Garnet

A week and a half ago, my uncle Garnet died. He had been sick for a long time, and it was a steady decline, but it was still difficult to process. Garnet, who is my Dad's brother, lived a couple of doors down from us and lived on the land we all call "The Farm." My Dad and Garnet have been farming partners for decades and it's rare to see one without the other.

My uncle was very private, he didn't even want anyone to know that he was at the end of his life. I'm grateful that I was able to visit him while I was in Boxall for Christmas and he was still laughing and joking, shaking his head at Allison who was running around his house asking if he had any snacks.

It's always hard missing the fun stuff at home, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or birthdays, but not being home when the bad stuff happens is when I most feel the distance between my hometown and Kansas.  Garnet didn't want a funeral, and I was selfishly hoping he would have one so I would have a reason to go back to Boxall. Funerals (to me) are so important. It gets everyone's cry out and then you can go have sandwiches and laugh. It's so symbolic to life moving forward.

If there was a funeral, I would talk about how when we were kids and my parents would be on a trip or away for the weekend, my brother and I would be left in the care of the residents of the farm - my grandparents, uncle Garnet, and uncle Jim. My uncle Garnet had to give up his bed and I remember laying beside Fraser and us talking about how creaky the old house was, and then taking turns playing with Garnet's wind up alarm clock, then getting anxious because we didn't know how to fix the time.  I would talk about how any time I had a photo assignment in high school I'd go to the farm to take pictures and Garnet would always look at me like I was crazy, going into the trailer to take "artsy" shots of the corn bins. Nathan told me that he took Allison to the farm once to look for my Dad, the two of them were wandering around, Allison playing as she walked, when suddenly Garnet appeared, walking out from the corn rows. Nathan said he'd never been so startled.

My Dad's family is really steady. There aren't many surprises and I (like to) think I get  my predictability and routine from their side.  So when someone who is always there isn't there anymore, it creates a deep sadness because life, and home, don't quite look the same anymore.

Garnet Luke Stinson

Advent Calendar

For the past two years, usually around November 30, I would think about how I wanted to make Allison an advent calendar. Last December I bought a higher end chocolate advent calendar (because the waxy chocolate is gross), but it still wasn't very good. I decided to wait until after Christmas and head to JoAnn fabric to get some cheap Christmas fabric to make a stocking advent calendar. This way, I could put snacks or small treats in each one. While I was at JoAnn's I saw these brads (split pins) with numbers 1-31 on them and knew they would be perfect and they were only 50 cents on clearance. The stockings were easy and fast to make. I used some spare ribbon and ruffles dress up some of the stockings, and I'm already excited to fill them next Christmas.

Bloody Nose

It was gorgeous day today in Kansas and Nathan decided to take Allison to the park so I could get some work done at home. They returned home not long after they left because  Allison slipped with climbing a ladder, and bumped her nose on one of the rungs. She was very upset and there was a lot of blood.

She was excited to tell her story at school, but she was upstaged when a classmate ran into another classmate (during recess) and the little girl twisted/broke her leg. Allison was excited to tell me how Miss Kelly called 9-1-1!

Winnings

When I won second prize in Rural Kansas photo contest, besides this cool certificate and a cash prize, I also got this Kansas Guidebook with lists of must see landmarks and businesses located across Kansas. It's the perfect prize for Nathan and I, and we're already excited to explore the "8 Wonders of Kansas."

Restoration House Gala

On Saturday night, Nathan and I, along with 3 other couples from our church, attended the Restoration House Gala. Restoration House is a charity that focuses on rehabilitating victims of sex trafficking, which is a growing issue in the USA, and a big problem in Kansas City.  Our church has had a long connection with Restoration House, and many member are volunteers.

This was our second year attending the event at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza. It is a beautiful hotel and the perfect location for such an important event. We had a great time (the guys were all a little tired from traveling to Emporia, KS for the day for an Ironmen Conference), and I loved an excuse to get dressed up.

I wasn't sure what I was going to wear to the event, but knew I wanted to wear a really pretty black skirt I bought at consignment shop that was having a closing sale last summer. You could fill a bag for $5.00, and I put at least 10 things in that bag, so the skirt cost me, maybe, 50 cents. Then, on Friday I went to Forever 21 (way too young for me, but in my budget for a wear once clothing) and found a lace top for $3.99, and a tank top for underneath for $2.90. I already had the shoes and jewelry, so my fancy outfit cost me about $7.50.

