Getting Ready

I can't believe that next week at this time I will be in New York at Blogher!!!  I can't wait.

But, while I can't wait, I have SO much to get done before we leave on Wednesday.  Besides getting everything ready for my Mom to come (she is staying with the hooligans while we're gone), keeping the kids fed and happy, I am also working on a few other projects...

Remember this?  This is the Clapotis I made in 2007 (look at those leaves, I love fall here!) and I decided I needed one for Summertime.  When I found the perfect yarn (made of SUGAR CANE!!!) I knew I had to do it again.

Isn't this just a beautiful color???  I am about 2/3 of the way done, so I am working every spare minute I have on it.

I am also making a few new outfits for New York.  I have 3 dresses I have made and am now going to make myself a wrap skirt with this fabric

It's not quite that bright, but it is so beautiful!

That is where I am trying to get ready.  Oh, and of course loving on my babies every chance I get.  I am going to miss them so much!!!

Prairie Mama Confessions

You all have left me such wonderful, sweet, loving comments that I thought I would share some confessions with you to see if you will still love me after knowing this :)

1. I love Barry Manilow.  And Metallica.  And pretty much everything in between.

2. Sometimes I neglect my children so I can read blogs.  Ok, not really neglect them, but let them watch an hour of PBS in the mornings so I can catch up with everyone else.

3. I am not at all organized, but I really wish I were.  I don't know where to start and it all seems so overwhelming, so I continue to live in the unorganized chaos that is my life.

4. I am not pregnant but I wish I were.  It is the first time since I got pregnant with Emma that we actually are trying and it didn't happen the first try.  It is weird, but okay.

5. I can't wait to go to New York next week, but am having major anxiety about leaving my children.  Major anxiety...like what if there is a fire or a car crash, what if I die while I am gone and I told them I'd be back in 6 sleeps and I don't come back?  Those kinds of anxieties.

6. I have dreams about smoking cigarettes.  I have never smoked in my life, but I know the taste.

7. I hate making breakfast for my children. Why do they have to eat all the time? ;)

8. I cringe when I watch my kids swim. My siblings and I were such great swimmers and it kills me to see my kids not being those great swimmers.  I guess that 2 weeks a summer in lessons isn't enough. Ugh.

9. I use disposable diapers at night.

10. When I was first a Mom I thought anyone who used formula was uneducated and giving their babies poison.  I also didn't think that women who said their milk didn't come in were lying. I know different now and feel bad for the person I was.

11. My favorite sound in the world is my children laughing.

12. I love when Libby grabs my arm and says, "Mom! Ballerinie More" and then I stop what I am doing and watch her spin.  She laughs and so do I.

13. I am dreading Winter.

14. I am spending all my spare time knitting something for me right now. It is for New York and I am afraid I won't get it finished.

15. I wish my Etsy shop were more successful, but I don't know how to make it be.

16. I love my husband so much sometimes that it hurts.

17. I want to send Amelia to Preschool next year, but can't stand the thought of that sweet girl being anywhere other than with me.

18. I don't think anyone can teach my children as well as I can.  I wish I could homeschool, but my lack of organization and structure greatly inhibits that.  Plus, they need to get away from me :)

19. I need to have an even number when I do lists.

20. We just started watching Mad Men and I am in love with Don Draper. Seriously, Jeremy doesn't understand it, but I am.  We finished season 2 last night, so no spoilers!!!!

Ok, so there you go.  Some random confessions.  Anything shocking?  Anything make you want to run away and never come back?  What are some of your confessions today? :)

My Story

My story doesn't start in any one place, it just feels as if it has always has been and is just continuing.  My story is one of love, death, grief, loss, hope, joy, faith, rebuilding, trust...it is uniquely mine and one I try to understand every day.



For 4 years I have been blogging my story.  It has grown and evolved just like me.  Started as a knitting blog, it morphed into a Mommy Blog and now into the story of my life.




Every August and December I would tell another facet of my story. The part about Emma.  The part about death, fear, grief, loss and healing.


Then something happened.  I wrote about Emma when I was feeling the grief.  It wasn't her birthday or her Angel Day.  It was just a day in October and I was missing her intensely.  And it struck a chord with so many who had lost someone. I heard from many grieving people and realized that 5 years after Emma's death, she was still helping so many people.


