Alright... promised posts left...

Stationary post...
And filling stuffed animals...
And duck pond pictures.
I think those are the "only" promised posts on this blog.
Of course, now I also want to tell about our blueberry picking this afternoon!
And then we have Emmi's birthday post to put up on the family blog.
Is that it?...
Haha! Yes, I know, that was talking out loud to myself on my blog. It's easier to put a new post, with the current list, right here than to have to go to the old post, full of what all I was planning to write then, to make sure that I've got all the posts done, because I really do want to get them all up- but trying to find that post with the list is getting really hard since it keeps getting push farther and farther back ;).
Okay, I won't detain you any longer for nothing... but the above mentioned posts will be arriving soon!

Happy Father's Day!...

To our favorite Daddy in the entire world :)!!!!
We are soooo grateful for the gift of Fathers, but especially for you, Daddy! Thank you for all that you have invested in us, and for all the care and love you have given. We also thank you for all the training in the Lord you have worked with Mommy to give us. Thank you!!!
We love you so much, Daddy!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Crafty thoughts

Heehee :). Are you ready?
Perhaps this should have been titled "A crafter's thoughts" or "Thoughts on crafting" or just "Crafts"... or maybe I should have went with "Promised knitting post" (Tori made fun of all my "Promised" posts when she was reading over my shoulder yesterday!)... but I like titles where you don't know where they are going to lead, haha ;).
First off, I was actually thinking of writing about making Emmi's birthday present when I first promised this post, but I think I'll be adding some bits of other crafter's items of interest now that I actually writing... especially since I found this really cute pattern yesterday, am about to try to convert this dog into a dalmatian fire dog for one of our "family of friends" baby that is due soon  (fire hat included, if possible... I think it would be adorable, I just have to see if it's do-able...), and the fact that, thanks to an interesting wee incident that happened the other day, I needed to clean up and reorganize my crafting supplies (which I accomplished this morning, yeah!!! Not that the reorganizing didn't need done before that "incident" (read: run-in with Abbi), just it actually needed cleaned up, too, afterwards, haha! I have this trick of keeping my craft stuff *clean*- but *unorganized*, so I have to reorganize before I start another project so that I know where everything is! I'm trying to work at it... but we'll see if I ever get over it.).
Well, as for Emmi's present... I finely decided on the kangaroo. But then I was faced with a small problem: by then, I had about two weeks left in which to work, and had to learn four new techniques!!!
I was able to complete the baby kanga just in time. As in, it was the last present she opened, and I finished sewing it together and wrapped it while she was opening the rest. I felt kind of bad for cutting it that close, but I am sooo glad that she got it on her birthday ;), and I was glad it was accomplished without staying home from the zoo. I would have felt worst if I had missed her birthday celebration outing! The Mamma will follow at the earliest time possible. Lesson in all this: I under-estimate how long something is going to take, or over-estimate the time I will have to work on it. Either way, I need to start remembering that when planning a dead line for projects!!!
Yesterday while I was going through my yarn, I realized that I have way too much, lol. It's like the crafter's biggest problem; you always have way more yarn then you know what to do with! Most of my yarn was given to me by the lady who taught me how to knit. Some was given to me by my Grandparents, and some I've bought. All of that yarn won't be hard to use up. I can make small stuffed animals with the larger ones, hats with the largest, and then with what is left I can make some multicolored afghan squares or something. The main problem is all the baby yarn that was left from the multicolored baby blanket I made last March!!! I used about one and a sixth balls of each color. Now I have about five sixths of at least four colors left! I think it is time to start doing something I have wanted to do for a long time- I would love to make some baby blankets to donate to a Crisis Pregnancy Center.
And then there are all the projects that I have started and not completed, or the things that need repairs- that equals another drawer full of space. I would have so much more space to use for things that need more room if I could empty that drawer! I don't think it would take too long to make the repairs, it is just that sewing legs on rabbits is my least favorite part of crafting ;).
 So, I have a couple goals that I hope to meet in a year's time: to use up all the yarn that I've been keeping "just in case" (and then start collecting more like any other crafter, of course ;)), and to empty my "to work on" drawer. And to start making sure I have presents done at least the day before they are needed!

* Bethi's birthday post is up on our family blog!!! Emmi's will follow shortly, Lord willing. Bethi would love for you to read her's... she is so excited that she got to "publish" something on the blog ;)!
* Tori also has a couple posts up on her blog, "Tori's Stories" after taking a blogging break, I'm sure she would also love that you check it out. I think she plans on sticking around for awhile now ;)...
* I think I have caught up on comments on my blog. If you've asked a question and it never got answered, I'm not ignoring you on purpose! Feel free to ask again! Thanks!
*Oh, and the caterpillar shown in this post? He was found in our kitchen for the fourth time since Monday night this morning. I think he thinks he is a pet!

More pictures!

Emmi's birthday... a sneak peek of what to 

look for on our other blog :)!

This picture was uploaded by mistake, but I decided to 

keep it anyway, I don't think I've posted it before... Peter 

at four days old in the hat, booties and blanket 

I made him (well, the second one :)...).