First Zoo 2018

I wished and wished and finally we had a break from the cold! Nathan was away at a conference today so I took Allison to the zoo. I was optimistic that Allison disinterest of the zoo had passed, but within 5 minutes of arriving she was complaining of boredom, and how she was ready for our end of zoo treat, an Icee.

After dragging her through the paths for a couple of hours, listening to her complain (and having her step in front of my lens every time I stopped to observe an animal), I told her that it was time to go home and that she wouldn't be getting a treat. She lost her mind, sat down, and began scream/crying that I was a bad mom, a mean mom, she didn't love me anymore, and that she wanted a new mom. These outbursts don't bother me so I sat down on a bench and waited for her to stop crying. Then when she finished, I offered to find her a new mom, a COOL mom. She freaked out at that idea so I told her to stop trying to hurt my feelings and we were able to move on. She fell asleep in the car on the way home. I can't stand tantrums, but I love how they tire kids out like afternoon in a swimming pool.

There weren't many animals out today because for most animals it has to be 15 degrees before they are let out of their enclosures, but I did get to see some animals up close that are usually hidden/shy.
When I go to the zoo, I'm looking to get one picture that I'm really happy with. Today it was the bird who decided to hop up on his friends back.

 

  

Snow Pictures

I forgot I had these pictures of Nathan and Allison enjoying the KC snow last week. Nathan is a much better snow sport than me.

Wool Mittens

When I was in D.C, battling the fierce winds, my wool mittens (that I took as a backup for my leather gloves) saved my hands from freezing. I made these mittens a few months ago but it wasn't cold enough to wear them. Now that KC is in it's cold snap, I wear them everywhere.

I noticed the other day that Allison's gloves were not keeping her hands dry or warm, so I made these Nelson Atkins Museum inspired mittens for her. The "birdie" is one of the statues on the Museum lawn. I really enjoy making mittens and making each set unique with felt applique.

Inside Fun

I've never experienced a winter this cold in Kansas City. Even in the coldest months, there are usually a handful of days where it suddenly warms up and everyone can get outside before they have to retreat inside again. But this year it has just been frigid! It's icy and everyone seems to have cabin fever.

Allison misses being outside (her class doesn't go outside for recess if the temperature is below freezing. Imagine that rule in Canada!) so today we brought the outside in. We used the broiler to make toasted marshmallows.

 

Service Day

Allison didn't have school today because it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Allison describes it as "it's John Luther King Day and someone killed him because they didn't have love in their heart. He used to be alive. He was a President and they bring you food. He's dead now, but will come alive because Jesus did." That's a direct quote.

Nathan is on the afternoon shift, so we had the morning free together. We decided to join some friends at the Cleaver Family YMCA for a service day. There were five stations set up with small projects that anyone could help with.
1. Braid dog toys for KC Pet
2. Make tags for ReHope Market
3. Decorate birthday bags for kids at Operation Breakthrough
4. Make cards for senior citizens living at Margaret's Place
5. Make decorative door hangers with the Girl Guides

We did something at each station, then Allison was bored and wanted to run around the gym with her friends.

It was a cold, snowy day but the gym was packed. It was encouraging seeing so many people excited to volunteer.

 

This Kid

Allison's personality gets bigger by the day. Every time she hears a new word, she starts using it in sentences. She's begun trying to parent me, "Mom, that is not where the markers belong!" or "Mom, that is not part of the bedtime routine!" or "Mom you're doing bedtime routine in the WRONG order!" She can't speak at a normal sound level, what starts out as "Mom, can I whisper something in your ear?" ends with her yelling in my direction. She can't stand sit (or stand still) which is why her last haircut left her hair 2 inches shorter than I meant to cut it. She also finds strange places to put things. For example, this is where she put her tablet when I asked her to take it to her room.

 As I was putting Allison to bed last night, she asked what was on my sweatshirt. I told her it was a game controller for Nintendo, a game system I had when I was a kid. She looked thoughtful, then asked, "You mean like a Switch?" I only know what a switch it (new Nintendo game system) because I saw a viral video of a kid getting one for Christmas. I don't know how she even knows about a Switch! She has always been a cool kid though.

USA Kinder

While walking through the grocery store this week, I heard Allison say, "Kinder Eggs!" I didn't know what she was talking about because Kinder Eggs aren't sold in the US. When I turned around I saw a (variation) of a Kinder Egg, candy on one side, toy to the other.  Allison was very excited when I said she could pick one.

Grandma Fun

While Nathan and I were enjoying the freezing temperatures of Washington, D.C., my mom was busy spoiling Allison in Kansas City. My mom posted lots of pictures to facebook so I could see all the trouble they were getting into.