How I failed at Christmas before it even started

The elf made me do it!  If you aren't familiar with our rocky start, read this post

http://thatmomof6.blogspot.com/2013/12/an-elf-broke-into-my-house.html?m=1

2nd impressions aren't much better.

The kids a couple weeks ago: Rosie will be back soon.

Me: Rosie, who? I don't know what you're talking about.

Kids: you know, our elf, her name is Rosie

My thoughts: crud, I forgot we even had that dang thing

More thoughts: at least she doesn't have to come back until December, or at least advent

Lalala ....fast forward to this morning, NOT Advent.

Kids: mommy, we can't find Rosie anywhere.

Me: huh, what do you mean?

Kids: Rosie, our elf, we can't find her.

Me: but it's not even December, why would she be back

Kids: the elf on the parade yesterday said all the elves would be back today

Me: are you sure you looked everywhere? We have a big house, I lose your sister in it all the time and she's much bigger than an elf

<sweating nervously> fast forward to nap time

Can you spot the elf?  She's watching my bedroom door for kids that like to come in while I'm trying to put baby brother to nap even though I told them 3,563 times not to.  L5 confessed to the other kids that she saw her there earlier so knew she was there all day.  Oh really?

Moral of the story?  Spend some family time watching the parade with your kids

Where have you been?

Where have I been?  I've been reevaluating my blog.  You see, the blog was created as a project.  This was to be a way to practice my writing and to keep my grammar skills semi decent.  I wanted to be able to have adult thoughts and hash them out in writing.  But what I did not want to do was to go controversial.  I do not want to get into politics.  I do not want to cause drama.

I just want to share the joys, humor and drama of raising 7 kids.  I'm raising 2 boys who are sometimes lost in a sea of sisters.  I am dealing with some special needs but do not want to expose too much and embarrass my children.  I seem to be a minority.  Having 7 children isn't always that common.  But those that do have 7 tend to homeschool, I do not.  My children also do extracurricular activities.  We live in the middle of suburbia.  Basically my 7 are treated like a family of 2 kids, which presents it's own challenges.

In my effort to keep my blog posting frequent I had started to write posts in response to others.  I had started to write editorial style posts.  I had started to cover the dramas.  I had to step back to avoid going that direction.  I will start writing again but it will be less frequent than it was and will be related to our adventures in life.  There may be some opinions thrown in but only based on our experiences.

I will also keep my patterns and DIY seperate.  I will keep my reviews and recommendations separate as well.  I will share the blogs when I get them up.  There may be some reposting as I seperate things out.  Thanks for bearing with me.

The boy has a brother

That's right, in May we welcomed another boy to the family.  Induced, very reluctantly, a week early I gave birth to an 8 lb 10 oz baby.  I guess a week early was meant to be, imagine how big he would have been a week or 2 later.  I not only gave birth at the hospital this time but, for the most part, the midwife even managed to deliver him (though the nurse did do a lot).

I could change the subtitle to "mom to a pair of boys and their 5 sisters" or just go generic with "mom to more than a 6 pack (or half dozen?)"?  Or any other ideas?

An Elf broke into my house

Ok, it's not that I have anything against the Elf on the Shelf.  It's a cute idea and all.  Kudos to the parents that can do it.  I just prefer spending my Christmas time relaxing, reading books on Jesus birth, lighting Advent candles, and doing things as a family (Christmas lights anyone?).   

The elf, on the other hand I don't think is for us.  I knew right away the elf wasn't for us.  I mean, the tooth fairy already tends to have a backlog and thus arrives a couple days late, after "borrowing" cash from wherever he can find it (with the invention of plastic I guess he's forgotten to carry cash).  

I really don't have anything against those parents who chose to do it.  To each their own, unless it effects me, who am I to care what goes on in your house.  That is until their elves start breaking into my house.

This is about how December has gone in our house.  Also known as, how an elf broke into our house.

Day 1 (what day is that anyway, December 1), child 4: C's elf baked him cookies.

Me:  wow

Day 2, child 3: K's elf made a mess, she told me about it.  It was funny.

Me:  wow

Day 3, child 5: the elf at school was in our classroom

Me: wow

Oh and then the fun begins.

Day 4, child 4: all my friends have elves.

Me: wow

Day 5, child 3: how come everyone else has an elf?

Me: I don't know

Day 6: how come everyone but us has an elf?

Me: um, maybe you behave well enough that you don't need an elf to spy on you (hoping they don't see through this very obvious lie).

Day 7: then how come there's elves at school?

Me: um, to keep an eye on the other kids that need it

Day 8: L wrote a letter to his elf saying that Mrs. H didn't have an elf.  He brought a friend from the North Pole for her. 

Me: wow 

Our elf free future is not looking good.

Day 9: I said she'd write a letter to her elf and see if he can bring a friend for us.

Me: wow

Biting my nails

Day 12: Ks elf still hasn't brought a friend.

Me: hmmm

Crap, what am I supposed to do, tell her Ks elf is fake.  Oh, all the parents will love me.

Day 13: do you think Auntie can write a letter to her elf too?

Me: we'll see

Words I won't type start to creep into my head

Day 15:  did you make sure to tell auntie to write her elf a letter?

Me: um, I'll text her 

which I don't, because we all know, at this point it's my problem and I'm starting to think I'm screwed.

Day 16: did auntie write her elf a letter?

Me: um, I'll ask her

Day 18: did you ask her?

