Heart"felt" gifts (hee hee hee)

Years ago, probably, MJL asked me to make him some felt cases for all of the bajillion little percussion instruments that he has.  

He got them for Valentines Day!  I think I made 10 or so.  

Some were from bits of old felted sweaters and some were from some blue felt that I had leftover from something else.

I was worried about how to make them all perfect and lovely and finally I decided to just do it already.  Folding them all asymmetrically gave them a look that I liked and was a unifying feature.  

Pinking shears, buttons from the button jar, and green thread just for fun completed the project.  Anna helped sew on buttons, Katie helped make messes, and Jimmy helped by being a good napper.

     

Oh, what a lucky Mama am I!  

Doesn't it feel wonderful to get something done that's been kicking around in your head for ages?

Livin' it up!

Matthew's gone this week, and Katie's been on a tear, so last night once all were in bed I looked forward to a quiet evening.

Just me, the Olympics, and this enormous pile of laundry.

 I kept trying different angles, but there's no way to make it as impressive as it felt in person.

It's like trying to photograph a sunset.  

Go World!

Eric Carle

When I was reading through the picture books last semester, Eric Carle was a nice surprise.  

I knew the famous books, Hungry Caterpillar and Grouchy Ladybug, etc, but I had no idea they were ALL good!  This Animals, Animals has lovely little quotes and tiny poems for each animal.  

These stories are written in a nice, straightforward version, great for those middle readers, I think, who don't want to read a giant chapter book yet, but are ready for more than a simple picture book.  

This one is so cool!  It plays with what your eyes will do who when you look at one color and then at a blank page.  

I recommend reading all of the Eric Carle you can find.  :)

Valentine Wreath

I wanted a new Valentines Day wreath because the other one I had was looking bad and took up too much space.  Also I had all of these Spanish conversation hearts that I've used for the past 10 years at school but didn't need anymore.  

Thanks to the glory of a snow day, Anna and I made one!  I just cut a heart out of a piece of cardboard, and we used Elmer's glue to glue the hearts down in a completely random pattern.  Anna was the one who suggested we not try to do a pattern and I think she was right.  It looks great and was super easy.  

We let it dry overnight and sprayed it with a couple of coats of lacquer to keep the buggies away.  

Happy Valentines Day!

Winter List 2013

I completely missed my list this season!  It's halfway over, but better late than never.  These lists really help me to focus my thinking and be realistic about time and projects and priorities.  I need that.

So my Fall List:

1.  Make Christian's Quilt 

2.  MIT 805  Instructional Technology Theory and Practice

3.  Finish Jimmy's baby book.

4.  Make as many Christmas presents as possible, spending as little as possible. 

5.  Work the garden through the end, and winterize.    

6.  Make another postage stamp block.

7.  Finish Jairus' skunk.

8.  Help Anna make some gifts. 

9.  Make Cosette costume and find something for Jimmy.

10.  ENJOY Thanksgiving and Advent.  Slow down, worry less, look around more.  

Not bad.  I wish I had helped Anna make some things.  I really feel that I've got to spend some good time with her.  She gets shuffled to the back too much.  

Winter 2014:

1.  LIBR 859--My practicum.  I could get it done by March, if I hustle, and then I'd have a nice long break again.  I would love to do that.  Not at all done.  But 1/2 done?  It's not bad, just annoying.
2.  Potty Train Katie.  She mostly did this herself.  I feel bad taking credit.  But it's done anyway!  (or kind of-she wants to wear diapers at the moment, but I'm telling myself it's just a strange phase and not to even think about it.  
3.  Make something with Anna.  Snuggle her and talk to her and try not to hurry her so much. Just thinking about this has really helped.  
4.  Get back to my weekly routine.  Yes!  With some sliding here and there, but who cares?  :)
5.  Make those things for MJL.  Done and given and happy all around.
6.  Mending Basket.  (it's toppling full-mending is not my favorite but it should go fast)   I did some mending, but not all of it.  :/
7.  Use nap time to do things that make me happy (or work on my class).  I think mostly yes.  
8.  Valentines Boxes to College Kids.  Hooray!  
9.  Make another postage stamp block.   It's a bit smaller though.  I can't figure out if I just went too fast or if I cut the squares too small.  we'll see what happens with the next one, I guess!
10.  Work on Jairus' skunk.   Poor skunk.  

The Snow Kept on Falling

This book is one of our favorites.  It's just a sweet little story about two kids living with their grandparents and a big snow.  It's one of those inexplicable stories that is lovely and perfect and makes you feel good and snuggly and happy and warm inside.  

