Labor Day Eve

Twas the day before Labor Day and all of our flock
were laying clothes out for church: white sandals and boat shoes (no socks)
With such cuteness in the closet and Bub’s seersucker so fine,
wouldn’t YOU want your kids to wear it all one more time?
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Sew Pass

I deal with a lot of guilt in life – what’s that about.  I live so aware of what other’s think and so often find myself attempting to please man rather than God.  Just writing that makes me twinge a bit, cause you might think less of me now *wink*.  I know it’s wrong and that I am fallen but forgiven; I have an audience of one, etc.  While my brain knows the fact of it,  I am trying to grow in practically living the truth of it.
What’s that got to do with sewing?
Well, at counselling yesterday I was asked what I am planning for “self care” now that school had started and we are starting to get into a routine of sorts.  One of the first things I thought of was sewing.  I am shocked at the joy I get from sewing and I was telling Patti that I plan to sew with friends for a couple hours every other week.  Her response? “Oh, that’s wonderful! A creative outlet and time with friends – two GREAT ways to care for yourself!”  That, my friends, is a paradigm shift.
See my tendency is to think that sewing every other week with friends is selfish and I could better spend my time doing housework of some kind (a.k.a marking something off my list).  I am growing to learn that I can’t have a list that is ONLY about me, but it is okay – no, important – to have myself on my list.  Caring for myself will allow me to take better care of my family and the other responsibilities God has given me.  So, I am giving myself a “Sew Pass”!!
altered photo from Controlling My Chaos
Disclaimer: Patti didn’t stop with sewing as self care but made me dig a bit deeper and we came up with a list of five or six things that were necessary and would positively impact my personal and familial quality of life.  It’s hopeful, really.
What’s up first? I have some precious knits that I can’t wait to sew.  There’s the seasonal need for jammies and then there are a couple skirts and dresses I saw on Pinterest.  Like this one:
                                                                         Source: thetraintocrazy.com via Becky on Pinterest
or this one:
                                                                             Source: craftsy.com via Becky on Pinterest
Here’s the stash:
Little has informed me that the pink with brown polka dots will be her first pair of jammies and I have even found it on, under and beside my sewing machine on multiple occasions!
I really don’t have anything planned for Bubba except for jammies.  (I love when he comes out and sits on the porch with me while I sew.)

Then there’s this little stack that’s being transformed as we “speak”:

And this bigger stack that is halfway complete:

Just looking at the pretty fabric and typing some plans makes my heart glad!!!
What do YOU DO for self care??

I’m off to do number ONE on my list – shower AND wash my hair!!!!!!

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Two TuTus and a Soccer Ball

As a recap, our children are 7, 6, and a month shy of 4. Up to this point we have not been involved in any extracurricular activities outside of church. This year has brought with it “the big change”.  That’s right folks, all three of our kids are ready for/in need of some kind of group activity at the same time. (It’s moments like these that make me feel like a non-traditional mother of triplets – go ahead and roll your eyes, Kitty – even though I KNOW it isn’t the same. Developmental delays of different proportions in two different kids often allows for multiples reaching the same milestone simultaneously. In that vein, enter ballet and soccer.

KB started ballet last week after talking about the desire to do ballet for a solid year. She is part of a class on campus and five or six of the other girls are all friends from church.

We weren’t allowed to stay and watch, so I snapped a photo or two very quickly and headed to the playground with my friends for a 30 minute child-free chat. Fun for KB – fun for me!

Our son started soccer practice three weeks ago. (He is very particular about you calling it soccer practice so as to differentiate between that and the actual GAME.) With two practices under his belt, we headed out this past week to our first game – KDS vs. St. Clements of Rome.

Doesn’t get much cuter than this:

If I am honest, I would have to admit that I never expected to see this

or this

Funny thing is, we never saw a game. The boys went out on the field to warm up and the sky opened up and dumped a ton of rain on us. The boys left the field and found shelter to wait ten minutes before reassessing the situation.

The rain did NOT let up and our little boy was let down. The rest of the day he would sporadically pipe up with, “The soccer game was cancelled. We’ll have a game next week with no rain.” Pray with us – we need the rain but we also need a soccer game!

Last but not least, Little started ballet yesterday. After a week of lugging her brother to soccer practice and listening to her sister talk about ballet, Little turned to me and said, “Mom, Bubba does soccer and KB does ballet – – – what am I going to do?” Great question. I had been thinking about it but just hadn’t found the thing that seemed suitable. I sat down at the computer and emailed the gal in charge of ballet on campus and it turned out there was one space left in the 6 and 7 year old class and the teacher is a friend who I felt comfortable calling and asking if she thought Little would be okay and not too big of a distraction. Michelle signed off on it and Little headed to ballet just hours later.

I haven’t heard much about how it went but I have been shown how to twirl on my toes and told there is a way to put my feet (never toes together?). I am thrilled that she’ll have a group activity and will be in a loving environment. It’s crazy how defensive I get on her behalf – – I just don’t want her to feel foolish. I think she is incapable of that but I’m just not 100% positive.

So everyone has something and I have a new relationship with my car seat.  Wouldn’t it be cool if you could plug your sewing machine into your cigarette lighter?

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