Me: yes, yes she did 

Great, now I have to say her cousins elf is fake too?

Day 19: 

This is a good elf though, he will just sit on the shelf.

Before I actually had a son: shopping edition

On this weeks Mondays Musings I was thinking about shopping for my son vs my daughters.  I just finished buying the kids' Christmas outfits. Before I actually had a son (I had 3 daughters) I said, "Wow, girls sure break the bank.  There are so many cute outfits, bows and shoes to buy".  Ha ha ha.  Here is the scenario post boy.

Shopping for a coming home outfit-

For a girl: this one is so cute, oh but this one is cute too.  Hmm, do I want to go with an outfit or a dress.

For a boy: Why does everything for boys have cars, trucks, trains or balls on it.  Even dress clothes.  Why can't there just be something plain and cute?

Shopping for baby clothes-

For a girl: there's so much cute stuff on clearance 

For a boy:  it all looks the same but at least there's a bunch on clearance

Shopping for a baptism outfit-

For a girl: do I want eyelet, lace, beaded, smocked, classic

For a boy: Do they all really have to have a vest or now tie? Ugh

Shopping for an outfit to go to a wedding-

For a girl: look at all these cute dresses on the clearance rack after Easter.  I guess they were too dressy for Easter but are perfect for the wedding.  On clearance for $13?  That's awesome.

For a boy: I can't believe the entire mall had nothing.  I finally found something at Strasburg for $60.

Leisurely shopping at the mall:

For a girl: wow, look at these cute dresses on clearance for $3.  Oh and there's a sweater on sale for $7.  These shoes are half price.

For a boy: OMG, they have a cute dress shirt, I know he doesn't need one but when he does they won't have one so I better get it now.  Oh but it's regular price at $30.  I better go against every cell in my body and pay full price because I know I won't ever find it again.

Shopping for Christmas outfits-

For a girl: look at these cute dresses on clearance for $15, they even come with matching doll dresses and they have all the girl's sizes.

For a boy: I've gone to every store and still can't find squat, I guess I'll settle on this sweater that isn't ugly but costs twice what the girls outfits cost.

Shopping for necessity- 

For a girl: Oh look, you outgrew those pants.  We'll pack those away and you can wear these bigger ones I found on clearance a couple months ago.

For a boy: Did you seriously rip a hole in your jeans again?  That's the 3rd pair this week, I guess I'll go and try and find you pants at the mall tomorrow (knowing they won't have a single sale, sigh).

Shopping appreciation-

For a girl: " I found a cute dress on clearance for you today."  "Mommy thank you, it's so cute, can I wear it to school tomorrow?"

For a boy: "I got you a new shirt at the mall today."  "Mom, that shirt is babyish.  Besides, my green shirt is comfy and my favorite (and stained and way too small)."

Now I eat my words.  I know that boys cost just as much, you just get 1/3 of the stuff for that price.

Memories

Earlier this week the news featured the 9/11 memorial.  In the interview it talked about how important the memorial will be.  Next year, when it is completed, no child under 17 will have a first hand memory of that day.

That struck me because my oldest is 17 now.  It made me realize that she is among the only "children" left that remember that day.  Everyone older than her is now an adult.  Everyone younger probably doesn't remember.  She was among the youngest kids that day that would actually be old enough to remember.

I wonder what the, now 17 years old, kids of NYC remember.  We are over 600 miles from NYC but my daughter, barely 5 years old on that day, remembers it.  She remembers where she was, what she was doing, and all the confusion.  Her little sister was 1.5 on that day and knows about it but doesn't remember that day.

It's interesting because they say that everyone remembers the day the shuttle exploded.  I was in 4th grade then, I even lived in Florida.  I remember seeing the video 100 times but I don't remember that day at all. 

I remember every detail of 9/11.  I bet every reader also remembers every detail of what they were doing on 9/11.  

Is it the fear that makes us remember?  I cannot even begin to imagine the fear of those in NY and even NJ that day.  Or the fear of those in DC.  Or those who had family flying that day.  Many people died that day.  Many were injured that day.  But so many more were there helping.  Were there fleeing.  Were near there working.  Without ways to contact them, family and friends were left with nothing but fear.

Those that did not live in that area were left with fear too.  I do mean the people with family and friends in that area.  I mean everyone else too.  Everything happened so fast, yet so slow.  One crash after another.  No answers.  Would there be more?  Where?  Would they target our city?  Schools?  Capitals? 

While those in NYC couldn't reach their loved ones, people all over the country were calling their loved ones.  There were no reports that SC was hit or Idaho was hit or California was hit.  Yet we all called loved ones.  It was so tragic we still had to hear their voice to know they were OK.

Is that why every detail is remembered?  Because the fear embedded it in our minds.  Maybe every single American has a small bit of PTSD that embedded that fear in their lives forever.

Or is it the tragedy that makes this so memorable.  First hundreds of people were presumed dead, as the day went on that hit 1000, then THOUSANDS.  In this day and age, of missile and aerial warfare, people are not used to hearing of such high numbers of dead.  These things don't happen here.  This number is hard to even imagine.  This is where you realize what a small world this is.  In the Internet age it seems everyone knows someone who is from that area, lost a loved one, helped, or was otherwise directly effected that day.  The stories I heard from my friends in that area made it real.  How do you imagine THOUSANDS of people dead?  But that one child left with no parents.  That one child who will never be picked up from school.  That one child who has a name.  That one child makes it incredibly real.

