On a Roll

Babies are popular these days, and I have a backlog of gifts to make.

I love how easy this ball pattern is and

I'm a big fan of upcycling (in this case, a felted wool vest),

but most of all, I like my resident product tester.

Pure Pleasure

There's something to be said for enjoying the simple things in life.

Role Reversal

I think a certain toddler has been having some security issues lately,

and a little trip back in time is just what the doctor ordered.

Josie is happy to oblige since she seems to think it's time to grow up...and fast.

Both thought this change was quite amusing

and took turns chuckling loudly.

I hope they'll continue to be such good buddies.

Happy Birthday to Me

For my 34th birthday, I decided I would run 3.4 miles.

(This is pretty crazy considering I don't have an athletic bone in my body.)

I think I earned some birthday cake!

The Last Day of Winter

I hope this isn't a sign of what we're in for for summer.

Distraught

Seems we're all a little upset by the apparent absence of spring. 

If it weren't for the noticeable pollen, I would swear it was summer.

Transplanting

I love freebies so I was delighted when a friend called to tell me there were daffodils to dig.

My assistants helped me replant them in our yard, and I've decided that our top gardening priority this summer is to learn to properly identify poison ivy.

When the Cat's Away...

the mice will play.

"Toad"

I spy with my little eye something green.

I'm not sure who did the initial spying, but Matthew laid claim to this little creature.

Every 5 minutes or so I was asked to come and look at the newest member of the family, "Toad."

He was MIA the next day, but I'm hoping he's just inviting all his friends to come have a bug bbq in our yard.

Recovered

He's back to his old self

and has taken up residence in the semi-outdoors of our screened porch.

Around the Corner

Daffy-down-dilly has come to town

In a yellow petticoat and her green gown.

Mother Goose

The daffodils have been blooming here since the end of January, but spring officially starts in just two weeks.

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Weathering the Storms

It's interesting what constitutes "essential emergency supplies" when you're taking cover from tornadoes during the midst of a stomach bug.  As I received repeated calls from my husband and mother informing me that storms were headed our way, I sent the kids to the basement and I started gathering things.

Purse.  Wallet.  Cell phone.  Weather radio.  Epi-pen.  Camera.  Shoes.  Cups.  Diapers & wipes.  Food.

Food?  What can I grab that everyone can and will eat?  I settled on a box of Ritz and a bunch of bananas. 

We huddled in the closet, the boys noisily munching crackers like a bunch of mice, the static of the weather report in the background.  Doug called to make sure we were taking cover.  My mom called to tell me to go to the basement.  Somewhere along the way, Josie threw up all over my lap.

We finally got the "all-clear" and exited our 5'x5' confine.  At least for a while.

As Doug, the seasoned tornado expert, was going to be gone for the evening and I saw another band of storms approaching, I made the insane decision for everyone to sleep in the basement.  Josie occupied the Closet Suite.  With glow sticks in hand the boys and I lay sardine style on the full-sized futon.

"There were five in the bed and the little one said, 'Roll over, roll over.'"

I figured reading to them would be the easiest way of knocking out four over-stimulated children.  It worked for 3 of them.

I lay in between the older set and the younger set of boys, listening to two discordant tones of snoring and the cheerful chatter of a two-year-old.  Did I mention that I had been up 3 times the night before with the baby and once with a very stinky toddler?  I was beat.

I think Jonathan out-lasted me because at some point I woke up and realized he had finally passed out.  I was in and out of consciousness, unable to turn over, my imagination overactive to say the least.  A headline kept appearing:  Mother Dies Alongside 4 Children.  Baby Girl Found in Closet.

Thankfully Doug came back and we snuck upstairs, letting the sleeping children lie.

But I was alert all night, just waiting for Josie's cry.  At 3 am I heard a mysterious noise, a banging and thumping.

"Jonathan.  On the futon.  With the skillet."  (From "Sleepless in Seattle")  He must have had craving for fried eggs for he was sitting in his small space cooking.  The big boys woke up, too, so they all went back to their real beds.

At 4 am Andrew appeared.  He had succumbed to the plague.

A little while later I noticed Doug was gone.  Another one bites the dust.

Sometime later (it's all a blur now) Matthew appeared, lonely and sad, and went to his bed.

On the plus side, the little girl slept all night, something which has been very rare lately.  But most importantly, all we lost was a little sleep, something for which I am really thankful. 

Josie at 9 Months