An Ode to the Pug

Lately I have been awash in a see of melancholy, stress, and sadness.  Between work and home, I've been pretty much emotionally drained, but my everyday pick-me-up is my darling Pug, Mackenzie Mae Ostermier.

Ten Reasons why my Pug is the best dog in the world
1. She sits and snuggles up next to me no matter what I look or smell like.
2. At night she sleeps perfectly snuggled in the crook of my knees
3. Her face (seriously she's  a pug... gorgeous!)
4. Her velvety soft ears
5. Her unerring devotion to me
6. She has been with me through every big life-changing moment in my life. (going to college, grandparents dying,    getting married, having kids....ect.)
7. She cleans off every dinner plate so I don't have to scrub it before I put it in the dishwasher
8. She puts up with my children
9. Her big brown eyes always tell me she loves me
10.  On those rare morning when I get to sleep in, she snuggles her head on my next and we snore peacefully together.

These 10 reasons could never convey the depth of my affection for Mackenzie.  She is undeniable one of my best friends.  Now if I could only get her to stop barking at every living thing she spots out the window.

Teaching Munchkins and What's in my bag?

I'm pretty lucky to have two days off during the week.  I get Tuesdays and Thursdays off, so my little munchkins and I stay home. They like coming to my bookstore with me, but they love staying home. When at home we bake, create, and learn.  I had always contemplated becoming a teacher, but my love of books won out, so I really enjoy setting down with my kids and having reading lessons,  working on numbers and letters,  and the art of making good bread.  My kids who are 4 and 2 1/2 soak it up like sponges.

On Tuesday, my daughter and I were working on some stuff in a preschool workbook when I realized that we had never learned about patterns. So when we put away all our "school stuff" to get ready for a dance party (oh how my kids love to dance!) I was already thinking about the best way to teach my little love-bug about patterns.  Now here's the thing about Lilly, she pays attention when and for how long she wants too.  If you've got something you want to teach her, it better be fun and fast.

Yes, like a bad mother we sometimes stay in our Pj's all day!

On Thursday I brought out some pattern beads I had gotten from Melissa & Doug  and we worked on patterns.  Well I should say her brother and her worked on patterns. My son, a pattern freak to the nth degree was all for teaching her.  They barely needed me.  It was amazing to watch my 4 year old son teach his sister all about patterns and how they worked.  He would start a pattern and say it out loud to her, and then ask her what went next.  OK, I helped a little.  But it really was awesome to see Lex teach Lilly , and watch as her eyes lit up when she grasped the concept.  After that she was a pro.  Well for about 5 minutes then she wanted to become a princess and that was the end of her schooling.

I know you are all dying to see my knitting bag and the crazy stuff I put in it so here it is.

You'd never believe all the crazy stuff I have in here!

I'm currently working on this pattern for a dead fish hat.  I know weird right, but it look pretty cool in the finished picture. If you see me anywhere I am carrying this knitting bag.  It has everything I need to survive in it.  Needles, knitting and sewing, thread, scissors, my Itouch cords, bubbles, and any number of crazy things that could someday save my life.  Someday when I have more time and less to talk about I'll post about my crazy-awesome knitting bag made by Green Chick.  Check out her website here.  She makes bags by recycling old clothing and fabric! Amazing! OK, I believe I have put off work long enough.  Enjoy the weekend.

Love Hurts

I'm feeling angry, hurt, and defeated  today by events that I'm not going to post here, but there is always something that will make me smile on even the darkest of days.  Lex and Lilly.  While I sat in their room last night, staying with them until they fell sleep,  fighting the urge to not burn down houses and start ridiculous knock down drag out fights, my daughter whispers, "I love you mommy" and I find that for just a moment I forget all about my horrible revenge plans.

I sat in the dark listening to them rustle their cover,s their slowing breathing, and I found it hard to breathe.  I love my children so much that sometimes it physically hurts.  I look at them and my throat constricts and I can't seem to get any breath into my lungs.  My heart beats wildly fast and irregularly.  I think I am going to have a panic attack.  I find myself at odd moments during the day hugging them, touching their faces, and smelling their hair..  I can't seem to get enough of them. Sometimes I wonder if a child can die from being loved to much, because certainly mine are being smothered by my love.  But I can't help it.  My love for them is something that grows every moment of the day until I don't think I can love anymore. Then the next day comes and I do.  I love them so much it hurts, and it saves me all at the same time. I guess that is what it means to be a mother.

My Superpower

I don't know if you know this about me, but I have a very unique superpower.  Now I don't think it will save the world, but it has saved my carpet, sanity, and probably numerous other things.  My superpower is the ability to look into the future and tell when my son is going to vomit.

To fully appreciate this power, you need to know a couple things about Lex.  For some unknown reason, the doctor's are still unable to tell me why and help me stop it, Lex is a chronic vomiter.  (Is that a word?) When he was younger he would vomit 5 to 10 times a day.  Good times right? Even know at the age of 4 he will randomly get up at night coughing and eventually vomit.  He vomits during the day sometimes as well. Here's where my superpower comes in.

Lex when he's not 

vomiting

I have no idea how it works.  But I can wake up from a dead sleep, and  know that Lex is going to vomit.  I run from my bed, across the hall grabbing a trash can just in time for Lex to lean over the bed and vomit into my awaiting trash can.  This isn't a one time event.  It happens all the time.  I just know in advance when he is going to puke.   I know your thinking that's gross and weird, but just think how much cleanup time it has saved me.  So there you have it.  I'm a superhero.  Someday I will be able to save the world from a vomitty mess. Now all I need is a cape.

Snow & Owls

For the last couple of days, we've been hit pretty hard with snow.  I hate snow. I hate the cold.  I hate bundling up my kids with 15 layers just to go to the grocery store.  I really hate being snowed in, and that's exactly what happened the last couple of days.  I was snowed in with two cranky kids who want to tear each other's heads off.  All in all it was a pleasant experience. (insert sarcasm) On the good side we did make some great chocolate sheet cake from Ree Drummond's Pioneer Woman Cookbook, (did I mention I've probably gained a few pounds while being snowed in?) and I was able to work on a hat design that I've been thinking of for a while.

Isn't my nephew Fyo the cutest? Love those eyes!

I've been wanting to make and owl hat, but just didn't have the time.  So while kids were napping, and I was chugging down copiously amounts for Diet Dr. Pepper I came up with this cute little sack owl hat.  Let me know what you think.You can purchase on in my Etsy store.