21 Questions

First, let me say that I have truly felt your thoughts and prayers over the last couple of days. My days have been better, and I appreciate your concerns.

Now, on to lighter topics... My friend Amy did this with her son, Will, and I thought Joan might have some funny answers, too. So here are Joan's responses to questions all about her Momma:

1. What is something Momma always says to you?
"Camera!" and "Say my manners." (The two most important things, right?)

2. What makes Momma happy?
Smiles.

3. What makes Momma sad?
Being mad.

4. How does Momma make you laugh?
You trick me.

5. What was Momma like as a child?
Like being friends. (Not sure...)

6. How old is Momma?
Three.

7. How tall is Momma?
[arm stretched high] Big.

8. What is Momma's favorite thing to do?
Well, I like to play with my camera and you like to play with that fan. (I'm not really that interesting I guess.)

9. What does Momma do when you're not around?
Hide. (it feels that way sometimes)

10. If Momma becomes famous, what will it be for?
It will be for Jesus! (Aw, I hope so!)

11. What is Momma really good at?
At playing games.

12. What is Momma not very good at?
Writing books. (Great. My life's ambition... Would this be a good time to tell her about Ruby Makes Do?)

13. What does Momma do for her job?
Play the computer. (uh-oh!)

14. What is Momma's favorite food?
Salad.

15. What makes you proud of Momma?
Saying her prayers. (So sweet.)

16. If Momma were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A pie maker. (You know, because I make all those pies...)

17. What do you and Momma do together?
We play and be best friends.

18. How are you and Momma the same?
Tall. (guess we need to work on what "the same" means...)

19. How are you and Momma different?
My hair is wet but yours isn't.

20. How do you know Momma loves you?
Being my friend.

21. Where is Momma's favorite place to go?
To the park. (Apparently getting to the park everyday is for my sake.)

Well, that seems about right.

If you've talked to me recently, you know that I'm in a pretty bad funk. So bad that I wanted to write a post all about it, listing every synonym for funk here for you to see (because, you know, writing funk once can't possibly convey the message by itself.)

Funny little thing though. Thesarus.com refused to load the page for funk. And in fact, the mouse cursor stopped working and I couldn't even find the arrow on my screen.

And that's about right.

I feel like every day there's one (but usually seven) small moments of trial that I'm met with. Things rarely seem to go smoothly for me when I set out to accomplish something - from sending a package in the mail (almost three weeks ago that still hasn't gotten there), to consistently missing the return phone call of the insurance agent who instinctively calls when I'm putting Charlotte to sleep, to the technical difficulties of Skype that keep us from video chatting with family.

I know these things happen to everyone everyday and it seems silly to get all in a frenzy about them - but gosh, they add up. My coping skills are maxed out from normal daily life with 2 small ones and the extreme financial strain we're under at the moment (Dave Ramsey, your Financial Peace University has its work cut out) - I can't take these little dramas. I have no more resources or skills to pull from and I think I'm drowning.

I mean - we brought our girls to the church nursery today before Mass even started. If you know us, you know that's a big deal. I really needed church. I really needed Jesus, and joy, and peace, and silence, and grace. Oh, grace - God grant me grace.

Maybe I need counseling (or no more calls from the mortgage lender), because really - what good am I if I break down balling at every burnt piece of toast or warm tub of yogurt placed on the pantry shelf instead of in the refrigerator?

And the worst part to me about feeling like this (other than feeling like a terrible wife and mother) is that I have no energy for others. I don't feel like calling them, checking in on them, wishing them happy birthdays, commenting on their photos or blogs, making them dinners or handmade gifts, or writing them cards or emails. And if I've done these in the recent future, I'm faking it. I really just feel like sleeping, standing in a hot shower, or eating bread and butter. That's my pity-party. (And I'm sorry you had to show up.)

I know the problem is at my core. I can't depend on my circumstances to be ideal everyday, no one's are. I need to be at peace within, solid through and through, so that these random acts of madness don't get at me. I just don't know how to get there exactly - healthy diet and exercise? more prayer? acts of selflessness and generosity? all of those?

Dear God,
Please help me get there,
or if nothing else,
just stay with me here.
Amen.

Verbatim

Today was a pretty rotten day. I won't upset you with all of the details, instead, let's slap on a Verbatim and pretend it wasn't that bad.