As time goes by it's the good that comes out.  Nothing is good about thousands of lives lost.  But there are good stories to hear.  Stories of survival, stories of heroism.  It is that heroism, that patriotism, that love for each other that sticks around.  Those stories are the ones still circulated over 10 years later.  No matter how much partisanship there is in the US, we still have patriotism.  No matter how bad the news is each night, we still have heroes.  No matter how much road rage we see, when push comes to shove we want to help each other.

9/11 is now a day of volunteering, a day of helping, in remembrance, all over our great country.   Though we help on this day, though we'll never forget the details, maybe we need to remember more, every day.

Tutorial Tuesday: Laundry

This Tuesday I'm playing laundry catchup, so can't do my crafting.  Oddly enough, the same day, a friend posts on Facebook stating that she really wanted a 2nd washer and dryer.  She didn't know how those of us with 4 or more kids could manage.  Another washer would do me no good.  After the initial load I can have a load ready every hour.  That barely gives me time to fold, put away and do other chores.  It wouldn't at all if my older kids didn't do their putting away themselves.  

What am I trying to say?  I've got no "how to" to doing laundry.  Kids folding, separating colors, and pinning socks together all takes too long.  I do 3 loads on an average day and can easily manage 6 if I need to catch up.  Who has time for all those "tricks".

To keep this a "tutorial", I will include a list of my stain removal arsenal at the end.  But, I wanted to start with my laundry detergent.  No, this is not a boring laundry detergent review.  This is some enjoyment for your laundry day (I hear some people have those, a day just for laundry).  

As I was doing laundry today I opened a bottle of new detergent.  Method brand.  Years ago when my son was small I tried a bunch of "natural" brands that didn't clean, until I found Charlie's soap.  I have been devout to Charlie's since.  But, with a new Trader Joes I ran in to check it out and they didn't carry Charlie's, so I grabbed their brand.  I liked it so it gave me the nerve to try a brand Publix carries, Method.

Ever since reading the Charlie's bottle, I've started reading my soaps for amusement.  Forget those silly "Caution:hot coffee " labels.  These organic cleaners have it going on. 

 So here's what they say;

Charlie's laundry soap: "Charlie's soap cleans all the way to the fiber leaving nothing but the good old-fashioned smell of clean.  If you want flowers, go pick some"

Charlie's all purpose spray: "Cleans everything from false teeth to Diesel engines.  Caution:  Do not spray directly on cockroaches, fire ants, fleas, ticks, termites, spiders, scorpions, wasps, or hornets.  In case of accidental exposure, rinse unlucky creatures with potable water for 15 minutes and contact your local Humane Society or qualified insect veterinarian for further instructions."

Method: "Made by people against dirty. (Registered trademark)  Recycle for good karma."

I know the Bugaboo stroller instructions were pretty cute too.  So what cute instructions or cautions have you read?

*Bonus, must have list for the laundry room:

Oxiclean Free (the blue pieces in regular can stain clothes if not fully dissolved in water so Free is needed for making pastes)

Vinegar

Baking soda

Hydrogen peroxide

Aerosol hairspray

Color catchers or Dye magnet (remember, I don't separate colors)

Goo gone

Dawn dish soap

Bleach (I didn't say this was an all natural list, sometimes only bleach will do)

Pet enzymatic cleaner

Charlie's pre treater

How to pack for 6 kids

First dig out 6 suitcases because, even if you'll only be gone for a weekend, no one will share and everyone has to have "theirs".

Instruct bigger kids on what to pack.  Find the bag your preschoolers packed every last article of their clothing in yesterday.  Tell the middle kids to wait their turn.  Pack the smaller kids bags.  Answer bigger kids questions because they apparently didn't listen to the instructions.  Remove all the extra stuff the smaller kids added.  Start helping the middle kids pack.  Ask the, now supposedly finished, big kids if they packed pajamas.  Send them back to pack some more.  Repack the smaller kids.  Teach the middle kids to pack themselves.  Chase the smaller kids away from the suitcases.  Negotiate suitcase size with the bigger kids.  Finish the middle kids.  Chase the smaller kid running away from you with their suitcase.  Negotiate appropriate number of stuffed animals with the girls.  Clean out the van that you cleaned out yesterday.  Put 4 suitcases in the van.  Find the smaller kids playing hide and seek with their suitcases.  Feel accomplished that all 7 suitcases fit in the van.  Remember your husband hasn't even packed yet.

What exactly do childless people do all day?

Ok, so I read this blog that rants about the childless people thinking those with children have lost their life.  http://www.renegademothering.com/2013/06/11/public-service-announcement-to-the-childless-people-wondering-why-were-such-losers/

And it portrays quite the picture.  I'm sure it's mostly true even.  Including the picture at the end that shows why we wouldn't trade it for the world.  Usually I wouldn't write about 1 person's opinion. But I've read it on associated press sites.  I've seen it on CNN.  Yes, I really do still read and watch the news.  More and more people, not just in the US, are opting for one or no kids. 

Those childish people are ranting about everything from kids in restaurants to strollers on city sidewalks.  They don't think about how loud they are conversing in a restaurant.  Do you think we enjoy going to dinner and having to listen to you?  I mean we have kids, and you've said it yourself, we don't get to go out as much.  We take the kids to a family restaurant (so as not to disturb you and yours), yet you chose a family restaurant too (expecting there not to be any families?).  While enjoying our one family dinner out per month we then have to endure, your not only loud, but colorful conversation that my kids can completely hear.  Instead of enjoying dinner we're trying to distract our kids so as not to have to endure a week of them repeating or asking about things they heard.  I'm so sorry my daughter's excitement over ketchup is disturbing you, you seem to be the only one because the neighboring family is just jealous mine isn't throwing food and the older couple have already said "how adorable".  But maybe I should go home, and like you, rant about the loud and obnoxious group of childless couples I had to endure through my dinner.

