Ouch!!!!

Today, my left thumb made contact with the blade of my mandolin slicer.  I was trying to make a healthy snack and needed to slice a piece of produce quite thin.  Instead, I sliced my finger.  Ouch!  Simon was to get off the bus in 5 minutes, Norah was trying to nap, and Eric was at work.  I figured this registered as an emergency.  So I called Eric, all I had to tell him was that I cut myself and felt that I needed stitches.  He raced home lickety-split.  Norah got out of bed on her own.  She had no idea what was going on, but looked confused when I sent her to put on her boots and coat and get in Daddy's car.  

At Urgent Care, this gauze replaced my bloodied kitchen towel. 

This is how my thumb looked after the doctor's care.  A bit immobile, don't you think.  I must keep it as dry and clean as possible.  My stitches free life has come to an end.  I have 3 or 4 stitches in my thumb. The whole procedure was endured with my eyes closed.  The four to five shots to numb the area were the worst.


It makes knitting away rather difficult.  I tried a few rows.  I have to use my clumsy wrapped thumb or hold the needle with my index and middle finger.  Either way it is awkward, slower, and works different muscles.  Hopefully each day gets better.

No Cabin Fever Over Here

And not much of a desire for spring, yet.  We have a good amount of snow cover taller than the grass that has lingered for more than a day,  finally!  I have come home from work the last two days to 4 boys romping in the snow in our yard and then moving the fun to another boy's house to build a fort and continue the romp.  My Lil' Miss must be with the boys, and holds her own quite well.  She is B.U.S.Y. in the snow.  Who thought that putting away summer toys was a good idea?  Buckets and other such summer toys are just perfect for the snow.  She fills up a bucket and dumps it somewhere over and over and over again.  She also builds penalty boxes for the boys' games.  I don't even know.  All I know, is that they COMPLAIN when it is time to come in the house with their really rosey cheeks and soaking wet clothes.  Then, they collapse on the couch and are asleep in their beds before 8:00 p.m.

It was perfect packing snow that has not fallen in a very long time!  They LOVE it.  You know the beautiful peaceful look of a white covered yard that looks so serene?  Not present in our yard, ours has snowballs of various sizes littered all over with tons of footsteps and crumpled snow.

And those wet snowpants? Well, they were still wet in the morning and needed a tumble in the dryer. Packed for more recess fun and will be donned for more after school play.  With a repeat ride in the dryer.  I don't mind one bit.

Knitting Away

My lenten project to complete, for the Addis Adaba Fistula Hospital. A hospital that cares for women with childbirth and related injuries, located in the capital of Ethiopa.

This is the shawl that I am making to donate to the Addis Adaba Fistual Hospital in Ethiopa.  A mom of a friend of mine, once mentioned a book her book club was reading.  It is called "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide".  It is about how women are treated around the world, it is heart wrenching and I could only read a little at a time.  One chapter was about women who have injuries related to childbirth that a simple surgery can fix, but does not happen.  One injury is a fistula, and the women leak urine until surgery fixes the problem.  Since they leak, they smell, and the family and village shuns these women to leave outside the village. They do not receive  this simple and humane healthcare because of how women are viewed and treated, and the unavailability and cost of healthcare.  This hospital provides the healthcare needed for these women.  And shawls can be donated.  So, this mom of a friend's book club decided to knit shawls.  She and I partnered together.  She bought the yarn, and I am knitting it.  I am sure that the cost of the yarn to make this lovely shawl probably totals a year's salary for any of the women in this hospital. A May completion date is coming fast, so I am knitting like crazy; I have to get it done!

Every stitch is a true joy!

Monday is Coming!!!!

And I CANNOT wait!  Monday, I can't believe IT will be here.  Document Due Date!

Monday is the day that all documents are due for Eric's mostest hugest project ever in the history of his career.  He did it.  Not that he won't still have a lot of work to do, but hopefully he will not have to work when he should be sleeping, multiple nights a week.  Or work several 14 hour days in a row.  Hopefully he will be able to feel awake when enjoying family down time.  It seems like a very long time since this all started over 2 years ago.

Breaking ground on this project will be a huge accomplishment.  I, personally, cannot wait to see the completed building that my husband designed, planned, and made possible.  The inner workings of his mind is so very detailed.

That being said, we are soooooo looking forward to a chance to get away and have family time playing away the days.  We are thinking about getting away for a few days over spring break; however, spring break is holy week ending with Easter.  A long weekend away over Palm Sunday seems to be the best option.  Perhaps mid-week would work, if he can get away from the office.  We have to see, and find a destination.  

I definitely want a family vacation this summer.  A week off with Eric, how wonderful would that be!  I can't remember the last time . . .

At least one can hope that plans for a family vacation are possible!

Happy Heart Day

I used to send out Valentine's to my girlfriends, family, and dear people to our hearts.  I loved it.  The last 2 years it felt more of a chore than a joy, so I don't do it to the extent I used to. Simon and Norah have their own Valentine's to sign and pass out, so my energies go to them.  I still send out a few of my own Valentine's.  First to my own honey, then to my kids.  I had to hand select who were the recipients of the other 3, and this year, they went to people who need a little extra care right now.  I hope they enjoy them. 