I don't remember where it came from, but it's an ancient paperback that is completely falling apart.  I laminated the cover and used my super cool giant librarian stapler to put it back on (again).  

If you see one (or two-because you should get one for yourself) at a thrift store or garage sale would you pick one up for us?  

Thanks.

February Portraits

For this sweet girl's 3rd birthday we took some pictures.  

Sweet big sister Anna 8.75 years

Darling Mr. Jimmy 1.5 years

Beautiful Birthday Girl Katie 3 years.  

Here's another Jimmy.  He's getting ready to say "Ba!"  I think.  

And another Katie.  I think I don't like this one as much because she looks older.  

So big.

We're thankful for 3 wild and crazy fun and challenging years with our Katie girl.  

Here's to many more!

Opening Ceremony Bingo Sochi 2014!

Friday Night is the Opening Ceremony!

I was nervous, but darling MJL found me a bingo last night and I'm happy to share.

Thanks, Wall Street Journal!

Sochi Opening Ceremony Bingo

Under the picture of the bingo card, on the left, there are links to 4 different cards with the pictures shuffled.

I printed them a bit bigger by using ctrl + shift+ p to open the dialog box, and then choosing preferences, and then effects and then choosing to print at 135% .  Now you don't have to waste ink figuring out how big you can get away with.  :)

Have Fun!

"New" Thanksgiving Tablecloth

Ha!  I found these pictures all loaded and ready in my "drafts" folder.  

Look at my new-to-me tablecloth!

I've been looking for a number of years now for a new tablecloth for Thanksgiving.  I just wanted something perfect that I would love forever, that's all.  I found this one on Etsy and decided on a whim to treat myself.  

Look at the funny printed stitching.  It's made of that linen cotton blend that old tablecloths used to be made of that hangs so nicely.  

I got it from Chaps + Rascal who included this lovely note.  I feel like she's a kindred spirit, because there can't be very many people in the world who would be concerned with "truly appreciating" a tablecloth.  But I do!  And I completely understand how she would be happy to send it away to a good home.  

There's Thanksgiving!  Perfect and forever.  Yay!

February Giveaway!

I really loved "catch up month" (I need a synonym for "catch up" that starts with a J...) but I'm equally excited to get back to business in February!  This month gets such a bad rap, but it's a lovely month.  Valentines Day means there's lots of pink everywhere, and Groundhog Day, and Candelmas was on Sunday, and Katie's Birthday is this week!

It's a nice, slow, cold and snuggly time of year.  Would you like to curl up with a magazine?

I really loved the January issue of Real Simple.  You know how most of the time, there are one or two articles that are good and the rest are meh?  I loved EVERYTHING in this issue (except the article about Feng Shui, which I just cannot get into.  And I cannot believe it's still a thing!  I remember reading about it in a magazine like 15 years ago and rolling my eyes at the latest fad.  But still-there it is.  Can anyone change my perspective on it?)

Anyhoo-I loved this issue so much it seems wrong to throw it away.  Comment with one thing you're looking forward to about February (and not a secretly negative thing like "it's one month closer to Spring") and I'll let the birthday girl pick a name and we'll send it to you.  :)

Happy February!

January = Catch up month

One of the best things I did this year for my own happiness was to decide that December didn't "count" as a month to do things in.  All "normal" chores and activities and responsibilities are out the window.  December is just for Advent, getting ready for Christmas.  House, heart, family, everything.

Then in January, as I saw the giant piles of EVERYTHING, there were a few moments of panic.

And then I decided that January didn't "count" either!  It's just a catch up month.  All of the digging out from Christmas, all of the beginning of the year work-the filing, the photo ordering, the thank you writing, all of it happens in January.

It has been such a help to me!  Instead of worrying about getting it all done in the first week, it gave me a whole month to do all of that stuff.  And instead of feeling behind, I feel right on track.  I know it's all arbitrary and ridiculous anyway, but if I can get my inner boss to give me a little slack we all fare better.

Here are a few fun things I've had saved in my reader.

Sewistry.com is a new blog I'm really loving.  Not that I've had time to make anything at all, but I like it nonetheless.  Projects, sales, ideas on how to refashion things, it's all about sewing on the cheap.

Pleats and Ruffles is another blog I just started following.  It's "real" sewing, not the kind I do where I'm just making it up as I go.  I'm hoping to learn something and be inspired to try a bit harder.

