Oh.My.Gosh!

I have been so busy playing with Ravelry that my poor blog has been sorely neglected. I'm going to try and fix that this summer!

School is almost at an end. Monday was 3rd grade Field Day and you can see Beastie's excitement! (Such an understated child...) Today was Jordan's 6th grade awards and he got three! I'm so proud!! There are only three days of school and five days of Seminary for me. I love teaching but it will be nice to take a break also!

This summer we are going to try something new- we're going to try to get out more and use our local resources for learning and exercise. It sounds like a good goal and now that I have typed it out, it seems more realistic. We shall see!!

Merry Christmas

The holidays are fast upon us. Most of the shopping is done, meals are being planned and we are all safe at home.

Today is the kid's last day of school with parties and snacks aplenty. Hubby took the week off so happily he can attend also. The presents are mostly all wrapped and all is well.

Part of me is a bit sad, money has been tight so I was concerned that the gift load would be light. A week ago, some friends had a serious house fire and lost most everything. While helping sort through what was left of their lives, the one thing we say but sometimes don't always mean was "at least we have each other" and everyone was safe. Isn't that what Christmas is really about?

I found at that my ward donated over $2300 with no official announcements made, just donations from any who desired, the high school band donated $870 from ONE night's concert donations and the high school (students and parents) donated $1200 to this family. Hubby got some friends together from MOG and they put together enough money that hubby was able to purchase three MP3 players.

In a time where the economy and all of us are struggling, we still came together to help a family in true need. My hopes and my heart are renewed. The presents are nice, but I have what truly counts. Love.

Halloween Came Early

Halloween came a day early and we had visitors!! Maverick (get it, Top Gun) and a hanger-on. That woman loves a Maverick ya know!!

Okay, so it's me doing a Palin impression (and not so well). Hubby wanted something subtle and came up with the maverick idea. I took his idea and went with a less then subtle compliemntary costume. Me? Subtle?? I wouldn't know the meaning of the word if it hit me in the head. T

Tonight was our church Trunk or Treat so we dressed up the kiddies (they wanted to take pictures tomorrow). Two days of dressing up and candy gathering fun!! It's the best!!

Welcome October!!

It's my favorite time of year!! The trees turn into gorgeous blazes of reds, golds and oranges while the hot summer heat gives way to cool autumn. It's time to break out the knitting in full force and cuddle up with some hot chocolate.

Much has been going on and yet nothing new. Changes are in the wind but we must patiently wait. Hubby is job hunting so huge changes could be in store but until the hunt is successful, we lie in wait. The waiting is trying our patience but we know it is for the best. Hubby's job is at a dead end so we need to find a new path and honestly, I'm due for some changes more than I care to admit.

Etsy Update or Where The Heck Have I Been??

After neglecting my poor little blog, I thought it was time to get with it again!! I've been playing way too much on Ravelry and getting quite a lot of knitting done among other things however.

Summer is nearly coming to an end with school fast approaching. Some ideas have been floating around in my head and now they are reality (scary huh).

I put three charm bracelets in my little Etsy shop. I love the sound of the charms tinkling together! It's such a happy little noise (you just can't sneak up on anyone, hehe).

Hope everyone's summer has been wonderful!!

WANT!!!

These super cute Stackable Kitties are new over at Mochimochi Shop along with Tubby. What a fun way to get a kid to like bath time!! Good clean fun!
Go check them out for the cutest things you ever saw!!! I have a baby nephew who might get some stackable kitties!!

Gone to Prison

Well, it's happened. I'm in Needleworth Prison (as an employee- gotcha!).

Okay, before anyone panics it's a group on Ravelry and it's been a bit too much fun!!
I had the idea to make some t-shirts for the group and with a lot of help and support, we did it!!

We have t-shirts on Spreadshirt AND Cafepress.

It's a neat deal. You upload your design, decide what you want it on and how much (if any) markup you want. People do it for fundraisers... Speaking of which- One dollar of each purchase from either place goes to Ravelry to help buy a new server. A cool shirt and being helpful!! It's win/win!! I'm wearing my Ravelry all summer long baby!!

The red badge is Jenifleur's and the black one is mine.

Time to Get Ready for Swimsuit Season!!

