Squash those bubbles

Squash loves bubbles, we recently discovered, and Topher ADORES anything his cat does. His laughter is the best part of this video:



--KC

It's Working!

Topher hasn't ridden the tricycle in awhile, and he wanted to give it another go.  When he put his feet on the pedals, he started riding it and said, "It's working!"  Now he's very excited because we told him that he could have a big-boy bike (and helmet) whenever he learned how to use the pedals.  He used to want the Spiderman bike at Walmart, but now he's deep into a Mario Bros. obsession.  I've never seen a Mario bike for toddlers, but maybe we can just put some Mario stickers on a regular bike and watch him swoon.

Yeah, that seems like a good idea.



--KC

For Sale By Owner

It's no secret that we are outgrowing this townhome.  I am vigilant about keeping toys picked up, counters cleared and beds made.  And yet...I feel like every time I turn around the messes are sneaking up on me behind my back.  Everything is close at hand, and so potential messes are ever near. 

A house would not solve this problem.  A house might even magnify it (you know, the ol' "we have more space so let's collect more junk" mentality.) 

Except that in a house I would have more rooms to retreat to.  And maybe a bigger bathtub so I could completely submerge myself in some water therapy.  And maybe a room dedicated to toys so I could hurl them all in there and shut the door on them. 

Topher would love a yard.  Sassy would love a yard.  Even Squash would love a yard for her tiny leap-out-the-door-get-scared-and-leap back-in excursions. 

I would love a kitchen table.

There are a lot of reasons we would like a house, but none of them are urgent ones.  We just want to plant roots somewhere, show Topher a home and tell him he will grow up there.  Let him pick out the perfect shade of green for his bedroom, because to him all other colors are naturally inferior.

So we bought a sign and put it in front of our townhouse.  It reads For Sale By Owner.  We added an info box full of brochures.  We listed it on Craigslist and forsalebyowner.com.

And now we're just waiting for the right individual to come along.  We have had several emails and one showing so far.  We've also had two offers to buy it on contract (to which, obviously, the answer was no.)

I'm not generally a patient person.  But I feel strongly that the Lord has something mapped out for our little family.  If we need to wait awhile for a buyer, it is because our future house isn't on the market yet.  Or something else that only someone who knows everything could predict.

So our little sign sways in the wind and marks our home with its red and white message.  And we sway in the winds of fate, wondering where we might land but trusting that it will be somewhere wonderful.

--KC

Song Medley

In case you can't understand him, he starts with "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" then morphs into "Elmo's World."  After that he goes into "Roll your hands" and finally the "Wonderpets" theme song.  Enjoy.  :)




--KC

Snow Under the Sun

I want to climb the mountain, mommy!

I'll be right behind you if you should slip.

I made a no-ball, mommy.

You're so beautiful, Topher.

I made tracks with my boots, mommy.

You're getting so big, why are you getting so big?

I need to throw no-balls at the bad guys, mommy.

My gosh, I don't know if the sun is shining or if it's your gray eyes that are blinding me.

I need another no-ball, mommy.

The snow looks like sugar in your palm.

Let's play some more, mommy.

Someday you are going to fly.

I got your coat, mommy, with my no-ball.

No, you got me much deeper than that.

--KC

Budding Photographer

We gave Topher our old digital camera.  He's pretty excited about it.  You should see how carefully he turns it on, stands two inches away from his desired subject, takes a blurry picture, and beams over it. 

Here's a few of his favorite photos.

This last one is just one of many crotch shots, I might add. 

It's pretty fun to see the world through the eyes of a three-year-old.  And I actually think his point of view is a lot more interesting than my own.  I've never thought much of our laundry basket, for example, until I saw his artistic take on it. 

But maybe that's what kids do best...just continually expose you to new views.  Take a breath, snap a picture, and keep going.

--KC

sewing, or something like that

I have a hand-me-down sewing machine.  Have had for a few years, in fact.  But more often than not, I would glance at it and think, I don't sew.  That's it, just I don't sew as though it were something I could not change.  As though I were saying, My eyes aren't blue, never will be.

Well as Christmas was approaching and my fingers were knitting themselves into knots I started thinking, I need a new hobby.  And there was my sewing machine, dusty and looking sorry for itself.  So, just for fun, I started perusing the internet, looking for beginning sewing patterns.  I came across one that I fell in love with.

So I begged my sewing-master friend Beth to give me a lesson.  For a couple hours she walked me through how to cut fabric, topstitch, and add batting.  With her help, and then finishing it myself the next day, I made what I set out to make: a Pyrex carrying cover.  My mom always seems to be delivering a meal to someone, so I gave it to her for Christmas. 

But then after adding up the cost of that little project I started feeling gloomy.  Fabric is expensive (on sale for $5/yard--gee thanks), and I didn't know how I would ever accumulate enough to create a good stash.

Fortunately, I came across a blog that suggested buying fabric second-hand.  Sheets, towels, tablecloths...anything made of fabric at a thrift store is fair game.

This was the most genius idea I had ever come across (in the world of sewing).  So I ran to the Salvation Army and grabbed 4 sheet sets for about $8.  There's a couple YARDS of fabric in EACH sheet so really, the cost per yard is negligible.  (I then promptly washed them all because they had that certain Salvation Army smell.  But now they smell just like my dryer sheets.  And they also smell a bit like a bargain, if you ask me, which is a totally lovely scent.)  

I decided this is the perfect way to learn how to sew.  I can practice making things and if I mess up, it only cost me a few cents.  

Sigh of relief.  I can now continue to pursue my new hobby.

So the first thing I did was learn how to ruffle and, using one of those sheets, I made myself an apron.  I did not use a pattern, but I knew what I wanted it to look like in the end.  And after reading several sewing blogs and tutorials on line, all the info I needed was in my head somewhere, in bits and pieces.

Success (as long as I don't show you the back side)!

Then I made a little pin cushion for my sewing machine, so I'd have somewhere to put all the pins I pull out as I'm sewing along. 

Then I decided that I wanted to learn how to quilt.  I can't exactly explain why, except that I have a favorite quilt that I adore, and I can stare at it for hours and it always amazes me that someone made it.

So, an easy way to learn some quilting techniques is to knit yourself a potholder.  Using the leftover Pyrex material, I did just that.  This was also my first attempt at making my own bias tape (the edging, here in green.)

Then I saw a sprocket pillow and I knew I wanted to make one.  So I got out some floral sheets and went to work.

I kind of love this pattern, and if you made it bigger it could be an awesome floor pillow.  Perfect for a playroom and also so very zen.

But so far it was all just little things.  What I really wanted to make was my first quilt.  I found instructions for the "world's most simple quilt" and knew that was the one for me.

I no longer believe everything I read.

Seriously, if THIS is the easiest quilt in the world, I'm in trouble. 

However, in the spirit of not giving up, I decided to finish it no matter what. 

And last night, I did.

It's a small quilt, lap size (or Topher-sized, if it weren't so darn flowery), but it is a quilt. 

And I sewed it myself.  Without too much trouble.

Or something like that.

Now does anybody need a quilt and matching pillow?

--KC