Happy Valentine's Day, Class 3A !!!!!

I have made a little mini-vow to do things handmade. 

To make goodies instead of buying them. 

Why? 

Well, first because I think it's cheaper (I am sure in many instances it might not actually be so). 

Second, because I love handmade things -- I love knowing that someone took the time and effort to make something special and wonderful.

Third, because I want to know that when I see some spectacular creation that I can look at said creation and confidently say (to myself!)  "I can do that!"

I guess no. 3 is really the main reason I am going the handmade route.

It's all about the self-esteem -- how to get, how to build it, how to keep it moving in a positive direction.

We all just want to feel good about ourselves, about the choices we make, and how we live everyday.

So...here comes Valentine's Day. How do you do handmade for your child's school celebration?  So many of us have learned that something packaged from a store is better.  But is it?

Little Miss Rachel found these "really cool" iCarly valentine cards at the store. "Oh, these are great, Mom."

"But I thought we were making Valentines for your class."

"Oh."

Is it wrong to push your values on to your child?  Is it really pushing? Or is it a teaching moment?

I don't know.

I just want her to know that she can create... that she can create wonders...that she can be proud and amazed at what her efforts brought forth...that she can create a positive self-worth from what she did herself.

There is sooo much stuff out there  (and goodness knows, there is a lot of stuff in here, too). 

I just want her to learn how to value what is around her.

So, sorry iCarly (is it wrong that I really like that show?).

We did it ourselves this year.

The beginning...

The results!

Thank you to skiptomylou.org!

Let The Valentine Celebrations Begin

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a gift for wasting whole days dreaming of what could be -- only to be met with the few aspirations actually achieved.

Every year, I think I will get ahead of each holiday celebration and actually be prepared for when the day arrives.  Alas, yet another dream.

But this is the year!  I am going to make it happen!  I am going to make myself proud! 

Well,....we'll see.

A Great Sunday Afternoon

As a mom, don't you just love it when you know you have an allotment of time when you know nobody is going to bother you?

Okay....I know what you're thinking:  Jen, you're at home alone five days a week!

Yes, I know, I know.  But somehow I get more done when I only have a short amount of time to accomplish a list of things;  deadlines make me so efficient. When I have a whole empty ahead of me, I tend to daydream about what I could do instead of actually doing something! 

So today, whilst the troops were frolicking in the snow building forts and sled runs, I did this.  Isn't she cute?

I made her using a pattern from bitofwhimsy.

She was lots of fun to make. I used terry cloth from an old project. Anyone ever used terry cloth in their sewing machine? Wow, what a mess!!!  Little bits of fluff everywhere!  Oh well, I still think she's a cutie!

Take just one moment....

Anyone who knows me at all knows that there certain things that I hate.

There are many things that I don't like (let's be honest, I'm a bit of complainer) but there a few specific things that I really and truly hate:

(1) the size of my behind

(2) when there is no chocolate in the cupboard (see no. 1) and

(3) cancer.

Sometimes just hearing that word can send me into a downward spiral of sadness and anger. 

It makes me sad that my mom and dad aren't here anymore....that they never got the chance to hold Rachel.

It makes me sad that Colette isn't here anymore to tell me her views on how I could do something better.

Even though these three special people each had a different form of cancer, in my opinion, cancer of any kind is the enemy.

So if there something you or I can do to help someone get ahead of the enemy, I believe we should.

Pray, donate, volunteer, click.

Yes, that's right click.

If you go to

thebreastcancersite.com

 and click (it's totally free), you can help someone (someone's mom, best friend, sister) fight the fight against breast cancer.

It will take less than 60 seconds and perhaps it can save a life.

Let's End Texting While Driving

We all hear sad stories.

Stories about how there was an accident. 

Oh, that's so terrible, we say. 

Why did that happen?, we ponder.

That should never have happened, we determine.

Well, probably 98% of all things that "should not have happened" happen because of a single choice that was made.    A choice that did not have to be made.  But "I just wanted to make a quick call."  Or "I'll just send a quick text."

If you're driving, drive!  Nothing else! 

I can promise you nothing that is said in that "quick" call or text is worth the life of my family or anyone else.

Put down your phone.  Pull over.  Park your car. 

My family thanks you.

The Real Message..well, what we got out of it anyway!

We are officially the biggest fans of American Girl. Well, not officially, but big fans nonetheless.  The first doll arrived in 2005, beautiful Marisol, to be followed by the Bitty Twins and the Just-Like-Me doll, and countless outfits, shoes, and accessories.

Imagine the excitement when there was to be an in-theatres-only movie of Kit Kittredge in the summer of 2008. Well, we waited patiently, checking the movie listings in the newspaper everyday only to realized the dream wasn't happening for us. We had to wait for Santa to bring a DVD copy at Christmas.  But worth the wait it was; Rachel has probably watched it 30 times (me, at least 10). 

Then came Chrissa in January, 2009.  (Thank goodness that movie came out directly to DVD.) The story is about standing up to bullies and that it is not wrong to tell someone if that is happening.  Great movie; led to lots of discussions of growing up, being kind, and being strong.

Where is this commercial for American Girl going?  Hang on.

In the movie some of the girls had these cute knit winter hats that allowed a ponytail to "pop" through.  So, despite all the lessons learned about self-esteem and being a good friend, what did we walk away with in our minds?  Those hats!!!  We had to have one (or two...)!  So begins my attempts at knitting a hat.  Funny, isn't it? Me? Knit?  Craziness!

Santa Art had brought a knitting loom for Christmas that year and off we went.  Twenty attempts later, hat-happiness was created!  A new one was requested for this winter....a girl just can't have enough accessories, can she?

Once in a while, I actually feel a wee bit of pride for pulling it off.  It's a hard audience to please around here.

Happy Birthday, Elisabeth!!!

Our delicious little cousin Elisabeth turned the big "6" yesterday.  It is simply amazing how fast time goes by...it seems only yesterday that her dad called and gushed of her arrival.  Elisabeth has a bubbly personality, always smiling and cheerful.  So we decided to create a little bubbly girl just for her.

Thanks to bitof whimsy for such a cute pattern!