Saturday, March 31, 2012

Yippee, Nora is Three


Yippee, Nora is three!! It was so great having a day to celebrate her. She is such a smart, chatty, energetic, lovable little girl. I am so proud of all that she is and all that she has yet to become. These days the most pressing thing seems to be time and how fast it is all flying by. I find myself wondering where all of it has gone! It reminds me of something I read the other day, 

"I read once that there's a good probability that everything that's ever happened is stored somewhere in the universe, one's personal history-all history...folded away in pockets and black holes of time and space."

What a beautiful thought!! I really hope that is true. While I may not want to relive it all, I would love to go back to days like this and live them again and again... But I also appreciate progress and change and growth as well. That part of me is excited to see what each new day will bring. I can't wait to see who Nora will become. It is definitely bittersweet. 

I have found that the most sane thing to do is to live in the present and to savor and appreciate it! So, here's to the present and what's going on in the here and the now. Here are some of Nora's current favorites:


Nora’s Favorites: 3 yrs old
Completed on March 29, 2012

  1. What is your favorite color? Pink
  2. What is your favorite toy? Pretend dinner (sandwich making kit)
  3. What is your favorite fruit? Oranges and tomatoes
  4. What is your favorite TV show? The Wonder Pets
  5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  I don’t know.
  6. What is your favorite outfit? My green ruffle dress
  7. What is your favorite game? Um, I like making sandwiches .
  8. What is your favorite snack? Lollies
  9. What is your favorite animal? Isa the Iguana
  10. What is your favorite song? I don’t know.
  11. What is your favorite book? The Savanna (jungle animal book)
  12. Who is your best friend? Isa the Iguana
  13. What is your favorite cereal? Oats w/ banana and syrup
  14. What is your favorite thing to play outside? Play on the pourch
  15. What is your favorite drink? Milk
  16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
  17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Isa the Iguana
  18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Sausage
  19. What did you eat for dinner on your birthday? Spaghetti
  20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Big like Gamma

Friday, March 30, 2012

March Roundup













Well, it's official. I've taken on too much. Right now I've got four works in progress. Yep, that's right, four. Plus I have yet to start on my Easter stuff for Nora and Claire. I'm just waiting on the patterns. I've only got one week left to make them so I'm hoping there is enough time. I realize that it is a bit crazy to even take them on. Six projects is a bit much... 

But who am I kidding? I'll take them on. That's what stitch markers are for after all. Plus it's not like I have a deadline for most of this stuff. I'll just have to prioritize (and maybe look into a twelve step program while I'm at it). If there's any one to blame for my crochet a.d.d. it's Pinterest. I think I'd better stay away for a while! I've found way too many cute patterns there and I can't seem to wait to make them all :)

Meanwhile I've been busy writing some stuff of my own. I'm all finished with the cupcake cozy pattern and I've almost perfected a cupcake amigurumi as well. I also made an Isa doll for Nora but she still needs a tail and some spikes. Nora reminds me almost every day. I'm glad she keeps me motivated though. Maybe one day soon I'll open up that Etsy shop... that is, if I don't get carpal tunnel first.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Best Aunt Ever









Today Aunt Jo-Jo came over to take Nora on an extra special birthday outing. Claire and I desperately wanted to get out too so we decided to tag along. Can you guess where we went? That's right, Build-A-Bear. But instead of a bear, Nora decided to make a penguin :) I was so sure she was going to make a chick (since she picked that one out on the website prior to going) but with the penguin it was love at first sight. So she stuffed him, bathed him and named him (Oh is his name, ha ha ha) and has loved him ever since. But what she loved even more was spending time with aunt Jo-Jo. She is so lucky to have such an awesome auntie (and I'm super lucky to have such an awesome sister) <3 It was great spending the afternoon together.

Ps: Did you notice little Claire in the rent-a-stroller? She had so much fun in that thing! I kept cracking up looking at her b/c she was steering it like a pro. Oh my kiddos just crack me up! They make my life worth living times a million :)

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Patio Time with Little P












Nora and I have been enjoying "patio time" lately. It sure is nice being able to spend so much time outside :) Nora worked on her coloring and I crocheted a bit. It was really nice spending time together, working side by side. I love days like this with my little girl.

A Little Stroll








March in Cleveland has been unseasonably warm. Sunday we took advantage! Check out these photos of our family stroll :) I could get used to days like these!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Tail end of winter/early spring


I'm still not over my cupcake phase but a much needed break was in order. I've been working on writing some patterns. It's pretty exhausting work. I am switching things up here for a bit. I'm crocheting something simple and fresh. So far it's been quite enjoyable. I found this great pattern over at The Purl Bee. It's one of my favorite blogs and I'm always checking in for inspiration.

I love, love, love the stitch pattern used here but the color combination is what caught my eye. It's sort of a tail end of winter/early spring look (perfect for the month of March). I didn't use the suggested yarn (although I'm sure it works up like a dream). Instead I bought some Patons Classic Wool in Grey Mix and Lemongrass. I'm resizing it a bit to meet my needs. I'm excited to see the finished result but I think the journey there will be just as great :)

Monday, March 5, 2012

Q is for Quilt









It's been a while but we're back to our letter lessons again. Today we learned the letter "Q". Check out Nora's hand drawn "Q's" pictured above. Her penmanship is really improving. I'm impressed!

Today our craft was a hand made quilt. We used some left over fabric squares that have been just lying around. Since I'm not the best at sewing (and since that's a bit advanced for Nora right now anyway) we used fabric glue instead of thread. I was pretty impressed with the results. So far all the squares have stayed together and Isa (the green iguana) seems to be enjoying her brand new blankie.

Of course if you want to learn to make the real deal you will have to ask my great aunt Donna. She is the real quilter in our family tree :) Maybe someday I'll learn to use a sewing machine and make a real one of my own.