Mama Made: Tiny Kitty

I made these a bit ago, but never shared. They are tiny tiny kitties, just perfect to hold in your hand.  I must confess that I totally love them.

 As does my kitty lover.

 I actually sold a couple at the Holiday Faire at the local Waldorf school.  I think I need to make a few more.  Maybe a litter of tiny kitties. I know this girl wouldn't complain about that!  

Read

Everyone has a vision of what they thought parenthood would entail.  Likely it didn't include scribbles on the wall, balls left on the stairs, broken treasures, cutting a huge chunk out of one's hair, playing "mixing" with ten 24 piece puzzles, projectile vomiting, etc....but surely those are memories to chuckle about later. With any luck, life as a parent includes mostly the good stuff, including the stuff of what you dreamed of when you were thinking about your future decades ago.

For me, it was and is reading. I always dreamed of having children who enjoyed reading, would listen to the stories and snuggle in.  My obsession collection of books proves my vision. I totally have books from my childhood and books that I purchased in high school for my 'someday' kids. I have hundreds, maybe even thousands (and no, I'm not exaggerating) of books.  Shelves upon shelves, the attic and my work storing more.  Plus we frequent the library.  I'm so not a minimalist with books.  We read them though, I promise!

 

I am so thankful I have kids who enjoy reading with me. I don't think there's been a single day since either of their births that hasn't involved books. The days we're home, it's not unusual for us to spend 2 hours reading together. It's my favorite part of the day. No matter how busy we are, I try so hard to make lots of time for books. It's when I try to pinch myself and remember how lucky I am. It's the stuff I smile about as I drift off to sleep at night. 

Thankful my husband snapped a couple cell phone pics of me doing my favorite part of parenting.  Our reading sessions won't last forever, so I'm going to remember to enjoy them each day.

Choices

When the kitchen is a mess, you can either A) Put on a pretty apron to divert one's mind from the problem areas where clutter from the day has made a ginormous mound. 

Or  B)  Hang that apron back up, shut the light off, close the door and head to a room that's less overwhelming. 

Choice B wins. If you come to my house tomorrow, there will be clutter. I'll make hot cocoa so we don't notice the mess.

Deal?

Deal.

Thank you notes and creating

Although I'm not perfect, I really do try to keep up with thank you notes, and have my kids do them too. 

I think this one is my most favorite one ever.

 The art on the outside I just love.  Do you see the yellow circles? That's the honeycomb. And all those striped ones are the bees he cut out and drew.  100% his idea.  He spent three days making this.

 You know, I'm a wee bit of a crafty gal. I used to bring my babysitting tote when I was a teen with all these craft ideas. I'd create with all the little kiddos I'd babysit.  I thought I would be the pinterest type mom, but I've come to a different realization as of late. 

For me, what's even better than an adorable project from pinterest is the project that is planned and executed by little ones and their tiny hands. 

It's actually not that fun doing pre-made ideas with Adrian in particular.  He gets so obsessed with the model and how his must look precisely like the model.  Then when each meticulous detail isn't a carbon copy of the original, he bursts into tears.  (Audra just does her own thing anyway....so she's no problem with anything structured). 

On the flip side, when I just leave the art supplies out and let them create with no provided models by me, the creations are SO much better than planned projects.  For real. I have pictures of cows, mosquitos, Jesus on the cross and a lovely picture of Audra picking flowers from Adrian. Audra fills entire papers full of tiny brushstrokes of watercolors.  She also does tiny spirals and circles and then colors them in (on the wall too, sigh). I have all these Valentines with red hearts drawn on them in piles to make me feel cheerful. I have this house with bears in all the windows.  I have these hidden picture designs that you have to search to find the stickers hidden with all the elaborate pictures around them.  I have creations, creations and more creations.

I sort of love my decision to just let them create. Multiple times a day, they head to their craft area I leave set up in the kitchen to create. Which is really the best way to go about things, yes?

It's really a good lesson for me. When I feel like I need my mind to be a little better organized, I really ought to escape to my creative world, even for 5 minutes or so. When I feel my mind is cluttered (which is the case lately!), I tend to abandon my crafting stuff, which is the opposite of what I should do. I'm betting a little art interspersed into my day would do wonders for my tired brain. 

Must get on that.
More crafting.

A good goal indeed. 

Thrifted

 

Story about this lot. My son said "Mama, can I pick out my birthday presents and you save them for my birthday? I want all these. And this is all I want"  The barnyard book, the John Deere and the BOGS boots, it added up to $10. That's it.  Birthday shopping done.  (Although I think I'll just give it to him for his half birthday in March.)



And this lot...A loaf pan. Richard Scarry (Can't get enough of his books!), a Bible book with great pictures, an Usborne book, a vintage mixer and a brand new thermos.  $5.50 for all.   I now have  thermos for each one of us, all thrifted and brand new. I tell you, these are handing for packing to go lunches, hot cocoa or a cold glass of milk.  Keep your eyes open for them in your thrifting adventures. You never know what you may find!

Bottoms up.

Well, we have quite a bit on tap. Bottoms up.

Clearly, the feline crew has gotten the message.  Might be time to host another 'let's drink milk' party.  Such a good problem we have!

His New (Free!) Nightstand.

 Oh this nightstand, who would have guessed it would be the best present ever?

I saw a sign that said 'free' and pulled a U turn.  Brought home a green night stand. When Adrian saw it, he was elated. "Mama! You got me a John Deere nigh stand!" 

He promptly covered it in cow print and filled it with his homemade tractor books and the boxes of magazine clippings of cows, tractors, barbed wire, silos, combines, etc.  The stuff he collects... (More about that here.)

He's such an intense collector.

 And he 'decorates' like this....all of his random stuff he complies into these displays. 

 To be truthful, sometimes I see the stuff he does and I try to convince him to toss, better organize or put away. He, of course, has no interest in switching anything up. He likes what he likes.....farming and nature.  I have to take a big breath and remind myself that it's okay.  Even though his piles are not aesthetically pleasing and his room isn't clutter free, it makes him happy (which this pic is from a good day, it's not usually this tidy!). Regardless, in his room, he has all of his favorite stuff, including the stuff I would throw away, but he's committed to keeping forever.  And really, it's okay.
Adrian, we embrace you, clutter and all.  We love your uniqueness, your proclaimed loves that are unwavering and your style. May you enjoy your numerous collections and display them proudly in your room.  A kid with a strong sense of self is really such a good thing.