I think I shall put these little (haha) beauties in my queue on Ravelry! I will be the hit of the neighborhood pool dontcha think?? Whoo hoo!

Okay okay, late April Fools. I'm not making the bottoms... *snicker*

Don't Egg Me On!

I saw these little cuties at my favorite food site, Creampuffs In Venice who got them from the cutest blog Bittersweet and I think I seriously need to make some. Aren't they cuuuuute?!?

(Or maybe I'll just end up with egg on my face at another project I don't get done?)

When Life Hands You Lemons....

...you knit.

I know that's not the proverbial answer but right now that is all I'm left with to keep me sane.

We have a teenager in the house, all of fourteen since last September. He is trying every inch of our patience and sanity. Everytime we turn our backs, something new and disturbing shows up. We have done the grounding thing, no effect really. We have tried pretty much everything any decent parent has in their arsonal... all to no effect. The boy is pretty much impervious to any and all punishments, nothing phases him or bothers him.

It got me thinking about knitting though. Knitting never argues with you, knitting never hits it's brother or comes up with new ways to embarrass the family (well, if it does, it's the knitter's fault-- thinking Christmas sweaters). If you don't your knitting, you send it back to the frog pond, set it aside until you feel like dealing with it or just bag the whole thing and walk away. No fuss, no muss. Easy squeezy, lemon-peazy! I love knitting, it's all that is keeping me sane in a newly insane life.

Maybe I'll make my son take up knitting, he has lots of spare time on his hands since he's grounded for life at present.

Happy Birthday Beastie!!

Our baby is no longer a baby anymore! I'm not sure if I want to cry or just think "man, I'm gettin' old."

Our wee beastie is no longer wee but a big ol' EIGHT years old. Still cute as a button though!!


He has a day of games and Red Robin with family and friends. Hope it's a great one for such a great kid! As you can see, he's very excited about it all (and his rice pudding was pretty yummy too he said). ;-)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Hope yours is going as well as mine!

Hubby went WAAAYYY beyond cool this year with "A Valentine for All Your Senses" He had a CD of songs with 'love' in the title, my favorite movie, choooocooollaate, roses and... are you ready for this?? YARN!!

He went to my favorite yarn store Twist. Being the awesome hubby he is and knowing I am having having a sock knitting fetish, asked for sock yarn then purchased TWO gorgeous hanks. Funny thing is, he picked the Alpaca Sox I'd been eyeballing for him. Good taste that guy has!!

I think he deserves a BIIIGGG present, hehe.

The Holidays Are Upon Us!

Where has the time gone? Why am I always surprised when December rolls around?

If you're stuck for ideas, here's a great place to start!! Sew Mama Sew She has thirty days of making things for Christmas. I know we're in a bit already, but there are some great ideas!

Heck, I'm still trying to work off all the yummy food from Thanksgiving and now it's time for Christmas shopping. I'm really looking forward to this year. Hope you are too!! Now to fiqure out who is 'worthy' of those handmade gifts and what the heck to make!! Hmmm. Now where's my naughty/nice list??

Halloween Carnage!!

It's a wee Harry Potter ready and anxious to start the festivities! He's soo cute!





Here is our hero Link guarding the haul and what a great haul it was!! Soooo much candy, holy cow!!(Love the look on his face, "mine I tell ya, MINE!!")



Now for the really scary stuff!! Hubby was EmoBoy and I was a school girl gone bad. I think we love Halloween almost more then the kiddies!!

I actually have been doing some knitting, but not much. I haven't gotten the camera away from my mom in awhile (in case anyone noticed a serious lack of posting, eep). Now I need to get back on the blogging stick! I miss it here! I have been teaching an early morning class for church called seminary. It's a scripture study, this year focusing on Old Testament and it takes me about THREE hours a day to prepare. Seems like that's all I've done lately- study and prepare for class. I have been getting it under control though so time to get back to other things like blogging and knitting (and maybe some laundry and cleaning toilets... Nah)!!!!

OH man! It's Been Far Too Long!!

WOW, have I neglected my poor little blog! Now I know what it feels like to be busy, but whew!

