Henry and I enjoyed the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival so much that I decided to bring the boys back on Sunday. It was Mother's Day, Dan was working a double shift, and I wanted something special to do - or at least something to keep us busy until naptime!
When we arrived, we headed to the "family tent" where there was a little carding class going on and we decided to join. Henry liked it, but Jude
really liked it. As soon as he saw what was going on, he hopped into a chair and started signing "more" to get his own wool to card. They both went at it for close to 30 minutes, which I thought was pretty impressive.
Henry said he wanted to spin some more, so we found a different woman this time who helped him. I wore this as a necklace later!
Then we spent a LONG time looking for bunnies, which someone had told me would be there. I must have asked over 20 people about those d#@% bunnies, and everyone said the same thing: "I've always seen them here in the past, but I haven't seen any this year." We saw a lot of sheep and other great things along our journey, and eventually in desperation I told Henry about my friend who has pet bunnies and said I was
sure she wouldn't mind if we visited them sometime. By now it was time to go, but I had spied some nice baskets when we first arrived and had been thinking it would be great to get a good knitting basket. We went back to the stand, which was on our way out, and Henry picked one out for me.
I will always remember that this is the basket he chose for me on Mother's Day. He was really excited about it, too - on the way out he said things like, "I found your Mother's Day present, Mommy! I picked it out myself!" He also spontaneously said "Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!" to me a few times throughout the morning. So sweet. Definitely made up for all the temper tantrums and whining he's been doing lately.
After I got everyone home and down for their naps, my dad came over to man the fort while I met up with a friend at the Queen Vic where Dan was working, and had a fabulous Mother's Day brunch! When I arrived I got the best Mother's Day present of all - I found out Dan actually
didn't have to work a double shift and was able to come home with me! I can't even remember what we did after we got the kids in bed, but it sure was nice having him home for the evening.
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Judging from the comments (or lack thereof!) on this here blog, I doubt I have much explaining to do regarding the infrequency of posts as of late. Even so, I will admit that the past two weeks have been
rough. Dan has been working a ridiculous amount of hours and I've been on my own with the kids for
so many dinner-bath-bedtimes. I've been operating in survival mode (i.e. if I keep all the kids & pets alive, unharmed, fed, and relatively clean, I've done a great job for the day), but after a long talk Sunday night, he's cutting his bartending schedule to only a fraction of what it was, and with the end in sight I got my groove back tonight. I did laundry with Henry (he
loves helping with laundry!), made some granola, knitted on the porch swing while Henry painted, and looked at some Nikki McClure prints for the house that I'd like to get.
I have a few projects and things I've been wanting to share and hopefully I will find time to do so over the next few days!
He was given to Felix by the mother of one of the boys I work with. As you can see, he is well-loved already! I was so touched that she took the time to make Felix this wonderful bear.
The quilt I got from ebay, of all places, for $16! I've been using it as a "play quilt" on the floor for Felix to roll around on. It's soft and cool and feels like summer to me.
Have you received a handmade gift that meant so much to you? Please share!
After:
On the top shelf are all of our tablecloths, napkins, and placemats (oh, and the doggie treats because I learned the hard way what happens when I leave them on the bottom shelf and someone forgets to close the doors...)
The next shelf down houses "my" craft supplies and the things we work on together, like the wool felt and such.
The main, most accessible shelf holds all of Henry's art supplies. 
He can see and access everything easily: paper, play-doh, glue, scissors, markers, crayons, coloring pencils, paint, paintbrushes, watercolors, notepad, stamps, etc.
The bottom part of the armoire holds all of our games, and because I can't think of a better place for it, all the pet food, brushes, and medicine.
When I showed Henry what I had done the next day (this, like almost all of my projects, was accomplished between the hours of about 10 pm - midnight), he said, "Now I can reach everything! Thanks Mommy!" I truly feel he has spent more time working on creative projects since I did this since he can get to everything himself so easily. Hooray!
When we arrived, we headed to the "family tent" where there was a little carding class going on and we decided to join. Henry liked it, but Jude really liked it. As soon as he saw what was going on, he hopped into a chair and started signing "more" to get his own wool to card. They both went at it for close to 30 minutes, which I thought was pretty impressive.
Henry said he wanted to spin some more, so we found a different woman this time who helped him. I wore this as a necklace later!
Then we spent a LONG time looking for bunnies, which someone had told me would be there. I must have asked over 20 people about those d#@% bunnies, and everyone said the same thing: "I've always seen them here in the past, but I haven't seen any this year." We saw a lot of sheep and other great things along our journey, and eventually in desperation I told Henry about my friend who has pet bunnies and said I was sure she wouldn't mind if we visited them sometime. By now it was time to go, but I had spied some nice baskets when we first arrived and had been thinking it would be great to get a good knitting basket. We went back to the stand, which was on our way out, and Henry picked one out for me.
I will always remember that this is the basket he chose for me on Mother's Day. He was really excited about it, too - on the way out he said things like, "I found your Mother's Day present, Mommy! I picked it out myself!" He also spontaneously said "Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!" to me a few times throughout the morning. So sweet. Definitely made up for all the temper tantrums and whining he's been doing lately.
I might use this to make hats, scarves, cowls, or Christmas tree garland. I just adore all the colors!
Dan helped me pick this one out. I plan to make a sweater for myself with this:
This one will probably become a sweater for Jude or Henry:
I plan to use this to make the 5-hour baby sweater for Felix:
I have no idea what I'm going to do with this, probably something for me because I love touching this yarn.
I'm going to use this to make a little fall vest for Felix.
Tomorrow: MSWF part 2!
Dan's summer bartending gig has him working 5 nights per week, so I have been suddenly left to figure out what I'm supposed to do all by myself after the children go to bed. We got married when I was 19 so I have never (except when his band was on tour, I guess) been alone in the evenings ever in my life.
The first time Henry and Jude decided to help me wash Felix
Jude and Felix's first ride in the bike trailer together
Carrot seedlings in our garden for the first time
My first hand-wound ball of yarn
Our first delivery of plant-dyed wool felt and wool batting for craft projects
Our first day playing in the sprinkler this year
First time I got the boys chocolate bunny "lollipops" for Easter
