Grateful

I'm feeling so grateful for my family today, So grateful for their strength and humor over the past few months.  I find strength in our unity and the helps to push me along when I need prodding. Everyday I look at these four little souls that I helped create and feel so lucky to get to know them, hold them, be important to them. The baby has started saying, I love you Mama. Always at just the right moment, without warning or desire to earn something. His sweetness is never lost on me.

I struggle with February, each year. The time seems to crawl along. Little light, many hours of darkness in the day-this year filled with rain. Some days I lack the strength to look ahead to the brighter, sun filled, warm days of spring that creep closer each hour. Silly little things become huge annoyances and issues to me this month. I have to constantly remind myself to breathe and focus. Things I would ignore any other time of the year, start to pick & pull at my psyche and eat away at the core. Children get tired of being cooped up in the house and start to agitate each other out of boredom. Mama's nerves are grated thin this time of year.

The past two weeks I think I've done a good job at keeping ahead of the tiredness of winter, {especially this non-snow filled one} that always arises. I've tried to minimize the tension with lots of laughs, silliness with the kids, and dancing. Dancing always lightens the mood.  The baby just started potty training this week. That alone has kept my hours filled with chasing after him, reading crouched on the bathroom floor for what feels like hours, and jumping up & down in excitement with my proud boy.

While February will never be my favorite month, this one has definitively been one of the easiest for me. I have so much to be thankful for and have made that my current focus...  but Spring, I really can't wait till you arrive. We're old friends, I miss you. Text me so I know you're on your way soon enough.

Welcome February

As I look back 

over my life

I am struck by post

           cards

Ruined snapshots

faded posters

Of a time, I can't recall

-Jim Morrison

I am working on putting January behind me. I hope the memory grows flimsy and transparent with time. The sting will dull, until all that remains is a small & distant picture in my head. Times passes. Does it heal all wounds? I think, no. It does allow them to fade and diminish in loudness & duration. They remain though, sitting below the surface, never quite gone. Able to to be cut deep into, if one knows the right tool. With time, a callous will form, disguising the original wound. Time goes on.

 I have welcomed this February as no other in my past. I welcome the change, and hope for the next month ahead. I've been thinking a lot about time lately and what it can bring us as it passes. My children grow. Strong legs, strong minds. I try to distract myself from the impermanence of it all. Someday, I too will be gone, and only a memory in their minds. A memory of faded snapshots, and soft spoken words. The future is theirs, I am just their bridge leading them to it. The days pass quickly, as they stretch higher to the sky. Each day growing in size and skills.

I think I am going to explore some of my thoughts on time in general,  this February. The longest, short month of the year. The start of the year has been a bit rough for us, but I have hope for the the rest of the year. It's darkest before dawn, and we are waiting for the sun, now.

{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 @ Soulemama.

Tree Lighting

 

All bundled up warm, we went to the local Christmas Tree lighting, over the weekend. It's one of my favorite winter activities!  All the favorites were present, Santa, a huge Christmas tree, fireworks {the kids are watching them above}, nutcrackers, gingerbread men, marching bands. This year, they added giant, helium parade balloons too. A great time was had by all! We finished the night up with bagels at Panera and headed for home. A few of the kids drifting off to sleep before we arrived... maybe sugarplums danced in their dreams?

Hats

I've been meaning to show off these hats I made last month. It's getting closer & closer to Spring now, but they sure have gotten their use so far and will be perfect for next year also. It's March in Ohio though, I'm sure they will get at least a couple more days of use!

I used the pattern from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It was a super easy & crazy fast to knit up. I'm already planning to make some for Christmas gifts next year. Best of all the kids really like them.

The Universes Hates me...

Well...not really, but that's how I've felt the past 2 weeks. In 2 weeks, 2 ever so short weeks we had 2 Emergency Room visits, 3 doctors visits and 1 trip to the Urgent Care. Battled colds, the flu, bronchitis, ear infections, croup, sinus infections, fevers, mystery rash, two febrile seizures and then finally a horrible case of hives.

