2 tone hat

This is my first 2 tone hat.  I thought it was pretty cute.  It was made with a solid country purple yarn and a mosaic yarn for the accent colors and flower.  My cutie patootie model is my niece, Norah.

valentines

This post is nearly 2 weeks late but I wanted to post the valentines that Rose handed out because I know a lot of you didn't get to see them.  I thought they were pretty cute.
side 1, side 2

a game of fetch!

I have been off the grid for a while, busy planning Rose's 5th birthday party and preparing for Jordan's return home.  I painted our house for 10 days straight.  More on that later.

Having Jordan home is wonderful.  There are no words adequate enough to describe our level of relief and happiness.  Especially because that was the last time.  14 months of separations is rough.  Jordan and I both agree that the separation this time was harder than ever and vow never--to--do--it--again.

People often ask me if it's hard when he comes home; if it's difficult meshing our lives back together.  The answer is no way!  We are so thrilled to be in each other's lives again that we're happy to make any accommodations/compromises necessary.  You need a sock drawer?  Have mine!  You need room in the closet?  Let me clear some room!  You want to sleep on my side of the bed?  It's yours!

It feels good to have our life back.

Tonight Rose had Jordan playing a game with ridiculous rules.  They had to throw the ball but the other person wasn't allowed to catch it.  Other times she'd yell, "ok Dad, now go get the ball and bring it back to me!" We realized it was a game of fetch.  Rose made Jordan her pet.

Here, Rose is explaining that Jordan has to climb under the porch to get the ball because she's wearing a skirt.

He's such a sweet daddy.

signs of spring!!!

Rose is allergic to...  well, everything.  Trees, grass, dirt, among many others.  Poor girl.  Last week she curiously started sneezing, sneezing, sneezing.  I wasn't sure what to make of it because it seemed too early for allergies.  Well, lo and behold!  We went to put the mail out today and look what we saw!! Signs of Spring!!!!!  SO excited!  I can't wait to run and play outside again.  

are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I listened to an interview on NPR with author, Susan Cain.  Her book is called Quiet:  The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking.  She talked about the difference in introversion and shyness.  Growing up I thought they were one in the same.  Turns out they're not.  Cain defines introversion as a preference of intimate chat over lunch with a close friend vs a booming party with a bunch of strangers.  Shyness is the fear of negative social judgement.  And an extrovert is the opposite of both.  Of course, none of us is 100% introvert nor 100% extrovert.  It got me thinking...  which am I?  If you go to the interview link I posted above you can take a quiz.  Which are you?

Turns out I am 65% extrovert, 35% introvert.

These pictures have nothing to do with this interview but a post is never fun without pictures.  These are from December when Emily (my sister) was in the hospital ---- Josh's (my brother's) girls playing Lil' Pet Shop with Rose in our kitchen.  Rose was in heaven having her cousins in town for a couple of weeks.