Where in the world...

Have I been? I dunno, I can't really explain it. I tried to write a post so many times but it didn't feel right and I never got very far. I've just been doing the same thing I always seem to be doing; playing with the two A's, doing yard work with the bearded one, and hooking on my down time. Does one really get down time being a stay at home mom? Sometimes! Until one of the babes wakes up, or one of the dogs throws up, and either seem to happen on the nights that you get everything done early and you get optimistic about ALL the free time you'll enjoy. Want to see some of the things we've been doing?












































(this is one of my favorite pictures because of Alyssa's photo bombing with her white noise machine, playing with the light and Amelia being all model-like)























(she was washing her face, she wasn't getting her mouth washed out!)


There's some more stuff that I've been up to lately, but I feel like this is getting too heavy with pictures and no captions, but I'll save those for another day. I just wanted to stop by for a quick hello and to tell you we're all well and very happy, and I will be back very soon to actually tell you about the things we've been doing.

Happy trails, friends!

P.s. if there's a picture you'd like better explained, let me know! :-)

Another...

Turns one.




That's right, Friday the 8th, my little Alyssa turned the big 0-1. How has it already been a year? I don't get it, it couldn't be because we were having so much fun or anything!




I made cupcakes.




And a smash cake.




Decorated the living room.




And both doorways to the kitchen.




And didn't get a picture of the food table. Alyssa's birthday was much more relaxed than Amelia was, well for me anyway. Maybe it was because I was still in birthday mode. I don't host a lot of parties, I don't have a lot of reason to, but I do enjoy it.




Alyssa had a lot of fun. She got to be the center of attention and eat cake and see all her favorite people!




Well, she mostly just ate the frosting. Elliott gave her a spoon and she just scooped the frosting off.




After everyone left and after bath, Alyssa just couldn't handle it anymore and had a huge meltdown. She fell asleep promptly while I nursed her.




I cut my finger with an exacto knife the day of the party. I was making Alyssa's birthday shirt, it's something I do every year for my girls, and the exacto knife bit me. Have you ever been cut by one? It's not like being cut by a regular knife, you actually don't feel it until its too late, then there's blood everywhere by that point. But it healed quick because it was cut so cleanly.




I made Alyssa this little dolly for her birthday, it gets passed around between the girls then left in the living room on the floor for awhile and so on. I'm going to make one for Amelia too, hers is about half finished now.




Then the other day Alyssa was finally ready to sit in the wagon. I had fun pulling them because they cracked each other up the whole time.




And I hope you're having a fabulous Saint Patrick's day, we are despite the picture. Alyssa just didn't want to play photo shoot.




Sorry this wasn't a super exciting post, but here's an Irish Blessing to say bye for now.

May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Crochet Hats and This and That

Hello there! How are you today? I'm great... Kinda. The girls have been keeping me up a lot of nights and while everyone is enjoying the nice little extra hour we received last Sunday I somehow am feeling like I lost an hour. But besides the lack of sleep I'm good. I wish the weather would decide if it wants to be hot or cold, I hate the fluctuation. Sorry, enough complaining! That's not why you're here!


I have a crawler now! She's been doing that since the 4th of October.


She doubles as a climber too, please ignore the mess, it was clean before the girls got to it.


And a trouble maker. My dad taught her that. Papa was so proud when I sent him the picture. At least it's not marbles. Yet...


So what have you been up to lately? I've just been hanging out with the girls and Elliott and trying to get the house organized. Is that really possible with children? Craftwise, I've been doing some things. Want to see?


I finally finished these hats a friend of mine wanted for her little boy and baby girl. I had a lot of fun making these for her.


And luckily Amelia is about the same age as her son.


And Alyssa is the same age as her daughter. My girls loved the hats too so I think they'll be getting a pair of their own soon.


Then I made this hat for another friend. Monkeys are very in right now, but are they ever not in? Sorry, I can't lead you to a pattern for these because there isn't one. If you'd like one I'd be happy to come up with a tutorial for them! Just let me know. :-)


I'm so lucky both of my girls love to have hats on! Makes trying to figure out length and size really easy. And taking pictures is much easier of someone is wearing them, but only if they hold still long enough.


I also did a swap for Halloween through ravelry, are you on ravelry? It's really fun but be careful because you can spend so much time on there and not even realize it. I did this little monster gal for my partner.


I put some goodies and a note in with the girl and sent her to her new home. My partner loved her! It's always nice when your work is appreciated.


And this is what I got from the person who sent to me! A little witch with orange hair and an orange purse! It included a little puff ball black cat and a little locket charm. I love getting packages! Especially when they contain something just for me! Amelia tried to run off with her several times, the goose!


Then I had this great idea for a sippy cup tether that ties to a suction cup that you stick to the high chair tray. Ok, it's not my original idea but the pattern is. It's made from a fat quarter, interfacing, Velcro, and a ribbon. This was my first one and it works great! But I need to tweak things to make it better.


Alyssa loves it and so do I because her cup isn't falling on the floor 50 times throughout dinner.


I also made this awesome Cell figurine for my brother to hang in his truck. It's made from polymer clay and has an eye thing (don't know the technical term) poking through his head.


I haven't given it to him yet but he has seen it. He says he loves it, which I hope he does, because I had so much fun making it!


Cell is a character from an anime show called Dragon Ball Z. We were really into the show when we were kids, among other anime shows. Hopefully he'll be hanging in my brother's truck before too long!


I'm also working on something else Thanksgiving related, I think I'll make a tutorial to go along with it too, not that it'll be all that hard for you to figure out on your own if you wished.


And I finally cleaned up my craft area. It was dreadful! It was one of those situations where I didn't realize it had gotten that bad and once I started cleaning it was much worse than I had imagined. And it still looks cluttered, that's why I'm not showing you a picture, but it's definitely cleaner.


Besides all that, not much ado about anything really. So I'll leave you with some pictures of my girls sleeping and wish you a happy rest of the weekend!


P.s. that little penguin was mine when I was her age. It's been keeping her safe at night. :-)