Emma Kate

She turned 11 just two days ago.
I cannot believe this amazing child has been in my life for 11 years.

She made me Fun Angie.
She loves tending to their chickens and gathering eggs.

She reads and would disrespect every single day if not for her mother's love and bedtime boundary.

She has a heart of gold.

She will change the world.

How do I know this?  Because Emma Kate has changed mine. 

It's mer-mazing!!!!!

I have 7 more inches of knitting which means 2 more regular pattern repeats and then I get to begin the 32-round decrease.  It is looking more and more MER-MAZING!!!!!!!!!!

AND WE HAVE MERMAID GILLS!!!!!!

This pattern has been such a struggle.

First of all - I have never knitted gills.

Second - when I have gone fishing, my brother always removes the fish so I never have gotten a good look at gills.

Third - I don't have gills so I cannot look on my person.

This is row #13.

...also known as "the part where I realize I totally screwed-up the gills of the mermaid blanket."

Something was odd about the knitting instructions.  They read "placing a loop" and "lifting a loop."

Sadly, it wasn't until I put down the project, slept 8 hours, had a cup of coffee and re-read the pattern while trying to figure out how the gills would be formed.

Thankfully, my brain has wrapped itself around the instructions.  I get it!!!!!!  I have to grab the previously placed loop and knit it into the next lift-a-loop row.

Ripping out abd restarting -- how I spent my morning break.

#knittingepiphany

My inner little girl....

A favorite little gal in my life just recently celebrated her 6th birthday.  She happens to love ALL THINGS Hello Kitty which brings out my inner girly-girl.

When I was Emma's age, I too loved Hello Kitty.  And now being an adult, I get to peruse Hello Kitty stuff for Emma.

I bought two yards of fabric and coordinating ribbon to make her some pillowcases that she sweetly requested at her brother's summer birthday party.   How can I refuse such sweet manners...."Fun Angie, would you please make me Hello Kitty pillowcases for my bed?  Pleeeease!!!"  Don't ruin the surprise.....but here's the fabric I found....

The weekend is upon us!!!

Happy Almost-Weekend!!! 

Do you have big weekend plans?  I feel bad that I never inquire about your plans...I usually just ramble about mine.  

This weekend my mission is - find a fabulous birthday present for the lovely soon-to-be-five-year-old Emma Kate, make 4 scarves, pick-up groceries for a friend, do laundry, spend some time with a friend & her family Saturday night and another friend & family on Sunday afternoon.  Exciting times for the girl with curly hair. 

Random pictures from Saturday @ the farm

This was the last picture taken of the evening...  Arts and crafts can be sooo exhausting!!!

SAVE THE GREEN BEANS!!!!!

Yesterday I spent nearly the entire day in the country.  What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday.  I love it because...


1. some of my most favorite people (big and little) reside in the country;
2. it's quiet in the country; and
3. it's not the city.  :)


Emma Kate, 4-going-on-24, is such a bright, sunshiney spot in my life, entertained me most of the day.  Her brother, Caleb (2), is becoming quite a conversationalist.  


My favorite EK moment was when I was trying to get dinner ready.  EK and I were chit-chatting about what she would like to eat.  After I got her grilled cheese made, I asked her what I should get Caleb to eat.  When I inquired if he would eat green beans, EK said, "Caleb won't eat those.  He will throw them on the floor and I just don't want to see that happen tonight."  She said it with such flare and dramatics that I had to stifle any and all laughter because she was very serious about not wanting to witness her beloved green beans meet their untimely demise in the hands of her little brother.


I love those children!

Thank you, God, for everything!

Tonight I, Fun Angie, am recording a storybook for the fabulous Emma Kate.  I cannot wait to see her face when she realizes that not only is this a story that contains an adorable cat...but it's a storybook with the voice recording of her beloved Fun Angie.  I caved and told her mother about the gift.  A recordable storybook...it was my very own Christmas epiphany!!!! 

A week ago, I was having a sad sort-of week...lots weighing on my heart...and on Wednesday or maybe it was Thursday, I went to my mailbox and found an envelope addressed to me, Fun Angie.  Inside the envelope was a beautifully colored Hello Kitty coloring page and a note from Emma.  It began...  "Fun Angie, I love you to the moon and back."  And I have to be honest, it made my day!!! 

Every year I am going to start a tradition with the special little children in my life. I'm going to find an ornament that either makes me think of them or reminds me of something fun we've done together in the previous 12 months. 

