speaking of clutter...

Scattered around the house, I have projects at various stages of completion. This was a late night curious attempt at crocheting a small ball. I didn't have stitch markers when I started it and I'm going to pull it apart and restart.

These are kidlets I am making for a friend. I'm going to try another variation to make them more kid-toting friendly without interfering with the hanging design.

Here we have an Ikea easel the big kid and I rescued from the garbage truck a couple of weeks ago. It needs a cleaning (maybe paint?) and some new hinges.

This is my second dishcloth attempt. The cheap circular needles that came with the Knit Knack kit broke. No big deal, they were a pain in the rear anyway.

The Baron fished these beauties out of the dumpster a while back. I need to get them done before it gets too hot and humid out. I'm a little nervous because I plan to use spray paint, a first for me. They make that plastic spray paint and I'm hoping it works like I'm expecting it to. I want to go bright and cheery with these. I'm on the hunt for some bright and sturdy fabric to recover the seats and backs. All of this hinges on me being able to get them apart, of course.

6' 2" tooth fairy

The big kid lost her first tooth last night. The Baron tried to creep in and do the switch but she woke up. He played it off, asking if her mouth was bleeding. Yeah, good job, freak her out why don't you? He eventually had to carry her and her pillow? to our bed, go back and turn the light on, do the switch, and then carry her back. I know it's cliche, but I can't believe how fast she is growing. The wee one is getting what the big kid is losing.

why i need my husband

I am a terrible parent on my own. I love the age gap between the big kid (6) and the wee one (18 months) most of the time. It gets rough when the big kid gets home from school and needs to do her homework. She's had to tell the teacher, "My sister ate my homework," more than once. We manage to complete the work, but it arrives a little bit crumpled and occasionally, with a few holes.

After dinner, which is prepared hastily with a whiny, clingy baby clawing at my thighs, we need something to keep us entertained. I feel unfulfilled after an evening of grab-what-I-can-and-throw-it-or-hide-it-or-eat-it and Webkinz. For the record, the big kid rarely plays the online games. She gets together with her friends (she has more than me) and they play modern day Barbies.

The Baron calls every evening from his temporary, two week, job site. It's hard to connect when the big kid and the wee one are chattering in the background. We can't really talk once they are in bed because I'm so exhausted, I'm asleep by 8pm.

Coming soon, pics of my Fiesta dishes. It is a testament of how far I've come in my matchy-match ways and makes me smile.

catch up

Granny is gone. We are sad. While she was here, she was able to meet all my friends aka the people who work at my friendly, neighborhood drug stores. The deals were/are hot recently. I worry she wanted to see more than the inside of Walgreens.

Seriously, we had a nice time. The kids adore her as much as I do. She's great at playing and entertaining both the big kid and the wee one.

The Baron has been busy working on the haunted house props. Here's a taste: