Cold Weather Activities

No comments about "dirty windows", it's actually the plastic we have on them with kitty nose prints and little boy finger prints.

It is in the teens here and cold, cold, cold. I'm not much of a fan of cold weather so I prefer to stay indoors. There are a few good things about it though, my favorite being all the warm, yummy food that comes out of my crock pot (I so love my crock pot). Right now I have spaghetti sauce cooking and it is making the house smell sooooooo delicious! Another good cold weather activity is cleaning the oven (What?!?). No, I'm not talking about getting down on my hands and knees and sticking my head in with loads of dizzying toxic fumes. I'm lucky to have a self cleaning oven (sure I'll have to wipe out all the dust later, but it's a lot easier than scrubbing). The bonus of doing it in the winter is that it also warms the house (did I mention that we have a VERY SMALL house?).
Hmmm, now that I have all 3 kids down for naps (not sleeping yet), should I work on Christmas gifts or take a nap? Hmmmmmmmm..........

Crazy Snowy Picture

We've gotten quite a bit of snow here the last week or two, probably around 6-7" total. I took this picture to show the amount of snow piled up on the trees and power lines. The sky wasn't really that color, but it kinda looks cool.

Handmade Christmas update: I have 6 1/2 presents left to make (out of 15). Only 1 1/2 left for those that are being sent off.

I've also been knitting ornaments for everyone. I'm quite addicted to it, there's just something about knitting itty bitty things (maybe it's the instant gratification that it brings).

Let the Countdown Begin

Did you know there are only 34 days until Christmas?!? I counted and I have 15 presents to make this year. So far I have finished 3 and am halfway through 2 more. Can I finish 10 and two halves presents in 34 days? Oh, I also have a birthday present to make for my niece. I've picked fairly quick projects to make so I am going to try to be positive and say that Yes, I will finish on time! (I hope.)

Frosty Alaskan Morning

The Day of Mismatched Socks

I was sitting during naptime the other day and my feet were cold. There was a pile of clean clothes next to me on the couch so I dug through it and found two non-matching socks. I dug through again hoping to find at least one of the socks' mates, but no luck. Now I could have gone downstairs and gotten a pair of matching socks, but then I's risk waking the babies, so I put on those mismatched socks. This got me to thinking about all the other goofy things I've done to avoid waking the babies. Here's what I came up with:

1. worn mismatched socks

2. been cold-in short sleeves, all my hoodies were downstairs (I now keep a hoody or sweater upstairs)

3. ran to the farthest corner of the house to sneeze (which really isn't that far)

4. not flushed to toilet (I know, I know-it's gross, but like they said, "if it's yellow, let it mellow....)

5. gone without my morning coffee (the grinder is loud)

6. drank cold coffee (microwave beep is loud)

7. stood in front of the microwave watching it and pulled to door open at 1 second so it doesn't beep

8. hand wrote an entire knitting pattern on paper instead of printing it (of course by the time I was finished the babies had woken up and I wasn't able to start knitting)

What crazy things have you done?

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

J, finally feeling up to eating, was very unhappy that C and O were trying to get his snack.

Twin List Thursday

Not much new to share around here. Still busy working on presents and planning presents. So onto the list:

O one day old

#23 Don't ever feel guilty about giving them bottles.
#24 Your family/friends will praise you on some aspect of your child-rearing skills or how rested you "appear". They aren't being condescending, just trying to cheer you up. Smile and say thank you.
#25 You are not a failure if you need a little help (in pill form).

Only three more left.

Plotting

Last year my sister and I decided to try a handmade Christmas. I'm sure most of you have heard of this, but it is where you make (however you can or choose to) all of the gifts you give. I think I pretty well last year, I was still very new to knitting and I most everyone got a rolled brim knit hat from me. This year I plan on trying some new things, incorporating a little sewing, maybe put my husband's woodworking skills to use, we'll see. It was loads of fun and I plan on making this our tradition every year with the kids helping out when they get older (J will be helping this year though).

Plotting and planning and making sure I have the right materials.

When Life Gives You Apples on Sale......

make applesauce!!!

If you've never made applesauce, it is so easy. I used about 10 pounds of gala apples (you want a sweet apple so you don't have to add any sugar). Just peel, core and roughly chop them. Put them in a big sauce pot over low heat (2 or 3) and add about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of water so they don't burn at the start. I also added a good sprinkling of cinnamon. Place the lid on the pot and stir every so often until they mash easily with a fork (maybe around an hour). Strain out the juice (save it for some super yummy apple cider) and mash it with a potato masher, food processor, fork, etc. I blended my with my handy-dandy stick blender since I wanted the babies to be able to enjoy it as well. I made three different flavors: plain, strawberry and blueberry. For the blueberry I added some of the cooked down blueberries that I had left over from the yogurt. For the strawberry I used about 1/2 cup of frozen sliced strawberries. Just add the fruit to the applesauce while it is still hot and blend away (be careful not to splash hot sauce on yourself). The 10 pounds of apples made about 3 quarts of sauce. I stuck one in the freezer for later. I may make more to freeze so we can enjoy it all winter long.

Things I'm Lovin' Right Now

Beautiful handspun yarn from Murderoushoney. Not sure what to do with it yet, but it will definitely be something for me.

Watercolors for the first time!

Update

J is doing a little better, he's finally able to sleep and has in fact slept most of the day on the couch. He's been able to keep down crackers, water, juice and cereal. I, however, am now sick. I was so busy trying to make sure the twins didn't get sick, that I didn't take care of myself. I've been told that's all a part of being a Mama.

Sleepy O, couldn't resist taking this picture.

Still Here

I'm still here, I've just been busy taking care of a very sick little boy. I'll get back to writing when he is better. Keeping my fingers crossed that the babies don't get sick as well.

Also, we've been getting dumped on with snow lately.

The weekend before last, Daddy pulling J around the yard. I think it's time for a bigger sled! We've gotten several more inches of snow since then.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Twin List Thursday and Other Stuff

Chili in the pot

Snow on the Ground

Wool on the needles

Rain falling down.

I don't know why, but that just popped into my head. We had quite a bit of snow falling this morning, then it warmed up a bit and now it is raining. The rain is melting all the snow which has made J very sad (he's been talking nonstop about making a snowman with Daddy). There will be snow soon, lots and lots of snow!

Here's a new listing to my etsy shop:

O is my lovely model. 

Onto the twin list:

#20 Breath, again!

#21 Ignore family when they bug you about pictures and calling, you have more important things to do-like sleep.

#22 It doesn't "get better", you just get used to the craziness. I'd now have to say that it does get better and you NEVER get used to the craziness.

A Break

Well I did it, not quite as well as I planned/envisioned, but I still managed to pull it all off. Sunday was Halloween and all three kids had costumes and were warm and J had fun. Monday was J's 3rd birthday. We kept it simple, just a few family members, lasagna for dinner and cake afterwards. Still kinda stressful trying to get everything cleaned and ready with 3 little ones running/crawling around. J had fun, the babies were in a relatively good mood, everyone enjoyed the dinner and the cake.  

I think I'll be taking a few days off from crafting for now, but knowing me it won't be for too long. See you soon!