I loved this post on "Protecting your Creativity" from an art teacher blog that I follow (did you know I'm also certified as an art teacher?  I thought I ought to be reading a little in case I ever end up there!)

Anna loves having a "craft box" full of junk that she can make things out of.  Sometimes I get cranky about it, which is crazy (and probably reasonable) because I'm always battling myself on the same issue- "But I could make something out of it!"  I laughed to see this post about having a box of junk- much more exciting to call it an Inventor's Box.  I liked the idea cards that you can download from the post.

Since Katie happily entertained herself in my office yesterday while I was at a meeting after school by cutting two measuring tapes to bits, I think she would love this Valentines Day project I had saved.  :)  I had to quickly change my face from appalled to pleased when her unsure little face looked up and said "I made you a blankie."

And a question.  We're out of TV to watch on our Amazon Prime.  We tried "Mr. Selfridge" but I don't like to watch shows where the people are being rotten (which eliminates almost everything on TV, I know).  I like happy shows best, but detective shows are also good, as long as they're not too creepy or gory or violent or yucky. Poirot, Monk, Suits, Parks and Rec, Chuck, these are all things we've liked.  Honestly, it's amazing we've found anything to watch ever.  I just don't like watching TV very much, but MJL really does.   I try to watch something with him at night, but it's so hard to find something I can stand.  Any suggestions?  

Happy Kansas Day!

Less

You've probably heard the thing on the internet where you pick a word for your year.  I thought it was an interesting way to tap in to one concept for the year. On New Years Eve MJL and Anna and I filled out these papers (after a great game of Ticket to Ride!  So fun that she's old enough to play that with us now).

Anyway, my one word came to me quickly.

Less.

I think it works for me on lots of levels.  I've been busy sorting and getting rid of things and trying to make room to get to work on the basement.  I've been trying to sort out and get rid of things that take my time away from the things that really matter, and most of what swirls around in my head can be solved with less too.  Less worry, less thought of myself, less judgement.  

It's working marvelously so far.  I found myself feeling a little wanty about these beautiful Christmas plates which of course were on super sale all over the place after Christmas but I remembered "Less" and happily closed the browser window.

And when I worry about planning things and doing more and fitting in another thing I remember "Less" and take a deep breath.

As I sort through things I ask "Do I love it, do I use it, and does my home NEED it?" and I end up with less in the cupboard and less in the closet and more on its way to Salvation Army.

And sometimes, when sitting in front of the fire looking at Pinterest, I wonder if I should get up and work and I think "Less" and I choose less worry about wasting time, and enjoy being toasty and looking at pretty things.

Here's a lovely New Year's blessing.  Never too late, I think.

May God, the source and origin of all blessing, 
grant you grace,
pour out his blessing in abundance,
and keep you safe from harm throughout the year.  Amen.

May he give you integrity of faith,
endurance in hope,
and perseverance in charity
with holy patience to the end.  Amen.

May he order your days and your deeds in his peace,
grant your prayers in this and in every place,
and lead you happily to eternal life.  Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you for ever.  Amen. 

-Roman Missal, Solemn Blessings, “The Beginning of the Year”-

Some stuff for the New Year

I know, I've been absent for a long time.  I had to do some thinking about blogging and the internet and the computer and time management and happy families and all that.  Plus December.

But I'm coming back in 2014.  Here are some quick fun things I've found lately.

• This Holiday Clean Up post makes putting away Christmas gifts infinitely more satisfying and fun.  And honestly-that is an impressive feat!  I'm afraid I got cranky with everyone because I just wanted a million hours in my house to put away and organize and de-clutter.  Sorry family.

• Jennifer Fulwiler's Saint's Name Generator  is a fun way to pick a patron Saint for the year.  I'll admit I didn't ever learn much more than this about last year's St. Albert of Jerusalem , but I always have high hopes for the New Year.  St. Barbatus of Beneveto is my Saint for 2014.  

• Here's a free printable calendar for 2014!  Pretty.

• You probably got this link from Pinterest too, with the best of 2013-I loved this so much.  I haven't had a chance to look through all of the boards yet, but I immediately looked through the boards from each of the countries.  It's such a fascinating glimpse into real life culture, I think, to see what people are pinning around the world.  It's just my favorite kind of thing.  