Maybe you aren't thinking about the fact that these kids will grow up to be the ones that keep this country running, since you didn't have any.  I mean, unless you plan to pick your own food in your 80s.  Maintain all the water, sewer, and electrical systems.  Oh and that precious cell phone tower to power that new smart phone your bragging to the whole restaurant about.  Or make your own Viagra.

There are a lot of childless people who can't go out either.  These are the people too busy spending their life savings on Clomid, or international adoption.  These are the people too busy perfecting their house before their home study.  When they go out to eat, they just long for a baby to have to take outside and walk around.  I'm guessing if people "long" for these "babies" there must be something good about them.

Yep, we don't have the newest smartphones or designer clothes anymore.  We can't afford to go out every weekend night and spend half the next morning recovering.  

So, what do we do on weekends then.  We go to a soccer game and get to watch a 3 year old score a goal.  She's so proud of herself that her smile lights up the fields.  She runs over to give you a high five because you not only taught her how to make that goal but you taught her how to high five.  You brag to the teammates parents that it's your kid that made that goal, that you can't believe at only 3 she was able to remember that move.  A few minutes later her kid makes a goal and does a cute little dance move in excitement and it's your turn to listen to a brag.

Afterwards you go out to celebrate by getting shaved ice.  Yes, you'll have to clean up the mess but the purple nose is amusing enough to be worth it.  You go home and start raking the yard.  A kid steals your rake and takes over.  Another one pitches in and soon there's a pile.  They start jumping in it as you sit down on the deck to watch and reminisce about doing that in your own childhood.  Soon you have leaves being dumped on your head and your involved in a full fledged leaf fight.  

Now you need a shower so plop the kids in front of the TV with a movie and sandwiches.  After your shower you sit down.  Within 2 minutes you're bored of just sitting so you start playing a game on your old smartphone.  Within 5 minutes you're bored of that.  Your spouse sits down with you and you discuss what childless people can possibly do all weekend.  Games get boring quickly.  The same old clubs with the same old people doing the same old stupid stuff every weekend has got to get old.  They get to watch the bouncer throw people out around 2am.  I get to be a bouncer when that precious smile takes down her brother.  Isn't the newest video game just like the last one, when you beat it you'll have nothing to do with it until you spend another $50 when the new one comes out?

Yes, I do go to the same soccer game every weekend of soccer season.  But that kid grows and learns every week.  Every week the trick is different, they're better at it and they're prouder.  The whole teams get better so each week the game is more competitive and more exciting.  

Soccer season is only 8 weeks.  After that there's flag football, baseball, swimming, dance, tennis.  Sometimes there's nothing and you get to be a kid.  You go to the park, the amusement park, the water park, and the beach.  In the winter you're suckered back into roller skates and realize you seem a lot higher up than when you were a kid.  You go bowling and get your but kicked by an 8 year old.

At the end of each day you read all your favorite childhood books.  You try to wrap your tongue around Dr. Suess.  You give bubble baths, wearing a bubble bath beard and taking pictures of their bubble bath hats.  Finishing, you get slobbery toddler kisses and sweet big girl bear hugs.  Those are things I can't even describe to you.  You have to experience them from tiny hands, soft lips and big, innocent, blue eyes before you can even begin to imagine what that's like.

Tutorial Tuesday-crocheted simple bucket hat

This hat is perfect in a cotton for the summer and can be easily adapted to boy or girl.

 

Simple Bucket Hat

hook size I

2"x2"=7 hdc x 5 rows

I used I love this cotton for the pattern, the bigger hats shown were made in Peaches and Cream and turned out to be 6 hdc x 5 rows and ran a little bigger than the pattern calls for.

 

 

size 0-3 months

 

beginning ch 2 counts as 1st hdc throughout

1) 8 hdc in magic circle. join

2) ch 2, hdc in same stitch, 2 hdc around, join (16)

3) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc, hdc* around. join (24)

4) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2 *around. join (32)

5) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 3, *2 hdc, hdc 3* around. join (40)

6-12) ch 2, hdc around. join (40) **optional stripe, change to color B for rows 11-12

13) ch 2, hdc in same stitch and next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2* around. join (52)

14) ch 2, hdc around. join (52)

15) ch 1, sc around. join (52)

finish off

 

 

size 3-9 months

 

beginning ch 2 counts as 1st hdc throughout

1) 8 hdc in magic circle. join

2) ch 2, hdc in same stitch, 2 hdc around, join (16)

3) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc, hdc* around. join (24)

4) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2 *around. join (32)

5) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 3, *2 hdc, hdc 3* around. join (40)

6) ch 2, hdc in same stitch and next 9. *2hdc, hdc 9* around (44)

7-13) ch 2, hdc around. join (44) **optional stripe, change to color B for rows 11-12

14) ch 2, hdc in same stitch and next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2* around. join (56)

15-16) ch 2, hdc around. join (56)

finish off

 

 

size 9-24 months

 

beginning ch 2 counts as 1st hdc throughout

1) 8 hdc in magic circle. join

2) ch 2, hdc in same stitch, 2 hdc around, join (16)

3) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc, hdc* around. join (24)

4) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2 *around. join (32)

5) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 3, *2 hdc, hdc 3* around. join (40)

6) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 4, *2 hdc, hdc 4* around. join (48)

7-14) ch 2, hdc around. join (48) **optional stripe, change to color B for rows 12-13

15) ch 2, hdc in same stitch and next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2* around. join (64)

16-17) ch 2, hdc around. join (64)

19) ch 1, sc around. join (64)

finish off

 

 

size 2-5 years

 

beginning ch 2 counts as 1st hdc throughout

1) 8 hdc in magic circle. join

2) ch 2, hdc in same stitch, 2 hdc around, join (16)

3) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc, hdc* around. join (24)

4) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2 *around. join (32)

5) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 3, *2 hdc, hdc 3* around. join (40)

6) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 4, *2 hdc, hdc 4* around. join (48)

7) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 5, *2 hdc, hdc 5* around. join (56)

8-16) ch 2, hdc around. join (56) **optional stripe, change to color B for rows 13-15

17) ch 2, hdc in same stitch and next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2* around. join (74)

18-19) ch 2, hdc around. join (74)

20) ch 1, sc around. join (74)

finish off

 

 

size 6+ years

 

beginning ch 2 counts as 1st hdc throughout

1) 8 hdc in magic circle. join

2) ch 2, hdc in same stitch, 2 hdc around, join (16)

3) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc, hdc* around. join (24)

4) ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2 *around. join (32)

5) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 3, *2 hdc, hdc 3* around. join (40)

6) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 4, *2 hdc, hdc 4* around. join (48)

7) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 5, *2 hdc, hdc 5* around. join (56)

8) ch 2, hdc in same st and next 13. *2hdc, hdc 13* around. join (60)

9-18) ch 2, hdc around. join (60) ** optional stripe, change to color B for rows 15-17

19) ch 2, hdc in same stitch and next 2, *2 hdc, hdc 2* around. join (80)

20-21) ch 2, hdc around. join (80)

22) ch 1, sc around. join (join)

finish off



Embellishments

belt bow

size up to 24 months

ch 16

1) hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (15)

2) turn, ch 2, hdc across (15)

meet last row with first, ss together. finish off leaving a very long tail. fold the bow with the connection as the center back. wrap with the tail multiple times, do not cinch bow as you wrap. sew to hat with rest of tail.

2+ years

ch 21

1) hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (20)

2-3) turn, ch 2, hdc across (20)

meet last row with first, ss together. finish off leaving a very long tail. fold the bow with the connection as the center back. wrap with the tail multiple times, do not cinch bow as you wrap. sew to hat with rest of tail.

standard bow

up to 24 months

ch 11

1) hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (10)

2) turn, ch 2, hdc across (10)

finish off. wrap yarn around center cinching it in the process. sew to hat with yarn left from the center gather.

 

2+ years

ch 16

1) hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (15)

2-3) turn, ch 2, hdc across (15)

finish off. wrap yarn around center cinching it in the process. sew to hat with yarn left from the center gather.

 

Sport Band

replace 1 hdc row of stripe with an sc row before and after the other hdc

 

Wordless Wednesday -Daylight Savings

Wordless Wendesday-Youngest or Oldest

 

Mondays <motivational> musings, on a Tuesday

Well, yesterday I had blogger app issues so last nights musing is being posted today. It's a good thing because I don't have time for a tutorial today.

So, my own husband was the one who would throw the pity party every time he had to travel. "I feel bad leaving you home alone". And my response would be "well, I figure all these projects are just job security". Then we had the flu this season, not one strain, but both (months apart). We also had ear infections, sinus infections, repeated croup, bronchitis, and strep throat (complete with vomiting). Did I mention I was battling chronic headaches through all this? I didn't become pessimistic, but that optimism deflated a good bit.

Tonight though, Baby L can't seem to fall asleep. Usually I leave then and come back to find her settled down or asleep, but sometimes she's just restless and when I leave she cries. Like tonight. When hubby's home he takes a turn then and she usually falls asleep. Tonight I'm doing it alone. I got a text a while ago that he's now in Atlanta, that perked me up, as usual. Somewhere in my brain, the idea that he's now only a few hours drive makes everything better. If all the airports closed or some other disaster happened, he's close enough to drive. And then I sat and sat and sat some more, waiting for this toddler to settle down and I started to get restless again. I'm trying to distract myself with Facebook and came across this story. What a wonderful example of the power of positive thinking. And it's so personally fitting, reminding me of my own optimism.

http://www.chickensoup.com/newsletter.asp?newsid=article-daily-130225&utm_source=CSS_Email&utm_medium=Bulletin&utm_term=20120619&utm_content=css-main&utm_campaign=daily

Tutorial Tuesday-Crochet Carrier Cover

If you live in the South, I suspect you have a baby carrier that has a panel of solarveil, kool nit, mesh or some other material to keep it cool.  When Winter comes, that panel is not so useful.  You could buy another carrier, I'm sure that would be more fun, or you could crochet a cover.  The reason I crocheted one (in addition to my fleece one) is that it gives it that "sweater" look too, which I think looks nicer at mass.

