Cricket in a Biscuit

We've been breaking from our usual patterns at the Dahl house. I switched gears a bit with my fitness, and decided to give 21 Day Fix * a go. I resisted for a long time, fearing regression, but it's been a fun change. Granted, I'm not lifting the heavy weights, but it's a challenge in a new direction, and the shorter workouts feel great. I'm taking on a new challenge in my knitting as well, stranded colorwork. When I've dabbled in the past, the results have been less than stellar. Sometimes, however, the right motivation is all that is required. Russian dolls, matryoshka, are "a thing" in our house. Laney and I love them; we built her fifth birthday around a matryoshka theme. So, when doll leggings landed on my radar, they were immediately elevated to unicorn status. (The first pair I saw were the wrong size.) Now, I've been trying to curtail unnecessary spending due to unexpected expenses. Darren has needed a slew of dental work — I...

Can you believe it is October already?! My dad always says time passes more quickly as you get older. Boy, is he ever right! I'm sure having a million things going all the time also contributes. I don't have much to show for crafts this week; my life is being consumed by another large project. However, I did start and finish a pair of mittens and made some progress on a project I haven't touched in a long time: my sweater spin . I am enamored with that project, but so many things keep me from it.  The mitten project has been a lot of fun as well. What little kid doesn't want to wear mittens made from their very own sheep? Handspun, hand-dyed and knit for a young girl from the fleece of her very own sheep. Sweater spin: one single down, many more to go. On the fitness side, I finished Country Heat , which was a great program. I really enjoyed. Over thirty days, I lost five pounds, which I credit mostly to being disciplined with clean eating. I got a l...

Let me tell you about this kid, my Laney Bug. She is the quietest of the bunch, so sometimes she's drowned out by all the noise. She needs me the least, so sometimes I forget she does  need me. Let me tell you something else about this kid. She is all heart.  The kids each have a little treasure box, a place to put their found objects, small trinkets with value only they can understand. Yesterday Laney asked me if I knew which thing in her treasure box made her the most sad. I was a little surprised she would keep something that made her sad, and had no idea what it could be.  When we went up for bath, she showed me what it was, a tiny turtle bead she had found, about as long as a grain of rice. It was cute. I asked why it made her sad. Her voice caught and her eyes welled up. She was worried the person who lost it might still be looking, unable to find it. The thought was almost too much to bear.  Sometimes I think she feels what others feel more ac...

**Updated: when initially posted, this recipe called for 6 cups of flour. I have since tried it with 6 1/2, and the dough is much easier to handle.**     I never thought I would see the day when I would consider bread a huge expense, yet it has arrived. The kids are eating more all the time, which means far less left over after supper. With nothing in the refrigerator to bring to work, Darren has to fall back on the ol' two sandwich option. Lunch in our house has become a 12-slice a day affair. I've been buying bread four loaves at a time! They last almost a week. Then a lady in my spinning group posted this video: Normally, I would have scrolled on by, but spending right a round $50 per month — on bread , can get a person thinking it might be worth the few minutes spent watching. Plus, it's a solid group of gals, I spin with. Most of them are also foodies, and I trust their judgement. It worked out that Darren and I made a rare trip to the mall shortly a...

Okay, so it's really more of a floppy, wonky clutch, and I helped, but…  Pillow cases sewn on Ladies' Day We got a really nice variety with each person choosing their own fabric. …it is still a bag a kid can make then use to carry their treasures. All you need is a fat quarter, but let's start at the beginning. In October, my aunt hosted, Ladies' Sewing Day. Everybody brought fabric, and, those of us who had them, brought our sewing machines. We spent the day making pillow cases for the pediatric unit at a local hospital. It was a great time, and ever since, Laney has been begging and begging for a "kid sewing machine." Weeks later, it was about time to start Christmas shopping. As I was wandering through Wal*Mart, I saw a kid sewing machine! It's a little chintzy and recommended for age six and up, but it's a kid sewing machine! I had decided I wasn't going to buy any toys for Christmas this year, because I wanted to give the ki...