• This Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family, is one of my favorites of the liturgical year.  I love it because it's right after Christmas, when everything is crazy and the kids are off their schedules and then you're reminded that the Holy Family is a model for this wild family too.  And that Mary and Joseph LOST Jesus that one time, which is not ideal, and so even if Katie is singing too loudly and distracting everyone in the cry room because we didn't even attempt to sit in the sanctuary, there is beauty and power in family.  Fr. Reggie this morning said something about how family-as nuts as family is- family is the building block for every civilization.  It just feels like the perfect celebration for the week after Christmas.  Fr. Klein describes it as the "hand-me-down holiday" in his homily.    

• Sew Mama Sew has been doing reflections and predictions, and while I'm not terribly interested in what the sewing trends are going to be in 2014, I do like the idea of reflections and predictions.  I might have to try a post like that.  Anyone want to join me?

• And I liked this post about the power of a Big, Crafty Goal.  I'll be thinking on that...

Giggles

Last night Katie woke up screaming "I don't want to" at 3:00 AM and did that for a solid hour.

So today this made me laugh and laugh and laugh.

And this was a good thing to watch.

That time I saw Dwight Yoakam

I never told you about my super awesome bonus gift!

My sister-in-law Margaret came and brought her whole family to spend the weekend working hard because this family loves each other AND she took me with her to the Dwight Yoakam concert in Dodge City.

This is what front row center looks like.  If you've ever wondered if it's worth it, I'm sorry to say that it is.  It's like having your very own concert.  I made eye contact with everyone in the band.  It's so fun.  As if you couldn't tell from my goofy smile.  My face hurt from smiling.  

Before the concert, a lady came and said "Are you the VIP seats?  Here's your information about your Meet and Greet with Dwight".  That was a fun surprise!  

It's always nice to see Reeses just because I love them all, but sharing this treat with Margaret and Linda and Spencer and Joanna was cake with extra frosting, ice cream, and sprinkles.  

This was my favorite song of the night:

Alan Katz

We're having an author visit today!

(I'm nervous-I've never done anything like this as a librarian)



Alan Katz writes the Silly Dilly song books.

  

Our kids have been having a fantastic time with them.  We all learned one of the songs to sing to him as a welcome, we've been reading the poems all month in the library, and I sold a bunch of books at cost to kids so they could get them autographed.




We're looking forward to a fantastic day!

So much stuff...

The basement is a disaster.  

But MJL is healthy this winter, and we have grand plans.  Hopefully by Spring all this mess will be turned into another bedroom, a storage room, and a bathroom.  

The first step is that I need to get it empty so that he can start work. *sigh*  It will be awesome once I get started, but I've been having trouble with that lately.  

No more!  

Time to take a deep breath, straighten my shoulders, and get to work!  

(wish me luck)

11-12-13!

It's a great day!

11-12-13!

Apparently lots of people are going to be getting married.

And these people are promoting acts of kindness.

We have stuff going on in the evening, so I'll only have a couple of hours with the kiddos, but we're going to

• build towers with 11, 12, and 13 blocks
• eat 11, 12, 13 snacks (probably fishy crackers, raisins, and M&M's)
• try to think of words that start with 11, 12, 13 letters
• see if we can teach Katie to count to 13
• run for 11 seconds, hop for 12, and skip for 13
• and whatever else we can think of.  Hopefully homework won't take more than 11 minutes.  ;)

Let me know what fun you have!

Book Cover Folders

When we get books from Bound to Stay Bound (that's where you get the "library" books that are all nice and don't fall apart - I always wondered) they send us the book jackets, but the books already have the picture printed on the cover.  So we have lots of extra book jackets.  You know I couldn't throw those away.   I looked around on Pinterest to find some ideas of things to do with them, but didn't find anything!

I decided to just wait until I had an idea.  Finally it occurred to me that I could glue them to the outside of pocket folders (get a bunch for a penny each at the beginning of the year) and then laminate them.    

The kids get to choose one as a prize when they finish a reading challenge.  THEN-they use their cool folder to keep track of future reading challenges, which is a huge bonus, AND they'r walking around advertising all of our new books all the time, so other kids come in asking for the book on so and so's folder.    

I have tons of kids completing challenges-every single first grader finished the first one!  

The folders are a huge hit and they didn't cost the library a thing.  That is my favorite kind of victory.  

Could you be an elementary librarian?

Pop Quiz:

A Kindergartener walks into the library and says to you*:

"Our teacher is gone and a new teacher is coming and she wants to know how far the sidewalk goes?" while pointing outside at the playground.  *Ummmms and 30 second pauses omitted.

What do you do?

I'll give you the answer in the comments at the end of the day.  :)

(I got it right)