Craft Weekend 2012

Craft Weekend was wonderful. 

 

 It is horribly difficult to get out of the house sometimes. And as much as I would love for the ideal picture of my departure to go as planned...you know, a clean and happy house, dinner made for my family, my bags and supplies packed hours in advance so that I can cuddle my babies before I go with no rushing, and a husband and kiddos sad to see Mom go...reality is that it was not like that at all.  I'll spare you all the details.  But I'm pretty sure my family was probably ready to get rid of me for a bit.  (dinner was ready for them, but that may be the only thing that went as planned).

But I'm thankful for a husband who knows when I just need to get away.  I'm thankful that he assures me everything will be okay and that he can handle everything (even the fussy baby that I couldn't even handle that day).  I'm thankful that even when one of the kids throws up in the night and he's up from 4:30am on...that he doesn't make me feel guilty for being gone and tells me everything is just fine.

Maybe I should learn some lessons from him.

 

Megan's house is such a fun place to be, and it was perfect for our girls weekend away. Even if it was just 3 minutes from home.  Even when we love our kiddos with every ounce of our soul, it's so necessary to just get away from mom-responsibilities sometimes.  It's lovely to go to bed super super late and know that you can sleep till you wake up on your won.  It's wonderful to sit and eat a meal and only have to dish myself a plate.  Sometimes it just feels good to get some things accomplished that just don't get done when you're playing, cleaning, reading, singing, cooking, picking up, cuddling and caring for others all day long.  A break makes me ready to go home and have a fresh start (especially after the way I left).   It's just what I need to return to the job that, while draining and demanding some days, it's the job that I'm most grateful for.  

 

Did you look at the pictures from the posts that I posted earlier?  They are way better pictures than what I took. 

But here's a little peak into the happiness of Megan's "craft house"...

 

 

This was the room I stayed in.  One of the happiest rooms ever.

 

I loved all the little details of her house.  The floors, the colorful quilts, everything on the walls, the warm personal touches.

 



 

 

 

I guess some of you may be wondering what we did.  I had a friend ask me "what in the world do you do on an all-weekend craft weekend?"

 

I was on my computer most of one evening, editing pictures, working on Christmas cards and fighting with Photoshop.

 

 

We sat around the table one night and just chatted, and laughed and cried.

I felt blessed to be in a room with such amazing girls.  All such wonderful Godly women, who are encouraging and fun.   And it makes it even better when we all share the love of crafting enough to make a whole weekend of it.

 

 

But don't you worry, we didn't craft non-stop.  A group of us took about a 4 hour break to do some antique and barn shopping!  And there was even some K-State Football action in a house of 12 girls.

 I came away with a few new treasures that I love.  Some more turquoise mason jars, a red lantern and a wire basket to hold towels in our bathroom.  No pictures though.  Maybe eventually I'll show you where they are now in my house.

 

As far as crafts, I definitely didn't get through my entire to-do list.  Things always seem to take way longer than I planned on.  And most of the time I deal with a sewing machine, it involves some frustrations, and this time was no exception.  The good thing about having 11 crafty friends around me is that someone always comes to my rescue. 

We've always done our craft weekend on the first weekend of December because it's good timing to make gifts.  Cheap gifts are always the hardest part of my Christmas shopping/planning.  You know, those people you would love to give gifts to, but you have to keep them under $10, and sometimes even $5.  I just feel like it's so hard to come up with something that is meaningful and that someone will actually like and use.  So I made 15 Noel banners.  Super easy, cheap gifts.  And it's something that I would love (well, actually I have one on my mantel now, and love it!).  So I'm hoping the recipients love them too.

 

 

And since all things are wrapped in jute these days. I made these for my mantle too.

 



 

 

And I planned out our advent calendar of activities and tasks, and got the little numbered envelopes ready to go for when I got home.  We've all agreed that this is our most favorite thing in the house right now!

 

 

My crafts are easy and pretty self-explanatory.  That's kind of how I roll.  But I'll try to post some details of them soon.

 

I love our annual craft weekend.  I loved everything about Megan's house, and the girls I got to spend the weekend with, and I love being able to create.  I remember back in 2009 and even 2010 we all had to ask each other for help with ideas of things to make.  Thanks to Pinterest now, I don't think anyone has any trouble coming up with a list of ideas to tackle. 

It's just too bad it only gets to happen once a year.

 



one boy and one girl

I just have to get some of the most recent memories of these two recorded.  They are too precious.

And too funny.  And quite dramatic for a 3 and 4 year old.

 

Mason and Lily are kind of attached.  One of them may be a little more attached than the other.  Or at least more vocal about it.

 

 

 I really am thankful for their bond.

And that there's a little walkway through our fence to get from one house to the other.

 

You see, this little guy doesn't know how to play on his own.  And having a big sister at school means he just doesn't know what to do with himself.

I am challenged every day to make sure to stop cleaning the kitchen, stop trying to get laundry in, or check emails or even feed myself or the baby (well, if he had it HIS way, I would never eat, nor would Gavin), and just give him my undivided attention.  I will be honest and say it is HARD.  My mind goes in a million other directions.  I'm so used to getting kids up and spending some time with them at breakfast, and then they were always off as fast as they could to play all morning.

So it's definitely been a transition as I try hard to remind myself that I WILL miss this.  And in no time at all, he's going to be off at school just like Taylor.  And I will be sad.

 

 

We usually get home from the bus stop after dropping Taylor off, a little before 8.  I try my hardest to keep him from running to Lily's house till 9.  He asks about 25 times from 8 till 9 if it's 9:00 yet.

 

 

They are hilarious to watch and listen to.

They go from house to house, room to room, driveway to driveway, garage to garage.

They have the cutest conversations, and they eat their cookies in the most unusual way.

 

 

 I'm told that Lily professes her love for Mason nearly every day.

And her life is nearly over if he decides he's had enough "girl" time and wants to come home.

In fact, today Mason came inside and tried to lock her outside. I explained that this was not something we do to friends, and that we need to make sure they always feel welcome.  He proceeded to tell me that he just wanted a little break, but Lily wanted to follow him everywhere he went.

I helped him explain to Lily that he'd like to take a little break and then he'd be ready to play again in a few minutes. 

She asked if she could take a break with him, and then proceeded to sit on the back steps and stare into the window waiting for him to be done with his break.

It was seriously the CUTEST thing ever.  And I wish I had thought to grab my camera.

 

 

They share snacks, Mason helps her get drinks, they are in Sunday School together, they like to watch a little TV when they get tired from playing, they swing and build sand castles and ride bikes.

Sometimes they scream at each other, but they always give lots of hugs.

Sometimes they hit each other, but then other times I hear Mason saying "you can sit right by me on the couch."

 

 

Their bond is a special one.  We've been able to use this friendship as a way to teach Mason how to take care of girls, how to respect them and make sure they don't ever get hurt.  How to help them and be polite.  Although I'm afraid that sometimes Lily gets treated more like another rough and tough boy, there are at least a few glimpses of absolute preciousness between these two.