For Emma, this years ornament is this cute, delightful jingle bell monkey.  The monkey's adorable smile reminded me of Emma's smile that brightens my day in so many ways.

This past year, my favorite Emma moment was a voicemail that she left me...  Sara handed her the phone and Emma asked "Fun Angie, what are you doing?"  (She paused.)  Repeated the question.  She then got extremely frustrated, "Fun Angie, why won't you talk to me?" 

More recently Sara asked Emma to say something on my voicemail and I overheard Sara say, "Remember, Emma, this is a message.  Fun Angie isn't really there.  Just talk to her."  It must be difficult for children to grasp the concept of voicemail.  When I was a kid, we didn't have voicemail...(sigh)  The beauties of getting another year older and wiser.

Being

Being there for a friend means...

* crying when their heart is breaking * bringing lunch (so as not to be a burden but a blessing) and a basket of her favorites * painting toenails and fingernails * sitting in a Princess tent listening to a moving rendition of a children's book * hugs * tears when hearts are breaking * giving of your time * reading a story to a child * donning a crown and letting your inner Pricess shine * playing pretend * drinking coffee * eating Dove Dark Chocolates * and sooo much more...

Fun Angie (to Caleb):  "Hey Handsome!  Say 'Angie'!"

Emma Kate:  "Fun Angie, I love it when you call Caleb 'Handsome'!"

"Why won't Fun Angie talk to me?" asks the inquisitive Emma Kate

Okay -- my friend Sara and I like leaving each other somewhat random voicemail messages.  It's what we do.  It's who we are.  It all started when we were teaching together and we had a gazillion random thoughts to share with one another...since our teaching days, our voicemail messages have transformed into urgent prayer requests, goofy stories, confessions, and the list goes on and on...

Sooo on Friday, shortly after the children and her departed Rockford, I called their home phone and left two random voicemails.  Technically - it was only supposed to be one voicemail message but the first message cut me off mid-sentence (RUDE!) so I had to call back.

Sara listened to the messages Saturday morning.  I am told Emma Kate (soon-to-be-four!!!) was running around the kitchen listening to Fun Angie on the answering machine.  She was saying (rather loudly), "Hi Fun Angie!  What are you doing today?  Why won't Fun Angie talk to me?"  She gets very frustrated (I imagine the term "slightly perterbed" might be a more accurate description) with the concept of voicemail and really the fact that Fun Angie wouldn't answer her.  Poor kid.  She called me another time and sang a very moving rendition of "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning..." and at the end of that message, she said, "I love you, Fun Angie.  Why won't you talk to me?"  The poor kid has no idea about the concept of voicemail.  Voicemail is when you can be totally random and no one expects otherwise...  I mean REALLY...it's like an audible blog post.  This might scare you...I know.  I know that saying it outloud let's you know that perhaps I, Fun Angie, do put the Crrrrr in Crazy.  But it's okay!  If you've never had a voicemail from me...you are missing out.  Do yourself a favor, call your best friend today and when you get sent to voicemail...spend the entire message telling them how absolutely wonderful they are and how much they mean to you.  It will brighten their day!  Promise!

"You're a nut!" declared Fun Angie.

Fun Angie:  "Emma Kate, you are a nut!"

Emma thought it was utterly amusing when I declared that she was a nut.  She giggled and giggled.  I'm fairly certain that in her head, she was mentally going through every type of nut known to her...almond, peanut, etc.  On a side note - she did not know that a cashew was a nut.  I wish I had some here to show her....but alas, the tragic flaw of this weekend is that Fun Angie left her bag of almonds at work. 

Okay...where was I?  Oh yes, finishing up the "You're a nut" story...

Several minutes passed by...and then...

Emma Kate:  "Can I be an almond?"

At first her question threw me for a loop...then I remembered the nut comment.

Fun Angie:  "Yes, you can be an almond."

A funny moment with Emma Kate

I love this picture of Emma!  Her rosy cheeks and adorable smile...what a cutie!!!

On Saturday, I played Thomas UNO with Emma Kate.  Before the cards were dealt, Emma informed me that she would be saying "Boo-yah!"  I didn't dare laugh because she was being extremely serious.  It was the funniest thing she had said until...

The first and second games Emma won.  Right before the third game, I asked her, "Emma, will Fun Angie win this one?"  Too which she replied, "I'm going to smoke you!" 

Did I win a game of UNO?  Yes.  One.  Emma Kate 5, Fun Angie 1.  I suppose this means a re-match is in the near future...