• Blog - cozy crochet

    Free Crochet Hamster Pattern Review

    December 24, 2019 - By 

    I went looking for a quick, easy project to whip up in one sitting and found this delightful hamster pattern by Grace & Yarn. Pattern at a glance: 3.5 mm hook Worsted weight yarn in main color and accent color Safety eyes, or you could embroider them Stuffing (She has the full list of pattern items on her blog post.) You need to be familiar with the single crochet, magic circle, single crochet increase, and the decrease stitch. This pattern took me a little over an hour in total. My Thoughts: This is a super well thought out pattern, easy…

  • Blog - cozy crochet

    Gary the Happy Snail

    December 22, 2019 - By 

    My middle son has always been a nature lover. He adores nature, animals, bugs, and the like. While walking home from fishing a month ago he stumbled upon a couple of garden snails and asked if he could keep them at the house in a container. And me being the cool mom, I said, yes. That was a month and 12 snails ago and we still have a snail colony going strong. He loves the snails, takes care of them, makes sure they have a nice clean home etc. And he leaves them alone for the most part, as not…

  • cozy crochet

    Crochet Blankets and Crochet Bag

    February 23, 2018 - By 

    Are you like me? Do you see all these amazing designs by crochet designers you just adore and buy the yarn and start the project and then it just sits there? I’m ashamed of myself, but I do this far too much. I rarely get to a finished crochet project. Boo! I have one beautiful blanket design by Jessica of Mama in a Stitch not even halfway done – and just couldn’t help myself, starting a new throw blanket by Krista of Rescued Paw Designs. And it doesn’t stop there. I also saw a stunning crochet bag by Jessica today…

  • Family Stories

    Bullying in School

    February 9, 2018 - By 

    Zane got beat up at school. I couldn’t believe my ears when he told the story of his day on the playground. He was calm and collected as he spoke. It didn’t seem to phase him much. He’s such a level-headed child. At recess, a child his age thought Zane had thrown something at his back. If you know Zane, you know he’d never do that. This child thought he did, though, and proceeded to chase him around the playground, tried to push his head in a muddy puddle, then put him in a headlock and beat his head and…

  • Family Stories

    On My Mothering Teens Bookshelf

    February 8, 2018 - By 

    I’m neck deep in motherhood now. I have an almost 14 years old, 11-year-old, and 9-years-old. All boys. I’ve been there, done that, with so much of what parenting books talk about. I don’t have the frustration of raising a toddler or the sleep exhaustion of being the mom of babies. I’m not potty training, “sleep training”, nursing, or even constantly picking up after little ones. I’m not battling over healthy foods or bedtimes. I’m beyond that. I’ve made it to the other side. *sigh of relief* I’m embarking on a very vital time in my parenting journey – the…

  • Dear Diary

    Making Memories

    February 4, 2018 - By 

    One of my most favorite memories of childhood is taking walks with my mom and brother. Nature walks or even just walks around the neighborhood were always fun. I don’t know how often we took walks, but it feels like pretty often, and I really love those memories. And there was always a camera with pictures bring snapped. Which is probably why I enjoy walks with my kids so much and taking lots of pictures every time we go. My childhood wasn’t perfect. There was some dark stuff. But, even still, I have a lot of great memories with my…

  • Dear Diary

    Lyme disease update: Ten Years

    February 1, 2018 - By 

    Ten years. This Spring marks ten years since the bite that infected me, and my unborn son, with Lyme disease and co-infections. Ten years of sickness for me and for him. Ten years of pain and sorrow, weakness and fatigue. Ten years of a long fought battle. Ten years in the trenches. Ten years of it affecting my parenting and marriage. What can I say? It’s been a long journey. But the whole time, He’s been with me. Even when I got mad at Him for not healing me quick enough. Even when I doubted His goodness. Even when I…

  • Dear Diary

    ‘Till Death Do Us Part

    January 14, 2018 - By 

    “Since this was the first place I told you I loved you, I wanted this to be the place I asked you to marry me. Will you marry me?” I was truly shocked. I didn’t see it coming at all. It was my dream come true, seeing him on his knee before me, our sweet dog on my lap, asking me to spend the rest of my life with him, at the place he told me he loved me for the first time. I would do it all over again. A million times. This year marks 20 years since we…

