snackyish

::here you go..as promised::

Okay who wants some fries?

..nothing like sweet potato/ original fries and some happy ketchup ..

This little set has been a long time in the making, I just had to get the perfect color wool sweater, and that took some time.The trick with fries is deciding on the container,..newsprint roll? ..plate? I decided to go with the little sack, and top it with a stripe of that Organic yarn I just can't get enough of.

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So whilst I was on a snack making kick,I thought how fun would it be to make one of our family faves...

Ants on a Log with apple slices!

The raisins were my favorite part of making this little snack. I had some alpaca yarn that I had previously unraveled from the most interesting sweater that I've ever seen(I really should have taken pictures).

I love it when things turn out perfect on the first try, like this plate for example..it's just as I pictured it, not to mention, it was quick and simple..love that to!

clothing recycling

such fun, simply- cut ,rearrange, and sew!

If I knew that some "new" re purposed clothing was all it took to promote some genuine sisterly love around here... I would have whipped up these two little shirt dresses months ago!

These two just crack me up...they were thrilled to get called inside for new dresses for both of them (usually it's "wait your turn" around here, mommy only has two hands!)

The happier they got the sillier the photo's ..first it's just an arm around a shoulder,then a hug, then aw heck, just climb on up Nia! Yes, fashion is super exciting to these girls...already!

knit

With all the knitting I did for Christmas, it was about time to knit for myself. Rarely do I like the end result of just knitting something up without a pattern, this time around I got lucky :)

As quickly as this little number knit up, I'm eyeing some other yarns that are stashed here and there. ..purple..or maybe green...for the next one.

Now I'm off to put some finishing touches on some new items for the shop.

I'll give you a hint, sweater felt was used, and there is a bit of a ::snacky:: theme.

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new to the shop today

a happy apple joins the bunch

a quick look back at Christmas..

before it is too far behind us!

Since our computer was out of commission over the holidays,

here is a super long photo montage...

. gingerbread .

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. mama and daddy made .

..somebody opened her present early..

We could barely get her to hold still for photos she was so thrilled with her Lilly doll. I on the other hand.. was devastated, I missed that golden moment, you know the one, it's there for just a second as she goes from opening to realizing what the present is. At least there is joy in the total love and adoration that followed as she toted her little Lilly all around the house.

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all the kids received a handmade friend from mama this year

a knitted rainbow platypus for nia, she chose the colors of course (pattern courtesy of):

..dino for Evan (I made him wait til Christmas) & knitted gloves to match his beanie

Awesome wooden hummer by daddy

a felted cashmere sweater kangaroo mama and baby for Lil
a felted sweater giraffe for Liora

whew...and now... time for a nap

brrrrrr

Attempted an 8 mile run this morning, didn't factor in the fog,near 40 degree temperature and the freezing wind, or the fact that I forgot to add my running pants to the top of the laundry pile yesterday... yep, I was sporting the shorts people (...not recommended).

So, I made it to mile six and a half...which was good enough for me and my freezing legs.

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On a awesome side note, I created this lovely hair band last week,

Beautiful and (little did I know)functional, as it doubles as wind protection when I'm running..of course I wasn't wearing it today though ... ::sigh:: ... somehow I don't think I 'll have any trouble remembering it next time.

flowers

I declared today a relaxation day and finished up a few projects,

like these felted sweater flowers for your hair.

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There are times when being the fourth child something new and just for you is in order.

Lilly just loves to stuff all her treasured items into bags and tote them around. So I created this little bookworm backpack for her and just happened to have enough fabric to make two....now what to do with the second one....a future birthday gift perhaps?

ear to ear

Last night I couldn't get to sleep, I was nervous and excited. Could I really complete the entire 12 miles? At about 4 am I finally got some sleep and by 7

I was wide awake.

So after a few minutes mapping my route on Map My Run and I headed out the door.

New years day is perfect for running, it was so quiet and wonderfully cold (I always run faster when it's cold). Usually, in about 10 minutes I'm warm enough to take off the jacket) Today I warmed up right away, and the gloves were off as well.

At about mile 2 it started to sprinkle a bit, and wouldn't you know it, I noticed a cramp in my right side. Just kept on running.

Suddenly I was at a crossroads that I wasn't expecting yet, a quick call home to check on directions (I changed the route a bit since the last time I ran)and mile 3 was behind me.

Turning onto a two lane scenic road was a breath of relief, I just love to run in nature.

The miles flew by and I was pleasantly surprised to see a coyote, four wild turkeys and a deer. The path along the lake was beautiful, so many birds, and so peaceful.

The miles ahead I knew would be difficult, LOTS of hills, I began to wonder, why did the 12 miles have to be these 12...what was I thinking?

A little advice about hills, avoid them..::only joking::..first thing I realised- lean into them, stay a bit on your toes, and when you feel like you can't take another step...take another step.

One step at a time I made it to the top and then the downhill challenge began. It can be tricky to run downhill, the speed can take over and then if you loose control of your legs, well.. you fall.

Luckily, I was in a rhythm and after what felt like miles of downhill running, I reached the bottom and had made it to mile 10. Glad to be running on a flat surface for a change, I turned the corner and looked up at you guessed it another hill. ::sigh:: Almost there, just keep running.

Just in the nick of time, honking and kids screaming out the windows, it's the family..and Yarno too :)

W..a..t..e..r is good, now just 2 more miles, and one last hill. One foot in front of the other, I could feel my pace was slowing, and my arches started to feel tight like a stretched rubber band. The final mile was downhill, I accepted it and just tried not to slam my toes into the front of my shoes.

I completed 12 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes, a whole 25 minutes faster than I expected.

It feels so fantastic!

I did it :)

::the post 12 mile run stretch::