Another blessing

Our family has pretty much funded new wings of libraries with our overdue fines. One fine we had in NC was $60+. Our biggie was in Baltimore, we owed the Towson library over $100 when we forgot a bag of books while we were in the midst of moving.

I don't pride myself on this, in fact I get embarrassed when things are late. My skin crawls and my heart beats faster when someone or something is not on time (although Jen and Stephen have taught me to chill quite a bit over the years:)).

Our new county (get this!!!) doesn't believe in fines for overdue library books!!!
I almost cried tears of joy when the librarian told me this.

Spring

 

Found these at Michael's and thought it was a good way to kick off spring. The kids are having fun taking care of them and watching them grow.
Picked up some seeds yesterday, really looking forward to getting a garden planted again. We never saw the fruits of our labor last year (although we did give them to our neighbor and he said they did well!), but this year we are looking forward to watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes and lots of flowers.
Love, love, love this time of year.

Stacking Championships

Avery brought home a flyer announcing the local stacking championships taking place in a nearby town. What?? People actually have contests for these types of things?

I first thought it was a joke, but then Stephen pointed out there is a commercial on TV that shows contestants in the heat of stacking.

I laughed, but then seriously considered taking Avery. She loves to stack. She is good at it. It IS an art form, one I don't truly understand, but obviously people get some satisfaction with stacking.

By the time I pulled the flyer from her backpack, we had missed the event. I will keep my eye out for it next year.

Here she is, in her stacking glory, days after I read about the event.

unexpected find

I have been looking for this book. It is a collection of short stories and it brings me back to when I was growing up, reading it before bed with mom.
I couldn't remember the name of it, who wrote it, and it was just one of those thoughts filed in the back of my brain, that eventually I really wanted to find a copy of this book and add it to our reading every night with our kids.



Avery's school had a used book sale/fundraiser last week and I found my book!! I didn't recognize it by the cover, but when I opened the book (because in the semi-hunt for this book, I pick up every book that says 365 stories) and saw some of the pictures, I knew I had found it. What a blessing to stumble upon this treasure.

There are so many things, little things, that I had in my heart before we moved here. Things about what I wanted in a house, neighborhood, town. Things I didn't even realize were THAT important to me. God has taken care of many details that have surprised me, overwhelmed me (in a GREAT way) and blessed me. And yes, this silly book, finding it at Avery's school, is another blessing.

Finished project

Back in August, I taught myself how to knit. Had a bit of time on my hands and fell in love with the process. It seriously gets your mind off of things which is great when your mind has a lot of things on it.

So I knitted a scarf for Avery. I didn't know how to purl, so I knitted. Then my friend Lea showed me how finish the scarf off, as well as the purl stitch. She also gave me a very simple hat pattern that I thought would go great with the scarf.

I started it, but then life got in the way. Not only did we move, but I ran out of yarn. I couldn't find more of the same yarn, so I asked my mom and sister to hunt with me. Four stores later, they found it on a trip they took to NJ, mailed it and I FINALLY finished.

Who cares that spring is right around the corner...

grandma and her switchblade

Funny story.

Years back, my grandmother was visiting our house and was getting ready to leave. My mom was helping her with her faux leopard print swing coat in the kitchen. My grandmother went fumbling for a tissue or something from her pocket and came out with this pocket knife. Or rather, a switchblade.

I am not sure we ever got a definitive answer as to why she had this in her pocket. Especially since she was living in a nursing home and in her late seventies/early eighties.

But I am guessing after being a florist for so many years, she knew the value of having a knife handy.

I have used this knife many times, most recently during all of our unpacking. Not only is it useful, but I think of her every time I use it. Up until recently it was so dull you could run your finger across it and not get a cut. But Stephen sharpened it the other day and it is almost good as new (ok, not really, but good enough for opening boxes).

So Stephen thinks it is pretty funny that I have this knife and still use it. He has several small working knives around the house and they are invaluable. I just happen to have a stylish one with some history:)

Schrade Cut Company
US Patents on this knife:
February 13 06
February 26 07

Yup, over 100 years old.
(I am sure dad will do some research to see if it is worth anything on Ebay, but I'm not giving this up).

proud mommy moments

For 6+ months I anticipated 'normal' life. Well, we have arrived (more or less) and it feels wonderful, BUT for some reason it is not as calm as I had imagined.

Stephen's travel has picked up considerably, Avery's school 'work' is fun, but a bit time consuming, Jackson is Jackson (this morning he decided to show me he can reach the drawer of knives!) and we are in the midst of signing up for some spring activities which have already started.

And we are still settling in trying to get all the fun (meant with every bit of sarcasm) stuff accomplished, DMV, health insurance, minor house repairs that MUST get done, and all the scheduling that is involved with those.

Just some snapshots of our week:
Jackson loves sitting on the potty. Even if his pants are still on. He did use the potty correctly 1x, but nothing mastered yet.


I went upstairs to straighten the kids' rooms and found this drawing. My jaw dropped when I realized it was Avery's work, a still life of her octopus.


And Charlie is sleeping diaper free. We aren't wet free yet, but at least he is trying.