I have had 3 more children who constantly keep me on my toes.  I struggle to do right by them, to teach them to be caring and empathetic people.  I try to teach them about God and how much she loves them.  I wonder if I am doing the best I can do for them.  I wonder that and then I hear them say their prayers, and I know I must be doing something right.  As much as Emma is a part of my story, so are Seth, Amelia and Liberty.


In the midst of the chaos of my life, there is my addiction to sugar and my struggle with depression.


I knit, I sew, I write.  These are my crafts, my hobbies, the things that keep my hands and mind active when I feel so overwhelmed  These are the things that keep me sane and help me to be a better Mom.


I love this space, my respite where I can write, reflect and share ideas with you. This spot has brought me such joy and blessings.  While I do not know the future of this blog, I do know that I will continue to write, share and explore with each of you as long as you'll let me.



These are all different parts of me.  Each of these by themselves, while interesting enough, can't hold much interest for long.  But when you put them all together you get me.  Unique and wonderful me and this is my story.

{This is my submission for a chance to be considered for Project Mom Casting.  This is will be a Reality Series about Bloggers and I thought (with some prodding from good friends) that I would toss my hat into the ring.  I may not be the biggest and best blogger, but I think I'm pretty cool and so does my Mom.  So, if you would be so inclined to leave me a comment, even if you never comment, please do today, I would be OH so grateful!  And if you think you've got what it takes, or just want to try it out, click on that link above and do your own entry for Project Mom Casting}

Rice Pudding. It is SOOOOO Good!

When Amelia was just a new baby, 4 years ago, we went to visit Jeremy's brother and sister-in-law in Provo.  That evening we were needing a sweet treat and they talked us into going to Pudding on the Rice, a rice pudding joint.  Which sadly is now closed, a fact that makes my heart and my mouth oh so sad.

I was really skeptical because I had never had rice pudding and really, I thought it was just for old people.  I was just sure it was going to have raisins and other gross things in it.  Yeah, I don't love raisins.

Anyhoo, Karen assured me that it was more like rice pudding meets Baskin Robins.  This I had to try.

When we got there I was shocked to see all the great flavors; peach (made with fresh peaches), raspberry, chocolate (with tons of yummies in it), amaretto...the list goes on.  I ordered mine and instantly fell in love. I was hooked.

The only problem was that I lived an hour away from this great little spot.  So, I learned how to make rice pudding and it is now one of our favorite desserts.  I have made chocolate, fruity, almond, coconut...I love to make this.  One of my favorites to make though is Almond Joy Rice Pudding.

When I announced on Twitter that I was making this, I had several people asking me for a recipe.  So...here you have it!

Rice Pudding

4 Cups cooked arborio rice
8 Cups Half and Half
2 Cups Sugar
1/2 t. salt
2 Eggs
2 t. vanilla

Combine rice, 7 C. of the half and half, sugar and salt in a heavy pot.  On medium heat, use a wooden spoon and stir until thickened (about an hour).  It will look like a thick white gravy, but oh so yummier!

Remove from heat and temper eggs.  To do this, beat your two eggs with a fork and add a little of the rice mixture at a time to the eggs.  This will keep them from scrambling.  After adding about a cup of the rice mixture to the eggs, put it all together and stir to combine. 

Now, add the rest of the 1/2 and 1/2 and vanilla.  --  This is your base.  From this, you can add whatever you want to make it super yummy.  Experiment and have fun.

To make Almond Joy Rice Pudding, you will now add 1 t. coconut extract.  Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator until it is cooled (I usually let it sit over night).  When you are ready to serve it, put in about 3/4 a bag of chocolate chips, 1 C. toasted sliced almonds, and 1 C. toasted coconut.

There you have it! Rice Pudding that will knock your socks off!

Bringing Your Baby to a Conference

A few months ago, Loralee and I started brainstorming about a post dedicated to bringing babies to conferences.  She was going to write it, but got too busy, so I got to!!  Go on over and check out my guest post on Mrs. Looneytunes blog today!

Bonus! You get to see a picture of my sweet Libby (before she grew up and got all sassy on me!)

Oh, and before you leave, be sure to go enter to win my Arnicare Giveaway!!!

Calling All Crafty Types

Ok, I normally wouldn't even post this as it greatly diminishes my chances of winning, but really, it is such a great deal I had to share it with all of you.

