Writer's Workshop: 5 things

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

I have not participated in quite a while, and thought this would be a good way to get back into the swing of blogging regularly again!

5 Things You Don't Know About Me

1. I'm not a natural blonde. Not even an unnatural blonde anymore. (Maybe I should rethink my blog title?)

2. I'm in no real hurry to go back to college. I rather enjoy NOT having the stress. (I quit....errr...took a break last fall to have Tristan....and now to be with him the first few years.)

3. I can read a 500 page book in a day. I read really, really fast. I have had to quit buying books because I go through them so fast that I'd spend a small fortune every month.

4. I'm currently on a cleaning strike. I refuse to be the only one cleaning up after 5 people. Especially when all but one of those 5 are capable of cleaning up after themselves and pitching in around the house. I'm about to go postal because no one is taking a hint. Or listening when I flat out say "I am not cleaning anything else until you all start pitching in."

5. I'm a smoker. I have smoked on and off since I was 15 years old, which was 15 years ago. I've quit a handful of times, but seem to always pick it back up when stress gets to be bad. I don't plan on quitting any time soon. Well, hopefully soon, but right now I have no desire to quit. (and I do NOT smoke in my house or around my kids)

5 Things I'm Knowledgeable About

1. Crocheting. Even though I just got back into it a year ago, I've become quite good at it. And have learned a LOT about it.

2. Art. It's my passion. My true calling. And something I wish I could make a living at.

3. Procrastination. Yep. Do I need to say more?

4. Interpreting Tristan's babbling. No one else understands what he's saying, but I do. Most of the time.

5. How to purchase a weeks worth of groceries for $35 WITHOUT using coupons. (just did this last weekend....the last week of the month is always tight!)

5 Things I Know Nothing About

1. Quantum Physics

2. The reason behind teenage attitude problems

3. Sewing. I've had several people try to teach me, but I just. can't. get. it.

4. Why my ex-husband is such an (idiot, low-life, asshole, POS, etc, etc, etc). Or how he can treat my kids the way he does.

5. Getting a one year old to quit climbing.

5 Things I Believe

1. I believe in God. And Jesus. And I love them.

2. Children are our future and should be treated as such. All the violence towards and killing of children by the people that were supposed to keep them safe has made me so sad and heartbroken.

3. International Delights Almond Joy coffee creamer is like heaven in a cup. Seriously. It's like drinking a candy bar.

4. All my kids are the best looking kids EVER!

5. I'm probably the most awesome person you'll ever know. :)

Tristan is 1 year old!!!

Tristan is a year old now!!!! We had his birthday party last weekend and it was so much fun!! I cannot believe it's been a year since we welcomed our little miracle into the world. It has been such a blessed, fun year for us!

Here are all the pics from the party and a little video of Tristan eating his cake!

Tristan's smash cake:

The cake for everyone else:

Presents:

Cake time!
The after cake bath:

Here is the video of Tristan eating his cake!

I've been getting crafty!

I've been filling up Tristan's nap time with a new hobby--crocheting!! I've been doing it for months now after not doing it since I was 12! I've made many things and have even started selling my projects!

Here's some of what I've done!

Little J's scarf:

Camo Scarf:

Bear Beanie:

Bear Beanie with flower:

Rainbow Beanie with flower:

Munchkin hat:

Munchkin hat:

Tristan's blanket:

close up of edging on Tristan's blanket:
Hat and matching scarf:

Square hat with curls:

Square hat with curls:
Munchkin hat:
Diaper cover (front):
Diaper cover (back):

Newborn button front diaper cover:

Munchkin hat:
Double pom pom hat:
Those are just what I've finished. I'm in the middle of a baby cocoon with a matching hat and will be starting on a Dragon hat soon. Once I have that done I'm going to do some Converse baby booties!

*Almost* 10 Months/Summer Update

I CANNOT believe that it's been almost 10 months since we welcomed Tristan into our family and our family became complete. We are all still just so in love with the little guy! I REALLY need to get better at updating here because there is just so many things that Tristan has been doing!

