Life is full of tests… I guess in my naivety I thought that once you finished school they would stop… or at least decrease. No such luck. You have to take tests to drive (which I have not), there are blood  tests… pregnancy tests… physicals (which are really one big battery of tests)… tests of strength, of memory, of courage… tests of worth… of morality… and then there are the silly tests in magazines… on the internet… our world is full of “measuring up” and it is exhausting. I wonder at the validity of most of these tests… are they truly necessary or even relevant when it comes to what matters or are we always in some sort of tug of war where we are trying to create our self worth from the externals instead of creating ourselves from the inside out? I wonder if I can figure out a better way to go about these tests? Or avoid them maybe? Or is it just too integral to our living within society to thwart?

Puzzling the Questions of Life in a Sailor Style Dress!

Well anyway… today we added our 3rd piece to our Advent tree and the boys painted their 3rd page for their Advent colouring book. Then there was the Christmas worksheets that have to be corrected. Whenever the boys run out of room on a line and are copying words out they seem to loop around so that the next word or series of letters are actually written from right to left. Their letters are formed pretty wonderfully at this point just sometimes in the wrong order! But we are working on it.

Emanuel built his very own Christmas village today out of the nativity sets. Sadly he and Trinity cannot seem to compromise well enough to play with it TOGETHER but they are each enjoying the sets on their own to the fullest extent. Ken and I are already getting rather tired of the two songs they play but watching Trinity dance along makes it all worth it!

Emanuel and His Nativity Village

Sewing wise I have worked my fingers off on the Harley Davidson piece and am quite happy with the results. I am debating between flames around it and the wording Harley above and Davidson below on a slight curve… the final design will really be up to Ken but at least I still have the second version of the Chibi Dragon to complete… in green!

Skull is Done Now for Flames or Lettering!

Tonight, of course, being Thursday is the guys’ gaming night! D&D for the win and in the middle of the living-room AGAIN. So no tv for Lisa tonight. I am debating between trying a new BigFish game or watching the newest episodes of Gintama that are subbed. Hard choice since I am not sure I am 100% in the mood for either. Funny how dependant I get on tv to be that distraction while I sew!

Note the Dragon ... it Roars Too!

I am determined to get in some baking this weekend. We have a busy Saturday with a free crafting thing at Michaels in the morning and a puppet show at the library for the boys in the afternoon. Sunday is the long practice for the twins for their Christmas pageant so no church for the munchkins and I… BUT my cousin Elizabeth should be coming over for a visit. Company is always wonderful! So much to look forward to, especially Michaels – there are THREE activities for the boys to do! Not sure how that will go but we will give it a try. Hopefully we will get there at the beginning around 10 am.

I am a little excited – Ken got the Tardis pattern up and working on freebies! The text is not there but I am sure something can be sent out if people are interested. Again we are not able to sell these due to licensing BUT are accepting donations if you really enjoy them. I would love it is people DO stitch them if they send me out a picture so I can see other people’s interpretations on our patterns!

I have also almost gotten out family gallery up to date! So be sure to take a peek... Ken is weeding out the earlier stuff and I am trying to post fewer pieces but there is a nice selection of the Halloween pics up now.

My 3rd Advent Gift! Lotions... I love the Cherry Blossom smell... Thank You!