Seven

That's how old my baby is. Seven. First Grade. Really? Already?

I queried her regarding birthday plans and she surprised me by asking for a family only party. Gosh, that's a lot less trouble/headache/expense for me... why not?

My first party plan involved creating (sewing?) a banner. I've seen them everywhere and thought I could pull it off. I was only partly right. I wanted something she could use after the party to decorate her room. Am I crushed that she's shown zero interest in the idea and has a pile of banner lying in a pile in her room? Maybe. A little bit.

I decided to use pinking shears to avoid fraying on the cut edges and to reinforce the triangle concept. It took quite a long time to cut out all those triangles using my grandmother's 63 year old pinking shears. Have you used 63 year old pinking shears lately? Don't. Not sharp. At. All. After all the angst (math! argh!) of figuring out the most efficient way to cut the triangles I just wasn't up for making the pennants double sided so lazy single sided they are. I figure, they'll be at a distance. No one will notice all the mangled fabric where the scissors bit but didn't cleanly cut the fabric. I notice though.

I used heat and bond, ironing them to the back side of some moderately coordinating fabric. They started falling off immediately. Enter sewing machine. I tested out several different stitches until I found one that would be moderately durable yet not clutter up the ribbon face too much. How many times did my bobbin run out? Can you guess? Too many to count. That's what I get for not winding bobbins fully or trying to get utility from half used bobbins. Anyway, glad my kids weren't home as my language skills not only deteriorated to grunts and shrieks but were interlaced with expletives as well.

Since I had all this leftover fabric I decided to try my hand at applique. Once more I used my grandmother's 63 year old pinking shears to cut out an Arial Black 70 pt "7". Again, bad idea with the pinking shears.

Anyway, after deciding that the misaligned zig zags would have to do I used heat and bond to affix the seven to a shirt she'd professed to hate. No use in destroying a shirt she actually likes, no? I wasn't sure that would hold and I didn't trust myself with the sewing machine so I hand stitched (you read that right, me + needle + thread) the perimeter of the seven. A good ironing of the whole thing and she was set for birthday day.

I recently attended a craft fair and saw loads of fabric covered button pony tail holders like these. Enthralled, I decided to make one and it exceeded all my expectations. Of course, my expectations were rather low at this point following on the heels of the pink shears and crazy zig zag stitch. Anyway, just get a button kit, cut out a circle (based on template provide on back of button kit package, and voila, a fabric covered button. The buttons I used were about 1.5" in size so the shank was big enough to thread a skinny pony tail holder through. Here's a great tutorial.

A family only party is great for stress reduction (we have more of a family twig than a family tree, Marc and I being only children) but I wanted birthday girl to have some fun with her friends too. Classroom cupcakes fit the bill. Slacker mom that I am used boxed cake mix, tub frosting and sprinkles. I "designed" cupcake toppers using a scan of the now ubiquitous fabric. Both kids help me cut out the circles and we taped them to toothpicks that I stuck into the cupcakes before presentation. Like the lighting here? Full disclosure...the cupcakes are sitting in the back of my truck in the school parking lot just before I took them in.

For her real birthday cake, the box and tub made a second appearance, this time in horseshoe form. I'd planned on making a quarter sheet cake or a two tier round (nothing fancy) and letting the birthday girl decorate it with hordes of tiny plastic horses that litter her room, the living room, the foot of my bed, etc. We've done this before (see the six hat?) with store bought cakes but that was just too much cake volume for our small fete this year. Much to my surprise my mom buys a horseshoe shaped pan so a horseshoe shaped pasture it will be. We colored regular granulated sugar with blue food color for the pond, we used Halloween milk duds and whoppers for boulders, flower shaped sprinkles for the flowers, crushed nilla wafers for the "road" and seven year old outdid herself with the horses. Not our best work but she liked it.

So what's a seven year old like? Smart, but not interested in academic performance. Competitive, always trying to outdo her brother. Funny, making us guffaw with laughter at her observations and commentary. Sweet, offering to share treats, give back rubs, and on the ready with kisses. Dramatic, always a bit louder, jumpier, whinier, or tearier than the situation necessitates. Beautiful, with amber colored hair streaming behind her, a scattering of the cutest freckles ever, and large greenish eyes. She's a gift, a blessing, cherished.

Gratitude, what gratitude?