He is starting to walk. Like REALLY walk. He is still a little timid about letting go of the furniture, but will with the right motivation (usually the dog). He has also learned to turn to go a different direction while walking!

We have started to have to supplement with formula. He's still breastfeeding but only about half the time now. My body just won't keep up with his appetite.

We are also starting a little table foods too. Only the stuff that he can gum easily since he still only has 2 teeth!

Smartypants C. was here for the month of July and we all had a blast visiting with him. He just adores Tristan and misses him a lot when he's gone. We sure wish that he could just stay and NOT go back up to his mom's. ever. :)

Big J. has been having a LOT of problems. No details, but he's been in and out of treatment centers and in trouble with the law. Everyone is at a loss at what to do with him. He's not learning from his GIGANTIC mistakes and is throwing his life away and trying to take his entire family with him. And he's no longer living with us. He went back to his mom's by order of a judge. Just to get him away from the idiots he was hanging around here.

Little J. was finally accepted in the PEGS class (program for exceptionally gifted students) and will be starting that this school year! We are so glad and know that he is just going to thrive in that class. He's excited to start also. He knows that he won't be held back with the rest of the class, since this class is a self-paced learning environment.

Diva D. is a cheerleader now! She made the squad and has had practice every week all summer long and is just loving it! She's so excited for all the sports to start so that they can start doing something more than just practice! lol.

Now, it's time for the photo bomb! (and a video of Tristan walking too!)

Pic heavy update!

Tristan is 8 months old today. Where, oh where, has the time gone?

He's such a joy!

He is in the screaming all the time phase. He's not upset, he just likes to scream.

If we yell at the other kids, he yells at them too.

He still loves his brothers and sister to pieces.

He's a total Momma's boy.

He loves his daddy. And loves to climb on his daddy.

He loves the dog and does not leave him alone all day. The dog doesn't care for that.

He crawls like a pro now.

He pulls up on all the furniture and walks around it.

He can sit up all on his own now, even when crawling around.

He climbs on anything and everything, even the coffee table.

If he can't climb onto something he moves something over to step up onto so he can climb.

He can wave bye-bye and hi.

He is starting to clap some.

He likes to smack you in the face and thinks it is hilarious.

He gives the BIGGEST hugs and kisses.

He says mama, dada, bubu, ya ya, hey, nana.

He LOVES food.

He's still breastfed.

We are all just so in love with him.

Using the dog to climb:

Tristan and mom:
Happy, happy baby!:
Big sister and Tristan:
ON the coffee table (got up there all by himself):
At Easter:
Big brother and Tristan:
I don't have any recent pics of Tristan with his daddy.....I need to get on that one!

HUGE update!

Well, to say I've been busy would be a MASSIVE understatement!!!

Tristan is now 6 months old. Where has the time gone?

Tristan is mobile and keeping me SUPER busy!! He mostly army crawls now, but will get up on his hands and knees and crawl for short periods like that. He's just faster doing the army crawl, so he does that most often. He is also PULLING UP onto things!!! No joke. I can't keep him from doing it. And he falls a LOT! He is also getting into EVERYTHING!! We are baby proofing like crazy around here!

He's started solids. He's only had squash and carrots so far since we are taking it slow to check for food allergies (especially since I have so many food allergies). But he LOVES his food!!

He jabbers up a storm. Says ma-ma, da-da, bu-bu (which is what he calls his brothers, sister and the dog), ya-ya. He thinks it's hilarious to squeal VERY loudly and fake coughs to get attention. He's such a happy, easy-going baby. We feel so super blessed.

His brothers and sister absolutely ADORE him and they spoil him even more than we do!!! He loves his brothers and sister as well. He just lights up when they play with him!

Not to leave the big kids out, here is a little video I took of them yesterday playing Michael Jackson: The Experience on the Wii. (Diva D. is on the left, Big J. in the middle and Smarty-pants C on the right)

That's all I have time for right now. I'll try to update more often.....well, when I get a free moment, that is!