is sharing always a good thing?

As of late, my girls have thought it to be a grand idea to share clothes...nope, not with each other because that would be fine, but with their dolls. What's wrong with putting their clothes on the doll baby? you ask. Well, you see, that's not what they're doing. What they are doing is squeezing their big bodies into the clothes that the doll wears! Let me explain. You know how when your kids grow out of their baby clothes you always save a few outfits? Well, I saved the most special ones, like their first Easter dresses, fancy, handmade, smocked dresses, a precious onesie (or two). That's all good...and normal. Well, E got a big doll for Christmas a couple of years ago so I saved some of the 6month clothes for this doll..cheaper than buying doll clothes. So when E and O were playing with their dolls a little too quietly the other day this is what I found.

So you see, O is holding the doll, Rebecca, and E is wearing the dress that had been on the doll. Yep, size 6M!!! It looks like a tank top on her, but it's really a dress. And no, she didn't stop there. She also squeezed her big booty into the matching bloomers as well. Soon after this incident, when were all done laughing, O emerged from her room in anther one of Rebecca's dresses.

Yes, that's a baby dress. A sack really. It's supposed to be long-sleeved and it has a drawstring at the bottom to cinch up the dress to keep the baby all cozy and warm. But yet, here is my nearly six-year-old wearing it...and having a marvelous time!

'tis the season

With all of the distractions this time of year it's nice to see that my children remember what Christmas is really about.
Sparkling lights and ornaments on the tree are beautiful, especially in the evening after a long, busy day. (Can you see me in there?)
In preparation for the family gathering this weekend there has been a flurry of measuring, cutting, and sewing...oh, and ironing.

sometimes ...

...I feel like a nut!

This is one of my holiday favorites. It's nice to enjoy a nutritious nutty snack and a hot cup of tea sometimes. The girls are like little beggars as soon as they hear the first cracking sound. They enjoy eating the almonds, but I think they enjoy watching the nut-cracking process even more. It's a challenge to crack the shell just right so that the nut inside doesn't break...I'm rarely successful, but the end result is still such a treat. Of course, every few minutes E will ask if there are any peanuts in there. I reassure her that there are NO PEANUTS so she is safe, but I also remind her that she is doing the right thing by asking over and over. It's a good habit that both girls practice...it's for E's health and safety...so ask away!

Well, I just got them down for nap time and I feel like I could use a nap, too. Let me just recap our morning. I didn't make a to-do list today because sometimes that feels overwhelming. What I did do was write things down that I accomplished as the day went along. This is my reverse to-do list: 1)put away clean, folded laundry 2)sort dirty laundry 3)put 1st load in washer 4)change sheets on all beds...this alone is enough for the day. I mean, when was the last time you changed sheets, blankets, quilts on a bunk bed? Seriously, it's like a workout. I wonder how many calories I burn because it's hard work trying to take off 4layers and put on 4layers all while I'm on the mattress that I'm trying to cover. Surely it's a sight to see. Anyway, the girls entertain themselves, while I burn my calories, by playing with the...dirty sheets. Eewww! Okay, so they're probably not that dirty, but they roll up in them, pile them up and jump in them, spread them out and lay down on them while the other one drags the sheet. Oh, it's quite the hay day! 5)put in next load of laundry 6)fix and serve snack 7)put some laundry in dryer (ugh!) and crazily hang my Martha Washington Blanket on the clothesline. Yeah, I know it's super cold, but today it's tolerable and there's a breeze so the blanket may actually dry...although I'll have to put in the dryer tonight for a few minutes just to soften it up a little. 8)take girls outside to play...they made "nature soup" and I raked leaves...burning more calories! 9)back inside we go to warm up while I put in the last load of laundry 10)fix, serve, and eat lunch and enjoy time with Daddy on his lunch break 11)put girls down for a nap then write blog post. Phew! That's my day so far and it's only 1:45. Okay, so in between all of those things there was a little singing, dancing, playing, and cleaning up of toys...those things are just part of our every day life so they didn't get numbered .:o) Now, I've got some Christmas gifts to work on so I think I'll take this quiet time to sew instead of nap. Plus, I can't work on the girls' gifts while they're awake...they're too stinkin' smart....they'll figure it out! So enjoy your day!

thankful thursday

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings. ~Henry Ward Beecher

It's the little things that get overlooked, forgotten, and taken for granted. Here are a few simple that I am thankful for today.

As promised, I took a picture of the girls' Shirley Temple dolls on display at our library. I am thankful that O & E were excited to share their treasures. I am also thankful for the joy it brought them every time someone stopped to oooh and aaaah over the dolls. (Is it just me or does E look a little like that doll beside her?)

