Lucky

After all the stuff we have gone through this past month. I feel lucky. Lucky to have such a wonderful family and the chance to know all these great people that I call my children. Several of our children have febrile seizures. It's been a rocky path to follow the past seven years, but so worth it. So many people have asked us over the years, why we had more children after we found out the older kids had the febrile seizures. It's really such a silly question to me. I look at their faces and think how could I not want to meet them, know them, call them my own.

My husband had the same thing when he was a kid. It's genetic and children typically outgrow them around 5-6. My husband did, and I Love knowing him, being married to him, and raising our great FOUR kids together! I can't imagine what my life would be like if his mother had said, well my kids "might" have this, so I just wont a child.

While it hasn't been easy, or always fun, who's life with children ever is. The seizures have actually helped me to appreciate the good times, focus on how lucky we are for all that we do have. It's how we act in the time of hardship that shows us our strengths, not times of joy. Yeah, I could feel all gloom and doom and think "why me", but that doesn't do anyone any good. It accomplishes nothing but growing anger that eats away at people's souls.

If I had the choice to pick whether or not the kids had these, I surely would pick no. Who wouldn't? One of the children hasn't ever had one [so far] and I am grateful for everyday without them in his life! They are such amazing, caring, fun kids that I can't image ever thinking it was reason enough not to know them.

Thank you universe, for allowing these great little people to call me mom! [I know you don't really hate me, proof positive 4x over. ]

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.

A little Love...

So glad tomorrow is Friday. Here's a little love to get you through the rest of the week.

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!

love

May your day be filled with love, family & happiness! Happy Valentine's Day!

Around the House

I am so craving summer. I cannot wait to get back to the Farmers Market and enjoy lots of fresh fruits & veggies. February is my least favorite month of the year, hands down. I miss the sun!

One little boy with Mama's old camera= happiest boy in the world!

A sick baby in the house this week. All he wants to do is snuggle, nurse and he CANNOT be without his bink!

My ongoing projects are starting to pile up, but I am close to finishing the kids Valentine's gifts. They are each getting a knitted winter hat. Miss {M}'s is currently on the needles and I LOVE the pretty purpley pink yarn.

Homemade Bread

We've been trying out lots of new recipes and cook books this winter. This is one of my current new favorites. It actually is SO easy if you follow the directions from this book. Maybe they are common knowledge kinda stuff for some, but having never made homemade bread before owning this book, it's been wonderful for me!

Other things we've been making together this week have included potato & black bean soup, peanut butter granola treats, banana bread and some yummy pizza's made with the dough above.

What are you cooking up this winter?

Snow Day

Another Snow Day here today, well I guess it should be called an ice day. A thick layer of ice covered everything here last night. Looks like we will spend the day crafting some Valentine's, and staying warm.

These pictures were taken last week when we went sledding-for the FIRST time. Having grown up in Cleveland, it may seem insane to family that they have never been. It's just something you do with your kids back home! If you are old enough to stand, someone will take you sledding!

Our sledding adventure lasted all of about 10 minutes. Miss {M} was the first to be "over it", quickly followed by Mr. {D} and then Little {L}. The baby was over it before it started. I think he protested the moment I tried to put his hat & coat on. Maybe you can play with the kids next year, baby J!

I can't believe you put me in this foolish hat Mama!

8 months

It's so hard to believe you've been here for 8 months already. The time has just passed like a flash. One moment you are brand new, first placed in my arms. In a blink you are crawling through the house looking for new adventures.

I am so so in love with you-those eyes, those dimples, the giggle smile. Your so sweet and easy going, a mother couldn't ask for an easier baby. It's been such a pleasure enjoying you as you are-not looking ahead to what you'll be. I'll have time to enjoy that when you are going through those stages and changes. My focus from the start has been to see you for who you are each and everyday and it's been a magical journey.

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.

Out-takes

Some fun outtakes from our Kunklebaby photoshoot today. I've had a huge PILE of stuff sitting here for 2 months waiting to be photographed so I could add it to my shop. We had a few spare minutes today so I decided to try and get some shots... and add Baby {J} to the Kunklebaby model mix. {haha}. He's 8 months old today! Can you believe it? He's so cute I can't even stand it!

Seriously? How many pics are you going to take Mama??

Biggest Brother feeling left out.

Almost done when who should show up? Batman! Little {L} was all dressed in his Batman gear, even sporting the Batman scowl. {did you all know Batman never smiles? I do now}

You can check out what made the "cut" in the shop. I'll be adding some new bibs through the weekend. Lots of girlie one's too. Take a peek at the CUTE shots!

