More from Artsy Fartsy Me!

Here's a few of the latest and greatest creations from me!

Valentine's decorations

Valentine's Puzzle for Jake

Letters for new baby Natalie

And letters for big sister MadisonMy fake Vera Bradley duffel

I'm now starting a cushion set for a rocking chair for a nursery - which should be interesting! I don't have a pattern - but I've got some pictures and good measurements. My biggest issue will be where to stop! I keep getting more and more ideas on what to do - if only those ideas came with the time to do it...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sending lots of love, hugs, and smiles!

Conversation with a 3 year old (parts 2 &3)

Part 1:

Me: "Jake - guess what? Auntie Hannah has a baby in her tummy!"

Jake: "Huh?" (with a totally confused expression)

Me: "Auntie Hannah's gonna have a baby - it's in her tummy."

Jake: "How did it get there?"

(Pauses to ponder correct way to answer)

Jake: "Why did she eat the baby to get it in her tummy?"

(If only it were that simple...)


Part 3:

Me: "Jake, remember how Auntie Hannah has a baby in her tummy?"

Jake: "Yup. She didn't eat it."

Me: "Right. Well, Auntie Katie's going to have a baby, too!"

Jake: "She didn't eat it, right? Cuz that would give her big giant tummy sick like Choppy [Justin] and then Auntie Katie made me a blue blankie and I'd have to share because then she'd be sad."

(Sharing is GOOD!)

I love our neighbors!

I've started this post a few times already - and there's no short way to do it. In the 3+ years we've been here, they have been our friends, our family, our saving grace in times of craziness. I honestly don't think we would feel as comfortable here as we do without them.

I could go on and on about all the wonderful things they've done for us - all the great times we've shared - all the times they've been there when we've needed it. But it's not just us they do things for - anyone who needs anything, at any time, anywhere - you can bet S & L will be stepping up to help. And they do it because they can - not for any other reward but for the satisfaction.

There really are few people like S & L around - and that's a shame. I wonder what the world would be like if we were all as giving and compassionate as they are. But then again, it's having the rare gems like them in our lives that make us realize that we are all special - that we can all make a difference - that we can all bring some light into someone's life with just the littlest things.

Thanks S & L - and M & S & R & V & B - we love you guys.

Cooties in the house

Yup - Jake has now officially come down with the same virus that got Justin so sick. He started the exact same way as his little brother - day 1 of a pretty decent fever, day 2 of fever and snot. I'll be looking forward to day 3 of just snot - because at least he'll be a bit more himself. But yesterday Jake was so out of sorts - he just wanted to sit, snuggle, and snooze. He fell asleep on daddy around 630 last night - and woke a few times for mommy snuggles. This morning started at 4am - with the day 2 fun - and it wasn't until the ride home from meeting Steve that he conked out. It's 11 now - he's been out since 930 - and now that Justin is napping, I'm about to put head to pillow as well.

Sick kids are so hard. There are some things mommy can't kiss away - - -

More fun with Chef Jake

Friday night, Chef Jake and I took to the kitchen yet again to prepare another treat for the tummy. This time - chocolate covered caramel corn! I had gotten a bit overly excited at the prospect of some freshly popped corn on Thursday night - and made a huge pot of the stuff. After treating Steve and I to big heaping bowls of buttery goodness, there was still the majority of the pot left. One of my favorite treats is Moose Munch from Harry and David - but at that price, it's a rare treat. I looked in the cabinets, and staring me in the face was brown sugar and chocolate - throw some butter into that mix, and we made caramel corn!

Jakers spreading out the popcorn

Proof that I really DID make the caramel from scratch!

The finished product:

I had 2 big roasting pans of the stuff by the time it was all said and done - so I sent one batch to the neighbors. There was no way I was going to keep all that sugary chocolate goodness around to tempt me!

But when I think about it...technichally it is still a vegetable. Corn is corn, right?

This and that...

Just a few random ramblings from the mind of a sleep deprived mommy...

Haven't really posted much recently - mainly because I haven't really had the chance! Justin's been sick - we're actually on our way back to Dr. Larry in about 20 minutes. I think he's got yet ANOTHER ear infection - as he had fluid in his ear when we went on Monday. Just gimme some of that amoxicillin and we'll be good to go! He's not sleeping - which means *I'M* not sleeping - which means there's just one more cranky pants in the house.

Jake's hanging in there - although he's complained a few times today he felt "ukka". I'm sure he's getting the cold that Justin has... I'm hoping a good night of sleep from him will help. Thankfully, Santa brought him the ClickStart Computer, so he can play his Nemo game when I'm trying to get Justin settled. I've been promising Jake some Valentines Day art projects - which means tomorrow will be filled with construction paper, glitter, and all sorts of mess!

I stopped by the various craft stores in the area this past week and treated myself to some new projects. Between now and July, there will be 5 new babies in my world - which means I've got lots of gifts to make! So I grabbed some wooden letters to paint - some little Valentine's cut outs to decorate - and a new pattern to make a quilted duffel bag. Unfortunately, no one has figured out how to add more hours in the day, so I'm not exactly sure when I'm going to get this all done...

Steve started back to school this past week - which means hours of reading, posting, researching, and reading some more. But I guess he's only got 3 more classes till he's done with his Master's degree. It seems like the poor guy has been going to school forever!

Hopefully I'll get the chance to post more this weekend. If y'all are REALLY lucky, there might be some video of the Pork Chop walking!!