Today the temperature got up in the 50s! The sun was shining and there was no wind...we haven't had a nice day like this in a long time. I am so thankful that we were able to play outside for a long time. The girls rode their bikes, raked some leaves, ran a few races, picked berries out of my monkey grass, and "fed" the crickets that were hiding beside the house. We were having so much fun I forgot to take any pictures. I did enjoy a nice, steamy cup of my most favorite tea when we finally made back inside, and for that, I am thankful.

There's nothing quite like a delicious orange or red grapefruit to satisfy my craving for all things citrus. However, as you are probably well aware, the price of citrus fruits is outrageous! Then I saw an ad in my Family Fun magazine for these.....
I hadn't seen them in the stores yet and just assumed they'd be expensive, too. Well, my dear husband brought home this bag full of Cuties. They are so easy to peel, so sweet, and not a seed to be seen. They are just the right size for the girls and just the perfect little boost of vitamin C that we need right now. Thanks Dear. We are all thankful for this special, nutritious, delicious treat.

who needs texting?

Maybe it's just because I don't have teenage children, maybe it's because I don't work in the business world, maybe it's because I just don't *get* texting. I think it's great to be able to send a text to someone who isn't able to talk on their phone at that moment, but when two people sit and text back and forth, that's just, well....wouldn't it be easier and faster to just call them and talk? My point? you ask. My point is that my 5 year old demonstrated her own version of texting. We were in the living room together when she got up and went into the kitchen to draw on the easel. Five minutes later she called me to look at the picture she had drawn.
Wouldn't it have been faster to just say, "Mom, can I have a drink?" I know, asking isn't nearly as cute as this picture :o)

leftovers

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I've posted here on the Clothesline. Sorry about that, but I have a feeling that you understand. A lot has been going on here and I have lots to share so sit back with a fresh cuppa coffee, tea, or eggnog and relax.

~Our Thanksgiving was really nice. We didn't travel, we stayed in town with my husband's family. We had a nice relaxing morning watching the parade in our jammies. The girls just love the floats and bands...and well, everything. The actual family gathering was nice, too...22 family members, delicious food, Christmas music. Does it get any better than that?
~A couple of weeks ago Adrienne was kind enough to teach me the basics of crocheting. My Grandma has always crocheted. I mean, like forever, really! I can't remember a time when she didn't have a room full of yarn and pile of shiny, colorful crochet hooks. Somehow I managed to make it to the ripe old age of 35 without ever learning. How does that happen? Anyway, when Adrienne showed off her new skills I had to ask her to share the knowledge. Have I made anything yet? No. Have I been practicing? Oh yes. I have been practicing the basic stitches. Adrienne sent me this link for video tutorials to help me out so I wouldn't forget what she taught me. Well, let me tell you, those video tutorials are great. I even tried some of the fancier stitches. Oh the fun! I can't believe my Grandma never taught me how to do this. I hope she'll be pleasantly surprised when I show her that I learned. And, of course, I fully expect her to teach me some new tricks...and maybe share a little yarn..hehe!

Here's my first attempt. Small, but growing.

Here are my other practice pieces. As I worked on the big piece I tried a different stitch ever other row or so. Keeping the tension on the yarn and the tightness of the stitches is something that takes practice. Oh, then I found some patterns that I want to try but they require crocheting in the round instead of in rows so now I'm practicing that. It's a little more difficult to do but with practice it should get easier.
~Oh, I filled my car up the other day for....wait for it...wait for it.....$25!!! Sweet! I know, not really monumental, but still what a treat to not have to fork over $60.
~Remember when I told you how great our library is here? Well, in the children's area at the circulation desk there are two display cases that change every month. What is on display? you ask. Oh, well, right now one of the cases is holding two large Shirley Temple dolls that my Grandma gave to my girls...as well as 12 small Shirley Temple figurines that are part of a calendar display. O & E were excited to put the pretty dolls on display for other children to see. (I'll post a picture after our trip to the library later today)
~On the exercise front, yes, I am still running. I know, I know...crazy right? I mean, who would have thought way back in August that I, Angela, would, first of all be running at all, let alone running outside in the freezing cold weather. When I ran on Saturday night with Heather it started to sleet then rain when we were as far from the end of our run as possible. Now, I can't really complain about running in the rain since both of my 5K races were in the rain,but sleet and freezing rain is a whole other ball game. Seriously people, it's not easy staying motivated when it's so cold outside, but having friends like Kim and Heather is really the best thing ever. We keep each other accountable and motivated.

~Distance covered since I began running on August 8th ~~~~~~~ 175.81 miles!!!
Well, I think that's all the leftovers in my brain, I think I need another cuppa coffee. Won't you join me?