So.. I quit. (long, long, long)

I hope to continue to post pictures, but my Project 365 enthusiasm was derailed by colds, pukey children, and my continued fun with wisdom teeth. Yes, I know most people don't keep theirs.. but hey, I'm not most people and all the literature I find says if you can make it to 30 without issues then you're almost gold. My issues only happen every few months. I did call the dental insurance and find out all of the particulars just in case I find some courage somewhere to have them removed.

(you can her Julia say.. "Gracie, do you have any AA batteries?" I think most of us have been there!)

Last co-op we tie-dyed shirts. Unfortunately, Julia's camera was without batteries and my phone doesn't like to take great pictures. I think we'll supply some more dye/salt and maybe have a go at it again! I need to get some more shirts from Michael's while they are on sale. The shirts turned out great and the children enjoyed it a lot. The older girls tried batik and enjoyed that as well. I *love* the quilts made from batik fabrics so perhaps I'll get them working on that.. assuming I get time to quilt.. I still need to get to Anna's house to finish Jo's quilt (hi Jo!) and bring my frame home. My mom gave me a quilt that she hand-pieced decades ago. It is a Grandmother's Flower Garden style and full of bright yellows, oranges, and other happy colors. I will get a picture of it when I get it in the frame. My poor Dear Jane is on hold... I'm hoping to spend my birthday (2/28, I have a while!) getting some of my applique things together so I can have a few good hand projects. They might be nice to take with me during births if the Mom is resting.

Speaking of births... I have three doula clients so far and it has been fun getting to know them. With good timing, my doula certification will be done by mid-March. Each has such a different birthing history. I'm SO thrilled that I get to be part of this and it makes my midwifery studies all the more fun. I'm literally surrounded by books here at my desk and have notebooks full of various things as well. There are envelopes, pencils, pens, sticky-notes stuck to the rolltop desk, and so on. I organize it often, but it generally falls back into comfortable disarray.

For the locals.. I am teaching a HypnoBirthing class at Covenant Birth Center in March (and again in April, after Easter) and there are spots still open. If you, or someone you know, is expecting, please pass along the info. The max is 5 couples per class. I also teach privately for those not interested in a group class.

On the children (kid) front..

James wants to know what we're naming the next baby. I told him Gertrude or Harry.. he accepted that.

James also got a hair cut: he gave me a five limit time limit, a no-brush rule, and sang during most of it. He looks like.. well.. a boy that got a five minute haircut by a mom that doesn't cut hair well. hehe BUT!! He loves it and that's all that matters. It's his head, his hair, his likes.. he likes non-fuss and one day I am sure that will come in handy! Summer is coming and he'll need some new clothes. I seriously think we're doing the two-outfits idea. Well, three outfits.. one for church. I sometimes wonder if folks think we don't have enough clothes for him. I should take pictures of his drawers and closet.. he's just NOT into clothes. Well, none of them are.. I'm really not either. We dress and go about our day. We are running low on shoes! Kuza has been a fantastic puppy - no jumping, no biting, and he's so gentle/sweet with even the littlest of kids. He adores the cats and constantly keeps watch if we're outside.. but he's got a shoe-habit. :)

Thankfully, sandals are coming into the stores so we'll be buying those and skipping the rest. Nobody wants to do sports this year (and I'm not complaining!) so we don't need tennis shoes. I know there's a birkenstock outlet near the place where we camp in WV in July, I think I'm going to make a stop there this year. I'd love a pair of birkenstocks again! My last ones I wore until they absolutely fell apart beyond repair. When people ask me about the challenges of a big family I usually reply, "Socks." Others with more than one child usually nod their head in agreement. (Except for my friend Di, she's got it all licked when it comes to organization! She should rent out her services for seasonal clothes changes.)

For those still mulling over the "next baby" comment I made above.. I'm not pregnant. Breathe. ;)

Noah cut his own hair, his bangs are VERY short and he left the rest alone. Silly monkey. Joseph doesn't want his hair cut ever again. He told me yesterday that he had one already. Silly Mommy. Why would he need more than one? I know that lots of large-family Christian folks pride themselves on their boys always having those short buzz cuts and such. I've officially dropped out of those ranks. (Not like I was ever -in- those ranks, but y'know.. this is my official dropping out).

My main goals: Make sure my children have a really nice childhood (they only get to do this once) and be a genuine person of integrity... and never forget that what we do is important, unless we're doing things for show or because others think we should. Then it is just a crappy waste of time.