…and Isabelle picks Nathan up and plops him in a box.

And I’m trying to do a proper post soon. A tutorial! Must find the time though.

Couldn’t find time today so rushing through the sketchbook it is.

1. Isabelle remembered homeschool partway through breakfast. Nathan had food all over him and I rushed to clean him up. I didn’t do a good job. And I didn’t realize until we were at the park and there was still dried food on his face.

2. Isabelle brought Arnie to the park and to ballet. She very proudly showed him off to everyone saying I made it for her.

3. Don’t ask me why I drew myself hanging out like that. Hanging around doing nothing maybe??

1. Ok, even though I have GPS on my fancy new phone, I got lost to the library. Because it was a tiny library located in a school. That’s why. I pulled over several times trying to find “your destination is on your left”.

2. Yep, Isabelle totally started crying half way through the show. At least they were quiet tears and not loud bawling tears.

3. I really need something Nathan proof to distract him. Pinching and scratching hurts. And I always say to myself, I’d rather he pinch and scratch me instead of his face. But OUCH!

4. I bought a new can opener a couple of days later. But the cooking gods must still have been mad at me because the darn thing sucked. It would not open a can properly.

5. Isabelle loves her Arnie doll. It’s not bedtime without Arnie.

1. She really did get super dirty. She somehow manages to get sand in her hair whenever we go to the park. I think she throws it on herself.

2. Everything goes in Nathan’s onesie…according to Isabelle.

3. I seriously think I need to make a backup Arnie.

This afternoon my phone rang. I picked it up and there was this mad woman on the line yelling at me.

She said, “WHAT THE HELL WOMAN?!” No “hello” or anything.

I thought maybe I had got the tail end of a conversation meant for someone else.

But nope. It was for me. It took me a couple of seconds to realize it was my friend, Olinda, commenting about my posting. Or lack of posting.

So this is for you Olinda, our monthly family photos. Isabelle is now four years eleven months and Nathan is eleven months. Sorry for the absence, just been distracted with the kids lately.

In the recent sketchbook pages I’ve shared, I have a lot of Arnie the doughnut. And here he is.

I was going to do a tutorial. But you don’t really need directions on how to hand stitch blanket stitches, stuff him, embroider sprinkles and put in yarn legs and arms, right?

And yes his hole is way bigger than doughnut hole sized. I didn’t really think that part through properly. I just used a plate and cup I had on hand. But that works out alright. He’s very easy to carry around because we can slip him on like a bracelet.

Here are the pattern pieces. Just click on picture and download the original.

Pretty simple really. Might just want to make sure you have enough stuffing so you don’t end up using leftover yarn like some people do. Sort of looks like his guts are coming out.

Oh, and it might probably be easier to put Arnie’s sprinkles on before sewing his frosting on. I made him that way because I thought Isabelle would enjoy seeing him come into being like a real doughnut with sprinkles added at the end. Not the smartest way to go about it but it still worked out.

I almost got three straight days of posting in. Damn it, so close! I scanned these in last night and then…well and then the kids happened. So, I thought, well I’ll just post this when they fall asleep. But they fell asleep later than usual and then I FELL ASLEEP. Well the next day is ok too.

Click to enlarge.

1. I got an even BIGGER score. The library is now currently giving away books. GIVING AWAY! FREE!!

2. Going out for free entertainment is rarely free for us. The other weekend I went to a festival with the kids and ended up spending money for water and a gelato. Maybe I should plan better and bring food and water with us. That would be the smart thing to do.

3. We cannot find Arnie. I really do need to make a backup? Nah. Isabelle hasn’t been crying for him so it’s ok.

1. Ok, so Alan downloaded some app that makes all these different farting noises. He was happily showing me, laughing, having a grand old time. So, one day we were in the car driving to the Asian market. I gave Alan’s phone to Isabelle to play with the farty noises. Well, little did we know, that app has an option to use one of the fart noises as a ringtone. And that’s how Alan’s phone made LOUD farty noises from Alan’s back pocket buttock region. At the store. Bwa ha ha!!

2. Isabelle is funny. Sometimes she says she loves things that she has never tried.

3. Isabelle wanted me to wear “her necklace” all day.

1. Well, I guess technically Arnie could have a shower with us. But then he would take forever to dry and she wouldn’t be able to go to sleep with him so NO BATH FOR YOU ARNIE!

2. Isabelle wants me to wear the ratty string outside too.

3. I don’t know why I didn’t just get out and stop Nathan from playing with the toilet paper. Instead I stood there yelling ineffectually from the shower. My only excuse is that I thought we were almost done so I figured I’d finish first.

4. When I say act it out I mean I stand him up and make likes he’s talking, sick, frightened, and ANGRY!! With his little yarn arms waving about. And rolling too. Arnie rolls well.

5. And I listened to my first audiobook ever. I would lay in the dark while the kids were asleep and enjoy the book. I got it from the library. Downloaded it right off their website and onto my phone. I love the library. Listening to a book is pretty cool but I am used to reading books and much prefer that. And now that I’m spoiled by my phone, I prefer reading books from my phone. Why? Because I can do that in the dark without a book light or book wedge. Precious precious phone.