Considering the name of my blog is Acquiring Gratitude, I figured it was about time to mention some, well, gratitude. Webster.com defines gratitude as:

Main Entry: grat·i·tude

Pronunciation: \ˈgra-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin gratitudo, from Latin gratus grateful

Date: 1523

: the state of being grateful : thankfulness

I've always thought it quite ridiculous and ineffectual to define something using the same word (grateful?) so I clicked through the link to "thankfulness" to find this:

Main Entry: thank·ful

Pronunciation: \ˈthaŋk-fəl\

Function: adjective

Date: before 12th century
1 : conscious of benefit received thankful>
2 : expressive of thanks <thankful service>
3 : well pleased : glad thankful that it didn't rain>

That's more like it. I am seeking, being, accumulating, working towards, finding, and acquiring a consciousness of the benefits I have received. I am not innately grateful. In fact, I am wont to feel downright entitled. Maybe a function of being an only child? Maybe a function of innate temperament? Maybe a result of being born and raised in the US? No matter the underlying cause, it is a struggle for me to feel and articulate true gratitude towards God for the gifts I have been given (because, afterall, I'm often thinking I have these gifts through my own doing) and to others for the kindnesses they have bestowed upon me. Last year's "gratitude tree"? Pretty full. This year's? Nary a leaf. I haven't made the time to express the gratitude I feel in my heart. I haven't shown or acknolwedged those nouns that make my life more.

In an insanely inadequte attempt to express just how grateful I am for the people, things, and experiences I have been give, I offer this incomplete list:

I am grateful for family, home, health, my children, their smiles and hugs, my husband, backrubs, the (restored) health of my parents, my bed, Publix, our laid back lifestyle, my job, a frugal nature, friends (bloggy, list, and RL). I am thankful for my life, lived in freedom and democracy, clean water, washing maching, dishwasher, and CVS Extra Care Bucks. I am in gratitude to the people who lead our nation (even if I don't agree with their policies), my kids' teachers, my pastor, and the extra friendly clerks at the Post Office. I am well pleased with my neighbors, my reliable car, On the Border, and Lands' End cotton stretch cardigans.

It's too short a list but it's felt with great heart. I am indeed thankful for the many blessings I have received and enjoy.

Garland redeux

Is there a blogger who doesn't have a "Give Thanks" garland somewhere in their home? I made mine last year thinking I wanted something quick and easy. It was. Ovals cut from resume paper (thank goodness I haven't needed to use that lately) and taped to raffia strands with a few clip art leaves thrown in for good measure. I'm not sure what it is about raffia that woos me so but I always have it on hand for wrapping and crafting.

This year I wanted to fanficy the garland a bit. Scrapbook paper to the rescue. I don't scrap so I actually purchased these papers with this project in mind. I cut the triangles (math is not my favorite part of crafting, no sireebob) and clued the ovals on. I found my three hole punch made perfectly spaced holes for the ribbon to thread through. I used the leftover paper scraps to update my cheapo tealight candles. Now they blend with the walls and garland instead of focusing my attention with their glaring whiteness. Can I light them? No. But that's besides the point.

If I had more patience I'd likely antique the ovals a bit. As is, I am patience challenged and just threw the thing together. Maybe this will be an annual event. Pamplona has the running of the bulls, NYC their dropping of the ball, and Dublin, GA their Redneck Games. I'll have the foofiying of the garland.

Anyway, I was very proud of my efforts until I tried to reinstall the banner. Now it was twice as long and wouldn't fit over the fireplace. I live in a small home. I mean really small. I don't have many open and unfettered expanses of wall. There seemed to be only one place where it would fit so now it's taped (yes, that's the shiny stuff near the ribbon) to the "crown molding" (really more of a tiara than a full on crown) in the LR.

My 6yo is most vexed that it says "Give Thanks". She thinks it should be "Thanksgiving". I like the message of Give Thanks because it is more action oriented. It seems to be more a directive to identify, internalize, and express thanks for those aspects of our lives that are most precious and dear. Still, I couldn't begrudge her the opportunity to make her own banner. I am thankful to have a bright, creative child who is interested in using the gifts and time she has been given to create joy for those around her.

Fashionably Late Fall

We had an uncharacteristically beautiful fall. My arborist friends tell me it was the right mix of water (or lack thereof), night time temperatures and sunny days.

I don't know about the science but I do know I reveled in the larger than life colors that I cannot capture with my camera.

