I command you to…Stop. This. Instant.

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E: “Mama? I think that I am six already.”
M: “What’s that?”
E: “Yeah, I think I should already be six, because I can already read and write all kinds of stuff, and I don’t even need your help. So it is like I’m six already, right?”

Right. Oh, boy.

Tree hugger

So, we were in church on Sunday. And she is still just a little bit too short to prop her elbows on the back of the pew when we are kneeling, so she puts a few hymnals down to kneel on for that optimal praying position. The lady behind us was giggling at her perched precariously on top of two hymnals and then she asked Em, “How old are you?”

“Oh, I’m 5 and a half, but I turn 6 on April 9th!” Em said so proudly. And then? The lady made the mistake of saying, “Oh, really? I thought you were at least 7 or 8. You are so tall and your printing is so nice and neat!” (She was writing letters to Daddy during part of mass.)

Cripes. Emma was beaming. “Mama! She thinks I am 7 or 8! Wow! And I’m only 6. Well, I’m almost 6!”

I threatened right then that I was going to put the hymnals on her head to make her stop growing.

I’m not quite sure what is going on around here lately. I find myself just watching the girls, or staring at photos of them and wondering, “How in the world did we get here?” “Where did my little girls go?”

And don’t say I am yearning for a baby, because I so am NOT. I am not even really nostalgic for, or missing when the girls were babies, necessarily.  I love the ages and stage we are at right now. I love our little family and it just feels right. It feels complete.

I am not really sure what I am feeling. I guess I just want them to slow down. I can’t keep up with all of their milestones, their funny stories, or antics. I feel like the days are just slipping through my fingers, along with all of their youth and innocence.

I feel like I am going to wake up tomorrow, and they are both going to be packing to leave for college.

And now? Em wants her haircut. I got mine cut yesterday and she can’t stop playing with it and telling me how she wants hers cut short, too.

I love her hair. I’m trying so hard to remember that it is her hair, but tell me she isn’t going to look even more like she is 7 or 8 with a short little bob, than she would with her ribbons and pigtails?

It’s Our Favorite Place…Trader Joe’s

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J. found this video last night and I think it does a good job documenting why we love (and love to hate) Trader Joe’s. Those of you the have been to one, or frequent TJs will think this is pretty funny. (Especially the part about stuff that isn’t there any more! Grrr…Chicken Chimichangas?)

Those of you who have no idea what Trader Joe’s is…might not see the humor. But the song is still very catchy and the man who made the video shot it all on his Palm Treo – so that is impressive.

I especially love the part about the “beautiful moms in yoga pants,” – and oh yes, I will be cracking out the yoga pants for my pilgrimage there later this week. Hee.

And, we have a winner! ~ Crafty Tuesday

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Thanks to everyone for playing along with last week’s giveaway (and for clicking through to find out how to Save Handmade!), I used the trusty random number picker, and came up with our winner…

lucky_winner

And the fourth comment was from my friend over at Blueberry and the Bean (and Sprout, too!). I’ve been reading about her little Bean (which I am partial to, since my childhood nickname was also Bean!) for a long time. I can still remember when the little Sprout was born, and I am just so very excited that she won.  So watch Crafty Tuesday in the next few weeks to see what I can come up with for her.

Besides the contest, there hasn’t been much craftiness going on around our digs. I have a Valentine that I’m supposed to be pimping out (secretly) to send for Emma during their class party this week. But since it is a secret, I haven’t really had much time to work on it. I started it on the Craft Nite we did last Friday, but didn’t manage to even finish the one little card. In my defense, the Craft Nite was totally fun but more than anything it was mostly just gossip hour(s) with some friends and drinks.

But it did inspire me to clean out/up my scrapbook corner! It is lookin’ so good, but still needs a leee-ttle bit of work. I’ll post some photos when it gets there.

So, instead? Let’s discuss some other crazy crafty cuteness! Have you seen Jen’s amazing stuff over at the New Green Mama? Her stuff is just pure sweetness. I saw an owl there awhile ago and had it in mind for somebody for a birthday present. And so last week she posted a new one to her Etsy store and I popped over and snapped it up.

And then the owl arrived on our doorstop.

Oh.My.Peas!

