They ARE Precious

So today there were parent/teacher conferences at my girls' school. I hate that it's only one day that we can do it but that's another story. For reasons untold, besides the fact that I am a stay-at-home mom, I had all three kids with me--9 years old, 5 years old and 2 1/2 years old. That was a challenge in itself. Anyway, I told the kids that after the conferences, I would bring them to Papa Gino's which they totally love. So we walked out of the school at ten minutes to five and it was pitch dark--I hate the time change, I hate winter. But I brought them to PG's, which Stella, who is just 2 1/2, recognized from far away, and it's not like we go there a lot. She's brilliant! ;-) Can she read?? Ha ha.
We were sitting in a booth while we waited and this father walked in with his two girls and one boy, preteens and teens, and I noticed he kept looking over at us. Stella is somewhat of a handful and quite noticeable to other people, as she has an extremely loud indoor voice and a vibrant, powerful personality, along with these facial expressions that remind me of someone who's been around for eighty years, not just two and a half years. So we labored over our breadsticks and pizza (chicken tenders for Po) and the dad who had his tweens and teens walked by with his tray of food and as he walked by our table he looked at me and he told me that my kids are precious. I smiled and thanked him. I have been having a hard time being patient with my kids and we often butt heads when it comes to our interactions, but at the same time I keep thinking, they are not going to be this little forever. I can already see it with my oldest who is QUICKLY approaching her tween years. I think I can kind of brush it off since I still have a baby of sorts, but people everywhere say that these years are the best and I keep forgetting that they really are. So I took a step back tonight when that dad, who was probably ten or fifteen years older than me, told me how wonderful they were, and I smiled at my kids and we started goofing off and the tension that I tend to hold onto when I'm with them kind of dwindled away. I need moments like that to remember how wonderful it is to have these precious little munchkins in my life, no matter how much of a hard time they might give me at times.
So, here's to you, my little ladies...

The Mess

My yarn stash has reproduced by itself and has thrown up all over my living room floor. Well, not all over the living room floor--it's in a neat little pukey pile on the floor on one side of the couch, but in my head it's a complete mess. I hate the clutter in the room and in my head but I have all these ideas of things to make and the crazy, ADD, creative person in me has all these fantastic projects started but nothing finished. On the other hand it's destroying the control-freak in me, slowly and methodically, taking over and making a huge mess. So how do I finish all these projects without losing interest? Maybe I should take some pictures of them and focus on each project. I'm at the point where I need to buy new knitting needles (yes, in the same sizes that I already have) because I have all these projects hanging off the other ones. And it would be a sad waste of money so I won't buy new ones but I am so tempted! The frugal cheapskate in me who wants a new kitchen says no! no! no! and I think she's winning. Thank goodness.
So my projects are as follows: three really cool wool earflap hats for my three cool chicas. One of them is not on needles anymore but still needs the details finished in a yarn that I don't have (surprise surprise) and can't manage to remember to buy when I'm out. It also needs to be lined in fleece which I don't have and don't really know how to do but have no fear, I will figure it out. The second of those three hats is almost finished and is hanging on three double-pointed needles but I can't find the other DPN to finish the last couple of rows. I even have a needle organizer. I should use it. The third of those hats is still a couple of balls of yarn, waiting patiently.
I have a scarf that needs three i-cords and pom-poms attached but I need two of the DPNs (double-pointed needles) that I can't seem to find to finish that too. I have a great olive scarf I'm working on that is gorgeous but it seems to go on forever! I have three other hats that I'm working on for the girls but only two are done and I can't seem to finish the toppers for them.
Then I'm working on crocheting granny squares to use up leftover yarn to make a really funky bag but I lost interest. Thankfully that's just using a crochet hook so that's easily remedied if I need the hook but sadly, I don't like to crochet that much. Not as much fun as knitting. I don't really know off hand what else I have to finish up but I know there are a few--oh, including an adorable pair of booties, only one of which is made. I'm not entirely crazy about making them.
So that's where I am today, and have been for the last couple of weeks.
I will fix this crazy situation so I can have the cleanliness and clutter-free-ness of my living room back.
Now to go take care of those kiddos...

Publishing A Book (Waiting for the Ink...)

Who knew trying to get a book published was a full-time job you don't even get paid for? Thankfully, I was kind of prepared for it. And, thankfully, I "stay-at-home" so in between feeding children, cleaning up after children, telling whining to children to stop whining, telling fighting children to stop fighting, and then feeding children again, I can sit my little patoot down and do some writing and spend some time looking for agents who might be willing to take a look at my work. I log each one that I send my query to but I've only heard back from two and they said they are not interested at this time. Ouch. But that's okay. I was prepared for this. 

I was also prepared for my printer to run out of ink but now I need to order more ink (I'm very impatient and would almost rather go to the store and buy said toner for an arm and a leg) so I can't print anymore until I get more ink. And Staples doesn't take files from a Mac and I haven't gotten a tutorial yet on how to convert my files into a PDF, so here I am waiting. More waiting. 

