Look What I Made!

As you may know, I am trying to start up my own little business of handmade crafts for kids. I've been making and selling I Spy Bags, aprons for kids, bean bags and today I finished some trick-or-treat bags. They came out really cute! Let's hope I sell some.

Alarming

The fire alarm in our building went off at 10:30 last night. I had gone to bed early and had been asleep for a while and Joel had literally just climbed into bed when the loud alarm and flashing lights started up. I immediately jumped out of bed and went into the kids' room to gather them up and bring them outside to safety. For, of course, there must be immediate danger of some sort if the the alarm is going off at this time of night. Joel, on the other hand, sits up in bed like "What is that?" He strolls into the kids' room, picks up Morgan and brings her into the living room to sit on the couch.
Joel: "We don't really have to go outside, do we?"
Me: "Um, yes, we need to get out."
Joel: "Really?"
I head out the door with Oliver in my arms and Joel goes in to get a shirt on. Morgan starts to cry because she is still on the couch waiting for someone to carry her outside. Poor thing thought I was abandoning her inside. So, we all head out to sit in the car while we wait out the alarm. We were only outside for 15 minutes or so before the alarm turned off and we got the o.k. to head back in. Not sure what caused it to happen, but I am always glad that we got right out. What if there really was a fire in the building? Granted, we are on the first floor and can scoot out of our patio door quickly if need be, but c'mon, who wants to be that person who is trapped inside a burning building? Not me!
Maybe it is just my complete inability to bend the rules. I'm sure we would have been fine to have sat on the couch, ready to leave if we had to, but I HAD to get those kids outside. I was a bit concerned that Joel was so nonchalant about it. It's a fire alarm, for Pete's sake!
Anyway, as Ma always says, "All's well that ends well." (Can you tell we've been reading Little House on the Prairie?) No fire, that I know of and everyone was fine. It took a while to get the little guys back to sleep, but once Oliver ended up camped out on our floor, it was fine. I had to answer about 200 questions about the fire alarm and what if there was a real fire, and could we get a back-up house in case this one burns down...oh my.
So, what are you like when the fire alarm goes off?

A Good Cry

Sometimes you just need a good cry, you know? But, for a busy mom like me when do I get the chance to just let it all out? Well, for the past few weeks it has been during my only alone time in the car on the way to the grocery store. For a while we were doing our shopping all together as a family, (another tear inducing experience) but lately I have been just taking the list and going at it alone - which is much more enjoyable! But, as soon as I get in the car and put on the music, the tears start coming and they don't stop until I get to Whole Foods and pull myself together. Then, once I am in the store and shopping I am fine. It's like I need to just let it out and then I am good for another week. Am I weird? (Don't answer that!)
In other news, my dad is getting married next month. Yes, I said next month, not next year. Why yes, that was quick. How do I feel about it? That's a good question. I'm not really sure, myself. I am happy that my dad is not lonely and that he has someone to make him happy. I certainly would never wish for him to be lonely and miserable for the rest of his days. It's just so hard to see him with someone who is not my mom. His "moving on" is the reminder to me of the finality of my mom being gone. She's really not coming back. (Which I know, intellectually - but when that reality hits you emotionally, it hurts.) I am trying to be happy for them and trying to deal with it like an adult, but part of me wants to just curl up on the floor tantrum-style and scream out, "I want my mommy!"