Seven Quick Takes

Check out other Quick Takes at Jen's place. 

 

~1~

My in-laws are taking us to New York City next summer as a graduation gift to my husband. When they asked what we wanted to see while we were there, Superman said the usual stuff- central park, the Statue of Liberty, maybe a Yankees game . . .

I really just want to go to PurlSoho. I've been to the city before and done the touristy stuff. I *really* just want the chance to spend a week an afternoon in that store!

 

~2~

Ender asked me yesterday:  "Mama, what's your favorite opposite?"

I had never really thought about that before so I went with "left and right."

He frowned at me and shook his head. "I thought you'd say inside and outside. That's really the best one."

Ooooookay . . .

 

~3~

I received a copy of Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch the other day thanks to a misplaced amazon gift card from Christmas. I think the entirety of my spring and summer sewing will revolve around this book, save a brief excursion into pants for little boys that grow far too quickly.

I've made a few items for myself, but almost exclusively skirts. I'm ready to branch out a litle bit and I think this is the book to help me do it.

 

~4~

I started knitting new socks Wednesday night. I was supposed to start on a hat for myself next, but when I knit my swatch I realized I need to go up a needle size and it's the one size of DPNs I don't have. Obviously I needed another project to last me until I can get to the store for needles and this yarn was calling to me.

I lost the tag for the yarn so I can't even tell you about the yarn except that I really love how it's knitting up and that I bought it at my LYS last year on my anniversary. (Yes, Superman took me yarn shopping for our anniversary. We did manly guy stuff at Bass Pro too.)

 

~5~

Ezra is on day 5 of full-time underwear wearing! Except for a minor setback where he thought in one wild moment that he could pee anywhere he wanted (like in the track of the sliding glass door?!?!?) he's doing really well!

 

~6~

I know this is appalling for a supposedly education-oriented blog (For the record, I kind of laugh when people refer to this place that way since it's such a hodge podge record of our life) but we've done NOTHING for 2 weeks. Well, I shouldn't say nothing. Ender made a really cool guitar out of rubber bands, a shoe box, a paper towel roll and an unholy amount of duct tape. He has also been making plans for a few experiments out of 50 Science Things to Make and Do for us to do this weekend. The kid is serious- he has a supply pile going.

This is survival mode for me- I'm getting done what I must and spending the free time with my kids and knitting away the hours after they're in bed before Superman is home from work or class. Knitting totally chills me.

 

~7~ 

And the reason for survival mode is that we're waiting to hear about Superman's job- he may or may not have one six weeks from now. He's been very actively looking for other work since the announcement was made at the beginning of the year, but there are an awful lot of people looking right now just like he is. Hence, heavy prayer and lots of stress-relieving knitting on my end. Thank goodness my mother recently donated to my yarn stash or you'd find me a few weeks from now frogging finished work just to have something to knit again.

Yesterday's Lessons

1.

If you congratulate yourself out loud for completing something really big, a problem with the project will pop up that will take up the rest of your day.

And probably some of the next day too.

2.

Boys who have been doing things the EXACT SAME WAY for several months sometimes change their minds and start new patterns. They do NOT feel that they should have to inform you of said changes.

Roll with it.

3.

If you congratulate yourself out loud for something child-related I guarantee that the very opposite will happen practically the second the words have left your mouth. This opposite will occur while you're still speaking if you're telling another adult about the "success".

4.

Knitting at 2 a.m. is only a good idea if you want to start the next morning by undoing the previous night's work.

5.

Little boys have the very best cling-to-your neck hugs, even in the middle of the night.

Journey

It is hard to believe that my baby sister will be married in a few short weeks- the last of the sisters married off, just one last brother to go now.

 

We threw a simple shower for our sister not long ago and after praying and eating and teasing her over lingerie just to see her blush one more time, the evening settled and a more earnest conversation began concerning the dreams for our marriages, our families, our children here and the ones still to come.

At one point my sister looked straight at me and asked me for the best advice I could give her. I've been married the longest (9 years in just a few weeks) and perhaps that made me seem to be the best person to ask.

I told her to pray daily for her husband and for grace in the coming days. Work through your own faults before finding his (which you will never get to because you will forever be working through your own), dream together of the familiy culture you'd like to create and take the steps to make it happen.

Prepare now to journey alongside each other for the rest of your lives.

It is a journey isn't it? Stepping forward together, praying for sufficient grace for the sorrows we face and the victories we see, not really knowing where we will be 10, 20, 30 years later. We walk with each other to face whatever will come with the strength of two rather than one.

We prayed together, all the sisters, over the marriage of the youngest among us. For their missions work, for the children they hope to have, for the life they are choosing to walk together. For the journey they will soon begin.

February Daybook

Outside my window…  

it LOOKS like spring, but it's so cold that walking outside sucks the breath out of you. Thank goodness spring is in the distance.

I am thinking… 

about knitting constantly these days. I've finished several things in the last few days (including the Stella Pixie hat seaming and a second Jayne hat) and I'm ready for a new cast on tonight. Most likely a hat for myself , but I also haven't knit socks in awhile so I'm thinking about that . . .

I am thankful for…

a family that prays. We wait and we pray, together and apart.

Always Learning…

books, books, and lots of books. We're still reading about winter and hibernation, but we also picked up some simpler books about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln for president's day. We are suspending most of our Montessori work this week for something very exciting- Ezra is switching to underwear full time!  He's been doing really well with staying dry 3-4 hours at a time, and in the last two weeks he's been waking up dry in the mornings most of the time. We're taking that as a sign that he is ready for this last step in potty learning.

From the kitchen…

LOTS of soup. It's the very best way to keep warm I think.

I am wearing…

Jeans, a black long-sleeved tee, and another t-shirt on top. Two pairs of socks. Layers are my friend these days.

I am creating…

aside from the knitting? Space. We re-arranged Ezra's room this weekend to accomodate a bigger dresser, and I'm continuing the toss 15 project in a big way, even though I finished with the 30 day scope of the project. It gives me a hint at control to keep our home a certain way while so many other things are uncertain. Again- we pray. And I clean a lot.

I am going…

to continue the attitude of quiet and order we've fallen into in the last two weeks. Everyone is more calm.

I am reading…

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey and Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman.

I am hoping…

that Superman starts getting calls on some of the resumes he has been submitting.

I am hearing…

Casting Crowns. Loving them lately.

Around the house…

still organizing, but mostly just keeping up with the day. Potty learning has been a bit time consuming lately.

One of my favorite things…

Carmel Apple Spice from Starbucks. No caffeine, just lots of yumminess. And the fact that I received two Starbucks giftcards makes picking one of these up every few days far too easy.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .

Trying to get back to an earlier bedtime (for Mama), waiting on our new little cousin to come any day now, and lots of knitting, I'm sure.