The small list.

Sometimes the days are sooooo long, and the nights - even longer.  I came home this morning to a quiet house.  Bobby and Olive all ready gone, Ilin asleep with computer on his bed, and dog pee on the floor.  Its a beautiful thing.  I peeked in Olive's room to notice she didn't make it though the night without a pull-up just as the dog did not make it through the morning with the dog door closed.  It's like the Yin/Yang of my life.   Exhaustion, but no break.

I was looking at my friend, Jen's list of things she wants to accomplish...some rigamaroll about 101 things in 1000 days...

I started my list this morning.

1. throw out all period panties...period. (these should not exist)

2. cut my hair into a short hair cut (even if I have a big nose and stick straight hair and am sure I will look like a scary person)

3. Learn Spanish ( so I can speak to the people I take care of and not resort to bad restaurant Spanish...or at least to travel and get something besides a Corona)

4. Learn how to fall in love again.  (with anything, so I can prove to myself I'm not as cynical as I know I am)

5. Go get my "lack of eyebrows" waxed ( tighten that shit up)

6.  Teach Olive to pee in the potty at night, not in her bed, "even though she is sooooooo tired"
7.  clean the house from top to bottom without falling on the floor in tears.


***are 7 things enough?***

its good enough to start....
 gotta go steam clean.
and throw away period panties.
have a good day

Bad Mom, then I recovered

oops, at least she can't see it...

so we decided to cook out, and the grill ran out of propane, so we pulled out the standby.

talk about ghetto...

But I made up for it with Homemade Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from "Smitten Kitchen" blog.

yummy (although I felt they could have used chocolate chips)

And because OUR fireworks were basically rained out, Bobby purchased $14.99 of fun in a box, state approved, so somewhat boring, but when you are performing for a 6 year old, they haven't a clue

Boom chuckalucka!!!

Friday we leave for Michigan with 3 kids, 2 dogs and an 18 hour drive. woop wooop

July 2nd

first of all

Happy Birthday Liz!!!

ok...

I got up and did my run. walked part but still went. My knee is so screwed that running has become more stressful than healthy. I still feel the need to burn the calories, so I still try to go, plus anyone who works out regularly knows that when you miss a few days you feel mentally crappy.

This post is going to jump around a bit, but I'm sure you are used to that with me.

I'm amazed that it is all ready July. I feel like I haven't really done much. I mean this weekend is the 4th, I got conned into working, so I won't even get to enjoy the one Summer Holiday that I love. I guess I'll buy a watermelon for work.

I figured out the border for the garden...beer bottles. I love the idea of reusing and recycling so when I saw the beer/wine bottle border I said "I'm doing it!"

I'll be using clear beer bottles and the few that I got in the ground catch the light beautifully. it's pretty neat. Ilin said we should put things inside some of them. Hmmm good idea. The whimsical garden is coming along,slowly but surely. I'm guessing by 2020 it should be done.

Next week we are driving to Grand Rapids, Mi.

Anyone have any suggestions for stops along the way. Good farmer's markets or festivals. I'll be awaiting your emails.

I'm trying to finish a shrug I started for Olive last year...my goal is to get that done before I leave so that I can start something else. :)

I have to go do some housework and then nap for the nightshift.

write ya later

Olive dressy twirls

Here's the twirly dress on.

not perfect, but good enough. if I make another I will use lighter material so it flows a bit. She likes it, thats all that matters

dresstwirl, originally uploaded by v8grrl.

Mom and Ilin day.....

I had my goals set for yesterday. I did complete them all including going to Denver for the Westword Music Showcase Awards (Bobby's band did not win, but it was great fun, free food and drinks...like the mini Grammy's)

Yesterday as I worked on Olive's dress Ilin found a flower project. Sewing little flowers. He has decided he is going to start an Etsy site to sell his little crafts. The kid is crafty, he likes to use his hands, so why not?

I told him all the chicks at school will love them.

Ilin's sewing

the first little flower.

He has a little piece of felt on the back in the shape of a heart. You can slip the flower onto a pin, headband, or barrette...cool. I'm buying one.

My thrown together little dress with the top made of eyelet. The straps are buttoned on and then tie around the neck.

I did want to show everyone this awesome gather technique I picked up. Maybe I saw it on Angry chicken many moons ago, or some other blog, but it is soooo much easier than the baste, pull, inevitably break a thread gather.

You pull a piece of heavy thread as long or not longer than the piece you want to gather. Lay in on the fabric, i wrap mine around a pin then hold it gently as I zigzag a wide zigzag over the thread. When you are done....just pull the under thread until gathered as you like. Never a broken thread again!

ok, so I know it doesn't look like much, but lets see when she gets home.

The thing about sewing for little girls is they don'e give a rat's ass. They LOOOVE anything.

done for now, just have to sew a quick hem in there and give it a try. I think Ilin made a little flower headband for her.