Everyone of the kids was affected by more than 3 of these things over the course of yes, 2 weeks! I felt like my brain was going to fall outta my head towards the end. Baby {J}'s top two teeth thought this also to be the perfect time to pop right on out. Everyone is on the mend now, but it's been a rough February here at the Kunklebaby household. Lots of medicine, hugs, desperate wishes for the kids to be alright, and tissues. Ohhh the tissues.

During the past few weeks, to keep from going insane I have been knitting. Knitting and knitting, letting my brain go numb and mindless while focusing on the rhythm of the yarn and needles. All the kids got 2 new hats out of the ordeal. The first set I made were these from the new Soulemama pattern as Valentine's Day gifts for the kids. They were SO easy and so cute. Let me also preface that by saying I have never knit a hat before...ever. In two weeks I have now made 7! The next set were made using the book More Last minute knitting. [I'll share those tomorrow]

Everyone was thrilled with the new hats except Baby {J}. His new hat is his new nemesis. arch enemy. new thing to be avoided at ALL costs. Little {L} thinks his is a Spiderman mask [no idea!] and wears it over his face. At this point if it's cold & he's actually wearing a hat, I'm happy!

Merry & Bright

I am so amazed by the love these two little boys show each other! Little {L} is never referred to as a "gentle" child, but he is so tender and sweet with his Baby JuJu! I love watching them grow into friends. I know there will be many fights & disagreements over the years, but deep down, the love is already there-a bond of brotherhood growing stronger each day!

Color!

We are getting snowed in again here in Ohio. Lots of snow falling since yesterday afternoon. All the city schools are closed for a snow day, so we are too. My husband thinks it's silly that we have snow days when the kids are homeschooled, but snow days are fun for everyone!! A little break from the expected!

With the total lack of color going on outside, I needed a color fix inside! I made these new curtains and a rug for our kitchen last Friday. I love how they brighten up the space and make me feel more cheerful and warm!

The curtains are made with a sunny, Heather Ross print. I've been saving this one for over a year and finally cut into it. Heather Ross announced on her blog she will be doing a new line of some of her retired fabric prints with Spoonflower! I CAN'T wait!

-Please ignore my sink full of dihes and messy counters!!-

Winter Wonderland

Another snow storm swept through central Ohio last night. Everything is covered in beautiful, fresh, bright white snow. It sure beats the dreary, grayness that was here!

I love looking out the window and seeing all the prettiness-especially cause I don't "have" to leave the house today. We'll be snuggling up doing some knitting & drawing from the warmth of our home!

Over the Weekend

Friday afternoon a winter snow storm blew into town. We usually don't see too much snow here [well, I grew up in Cleveland, so that's what I use for comparison]. The kids love to play in the snow and be silly together. They even got to make a snowman with Daddy! Fun!!

The snow actually makes it less gloomy & bleak here. I look out the window and see a nice, bright wintery day!

One Year

One year-365 days-In just one year, the kids have changed so much! The older kids are learning how to read and write and question everything the world tells them. They seem to have grown so much in just one little year. Chubby cheeks are being replaced by more grown up features. Every other day, they seem to get inches taller also!

Little {L} is well, not so little anymore! He's a big, independent, strong boy! Climbing, jumping and running everywhere!

- 2010-

- 2009-

-2010-

- 2009-

Little {L} very "carefully" [ahhhh!] brought me my camera the other day. Instead of whisking it immediately away to safety, I told him to smile and started snapping pictures. He makes these silly faces now that he thinks your "supposed" to make for photo's. The two older kids are always up for pictures so they quickly joined in the fun!

WIP

I am desperately trying to get this scarf completed before the warm weather arrives. It seems at most these days I get 2-3 rows finished before someone needs something, or calls me away from knitting. Busy, busy these days. I love this wool yarn though! It's so soft and the colors are yummy. My two favorites, blue & green.

Worst case scenario, I'll have a lovely scarf to wear next fall!

Sneak Peek: Scarves

I've been working on adding a few new things to my line this Fall. Here's a tiny sneak peak at my scarves.