More freshly washed Peter-hair. It's so fluffy :)...

Hanging out the diapers...

...or, as our neighbor used to say, our white flags of surrender.

Ohhh......

Peter's smile :)!!!

He loves the new swing Daddy bought!

I'm not sure where this is, Daddy took it... I love it though!!!

Bethi...

Andrew...

Abbi...

And Emmi with the caterpillar the first time 

we found it on our kitchen floor a couple days ago. 

It has been in the kitchen about three times now

 and yes, we keep taking outside!!!

Tardy Thankful Thoughts, Thankful Thursday, and promised pictures...

~Funny expressions (she was shocked when the camera flashed :)...)

~Popcorn.
~Babies.
~Bibs,
~Or, better yet, aprons ;).

 ~Adorable smiles :)...

 ~Sheets.

~These little people :).

~And bald babies :). 

 ~Baby girls in hats...

~ Chubby toddler toes.

~Cute nappers (she was supposed to be in the play pen, though, haha!)

~Freshly washed Peter-hair :)!

  ~Sleeping babies.

~Adorable one month olds...

~Alert little boy :).

~Watching "little-big" sisters loving on little siblings.

 ~Peter's smile.

 ~And all smiles for that matter :).

  ~Precious moments (they look like they are both 

finding something hugely funny :)!)

 

 ~Sweeter Peter ;).

~Adorable onsies.
~Little pants.
~Boy blankets.
~And getting to use them on a gift from God :)!

 ~Emmi Joy.

~Celebrating another year with a precious family member.
~Zoo trips.
~Elephants,
~And Meerkats,
~Bears,
~And kangaroos.
~Summer.
~Ice cream ;).
~Lemonade.
~Rain clouds,
~Followed by bright sun.
~Changing seasons.

~Chubby cheeks.

 ~And having fun taking pictures of little people.

~Cameras.
~Learning how to use these cameras.
~And a Daddy willing to teach me all he knows.
~Photos.

~The fact that we had an extra apple cutter, 

as this one is no longer useable, lol!

 ~That little face.

~And the cute burp rags Mommy made.

~Blue eyes.

~Rubbermaids. 

~I mean, boats.

~That are big enough for four.

Although Tori thinks they'll sink ;)...

~And that these sailors did not sink ;).

~Curly hair.

 ~Laundry helpers (that is Abbi "helping" with the laundry...)

~Clean clothes.
~Folded laundry.

 ~And sweet, tired girls.

 ~Caterpillars.

~Nightgowns.
~Little hands.

 ~Sweet cheeks.

~Antiques.
~A new piano.
~"Farmer Boy".
~Read-aloud time.
~Family walks.
~Large families...
~Even large animal families :).
~Birds,
~Ducks,
~Geese,
~Turtles,
~And squirrels.
~A chocolate frosty (we went on a walk at the duck pond last week... each with a frosty...).
~Playgrounds.
~New life.
~God's creations.
~Outside fun.
~Jokes.
~Homemade carmel.
~Served with apples!
~Fresh brownies...
~And, Tori, I'm even thankful for warmed up brownies...
~Life.
~Learning more about God.

Those are my thankful thoughts for the past four weeks, today included... I have been thankful for many things, I just didn't sit down to write them when I thought of them :(. So there you have it, and also some of the promised pictures (although more are coming.). This post was a great way to sneak them in ;). I'm thankful for all of them, and it helps me keep my promise :)! (I'll also post some springtime pictures from the pond mentioned above :).)
Have a blessed week!

(Give thanks...)

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

~Psalm 136:4-9

Unplanned post: Cats

I wasn't planning this post when I told you all what posts to look for, but last Thursday we had this Mother cat with her three kittens show up on our deck. They are adorable :). They are not exactly living on our deck, but they do keep visiting. There is no way we could keep them (Daddy and Andrew are allergic to cats, and Bethi is also more mildly allergic), but it is fun to watch them when they are around.
Tori has since named the Mother "Clarabelle' (shortened to "Belle", as I seriously could not say "Clarabelle" without think of a cow, lol...) and the gray one she called "Bamboo". Yes, I know, once you name it you start getting attached to it. Which is why I waited for Tori to do it ;). The black ones are not named yet... well, nothing more than "first black kitten"and "second black kitten". (When Mother showed up with these six week old kittens, she only had two, but she ended up being, I guess, reunited with the other black one by the end of the day?). It was cute watching Belle and Bamboo playing leap frog Sunday morning :). Although, I personally love how she sends them outside to play while she sits on our deck steps and watches them... right after bath time :)!
*All the items on the picnic table are things that Daddy was using to make a plague for the living room. I'll have to get a picture, it is beautiful :)!

P.S.... On a sadder note, my Aunt's cat, Rugby, mentioned in my "Artisphere" post, although announced healthy, past away a couple weeks ago. She was a sweet, shy cat (even when we kept her awake until three o'clock in the morning last August (Aunt Amber said "It's bad when your CAT has bags under her eyes!")) and we will miss playing with her.