This is sized for a toddler kinderpack so will be a bit big on a sandard kinderpack but will still work, it should work on other structured carriers and mei tai as well, the angles just may not meet up exactly.  This pattern can be adjusted for different sizes by adjusting the starting chain.  I personally would make the toddler size in case you ever have to get a bigger carrier, it would still be usable.

approximately 10 oz worsted weight yarn, I used Simply Soft because that's what I had on hand

H hook, I crochet loose so be sure to check gauge

gauge 2"=8sc by 7 rows

ch 74

1) sc in 3rd chain from hook and in each chain across ch 1 turn (72 sc)

2) sc in bl only across ch 1 turn (72 sc)

3) sc in each chain across ch 1 turn (72 sc)

4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) repeat row 2

5, 7, 9, 11, 13) repeat row 3

14-68) sc in each sc across ch 1 turn

69-80) sc dec over first 2 sc, sc 68, sc dc over last 2 sc, ch 1 turn (row 80 is 48 sc)

81) sc in bl only across (48 sc)

82-112) sc in each sc across ch 1 (48 sc)

113-123, odd rows) 2 sc in first stitch, sc 46, 2 sc in last stitch, ch 1 turn (row 123 60 sc)

94-122, even rows) sc in each sc across sc 1 turn

124) sc 4, dc 23, sc 6, dc 23, sc 4, ch 1 turn

125) repeat 124

126) sc 5, dc 21, sc 8, dc 21, sc 5, ch 1 turn

127) sc 6, dc 19, sc 10, dc 19, sc 6. finish off.

fold upper portion in half and stitch closed from the beginning of row 124 up and across the top and down the middle until stitched closed to form hood.

On wrong side attach yarn at bottom corner to the bottom of first stitch of foundation chain, ch 20, sl st in first fl of row 14, sl in next bl of row 14, sc down the ch 20, sl st into bottom of next stitch in foundation row. sl st in next stitch in foundation row. sc in each sc in the ch 20. sl st into next fl of row 14, finish off. Repeat for opposite corner.

Sl stitch into the first fl of row 81, ch 15, sl st around the first stitch from row 69, sl st around next stitch, sc in each ch 15, sl st into the next fl of row 81, sl st into the next fl of row 81, sc in each sc from the ch 15, sl st around next st of row 69, finish off. Repeat for opposite side.

The waist strap loops are loose allowing the bottom to adjust to seat darts if using on a carrier like the Kinderpack or the stretch of a carrier like the stay cool. It is also wider at the waist strap to make up for the seat darts or stretch so it still covers everything in the middle of the carrier. The shoulder strap loops are pretty snug but will stretch to accomodate. It needs to be snug to support the hood.

You could also add similiar loops for the webbing to hold it in place even better. You could also add loops to the hood for the straps of your hood to slip through so you could still use the hood for support.

Thoughtful Thursday: Powerball

So, there were actually winners last night, but only 2.  That earns them, payout option of around $190 million EACH.  Even after tax that's close to $100 million.  Now I wonder who really needs that much money.  On paper can you even spend that much money?  Could you decide what you could spend every cent of that on?  I'm a numbers person.  I love
 

But $100 million dollars isn't exactly donate 10%, pay off your cars, house and student loans change.  If I did that and paid for all 6 kids college I'd still have over $89 million left.  Even if I toss in houses, cars and college for all the immediate relatives I'm still above $88 million.  14 day Disney Cruise for 25 doesn't even dent it.  I like my pretty new van but a big extended cab pickup for hubby.  Maybe a bigger house.  Yeah, not even close to spending 3/4 of it.

As you drive around town or listen to the radio it hits you what can really be done with that much money.  That half built church on the corner, I wonder what it would cost to finish it?  A gym for my own church?  Sponsor the next 10 years of VBS at the local church we enjoyed doing this past summer.  I wonder how much it would be to pay off all the layaways at my local Walmart?  I wonder how much it would be to start a charity that sponsors people who need money for ABA for their Autistic child.  Or even just the $1000+ it can cost to have a child privately evaluated for Autism.  Scholarships for moms who don't qualify for financial aid, to go back to college.  I wonder how many "drive thru differences" I could make?  Wouldn't it be fun to just start a TV show where you go around making a person's wish come true?

Even just living expenses.  If I invested just half of it in a safe, low yield investment like a CD I could live off the interest alone and I'd be living way above my current standard of living.

Or I could just blow it all on a $2 million house in each state.

Wordless Wednesday

Tutorial Tuesday: fleece carrier cover

So you have a Kinderpack with Kool Nit or a Bamberoo with Solarveil, don't ditch it come winter, cover it.  Or cover any other carrier just for extra warmth.  This same tutorial can be used for a woven fabric when it isn't so warm but you will need to serge or zig zag all edges after you cut but before you sew together. 

You can also make this as a no sew using fleece (fleece does not fray, woven fabric does so you cannot do a no sew with a woven).  To make as a no sew you will need to add 4" to both sides of the hood and sides.  Once you add those 4" you will not do any of the sewing, you will instead cut 1"-2" strips on both sides of the body pieces and hood pieces.  Lay the carrier between the 2 body pieces and then tie 1 strip from the front piece to 1 strip from the back piece everywhere except where the carrier straps need to come out.  Where the carrier straps need to come out you will just cut off the strips.  That leaves only the tie downs at the bottom of the carrier to worry about.  You can either do the variation that covers the waist strap and add 4" to that and tie around that, though you would have to untie to remove it.  Or do the cover the waist strap version, adding 2" to the back and 1" to the front.  Buy stick on velcro and stick it onto the extra and wrap around and velcro closed.  Or you can cut a hole at least 1" from the edge of the bottom and tie your ribbon onto that.