The reason I need to print it out (double-spaced) is so I can send it to my sister's boyfriend's aunt who has never met me but loves my sister, thus she's rooting for me, and she has connections to all kinds of people who might be able to help me. Thanks, Leah and Linda!

Otherwise, thankfully, agents accept queries, synopses and manuscripts electronically!

So this picture shows what a finished (or somewhat finished because when an editor gets their hands on it, it will look totally different) manuscript looks like. And this is my beloved laptop that accompanied me to Coffee Depot many days so I could spend some uninterrupted time writing. (Yes, that is Justin Timberlake on my wallpaper.)

So I will go back to my friend the Internet and look up yet many more agents. Meanwhile I'm waiting for the ink...

First Day of School

My baby started third grade today!

Martha's Vineyard

We visited the Vineyard last week for the end of our summer vacation. What a great way to say goodbye to summer. Although I've been there before, I usually cram everything on the island into about 24 hours. This time, I had an entire week. It was leisurely and lovely. There were a lot of things I wanted to do that we didn't get a chance to do. It's kind of hard to get everything done with three kids who mostly want to stay at home and watch movies, but still it was nice. I would have liked to see a sunset--after all, it's mostly beach and flat land. And I would have liked to go to the beach more although I worked on my tan in the backyard of the house I stayed in. 

So what did we do? Ma

tt and I were 

able to escape one night and go to Sharkey's C

antina, a Mexican restaurant. We met some 

nice locals there and struck up conversations

. Then we parked our car at the house and 

walked into town, ending t

he night with drinks at a bar. 

Me and Dad and the girls went to the beach one day. Mom and Dad's friends met up with us and spent the day with us. We went to a flea market and also went into Vineyard Haven where mom and her friend had to visit Carly Simon's store called Midnight Garden.

On Friday there were fireworks at night in Oak Bluffs, a big to-do at the end of summer on the Island. I parked myself on the Common for most of the day to secure a spot for that night. That was a pretty amazing display of fireworks and we got front row seats (or blankets). We visited the Farmer's Market in West Tisbury, apparentl

y a huge thing there, sometimes with a celebrity or two but none that I spotted.

And we walked around the shopping areas in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, consuming lots of burgers, fish & chips, fudge and beer (not necessarily in that order). I rode my 

bike a lot--actually we all did, except for mom and Stella. 

A good time was had by all. Enjoy some pictures.

I'm a Dork but I like New Kids on the Block

Okay, so apparently New Kids on the Block are back. I don't know how long that's going to last. It's just a publicity thing. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved them when I was twelve. It's just kind of funny for a comeback like this.

I will enjoy it while it lasts. When I first heard their new release, "Summertime" and then saw them at the Today Show in New York City (which, yes, was cool!), I couldn't believe how I felt. There has been nothing, absolutely nothing, that has been able to make me feel like a very young teen, the way the New Kids on the Block's comeback has. 

Except now they're men and let me just say they have aged quite well. While I was in NYC, there were lots of posters of them from back in the day and yes, I thought they were cute then, but slap up a new poster of them any day. I could stare at that for awhile, at least until they fizzle out again. 

I never thought I would ever again hear the words, "The New Kids on the Block concert is sold out!" or on the radio, "Here's the new song by the New Kids on the Block". I had good reason not to think about them ever again. I mean, really, why would they cross my mind? They were a phase. But I hope this one lasts for awhile. I just WISH I could have gotten tickets to a concert. At least now, though, I've seen them live and I'm glad I had to wait almost twenty years because they are NOT kids anymore.

I think the most ironic, weird thing is that when "Summertime" comes on the radio, my girls come running for me to tell me that New Kids on the Block are on. They scream, they dance, they laugh and they sing along with me. And then the song ends and I put my ipod back on and listen to "Summertime" for the fifteenth time that day.

Long Lost Brothers?

Is it me or do Justin Timberlake and David Beckham resemble each other sometimes? 

I'm Gonna Be an Auntie!!!!

Stay tuned...

Locks of Love

So Tatum cut off ten+ inches of hair last week to donate to Locks of Love. I had told her about it awhile ago and asked if she ever wanted to do it and she was really interested. I was going to wait until after her dance recital in June but her hair was getting out of control and I wanted it gone. So I made an appointment at my salon and the rest is history. I sent it to Locks of Love and Tate even got a certificate from her teacher and recognized her at a school assembly earlier this week. The school is putting a little piece about it in the Feinstein newsletter for the school. (Feinstein as in Alan Shawn Feinstein.) When I walked into her school this morning, there is a picture of her at the main entrance with her new little hairstyle. 

I had no idea anyone was going to make such a big deal out of it but she's really gotten a lot of attention from it. I guess people are happy to see a little kid do such a selfless thing, especially when that hair is practically her identity. 

