Good Day

Today was a good day. It started when Aaron and I were reading our scriptures this morning. It was kind of hot in our room so I had the window above our heads open. With the window open I was able to hear a turkey gobble clear as day! I looked out and there were 15 females and 2 males. When we first looked both Toms were in full display. Then the one backed down and let this guy take the show. I wish we had a better zoom...

I wasn't going to post this, but I can't help myself. I made a doll blanket for a birthday party Sophie is going to tomorrow. As I was putting it together I kept thinking this is so bad...why am I even spending time on this...this will not be suitable for a birthday gift...I guess it is time to try some other craft...and a number of other negative thoughts.

But now that it is all done I feel all giddy about it. I guess sewing for me is like cleaning the house. I kind of hate it while I am in the middle of it, but then when the house is all clean and pleasant feeling, it totally feels worth it.

And finally, Sophie was playing dress up and had a sequined cape on that was sparkling in the sunlight. It looked like little sparkly bugs climbing on the wall. I liked it.

Learned Helplessness

This morning while I was waiting for the bus with Sophie, Ben wanted to play outside. This would have left Jacob inside alone.

I told Ben that if he wanted to play outside he had to get Jacob ready. I figured this would take longer than it would take the bus to get here since Ben can't dress himself in a timely manner on a regular basis.

However about a minute and a half later out came Ben dressed and ready to go along with Jacob. Hat, boots, coat...clearly I am not motivating or expecting enough out of Ben!

Quilt

I finally put together the innards of my first quilt. I learned a lot, but feel slightly intimidated by starting the next one as I put a lot of time and effort into it and still it is imperfect. That means I am going to have to put MORE time and effort into making a better quilt.

I need to follow the counsel of Elder Uchtdorf and just create without worrying about the perfection of the project, but it seems against my nature to do so. I do love the quilt though so I am sure I will get over it eventually.

This will be a lap blanket for the living room.

General Conference

We have been watching general conference for the last 2 days and Sophie was actually into it for one session. Admittedly all four sessions get a little long for me to even with all the amazing talks.

Ben's Hat

Ben asked me to make a blue hat for him and I did! It is a little too big but it will last him a couple of years hopefully. I thought I had made this one with no mistakes but alas I am still a mortal. For some reason there is a wrong stitch right in the front.

Also I left my knitting down and someone (they have yet to confess as to who) pulled my needles out. I was able to fix it all, but there about 3 stitches that ended up twisted. It is very subtle, but I can see them.

I think it is time for me to learn how knit in the round (or whatever the correct term is) because I really don't like the seam in the back that looks like an awful scar in the beautiful pattern of the hat/yarn.

Fall

Last night Jacob was on the back of the couch and fell off when Ben "accidentally pushed him off. This represents two rule violations.

1.Be Nice...Use Gentle Touch
2.Be Safe...No Climbing on the Back of the Couch

Anyway there was a nail sticking out of the back and Jacob got it. It is one of those things where you cringe and think if he had gotten it just a fraction of an inch closer to his eye what would have happened!!!!

All is well now though

A custom long band-aid with Jacob's personal addition of a perpendicular band-aid for show only (Jacob is also sporting Sophie's hat the neighbor made 2 winters ago. Someday Jacob will know his colors and care that he is wearing a purple hat, but for now we are good!)

Finished Projects

Sophie modeling the scarf I made her. It was not my favorite thing to do (they are REALLY long!!!) The yarn was kind of obnoxious to work with, but I will say that it is pleasing to look at now that I am not knitting it!

Up close of the yarn. It really is pretty cool looking.

For some reason this won't rotate. This is the sun dishcloth I made for my mom. You can see one spot in the lower left corner I messed up. I considered pulling it out and fixing it, but I figured it is going to be used to scrape food off of dishes and it wasn't that critical to have it perfect.

Job

I have a new job taking care of a little almost 4 year old named Mable. I don't have photos of her because I haven't gotten permission from her parents.

However, her parents are goat farmers and her dad brought one of the baby goats over to play today.

I wanted to get a picture of the kids with the kid, but I learned very quickly that it was not going to be possible to get the kids and the kid in the picture at the same time. She was a jumpy little thing!



She seemed quite fond of Aaron's neck!

Spring

Spring is always a little slower coming here in the Northeast Kingdom, but it is finally here. We did some garden work today. The boys (all three) are in heaven when they can push, move, touch, squish, and organize dirt. Here are few photos from the afternoon.

Sophie has been wearing this dress for about 4 years now!

Hair Cut

Sophie has been growing her hair out for awhile. It had gotten pretty long, but kind of stayed at the same length for a long time. Sophie isn't super careful about keeping her hair out of her food and I think she just got tired of always having crusty hair or having me pull her hair back so that it would stay clean.

Sooo..... she asked me to cut her hair to her chin yesterday. I supported her in growing her hair out, but I have always loved her hair at chin length.

As I was brushing her hair last night she saw both of us in the mirror and she she said, "I look just like you Mommy." She really kind of does.

Having children is so cool. It is neat to see what characteristics she inherited and to see those that she is learning from me (I am sure she has inherited a few I wish she hadn't from me, but oh well!)