Wonderland

The Mr did not cook breakfast. (well not by himself)

A found a younger girl snuggling with my husband

My bed was lumpy.

And someone was reading my favorite book

all in all a pretty good day... (still no button holes)

It Can't Work

Look at these...

I know adorable right? So I attacked it tonight, the kids were a bed, the Mr. was occupied with the TV, and I dragged all the various equipment out, (basement still flooded) I read the manual, to the newly repaired machine, and I reread, and reread, and I practiced, and repracticed, and practiced again.... and in a phrase I have learned from my children. "IT CANT WORK!!) The auto button hole specialty foot which probably retails for a million dollars, can't work, the "manual mode" can't work, the memorizing the manual button hole can't work... it all can't work.

Look at this.. so close, and yet so very very far away...

I'm very frustrated, and I may have teared up after two hours of trying, and problem solving. I miss my reliable machine, (which is as good as dead now) I miss my basement sewing area. I miss being able to finish my project.

Some good things did happen today. This for example...

(did not require buttonholes.. also I do really like drafting patterns for Kit, and am considering launching a little blog all about her wardrobe this is a mimic of the Oliver and S skirts, with sailor front and kick pleat)

This happened...

(dino by Cubby, ballerina by Miss H, oil pastel on black archival paper)

and also this...

(ballerina by Miss H, Cubby by Cubby)

and mostly this...

(God help the family to feel better and watch over our friends.)

C and H wrote that on our prayer board. We are working as a family on meaningful prayer, and so between meals we make a little list on this chalkboard and then pray together before we eat. We're on Day three, and today was the first day any of the kids had the nerve to write on the board, they would call out stuff for me to write, but this was the first time they took all the initiative. It's a blessing..

(but it's not eight perfect button holes!!)

All right, I'm off to try it again, (even though I have every confidence It Can't Work!) because I am not a quitter, although I appear to be a little bit of a crybaby.

Rain Rain Go Away

The Mr. did have to go to work on Thursday, but another weirdo snow storm rescued him for a strenuous two day work week, the school system cancelled everything, not even an option for work. AWESOME!!

I have been doing alot of "crafty type" projects involving modge podge, and paint and have orchestrated some kid friendly sewing projects, but I haven't created anything in a while. I mean almost a year I think. (not counting the Halloween Costumes I borrowed a machine to complete). At first it was because my back was hurt, and it felt selfish to spend any of my twenty minutes of pain free-ness on myself when there were babies to hold and nurse, and kids to hug and snuggle. Then when I felt absolute longing to complete a great project (a dress I had promised my best friend 2 years ago!!) my machine broke. The Mr.'s mom was nice enough to lend me her machine, which also broke and there wasn't a shop anywhere near here that could fix it. So all my wonderful sewing supplies and "horde" of fabrics ( I put this in quotes because what The Mr. Thinks of as a stockpile fit for apocolypse, only occupies 2 drawers in a dresser, we have different ideas I think).

Anyway.. I did get the machine repaired and have been waiting and wanting to use it, but we've had all these snow days which prior to kids would have meant, grilled cheese, and laying in bed only to stay up all night stitching. All these things are not possible, as you may have guessed from the previous posts. I tried to get Miss H busy on sewing so we could work side by side.. to no avail. Finally, this afternoon after 6 snowy snowy days and little time out of the house I set it up, I pulled out a fabric I have been sitting on for MONTHS to make the girls some cute valentine's day skirts.

I kid you not dear readers, no sooner did I finish cutting out the last piece did the basement begin to FLOOD. I Mean BIG TIME... We were all scurrying about like rats on the Titanic trying to get everything off the floor, and the whole time I was thinking. Seriously?!!

Well The Mr. seeing my dismay carried all the required machinery up the stairs and let me work in the dining room after the kids went to bed. Isn't he sweet?

When Lil Bit woke up crying he went in and got her and tried to entertain her until she would settle back down... I know he's so amazing.

And the reward for all his hard work?

Two sailor style, kickpleated, heart covered skirts. (That still need buttonholes. But I always wait a day before button holes, because they make me cry). You can also see the oil pastels the kids have been working with, because heaven forbid we not learn a new skill with all this uninterrupted time.

The amount of water in the basement, also makes me cry.

Snow I love,

I also love The Mr. (obviously!)

Rain, flooded basements and buttonholes. Hmm not so much.

Wordless Wednesday

Snow Day Take TWO !!

I am having ALOT of Fun on "Spring Break" apparently that is when we will be making up these snow days (YIKES!)

We have done some fun projects, kept the house fairly clean, and played in the snow.. and guess what schools are closed tomorrow too! Actually it is an optional teacher workday. I am wondering if The Mr. will go in just to escape all the crafting and togetherness.