Rock on, Tate!

DURING

My girls, Dad and me.
Matt, the girls and me.
The girls.

This is a new friend. Actually it's for Matt. He's a little deskbuddy for work. But he needs a name. I was thinking Phin...? Arnie...? Gilbert...? What does he look like?
Oh, right, I got him from this great shop, Emily's Monkey Emporium.

The Other Travel Changing Pad I Made

I just love these fabrics. This is also for sale in my shop.

Calling Creative

I want to start some new posts here and share with you some of the wonderful things I have come across on Etsy. These are my fellow creators who I have saved in my favorites on the site and think they should be shared with the world (or with my friends). So keep me bookmarked and check back often as I will be showcasing some really great stuff. 

If you are a fellow Etsian, keep your eyes out for your own stuff here!

Enjoy.

What To Do With Pretty Fabric

It took parts of two days to make this but I finally finished it. It's an adorable little travel or home changing pad. It can be folded and rolled, then stuck inside a diaper bag. Or you can put it on top of your baby's changing table at home for something nice to look at during changing time. It's now for sale in my Etsy shop. Hard to believe a couple of days ago it was just a pile of cute fabric. I was working on another at the same time and I just finished but the batteries in my camera are still charging and it's raining outside so I can't get any pictures right now. (If you're wondering why it's worth mentioning that it's raining, I tend to get better pictures with better color outside. The color in this picture is off. I will eventually get a better picture for my shop.)

Anyway, I think I'm going to make some more of these babies. If you know me at all, I have a stash of fabric that has just been laying around. It needs to be loved!

Reputation for Repetition

Being three or four years old has got to be the coolest time of your life. You can talk and tell people what you want and do big-kid things, but you're still cute and soft (and you have all your teeth). One of the most intriguing things to me is the fact that a preschooler has a reputation for repetition. If you know me (not the most patient person in the world), you would think I would be utterly annoyed by this but I find it peculiarly endearing. One of a preschoolers favorite things to repeat is movies. Tatum had her fair share of movies that she would watch every day when she was between the ages of about 2 1/2 and 5. Among the phases of movies were "Shrek", "Lady and the Tramp" (which, at 2, she called "Shrimpy the Plant"), "The Little Mermaid" followed by "The Little Mermaid 2", "Monsters", "Sing and Play with Elmo" and many more that don't come to my numb mind at the moment. She knew all the lines and even acted out some of the scenes. It comes in very handy when you don't have a lot of movies (or when you want to take a nap).
Now, three kids and scads of Disney (and other) movies later, I've come to expect it. Portia, in the throes of four years old, has recently been a huge fan of "Cats and Dogs" (more affectionately known as "Dogs and Cats"), "Arthur and the Invisibles" and just this week "Beauty and the Beast". In "Arthur..." she pretends she is the character that is voiced by Madonna, called Selenia (I think) and she even wants her hair and her outfit to be like her. Her outfit consists of a half shirt showing off her perfectly sculpted abs, and teeny tiny pants which Portia substitutes with a little girls bra-type tee and a brown skirt (see below). When I first saw her do this it worried me and then when I realized why she was wearing it, it just cracked me up. Well, it's all pretty cute.
As for the brown skirt, my mom bought Portia this flowy, Bohemian-style brown skirt with flowers and sequins on the front and Portia absolutely LOVES that skirt. She will wear it for days on end, sometimes even to bed if I don't feel like fighting. It needs to be whisked away sometimes, yes, for a good scrub, but she will spot it a mile away (or keep nagging me to wash it) and she'll shimmy herself right back into it. Another thing she discovered as of late was this pair of black, footless tights that I bought two pairs of (one for Tate, one for Po) at the beginning of the school year for ballet. But, like anyone with a little girl knows, it was under piles of OTHER cute tights because little girls can never have enough tights, you know. I discovered the black footless tights the other day thinking she wouldn't like them but, well, they didn't come off for days. She slept in them, played in them and just totally adored them. They've been hanging out at the bottom of the hamper and she forgot about them after a couple of days but I'm sure as soon as she spots them, onto her little legs they will go.
And, back to the movies, you're probably wondering if Stella, not quite 2 yet, has any favorite movies. Well, yes, she does. She LOVES "Charlie and Lola" (I love them, two little cartoon kids with British accents--what's not to love?) and will scream "Lola! Lola!" when she's near the TV, overpronouncing the "L". That's actually pretty cute. (No, she doesn't have any favorite clothes yet, although she does seem to keep taking dresses off the hanger and really doesn't mind if her sisters dress her up in their princess-clothes.)

This is how little I like blogging...

...but I thought I'd share some of my newest stuff that I've been working on. It's pretty much the only reason I'm here. I've been crocheting scarves for my newest Etsy endeavor and also adding to my other Etsy shop with these cute hats that are a ton of fun.