Category: Family

My daughter had fun at her best friends birthday party. Her BFF (best friends forever)  is now nine-years old…

Initially, when my daughter received the invitation, my daughter didn’t think she’d have fun, it being a girly girl party.

But I did remind her that even though she loved doing “non-girly things” she still loved playing dress-up. I also turned her it was perfectly fine if she loved being girly. While it’s not my style, I’ll love her even if she loves being a girly girl.

Sometimes I look at my daughter, and am amazed at how much she looks like myself; especially when I was her age. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, right? She is my daughter after all. The pink decoration in her hair is something I crocheted for her several months ago. I was inspired by the crocheted swirly twirly scarf and the crocheted bookworm bookmarks… and I came up with this.

This party had a theme, the girls were had three choices for dress up; fairy, princess, and a rock star. Not surprisingly, my daughter chose the rock star. Rock stars sing music… We both love music, we dance often, and we both play the piano. She’s been playing the piano for four years. She’s played in church, recitals, concerts…. she’s a talented pianist.

In my last post, I mentioned briefly about the crocheted doll I was making for her best friend, and although it was completed. She didn’t receive it yesterday. We did go ahead and give her the other items though. Three sets of gorgeous beads on a string, and beaded thread to make her own jewelry. Since she loves crafts, she was thrilled. Later this week, the crocheted amigurumi doll I made will be wrapped up and mailed to her.

Her friends party was held at Girlee Gurlz, yes there is such a place. For two hours, the girls were pampered; makeup, hairstyles, and got to perform on a live stage, surrounded giggling girls, and a few amused parents.

Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just want to have fun

Wednesday, I rearranged by bedroom/design area.  The bed has been moved to the other side of the room, which opens up more space for my fiber creativity; crochet, knitting, and sewing.

My nine-year old daughter seems to love it too, since she’s been hanging out in mommy’s room for reading. It’s nice to see she loves book, almost as much as myself. And while I’d love her to read more than the R.L. Stine series, for her “no-brainer reading.” I don’t push it, since she reads a variety of educational topic too. She’s read the Stine read numerous times already, she did pick up the latest Monster High Book: Monster High 4; Back Deader Than Ever, the last time we visited the library.

But back to my bedroom, I found a ton of clothes in s small closet I rarely use. I sorted through them, and am giving them away to a local charity. Quite a few of the items in there are clothes I designed, but I know I won’t wear them anymore. They still look great, but I already have enough clothing, so why hold on to items I most likely won’t wear? It seems a bit silly… you know?

The good news is, since now have extra space, I have the perfect spot to put my embroidery floss, fabric and yarn. Oh my jewerly supplies are there too. The closet is big enough for all my supplies with room left over. I even stacked Cuttlebug, paper, and stamps on one of the shelves. While I’m not as active with sketching, like my daughter, I regularly my own cards, and I make sure I have a variety of paper on hand; plain, linen, canvas, and card stock for  both of us.

The good news is that my bedroom should be back to normal in a few hours, with the added perk that I have more space… pure  win!

Is it odd that many of my “free days” actually turn into a workday? Around 6:00 am I was outside weeding our flower gardens, I then moved into the fruit and vegetable garden, and picked two large cabbage heads. I’ll be cutting them up and putting them in the freezer. Afterwards I tilled part of the garden where I’ll be planting vegetables that will be harvested in late July/August.

At 11:00 am I dropped off my daughter at her best friends house. I finished steam cleaning the carpets. I really should clean out Angel the guinea pig cage. Also, Mr. Bentley (our Shih Tzu) needs a bath.

I’m hoping that I get a chance to work on the knitted beanie hat this evening. Last night, at my daughters bedtime, I crocheted a beanie hat with a brim for one of her create a Monster High dolls. She loves the hat, I’ll have to post pictures. She just got the doll yesterday, for doing a continually awesome job with her music lessons. My daughter rarely get rewards for good behavior, that’s expected after all. But I do continually praise her for the things she does. We all need to hear positive things about out abilities, and sometimes I do reward her.

Today’s exercise was all outdoors. Although I didn’t go to the gym, I received an excellent workout with the yard work around the house. And I was loving that, as far as I can remember I’ve always been physically active, and so its a habit. If I don’t exercise I don’t feel great. Staying physically active means I can eat whatever I want, without becoming overweight. But of course… I don’t eat whatever I want. I do however, eat delicious foods that just happen to be healthy.