  • Family Stories

    A Day at the Arboretum

    November 27, 2017 - By 

    We’ve lived in the Dallas area for three years and my husband and I finally made it down to the arboretum with my Father-in-Law and kids. Crazy, I know! The traffic and construction and congestion just tend to keep us from going into Dallas. And while I had a couple white-knuckle moments on the drive down and back, I am so glad we went. And so do plan to make my way around Dallas more and more! (Y’all I’m from a small town in Missouri! It’s hard to get used to a city so big.) It was packed the day we…

  • Dear Diary

    My Monkey Boy

    October 20, 2017 - By 

    He’s my last boy that will want to wear his Halloween costume for a walk around the neighborhood before Halloween. It’s so bittersweet to watch your children grow right before your eyes. Of course, mostly sweet – but still a little sad to leave the fun little kid stage of life behind. He’s the only one who will still give me a big hug in public without becoming embarrassed. He’s the only one who brims with joy when I walk into the room. He’s the only one who still has that little boy thing, that spirit, that complete sweetness. I’m…

  • Dear Diary

    Super Scientist

    October 6, 2017 - By 

    My sweet, smart, caring, and funny Zane won the Super Scientist Award today at school. His Daddy and I were there to cheer him on. This is his second time winning this award in his time here in Texas. He really is my little scientist boy. I’m so proud of him.

  • Dear Diary

    Band Mom

    September 23, 2017 - By 

    This is Nick’s third year in band and his last year in middle school band. Such a big deal. My oldest boy will be a high school freshman next year! It’s hard to believe. And I hope he’ll be in band. I have no idea how that works in high school. Do you try out? Are there limited spaces? I don’t know. I need to find such things out. I want him to continue with band throughout high school, if possible. I’ve found band to be a positive experience for him. We are going to make sure the other two…

  • Family Stories - Waco

    Wrapping up Waco

    September 23, 2017 - By 

    Spending that time with my husband was more refreshing than I even thought it would be. You get comfortable with how things are at home and you don’t realize you need a refreshing of your relationship until you get one. Not that anything was wrong, but, you know, work, kids, housekeeping – it all takes away from your quality time together. And on vacation you get to just focus on fun and each other. It was precious time together. We did what we love to do. We relaxed a lot in the room, watching cable television, which we don’t have…

  • Family Stories - Waco

    Magnolia Market

    September 23, 2017 - By 

    Tuesday we ventured out to the Magnolia Market and Silos, which was just down the street, so, again, we walked there. By this point I was much more comfortable being downtown and really enjoyed being so close to everything. I’m so used to being in the ‘burbs that I just felt really out of my element, but how silly of me to feel uncomfortable, really. It’s good to be placed outside of your comfort zone and be pushed into a new direction… I ended up really enjoying the area. Magnolia was interesting. It was smaller than I thought it would…

  • Family Stories - Waco

    Dr. Pepper Museum

    September 23, 2017 - By 

    Aside from grabbing a pizza in Waco, the Dr. Pepper Museum was the first thing we did. We parked the van at the hotel and walked over. It was only about a block or two away. It was really nice to be able to walk almost every where. I felt it was a bit pricey to enter the museum, but I guess, for someone who was really into this subject matter, it would be worth it. Don’t get me wrong, it was interesting, but I kind of lost interest about half-way thru. Only so many pop cans, and memorabilia you…

  • Dear Diary

    Independence Day Celebration 2017

    June 25, 2017 - By 

    Every year our neighborhood has a celebration for the 4th, a week before the 4th. There’s always a parade, where they throw candy, and other goodies out to you. The parade is my favorite part. Then after the parade there are bounce houses, vendors, food, fire trucks, face painting etc and so on. The kids weren’t thrilled at first because it was super humid out, but once the candy started coming out, boy that changed their minds! We ended up staying an hour and a half and then walked home. It was a lot of fun, but of course, the…

  • Dear Diary - Family Stories

    We Told The Kids.

