Birthday Boy

Well, Calvin...

Two cakes

and a whole lot of LEGOs later

handsome you is seven.

Most of the time I am not sure how we got here to seven. And, mostly, I am pretty uncertain how we go from here. But what I am certain of is how ridiculously I love you.

I just might like seven. I hope you do too.

The Way it Goes, Good or Bad

Last Saturday I was supposed to attend my SIL's baby shower. I was supposed to be helping to throw it (in an I-am-just-taking-care-of-the-dessert-but-my-name-is-on-the-invitations sort of way). I was supposed to be making this cake. YUM. I was supposed to be showering my soon to be nephew with lots of baby love.

Instead, I was barfing.

The good news is that it gives me time to finish a little something I've started to give at Amy's work shower, to which I have now been invited.

And it lets little old impatient me give her the other stuff the next time I see her anyway! She knows about this bag, so I'll share it now. It's based on the instructions for this bag at Pickles and is meant to be strapped to the side of a playpen. I already made a matching pad cover for the playpen. She has my old one which is a REAL playpen, not one of those little travel beds with no room for the child to actually PLAY in. It's actually pretty cool, so maybe after the little man gets here I'll have to photo him in it so I can show off the whole package :-)

But, but, WHAT is that monstrosity that it is hanging from? And what does it have to do with my nephew's impending arrival?

IT is drying rack and has absolutely NOTHING to do with Baby What's His Name! I used it to test the hanging ability and strength of my straps and then it seemed a handy place to takes its pic. And it's got a good story, because this is the way things go around here with a handy- as -handy type daddy. Several weeks ago, I emailed my dad this picture and link. I asked "Do you think it would be pretty easy to make something like this? Would there be a way to make it open wider than those small hinges? What do you think?" The next thing I knew, he was calling me to ask me if it was okay if he used chains and did I want him to finish it in some way or did I want to do it. Mind you, when I SENT the picture I wasn't even QUITE sure what I wanted to do with it. I just had a couple ideas in my head and honestly hadn't even LOOKED at the actual dimensions. But it's getting finished and going up soon because it is SO FUN and really handy and it isn't Dad's fault that he's so amazing.

Just have to rearrange the sewing room a bit.

And finish the baby present.

And, you know, feed my kids and stuff.

Maybe sleep really is overrated.....

Oh, Well We've Been Buried... I Mean, Busy

Last Thursday, Tate was the fastest in preschool Olympic history. I mean, it was the first one and all and nobody was keeping any sort of score, but still I am pretty darn sure he was the fastest ever.

Not lacking in confidence, he informed us before the event, "You're going to think I am the best at everything.................... (pause to think).......... Maybe not the cups."

And then it was snowing.

And snowing.

And snowing.

I don't really know how to describe it, other than it just didn't stop for 4 days. And today, I've decided all bets are off on being a good housekeeper and I'm going to just be the mama that makes snowmen and lets her kids paint and manages to get them clean underwear.

You know, most of the time.

Dear Diary ( *wink *wink)

Dear Diary,

I am unhappy with myself. Not in a 13 year old girl's "I have zits and no boobs and a big butt sort of way." More in a 33 year old's "I have zits and no boobs and a big butt sort of way." Kidding. I do have those things, but it isn't why I am self-disgruntled. Diary, I am totally unhappy with the way I do my job. Maybe the gray days are getting to me. Maybe the fact that I seem to be surrounded in gray and brown and blue even when the sun is shining is getting to me. Maybe I am feeling a bit of cabin fever, but the fact of the matter is that I am disorganized, undisciplined, and way more of a dreamer than a doer. I'd like to say that what I lack in orderliness, I make up for in spunk and determination and creativity. It just isn't true. I flounder through my days, some better than others, and at the end feel tired and dissatisfied. I am not a bad mother or a bad person, I am just a terrible homemaker.

I think I am back in 3rd grade. All the girls have formed a "we're on the ball" club, but I am not invited to join. There is a secret to getting in the club, but I don't know it and no matter how many passwords or handshakes I try, or no matter how many entrance essays I pen, something isn't quite right.

Or maybe I am a juggler. I think every mother is, so that makes sense. Only I can't keep my balls in the air. I think I spend all my time chasing the ones I've dropped, only to find the couple I thought I managed to keep going gone as well. Oh drat, I was SURE I could keep laundry and the kitchen spinning just fine in my left hand while I crawled about on the floor desperately trying to figure out where the "Kids Listening" ball went and how to pull the "Library Due Date" ball out from under the dirty fridge.

Perhaps I am a Postman. No, I think I am a

Tram.

I'm feeling rather funny and I don't know what I

am-*

(Oh, sorry. I get distracted. Odd how a person like me could feel topsy-turvy....)

The worst of it all, Diary, is that I am fully aware that very few people have this stuff together. I get that, but I STILL delude myself into thinking I am going to figure out how to be one of those people. Oh? What's that Diary? People who fall into this category tend not to have three strong willed, small children? They don't waste their time on the computer? They don't decide to start babysitting another child to make a few bucks?

HUMPH.

Where did I drop that "Happy Medium" ball?

SIGH.

Maybe I should look for the "Chill Out" ball instead.

*randomly quoting A.A.Milne's "Busy"

Good Read

I have fallen in love with this book, recently taken, I mean BORROWED, from the local library.

My boys and I were captivated by the gorgeous illustrations,

the great insight into an historical undertaking,

and lots of facts and statistics for little engineers (and their mama) to marvel over.

And, other than the fact that I am now itching to go to NYC....

a good read, indeed.

Wordless Wednesday- Catnap

A Little Love

We don't go nuts at Valentine's Day around here. There aren't scads of balloons and flowers. Or huge boxes of chocolates and perfume. (Although this year, there did seem to be scads of bacon. If you're a fan try these pancakes and these cookies FOR SURE. If you're not, let's just pretend I never mentioned it.) We do like to do a little something for the kids though.

This year, in addition to some new crayons to replace all the ones they baked, I made a trio of Purl Bee frogs.

These frogs are SO easy to make and are a big hit. My kids have not put them down now for two days. Cal (at almost 7 years old) practically had a panic attack when we couldn't find his last night. Super fun and easy if you need a reason to spread a little handmade love......Valentine's Day or not.