My House Is Green!

Wait a minute it's not "green" it's Green.  I mean it's not completely environmentally friendly or built into a tree.  I do not have solar panels on my roof or any thing like that (which if we did we would have to cut down all our trees so how is that helpful to the environment?) although I do recycle and I occasionally hang my clothes out on the line and I do spend an awful lot of time wondering around behind the children and husband turning off lights.  But, what I meant was last week my dad and I painted my house from a very faded yellow to green.

Our garage really needed a paint job and even though the cheery yellow is what drew me to this home in the first place I was ready for a change and you wouldn't paint the garage but not the house because then they wouldn't match and that would be weird.  Picking out a color is so stressful to me because once you decide on a color, which is a big commitment, there are hundreds of shades to choose from!! It really gets to me so once I get it narrowed down to two or three I usually pick the one with the coolest name (I once painted a bedroom "Ruby Slippers" red).  And my husband had the great idea to fly my dad here to help.  My dad is an expert painter that's how he put food on the table many a summer while he was teaching (one of the best summers I had in college was the one where I worked for and with him painting a lake house) and you can now fly straight from Baltimore National Air port to Grand Rapids with no lay overs!! The ticket was cheap and it was way cheaper then hiring some one to paint the house plus he did a way better job.

Let me just say I would never have finished the project with out him!! He is an incredibly fast and hard worker.  Plus he did things I never would have done involving goo and special guns and tools.  Not only did we finish the house and garage while he was here for an extended weekend I also feel like our house is way more conditioned and weather proofed then it ever was.  Honestly, though, the best part of this entire project wasn't getting a house that looks totally different (which is nice) but was spending all that time together.  I mean I'm glad it's over and we definitely lost steam as the week went on but I don't get to be with my dad very much any more and we've always worked together very well.  Thank you Dad for being totally AWESOME, for doing so much work (people, I paid him in pies and home made ice cream that's probably illegal) and for loving me so much.  I love you but I doubt you could know how much.

Oh, one last thing; I don't understand how he can be such a clean painter.  When I am finished I have paint in my hair, on my shirt, all over my hands and on my butt from where I accidentally leaned over and stuck it to the side.  He has hardly a drop on him! I dumped over an almost full can of paint and then when I was washing out the yard I sprayed the side we had just finished causing the paint to run off!  Just letting you all know so that you see I am still me even though my house is green and so you don't all come ask me to help paint your homes.

doesn't the color look good with my gardens?  I used Valspar "Homestead Resort Olive" and cream for the trim.

Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas?

Well yes it is... However, if you like to make at least some of your gifts then it is an unfortunate necessity or you will be stuck in November trying to make a million things and not enjoying any of it.  This I have learned from several years of doing just that.  Of course I not only think I can make every one I know right down to the mail lady a home made gift I wait until it's snowing and I feel like it but then I'm swamped with all the other christmasy things one has to do during that time including but not limited to; baking lots and lots of yummy treats, shopping, going to special christmas events, the light walk, being too excited to sleep, being too tired to stay awake and getting fat.  So this year I have made a real effort to get things going, my first goal was to finish one project a week which has turned into finishing one project every two weeks.  Also I am trying to remind myself that I probably won't get it all done and it's better to enjoy the time making the gift then make something under so much stress I can't stand it.  I'm also making a real effort to make at least one gift for each of my children, they always seem to get left out and while I know they won't appreciate it that much I'm hoping they will eventually.

I have finished, an octopus an elephant a pair of gloves and half a scarf.  GO ME!!! I have to paint the garage and house so things may slow down a bit but I'm really going to try.

In that same vain here are some things I would like for Christmas.  Last year I didn't really want any thing but this year I do and I'm cool with that.

(I did not even know they came in this amazing color)

I would like a pair of Converse All Star High Tops.  In either Red or Green.  I know that's weird but I've wanted a pair since Jr. High and apparently it was not a passing fad for me because I still want a pair and they now sell them at Target.  Also Chuck wears them and I love Chuck he would be my number two pick for husbands after Brian.

