. After a while, I don't really see it; I am deep in thought...peaceful. Quiet. Composed.
I also find a small fire mesmerizing. I think I could sit for ages, staring into the flames...thinking the thoughts that I sometimes get too busy to acknowledge.

Once in a while it is good to take a break--to think those still, small thoughts that get lost in the hustle of everyday life, to step back, to reevaluate. To contemplate what is and what is to be.

The snow has come at a good time for me.

spit and polish

I was busy doing dishes, when the Bean wandered through the kitchen, obviously looking for something to do.
"Hey, Bean", I said "grab the dishcloth and wipe up that mess over there."
He agreed readily enough and went to work.
Next thing you know, I hear an awful horking sound followed by a vehement spitting sound. Before I could collect my thoughts, I heard it again.

"Uh, Bean...?" I asked tenatively.
"Yeah!" came the enthusiastic response.
I cleared my throat and proceeded with caution. "What are you doing over there? I just wanted you to wipe up that mess. It sounds like you're...well, spitting."
"Uh, yeah!" he said, clearly wondering what my problem was.

My bewilderment must've been fairly evident because Dude flung himself into the conversation thusly, "Bean! What on earth do you think you're doing?! Why are you spitting on the counter?!?!"

With the air of someone weary of having to explain oneself allll the time, Bean said, "Dude, you know all about spit and polish. Mom wants this counter clean, and I'm gonna git it CLEAN." Upon which statement, he turned his back and commenced with the spitting...and polishing.

Dude could not let that ride, and he continued, "Oh good grief, Bean. That doesn't really mean spit and polish. It just means good and clean. You know, like 'the soldiers were all spit and polish'."

Bean put down his cloth, turned to Dude and said in all seriousness, "Uh huh. And how do you think they get 'good and clean'?!"

I was in stitches at that point and sent them both out of the kitchen...to do something other than spit and polish.

Thank you God for little boys who brighten my days in ways I could never dream of.

random photos

Squirt loves to color! And he had to have that blue paper.
Out of the zillion or so sheets he drug out, the dark blue was the only sheet we couldn't put away.

Bub is another artist in training...

but he's advanced enough that he uses markers...from Miss Sanja!

The Bean is hard at work on a phonics test.

Is he not the cutest test-taker evah?! ;-)

Sprout studies Robert Louis Stevenson's My Shadow

...one of my faves. :-D

Squirt demonstrates the DIY way to don outdoor gear.

Gotta love a kid who can dress himself. Haha!

*sigh*
I love my boys.
(Can ya tell?!)