My good friend, Loralee, recently started working for Where Women Create.  This is a great magazine for all things crafty.  They are hosting a conference in September called The Creative Connection.  Keynote speakers include Amy Butler (I KNOW!!!) and Ree Drummond.  There are fabulous panelists and it promises to be a weekend to remember.

Well, the generous folks of Creative Connection are giving away not 1, but 3 fully paid trips and passes to the conference.  That's right, hotel, airfare and conference registration!!!!  The conference is September 15-18 in Minneapolis, MN.

So, what do you have to do??  Well, this is the easy part. Read the official rules and then send an email to larkcraftsTCC@sterlingpublishing.com, with the following:
1.Your name, age, e-mail address, and mailing address
2. An essay of 250 words or less answering the following question: How will attending the Creative Connection Event impact your creativity and/or creative business?
If you have an artistic bone in your body and/or love hearing from speakers like The Pioneer Woman, Amy Butler and Mary Jane Butters, YOU MUST, MUST ENTER!
*****ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5PM (EST), FRIDAY JULY 23rd********

I am entering, and I hope you will too!!!  Hope to have at least one person I know win!!!!  That means YOU MOM!!!!  Enter!!!!  Everyone else too....ENTER!!!

Summertime Woes

If you have kids, or are human, you know that injuries increase in the Summer.  It is not just my family, I know.  Bumps and bruises, sore muscles and big owies happen.

One thing that I always have on hand is a tube of Boiron’s Arnicare® Gel.  This non-sticky, non-greasy Arnicare Gel is easy to apply and absorbed quickly by the skin. The gel is odorless, and has no artificial colors, perfumes or parabens.  Perfect for my sensitive skinned little ones.

I use the gel on bruises, bumps, and sore muscles.  Just recently Libby fell off the bathroom counter.  Yeah, I know, MOM FAIL!  BUT, I did grab the Arnicare and put it on all the spots that she said hurt and within minutes she was back to normal and had no bruising.

When I am pregnant I use Arnicare on my sore muscles and feel the tension and pain just melt away.  Another favorite use is for growing pains.  When my kiddos complain of their joints hurting from growing, a little Arnicare will help them relax and get to sleep.

My husband, who is very skeptical of all things homeopathic, would even be impressed to know that Surgeons and other medical professionals use it to relieve post-procedure bruising, swelling and pain in patients.

It really is a wonder and I love it.

The great folks at Boiron USA sent me 2 tubes of Arnicare, one for me, and one for one of you!  Pretty awesome right?

All you need to do to enter is leave me your best remedy for the Summertime aches and pains.

If you want an additional entry or two, you can tweet about it or post about it in Facebook with something like this:
I just entered to win a tube of Arnicare from @BoironUSA and @prairiemama! http://prairie-mama.blogspot.com/2010/07/summertime-woes.html

Leave a comment for each entry!

I did receive a tube of Arnicare from BoironUSA for writing this post. However, the words are all mine! :)

Which is Worse?

I have been hearing a lot lately about Helicopter Parents who do more harm than good.  They are practically in their children's back pocket at the park and basically "over-parent".

I understand that children need to find their own way, and I am all for that.  I strive to teach my children independence and help them navigate their own way in the world.

However, I don't have nearly as big a problem with Helicopter Parents as I do with Oblivious Parents.

You know the ones.  The ones who sit at the park chatting with their friends or on the cell phones.  The ones who never look up, have no idea where their children are or what they are doing. 

We were at the park last week and there was a group of about 6-7 Moms sitting in the gazebo just talking.  They had children ranging in age from about Libby's age to 10 or so.  These kids were all over the park, and while it is all enclosed, the Moms were paying not 1 bit of attention to them.

There was a group of the bigger kids who were playing ball in the baby area.  They almost hit my baby with the ball and when I told them to knock it off, they were so rude to me.  One of the little babies fell and got hurt and there was no one there to help him, so it became my job.  Another little girl was stuck on the slide and no one else could go down.  Again, I had to help her down so that my 3 kids could go down a slide.  And when a little boy hit Libby, again, it was me who had to take care of it.

I have a really hard time with these parents because while I do not hover by any means, I am always close enough to see if my kid is being the bully or causing problems.  I am also close enough to help if my child gets hurt or if they need me.