New friends

The kids have been busy with lots of new goodies from Christmas. My favorite thing to do is watch them draw & create little habitats for their new wooden animals. They change daily and range from forest to magical lands.

We're Back!

It's the little things in life that really matter! I've been away from the blog for a bit, re-centering and spending some time focusing on the family. It was a totally chaotic December and we needed a few weeks to regroup and get back into the rhythm of the family-no matter how wild!

Lots has been happening, the baby is crawling, has 2 teeth and saying da-da. The big kids are enjoying pretending to travel to the moon, riding a pirate ship and making up new unknown lands full of mystery. Mama is working on knitting a wool lap blanket for us... well mostly "me" to snuggle on these upcoming cold winter months. Dad is trying to kick a cold, and we all know how miserable the boys get when they are when sick... worse than the kids.

I'm looking forward to a lot in 2011. Another year watching my kids grow and change. Tons & tons of projects rolling around in my head. I just need a few quiet hours a week to actually get to them [or a baby who sleeps through the night--either please]. Two of our family friends will welcome new babies to their families-we all know how much I love babies! I hope 2011 brings us much happiness & time together.

It's Santa!

First Year with no tears & all the kids made it onto Santa's lap. Hooray! Baby {J} wasn't "thrilled", but we'll blame that on just being woken from a nice comfy nap and dropped onto a strange man with a giant white beard and silly hat's, lap.

Gifts asked for this year: a sword, magic, & a guitar, or kids computer... Baby {J} just wanted to go back to sleep.

A little more Christmas

I am enjoying every little bit before it's all over for the year. Getting close now!!

More Baking

Christmas cookies! Oh, how I LOVE Christmas cookies. The frosting, glitter and color! They make me feel happy & cheerful just looking at them. That all said, I actually hate baking. Yes hate. When the cookies are all cooked, cooled & decorated and smiling at me from their glass jars and holiday plates is when I sit back and enjoy them.

This year my husband asked why I do cookies EVERY year if I hate the process [he had to "help" this year, so quickly he questioned the need. hmmm, men]. I said wait until the kids are busy creating their little snowmen, gingerbread's and tree's. Look close at their little faces concentrating & perfecting. THAT is why! The memories of the kids faces is totally worth it for me! They way their eyes sparkle and light up when they get it just so.

See you next year holiday sugar cookies... now pass me some chocolate covered pretzels. YUM!

Solstice

Happy Winter Solstice! We spent the day baking cookies, laughing & enjoying each others company... and the bigger kids got to watch "Attack of the 50 ft Woman" from 1958. Fun times, hee-hee.

Looking forward to a warm, happy winter snuggled up with my children.

Some Christmas creations

The Christmas Elves {aka-mama} are working around the clock to have everything ready for the holiday. It's approaching so quickly! I had everything under control and was way ahead of schedule until disaster struck the Kunklebaby household. Every single person in the family has been sick. A nasty cold bug has drifted through the family for 2 weeks now, slowly working it's way through all six members of the house. One urgent care visit, fevers of 104+ and lots of medicine and we are slowly getting to the other side, only the parents are left ill at this point.

Here's a peek at some of the current projects happening, in various stages. Lots of needle felting & sewing with a splash of embroidery here and there. The red nest & eggs in the last picture was made by Miss {M} for her teacher. They have been studying birds in her classroom. I'm really proud of her work!

I hope there are enough hours left next week to get everything finished up. I have a quilt & several dolls 1/2 way to completion for the kids. Lots of late nights after they are tucked in bed.

Brothers

I can't help but feel overwhelmingly proud as I watch my oldest child, play with the youngest. He's so kind, and genuinely interested in the baby. We know so much more now with #4 than we did after our first-young parents, super excited to be a "family", just learning who we were together, still. For that matter who we were ourselves! Over the years, I"ve come to no longer think in terms of "I", but, "we". I rarely say I anymore, and even rarer is the singular thought. We are now a family, for good or bad times.

Sometimes when the day is dragging on, and I feel like I cannot take one more minute of this life-laundry, bickering children, muddy dogs and the never ending shuttle service called mom- I revisit moments like these. Captured sometimes by my camera, sometimes just in my mind, and it makes it all worth it. These days pass far to quick, and I am desperate to enjoy each & every moment. Too quickly will these small fingers & toes grow.

It takes a Village...

Village of felt Gingerbread house ornaments, waiting to go to their new homes on Christmas. Lots of ornament crafting going on at our house these days. Lots of last minute things to sew and finish, but it's been so fun.