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Best Laid Plans…
Ever since my dad, the healthiest member of our family, suddenly came down with a life threatening condition, I feel like everything has been in a crazy tailspin. Thankfully, good things have been happening along with the bad things so we are all coping but man, you just don’t know what crazy thing could be around the corner!
Before I get to what I want to blog about I should give you an update on my dad. He is home safe and getting his blood checked daily. They have to drive quite a bit to get to the lab but it’s way better than the long drive home from Northern California they just went through. The best news is that it looks like his insurance has been reinstated and might even go into effect retroactively. This is awesome news because he had to borrow money for the expensive shots from my uncle they weren’t sure how they were going to pay him back. This worry off his shoulders is a huge relief.
I talk to my mom and dad daily and everyone seems to be very optimistic. Now all we do is wait for the medication to do it’s thing and his body will eventually break down the clot. Thank you for all your prayers.
So back to plans going haywire. This weekend was supposed to be Elliora’s 2nd birthday party. I had plans to drive down to San Diego Friday night to help Bethany get ready. You know how I am about party prep. I did go ahead and drive down with my parents blessing because there isn’t really anything I can do to help AND I had a sudden craft project come up that required a baby as the model. Bug is at her Dad’s and not really a baby anymore so going down to San Diego was the optimum plan so that Elliora could model for me.
The plan was to party with Ellie on Saturday, (Bug and Toby would come down too) and then craft on Sunday.
And then Annalie threw up. Poor kid. She was so excited for her little sister’s birthday party and then she went and got sick. Poor Bethany. She was in the middle of party prep and suddenly had to navigate whether or not to un-invite all the guests. Was it food poisoning? A virus? Could she, should she go ahead and have a party on only a half an hour of sleep?
In the end everyone decided it was best to cancel and reschedule for next weekend.
We needed more time to get ready anyway. :)
And in the meantime I’m crafting with my little partner. Isn’t she adorable?
I have to admit I was a little worried about E being a model for me. I’ve been doing craft posts with Bug for so long, we have a rhythm to how we do things. She poses with her big brown eyes and every shot turns out. I reward her with frozen yogurt and pedicures and everybody’s happy. Would E be as photogenic? Would she want to do crafts with scary Aunt Brenda? My paycheck depended on these things.
Well, I needn’t have worried.
The answer is yes.
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Flurry of Paper Snowflakes
Yesterday we were over at my friend’s house for a playdate and the little girl showed Bug how to make a snowflake. Bug quickly caught on and danced around the kitchen showing everyone her creation. “This is the first snowflake I’ve ever made!” she sang.
“Brenda!” my friend gasped. “You’ve never taught your kid how to make a snowflake!!”
I hung my head in shame. It was true. I think we made snowflakes when she was three or something but she probably didn’t cut them herself. I probably took over and made them all for her. Or, you know me, I was probably off trying to invent some other craft that hadn’t been invented before. I don’t have time for silly snowflakes! Bah! I can make snowflakes in my sleep.
But truthfully, I was a little ashamed with myself. I love snowflakes! How have we not made this a tradition? We should cover our windows in snowflakes STAT!
So this morning we got right to work.
I love the suspense of unfolding a snowflake, wondering what all your little cuts will make.
Tah dah! Every one is better than the last.
Bug was having fun.
My desk was a flurry or paper drifts.
Bug decided to marker pen a Christmas message onto the window to go with our snowflakes. Her enthusiasm for scissors was waning. Scissors can be so hard for little fingers.
And it didn’t help that my overachiever cutting fingers had to decide to go big. Go big or go home! they yelled! It’s gonna be a great big blizzard up in here! Take that apartment complex that makes rules about chalk on the sidewalk! I’ll show you!
I may have gotten a little carried away.
About this time Bug was about ready to tell me to take my fancy snowflakes and go jump in a frozen lake. The fun element had definitely expired.
Come on! They’re pretty!
Even the mess is pretty!
The cats think so, when they’re not trying to eat them…
So there you go. Next time you’re walking along and you see a window filled up with intricately cut snowflakes, don’t be jealous of the super mom who has time to make ridiculously fun things with her kids. Go ahead and squeeze your normal well-adjusted kid because she’s probably a lot happier than mine who is currently buried under the covers having a temper tantrum because I won’t stop making snowflakes long enough to help her pick out a Thanksgiving Day Hello Kitty outfit.