"I wish our door was pink and purple."

"Momma, I need a baby brother to stay at my house. So when Charlotte is gone, then I can have my brother."
"No, honey, Charlotte doesn't have to leave, you can still have a brother with her here, too."
"Well... no. I can't until Charlotte is gone."

"Papa, you be the coach - I'll be the winner."

"Is Disney World in Heaven?"

"C'mon, Joan. You need to keep eating."
"Oh sorry, I was counting my nose."
"Counting your nose? Well, how many do you have?"
"Just the one."

"I wish there was a rainbow in Mississippi. Don't you?"

"Does Mississippi have karate?"

"Are you done feeding Charlotte breasts?"

Three More Days...

So, Jude left for Minnesota today (because he's a famous graphic designer, having his own exhibition and giving fancy lectures to college students) and as we were leaving the airport, I told Joan that Papa would back in just three days. Her response, "Can we listen to the three more days song, then?"

Yes, darling, we can.

The Resurrection of the Tree Swing

Remember this? Well it has been replaced!

Thank you Nanny, Uncle Brandon, Emily, and Madelyn!! (And our amazing landlords who allowed us to put the swing in their "jungle.")

Making things make life better. ** Update **

Ok, I'm ready to retire from dressmaking. At least for the next week.

I wanted two tailgating dresses each for the girls (you know, for when my housekeeper doesn't stay on top of the laundry. [side note: yesterday I did 9 loads of laundry. Nine. Sure, it included sheets and a round of cloth diapers, but still, nine.]).

What I love about this dress? It looks effortless and simple.
What I hate about this dress? It was difficult and complicated.
But I'm only referring to the braided collar. I made three different braids of varying color and width, hand stitching them all and finally settling on one. Then I made a cute little bulldog paw to stitch on the dress, but decided against it. I'm obsessed with the final product and am now jealous that I can't fit into it...

** I originally forgot to link to the tutorial that I used for this. Make it and Love it is also where I found inspiration for Joan's braided dress.

It's somebody's birthday...

Making things make life better.

(These are already on facebook, so if you've seen them, sorry.)

I've been having a little artsy itch in my belly recently - it's probably the beautiful weather we've been having that just makes me want to do something pretty. So here's what I've been up to...

This was a random adult's shirt that a friend passed along to me. 

It is now a great tailgating dress.

This is my first attempt at ruffles. And after many hours, 

I finally figured them out. 

The skirt was also a friend's old shirt. Thanks, Ted.

I finally made something for Charlotte to wear tailgating - and from scratch (I have to say, I really patted myself on the back for this one.). This dress really made me want to take sewing lessons or actually open up a pattern and learn how to use them. 

Life might be a little easier afterward...

It looks like you could actually buy it in a store! 

I even used the fake bow to hide snaps!

Oh this? I just found an old beat up bookshelf on the side of the road and freshened it up.

And this was purchased at a thrift store. The yellow makes it funky.

I hated the way this shirt fit me. But I love the way it fits Joan!

Jersey braids? My new favorite thing.

They might just be the cutest little girls at Davis Wade Stadium.

Gosh. I want these dresses for me...

Go State! (But really, you should have won today.)

I found the tutorial for Joan's dress here.

Happy Belated Birthday, Mother Mary!

Thanks for waiting until I could make it to the store to get your cup cake stuff!

I can't believe it's already been a year since we started celebrating life more liturgically. It's been such a blessing and hopefully very memorable for the girls.

Isn't Joan just so precious?!

A blogger invite

Bonnie invited me to answer a few questions for the handful of you who read my blog. Here it goes.


What is your occupation right now? Wife and mother, aspiring to be a true seamstress and children's book author, (if I always use the word, aspire, it won't matter if it never happens, right?). But in another life, I would have been a graphic designer, fashion designer, interior designer, screenplay writer, or photographer. (Well, don't those make me sound so artsy? Maybe I'll do one of 'em when I retire.)


What are you listening to right now? NBC Sports football commentary for the Saints game online. Have you met my husband, Jude? I've got his football game on the left side of the screen while I type this post in a separate window on the right. We're sitting beside one another. Marital compromise at its best. (But if you mean current music, it's Fleet Foxes on repeat - preparing for the awesome show next month!!)


