Amigurumi Monkey

I've finished my second crocheted animal--I've learned this is called "Amigarumi" and is big in Japan. My guy is based on a pattern from a library book by Elisabeth A. Doherty. She also has an ETSY site. Her version of the monkey is very colorful, and has different legs. I wanted a more realistic monkey, so I modified her pattern. My monkey is about 14 " long, and about 8 inches tall when he is sitting. For my next project, I'm planning a smaller, less complicated bear or rabbit. I'm pretty hooked on this craft--no pun intended!

Oh, and remember my first effort? The mouse? I left him on the kitchen shelf. Either Alex gave him to the cats or the cats climbed up on the counter and got him down. Alex says he didn't take the mouse down, so??? Since these are made of wool, the mouse was pretty fuzzed up after playing with the cats for a few hours, so I rubbed him in catnip, and gave him back to the cats.

I've promised Alex the next project. (I'm keeping Monkey for myself!)

Another Snow Day

Why? I'm not sure -- I think maybe all the side streets aren't plowed enough for the busses to get through.

I don't have class today, so I can stay home with boys. Note that a few days ago I blogged about finishing all my January projects. The last project was finished a bit early, leaving me free today. If I had NOT finished early, I'd be in a panic about how to finish and be with boys today. Seems pretty lucky that I was motivated to finish early.

This is the kind of thing where I can credit God. Some call it fate, or karma, or as I did in previous paragraph, luck. I can see or feel God's hand in this kind of little thing. Why don't I see it--or trust it--in the big things? I fuss and fuss and fuss over the problems our kids have. I worry so that Alex will get into serious trouble as a teenager. I worry about Joseph's behavior. Will this spike in non-compliance we have seen as he has grown too large for me to pick up easily continue into HIS teen years? If so, what on earth will we do?

So, again I ask, why if I can credit God with taking care of the little stuff, like a second snow day, do I NOT trust God with the big stuff? Like our boys' futures?

That will keep me thinking today...

Snow Day

After a post yesterday about finding a bit of extra time, the whole family was given a SNOW DAY. We are cozy and warm, watching great big flakes of snow fall after a night of freezing rain. I've not been out of my PJs. The amazing thing is not that the boys are home from school--it is that Mom is home from school-and Dad closed the business for the day! I can't say we are doing anything as a family, just yet. I'm at the computer, Dave is reading the paper (probably doing the crossword) and the boys are watching, what else, TV. We are all happy. We will go out later to play in the snow. For now--everyone gets to relax--each in our own way.

I could turn this into a post about TV. I've done a real 180 on TV this winter. Both our kids struggle in school. Joseph in big, obvious ways. Alex in big ways, too, just not as obviously as Joseph. I limited the TV time until this winter when I finally relented and put a TV in the basement where they can go and watch pretty much whenever they want. Joseph is glued. Alex watches and then goes and plays with toys. Is there harm in this? Yes. Probably. Maybe. But, guess what? Joseph has been watching the same preschool programs on TV forever--and now answers the questions they ask. They try to get preschool kids to interact with the TV in the best of the educational stuff on TV for kids. And, now, 9 or10 years too late, Joseph does. Not always, but sometimes. He has seen every episode of Blues Clues at least 100 times. I'm sure I've heard every episode of Blues Clues at least 75 times... So, maybe he is a child that really needs so much repetition--repetition that threatens all our sanity--that 10 years of preschool TV is actually good for him. Maybe I'm trying to justify making life easier for me. If he is watching TV I don't have to entertain him, or clean up after him when he makes a mess because I wasn't entertaining him.

Does the TV hurt Alex? Maybe--but frankly--TV is the least of my worries with Alex...

So for now--I'm typing--Dave is napping (not doing a crossword puzzle) Alex is playing, and Joseph is watching the game show channel with some "Little Einsteins" and ESPN Pool mixed in. (No one can actually watch TV with Joseph. He typically bounces between three or more shows in such a way that gives the rest of us a headache...) Is is stimming? Yes. Is it all bad? No. One other positive is that it gives me something to reward him with when he behaves. The other day he was told that if he behaved when we went to the store and went to pick up Alex he would be rewarded with TV time. He didn't. He lost his TV time. (I can lock the door to the basement, and thus monitor the TV.) That got his attention. A few more evenings without TV and he may listen at the store when I need him to listen.

Three deadlines done

I've had three extra projects for work in the month of January. A deadline on Jan. 9, a deadline on Jan 23, and a deadline on Jan 30. Each took about 2 or 3 full days to complete. Ah. The last is done. I emailed the finished product just a few minutes ago. Now, I have no special projects--just the routine work of my normal teaching. If you figure I kept up with that routine work, while I spent about 8 full days doing other stuff in January, you will come to the same conclusion as I have. During February, I will have a bit of time to spend of fun projects. I worked extra during January, so I'll be able to do some fun stuff, just for me and the house and the family during February. Ah, one of the things I love about the academic life. When the scheduling works out, you can score some unstructured time.

What is on my list?

For ME!!!

1. Knitting and crocheting miniature animals using inspiration and patterns I've found on etsy.
2. Organizing the sewing room/guest room.
3. Cleaning!!!

For the FAMILY

1. Keeping on top of Joseph's therapy stuff.
2. Working with Alex more at home on reading and other school stuff.
3. Cooking decent meals.

For the HOUSE

1. Cleaning See ME 3.
2. Organizing the sewing room/guest room. See ME 2.
3. Making curtains for our bedroom, and maybe for the boys' room. Alex has cut the strings on the pleated shades, so we can't lower them any more. Hence, no way to get privacy. We don't need it. There is no one out there looking in, but... It would be nice to close shade or curtains on a cold night.

For WORK

1. Start on a stack of reading... A big stack of reading... maybe this will happen in March. Maybe I'll give myself the rest of the month of February to do the things outlined above...

Serendipity

I changed the colors of the blog a week or so ago, and put a winter photo up. I like to keep it seasonal and fresh... But the color scheme and the photo never worked. Now I know what I was waiting for! The photo of Aretha just seems to make this color scheme come alive. I promise you won't see The Hat for months and months, but for now, it is perfect.

The Hat

Jerry beat me to it... I wanted to say that Aretha Franklin's hat (and singing) were the highlight of the inauguration festivities, but he says it all here. Complete with photo!!!

A lot of help

We are getting some extra help with advice from Joseph's behavior therapist. She has good ideas about how to keep him engaged in the store by reading a shopping list, sorting coupons, etc. and giving rewards for good behavior every minute or so, or every aisle, giving rewards in the car for each time he gets in and doesn't try to push the buttons, etc.

As she was outlining all the steps to take, and how to set up the situation outlining my expectations for good behavior and explaining what the reward system will be, and how I'm supposed to write signs to put in the car that say "don't touch," I thought to myself--"Self, this will probably work." Now, if I can just get ME to cooperate? Who is going to give me a reward each time I follow through? Each time I have the foresight to set up the expectations and rewards... Oh--I guess JOSEPH will. By not screaming in my ear during the whole trip.

It is a win for everyone! (Well, not an easy win, but a win. What I really want is an easy win. There aren't many of those out there, are there?)

Got to go warm up leftovers!