Overheard

I just heard Finley singing in all her tone-deaf gloriousness:

"Oh Brother, oh Brother
Don't you like a hugger?
But if you don't like it
Just push me away"

Hansel & Gretel, eat your hearts out.

Hmmmm.

Finley and Joe have been sitting at the kitchen table for 20 minutes or so, pretending that a set of candy canes is a family. The parents have taken babies to the doctor, others have fallen off cliffs, and who knows what all.

Who needs toys?

Quilt Block

I have a series of paintings that I've stalled on, a picnic blanket (made out of old jeans) that I haven't finished, and who knows what else waiting in the corners for completion. So what have I done? I've started another project. Since painting by myself at night isn't much fun but spending time with Chris while working on the quilt is (sort of) feasible, coupled with the fact that Finley's feet are almost to the end of her toddler bed... They are all good excuses to start something new. I just hope I finish this before spring.

Being quite the amateur quilt-maker, I've already made a mistake or two. I found this pattern online, and since it didn't give me cutting dimensions, I had to figure it out on my own. My triangle squares turned out smaller than I calculated, so I'm worried that, left alone, some of the seams will pull apart at soon as the fabric edges start to fray. I'm hoping some extra stitching will keep the fraying in check.

I also didn't have as many receiving blankets as I thought, so I'm hoping I can find some flannel in the right colors at the store. I can already tell, I'm going to need some encouragement to see this project to completion.

Daddy Gets No Love

A Cup of Joe

I have one of the sweetest little boys on the planet, and he knows just how to tug on my heart strings.

Ever since I got my new (oh, so wonderful) coffee cup, Joe has gotten into the habit of getting the step stool from the bathroom, taking it to the kitchen, finding my cup, filling it up with (cold) coffee (all this without my knowledge... or permission), and bringing it to me (carefully), saying with the sweetest smile on his face, "Mom, I brought you some coffee!"

I am wondering what percentage of kids bite the cards in the Candy Land game. I know I did when I was little.

It gave me a big smile when we broke the game out the other day and several of the cards were bitten.

Soup Update

Chris got home about two, pulled a homemade granola bar out of the fridge, and started carrying on about how good it was, and I started making candy-coated pretzels.

Under the pressure, Finley buckled down, and ate her soup. Halfway through the bowl, she asked me to make more tomorrow night.

!?!?!

Walkin' and Talkin'

Zivah got clearance to go without her brace the end of October. We started intense training in the evenings, forcing her to walk a few steps between us. Although she seemed to have fairly good balance, she rarely took a step without something to hold onto. Finally, this past week, she gained some confidence, and has been walkin' up a storm.

Soup's On...

I've been lacking in the culinary department lately and have made a bad habit of fixing the kids things I know they want to eat. In other words, a lot of junk food.

Finley and Joe have also been battling colds in some form or other for several weeks, so blaming it on all the the extra sugar and non-healthy food the kids have been ingesting (and on myself), I whipped up a big pot of soup for supper last night: my version of minestrone.

Zivah sucked it down. Joe ate all of it with only minor bribery. Finley decided she would rather *ahem* save it for breakfast.

This morning, Finley decided she would save it for lunch. She is going to her enrichment classes this morning and won't get home until noon. I am hoping she will be ravenously hungry, get over this little stubborn trip, and eat.

An Early Christmas Gift

Upon hearing about the loss of my coffee mug a few weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to some potential 'replacement' cups, and offered to buy one for me. In my browsing, I found this one.

It arrived today. Coffee happiness returning. Mourning turning into dancing.

Thanks, Al.

Nice Frost This Morning...

Looks pretty. (Especially up close.)

Wonder if this will be as close as we get to snow this year again.