To start you need the carrier you are making it for, you can use measurements as well but having the carrier handy is a good visual.  Lay the carrier out and measure the carrier across at the widest point.  For a carrier with seat darts this will not be at the waist.   Add about 1.5" for 1/2" seam allowances and 1/4" topstitching.

 

Then measure from the bottom of the waistband to the top of the carrier.  If your carrier has a hood and you want your cover to have a hood you need to have that on/out and measure to the top of that instead.  If your carrier does not have one and you want one, measure your child's hat or coat hood (or child) and add several inches for growth room and if the carrier does not come up as high on them as a coat would.  This is the size you need for a carrier that does NOT cover the waistband.  The extra length is going to accomodate for when the seat is filled in by child, any stretch, and any seat darts.  If you want the carrier to also cover the waist band you will need to measure the height of the waistband and add that.  Or you can measure the carrier 3D instead of flat, meaning measure from the bottom of the waistband, into the seat dart, and up to the top.  Whichever method you use, if you are doing around the waistband you will then need to add 2" to accomodate the velcro or snaps. 

 

Now cut 2 pieces of fleece to the height and width you just determined with your measurements and adding.  Fold that in half so the sides are even.  Lay a childs coat or jacket hood on top (or you can use a plate) and cut a round portion out at the TOP ( if your fabric has an up and down you need to pay attention to this) FOLDED edge.

 

Next open the fabric back out flat.  Next you need to look at your shoulder straps.  Most are attached at an angle.  Lay your carrier, lined up and atop your fleece.  Mark where your angle is, keeping in mind you will also have an extra 3/4" for seam allowance and topstitching, as well as possibly more if your carrier is not as wide at the straps.  Therefore your carrier will not be flush against the side of the fleece.  It needs to be centered instead.  Cut at an angle along the mark then cut up into the hood angling so that you are going back out to meet the full width (or your hood will be too small at the top).  For symetry I then fold it back over and cut exactly the same from the other side but you can also just repeat this for the other side,  Your resulting 2 pieces will look similiar to this (sorry, all 3 times I forgot to take a picture and I'm a bad artist).

Fold it back in half so the sides match again, right sides together.  Sew from the back of the hood (what looks like the top middle of the "heart" on top of the diagram above) forward to the front of the hood (the edge along the side).  Repeat for other body pieces.  Opened up (with the hood top folded down to lay flat) and laid out this is what it will look like now.

 

Place right sides together I pin the corners together, then the seam of the hood.  Then to mark where I do NOT sew I also pin on each side of the hole for the webbing on the body.  You know the angled portion isn't sewn because it is the shoulder strap hole.  But to determine where the webbing will be be, measure your carrier, from the body of the waist to the bottom of where the webbing meets the body.  Make the hole wide enough to fit the BUCKLE.  If you made it to cover the waistband too, measure the waistband, add 2" and mark each side with a pin.

 

Once pinned sew from 1 bottom edge (or pin) up to the pin marking the webbing hole.  Then sew from the top of the webbing hole to the angled area for the shoulder straps.  Repeat for the other side.  Then sew around from the top of one shoulder strap hole, around the hood to the top of the other.  Turn right side out and smooth.

 

If you made it to cover your waistband, now attach velcro or snaps to close the bottom.  If you made it to not cover your waistband you need to attach ties or straps to keep it from riding up too high.  You can use ribbon, bias, finished fabric, etc.  I made this one with snap straps, I attached the snaps to ribbon.  The finished project picture I made with tied ties.  Measure your waistband and add an inch, cut 6 ribbons that length.  If you want them to tie on, add enough to be able to tie them, cut 6.  Pin one on each body piece, for a clean edge fold the bottom up about 1/2" before you pin.  Pin them next to the side seams and in the center. 

 

Topstitch around the bottom edge making sure the entire edge is folded up about 1/2".  At the ribbons backstitch and restitch so you have a total of 3 (or more) lines of stitching there to reinforce the attachment.

 

I then topstitch, this helps keep it in place and smooth.  I sew 1/4"-1/2" in from the side seam.  Sew from where you started at the bottom (or pin), to your hole for the webbing.  Then from the top of the hole to the bottom of the shoulder strap hole.  Repeat for other side.  DO NOT topstitch closed your holes.  Topstitch around from the top of the shoulder strap hole, around the edge of the hood to the other shoulder strap hole.  Now place your carrier with the hood down, stuffed, or removed, atop the cover matching up the shoulder straps to the holes.  Mark the top of your carrier.  Top stitch along that marking.  This will keep the carrier from sliding down too much.

 

Contrastly, if you use the hood a lot you can mark where the hood straps are and leave holes open for those in the hood, as you did for the shoulder straps and webbing, when you are sewing and again when top stitching so the hood is covered but usable for sleeping.

 

Now attach velcro or snaps to your straps if you didn't make them long enough to tie.  Stick it on and cuddle a baby.

 

This is my first tutorial and I didn't take near enough pictures.  So if anything is unclear let me know.  If anyone makes the no sew version and takes pictures and posts them let me know and I'll be happy to link to it.  I promise next weeks will be better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just another manic Monday

Every Sunday people around the globe dread Monday. I hate the idea of having to get up early again or taxiing kids around for the week. However, on the weekend I run from the kids. By that I don't (usually) mean run and hide. I mean I try to keep the house semi livable without tripping over kids.