Halloween found us with a cow girl and a clone trooper. Clone trooper bought his costume with his own money - a first.

We ToT in our small downtown area (really a small portion of Main Street) then took a turn around the neighborhood. I keep trying to tell the kids that the kind of Small Town America they get to experience won't last forever. I don't ever remember ToTing like this. When I was a kid the "Columbus Strangler" was afoot and the only ToTing the be had was at the mall.


I'm thrilled that we get to visit our downtown merchants (mostly local restaurants and boutiques, it's a bedroom community afterall) and neighbors at least once a month for First Friday activities, the Christmas parade, or ToT. I don't wear boutique jeans, makeup, or have custom drapes but it's fun to window shop.

It was great weather - just enough cold to keep us from thinking it was late summer, but not so cold that costumes needed major alterations. Of course the kids had a major haul of candy that I have yet to take to the office candy bowl. Thank goodness for student workers who will rid me of temptation by downing every fun size twix bar I can pry from the hands of my kids. Eh, 9yo is in orthodontia. He knows he can't havve caramel. For him, it's the whoppers I have to hoard away.

We carve pumpkins every year, one pumpkin per person. I think the 6yo's turned out best (cat).

I was disappointed with how my Obama pumpkin turned out. It was really to small for the design and was half rotted besides. I was quite surprised that no one vandalized it.

One of the best things about fall is the end of soccer season. I love that the kids are involved in a fun, fast paced, team building physical activity but boy the sight of the soccer fields gets old by the time trophies are presented. Speaking of trophies, what's your opinion on every player on ever team getting a trophy? On the one hand it is a symbol of their ability to stick out the whole season. On the other hand - well, do the trophies mean anything if everyone gets one? I know we have a shelf full and they're pretty useless except for catching dust and cobwebs, both duties they more than fulfill.

We're not into building a future Becks or Pele, just having fun and meeting friends. We'll be right back out there when spring season rolls around.

Red State, Blue Heart

We live in a traditionally red state and an even redder county. I don't see many dissenting bumper stickers in my daily drive and most of the yard signs are red too. That's why I was ever so slightly giddy this morning when my 6yo's first words were "Who's our new President?" and I was was able to respond Obama!

That's a piece of history. I hope my kids will never know how special, how unparalleled these election results are. I hope they will live in a society where they never question the possibility that they, and their friends, can become anything they dare dream to be.

It will be a hard road ahead but let me extend my heartfelt congratulations to President Elect Barack Obama.

3 Days, 60 Miles, Immeasureable Pride

My mom, a breast cancer survivor for the last 5 years, recently completed her second Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-Day. Her 3 day, 60 mile commitment was coupled with a fundraising effort. Contributions she solicited help in the fight to end breast cancer via the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

You'd think that after all those miles she'd be through with the whole thing but before the final notes of the closing ceremony faded away she was already planning next year's walk.

My mom is my hero and I am grateful to have her in my life and especially in the lives of my children.

Bubbling over

I'm not a formal gal. Not too traditional either. I like cheap and slightly quirky. I can't find the original blog that hooked me on this idea but here is a glimpse at the original inspiration for what became my bubbling wall.

I started buying old enamelware lids off eBay, in local antique and junk shops and even found a few in my parent's junk pile.

I simply hot glued small loops of florist wire to the back of each lid. I tried to arrange the lids in a bubbly kind of way but I'm not sure I got the randomness I was looking for. I think the entire project cost around $25 dollars. If I could have been more patient, I'm sure it would have been cheaper. I also acquired a few enamelware pots that I use to house my potted plants. It's retro country, yes, but not in a roostery kind of way.

The only downside (besides my questionable taste) is that as the temperature changes some of the hot glue disengages from the back of the lids. My husband and I have been awakened on more than a couple of nights to the sound of falling lids. Good thing they're already banged up and chipped.

I want to repaint the kitchen. This wall color was chosen while I was 7 months pregnant. Let me just say that preg hormones are not a decorating asset. I want to go more clear, fresh green and less borderline seafoam almost 80's dusty teal. I'll also choose a different finish. I thought the wipability of satin would be perfect for a kitchen. Maybe it is, as I've got no stains on the wall despite having served spaghetti to toddlers in this very room, but it shows every single imperfection in the walls. Maybe I wasn't the neatest wall paper remover ever. S'ok. I'll choose a wipable flat next time.