So often I have people come up and talk to me at shows, saying how much they love my stuff, but have no children to buy for. A few of those lovely ladies actually purchased my quilts to use as art in their homes. So, I got to thinking I could make more for my Kunklebaby customers without children.

I have been making scarves for my children & family for awhile and thought they would make a great addition right now as we head into the chillier months. They come in two sizes, "adult" & "child", and a rainbow of colors. They will be with me at my next few shows, so anyone local, come say hello! [shows are listed in the side bar].

The kids are not left out either! Plenty of smaller scarves in the bold, fun prints I often use. I'll even have a few organics for the eco-chic look. They include my own original, hand printed images on some of the squares.


This blue & green one is my favorite of the adult sizes. If this girlie makes it through show season, I'm adding it to my closet!

Places I've lived...

Great painting from Fauve Bohemian

I have moved around quite a bit in my life. I've been thinking about the different places lately and thought I'd share.

I grew up in a large, old, green house on the West side of Cleveland. We moved to the house when I was in first grade. It was the first house that my parents owned, and we were so excited! It was large and drafty in the morning and downright cold in the winter. My sister and I used to fight about who got to stand in front of the metal heather gratein our dining room, each morning. You had to be careful though, it got so hot that it would burn your legs if you touched it.

I consider this to be my childhood house. We moved out when I was in 8th grade and I was devastated. I missed my friends, my room and the comfort of the large, strange old house that had become my home.

from A Punkin Card Company

{ Art }

What have we been up to lately?

February is right around the time, I've had enough of winter! The kids are bored, I am bored, the dogs don't want to go outside in the cold any longer....or worse, they come back in covered in mud.

To keep the children happy & entertained, we worked on some Valentines Day art the other day. I love how you can give 2 children the exact same supplies and paper and they will create completely unique pieces from those supplies.
{d} was covering his hearts in the paint to "hide" them. After this he did a cool splatter effect across the entire page.

Little Miss {m} was happy drawing faces on all her "girl" hearts. They were happy and decorated in bows.

{L} did not get to participate in the painting today. He was NOT thrilled about it. After a few crackers, he no longer wanted to sit in the high chair and opted for throwing all his toys across the room. {d} thought it was fun, so kept bringing him more toys to toss.

{ Falling Snow!! }

Do you remember watching the snow fall as a kid? I always loved the first snowfall of the season. (Being that I grew up in Cleveland, we didn't have to wait long-lol)
When I was a little older, 11-12ish, I would always spend the day at the park with my best friend Amy. We would just walk around for hours, talking and enjoy the beauty of the freshly fallen snow on the tree's. Looking back, those day was always super positive, I ache to be so free again to just breathe and enjoy life in the moment.
I feel so nostalgic watching my children delight in the snow. The first snow meant a new season, happiness, and fun things to come. I hope it feels the same way for {D}, {m} and {L}!

{ The Littlest Giant }

Over the weekend, {D} has renamed {L}. He will now be known as the littlest giant in our home.

The Littlest Giant has been on a rampage. He has been busy destroying block towers, ripping ornaments from the Christmas tree, climbing onto everyone and everything, slapping, hair pulling....the list can go on and on.

Little {L} was climbing on my back the other day and {D} said "Look he's a giant...the littlest giant, but still. For someone so small, he sure wrecks up a lot of stuff!! He's crazy". It was pretty funny and I realized, it was the perfect nickname. {L} is the typical baby, but inquisitive x10. He is super fast for his age and into everything. He just laughs and laughs when you tell him no. I'm hoping later on, he doesn't spend most of his toddlerhood in a time out. Although the littlest giant would probably just laugh anyways.

I really missed having a baby in the house. It's so sweet to see the wonder in his eyes this Christmas-his very first. {D} & {L} just seemed to grow up overnight. I look at them and can't believe it has been so long since they were crawling through the house wrecking havoc on all! I think the poor cats have just recovered from {M}'s baby years!

~Happy Holidays~