Feeling Crafty

I finally did a project I've been wanting to do for months. Like usual, I did it halfway, because I didn't have the colors I would have liked, but this is what I had on hand.
I took a picture Brenna drew on a fisher-price magnadoodle, made a copy of it in the printer/copier and put it inside the shirt. Then I held it up to a window and traced it the best I could. Then I 'embroidered' the design onto the shirt. It's not as sloppy as I would have liked, but it was difficult to trace it properly and also I'm REALLY bad at embroidery. The kids like it, in fact Aisling and Rowan have been drawing all afternoon and giving me designs to sew onto shirts for them. Aisling's are of course very detailed and involved and Rowan has broken down into screaming fits several times because she can't draw a snail! Too cute! (except the fit part)

Kid's Tics

My friend Jessica's daughter just started breaking her hair off. My Brenna started twisting her hair into such tight knots that it would rip out when she was about 20 months. She still twists it, but if I keep it short enough she can't get it wrapped around her finger tight enough to pull it out. She seems to do this as a comfort thing or possibly a bored thing. It is usually if she is tired, watching a movie, or zoning out while riding in the car or something. All of my kids have had a thing for hair, including Lachlan. It seems to me that most kids do. But most kids do not pull or break out their own hair.
Rowan is addicted to the binky. ( We're going to be cutting that up on her birthday in May)
Since Aisling started kindergarten she has started a new habit. She constantly blows her air out. Just this quiet little "hwew". Just like blowing out a candle. It drives me crazy! She said it is because she doesn't want air in her mouth. ?? Have any of your kids had weird tics that bother you? What did you do about it?

An Argument for Breast Augmentation

This has been sitting in my drafts for about a month, waiting for me to fix it up ready for posting, but I never have and since we are all still sick, and my brain is fried, I am giving you a poor sympathy post for your entertainment. Enjoy! ( I didn't think a picture would be appropriate for this one, although on second thought, it would be amusing!)
Of all the people I've talked to about this, it seems there are quite a few that are still undecided. I have been asking people their opinions about 'boob jobs'. I came to the conclusion last night after years of thought and decided I am in favor of 'boob jobs'. And I feel I can rightly justify my position. In my mind, I had felt it would be ok, probably, if someone got decent sized breast implants, but it was immoral for someone to get huge ones. Have you ever had thoughts like that? There is the argument about going against nature, not being grateful for what God has given you, etc. But seriously, people get corrective surgery all the time. What about braces, LASIK, appendectomy, caesarians, acne treatment etc. What about the poor gal who has been over-abundantly 'blessed' with huge bosoms, should she not be allowed to get a breast reduction? So any of you who might have been feeling the need for a refill, I wholeheartedly support you. Just make sure you email me and tell me the Dr. and the fees. ;)
Feel free to respond to this Anonymously if you choose! :)

Pride & Vanity

This afternoon Aisling went out to catch the bus for kindergarten. She was wearing a thin, poufy skirt and I asked her if she was warm enough. She said yes at first, but then as the wind continued to blow around her bare legs, she decided she was cold. I ran upstairs and grabbed a pair of pants and ran back down as fast as I could, but as I reached the door I could see the bus had arrived. I am very ashamed to say I did not run out to give my daughter some pants so she wouldn't freeze at recess. The reason is since I was doing laundry and cleaning this morning, I had decided not to get dressed 'til I could take a shower this afternoon. Normally I would jut be wearing stretch pants and a hoodie, but my sister-in-law gave me a pair of pajamas last night. These are bright blue pjs with bright yellow rubber duckies all over them. I was just TOO embarrassed for the bus driver to see me run out in these ridiculous pajamas so I stayed inside, behind the door and waited for the bus to leave. I felt so bad for my poor little girl, out in that bitter wind with nothing on her legs. I tried consoling myself with the self-righteous thoughts of, "I TOLD her to wear pants today, I TOLD her it was too cold to wear a skirt. I guess she'll learn her lesson." But the truth is I feel more bad towards myself for being too prideful to run out and giver her the pants. It was a revelation of my true nature. I, who so often have judged others too ashamed to go out without their make-up on, refused to be seen by some old guy bus driver with my greasy hair and rubber ducky jammies. Why should I care about his opinion over the comfort of my daughter? I am so ashamed.
Mine are about 20x brighter than these!
Have you let your vanity get the better of you?