I would like a dishwasher.  Now that we've had our house rewired (praise the Lord and Gonzales Electric) I want a dishwasher. It has to be small and will require removing some shelves but I am so sick and tired of doing dishes plus the hot hot water of a dish washer will kill more germs then what my wimpy hands can handle.

I would like a used sturdy computer Armoire so that I can antique it, have Megan paint birds on it and change it into my sewing station. That way my sewing machine will always be set up but I can close the doors on the mess; can I get a hallelujah?!

I would like a gift card to Mod Cloth to buy a dress

I would like a gift card to Super Buzzy Bee to buy awesomely cool fabric or Colette Patterns to buy an awesomely cool pattern and time to sew.

How about you, what do you want for Christmas?  I know it seems early but it's never to early to start dreaming and giving hints to your husband.

When Your Children Are Mean to Their Babysitter...

You should crawl under a rock, then maybe you should move to a different city and find some new babysitters.

Ok maybe that's an extreme solution, or really no solution at all but that is what I'm contemplating doing right now.  For those of you who have been following this blog for a while you know that my children are not perfect, you know that my parenting is not perfect, you know that my husband is almost perfect, and that my dog is FAR from perfect.  But there is something you don't know, I have a person in my life who thinks my children are perfect... Or she did.

About six years ago my parents moved nine hours away and took my sisters with them.  About a year later we became pregnant with our first child and where in the midst of finding a new job. We found a new job and church family and house in the nick of time; before the boxes were even unpacked we found ourselves in the hospital (for way too long) holding our first son while realizing not only did we have no clue how to be parents we had no family living close enough to help us through.  Now as it almost always happens God brought people into our lives to fill that void and to support us in our new journey.  In this case there were many many people but one wonderful woman in particular who fell in love with our tiny little boy (she will from here on be referred to as Adopted Grandma).  She not only loved him she also loved watching him (for free) and keeping him at her home over night.  Let me repeat myself OVERNIGHT!!!  For those of you with parents near by and those of you who don't have children you may not understand the magnitude of this overnight thing.  You see no matter how much you love your kids there are time when you must get away from them.  Sometimes a simple dinner date with your husband does the trick but if you ever get an entire night to yourself you become a completely rejuvenated person.  You get to stay out late, go to the movies... play parcheesi with your husband... sleep all night with out waking up, and sleep in late.  You can linger over coffee or go out for breakfast the next morning.

To put it simply it is glorious.  Our angel and sanity keeper not only fell in love with our oldest child she fell in love with our second child as well.  I have prayed so many prayers of thanksgiving for this person.  A strange thing about this relationship is that she has believed for all these years that my children are perfect. (Score one for my vanity)  In all my years of parenting during the times I am watching my children turn from angels to green slime spewing monsters I chant to myself while hiding in my bedroom, "At least their good for A. Grandma, at least their good for A. Grandma." I have so far lived my life thinking that some how something I am doing is sinking in because their both so good for our sent from heaven adopted Grandma.

Until this weekend. Cue the dramatic music.  About twice a year two of my oldest and dearest friends and I get together for the weekend.  Trying to coordinate three schedules is difficult so when this weekend became the only weekend that would work I said yes even though Brian had to work an all-nighter because our A. Grandma said she would watch the kids.  This was the first time she had both kids all night at the same time.  I went to Grand Rapids, I enjoyed myself thoroughly and then I came home.  When my husband mentioned that things may have not gone so well I got a horrible sinking feeling in my stomach.  Later that evening I called our A. Grandma and, yes, things had not gone well.  They had spiraled quickly out of control with my oldest feeling strong feelings of jealousy at having to share time with his younger brother.  Now did A. Grandma lay the smack down on my bratty son?  Oh no she blamed herself and worried over it all weekend.  Not only did Hunter's jealousy show itself he was also stubborn and mean towards A. Grandma (NOOOOOO).

