I am thankful for

a house full of noisy children,
a kitchen brimming with meals,
a husband clamoring to always spend his moments with me,
a business that keeps my fingers moving through the night,
a job that lets me be a mother by being with mothers,
an extended family that is nurturing and supportive,
unbelievable friendships that span miles and years,
God, who continues to show me goodness in our tumultuous politics.

I hope everyone had a great Holiday.

Much love,
Tif

My biggest fans.

So this "mothering" thing I have been doing for the last almost 6 years...I admit they haven't all been selfless moments. I have not always been humble.

I swear, it's because of these Kids! They seem just to go with the flow: The Deployment. All of The Moving. Fielding their Loud and extremely opinionated Parents. And all of these Crafts! The countless experiments they have to endure being their Mama's guinea pigs.

But they not only go with the flow, they are just ecstatic. About everything. For example, I have made the ugliest shirts, and Cooper will insist on wearing them hot from the machine. Greggy's initial reaction is always, "that's beautiful".

And while I think I'm a pretty darn good bag maker, I need practice in every other endeavor. My knitting is almost always off, necklines on garments tug in some places, and hems aren't always on level. But somehow, my kiddos don't notice or care...they just know that they love it.

It really blows up a woman's ego, y' know? (*wink*)



Kiddos with their knit hats, made of BFL aran weight yarn. Dyed by Beemer Knits and imperfectly lovingly knit by Me :) . Accidentally made slightly larger, but appreciated perfectly by my Biggest Fans.

Catching up, Tif style:

1. I've been sick.
2. I've been sick and taking care of sick kiddos.
3. I started a new job :)

Yes, you have read right, and I have written correctly...this mama has decided to go back to work.

4 years have passed since I have slipped my feet in nursing clogs, or have used a stethescope, or signed the initials R.N. On Monday I started orientation for a "PRN" position, or "as needed": No benefits (don't need it!), a generous hourly salary ("you said how much?") and the choice of which days to work, in even as little as one shift a week. (doing the jig) .

I couldn't refuse, and my soul is not just as peace, but is singing.

I had anxiety of having to choose between family or job or business, of feeling torn, of feeling bad for my children, but I found that, wow...I think in this case there will be no guilt.

Hallelujah!

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, or what challenges will arise. But this moment, right now, I am yelling from the rooftops,

"Oh, yeah baby!"

My skeletons that were in the closet

are now out!

Halloween gets better and better every year.

We ventured in our town home neighborhood and the kids took home almost half a pillowcase EACH. Cooper was dragging his pillowcase by the time we turned the corner to come home.

Our neighborhood is hands down one of the best there is in this area. Wonderfully festive with lots of families.

This years costumes were really a breeze...I already had patterns from Ottobre for jammies for all three sizes and I had some polyester knit from last year's batman costumes, so the boys had theirs in a jiffy. I used purple cotton knit for Rafaella, it was so thick - almost sweatshirt thick, perfect for the weather.

The bones were applique using some white fleece I had stashed away.



Do you see the expressions on their faces? Totally classic for each of their personlities.

I couldn't help but get one of the baby



Off to somehow stash away the evil sugar that is now in my house! I am tempted by the SECOND!