Oh What a feeling

Sunday morning Abram & I decided we were simply too tired to get up and feed the kids. I gave Aisling permission to get cereal for herself & her siblings. Oops! When we came downstairs 30 minutes later, half of the bag of cereal looked like it had been poured into a balloon, released into the air only to hit the ceiling fan and explode all over the kitchen/dining room. the girls spent the next 20 minutes cleaning up the mess and Lachlan followed them around eating cereal out of their swept up piles. ( Don't worry, I had swept the floor the night before) Of course being children of a young and inexperienced age, after they were done cleaning, there was still quite a mess to clean up. We had to spend the rest of the morning getting ready for church and were busy when we got home and then were gone for the evening. I fed the kids birthday cake from the party last night for breakfast and then spent 30 minutes cleaning up the mess from yesterday and the chocolate crumbs from this morning. I think I had about 3 dustpans full of cereal and stuff ( I wiped all the table and counter crumbs onto the floor) minus the stuff Lachlan sneaked out while I was busy in another area. I can't figure out why he won't eat fresh food off his tray but seems to find his spilled food, especially a day later, irresistable. Anyway, it was an overwhelming feeling to have such a pig sty turn in to such a glorious clean room. The place I wanted to set fire to this morning is now a lovely, relaxing place. If only a little 409 could get the kids to stop fighting.
Have you ever allowed something foolish and had to suffer the consequences?

L.J. - 2/19/08

Our darling little boy had his very first Birthday. We are so happy to have such a sweet guy as part of our family. He is a favorite amongst the girls and definitely has his daddy charmed. He has the funniest laugh; whenever anyone hears it, they laugh too. He still likes to share and hug you when you're sad. He loves to imitate his sisters, especially when they're throwing fits. I love it when one of them is rolling around on the ground bawling, he'll lay down right next to her and roll around and make funny faces. It alway busts the girls up and the fit ends as abruptly as it began. He likes to hum himself to sleep at night with one hand on his fuzzy head. He is very friendly and seems to really like any men who come to our home. He'll climb right up into their arms and sit quite contentedly. Cars are probably his favorite toy. He loves to dance and sway and gets his head moving to the beat anytime music is playing. He is so easy going and pleasant, he still likes to snuggle and cuddle and get kisses. Of course he likes to explore and pull things out of the cupboards and pantry and demolish any piles of folded laundry he finds. He likes animals and kids. I like it how he sits on his knees while he is playing. He is a happy, loving, adorable, bald guy with blue eyes. We love him! Happy Birthday, Lockey-Locke!

Habit

I can count the number of times I've gone to bed without brushing my teeth on one hand. It is just something you do regardless of how tired or sick you are, like breathing. (that doesn't include nights that I didn't go to sleep or when I was a child under my parent's supervision. Yes, it is true, my parents forgot to teach me to brush my teeth. Thus at my first dentist appointment I was astonished to learn about the strange habit and about these little things officially known as caries, but called cavities AND to discover I had 8! Thankfully they were all baby teeth and I learned at an early age to take care of my oral hygiene myself. As a parent to 4 children, and having been the #4 child, I can see how they could've forgotten to teach me that important info, as each child after #1 learns their animal sounds, letters and how to spell their names later and later. Or they probably assumed the older siblings would show me the way, or rightfully given up the fight and decided baby teeth didn't need to be protected from cavities anyway because they're going to be sold to the tooth fairy eventually.)
I'm probably a strange anomoly because after the initial visits and fillings took place, I actually enjoyed going to the dentist. I took pride in never having another cavity and thought getting your teeth cleaned was like a massage for your teeth. Who can pass up those wonderful prizes in the treasure chest when your visit is through? And isn't the smell of the gunk they rub on your teeth heavenly? Oh how I miss those days of Dental Insurance. As it is, I haven't been to a dentist since 1998. I still never miss a night of brushing and am fairly consistent at flossing. I am proportionately bad at brushing in the morning. I almost never do unless I have somewhere to go.
Since my husband works in the dental industry, one might think I would have my semi-annual check-ups like clockwork. It is true that we could do trade work with probably any dentist in town. But there is just something keeping me from enjoying my old 'day at the spa'. I can't quite put my finger on.... do you think after 11 years I'm still caries free? It shouldn't matter anyway. I could just have Abram make me new teeth if the old ones rot out of my head. My parents were right all along.
What keeps you doing good habits or from doing things you know you should?