I am not a perfect parent by any stretch of the imagination, but I think this is one place that I do a pretty good job.  Letting my children have independence, letting them go on their own a bit, but being close enough so that if they need me (or if I need to step in) I can be there for them.

I think that there is a fine balance between helicopter parenting and oblivious parenting.  While it is obvious which I think is worse, I want to know what do you think is worse? 

Nap Time Sewing

I love this shirt.  I think this is going to be my new favorite pattern.  For Winter, I may make long sleeves to go with it.  So comfy and really easy.

The only thing I don't like is that it goes a little lower than I would like, next time I will make the seam allowance on the yoke a little larger to bring the yoke up higher.

Also, I will wash the fabric beforehand.  Yeah, I know, you are always supposed to do that and usually I do, but I was so excited to get this from Fabric.com so when it came, I dug in right away.  And...well...there are now some nice green looking spots under my arms.  And my bra is a bit green too.

Can you see it?  Right there where the green has faded a bit?  Yeah, I took that picture and didn't even realize what it would show until that night when I took off my shirt.

Oh well, live and learn.

Ouch

Unless you are a small child, don't ask me to apply sunscreen to your body.  I really can't be trusted.

Honestly, I am lucky he still loves me.

Sorry again Babe.  Love you.

Cowgirl

Keepsakes

Don't I look young????  EEK!

I will never forget the moment I found out I was going to be a Mom for the first time.  I was 25, just came home from work and realized I hadn't started my period.  I took out the test, peed and was SHOCKED when I saw those two lines show up.

I hollered at Jeremy, he came in and we cried.  We were so excited, so thrilled.

I still have the tests I used when I was pregnant with Emma.

18 months later, I took another test.  This time it was on our 2nd Anniversary.  After having our hearts broken just a short month and a half earlier, we found out it we going to start healing with another baby.  I still have those tests too.

Two more babies came, and more tests.  And since I can't take just one (because what if it is a fluke, what if it is a false positive?  Yeah, I know those don't happen very often...but....and really, who doesn't like peeing on a stick and watching magic happen?)

So, 4 babies* later, I have a lot of pregnancy tests in my bathroom cupboard.  When we moved Jeremy asked me if he could throw them away.  I almost throttled him.  I fought the urge however and just said, "NO WAY!"

Obviously those are not the only keepsakes I have from those magical times.  I have sonogram pictures, sonogram videos, lots of stretch marks and pictures.  These are all things that mark a magical time in my life.  But I think that the pregnancy tests are the most meaningful because they represent the moment I really knew.  The second I found out that there was a little life growing inside of me.  They represent me becoming a Mother over and over (and over and over) again.

So I guess the folks at EPT have caught wind of my crazy pregnancy test keeping (and maybe a few other Moms do it too) because they are making a keepsake case for those wonderful little urine soaked sticks.

Pretty cool huh?  I am so glad that someone has finally made a nice way to keep these instead of in a box under the bathroom sink!

When was the moment you knew?  What keepsakes do you have from your pregnancies? And more importantly, did you keep your tests???

*4 babies...and I am definitely planning on using this case for baby #5 as soon as it happens!

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of e.p.t and received an e.p.t. keepsake case and a $20 gift card to JustGive.org to facilitate my review.”

Picture Week Day 2

Last week the weather was perfect, so the children and I spent the day outside.  While Libby slept, the two big kids swam, ate peas, lettuce and spinach from the garden and I hung 3 loads of laundry on the line.  Oh, and let's not forget knitting.  I haven't started my sweater yet, but I am trying to get a few WIP's done (works in progress), so I am dutifully knitting away and loving every second of it.

She was not happy about me taking her pictures.  This is her Grumpy Guss face.  I love it.

And when this one woke up she was happy to give me her go to face for the camera.  Isn't it cute????

Picture Week

Yesterday a dear friend called and asked if I could watch her kids this week.  She was willing to pay me what they were planning on paying the daycare.  It was exactly the amount of money Jeremy and I needed to finish funding our trip to New York.  Talk about tender mercies huh?

So, since I won't have time to sit down and blog with a 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 year old in the house, I am declaring this Picture Week!!!

I have had so many photos lately that I have taken and just haven't had the time to post here.  So, now you will get to see some of my favorites.

Will you join me?  I would love to see lots of photos of what you've been doing this summer.

Let Freedom Ring

Photo courtesy of my dearest

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Hope you have a safe and happy holiday!!