Ho HO HO

So, it turns out that Little L is horrified of Santa this year! We went to our local, annual tree lighting. [We have been going for six years now, it's amazing. Tree's, music, lights & fireworks!]. The whole day, {L} was chattering on about Ho-Ho [Santa]. He was chuckling, giggling and running around with excitement. Fast Forward to that night-we arrived late, almost missing the lighting. Mama is stressed [doesn't anyone understand how important this was! lol] Turns out due to "our" [read-husband] lateness we scored a PRIME spot right at the base of the stage. Things are looking up and stressed mama switches to excited again Mama! Thinks, this is going to be amazing! Super close so all the kids can actually see this year. The parade is ending, the crowd is cheering, here comes Santa, he's making his way towards us! I know any moment {L} will be squealing in delight! He's in sight!...and {L} is.... SCREAMING? Screaming and clawing at his Dad like we are trying to feed him to Santa. One morsel at a time! Screaming like his skin is n fire!

I was so confused.... Turns out, the ol' Shrek Christmas movie he's been watching has a scene where Santa, roaring like a jolly Godzilla, eats The Gingerbread Man's girlfriend-all up. This 2 minute scene, have terrified my baby. Looks like this picture is as close to Santa as he will be getting this year! Oh Shrek.

Magic

The magic of Christmas is once again flowing through the house. Whispers of Santa and all the upcoming fun times, flow out from under the doors of the "sleeping" children's rooms. The ornaments are on the tree and we listened to our young children reminisce about their "old" memories of Christmas' past. Mama is happy and can't stop thinking about knitting, sewing and all the new gifts to be made for the children. If magic exists I feel it this time of year. We will be celebrating Baby's First Christmas, for the fourth time-each and every as special as the last.

I can't wait to see what else the season holds for us!

Woo-hooo

YAY-the holiday is almost here. I'm so happy for a short week and looking forward to the nice break from the daily shuffle back & forth to school and rushing, rushing all about. No travelling for us, no chaotic last minute packing, no sitting patiently to leave the holiday feast to get some vegetarian food we actually eat.
Just 4 glorious days of doing whatever we want... and a yummy vegetarian Thanksgiving meal mixed in there. Hello comfy couch & knitting needles, I've missed you both!

Viewfinder

Come see us at VIEWFINDER: this weekend

November 20th and November 21st
11:00am - 7:00pm each day

Junctionview Studio's:

889 Williams Avenue in Grandview Heights, Ohio
Handmade goods. Fine art. Open studios. Yippee!

Get a headstart on all your holiday shopping!

wanna see the Vendor List

six.

I hope six still has room for unicorns, silly faces, snuggles with mama, holding hands, the mystique of fairies, late night chats about dreams & wishes.

All the magic in the world is wrapped up in this little girl. My little girl who is quickly becoming not so little anymore. It seems like yesterday she was placed in my arms. A wee-little tiny babe. So much smaller than any of the boys ever were! I was scared to hold her-didn't want to break her. She is an old soul with an amazing quest for knowledge and love. She continue's to amaze me with her wisdom & sweetness. The past six years have been magical for me getting to know her. Just being near her. I'm so lucky to call you my daughter!

Happy Birthday sweet girl.

Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Thanks!

A big thanks to everyone that came out to see me at Craftin Outlaws!! Another successful year for the show. We had an awesome day! Loved the new location, loved the crowd. A special thanks to my friend Mary who came and kept me company for the day. [It was so fun!]

This week...

This week, my very first baby turned seven. I feel so emotional about it all. This is my son who made me a mother. He taught what it was really like to love someone else more than myself [the very moment I laid eyes on him]. The boy who makes me laugh hysterically and also makes me want to tear the hair from my head at times [often all in the same day].

How in the world has seven years passed so quickly? I feel as if he was just on my shoulder, snuggled into the rocking chair, awaiting the dawn with me. First steps, first smiles, laughs, giggles, food, first teeth, then lost teeth, school... these things have seemed to pass in a whirlwind. Sure each year I say wow, your growing fast, but somehow seven is so very different. Seven just seems so... grown. He needs me so much less as the years pass. No longer do I need to help his chubby little fingers button coats, or put on stubborn shoes. He asks to be left alone to play at times, not begging me to play with him. He's no longer a baby, certainly not a toddler, but not a man yet either- a small time just in between. I like feel I will blink and he'll be a teenager-all angsty and wanting to borrow my car.

He's creative, unique, funny, silly and just overall a cool person. He has this great way of looking at life with such optimism and a drive to change things for the better. I see him doing wonderful things in his life, and I'm a proud mama!
I'm so thankful for the past seven years that I've gotten to spend with him.

Happy Birthday [my baby] Son!

It's done!