I want our A. Grandma to know it was NOT her.  This was a big week for Hunter full of change.  He started school, our schedule changed, Maddie is here less.  With everything we've really gotten lacks about making him tow the line.  It's been a lot and I was stupid to think that going out of town after all of this would work (to be honest I didn't really connect the two things happening at once which is how I live most of my life) I should have stayed home and had a quiet weekend getting Hunter back on task.  A. Grandma you should know that half an hour ago my son was laying in his bread screaming his head off.  I had to lift him screaming and kicking into bed, in a ten minute span of time he not only lost his story time privilege he has been grounded from video games and spent four minutes on the time out blanket plus our final disciplinary actions.

So what do I do?  Sigh, resign myself to the fact that there may be no more free nights?  Crawl to her on my knees with my repentant son in toe, or trade him in for a nicer model (just kidding)?  I suppose we all have bad days and I suppose my smug at-least-my-kids-are-good-for-others-unlike-some attitude needed to be shattered but how I long for those good ol' days, how I wish I could rewind the clock.  But alas such is life.

There was a time when Hunter was excited about his new baby brother.

Preschool

Today was the first day of preschool and I'm not sure if it actually counts because it was only an hour long and some of the other mom's and I stayed (easier then going home and coming back) but I like to think it was because I hate starting something new like this.  I hate not knowing what to expect and I hate being on some one else's schedule and I hate not knowing how my child is going to do.

I've been nervous for a month and sick to my stomach over it for days.  I cried on the way home from the open house and nearly died when Hunter took my hand as we walked into the school and said as excited as could be, "Mom are you ready for this?" No, I am not ready for this!!!  Of course I didn't let my son see any of this I don't want him to be hampered by any of my weirdness. So today when I tiptoed into his room, cursing the early morning time, and shook him gently I was happy to see him rip back his covers bolt out of bed and run to the table with a huge smile on his face.  I'm not sure how he managed to get his eggos down because I can't remember him not talking or taking a breath the entire time.  We dressed quickly and then undressed because the new pants that he tried on in the store were now miraculously too big for him.  Finally dressed and looking so handsome he immediately puts his back pack on and wears it until we leave.

I'm so nervous we leave too early and have to sit in the car because the doors aren't unlocked yet.  But soon it starts and he is good, so good, and he talks and plays and isn't scared or timid... Except the time the teacher gets out her guitar case and tells the kids her friend Gary is going to come out and play.  Hunter puts up his hands and says "no don't get him out!" practically crying "great" I think "they're gonna wonder what kid of horrible mom not only writes down the wrong birthday on her kids registration but also torments him with musical instruments." (FYI as soon as she got out the guitar he smiled a sheepish smile and sighed with relief,  and getting your kids birthday wrong could happen to any one, right?  RIGHT?)

And I made it home with out crying and with a feeling of pride and relief; Go me...  Then I walked in the door got a massive headache went in the bedroom and cried.

First day of school for two best friends was a SUCCESS!

Things I wish I was vs Things I actually Am.

Most of us are one thing and wish we were another.  Even the Apostle Paul asked the question, "why don't I do what I want to do but do what I don't want to do?" (my paraphrasing obviously).  For some reason today on my walk (probably to keep myself from focusing on the sweat, and burn and terrible pace) I began to think about those things to make a list in my head.  What I wish I were vs. what I actually am.

I wish I were graceful vs. I am the least graceful person I know... You know the phrase "Bull in a china shop" that phrase was actually written about me, or at least it could have been.  I routinely break precious and non-precious items while doing normal things like dusting, walking, and breathing.  I seem to be much stronger then I realize and apparently have a magnetism toward the ridiculous situations.  I play "Mystery Bruise" in the shower most mornings but can never remember if I got the bruise from running into the corner of the kitchen counter or walking into the push mower when I mowed it into a hole.  Despite my apparent lack of light-footedness and the fact that it seems to be something you inherit (my sister suffers as well as my barely four year old son who sounds like a rhino whenever he walks anywhere) there is still a place inside me that really believes that I am holding onto an excessive amount of talent in the dancing and figure skating world if only I had the right venue in which to unleash my furry.