Miss H sewed some super special valentine's for lucky recipients, and we plan to make adorable heart shaped Rice Krispy treats on a lollipop stick to give away. (We are having a mild obsession with Rice Krispy treats around here) We may dip some in chocolate. YUM!!

Here's our snowmen. Cubby has been waiting his whole life to build a snowman. This is the first great one we built. According to Miss H, these men are way cooler than the snowcano.

I'm certainly glad for all the days off. We have are all a little sniffly, and The Mr. had a fever last night, probably laying low is in our best interest.

So, I know not everyone is as exhuberant as I am about snow days, but I do pray you find joy in this extra time with your families!

Snowed In

Yay! Snow day!!

While I didn't get to sleep in as much as yesterday, owing to The Mr. needing to leave for church super early to help shovel the walks, we did have a whole uninterupted day of leisure and joy (the cabin fever will probably set in tomorrow). The kids went out in the morning to Snow it Up... and after a morning snack... the fun unfolded.

Miss H was finally convinced to get some sewing projects started.

We made Mac N Cheese (the good kind from scratch with BACON!)

Here Lil Bit makes a lil bit of a mess crunching up the Cheez Its we put on the top.

We made Rice Krispy Treats. (sorry hands were too sticky for photo)

Cubby got to work learning to type with SpongeBob Squarepants. (He's rocking it at about 5 WPM in the home row, adding in i and e today set him back to 3 WPM)

Lil Bit, got into a little bit of trouble (When did she get big enough to pull the kitchen stool over to the oven, climb up and get herself a few extra treats? It was only Miss H's teacher voice that alerted me to the mischief as she scolded. "I really don't think that is appropriate behavior." )

And Little Daddy and The Mr. took a three hour nap, hence their lack o presence in the photos.

Here Lil Bit sets up a tea party for her and Kit. She just loves the little table and chairs H and Kit got for Christmas. The chairs now have cutesy chairpads that Miss H stitched up this afternoon.

So we got "THE CALL" around 5:00 with the glorious news that school is cancelled for tomorrow. Yipidee Do DAH! Here's hoping tomorrow is another mini vacay.

It Snowed... It Snowed... It Snowed Last Night..

Baby let's play hooky 'cause it snowed last night!

And play hooky we did, because the "Blizzard 20-10" dumped 6 inches of snow here, and plenty more in Virginia, which cancelled the indoor meet in Blacksburg that The Mr. was going to, and let us all enjoy having him home for another weekend of good family fun.

A recent trip to the Cracker Barrel renewed the kids interest in checkers so the Mr. and I dusted off the hand-made game set we bought long before we ever had kids, and he set to improving their game play. I couldn't help but snicker a little at the memories of that set and the little sunporch in our first house. The Mr. and I would sit out their on summer evenings after dinner and drink wine and play chess or checkers with this very set. Now of course times have changed and an added challenge to the game is keeping Lil Bit otherwise occupied because she will swipe a checker if you let your guard down.

So while we awaited the snowfall, the Mr. decimated each of the children in turn.

The troops headed out early, apparently according the Mr. they all woke up extra early like 6:30. I had no idea as it seems I have finally mastered the art of sleeping through the cacophony and did not arise until 8ish. (that might have something to do with why the Mr. does not look so happy in this photo)

I had just purchased next year's winter wear from Land's end for the kids, and Cubby insisted upon wearing it, although I explained it was still too big.

"No this is perfect! This is just how I like to wear it, and I don't really need to see in front of me at all" (well thank goodness!)

Looks kinda angelic doesn't she... (don't be fooled!)

So we hiked it to the local sledding hill and got a few runs in.. it was COLD out there, and we we're down to just one sled for the six of us because of an unfortunate incident in which according to Cubby, "Daddy's big old buns broke my sled". The Mr. claims it was frozen, I wasn't sure if he meant the sled or his big ol' buns, but anyway.. we will have to get a new one.

She really loves it. As a matter of fact, she makes this same face when we let her eat doughnuts. So this look of nirvana coupled with her ear splitting shriek when someone else has a turn on the sled lead me to believe we might invest in 2 more sleds.

The snow was not great for snow fights or snow men, (although they did make a great volcano) but it did slow everything down and render our little street peaceful. We headed back..

where we found the snow did not "keep the postman from his post" and we had the January book order waiting for us. So we had cuddle time, book time and movie time, and I had nap time! Which might be why the Mr. doesn't look so happy in this photo...

Finally, kudos to me, because my latest mommy invention is working like a charm!

When it snows we don't use the basement entrance, we use the office. Last snow (a week before Christmas) our family invested in some suction cup hooks, these coupled with some Rubbermaid lids let us hang all our coats and snowpants and store our boots hats and gloves without drippy mess, or heap of jackets. YAY!

Alright, Family history preserved... I'm off to cuddle The Mr. maybe he'll let me sleep in again tomorrow. Could I be so lucky?