I bought a pattern that looks like this earlier this year, well... I know it was by Simplicity and it was a "7 Day Wardrobe Dress" line, but I can't be certain if it was this one because I misplaced the pattern the same day I received it. For the life of me I can't remember where I placed it. I vaguely remember proudly showing it to Dubya exclaiming "I used to wear something like this when I was little!" and then I don't remember what happened after.

It would be nice if I can find it before my vacation ends so I can get all this craftiness bug out of my system. Not that it's a bad thing, but I need it under control; I'm ignoring way too much house chores.

Speaking of lost things, I also can't find the buttons I need to finish Big Boy's cowl. He asked me to knit him a scarf while I was out with him so I took him to the local craft store and let him pick out the yarn and color. Well... I had to guide him away from the flourescent stripy yarn... the glowing blue... the crazy fire red.... he sure loves jewel tones... So I dropped all project I had going (sorry bro, your Christmas cowl will come little later than planned) and gave it priority and finished it and I can't find the buttons needed to finish the project! 

I guess I should get off my butt and start searching, although the pattern seems like a lost cause... I've been searching for over a month now and our house isn't all that big so it's a real mystery where it can be.

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I was curious what the pattern looked like so I check the receipt and it IS the one pictured above. I wish I knew where it was! Thinking of making it in neutral color and focusing more on texture, like linen, houndtooth, and corduroy. 

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On a random note, I think our ceiling is leaking again. I've been telling my parents I hear noises in the ceiling and had them even come over to hear it and both said they couldn't hear anything, but Dubya agreed and said he hears it too. Now I see a beige looking stain where the drywall seam would be. Great. Juuuust great. We just had the other hole in the ceiling made almost 9 months ago just patched up and now we have to deal with it again. Ugh. 

Yesterday Dubya and I decided to be bold and went to the mall. Yes, we went to the mall a day after Christmas, which is a third most shopped day behind Black Friday and week before Christmas, with a about-to-be-feisty-four year-old (aka, Big Boy) and about-to-be-terrible-two year old (aka, Baby Girl). Dubya first thought Tyson's Corner Mall and I nay-ed. Are you kidding me? That place is a zoo, crazy I tell ya, crazy. But then we also ruled out Dulles Mall, the quiet, nothing really there, kinda lame mall; too boring. So we settled on Fair Oaks Mall, not too busy, not too quiet, juuuuust right. 

So we were perusing through the mall and I spotted a hole in the wall discount book store and I suggested to Big Boy we go in there. Boy loves books so of course he says yes! But, Baby Girl, who sadly does not share passion of books as her brother, said nay and kept on walking. So at some point boys and girls met up again somewhere in the mall but apparently Boy was upset he didn't get to buy the book he wanted. So through our lap around the mall he whined and whined, reminding us he didn't get the book he wanted, so we had to turn around and go back to the book store.

Well, glad I did because I found this cute little book called: Vintage Baby Knits: More Than 40 Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s for $10. As I have mentioned before I love updated vintage looks so I bought it even though I no longer have any babies to knit for (but I figured, people will always procreate, so there's bound to be some babies at some point). Soon as I come home I check Amazon for reviews and it's on sale for $11. =/ Oh well, not much of a steal, but instant gratification, can't beat that. I also like facts and this book had a lot of "did-you-knows" sprinkled about, which I like. I was also happy to see in print about how historically pink was originally a boy's color and blue, a girl color. I read this fact from Smithsonian website long time ago and whenever I tell people this they look at me like I'm crazy, next time I'll whip out the book and say "I told you so!"

I was surprised to learn there were so many negative reviews for the book, mostly complaining not much is original. But then again, doesn't the book say "Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s"? To me, that kind of suggest it's tried and true patterns that won't really fail or disappoint ya. I haven't really tried any of the patterns yet so I guess I really shouldn't pass any judgement.

It's 2:30 AM and I'm still up! Gosh, I love silence. I wish I could have this all day.

I know people say sound of children makes them happy, etc, etc, but honestly it annoys me. Well, maybe it'd make me happy too if it was of actual children playing together but my kids are always fighting. Baby Girl is going to be two in March and she is starting to act up. At first we thought it was because she has been sick and was uncomfortable, but it just dawned on me the other day that it might actually be... the terrible twos! Oh no, my sweet, sweet, sweeeet baby girl is going to be a whiny, nay-saying, easily emotionally distraught toddler girl?! And Big Boy still can't get over the fact that he has to share. 

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Big Boy has been green lighted good to advance to "Little Dragons", but he is having trouble adjusting. We tried the afternoon class so we can see how he does with the 4-5 year olds and he's been crying and whining and just not participating; very frustrating. Tomorrow is the poomsae (forms) class we shall see how he does. Will have to decide what to do soon since we are due for tuition and we need to figure out for what class we need to start making payments for.

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So looking forward to having the week off! I thought I was going to do some crafty stuff, but I think I'll try to catch up on sleep instead, I have huge circles under my eyes and I'm looking really tired. Probably means I should go to bed. =( 

They are up to no good...

I called Baby Girl's name. No answer. I went upstairs to check on her and this is what I found. Foot cream all over her hair, face, hands, feet, clothes, rug, and floor. I yelled "Oh, no!", then promptly, "Don't move!" so I can grab my phone so I can take a picture of the disaster; I wouldn't be an iParent, if I didn't! 

I just got my second wind and am going to attempt to put up our Christmas tree. Dubya said "Do it tomorrow, we'll all help." And I said "Pfft, are you kidding me? With the kids? They are not ready." But I was really thinking, I don't need you to get in the way...

We live in a townhouse and it's a cave really, it's long and dark, and every year I'm left with a dilemma of where am I going to place this thing?! I needed inspiration and went to my reliable source: Google. While browsing through I came across the upside down tree. I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but really, that's just strange. Why would you do that? Kind of creepy looking if you ask me, like something big and hairy was growing out of your ceiling. How do they anchor thing that up there anyway?

The upside down tree.
Image from Amazon.com

Anyhoo, back to standing hopelessly trying to figure out where to put the tree...

Think I'm coming down with something... this is the worst time for me to be sick, I need every ounce of energy I have to make it through the holidays! I have real world job to consider, I have wee one's holiday to consider, I have a house that's in need of deep cleaning to consider!

Despite feeling crummy I willed myself to dress up the kids and pose them for their annual Christmas card photoshoot. This time I bribed them with gummy berries and it did wonders, all I had to do was shake the can of gummy goodness and they straightened up and struck a pose.

So I can now cross off: 1) Take Christmas photos, 2) Make Christmas cards and 3) Send off Christmas cards for printing. Weeeeee~

Some out-takes from the photoshoot:

It's I-need-two-cups-of-coffee kind of day. Actually, every day this week I drank at least a cup and a half. That's a lot, considering I hardly finish my cup of coffee.