I wish I were dainty vs. I am sooooo not dainty... I know this goes right along with being graceful but this is more of an inward trait I'm missing.  My laughs do not "tinkle like crystal" or sound like "water splashing through a little brook" my laughs are not endearing or sweet; I sound like a flock of honking geese.  Wouldn't that be one for the Jane Austin books, "he looked her way when he heard her laugh sound across the room like a flock of geese honking there way south..." Boy is that romantic. I wish that when I was mad I could seethe with a quiet determination, or that when I was said I would shed a quiet solitary tear or that when I'm happy I could merely smile with a mysterious smile.  But no, when I'm mad I cry (stupid tears making me seam weak) when I'm said I cry, when I'm happy, yes sometimes I cry, and if I don't cry I dance, jump and yell.  And people, when I cry I don't weep like a fair maiden, oh no I bawl and tears flow and I make noise and my nose is like a faucet which doesn't only drip but gushes forth!  I wish that I were quiet and mysterious but I'm not I'm loud and when I get excited my voice raises a couple of pitches and my arms fling about me like I'm crazy.

I wish I were beautiful but at least I'm normal.  I wish I were thin, though I know I could be much plumper, I wish my hair was curly or straight instead of whatever it is in between.  I wish I were a perfect mother who never yells or looses her temper and that I was always innovative in the bedroom.  I wish I didn't accidentally spend too much money and that when I cook I didn't make so much of a mess. I wish, I wish, I wish...

On the other hand I know that God made me, and while I know there's plenty not perfect with me I think there's a lot that's good.  I know that while having a laugh that tinkles like a bell would be nice it's a lot nicer to be nice, to be generous and to love those around you.  I know that my husband is glad he married me (though I often wonder why), and I have never ever wanted to be with any one but him.  Our children make me laugh and cry and sigh and I would never want to change that.  I know that while I strive to loose 40 lbs what I really want is to become the woman that God wants me to be.  That some how God thinks my laugh is endearing and that the fact that I cry when I'm mad is sweet, so really I guess I don't want to be that Jane Austin Character, I'd rather be me; maybe a slightly thinner more peaceful me, but a me that people trust with their hurts and joys, a me that gives back and does the right thing.  Thanks God for making me me.

so if I weren't me he wouldn't be who he is... Oh fine I just put it in here because he's so darn cute!!

Would you like to sew an easy apron?

Well then I have the project for you.  In fact I almost hesitate to share this with you because it is so simple that you will start to question all of my "hand made" gifts.  Sometimes, however it's nice to have a project that isn't the marrying kind of commitment but just a summer fling or evening flirtation.  What I mean to say is sometimes I'm in the mood to create but I want simple, fast and minimal clean up.  So if you are in need of a project like that or are new to sewing this will be perfect.

Find a dish towel.  Yes, a dish towel, one that is already made and one that you like a lot.  Twos Company sells really cute ones but they're just a little too expensive to buy to fill my washing and drying needs but not too expensive to turn into super cute aprons so that is why I came up with this idea.  I mean I could cut and applique and embroider the perfect dish towel but why should I if it's already been done?  Any way this particular apron is made from a Twos Company towel as a gift for one of my coffee girls graduation present (perfect right?).  Then go to the fabric store or your stash (if your lucky enough to have the space for one) and get a yard or so of a coordinating fabric preferably in a cotton.  This next step is my least favorite because by now I'm really antsy to get started but you MUST wash your dish towel and fabric before you sew or all your hard work will be for nothing (imagine the different pieces shrinking and tearing when you wash them after spilling chocolate milk on your apron for the first time because that will happen eventually; the spilling I mean).