I finally took the plunge and knitted something other than a scarf. While I love making scarves and have been trying out lots of different stitches, this was exciting to do. Something new!

When we go to pick out Miss {M} from school each day, I have all 3 boys in tow. Mr. {D}, being the oldest, is fine to walk alone and happy to walk by his mama still [yay!]. Little {L} on the other hand is a runner. I have to keep a death grip on his hand to keep him from "wandering" aka running like wild in the opposite direction mama wants him to go. To ensure I can deal with that little boy, my hands need to be free.

What about the baby you ask? He gets put in the Ergo carrier. He's a happy little baby, but it's been a little chilly lately and I've been wondering what I'll do to keep him warm. Wrapping him in a blanket didn't work. He can't wear anything too bulky and fit in the sling. While looking through a book of gorgeous knitted items that I could never make in a million years, I came across a pattern for this little poncho. It will fit over the Ergo and since it's made of wool, keeps him just warm enough on the brisk days.

It's baby approved and let's face it...I'm just proud I finished! Can that little boy get any cuter?

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.

Let It Be!

When I was pregnant with Little {L} I used to clean the house and listen to the Beatles album, Let it Be. Seems normal enough, huh? Did I meantion once I got to Across the Universe, I would start weeping? Yes, not crying, but weeping, sometimes sobbing. They were both tears of happiness & sadness-sometimes in an extra-crazy pregnant moment, I would have no idea why I was crying at all.

I would cry for all the happy things the future held-watching the kids grow up, starting school, first steps, kisses & hugs. I would cry for the sad times-watching the kids GROW up [lol], starting school, missing them, missing relatives who've passed before meeting the kids, wondering if I had what it took to be a mom to three kids.

The CD eventually made it to the car and was lodged under a seat for awhile-like a year. I found it yesterday. I popped it into the radio while driving Miss {M} to school. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with the same emotions I felt 2.5 years ago. The differences were so apparent though. Not only am I a mother of 3, I'm a mama to 4 now! With the addition of #4, I feel so much calmer & at peace. I worry less about things that may or may not happen and spend more time in the current moment. More time focused on what my babies are doing today, at THIS time. Yes, I still think about what the future may hold, but I worry about it less. I don't look ahead to what the next milestone may be, but enjoy what they are doing now.

What will be, will be... just let it be. Be. Enjoy the day!

It's Official

We've been to the pumpkin patch-fall has officially arrived for us. The irony of it was the weather-in the 80's today. This was the warmest it's ever been for us on a trip to the patch over the years. We are usually in sweatshirts, when it's "warm" and wool coats & hats on cold years. We also had friends to share the day with, which made it extra fun for the kids.

Ohhh, how I love the pumpkin patch and fall. So happy you've arrived.

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. Join in at Soulemama.

New Dress

With everything to do around here lately, I still fit in a little sewing for the kids. Lots of new fall pj's, and a few dresses for our brood. This dress is my favorite of the bunch! I purchased this fabric over a year ago. It was an online fabric buy, and when it arrived I wasn't sure I liked it. It's sat, waiting for the perfect project!As soon as the last stitch was in place, I was in love with this dress-and the fabric. The two go so well together. Miss {M} looks so prettty when dressed in blue.

Not so Black & White

When I was younger, everything was so simple. So very, very black and white. Things were either one way, or another-right or wrong. There was no gray, no middle ground. I was so head strong in my idea's, that I believed there was no other way. I often thought kids who misbehaved, were not "taught" to behave by their parents. People who didn't "have" time for themselves, chose not to make it. Most dreaded of all, the long, How..old am I, again?.... uggg, this one annoyed me most of all. I used to think who in the world can't even remember their own age? They just want to look cute, and not seem so old.

Wrong-wrong-wrong!

Over the past several years, I have learned just how wrong I was. I look back at the younger me and can't believe some of the crap that went through my head! Once I stopped worrying about silly, nonsense that didn't affect my daily life, I was so much happier & peaceful.

As for children, yep even the best kids have moments of "terror children" in public. Even my best efforts, can't avoid a meltdown every so often from one of my brood-in public. Time has been a real challenge lately. While I want to do things that I enjoy and like, there really is just not enough time in a day. While I "can" fit them in, it usually means putting something else off till later. [can be done, but at a cost]. The Age issue...well, let's just say that I started having to "think" about my age a few kids, err, years ago. Seriously, those people were not kidding! With so many other things swimming in our heads, those kinda things sometimes get lost!

So, the next time, someone really annoys you, or things seem all wrong. Take a deep breath and relax, it's not all black & white. Once I realized so much was going on in the background, the gray area's, with other people [kids, jobs, chores, list, more lists, family, stress], until you walk in their shoes, you have no idea what's happening-cut them a little slack.Most of all, keep on smiling! Enjoy the rainbow.