Some days I wear makeup. Most days I don't. But you can be sure, on the days I do, Laney notices and responds with enthusiasm, which, of course, horrifies Darren. There are those with really strong objections to little girls having any exposure to makeup whatsoever. Concerns include worries over turning girls into divas or skewing their views on real beauty and their self worth. Some believe makeup is simply inappropriate for young girls. My formative years were spent in an anti-makeup household. At the same time, I had girl cousins raised in a very different environment. My aunties applied daily, and I remember my cousins having real compacts to play with. Then there are my cousins in dance. They were wearing makeup at a very young age. So far, we've all turned out alright. I started wearing makeup when I could afford to buy it. I stopped when it didn't fit my life anymore. I guess that's what I want for Laney, an eh, whatever kind of attitude. While makeup can...

"What is the point?!" I would imagine most parents have thought — or yelled — this question more than once in their daily life. I was there today, wondering why I put in so much effort for what appears to be zero return. I had two objectives for the day: make a book bag for Laney to bring to story time at the library tomorrow, and fly kite with the kids. Sounds simple enough, but beginning a project seems to be the the cue for my normally independent and decently behaved children to turn into clingy little savages. They climbed on the table; ripped down the window shade; engaged in mortal combat over crayons, of which there is no shortage — trust me; and threw a half dozen whiny fits over stickers. All before lunch. After our lunch of sandwiches and twice-spilled milk, we walked to our perfect kite flying spot and had some fun. For a few minutes. As I was loading Grumplestiltskin in the stroller for an early trip home, I was wondering again, "What is the point?!...

Our first round of potty training was tough (and ongoing). Between starting too early, regression when Oliver was born, and "accidents" for attention, in addition to all the regular difficulties, it was stressful for everyone. So, I resolved to wait this time around. Oliver, however, had other plans.  A few days ago he became obsessed with the potty chair. I moved it out of sight, which only made him more desperate for it. I decided to humor him by sitting him down on it with his pants on. Not good enough. Wednesday afternoon, I gave in. When he got up from his nap, he was demanding the potty again. I set him up there, and he spent the next fifteen minutes laughing and doing his business. Between then and bedtime, he used the potty three more times, and whizzed on my floor once. The successes continue, but I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. First he gives up his pacifier, and now he's using the potty. He is growing much too fast. I've actually been w...

It seems Easter is becoming as commercialized as Christmas. Baskets are getting bigger and bigger as parents cram bigger – and more expensive – goodies inside. Well, I'm not buying it. Of course I picked up my favorite candy to steal from their baskets while they aren't looking, but I know the the best Easter gifts are often the simplest. My all-time favorite: a jump rope. One of those flimsy cloth numbers more suited to tying things up than their intended purpose. The plan was to make puppets for the kids, and I spent hours on ravelry finding just the right patterns. However, Laney's jacket took much longer than expected, and there just wasn't time. I knocked out a Slimey for Ollie in a hurry, but still had nothing for Laney. Months ago I had approached her about turning her beloved (read too small) teapot pajamas into a teddy bear. She was receptive, but I never got around to it. So, that's what I decided on. The problem was, her pj's are so well...

I'm not one of those parents averse to telling my kids no, but if there is a better way, I'm open to that as well. It may not be the most beautiful currency ever  issued, but she recognized the back as a DVD. The movie rule in our house was one a day, until I discovered Laney behaves much better when she watches no movies at all. And, with summer coming, I was pretty much resolved to curb the TV time anyway. The only thing unresolved was the best strategy. Inspiration struck while grocery shopping with the realization Laney is fascinated by the idea of paying for things. The hubby and I decided three movies per week was fair, so that Friday I issued my own currency. Three tokens per week which she can use to buy a movie. I had high hopes, even thinking it might teach her a lesson in budgeting. The only worry was how she would react once her tokens were gone. The first week played out pretty much as expected. She spent her money in the first three days. The fourth d...

A single glance at Laney and Oliver while they are together is all it takes to know they share a special bond. They obviously love each other, but I've begun to wonder just why they do. Take Oliver; there is no logical reason why he should love his sister. She is constantly bossing him, yelling at him for the slightest transgression and, just about the time he is having fun with something, she comes to take it away - usually knocking him over in the process.  Yet, he loves her. It's there in the way he lights up every time he sees her. She has even less reason to love him. Laney's world was perfect until the squalling interloper arrived to commandeer most of Mom's time. Even worse, he slobbers on her favorite toys and dumps her water on the floor. Regardless, she feeds him fruit snacks on the sly, brings him toys and will stop what she's doing just to put her arm around him and plant a kiss on the side of his head. Watching the two of them got me thinki...