This Weekend

My girls made cupcakes. Aren't they pretty?

My husband bought a car. My son got his hair cut. And I did a lesson on learning to digitize.

I'm not sure that I got much done this weekend.

Both girls are going to school tomorrow! Tessa was out sick all week last week. Carra was out Thursday and Friday. I'm supposed to meet a friend and walk. I want to sew. I will sew. I have to do my squares - I signed up again for the swap at Get Crafty. Fun, fun. I've got some great fabric I'm going to use, and I'm going to do these squares.

And I gotta make me a pair of those Mary Janes.

Mary Jane Slippers

Well, since Angelina received them, I'll post them here. These are the "things" I made for Angelina which really got me in trouble at JoAnns. But really, they look cuter on her feet - so go look at her pictures.

I got the idea from Craftster. Here's the link. They took me quite a bit longer than 20 minutes, but I also used a smaller crochet hook, and had to rip out a few stitches and start over. But that's the damn perfectionist that comes out in me. Mostly I'm happy Angelina liked them, and I'm going to make another pair. Soon. I will. I really will. I want to live the Posy life.

Out of Control

Well, Michelle and Angelina wanted my chicken. Bless them. How wonderful is THAT! So, I felt obligated to do a drawing, which Michelle won. However, I had to send a little something to Angelina too, because, let's face it - she LIKED my chicken. Of course, said thing that I sent caused me to go more crazy at JoAnns'. Because, I can't be satisfied with just fabric. Oh, no. I have to venture into the yarn section. And two 40% off coupons only work for two skeins of yarn. I am out of control.

Have you ever read Artsy Craftsy Babe's Bio? OMG, it was perfect. Here's what she says: "I like to buy stuff. I'm really weak when it comes to fabric, craft supplies, and craft related books. I usually buy stuff because I HAVE TO HAVE IT, then it just sits there. This is a bad habit that needs improvement. I honestly have enough fabric and supplies to keep me occupied for years." Thank you! I know that I'm not alone in this world of craft mania.

I "had" to go to JoAnns because I needed fabric for Carra's Colonial Day costume. Yeah. That was $20 worth of fabric. I spent $120. And only $1.20 of that was for the two bags of conversation hearts that I had to buy because they were 75% off.

Like I said, Out. Of. Control.

Carra's Quilt

I finally finished Carra's quilt. Here's her cat, Sammi, helping to break it in while I was working on it.

I know, I know, too many pictures of her. But she's such a sweetie! And she talks to you. She's also a little heifer - over 10 lbs and she's not even a year old.

I'll have another post dedicated to these quilts - made one for each of the kids, and hand quilted them. Fun, fun.

I have a chicken . . .

that needs a new home. I'm not sure that anyone would really want this, but if you do, let me know, it's yours.

I crocheted it - not sure when, not sure why. It was supposed to be a pot holder. It's a little wonky. It's about six inches wide. If more than one person wants it, which I can't imagine, I'll do a drawing.

Heaven

That's what Posy entitled this post. I would have to agree. If I could, I would live there. In those slippers. Doesn't it just look so comforting and inviting. And she's crocheting! Did you see that? I spent years crocheting, and then stopped - it just wasn't the thing to do anymore. Nobody wanted a crocheted blanket. And now, it seems to be the thing again.

I'm almost finished with Carra's quilt. Hooray! I just need to put some more ties in - and then I'm finished. I'll get someone to hold up the quilts and I'll take pictures and put them up here.

I also told quornflour that I'd do another Get Crafty block swap. I'm going to do these lucious little blocks. I'm not sure if I like her blocks or just want to spend more time on her site. It's a wonderful little place.

Off to tie off more of the quilt and watch some Tivo'd Ghost Whisperer. I never watched the season finale last season and can't believe that they killed off Andrea (Melinda's shop partner)! I was totally shocked. Bastards. I liked her. Well, we'll see how this season is.

Pin Cushions

Here are the pin cushions that I finally finished and go sent out.


Ths one was for Rebecca.

This one was for Millie.

This one was for Jessica.

I loved the bottlecap pin cushions - they are great. I really didn't want to send Millie hers - M is such a great initial!

Bittersweet

Our house in Colorado closed today. I told my husband that the proceeds were in the bank, and he said, "kind of sad." Damn him. It's so hard, and emotional anyway, and to have him feel emotional about it, too, just makes it harder on me. He's supposed to be my rock.

The positives are - no more double mortgage payment, no more water and gas and electric and homeowners associations fee for a house that we don't live in. We don't have to worry about anything going wrong on a house that is two states away.