During the week I have 1 home half the day and add 1 the other half, until the rest get home from school. That isn't enough to be underfoot so I stick to my cleaning "schedule". Yes, I have a schedule, but that's a whole other post. When there are 6 kids (or more) in the family room I don't even attempt to clean around them. I clean the living room instead. When they make their way to the living room to read, i clean the kitchen instead. When they make their way to the kitchen for a snack, I clean the dining room instead. And forget cleaning the main floor bathroom while there are that many people in the house, someone always has to use it. I feel like my day is spent being chased into different rooms.

Therefore I spend my weekends only getting by in the house. Instead I do laundry, clean up the yard, clean out the car, clean upstairs, etc. By Sunday my house is looking quite cluttered. Sunday I start to look forward to the catching up I can do on Monday. Yes, a part of me looks forward to a Monday.

When I wake up Monday and start to plan my day, I am soon reminded that my daughter has therapy smack in the middle of my day. This isn't a new thing, she's had it at the same day/time for a year. I guess in all the "excitement" to clean, it just slipped my mind. That only gives me the morning because right before therapy 1 gets off the bus and right afterwards I pick up 2 more.

My Monday afternoons are spent with toddlers who only napped in the car and kids that are tired from a long day back at school. This particular Monday was also spent juggling bedtimes alone since hubby flew out early that morning. Maybe I'll catch up on housework Tuesday.

Sunday Sharings

Today I didn't make it to a morning mass with the kids. Hubby was serving one of the masses and my son's birthday party is this afternoon. I'll be going sans the small ones this evening instead.

So I have no experiences or ideas to draw on from today. I want to, instead, share some general information that will help on any day. Sundays, mass especially, is a day we ask more of small kids. That makes expectations even more important.

Coming up with an expectation is more than half the battle. It's like coming up with a goal. If you make a goal to triple your salary this year, most people will not meet that goal. If you make the goal to lose 30 lbs this month, most people will not meet that goal. The same applies to our expectations for our children. If you expect a 2 year old to sit, quiet and still, for an entire hour that expectation will not be met. Developmentally a 2 year old does not have the ability to sit still and quiet for an hour. Any other day of the week you are happy if they do that for 15 minutes in front of an interesting, toddler friendly TV show.

Just as you cannot lose 30 lbs in a month, they CANNOT sit still that long. CANNOT is the key word. It isn't that they won't, it's that they can't. One is deliberate and one is not. Would you punish your husband for something he cannot control? What if he started getting grey hair and you didn't like it? Even though it may not be something you want seen in public, it also isn't something he can control.

There are things a toddler can do though. They can look through a book. They can sit down. Once you have realistic expectations you can teach them to your child. You can remind them of the expectations before you go somewhere. You can remind them when they forget. Kids do forget, just as adults forget. If you expect anyone to never forget anything then your expectation is unrealistic. Kids are learning and may need more frequent reminders as they learn. Hurting them, embarrassing them, and punishing them will not make them remember faster.

The great thing about having realistic expectations is that you will not get upset as frequently because they are not being met. By getting upset less you are more easily able to keep your cool longer. Keeping your cool is a wonderful example to set for your children. That is a skill that will help them throughout life. Because, "You get more bees with honey".

To help set realistic expectations you have to understand the developmental level of your child. The book series "Your .... Year Old" has a book for each age. The books are short and easy reads. They cover a child's emotional, social, and physical development though. You would want to know what you were in for before you climbed a mountain. Raising kids is even more important than that. Why not be prepared?

Some new ideas

I've seen everyone else doing them forever and I really like organization so I think I'm going to give it a try. A new blog "schedule". Not something every day, but an idea for many days to give me a jumping off point, or a shove to do a post I've been avoiding. We already have "sharing Sundays", so we'll go with "manic Mondays", as a tribute to my first blogs. My first blog was http://joeysmanicmelon.blogspot.com to chronicle all the helmet decorations we did when my son wore a Docband for Plagiocephaly exactly 5 years ago. To this day, that blog, which I maybe post to once a year, continues to get many hits from parents wanting decorating tips/ideas or before/after pictures. Because of that, and the lack of resources, I have left that blog up even though I don't post to it. After that, I wanted to start a family blog, as a spinoff from that one I named it Manic Mommy. Then I promptly forgot about it. Manic Mondays will usually be about the coming week or the weekend past. It will talk about how I (plan to) handle (or should have handled) the chaos.

Tuesdays will be Tutorial Tuesdays since I've promised so many people tutorials for fleece carrier covers, ponchos, crochet patterns, help with their Ergo, etc so this day will be a tutorial, sometimes sewn, sometimes needlecrafts, sometimes no sew, sometimes just help. Hopefully, having to fill my Tuesdays I will get in here to get all the things people are waiting on.

In shamelessly copying everyone else, I will make Wednesdays wordless. Of course today is far from wordless but I'll include the pictures I would have shared for a wordless day anyway.

I am tossing around a "thoughtful Thursday" to get me into trouble. It would be a day when I share my opinion on a conversation or question that has come up that week, a current event, or something that's gone viral. But my opinions tend to make my mouth (or fingers) explode, and get me into trouble. Is it worth it? What do you think?

That leaves 2 days. I would like to have a review day that I share information on a place we've traveled/visited, the book I'm reading, or a product we've tried. I can't come up with a catchy title for that day. Maybe I want something general so it could also be used for giveaways and contests? Decisions, decisions.