i guess when i said "january, surprise me", i should have added the word gently.

january seems to be treating me like one of those waves at the beach that you dive into foolhardily, hoping for a little body surfing, and find yourself instead upside down underneath the whitecaps, with saltwater up your nose and sand in your trunks.

::

we inherited my mother's old sewing machine, which has now taken up residence on our dining room table, along with the sewing basket, a heap of random fabric scraps, and several pairs of scissors (which, by the way, remained steadfastly m.i.a. during the entire gift-wrapping season).

tim has hemmed his pants. the girls have made doll dresses for anna's doll. pillow cases. cell phone holders. lentil-stuffed juggling sacks. textile collages.

that's just tonight.

::

there is something about the way kids approach learning a new skill that amazes me. one of my brothers (although, it may have been our friend adam, come to think of it...) once pointed out that kids don't fear failure the way we do. they are used to regularly facing new skills and rising to the challenge. whereas adults know all the consequences that can come from not only our failing completely, but also from messing up each and every step of the way.

i don't know about you, but this is definitely something that rings true for me.

me, who had her first crocheting class today, and left in tears.

::

we've been encouraging anna's seemingly innate and insatiable need to sing by playing the soundtracks to such things as the sound of music and annie. she has taken right to it.

i, for one, will take a bit of musical theater wisdom from "my favorite things" and "tomorrow."

::

january, let me come up for some air, would you? thanks for reading.
tt