But, a lot was still done. 

1. ‎24 party favor/treat bags for 2nd grade party made and sent on their way, 
2. getting the boy to finish his 24 Valentine's to pass out to classmates completed, 
3. 23 preschool Valentines signed and "decorated" by Norah, 
4. 12 day care friends' Valentine's carefully created by Norah, 
5. 7 important teachers' Valentines ready for delivery, 
6. 1 befriended neighbor girl's Valentine ready to drop in the mailbox (Norah calls this 5th grade girl her "best friend", 
7. 27 Valentine's passed out for students on my caseload (simple print, cut, sign, and deliver), 
8. 13 Valentine's waiting for my homeroom students (again, simply print, cut, and sign), 
9. 6 special Valentine's handmade and hopefully arriving in mailboxes today, 
10. little treats in tin mailboxes ready to greet 2 sweet and lovable kiddos at the table this morning! 

Whew! It's now time to sit back and enjoy the love! 

Happy Valentine's Day to you, hope you feel loved and appreciated!

Snow Much Fun!!!

Finally, we have snow!

And enough to require shoveling!
Enough to make snow angels!
Enough to go sledding!
Enough to look pretty when gazing out the window!
Trees are coated, it is lovely!

Norah and I enjoyed shoveling.  Well, I did the shoveling.  She enjoyed making snow angels, had Purple Teddy make snow angels, helped Teddy sled, and enjoyed the yard with snow!  Then we walked to the park about 1.5 blocks away.  This park has an outdoor pool, a pond, benches, and a few picnic tables - no playground.  It is a great little park to fly a kite, fish, swim, enjoy storybook picnics, watch ducks and geese, play under the willows, and just a place to walk to after dinner.  We love it.  It is mostly for water retention and the grassy field is bowl shaped.  The bottom is usually soggy during non-winter months.  The little hill was perfect for early morning sledding.  We had a good time outside this morning.  The Lil' Miss lasted about an hour and a half outside on the this warm and balmy 24 degree morning!

When Simon returns from school, we will go sledding at the big hill.  Perhaps we will see the neighborhood when we go!  We have waited practically a year for these few precious inches!  I'd say we only got about 2-3 inches.  Possible snow through tomorrow and again on Thursday may bring us more.  One can only hope!

Hold that page!

I signed up to provide a treat for Simon's Valentine Treat bag.  He gets a Valentine's party, but not directed by parents.  The parents provide the treat bags and the teacher does the party.  Since I know my son never eats any candy sent home, and we have more holiday themed pencils than the next 6 years' worth of school supply lists require, I wanted to be sure he got something that he would want, and not give away to his sister.  So, I made bookmarks, and they are adorable!  Simply cut out felt hearts, sew together part way, and finish the stitching around the top heart.  Easy peezy!  And, I am done.  Ahead of schedule.  No procrastinating on this project.

I found a fun poem about reading and added a blurb to inform that the felt hearts are bookmarks, to insert into the hearts.  I like them, I hope his classmates do to!  And his teacher.  And the librarian. And anyone else he wants to gift on heart day!

(FYI - I figured out how to email pictures from my phone. This means I can put pics on my blog with ease, More pics to share!)

Book Club

We had our own book club!  We spent some time reading out loud Mr. Popper's Penguins.  It became a much looked forward to part of getting tucked into bed.  I must say, it is a great read-aloud book for kids.  Easy to get caught up in the excitement.

We finished the book on Friday after school, and proceeded to have penguin fun!  We enjoyed a black and white after school snack; Oreo's and hot chocolate with whipped cream/marshmallows.  Then we proceeded to make felt penguin finger puppets.  Simon even made a penguin out of Legos, all on his own!  We had some printable word search and activities fun. We played a card game we have called "Penguin Pick Up" and "Don't Break the Ice".  The kids had to change their clothes into black and white items, you know, to look like penguins.  After our pizza dinner, our black and white dessert included brownies and homemade vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. We enjoyed a family movie night of watching Mr. Popper's Penguins.

The movie is COMPLETELY different than the book.  Similarities include Mr. Popper, 2 children. some penguins (with different names) . . . and that's about it.

The kids loved it; as it was full of humor a 7.5 year old would laugh at.

So much fun!

Now we are on the hunt for the next read-aloud book that might correlate with a movie!

Deal of the Day!

I have a great purse, but the corners are starting to tear.  It was a gift with a matching wallet, and I really like it.  Recently I went to Kohl's to try to replace it; purses even there are so expensive.  And I did not find a great replacement.  Yesterday I had 45 minutes before I needed to pick up Norah from preschool. So I dashed to Savers, looking for a deep purple purse to match my wallet and a purse that I liked.  I FOUND ONE!  It looks just like this, only in deep purple, with a perfect match to my wallet.  Nothing was worn or ruined AT ALL!  Yep,  I paid $5.99 for a COACH purse.  It looks very similar to this one, only mine is deep plum/purple with very dark brown leather details.  I love it!