Next get out your ruler or tape measure and shears (I have no idea how to spell scissors so I'm going with the Granny term shears) and measure across the width of your apron (the part that will be the apron waist) add two inches onto that measurement, this will be the measurement for the width of your fabric for your waist band.  Then decide how tall you want your waist band to be, I like mine pretty tall say six inches, then double that and add on two inches (so 14 inches in my case).  Your measurements will make a rectangle on your fabric cut out this rectangle and fold it in half down (so that the waist band is now longer then it is tall or in my case 12 inches by 7 inches, this fold will sandwich the top of the dish towel).  Open up your waist band and fold each raw end in one inch and iron (this way when you go to sandwich the towel all the raw ends will be folded under).

Next cut your apron ties from what's left of your fabric.  Decide how long you want them and then make them about six inches wide.  Cut two.  Iron them in half, folded down so that they are now three inches wide, with right sides (the pretty side) facing.  Sew along the long edge 1/4 inch away from edge and then turn and sew down one short side.  Turn right side out.

Finally sandwich your dish towel in your waist band and pin in place. Then put the ends of your apron ties (the unsewn end) in each end of the waist band and pin in place.  Sew 1/4 inch all the way around the three sides (short side, long side being sure your catching the towel, and short side).  And voila you now have a finished apron.  And I promise it's easy, if my directions are rambling and confusing just use your common sense.  If you try this and have a question for goodness sakes Face Book me or leave a comment here.

this was so fun and easy I felt guilty plus I wanted to use my new book "An Embroidery Companion" so I cross stitched the student's first initial into the waist band before I sewed it to the dish towel.

Sometimes Giving a home made gift isn't what you dreamed it would be.

As in I dreamed that this giraffe would be the hit of the birthday party.  People ooing and aahing over how talented I am and how hard I must have worked to finish this little cutie.  I imagined that in time this giraffe would become my nieces favorite stuffed toy; you know the one she can't sleep with out the one that goes every where with her.  I imagined that this toy would be loved so well it would loose an eye and get really floppy. That some day it would end up in an antiques shop and someone like my mom would see it and fall in love with it and buy it for an unreasonable sum saying all the time "I have to have it, you can tell how loved the poor thing was." then they would take it home and display it on an old child's rocking chair next to a ratty stuffed dog and a bunny missing an ear!

That is what I imagined would happen... what actually happened was my sister-in-law pulled the toy out of the bag while my niece was trying to escape off her blanket back to her cake and said "Oh how cute a sock monkey." (let yourself pause here to get the full effect of my let down) then I giggled politely so she would know that wasn't right and she said "I mean sock giraffe." Friends this toy is neither a monkey (I hate monkeys) or was it ever a sock.  I CROCHETED this GIRAFFE during the afternoons while the children were asleep and in the evenings after they were in bed, I went to wal-mart (WAL-MART YUCK!) because the face didn't look right in the colored yarn I already had on hand and it was late.  Oh well my favorite crafter (I hate that term isn't there a more romantic term then crafter?) Alicia Paulson (who's new book, The Embroidery Companion, I LOVE) warned me this could happen.  In her first book, Stitched in Time, she talks about how there will be times when people won't appreciate what you've made them quite as much as you do...

And you know what that's all right with me because I still feel like a hand made gift is more special then any thing I could buy in the store (especially any fisher price light up crap) Tasha Tudor says that when you make someone a gift you gift them twice; once in the actual gift and a second in the time you took out of your schedule to make them something because you thought of them.  I like to use the time when I'm making something to stitch and sew little prayers and hopes for that person (especially when it's children) into the project.  And I like to think that some of that magic is left there.  A piece of me, so that when they hold the toy or wear the garments they will feel how much I love them and how much I hope for them.  The blessings that I want to give them but am not sure how to put into words I put into stitches instead.

This giraffe has rather large arms which I like to think of as muscles; and really doesn't a little girl need a stuffed animal with large muscles to keep her safe from the boogy man at night?  The bib I did mostly in the car on our Maine trip.  My niece had a rough start in life spending the first many months of her life in the hospital so I wanted this bib to be light and free, full of colors and flowers and the idea that she will be a free spirit blowing with the wind, following her dreams.  And a sun because of that Irish blessing, "The Lord let his face shine upon you."