I realize the bag is a bit fuzzy...but that's actually pretty much in focus! I felted it & it got really soft & fuzzy....really much prettier than when I was knitting it! It's my own "creation"...sort-of! I used the pattern for the pinwheel baby blanket for the bottom and the leg for the Uzumaki sock for the body of the bag!! Gave the bag to Donna...kind of an early birthday gift.
Donna also got this pretty little "soap sweater"....Valley Yarns Goshen...cotton, silk, modal and some nice smelling soap. :o)
I got the LARGE pile of lace yarn in Shipshewana...found the smaller skein to coordinate from http://www.Twistyarns.com . Boy, they are FAST at shipping & really great for customer service! I'm still deciding what to make....possibly a sweater/cardigan....I have patterns in my favorites & my queue on Ravelry.
Gabby & Duncan are turning into such AMERICAN KIDS! They hijacked the M&M's from my Swap On a Budget box! Oh well...like I need more M&M'S!! LOL! They can't wait for school to start. Duncan's been practicing his colors...in 3 languages: "That is white. We call white 'blanco'. We also call white byely." "That is red. We call red, krasny. It's also called rojo." He still counts in English, Spanish & Russian quite well but is forgetting the French, German & Japanese. Oh well, he's 4 1/2...he'll pick them back up quickly.

Gabby has been practicing printing. She LOVES doing dot-to-dot pictures and mazes these days. I got a subscription to Enchanted Learning on-line so I can print off practice sheets for her. Lots of paper & ink, but she really enjoys them. She also goes into TOTAL MELTDOWN when she can't remember things she knows she has learned. I've learned not to push...but to slowly empathize & try to help her remember...or tell her the answer, if she's "too far gone." Hope school goes well for her.....

We had a busy day yesterday...went to meet Ashley's new baby sister, Nina. She's 10 weeks old & about 13 pounds. For reference...Gabby was 15.5 pounds at 25 months when we adopted her! YIKES! Later, our neighbors came over with their 8 week old...she's 11 pounds. Hey, I am THRILLED by Gabby's recent weight/height gains. She's been eating REALLY well and it's showing.

No big plans this week except for a picnic for the Orphan Care group this coming Saturday. We're hoping for no rain so everyone can swim! Then we have another picnic on Sunday with our small group! I'm going to continue knitting....I'm not doing well at keeping up with my Ravelympics projects!! Oh well....

Have a happy, WONDER-FILLED day!

This is Duncan on the store's wooden backhoe...we got him one as an early Christmas gift...he LOVES it! Oh, got this in Shipshewana, Indiana Here's Duncan with Gabby's teacher on the last day of school, June 11. Duncan was madly in love with Mrs. Melnechuk. (formerly Miss Stull)! He still has the picture of her with him on his dresser!
Gabby by the school sign...we also have a First Day of School picture here...in the same dress too! I think we'll try to do this for both kids while they are at Wilde.
Gabby with Mrs. Melnechuk and Mrs. Vincent. She was so sad to be having summer vacation. She wanted to continue to see her friends every day!
And, some knitting....these are called "Emma's Unmentionables" and are very quick & easy to knit. http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTemmas.html

Yes, I know it's been a LONG time since my last post. I've been busy...doing summer with the kids and family! :o) We went to the zoo with Steve's parents a couple weeks ago, my brother & his family are coming into town this week--we'll see them Friday, Sunday we're having Donna over, next Saturday is a picnic, 2 weeks from Sunday is another church picnic with our small group, school starts the day after Labor day for Gabby and the following week for Duncan! WOW!

I'm busily knitting a purse for Donna. I've signed up for the Ravelympics...making soap sweaters, socks for Jeff, a knitting bag for myself and seeing if I can also finish up Steve's socks! THAT should keep me busy for the couple weeks of the 2008 Olympics!! :o) Been trading yarn like mad on the Karma Yarn Swap on Ravelry. I LOVE Ravelry...so many other knitters/yarn fiends! And a GREAT place to find patterns I never would have seen before.

Hope your summer is going well......