    June 18, 2017 - By 

    Today we picked up a note-book and folder to keep track of Adam’s health records. In other words, it’s where all his cancer papers will go. It’s still so hard to believe that he has cancer. He doesn’t look any different, feel any different, seem any different – and yet, he is. His body is carrying cancer around in it. It’s still very surreal, almost like we’re just floating through this diagnosis. We see a special oncologist this coming week, who will consult with us, and decide if he is a candidate for the special radiation treatment he does for…

  • cozy crochet

    Adventures in Hat Making

    June 15, 2017 - By 

    I’m just loving the heck out of crocheting! Learning all the different stitches, making my stitches better and better with practice, trying different patterns – and even making my own patterns… all of it is just so much fun. It’s funny because, while out on the boat last week on vacation, I mentioned I should have brought my yarn and hook. My mother-in-law said I need to learn how to just relax. Immediately my husband piped in that this is how she she relaxes. And he is correct. This is how I relax. It’s so calming to my mind and…

  • Family Stories

    An Evening Swim

    June 14, 2017 - By 

    I didn’t plan on it, but after a long day working, a dip in the pool just sounded good to me. So, my kids and I – and my sweet Mother-in-Law, headed to the big resort like pool here in our neighborhood. The water temperature was just perfect. I really love an evening swim. It’s my favorite. So we swam, we splashed, we enjoyed the time together. We missed daddy being there, and Papa too. Over all, it was a really sweet time together and I’m so happy my mother-in-law was able to join us.  

  • Dear Diary - Family Stories

    The Best Man I Know

    June 13, 2017 - By 

    Adam went back to work today from having time off for his surgery and vacation time. And I miss him like crazy. It’s always hard when he goes back to work from having any extended time off. We all miss him. It’s just not the same without him at home with us all the time. He works hard to provide a good life for me and the kids and that comes with sacrifice. That sacrifice is that, especially during the school year, the kids don’t get to see him a lot – and neither do I. See, in sales, you…

  • Family Stories

    Fishing Fun

    June 11, 2017 - By 

    The boys love to fish. Especially Zane and Nick. So, since we bought them new poles for vacation, and they aren’t a tangled mess yet, we drove to a neighborhood pond and fished this morning. It was very windy and we had the wrong lures/bait – but we still had fun. It wasn’t until the end when we put bread on our hooks that we started getting nibbles and Zane ended up catching the one and only fish of the day. I’m so happy it was him, since he didn’t catch any on the boat earlier in the week.

  • Dear Diary

    Oncologist Appointment

    June 10, 2017 - By 

    Talking about cancer treatments is scarier than I thought it would be. And much more overwhelming. The oncologist was really nice, though, which made it better. We are getting another appointment with a different doctor soon to go over if he qualifies for a certain kind of radiation that lowers the risk of a secondary cancer down the road. And it does look like the cancer is in the stomach nodes. But even with it being in the nodes (stage 2) the oncologist said more than once he is confident it’ll be cured. It’s just a matter of Adam getting…

  • Family Stories

    Time Away.

    June 10, 2017 - By 

    We had an awesome time in Pottsboro, Texas with the kids and my in-laws. Adam and I were only there two days, as we had doctors appointments, but those two days were great for refreshing us, and taking our minds off cancer. It’s just what we needed, to spend quality with with the kids, each other, and Adam’s parents. It was only an hour drive away, too, which was nice. Out in the country, surrounded by Lake Texoma – it was just so nice. The first day we were lazy and just hung around the amazing resort. We swam, cooked…

  • Dear Diary - Family Stories

    The Word.

    June 7, 2017 - By 

    We drove down to the doctor’s office area and had lunch. We shopped. I got some yarn. We picked up Father’s Day cards. After waiting in the car, and then the doctors office, we were called back. After talking about my husband’s surgery, he blurted it out: it is cancer. He then proceeded to talk about oncology appointments, and radiation, and chemo, and then we left the office and my husband cried. This cancer has a very high survival rate. We aren’t really all that concerned about that – it’s more the treatments, which ones will be best for him,…