Those that know me well, know I hate sitting on my butt all day, so even when my clients work has me chained to my !7″ MacBook Pro, I take regular breaks to stretch, or do exercises while seated. I did the same when I worked in corporate setting.

While today wasn’t “free” in the sense that I didn’t do nothing, it was free in that I wasn’t focused on clients, and I accomplished exactly what I wanted. 

Lyrics: Louis Armstrong; Whistle While You Work

Whistle while you work

Put on that grin and start right in
To whistle loud and long
Just hum a merry tune

Just do your best and take a rest
And sing yourself a song

When there’s too much to do
Don’t let it bother you
Forget your troubles try to be
Just like the cheerful chickadee
And whistle while you work

Come on get smart and tune up and start
To whistle while you work

Yes when there’s too much to do
Don’t let it bother you
Forget your troubles try to be
Just like that cheerful chickadee
Whistle while you work
Come on get smart tune up and start
To whistle while you work

The day after Vacation Bible School began, I changed my daughter’s hairstyle. She told me that braids were for babies, and asked that I style her hair differently.

Her hair is a lot like my own; super thick and curly. If it were straight, it would be halfway down her back. She adores her curls and ringlets that were hidden within the braids, and is now styling her own hair. After a few days of wearing it out, she now rotates between wearing it that way, and pulling it back into one of the crocheted or knitted ponytail holders I made for her.

 

In the above, my daughter is being silly. She was drinking her water, and talking about it’s benefits, and explaining why it should be part of everyones daily intake if they’re fortunate to have an abundance of it. Not everyone has easy access to water.

When I mentioned changing her hairstyle to Jennifer, scrapbooker/card making artist, via email that I styled my daughter’s hair differently she asked to see pictures. I’ve took several pictures of my daughter yesterday, and will be sending them to her, by mail, sometime this week.

 My daughter is a “tomboy/girly girl”  and she loves wearing my handcrafted creations, such as the crocheted leviathan band, which is great since I can make plenty of cute items for her.

My earliest memories of my father were on the track…

I was four years old. He was at the track with his running buddy, and there I was, wanting to follow him everywhere. Naturally, I couldn’t keep up with them, but he could see me wherever he was on the track, and years later he told me. That I never gave up, I kept running, as he said, you had great endurance. The fact that I never stopped running until they were finished is no surprise. I wanted to be like him, after all, even at a young age. 

You could say I’m a female version of my father. Even though I look very feminine, I’m not… which I believe my mother didn’t like when I was a child. She wanted a “girly girl” and that wasn’t I, it still isn’t. Persistent, usually smiling, laid back, I enjoy helping others, passionate about my beliefs, but I’m accepting of others too… and I’m a hard worker. I enjoy physical activity, and even if I’m tired, I keep moving. Just like my dad…

My father is now 74 years old, and still physically active, and can still beat people much younger than he in running or lifting weights. It’s not that they are so slow, he’s just that fast and strong. He takes care of himself, and he still possesses other qualities I’ve admired. I’d be thrilled if I’m the same way, if I reach his age. And there’s hope, since I’m following the same course right now. 😉

I don’t need a special day to let my father know how awesome he really is, but it’s nice to have a day to honor him, just the same. 🙂 And you know something, outside of my daughter, he’s the one that receives the majority of my crochet and knitted projects, because he’s craft worthy. 

To all the amazing fathers out there…

I wish you all a Happy Father’s Day.

Several years ago, much before my daughter was born, I stumbled upon the music video version of Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle.

 

I didn’t remember the name of the musician who’d performed the song, what was of interest to me was the story line that accompanied the familiar melody, and so my focus was on that. Earlier today, I found the video I’d seen those many years ago. This version is performed by Ricky Skaggs; country and bluegrass singer. I love his music.

And just like with my former boss that I mentioned in my Too Busy for you post, I do remember feeling sorry for this fictitious dad who never found the time to fit his family into his busy schedule, how tragic.

I realize I could fall into the same trap, if I allow my priorities to get out of whack.  As with many people I have a lot on my plate; mother, self employed, involved with numerous volunteer organizations… it wouldn’t take much effort on my part to be just like this dad and take those I care about for granted. I make every effort not to do that.

The examples I see of those who do take their loved ones for granted, and this song reminds me not to fall into that same trap. I make an effort to take that time, and include those I care about in my life. My daughter, trumps everything.