my word cloud

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and then she melts my heart

the 7 yo is a true gemini...she is like night & day incapsulated within 1 person. The friggin' temper tantrum stuff, acting more like the little sister than the big sister. For a few days in a row. THEN she has the audacity to ask for $3 so she can donate to some fundraiser at school. After her poor behaviour, I was miffed & said no. So she said she would just use her "share" money (which, ultimately, is the better idea). She comes home w/ 3 carnations & hands them to me -she's got the biggest "I'm so happy to see you mom" look. She spent her own $ to get flowers for me. I was floored. Then today while I was online, she crawls behind me onto the chair & proceeds to give me (her version of) a neck massage. As well as hugs & stuff. I tell you, gemini's have a split personality. It's like the other, bad kid moved out & MY daughter is back.

ugh

I am at my wit's end w/ the 7 yo lately. I am this [] close to being accused of child abuse. Okay, not really. I could never do more than threaten bodily harm. And even that is limited to those "if you were me & you had my parents, you'd have such a sore bottom right now" kind of speeches. It's been a very trying last couple days. Don't know what it is. Or rather, why it is. Growing pains? Testing her boundaries/my limits? (yeah the very outer limits of my sanity) Problems at school manifesting in ugly forms at home? I am seriously considering sending her to a different school. I've always wanted to send my kids to catholic school. With this one, it's almost a necessity. I can't stand to listen to one more complaint about "there's nothing to wear" when her dresser is FULL of clothes that she's insisted on having. I think the mandatory uniform policy would be wonderful. At this point, though, I've given up on that idea & have moved on to the military school option. I kid you not. It has been that bad. Just total disregard & disrespect. Selfishness beyond belief. Hurtful, spiteful, downright mean spirited behavior. I fear you will see us on Dr Phil or some such daytime t.v. dramarama in the not too distant future. You know the episode "good kids gone bad". Or "parents who are afraid of their children". Or "Boot camp for brats". Something along that vein. Maybe it will be SuperNanny. Of course it will be all my fault (thank you dr. freud). It couldn't possibly be inherent in her personality. Punishment doesn't work. Ever. She's too big for spanking. (yes she is...she's as big as the eldest daughter was at 9 yrs -almost as tall as me). Rewards work sometimes. What_is_the_deal?????? Seriously, maybe therapy. At 7, for crying out loud. Now I know what my parents went through -with my brother (not me, sheesh). And if I have to hear one more time about how much she hates school, doesn't care about school, doens't want to go to school, I will send her to the nearest 3rd world country to see what exactly she's taking for granted. Oh yeah, and she's "running away" -about every day. That's the other thing. I have this sinking feeling that this kid will be the one to experiment w/ drugs/alcohol/cigarettes/running away, etc etc etc. I don't want to curse her w/ the pygmalian effect, but it's a worry in the back of my mind. I mean, I don't "expect" her to end up like that. Heavens, I EXPECT her to behave a lot better than she does now; but I can see little signs in her personality that lead me to think that is how she will be as a pre/teenager. So, how to nip it in the bud now?!? That is my short prayer tonight. That and an extra dose of patience.

Vday

Usually I am loath to celebrate Vday; it can prove to be a disappointing day. HOWEVER, I will say that this year took me by surprise -in a very good way. I have been known to call a certain someone "the most unromantic person in the world". I have been proven wrong. Or perhaps I knew it was always there, under the surface -deep under the surface. But it's there regardless. I had on my bed satin sheets & cases -something I've always wanted but have never indulged in. AND 2 new luxurious pillows. AND on the bed were 12+ long stem pink tipped white roses -very pretty. AND a gift certificate to a local spa for a facial, massage & makeover. I was blown away, to say the least. I was partly joking when I said "now I know why you're never romantic; now that you've started, you can't stop. What what can you do to top this next time?" Seriously. This was by far the best Vday I've had. And the icing on the cake? not a drop of chocolate. (I know some will scoff at this; but I'm not eating chocolate these days, so yes, this was very thoughtful). Wow. I'm still blown away.

minor update

So I haven't posted in forever. I crocheted scarves for Princess Fiona & Madster for xmas. They coveted the scarf my mom crocheted for Snick (which she actually gave to Lib b/c it was a little short for her taste). They all wanted to wear it. I figured out the pattern. It was definitely homespun yarn so I used that as well. They're soft & pretty & the girls wear them when it's cold. (will post pics soon)

I've been slacking in the knitting/crochet dept. I'm ALMOST finished w/ the prayer shawl I started, what, last summer. I still have the scarf for Lindz otn. BUT all is not lost: I've joined Team Colorado http://teamcolorado.blogspot.com/ for the Knitting Olympics. Tonight at the opening ceremony (well, not "at" but in front of my t.v.) I will start my new project: a pair of felted slippers in a purple Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride wool. I'll have 16 days to finish. Sounds motivating doesn't it?

I've also decided to join a group of knitters on every other Sunday. That should prove to be motivational as well.

I have started a pair of pajama pants for G. They're easy enough. I just need an hour to myself to finish them up. Yay for me! My first sewing project in years! I had forgotten how much I really enjoy sewing!

The very best news for last: I have enrolled in a "professional sewing" course & am going to "beginning sewing" class 1x/week. It's been fairly easy so far but definitely informative. It's a small group & I'm really pleased w/ it (that & getting out of the house sans bebes).

view the slideshow

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/pmupdate/s_421096.html

we are the champions, my friends

and we'll keep on fighting 'til the end.


What a game! It's like a dream come true. No wait; it IS a dream come true. I suppose I could die happy now. Ah the sweet taste of victory. To all those naysayers in my house (what? there was only one?): kiss my grits, mo fo, kiss my grits...you may prevent me from seeing the final 3 minutes of the game & the post game celebration, but you cannot deny that the Steelers are the world champions. Ain't that superbowl ring pretty? Don't ya wish your team had (this)one? or Five? Pucker up & kiss 'em. My grits, that is.

6 of one, a half dozen of the other

my mom said she smelled a skunk today (in western PA) & that regardless of what Phil says (6 more weeks of winter), her nose tells her spring is just around the corner. But you know what? There's six weeks and a few days 'til spring (20 March) either way.

from the crowds @ Gobblers Knob in Punxutawney...

it's not just pittsburghers who believe.
You will be hard pressed to find anyone in western PA who isn't a steeler fan. It is a source of pride that our hometeam is going to the SuperBowl...as it should be in ANY region that has an NFL team!

watch the video

notice what Phil is wearing? Not that he would wear anything else considering geography.... Happy Groundhog Day!

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/02/02/groundhog.day.ap/