Me thinks that the little owl might not leave ever leave my house. It is so…so…cute!

owl_wide

And she looks so great on her perch on top of my desk, too…

owl_long

And…AND! She also sent along a little coffee cozy. Which has been in use nearly every single day since I received it. Gah, I love it!
coffee_cozy

I adore the little tweet bird. Have you noticed that these little birds seem to be popping up everywhere? I’m so in love with all the little bird stuff right now.

So anyhow…if you haven’t been by Jen’s go visit her now and give her a little love. Her stuff is fantastic – and as an added bonus it is all made from reclaimed, up-cycled products! Great stuff for you, and good for the environment too. You can’t beat it.

And I’m sure that you all have more craft cuteness for us today too…right?

Addie-tude ~ Best Shot Monday

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I know someday her iron will, independent spirit and stubborn streak is going to serve her well. And, yes, I do want her to grow into a strong and liberated young woman…

Ad-D-kins

But, whew boy!

If I hear “I wanted to do it, Mama!” one more time before she dissolves into yet another fit of tears…I may just throw myself off of the top of that jungle gym!  (AND, she is now big enough to open the car door from the outside by herself. How on earth did that happen?)

I mean, just look at this Addie-tude! I think this photo pretty much says it all. She is a 3-year old girl on a mission!

Addie-tude

And I wouldn’t change one tiny piece of her for anything.
Find more photos that say it all over at Tracey’s new spot today.

Recipe for a Good Day

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We just stumbled upon a good recipe that I thought you all might like. Here is what you need to have a good day…

1 – all-day, good hard rain
1 – fun play/coffee date with friends who don’t care if your house is clean
1 – semi-clean, cozy house
(at least clean to the point that you don’t feel compelled to get up and be doing something!)
2 – gorgeous girls happily playing in the playroom for hours on end
(can substitute the girls for boys here)
2 – cups of hot cocoa with whipped cream
1 – hot latte
1 – afternoon movie in the living room
(popcorn optional, but mandatory in our house!)
1 – dinner bubbling away in the oven

Top it off with it being Friday and it is the perfect recipe for a good GREAT day!

Enjoy!

Rainy

A cat among dogs

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Yesterday was Smokey’s fifteen minutes of fame, and today it is Tiger’s…

“Maybe if I am really still, they won’t see me.”

tiger

J. took this pic on his iPhone when he stumbled across Tiger trying to “be one” with the stuffed animals. Emma cracks up every time she sees this photo.

Plus she keeps asking me, “Mama, can you please print that picture of Tiger when she thinks she is trying to be one of the puppies?!”

Crafty Tuesday

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So, we are going to do today’s Crafty Tuesday a little differently. Partly because even though our Crafty Party last week was totally fun, I didn’t get any real crafting done, and I don’t have anything to show today.  But mostly because I was reading Swistle last week and wanted to get in on her idea for some giveaways to raise awareness on the CPSIA issue.

The CPSIA legislation doesn’t directly affect me since I don’t sell any of my goods. But it could seriously hurt my Etsy addiction, and the world of handmade crafts in general. I know that many of you have already joined me in signing the petitions and writing your congressmen and women, I just ask that you continue your support. And proof that every signature and letter helps – last week the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to suspend the act for one year to review the rules and how they will enforce it. Good news for all crafty folks and hopefully a reasonable solution will be found.

So on to the giveaway! I will craft a custom bag for the winner. It can be a kidlet for your kiddie, or a reusable shopping bag for yourself. Leave a comment and promise that you will at least click the “Save Handmade” button over there on the right (see it?) and see if there is something you might be able to do to help.

That’s it! I’ll leave the comments open until Sunday, February 8th at midnight. Then I’ll randomly select a winner and we’ll collaborate to get you a sweet bag!

Fun Sunday Morning

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Here’s a tip for you.

Don’t figure that just because the water in the clogged toilet went down last night after you plunged away, that the “clog” was indeed gone.

Woke up this morning to a lovely 3 inches of water that had “drained” over the floor in the back half of our house, instead of down the drain, like it was supposed to.

Mmmm…nice. Ankle deep water before I’ve even had coffee.

The plumber is here now, so hopefully all will be fixed shortly.

And of course, to add insult to injury, all of our floors were nice and clean Friday night. After they get scrubbed again this afternoon, it will be the most action these floors have seen in months.