My Challenge

Ok, Ok, Ok! I promise to have new pictures next time I post something on the blog. I guess we have been so busy with events that involve Mommy (for a change!) that I haven't had the camera and I just assumed no one wants pictures of the pashmina party and craft fair. The kids have been busy hanging with Daddy and spending time with their buddies at Sewanee while I have been "crafting." I have made stationary, knitted hats and scarves, book thongs, ribbon key rings and lots and lots of bows! The craft show was worthwhile as I sold quite a few bows. I still have some special orders to complete, as well.

Last week after the Thursday Community Eucharist and dinner, Caroline and I went over to Jan's house to hang out and work on some craft projects. A few other friends were there and we were all busy knitting, cross stitching and making jewelry. We were discussing different Christmas gifts we were making and that got me thinking...what if I challenge myself to make all the Christmas presents that I will be giving this year? Is it possible? Am I that creative? Will I have the time to do this? The biggest question I asked myself was if I really needed another challenge...I mean really, isn't every day with these two krazy kids challenging enough?!?!?

Well, I'm gonna give it a try with one exception. I will buy the kids' gifts from the store. I am not sure that they would be excited or even appreciate something that I have made. Plus, I do enjoy Christmas shopping. If I didn't get in a little shopping it just wouldn't feel like Christmas! I will keep you updated on my progress although I can't tell you too much as some of my readers will be receiving these gifts. So now that I've said it (to someone other than myself) I must follow through with it and I am actually excited and up to challenge.

For now, I'll go back to listening to Caroline ask why it can't be Christmas. She wants us to put a tree up immediately so Santa can come and bring her special "toys" (as in tomorrow). I am excited for the Christmas season because Caroline (obviously) gets it this year so it will be lots of fun! But, I've got lots of work to do between now and then!

"Whatchewsaydame"

Rather than saying something along the lines of "What did you just say," "I didn't hear you" or "Say it again," Caroline has been known to say "What-chew-say-da-me." I think she is growing out of it, but it is so funny when you say something to her and she looks back at you with a puzzled face and says, "whatchewsaydame?" This morning I had the same reaction to something she said...see below.

Mary: "Caroline, what are you doing?"

Caroline: " Well, I'm giving the lamb a haircut at the hair cut shop because it peed on it and then pooped and that's spaghetti and meatballs."

Seriously.

Play in the Leaves

I cannot even describe to you how busy things have been! Most of my time has been spent doing auction stuff. Thankfully that paid off and we raised almost $2500 for PMO and SOS. That is the most we have raised to date. I was out almost every night last week. I missed bathing the kids and putting them to bed, which isn't always a bad thing! However, last night after baths, Caroline looked at Chad and said, "Daddy are you gonna babysit us tonight?" At that point I knew that it was time for me to pick up where I left off and be here for their nightly routine...ok, so "routine" may be a bit of an exaggeration, as most nights are not that scheduled.

The weather has been wonderful here for about the last 4 or 5 days. It has been in the 60's and a couple times it reached 70...awesome weather, especially for November! Today I took the kids to run some errands with me. We ran up to school to pass out thank you notes for some auction folks, dropped one by the dentist's office, went to the bank and stopped by the post office to mail yet another thank you note. I had originally suggested that we go to the "new" playground out in Monteagle, but I changed my mind for several reasons. Caroline really wanted to go to the new playground until she realized that I had not brought any juice with us. At that moment she decided that maybe going home was a better idea. So, to "Brown House" we went!

We have tons and tons of leaves in our yard. Thanks to the six oak trees you cannot see any grass! Yesterday I raked some of the leaves and got the idea to make a maze in the leaves. I ended up making lots of connecting paths and the kids thought it was great. We chased each other around the paths and Caroline pushed Elmo in the stroller while Tuck pushed the grocery cart. He did not always understand the concept of staying on the path and frequently tromped through the leaf piles!

