Cocooon of Chaos

Simple Amusements: Water and Cardboard

In my never ending quest to amuse the tot, I'm finding, as I mentioned before, it is truly the simplest things that really work and hold his interest. So, for this installment of Simple Amusements (check category for more ideas!), the only materials you need are: cardboard (I used cereal boxes), water, and a paintbrush.  For those who care about messes, I think I may have established that I do not when it comes to artistic exploration,  this is an easy, mess free activity!

Infinity Scarf

As yet another February birthday approached, I was left trying to think of something special and meaningful to make for someone very special: my mother. I purchased an infinity scarf this fall and just love it! Although it barely feels like winter here, the scarf literally feels like a hug around my neck. So, I decided to make one for my lovely mother...

This was truly an off-the-cuff project...I had no pattern, no plan, just sat for weeks knitting. There is something so incredibly soothing, reflective, and calming about sitting in the silence using my hands to create a unique piece for someone special.  As I knit, I thought about how fortunate I am to have the mother I have.  As I get older, I appreciate her more and more not only as a mother, but a grandmother and friend, too.  Time and again, she has shown me just how infinite a mother's love is so this infinity scarf is just perfect to show her my love for her has no end either.  

 

6!

Yes, yet another February birthday in this abode! My sweet Lillian turned six and what a celebration it was. She had two wishes: to get her ears pierced and a set of twins so she could pretend to adopt the girls and add them to her family.  This little lady is just full of love...

For her birthday, we had a Parisian theme for the whole day. Because, along with being a farmer and a teacher, this little lady of mine dreams of walking the streets of Paris. 

Chocolate croissants for breakfast, stinky cheese and baguette for lunch, and we had to break the Parisian theme for her choice of Five Guys for dinner! I found a gem of a book about a girl and her doll in Paris to add to the delight...

A day of what she loves: puzzles and gymnastics...

to top off the day, chocolate sundaes to end a sweet day.  As the candles increase, it is hard to be nostalgic of the days of toddlerhood but then looking at how this funny, kind, and smart little cookie is blossoming, I can not wait for what lies ahead for Lillian. It may be a muddy pig farm or the glamorous streets of Paris, but wherever she ends up, I know my little flower will bring light and joy wherever she goes. Happy, happy birthday my not-so-little-anymore Pippalotta Marie!

Little Notes about the abode...

Oy, how I could take up pages and pages of how up and down these past few weeks have been. Stomach bugs, computer problems, behavior issues, blah, blah, blah.  In the midst of all this...stuff...I found a little note that put it all into perspective under Ava's bed:

Sweet and heart wrenching at the same time, no?! I must be honest here and say the past couple of weeks have been borderline hellish on so many different levels. As a parent and a person.  It is so easy to forget in the chaos of life, that whatever I am feeling, my children are most likely feeling, too. If I am stressed, no matter how I try to mask it, my children know there is something wrong.  And in this case, if I am grieving, then my children are grieving, too.  Ava has been uncharacteristically defiant, fresh, and hurtful at times.  There were many times a day I found myself behind closed doors taking deep breaths to keep it all together. Finding this note, literally made me crumble both inside and outside. For one, I was so wrapped up in keeping it together I didn't even think that my kiddos may be trying to keep it together, too. Grief is such a strange animal, one I've encountered  many a times in my life, but have yet to figure out.  One thing I do know for sure is the more you avoid the grief, the more it will come.  I've learned to just fall into it. Some days it means tears, others numbness, others moments of joy knowing the whole world is wide open, the future boundless.  

For follow up, Maeve the Queen of Magic, left Ava a note and now we have special box for notes to Maeve and whomever else resides in the "family of magic"...

 

 

2!

Yes, the boy is 2. Hard to believe, but going through all the pictures to compose the movie below, we've realized what a long year it has been...both in a good and bad way. Oliver, as I've blogged before, really keeps us on our toes, but I can not imagine life without him.  The other day Lillian asked me what the happiest moment of my life was and I did not hesitate for a single minute: the happiest day of my life was the day the girls came to the hospital to see their little brother for the first time. After everyone had left, it was only the 5 of us and I came out of the bathroom to see the girls and Devin just staring at Oliver.  I knew, with all my heart, that my life was complete.  The world is wide open for this wild boy of mine and he has expanded my heart in a million different ways...