Getting close: Craftin Outlaws

Getting close to Craftin Outlaws! I'm so excited for the show this year! This will be Kunklebaby's 4th year attending the show as a vendor. The vibe of the show is what really makes it fun!

I'm sewing away trying to get ready. I'll have some new quilt designs, new boo-boo packs [so fun & useful], and a whole batch of cool, new bib designs. I'm really excited about all the new pieces, along with some old favorites.

Stop by and shop early for the holiday's. I'll have our newest addition with me for much of the day. While your there, say hello & meet the little guy.

Flashback Friday

It's Friday-hooray! This picture was taken about two hours after I arrived at my college dorm. My little brother, really was "little" at the time. It's been a rough week for him, and I've really been missing having him close by. I'd love to have hugged him about 40 times this week, but he's over two hours away. [boo!]

I was all smiles while moving into my room and saying good-bye to my family. I was actually THRILLED to be on my own! I was in art school- I'd made it! I couldn't have been happier... until that night. I was suddenly so sad and felt so alone. I was grown, but so much a little child at the same time. I had never really been away from my family before. I'd never attended summer camp, or traveled. It was always us, and suddenly that became just "me". Scary!

I look at this picture and feel such conflicting views. On one hand, I look at the young me and think, You were SO young! I barely remember being that young. Then I think about college and it feels like it was yesterday that we were hanging out, going to parties, and just spending time learning who I was [or wasn't]. It's hard to imagine 11 years has passed since this picture was taken-this spring I will be 30 years old. 30 y-e-a-r-s old! When this picture was taken, the 18 year old me thought I'd never be 30-I'd never be "THAT" old. Ohh how time changes!

Welcome Fall

Welcome Fall-I've been waiting for you! I've been dreaming of scarves, chunky boots, apple cider and the smell of crisp, fallen leaves. I've been waiting to hit the pumpkin patch and watch my babies parade around in silly costumes, crazy for candy. The cool morning breezes, that bring just a hint to the season that follows.

I've been working, working, working in short moments I can spare to get ready for my fall shows. So many less hours in a day to create. I've been joking with friends that my next craft show will just be me, sitting there smiling, holding baby unicorn-not a kunklebaby bib or blanket in sight. It's honestly not that bad, but as much as I said I was trying to get prepared, there are just not enough hours in a day.

I'm so looking forward to the extra joy I feel during autumn. I think I smile a little brighter, feel a little happier and... well, just love the season so much!
Here's to another great fall this year! YAY!

4 months

Four months... so short, but so long at the same time! In four months, it's hard for me to remember our family without you. You have stolen everyone's heart with the sweet smiles you share so freely, and the wonderful sound of your laughter. You seem to be growing so fast, I love watching you change, but also secretly want to keep you tiny somehow-a magic bubble or anti-aging elixir. Keep you my tiny, sweet little babe-so fresh & new. -love-

Reflections

There are so many things I never knew or noticed, until they were gone and I longed for them back. I never knew my kids would sprout up and grow almost over night. That I would look back with longing for the long, sleepless nights with a newborn-just to hold them as a baby one more time. Nuzzling chubby necks, only the two of us existing at the time, while the rest of the world was in a deep slumber.

I never knew to cherish each and every time my children held my hand. I took for granted, their tiny, little fists wrapped in mine. I never knew the pain I would feel the first time they shrugged off my hand or asked to walk "alone".

I never knew that the monotony of each day blending in and out of each other seamlessly, the constant rhythm, of our home, would someday go away. I never knew how much I would miss the boring, idle chatter while doing chores. The peaceful days so alike the last-feeding, changing babes, playing, cleaning. Our summer, flowed right into fall-on and on in the rhythm of our lives together, changing, but also staying so much, the same. Our days are now filled with pick ups, drop off, finding shoes for the 100th time and rushing. Ohhh, the rushing. I never knew how much I would hate the rushing! Predictable & calm, I miss you old friends.

I never knew that I would one day wake up and feel old, wondering when the hell did this happened? Was it not yesterday that I was in high school, college... young? My skin young & supple, now wrinkled with age and signs of babies. I never appreciated being young, not the freedom, my body, anything! I wish I had known.

By looking at all the things I never realized, the things that seemed to pass by all too quick, helps me open my eyes to the things I am likely to miss now. Things that otherwise might seem a nuisance, will one day be looked back on with longing and a sense of love. Someday I will miss seeing my babes at dawn each morning, not grumble like I often do now. When they are away at college, or beyond, I will long to see their faces as I wake to an empty home.

Someday I will miss cooking for my brood, and long for their little "helping" hands in my kitchen. By taking the time to realize that I have so much in my life, makes the day pass happily, a smile cross my face more, and the peace & rhythm-I so long for- to be seen. It's been here all along, just changing and morphing into different patterns.

I am so lucky.