What was the last thing that you ate? An oatmeal cookie at a photography exhibition's opening reception. Black and white photos of the 1930's. So beautiful.


How old are you today? 27


What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Football. But I really love to watch hockey live.


What is your favorite drink? Sangria. Definitely on a sangria kick right now. And though I've stopped drinking cokes everyday, Cherry Coke will always be near to my heart.


What is your new favorite song? "Helplessness Blues" by Fleet Foxes


What is the last movie you watched? The Killers with Ashton Kutchur and Katherine Heigl. Definitely a bust. We made so much fun of it the entire way through and I strongly suggest you skip this on Netflix Instant. (We should have gone with that Dorian Gray flick like I suggested. Has anyone seen it?). Oh wait, the 3rd season of True Blood came in the mail and we watched that yesterday.


Favorite day of the year? I don't really know. But I typically like Fridays.


What was your favorite toy as a child? Ok. This sounds weird. But my cousins had this life sized stuffed doll with yellow yarn hair and ruby red lips that I think my aunt Gisele made. They used it in a talent show while lip-syncing to The Beach Boys "Barbara Ann." They gave it to me and my sisters when it was over and we played all kinds of stuff with that doll. I also liked to pass time with my Skip-It.


What is your favorite season? Fall. Silly question.


Cherries or Blueberries? I'm sure my foodie friends would disapprove, but I love maraschino cherries and pride myself on the ability to tie a knot in a cherry stem with my tongue... But to eat fresh cherries or blueberries? No thank you. However, I love any baked good with either.


When was the last time you cried? A few days ago. I'm worried about possible thyroid issues and symptoms.


What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes.


Who is the friend you have had the longest? Lori. It feels like I've been friends with Jude, though, my entire life.


What did you do last night? I took Joan and Charlotte to get a free cookie at Zaxby's to celebrate her first day of school while Jude was at a meeting. Then I watched True Blood with Jude.


What are you most afraid of? That Jude will either die or become severely disabled, leaving me responsible for it all. Also, Hell. 


How many states have you lived in? 3: Louisiana, Illinois, and Mississippi. I wish I lived in the physical town of Bloomington-Normal, just as it is with its stores, parks, churches, schools, and activities (minus the weather), but with Mississippi State University replacing Illinois State for Jude to work at, and located in Lafayette, Louisiana, close to family. Why can't I have my cake and eat it too?


What is your favorite kind of flower? I'm not really partial. But I kind of hate carnations. 


Poor Jude. He's been a good sport. Now it's time to give him the full screen, just in time to see them lose.

Verbatim

"Ok, Joan, let's go to Columbus."
"But I'm tired."
"You can rest on the way. It's kind of far."
"But do they have a bed for me in Columbus?"
"Ha, ha. No."
"Ok, well I'll close my eyes, take a deep breath, and go to Columbus."

"Hey, Charlotte - Are you talking about Willis?!"
(Whatcha talkin' 'bout Willis?)

"Joan, please don't blow your spit on me - that's gross."
"No, it's just a splash and will make you be warm."

"Joan, if some of the kids at school aren't being nice or they're being too rough, I want you to tell them, 'No thank you. That hurts my feelings.'"
"Ok, but they'll be nice to me, Momma. Don't worry."

"Hey! Can you show me the way to Flynn Ryder's castle?!"

"Joan, please stop hitting us with the blankets. It kind of hurts."
"But they don't have swords on them..."

Loudly in the dressing room,
"Oh! I like that skirt, Momma! And it matches your panties!"

"Momma, can you lay with me tonight?"

"No, sweetie. The angels and saints will lay with you."

"But they can't because they're working."

"Working?"

"Yeah - on the barn because the pigs and everyone don't have enough food. And that's why they're working. So you have to stay tonight."

"Nice try."

And this post wouldn't be complete without photos from Joan's first day at school. She'll be going 4 hours, twice a week to a little preschool at a family resource center in town - and it's free! She had a great time today and the only "on the verge of tears" we saw was when we showed up to take her home... oh well...

Dear A&E,

Is 3 years old too young to be on Hoarders or Intervention? Because Joan is starting to worry me...

 And it looks like her tendencies might be genetic...

I think Joan needs "The Talk..."

... on the Moral Implications of Cloning.