A Knit A Week

Pretty Socks!!

For me!!

Pattern: Kai Mei Socks from Sock Innovation by Cookie A.

Yarn: Splendor Sock Yarn in the Spring Garden colorway

by Jill Draper

Verdict: The combination of this sock pattern's totally

fun gusset and foot along with Jill's beautiful

and oh, so soft yarn makes me

incredibly happy. I love how the design

for the gusset wraps up and over the top of

the foot. They look great in all my

many pairs mary jane's.

Overheard At Bedtime

Princess #3 (yelling after goodnights): Daddy! Mama!

**

Queen's side note: {A risky move at the castle, as there is the potential to lose a stuffed animal for pestering parents after bedtime.}

King: What's going on?

Princess #3: I can't find my pink bunny.

**

Queen's side note: {And it's no wonder, in her bed is every stuffed animal she owns!}

King: (flipping off her covers to find the pink bunny) Did you know that you have Buzzy in your bed?

**

Queen's side note: {Buzzy is our very alive, not stuffed (yet) cat, gigantic black cat.}

Princess #3: NO!! How'd he get in there??

**

Queen's side note: {I do wonder how long he would have lasted in there, with all her friends and whatnot.}

Wordless Wednesday

How We Homeschool With A Toddler v.2

Now this only works if you have a willing big sister.

The Prince is lucky.

He has three big sisters. All willing.

Well, most of the time. {grin}

Homeschooling with a busy toddler is not

for the non-caffeinated.

It is a challenge to keep him occupied and happy.

Homeschooling with a toddler means lots of

after-school surprises, like finding cd's jammed

in the crack between the wall and the trim.

Matchbox cars exploring gravity in the toilet.

Puddles of water, well, anywhere.

But . . .

If Princess #3's interest in and ability to catch on

is any indication, more is caught

than taught.

And that right there, makes me grit me teeth,

pull out my *special* matchbox car retrieval tongs,

and just keep on.

Learning some fractions with biggest sis,

while holding littlest big sis' kitty cat.

Home Ec 101

Washing the potatoes, while biggest sis peels.

Do You See . . .

. . . what he sees?

He found his shadow today.

It's off to Never Never Land tonight, I suppose.

Wordless Wednesday

Happiness Should Be . . .

. . . baking Christmas cookies with your kids. Right?

Okay. I thought so.

I'll try again.

A Knit A Week

Dougie Dog Hat and Scarf

These were made in anticipation of my

nephew joining our family and it makes me feel so

incredibly happy and blessed to see him wearing them.

Pattern: Dougie Dog Hat and Scarf by Lucinda Guy

Yarn: Zenith by di.Ve

Verdict: This is a fun little pattern that would be a great intro into

intarsia. Intarsia is probably one of my least favorite

knitting skills to use, but it sure makes for a fun finished project.

Overheard After a Snuggle

Princess #3: Mama! Mama! I just snuggled the Prince and his sweater you made him is so soft!

Queen: It did end up really soft didn't it?

Princess #3: I can tell you made it with the good yarn.

Queen: Princess, you have the makings of a wonderful (albeit snobby like your mama) knitter someday.

I love that she already *knows* good yarn, just by the feel. I am bringing her up right! {grin}

Wordless Wednesday

My Mistake

Princess (whose number shall remain secret): {with great exasperation!} Please bring that upstairs! That mirror belongs upstairs!!

Queen: Hey! Stop being so bossy!

Princess (whose number shall remain secret): I'm *not* being bossy, I'm just telling her what to do!!!!

Overheard After School

. . . an etiquette lesson.

Princess #1: Instead of describing people as fat, you should say they have lots of stored energy.

Princess #2: What? Why?

Princess #1: Well, because fat is stored energy. So you can say, "Wow, that person has a lot of stored energy." It's nicer.

Princess #3: (trying it out) Wow, Santa Claus has a lot of stored energy!

Wordless Wednesday

At Second Glance

When I have a chance to sit down and obsess, a lot of what I choose to obsess about is asking the "why's". Why did that have to happen that way? Why am I dealing with this particular situation?", and on and on goes the pity parade.

I think asking why can be healthy . . . in moderation. It can bring me round to the point of recognizing God's hand or provision in a particular instance that I need to thank Him for. It can bring me to my knees, reminding me that I am not in control. It can bring me peace resting in a perfect, bigger, albeit, invisible plan for my life that has been promised (by the ultimate Promise-Keeper), to be good.

That brings me round to Princess #3. She is often a source of "whys". Last night, some very dear friends inadvertently or maybe vertently {grin} encouraged me by giving me one answer to a why concerning her. As I explained a tiny bit about our evening routine, they commented that I was showing compassion to her, and that she will remember that compassion.

Hmm. Compassion.

I've been pondering that thought since. I don't feel particularly compassionate as we are doing the evening routine (or any other quirky ritual). Mostly I feel relief that it worked and we had a peaceful episode or ending to the day. However, my heart has been softened so much for other parents who have spirited children. We have been often told that our daughter is strong-willed and we should be "taking care" of that attitude. And while that may be true, with that diagnosis there is no grace, dare I say compassion, for the very, real struggles that my child has in making her God-given temperament mesh with her world. To that end, I think my friends are right and that has been such an encouragement to me.

Why do I have some of the struggles I do with this sweet girl?

Because God wants me to learn how to be compassionate to the passionate {grin} in my life!!

You ladies know who you are. Thank you for blessing me with your wisdom and perspective on my life.

A Knit A Week

A Thorpe Hat for Princess#1

Pattern: Thorpe, another great multi-sized freebie

Yarn: Classic Elite Countess (sadly discontinued) &

Grace by Louisa Harding (for the border)

Verdict: A wonderfully easy, warm hat. I think that the crocheted

contrast edging really sets it off nicely.

I customized it for her, adding

a top knot by starting the pattern with an i-cord,

and added very long braids.

She loves it! Yay!

Happiness Is . . .

having your husband, of his own free-will mind you, put up the icicle lights on the house! The castle is starting to look festive.

Overheard From the Living Room

Princess #2: Maaaamaaaaa!! Princess #1 is making baby Jesus talk.

Queen: What's wrong with that??

Princess #2: He couldn't talk yet, we're only at the part when the shepherds were there, not when the wise men got there.

**

My Dad would be so proud! All growing up, our family's nativity scene (aka the one you DID NOT touch), would have either the wise men on the shelf above or far apart from the scene, because my Dad feels very strongly that Bible shows the wise men showing up when Jesus was not a new born babe. And apparently, I have followed in his footsteps! {grin}

Almost Wordless Wednesday

She wanted to see what she looked like

when she looked at her bangs. {grin}