An Exciting Announcement

Nah, I don't have "an exciting announcement" - I just wish I had something exciting to say, and wanted to be cool for a moment .  What did you think I'd say?  Bun in the oven?  Perhaps you already know my brother is getting married soon and thought I would announce it on this post?  Nah, this here's the Amy show.  No guest stars. /wahaha  (Okay, not really - I hope you recognize my joking, flippant voice...)

I just feel a little guilty about both not updating the blog often enough, and also not having enough  terribly exciting things to post. Truth is, life feels a little bit in limbo right now.  We just got our tax return back and I have a ton of home renovation projects I'm itching to get to, but sometimes life has a way of sitting in the middle of the house and making you climb over and around it to get anything done.  It's not any one big thing...just, you know..life. I have been spending my days with mounds of busy work: mailing letters, paying bills, driving across town to pick up something I forgot...meeting with the wonderful working class heroes: the furnace and roof repairmen.

I wish I could pull myself together long enough to make a tutorial or draw a comic or something, but such is life and there ain't no tutorial, funny comic, or exciting announcement.

I did; however manage to pull these together in the past week:

This first is a robot I made for my nephew two Christmases (what IS the plural of Christmas?)  Anyways, it was a gift two Christmi ago, and he has since loved it enough that it was handed back to me for some patch work.  I doctored him AND gave him an upgrade of a laser gun. 

Welcome back, little guy - sorry one of your legs is longer than the other.

"What do you mean I'm not the exciting announcement?"

I also put this together to house Maggie's V-tech tablet.  (Which, btw moms, is highly recommended...you know, by me for what it's worth...)  I take very little credit for this.  The single thing I did was sew it together.  It was Maggie who picked out the fabrics, she who chose handles over a single strap, and she who said, "Mom, I want it to have a happy hippo wearing a tutu."

Man, I love that kid.

Yeah, the tutu is a little high up there, but we're not fancy here.  One of these days I'll stitch some extra tulle in there and make her a little more modest.

 

"Fig Milkshakes" New Layout!

The reviews for "Fig Milkshakes" blog are in, and the people are raving! :

Mom hails, "It's very nice dear."  !!!

Friends reporting, "Yeah, I checked your blog last week." !!!

Husband applauds, "I think it's your most time consuming hobby to date."  !!!

And now there's even more reason to keep up with "Fig Milkshakes" as author unveils new layout complete with side menu bar!
<----------------------- (See it?)


Don't miss this unique opportunity to click on the buttons!!!


You'll be amazed and delighted when the button is clicked to find a neatly organized list of web logs corresponding to the label on the button!!!


You want more you say?!?!  You won't be disappointed!!!  You can then choose which web log you would like to go to.  Simply click on the title of the log you would like to read, and the wonders of technology will reveal yet another page to take you to your destination where you can read about such things as how to eat cereal around your neck and how to make banners out of insects!!!


Try it now!  It won't disappoint, or your money back. 
 
(Guarantee void in Kentucky, Tennessee, and any other state housing any resident that has lost a finger or toe.)

Handmade Felt Thingies

Well, I feel like I have some really cool projects in the works, but nothing seems to be going my way with any of them.  I have now deemed them all to "stink", and need a break lest I become discouraged.

Yes, I needed a little respite from my usual things, and a less picky recipient (less picky than myself) - so I got a bee in my bonnet to make my nephew something fun and this is the product of that bee's residing:

I hope you all recognize the tall brown guy as Chewie - of course, if you don't - I would chalk it up to my failing, not yours.  I'd like to do him again sometime and I would make his bandolero more accurate, but for now, I think it's a sufficient toy for a two year old.

Then I made the crocodile, and he told me he wanted to be "fancy" - so I fashioned a bowtie for him.  (Not sure who he's trying to impress...maybe he just wants to look his best for his new little boy.)

I hope he likes them!

Unprepared...

I've never considered myself one of the more "prepared" parents.

In my personal experience - one day I was staring at a little white stick, trying not to touch the wet end, shrugging and saying, "All right, let's do this thing." And, the next thing I know, I am holding a child in my arms, thinking, 'Oh, that's what all the fuss is about,' as I gently blow on her face to rouse her from her sleep to keep me company.

It is nine years later and most days I still feel like motherhood just mostly "happens" to me.  And, I (with my husband) do our best and pray God will take care of the rest.

Even so, I've never really considered myself at a disadvantage from any of the more "prepared" moms.  I think it becomes apparent early on, that no matter how many parenting books you read...or how much money you spend on Baby Einstein videos...no matter how big your box of "someday baby" clothes is...or how many years you waited until the timing was "just right"...

You can never be prepared for the day you say:

"Are you fanning yourself with your pizza!?"

A Working Class Hero is Somethin' To Be

The girls and I have been very sick lately.

I mean, like...couch-ridden-Star-Trek-marathonin-sauntering-about-in-a-moo moo-and-Perry-the-Platypus-slippers-no-clean-laundry-no-clean-dishes-same-peanut-butter-jar-left-open-on-the-counter-for-four-days-S-I-C-K.  Sick.

The combination of being on the couch with nuthin' much to do and adoring Robert as he sweetly brought home dinner to his sick family each night (after an already long day at work) inspired me to make this very amateur comic for him.  Enjoy.