"give me a moment for pity sake."

As a mom, ever feel that you give so much, exert so much of yourself, your time, your energy, just to fall into bed and have the baby wake up an hour later. I just feel spent. Packing up 98% of the house alone, unpacking majority alone, four/five kids (depending on Dylan) alone, and all I want to do is just relax, on my own, doing what I want, how I want it, alone, just give me ten minutes. Even last year I would give myself a moment to rejuvenate myself even if it was just a book in the tub, but I haven't had time for that since before the trip to Chicago in October.

My friend Michelle told me about an idea for blogging, a three things this thursday idea, and I've been working with her and I believe I'm in the right to say we are both excited about this.

Then today arrives. Jeremy has the day off, and I imagine some other stay at home moms know what chaos a husband home brings to a schedule. It's not bad mind you, it's just not the normal routine. What we normally do, we don't usually do on his days off. Which made me think I wouldn't get to participate in the blog post.

And yet here I am. Jeremy laid Miss Pickle down for a nap, then took all the wild things to go shopping for my Christmas present. And I'm here, alone. My only interruption is Jeremy calling for directions.

Let's do it!

Thing 1 It would seem I have misplaced my box with cookie sheets, muffin pans, cake pans, and recipes. I'm not concerned that it's literally lost, more so that I just can't find it. I can solve part of the problem by purchasing new cookie sheets. Partly warranted since they are ancient, one I actually grew up with and it's bent up like a bowl, and I don't remember what the other one looked like, it's been too long since I've seen it.

The problem was the recipe. You see, a few years ago I bought this Betty Crocker holiday cookbook that's in the check out aisle amongst tens of others. I tried the sugar cookie recipe, and instantly it was a great success. To understand the triumph in this, you need to understand the history. I grew up never making sugar cookies, one year I went to my aunt cindy and uncle danny's house and we made holiday cookies from scratch and rolled out dough. I swore in that moment to always make cookies with my future kids. Fast forward, I met my husband, and heard the declaration that his mom made the best sugar cookies evah. Which instantly sets up this weird, seemingly normal competitive drive to make something equally or better than his moms.

Afterall I was married to this man for a seemingly long time to come, and I better be able to produce some good cookies, or deal with the whining. So it started immediately. Sugar cookies upon sugar cookies. Ones with corn syrup (I liked them a lot but they weren't like his moms).. Yes yes, I know what you might think, why not just ask for the recipe you say, but without details, the recipe was not available to me, it was sugar cookie monopoly, I declare!

That Betty Crocker holiday book contained a great sugar cookie recipe, it's not like my mil's recipe, it passes my husband's test, and now I don't have to hear whining. And this year it's lost to me inside a misplaced box (Drat those sharpies that went dry and led to unmarked boxes! WHY did I think I would remember one box from another!) I checked Betty Crockers site and found *mixed* recipes upon more *mixed* recipes. And then, in my last desperate swagbuck search, I found this little gem.

I believe that it's the recipe. I know the recipe had confectionery sugar in it, I know it had almond extract in it. I'll know more on Sunday when we bake our holiday cookies, but I dare say I'm excited to believe that's the recipe. On a side note we were supposed to make the cookies today, but it got bumped to Sunday, making it more desperate of a search earlier in the day, then now when I have days to still find my cookbook.

Thing 2 "I want a golden goose and I want it now!" Who can forget Veruca Salt. That is a girl who gets what she wants. And as much as I enjoy her on screen character; I've never felt inclined to raise a child like her. And yet this morning while Miss Pickle threw herself backwards, kicked out her stiff chunky legs, and cried, I thought.. oh my a little Veruca.

You see, she is only 6 months old, apparently though she believes she's 2. She wants what she wants, when she wants it. And she actually throws a little tantrum if she doesn't get it. I'm mean and horrible and do not give her back a dangerous hazard to stop the crying, while Jeremy is a softy and gives her what she wants (kidding, kind of, erm he doesn't give her hazards at least). I don't really believe you can spoil a baby per say, but if you could, I think Jeremy would be well on his way to doing so.

Thing 3 I made another bunny for a friend, that is the same patter as Miss Pickle's that I made earlier this year. Cat, Rabbit, and Bear from Natural Knits (free at Knitting Daily). I used DPN's this time so it had a smidge less seaming. He turned out cute, and he came off as having a shy personality. Y'know as much as an inanimate object can. I'm just really glad to have him finished with all his limbs intact. Sewing up a stuffed animal is a bit gruesome looking, legs, arms, tails, and ears scattered around the room.



The pom-pom tush came from this tutorial, very easy to do. For the face I used the French Knot technique and as I can never remember how to do this, I used this tutorial from Purl Bee.


Now you go post three things on your blog, add your link here so we can all read it.

Labels: knitting, recipes, three.things.this.thursday