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...