making a mess, and the dogs (not related to each other)

Heidi loves to paint, color, use stickers etc. I now have a system set up where she wears a large t-shirt, and I cover the table. Heidi can make a mess, and then we clean it up. I have to tell myself not to worry about the mess each time, but it is worth the effort to watch Heidi learn new skills.

Heidi finger painting

I was working on dinner one afternoon, and needed to keep Heidi entertained and away from hugging my legs while saying "up, mommmy, up" over and over and over again :) So she received her own bowls of flour, a spoon, and a cup. It kept her occupied for quite awhile. 

Heidi playing with flour.

Yes, we still have both our dogs. How life goes, they have moved down the priority list. We still love them, and Heidi is starting to gently interact with them. She likes to throw the tennis ball for Sophie, or try to play keep-away with one of Sophie's toy. 

Sophie

Skipper keeps his distance too, but once in a while Heidi can calmly get close to him and pat him for a minute. He still loves to soak up the sun.

Skipper

Here, Heidi and Grandma are blowing bubbles, and  yes, Heidi tries to eat the soap. Ewwwww. This was this past week, and could be our last warm day for a long time. I've pulled out the next size in warm clothes for Heidi. She is mainly up into 3T already, with just a few 2T left that she can fit into.

Grandma and Heidi

Laura's birthday present

I thoroughly enjoyed making Laura's birthday present. However, I didn't get it mailed until around 5 weeks after her birthday. And here it is another month after that, where I am finally showing you what I made for her. I made the same letter for my front door, except with an "R" of course. The "F" is her future last name. It's a cardboard letter wrapped in twine. I came across the idea of making your own pot-holders, and really liked the fabric. Hopefully Laura will use them.

Better late than never, I guess????

Shell Scarf Pattern - Crochet

Years ago, Grandma made me a crocheted blanket, using a shell pattern. I've always loved using it, and especially loved the pattern. So I decided to convert the pattern to fit a scarf. I guess I could have looked up a pattern on the internet, but instead I looked at the blanket and tried to copy it. It took me trial-and-error, and lots of stitch ripping, before coming up with a good approximation. So.... here is my first pattern! :)

- this is not detailed in terms of which type of yarn to use, or size of the crochet hook. Use what you like, and the larger the hook, the easier and faster you will go.


Shell Scarf - crochet

1st row: chain 35 stiches, turn

2nd row: slip stitch 1, single crochet in each stitch (you should have 35 total), turn

3rd row: slip stitch 1, double crochet in each of next 4 stitches (stitches 1-4)
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything) (5-7)
             - count three stitches on your 2nd row, and in the 4th stitch, double crochet 1 (8)
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything) (9-11)
             - double crochet in each of next 3 stitches (12-14)
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything) (15-17)
             - count three stitches on your 2nd row, and in the 4th stitch, double crochet 1 (18)
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything) (19-21)
             - double crochet in each of next 3 stitches (22-24)
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything) (25-27)
             - count three stitches on your 2nd row, and in the 4th stitch, double crochet 1 (28)
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything) (29-31)
             - double crochet in each of next 4 stitches (32-35)

4th row: slip stitch 1, double crochet in each of next 4 stitches (stitches 1-4)
             - skip next three stitches (5-7), and in stitch 8, double crochet 6 stitches
                (you will see a fan shape forming)
             - skip next thee stitches (9-11), double crochet 1 in each of next 3 stitches (stitches 12-14)
             - skip next three stitches (15-17), and in stitch 18, double crochet 6 stitches
             - skip next thee stitches (19-21), double crochet 1 in each of next 3 stitches (22-24)

             - skip next thee stitches (25-27), and in stitch 28, double crochet 6 stitches

             - skip next thee stitches (29-31) 

             - double crochet in each of next 4 stitches (stitches 32-35)

5th row: slip stitch 1, double crochet in each of next 4 stitches

             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything)

             - count three stitches on your previous row (this is part of the fan, therefore fan stitch 1-3),

                     BETWEEN fan stitch 3 and 4, single crochet 1

             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything)

             - double crochet 1 in each of next 3 stitches

             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything)

             - count three stitches in the fan, BETWEEN fan stitch 3 and 4, single crochet 1

             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything)
             - double crochet 1 in each of next 3 stitches
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything)
             - count three stitches in the fan, BETWEEN fan stitch 3 and 4, single crochet 1
             - slip stitch 3 (not hooking into anything)
             - double crochet 1 in each of next 4 stitches
             - (you should have 35 stitches on this row)

row 6: repeat row 4

row 7: repeat row 5

keep repeating rows 4 and 5 until the scarf is as long as you want it to be. To finish, end of a "row 5", then turn and single crochet across. You are now finished, tassels are desired!!!!! exciting!!!!

In this picture, this pattern is in the middle scarf and the scarf on the right. Can you see the shell/fan pattern?

A little of this, a little of that

I have been hearing about a popular website for awhile now. It's called Pinterest, where one can post and save different ideas about anything. Now, I haven't joined because I have lots of fun ideas already, and do not need more. But by using links from facebook, I have found a couple new websites for recipes. But then poking around, I found the follwing idea and wanted to try it. Grandma is always needing more magnets to keep all her pictures on the fridge. I liked this idea as I could customize each one. Here is what I have come up with. What do you think? The first set are snowflakes, and the second bunch are fall leaves.

I have found a few blogs which describe home life raising large families. And by large, I mean 10 kids, some biological and some adopted. It is neat reading their struggles and joys, and how they rely on God. Not that I want that many kids, but I feel as though God is leading me to help kids even more in-depth than I am through work. Time will tell as to Gods plans, Kelby's ideas, and where life leads us.

I had to say goodbye to a family whom I had worked with for awhile. This boy captured my heart, and I will always think about him. I'm not sure why I become closer to some kids over others. I wonder if at some point I will feel less, but then my heart continues to open and love. I always try to enjoy my visits and have fun; because if I am not having fun, than neither is the child and they are less motivated to learn. J, you have a piece of my heart. Now, my heart is growing to love new kids.

Here is Sophie tired after lots of playtime. Kelby thought she looked cute panting. I'm not sure about that deer skull in the background...

 Sophie and Skipper are fun to watch together. Sophie follows Skipper on walks, and where he smells, she smells. Sometimes she is in Skippers way, and he uses his body to push her over. Sophie watches Skipper as he chews on a bone, and the second he stops, she runs in to get the bone, and runs away carrying it. Skipper has learned that sometimes Sophie leaves food behind in her cage, and when she gets out, he goes in looking for food. Once in awhile, we let the puppies in bed to cuddle. Here I am going to sleep, and I called Kelby in to take a picture. They are both in their preferred positions, Skipper under the blanket next to me, and Sophie on top of the blanket but still getting body heat from my legs. hehe

Sophie loves to try and play with more than one toy at a time. Here she is, unable to decide if she wants to chew on the monkey, or the ring. 

And I couldn't end a post without a picture of Skipper. Typically, he has a scared expression on his face when he hears the shutter on the camera, but not this day!