Many new changes have occured around here, not all good. We lost one of family members, our beloved little yorkie, Mindy, a few weeks back. She suddenly had a seizure and never really came back from it. The one good thing was she really never knew what hit her. We loved her dearly, she was sweet, kind and so tiny.

On a more positive note, we added a NEW family member. The stick household now has Suki, a silky terrier (we think). There had been no plans to have a second doggie again, but our dear Suki showed up unannounced, literally bounding into our lives. There is no walking with this little girl, just levels of bounce. I don't think she is much more then a year old and cute as she can be!!

This also bring me to some exciting news!! My KIP group has begun their own team to earn money and run for Wookstock in Oct. It is the yearly HUGE fundraiser for our local Humane Society. I started the team with the small goal of raising $150, I bet we can get there plus some!! You can join us or just see what's going on at Yarn Hounds

There has been a little knitting on some lovely new yarn I purchased from a friend on Etsy! You can find her yarn on Etsy at Yarndale . She uses a lovely wool, nylon blend. It is silky smooth to work with and the colors are deep and rich. I have gotten several compliments from my KIP group. The colors are even more lovely in person, give her a try!!

Happy Birthday Brodi!

I would like to proudly introduce you to my new nephew, Benjamin Brodi. Brodi was born Friday night at 12:30 and weighs 5 lbs, 4 ozs. He is a bit early, but all is well and he will get to come home Tuesday!! (He has had to have a breathing tube due to his earliness) I get to go for a visit in a week!! My sister is doing well also and came home Sunday. He looks so cute and tiny, I can't wait!!

While my sister was in labor, my family and I were doing all the Potter parties! After sending the kids home with hubby, I waited patiently for midnight like every other fan, but learned from experiance to go to Walmart and NOT wait in the huge Borders line (I waited 2 hours to pick up my copy and then pay last time). Sure enough, walked into Walmart, zipped through a super fast line and was in my car within 20 minutes. Walking past Borders, people were sitting on the floor still waiting to get their book. Hubby and I finished reading and still walking around with our jaws hanging open when we think about all that happened! (No worries, no spoilers here).

Now, since the book is read I can get on with some baby knitting. Must.. work.. faster!!

Order of the Phoenix ROCKS!

We got to see it!! We got to see it!! MAN, I know I'm not the first and won't be the last to wonder how the heck they made my least favorite Harry Potter book into, I think, the best movie!?!?" All my family and I could say was "WOW!!"

This is becoming the most exciting month for us geeks! A new Harry Potter movie with the final book nipping on it's heals (I'm part excited, sad and "concerned" about the book). Plus,my favorite RPG mod, Aielund Saga is also coming to it's long awaited finale. (It's a "Neverwinter Nights" mod in case you're wondering)

Of course with the new movie means some fabulous new knitting!!! So many cute scarves and some really awesome new sweaters. DARK school sweaters and check out Hermione's gryffindor hoodie!! I need it! OOOH BOY!!

Um, I really need to lay off the exclamation points. Yike

Best Secret Pal EVER!!

Mangy Ratso has got the be the BEST Secret Pal in the history of Secret Pals!! SP10 has come to a close (signups are getting ready for sp11).

Mangy Ratso (who has still not told me her real name) sent me the most luscious gourmet chocolates from San Francisco- Lemon Verbeana or Pink Peppercorn chocolates anyone? No? Good, 'cause I ate them! She also sent THREE hanks of alpaca to match the chocolates (YUM!!), five hanks of lucsious Classic Elite robin's egg blue cotton (my favorite color, which she knew), one beautiful hank of HER handspun, enough for socks or a scarf AND a nifty booklet on yarn requirements for many projects. SUPER handy for shopping!!


I just stood with my mouth hanging open as all of this fabulousness kept poring out. Thank you so much Mangy Ratso, you are FABULOUS!!!

Happy Birthday America!!

Hope everyone has a great Independance Day!! Keep is safe and sane. (Ugh, those 'mom' words just must be said right?)

Hope your day is full of family, friends and some good bar-b-q!!

In The Pink

These little boxes are kinda addicting!! Once you get the hang of the process, it's pretty fun!! These little puppies can be found to take home for your very own at StickchicShwag Yes, I'm trying to get you to go shopping!! Check out Etsy! You won't be disappointed with all the wonderful artisans there!!