Meanwhile, I was enjoying watching and listening to the kids play as I sat in the rocking chair on the deck and knitted a hat (yes, I realize that makes me sound like I am 80). On a side note, I just found out yesterday that I have a spot in the Christmas Craft Show. That is great news but it means that I have lots of work to do so I didn't want to waste one moment! I was also thinking about how much I wished I could find the camera to take pictures of the kiddos. I am thinking (actually, hoping) that Chad knows exactly where it is. So, unfortunately no pictures but I am sure you can imagine the chaos that was about to begin.

The kids were enjoying themselves but it seemed like they were starting to loose interest. I decided that I needed to put the hat down and go play in the leaves. They were so excited to see me jump in the leaves and thrown leaves in the air. Caroline loved to pretend that it was raining leaves, while Tucker preferred to put handfuls of leaves in my hair. We all had bits of fallen leaves in our hair and clothes, but who cares...it was fun! Tucker just continued to squeal with excitement. I secretly think he was excited because he was allowed to throw something. He has been in a "throwing phase," or so I hope and everything gets thrown. Sometimes he is nice enough to announce, "Mommy, I frow it!" Of course that is said as the pacifier flies by my head from the backseat and bounces off of the steering wheel.

I am not going to lie, at first I really didn't have a great desire to roll around in the leaves and have leaf bits all over me for the next three days. But, I couldn't resist. Maybe my mind was going back 20 years and remembering when Chip and I would make leaf piles and play in them until it was dark and we had to go in for dinner. Maybe I was the one that had the most fun today?!?! One thing I know for sure, I am glad that I put down my knitting and took the time to play in the leaves. That's what childhood memories are all about.

More Chocolate

Tucker loves chocolate pudding! He refused to hand it over until he got every last bit of chocolate out of that pudding cup. When he was finished he looked at me and said "I need more chocolate!" Yeah right!

Caroline: 3 or 13?

This morning we were hanging out in the living room when Caroline disappeared into her room. I heard her talking to herself, but that is not unusual. After a few minutes, Tucker noticed that she was gone and said "where Carwine?" He ran in her room and jumped on the bed as I stood at the door and watched. She told him to be quiet because she was on the phone. I heard her saying "boyfriend, those socks are for the baby..." Apparently she was talking on the phone to her boyfriend, whoever that may be.

Tucker started to really interfere so I had to step in. Once she saw me, I asked who was on the phone and she told me it was Taylor (Swift). Caroline is a big fan. She continued to talk to Taylor for a good bit longer and didn't seem to mind that I was watching. I had visions of her teenage years as I watched her sit on the bed and stare out the window while talking on the phone. Did she just turn 3 or 13?!?!

*Yes, she got dressed all by herself this morning :)

Quick Project

Chad's mom got us this little chest of drawers before we even left Virginia (over 2 years ago). I have always had the intention of repainting it and replacing the knobs. It has been on my to do list for a long, long time. Finally, a couple weeks ago I got the paint and it has been almost a month since I found the knobs. The weather was so nice yesterday that I decided it was now or never. I painted it white and added green decorative knobs. It is still not finished, as I am planning on getting Julie (our artist friend) to add some finishing touches. I know it will look great when it is completely finished!

This "quick" project led to a thorough cleaning of Caroline's room. I sorted through all kinds of stuff that I am not sure why I still had. I have a box of toys (and a few books), clothes, and bottles to donate to a homeless shelter. I was able to make lots of room in Caroline's closet. There is now room to "park" her stroller and grocery cart in there. She calls this her "conrage" aka "garage." We even did a little rearranging. Once the room was vacuumed and clean she walked in her room and said "Wow, Mommy! Thank you for my beautiful room."

AFTER

BEFORE

It's Saturday!

The kids walking down the steps to see the natural bridge.

I made them hold hands so they would stay together.

Tucker was not wanting to pose for a picture on the rock. (I told him there was a bird on my head so he would look at me.)

Caroline did not want to leave so she sat on the step until a strange man with a dog started walking towards her.

Finally they both looked at me! They have yet to realize that I will always be taking pictures of them!

Tuck and Caroline checking out the horses at the horse show this morning.

Tucker wanted to be in the horse ring. Front row on the bleachers just wasn't good enough!

Tucker and Daddy checking out the horses!

Caroline was finally brave enough to pet Spotty.

And Daddy was brave enough to pet an unattended horse that looked hungry.