It's the dreams that we had to give up that are so hard. We were going to live there forever. We moved there and were never going to move. I said over and over, I'm not going to move. Even after Dan got his job offer, I went to lunch with a girlfriend, and said, I'm not moving! She said, I believe you. But the offer was just too good. And Dan really wanted the job. He has to go to work everyday - shouldn't he be happy going there? I think he should. It's only fair. It's just the mind set that got to me - I'm never going to move! Why would I think that? We've always moved. I thought it because that's what he told me - and I believed him. No more.

I'm on the five year plan now. We've never lived any place longer than five years, so that's the plan I'm on. When we talk about doing something to this house I say, will we get our money out of it by using it for five years, or will it increase our house value in five years. But, mostly, it's the emotional toll on me that I'm trying to save. That's what killed me in the Colorado move. Because I was never going to move. Now, I know that we'll move again, so I won't become as emotionally attached as I did there. I can move if I know that it's coming.

And I do know that it is. Dan is only 41! Well, 42 in a couple of months. Hell, if he retires at 62 - that's 20 more years of careers! Will he move on? Guarantee it. He can only go so far where he's at, and if he can go farther in his career somewhere else, he'll want to. I'd love to get the kids through school first - but that's 8 more years - not sure if we can do that.

If my kids are happy, I'm happy. I can be happy anywhere, as long as I have my family. I would love to travel more, to move to new, different places. It's an adventure! I'm having issues here, but that's because I grew up here. And I had so many self-esteem issues growing up. And I obviously still have them. Geez. Get over it, Michelle.

Valentine

I got my pot holder swap today! Oh, what fun!Cute, eh?

Oh yeah, I got chocolates with it too. They didn't make it to the picture. Damn, they were good!

Dan got me a card, too. I'm pretty sure that by 5:00 p.m. yesterday, Ralphs was all out of good cards. That's the only thing reason I can come up with for that card.

Big W, Little W

Big W, little w - what the hell? Does it matter?

Dr. Seuss - I love Dr. Seuss. I read it to my kids over and over when they were little. Here's what he says about big W, little w.

W..w..W
Willy Waterloo
washes Warren Wiggins
who is
washing Waldo Woo.

Could you possibly say any more?

Changing Rooms

We spent the day switching our girls' bedrooms. My God. What a Royal. Pain. In. The. Ass. We have only lived here 5 1/2 months, and those rooms were horrible! And the arguing and bossiness. And let's not forget the tears! Oh, yeah. Well, those tears were mine. I had a bit of a pity party during the whole thing. Tessa was being a major Miss Attitude SmartAss. Dan raised his voice to me - and that was it. Pity Party! I hate this fucking place. I'm still pissed we moved. I don't want to be here. Well, that was the joy in the party that I was having. I guess I'm over it now. I'm speaking to both my husband and my daughter - and my girl's rooms are now switched. Well, except for my youngest daughter's shit that's still in the living room. Sigh.

Now we have the joy of going to IKEA to redecorate their rooms. I'm sure it will be great. I will try not to shed any tears.

I wish I lived in Autum's house. I can't imagine having pom poms on my mouse pad. I would be living in a dream. A place where I didn't tell my daughter that I didn't care if the whole fucking neighborhood heard me screaming at her. How could I do that?

Spiders on my Toes

In October I had a pedicure.

I loved my spiders. I wish I still had them.

And yes, I have hairy toes.

M&M

Make yourself into an M&M. Here's me:Well, I wish I had boots like that.

And that I had the balls to wear them.

Girl Drama

Tessa, 13, spent the night at a friend's house last night. There were four of them all together. Most of them spent the day together today. Then, at about 5:00, I get a phone call - Tessa sobbing, asking me to come pick her up. No questions asked - I did.

Girl Drama - A boy from their school was over, someone called someone else, not nice things were said, someone blamed someone, blah, blah, blah. Tears. Phone calls. Friends over. She's not going to the play tonight, she is going to the play tonight. Sweet Jumping Jesus. I'm not ready for Girl Drama.

The mama in me wants to protect my baby. The woman in me wants her to learn to get along with other women - and to learn to pick the good ones, the ones that can be good friends - not High Drama, High Maintenance girls/women. It's hard to keep in mind that it's her life, that she will end up living it as she sees fit - not as her wonderful mother just KNOWS would be best for her.

In the meantime - I guess I must be prepared for more Girl Drama. Heavy Sigh.

Pin Cushions

I'm hosting a Pin Cushion Swap with my Bad Girls. I received two of my pin cushions yesterday. They are so totally awesome - I'm thrilled!

This one was from Millie:

It's very cool. Made of microsuede with handdyed wool in the middle (that's supposed to be good for the pins).

These were from Rebecca:

I loved the personalized pillows on the bed. It is just so adorable.

Here's the other one Rebecca sent me.

This one has so many ailments on it. It's hysterical.

I guess now I REALLY need to get busy on mine so I can get them sent out. I've got three finished - three more will be a swap. The other three will require a little more work. (I have three swap partners.) This has just been a great swap.