passing of time

After a crazy week of birthday and such, I can finally sit down and reflect.

The success of Axel's B-day party was more than I could have hoped for.  We had a lovely, peaceful day on his actual birthday and the party this last Sunday was fantastic!  So many far away relatives made the trek to southern Minnesota to celebrate Axel, check out our home and just be together!

We had loads of activities at the party including "create a cub" with my own stitched bears.  The kids and teenagers stuffed their own cub, made a wish, tucked it inside and stitched up the back.  It was a lovely way to share what I do and give them a lasting memory of Axel's big day.  We also had balloon animals.

Not only did I get a chance this weekend to reflect on the first year of being a mother, I got to reflect on my first year of staying home, completely devoted to one task; raising a son.

Not that it isn't totally enjoyable being a home-maker, I do love the title although some days I unmake the home more than I make it.  In the long hours between sunrise and Jahred coming home to relieve me, I have to find ways to entertain myself.  Although kidless friends can call once in a while, an entire year of long days makes me feel REALLY alone most of the time.

I have come up with some innovative games however to pass the time.

1.  Find the secret outlets.  Living in an old house, there are never enough spots to plug things in.  Now that Axel is a proficient crawler and mess maker, often times he will pull something off the wall to find an outlet hiding behind it.  This is not only the peak of excitement for the day...week...I sit and think of things that could be plugged in here, how I could rearrange the room for better lamp placement etc.  Finding a secret outlet is like striking motherhood gold.  Of course once a discovery is made, I immediately call Jahred on the job to share the good news.  Calling a kidless friend would be a waste of enthusiasm.

2.  Relearn childhood skills.  Not that we don't have money to spend, but really...we don't have money to spend.  I need to find cheap ways to entertain us both during the day.  Walking the mall in Mankato is always an option.  It is so worthless that I never spend any money there.  The stores are disappointing unless you want to look like a hooker or wish to live in a nursing home (sorry).  I have also found it convenient to stay home and practice up on skills I was once great at (like playing the piano) or skills I always wanted to learn (like juggling).  By printing piano music off the internet, I can use the backs of ECFE flyers to keep us both dancing.  I have always wanted to juggle, so I practice that almost every day.  In 2 months I have made little improvement, perhaps I will trade in the juggling for skateboarding in the summer (another wanted skill).

3.  When all else fails, keep the child busy with toys that are not for kids.  The mail, kitchen utensils, compact discs (who needs them now with mp3), VHS tapes...anything to get you through the day!

Here's hoping all of you have a few secret outlets in your life.  Enjoy the rest of the week and we'll talk soon.

Below is a create a cub pic from this weekend and also a NEW roxy bag in my shop. This Echino Japanese fabric is to DIE FOR!!!!