Where the hell have you been?

This is a question I have been hearing a lot lately. I don’t really have one particular reason for my online and occasional real life absence. It’s been a lot of things, really. Mike is graduating in 3 weeks from high school. So you know that means lots of planning, invitations, mailings, and a lot of talking to people I don’t like, but it’s a small town and I have to be nice. Mike’s track season for him, Mel’s hand bell concert schedule (she performed with the Erie Jr Phil a few weeks ago). Melanie had a wickedly twisted break up with her first love, that took a while with lot’s o’ drama (not hers, just him pulling her chain and his family). Our giant burmese python died the Saturday before Easter. We buried him in the yard and planted a purple rhodi in his honor. Joshua has a new schedule at work that is driving him and I both a little nutty. Lindy (don’t think I’ve mentioned her before, but she is my mother’s sister, the cool one) and I have started a business. Designing and sewing clothing, handbags, wallets, baby items, jewelry, etc. This is the first week since February that I have not been at one or more of my machines on a daily basis. We are putting together an online store that will hopefully be up and running in a few weeks.

My calendar for this week is also full. An honors banquet tonight, where both M & M are getting recognized for something (I am hoping a scholarship for Mike, keep your fingers crossed), tomorrow Mike is getting his tattoo from Johnny at Karma Tattoo. Since Mike’s 18th bday was on mother’s day….we gave him his tat for his birthday and he is giving me a small one for mother’s day. Not your typical mother’s day fare, but I have never been the typical mother, either. Thursday is actually a down day which can prep me for Friday when I am chaperoning Mel’s Accelerated Bio class to the Cleveland Zoo. Saturday, the Guitar and Strings concert is being held in the Albion Boro Park. G&S is an informal music club at Northwestern. All the kids are pretty talented. Melanie and her friend, Melanie, have written a song and will be performing it in a 6-7song set. I am WILDLY excited to throw down a blanket, and listen to some awesome music. The concert starts at 1 if you want to join us. Bring a picnic and chill with the cool kids on Saturday!

I am sure I have left out a lot of detail but this is a quick and dirty version of why I have been MIA for the last few months.

Peace!

Advice needed from mothers of young ones

As my children have grown older, their interests have gone from power rangers and barney to IPods, cell phones, and xbox…I am mostly ok with that. But I think I am losing my connection to what little kids like.

My dearest friend, Christine, is having her son’s 6th birthday party this Saturday. Billy is a great kid and very much a part of you family. Since he and his sister were born (Ana is 4), all of their gifts from me have been handmade (don’t conjure up images of Ralphie and Aunt Clara’s gift, I am MUCH cooler than that).

So Billy’s party is less than a week away and I spent today crocheting this:

I was pretty impressed with myself considering it took less than 4 full hours to complete. Then my 17 year old son walks in the room and asks who it’s for, I say Billy’s birthday. So my son proceeds to tell me Billy is too old for a dinosaur and I should think about a trip to ToysR Us. I was heartbroken.

Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

My New Toy

Christmas was definitely interesting this year.  I awoke at 445 in the am in order to have an intimate conversation with the toilet.  I did most of the talking.  Afterwards, I felt well enough to head downstairs.  Joshua figured that since we were up, we may as well get the kids up and start enjoying presents.

The kids were VERY happy with their gifts.  Melanie spent most of the day teaching herself a song on her new acoustic guitar.  Mike spent most of his day rearranging his room to accomodate his new television.  Mostly we bought it for him to have a good one to take to college with him in the fall.  The one he had was a 12 inch that he’s had since he was 10.

Due to my early morning stomach issues, I was leery of touching any of our feast, so Mike prepped and stuffed the bird, and Melanie helped my sister with the mashed potatoes and side dishes.

Melissa and Jim came over.  From the time she walked into the house until she left, she never shut up.  Joshua and I were exhausted when they left.  I swear that my sister is an emotional vampire.  If we are together more than a few hours, I am wiped.  She is also diabetic.  At dinner, she ate a fair amount of mashed potatoes and 2 dinner rolls.  Then wondered why her sugar was so high afterwards.  When I went to serve dessert (dutch apple and pecan pies with vanilla ice cream), she stood in line with the kids for a slice.  I DON’T THINK SO.  Usually, I keep my mouth shut when it comes to her and her health issues, but I had to put my foot down.  No pie.  She was very mad at me.  I packed a slice for her to take home for the next day, but I doubt that it made it that far.

The funny thing is that this is actually the easiest Christmas Joshua and I have had in years.  Even with Melissa sucking me dry.

Ok, so on to my new toy…..Joshua gave me an embroidery machine!  I am so excited to start sewing on it!  I bought some muslin today to practice.  I think I’ll be making a lot of small bags and wine covers.

How was everyone’s Christmas!

She’s Crafty

Last week was the Albion Fair.  Over the last year, I have been busy crocheting, crafting, cross-stitching, weaving to the point where when I went to submit my items to the craft barn on Tuesday, I had 32 entries.  Wednesday morning was the judging, so Wednesday evening, we went back over to the fairgrounds to see what the judges had to say.  I placed in 28 out of 32 entries!  Below are the pictures of my entires.  I was very happy, and my goal next year is to place “best in show”, so I am looking for a project that just screams, “WOW”.

My fair Premium check was $52.50!  That’s definitely a record for me.  Now that the Fair is over, it’s time to start on Christmas gifts.  Woohoo!