Ya gotta love goofy quizzes...especially when they get it right!

The Ultimate Color Test

When you are at peace, you are: Energized and innovative When you are moved to act, you are: Confident and optimistic When you are inspired, you are: Spontaneous and adventurous When your life is perfectly balanced, you are: Philosophical and expressive Your life's purpose is: To find contentment

The Ultimate Color Test

Getting LOTS of Christmas knitting finished...already gave Mrs. Melnechuk her fingerless gloves because she kept opening the door to let the kids out wearing her down vest snapped ALL the way up and her hands shoved in her armpits! Gabby & I took pity on her and gave her the gloves. Of course, now it's a bit 'warmer'...but she did seem to like them! :o) Now I'm finishing Shelby's flip-flop socks, a few mug cozies, some more market bags, a hat for myself and thrummed mittens for Steve using the roving we got at the Michigan Fiber Expo. It'll be a 'home made' Christmas this year.

Still praying for Steve to keep his job. SO many layoffs, SUCH a BAD economy around here, it's SO SAD....

So far, teaching Gabby's small group is going well. The other 4 kids have been pushing & trying to 'get away' with as much as they can, but really, they ARE very good. :o) I LOVE how FAST the hour goes by too! Now if we can just remember to do more bible study at home....

Duncan couldn't get in & out of his Remy the Rat from Ratatouille costume, so we had to find another one for preschool. That's my boy: the Wise Man!

I think Duncan's bothered by the feelings around halloween too. He doesn't like scarry or spooky. He wanted to be a Wise Man because "They were nice guys and gave Jesus gifts." Good boy!


These are the only things left of the kids halloween pumpkins. Last night, someone took both and SMASHED them in the street. In driving around the neighborhood, these were the ONLY smashed pumpkins...the ONLY evidence of 'devil's night' in our area. How sad. The kids were thrilled with their pumpkins when we carved them a couple days ago. I hope whoever smashed them knows how sad the kids were...The kids were sad that someone was THAT MAD that they would smash someone else's pumpkins. They weren't really sad over the loss of the pumpkins tho.

Daddy's taking the kids out tonight with Connor's family for their first ever trick or treating. I hope they have fun. I really HATE halloween and EVERYTHING that goes with it...but I like the kids to have fun with dressing up.

Been knitting up a storm...finished Mrs. M's fingerless gloves, I'm almost finished with Mrs. D's market bag & fingerless gloves. Have to make a bag each for the 2 preschool assistant teachers and Gabby's speech therapist. Also working on socks for Steve, a mitten/scarf for me (scarf with a mitten on each end!) and need to START coffee cozies for the in-laws. The cozies are small and should go quickly. :o)

Managed to claim another cashmere sweater to frog for projects. (Frog=rip back to resue the yarn...from 'rip-it, rip-it') I'm big into frogging sweaters these days! Go to the Salvation Army, buy a cashmere sweater for $3 and get 100's of yards of lace weight yarn!! Oh yeah...that's good! I also like getting old cotton sweaters--got a 1980's neon pink one that's now become a market bag for one of the teachers! (With yarn left over for about 4 more projects!) I think that sweater was $4. The only problem with cotton is that it 'unplies'...so you end up with 8 or 10 very thin 'strings' making up the yarn. So far I have not had trouble with that in knitting it...maybe I just know how to knit that way instinctively?!!

Well, looking forward to Thanksgiving...a much HAPPIER time of year! I can't WAIT to put halloween behind us for another year...what a sad, sick 'holiday'...espeically since the word "holiday" actually means "HOLY DAY". Halloween is the polar opposite of holy.

May Jesus bless and PROTECT you during this icky time. :o)

We've had some fun lately...Had friends over and the kids insisted we make the chocolate garbanzo bean cake...Picture one is Gabby "helping" clean the melted chocolate chips!



Then, we got to go to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch with Duncan's class; Gabby came along and had LOTS of fun chasing the 'little' boys. (Duncan outweighs her by about 4 pounds and Connor by about 30 pounds!! But, she's older....!)


Duncan enjoyed the animals but was a bit scared by them too. He loved feeding one of the little kids some hay. I think this Mama Sheep intimidated him!

Connor and Duncan on the playground...on a tractor! They also had "Straw Mountain" and a dirt pile to climb up & down! (Must be NASTY when it rains!!)

We are getting ready to celebrate 4 years of being a family!! AMAZING!!! FOUR YEARS! Yep, Saturday October 25 will be 4 years. Duncan was an only child for 1 night...Gabby wouldn't look at me because I was holding Duncan when we went to pick her up! I'm amazed at how GOOD the kids are and how sweet they can be. Today Gabby decided to take the project box she got as a birthday gift & make all 4 projects for other people: Grandma, Aunt Diane, Alex & Shelby! We are STILL working on things like toilet training, but her heart is in the right place. Duncan is suddenly into BIG hugs and telling me he loves me over & over. Oh, and my favorite, "Mommy, you are the RIGHT mommy for me!" Not sure where it came from, but it's sweet....

Here are 2 hats going out to the Larkin Street Project...homeless teens in San Fransisco. I like the Monmouth hat (blue) better than the Twisted Rib Watchcap (orange)...not the colors but the pattern in general. Duncan loves his Twisted Rib Watchcap tho! (a copy of it is going to SF!)

The birthday girl with her Diamond Castle Barbie!

And, inside the LARGE, ride-inside ball!

Good news--NO MENINGITIS! YIPPEE!! They still drew blood and did a spinal tap but it seems to be a cold mixed with sleeping weird.

Going to the lab for ANOTHER blood draw from Gabby this afternoon. For some reason, she has excess iron in her blood...and it keeps going up! Weird since most kids on growth hormones have or develop low iron/low ferritin levels. The ped won't tell us what might happen if Gabby's levels keep going up. I looked up Hemachromatosis...I think we'll be going for numerous blood draws if this is what Gabby has. Oh joy.....

My back is MUCH better...tho now Duncan, Steve & I all have sinus troubles. :o( Little Miss Gabby is fine, of course!

Need to go knit some more....I'm 2 clues behind on the Mystery Adirondack Knit Along. Oh well!

Blessings,

Laurel

Well, it's been an "interesting" few days...Last Wednesday Connor's little sister, Hannah, turned 3. On Thursday, Gabby turned 6 and "Baby" Dylan turned 2 on Saturday! Sunday both Gabby and Dylan had their parties. Living on a small, dead-end street means limited parking! I'm so glad we were able to 'stagger' the birthday party times!

Gabby had grandma, grandpa, Aunt Sally and all 5 Cadmans over for her party. Aunt Diane sent a BIG gift, which was the HIT of the party...Alex & Shelby's Princess Legos from Disney World!! Man, the girls LOVED it! Gabby's still playing with it 3 days later!!! Amazing!

She also got a Barbie from Barbie & the Diamond Castle and a Sleeping Beauty Barbie...they sleep with her at night. We gave her a Disney Princess book, a new tiny kitty in a carrier, a necklace with nail polish and a new Sleeping Beauty DVD. She made out pretty well.

Monday, I pulled something in my back...OUCH!! Ice for the first 48 hours and now I'm doing heat. I AM loosening up...but it still hurts!

Picked up Duncan & Connor from preschool...they were happy I parked on the grass again! That place has about 70 parking spots...when all 3 preschool classes let out, there is NO parking available because they are also running 3 nursery programs, a few ESL classes and other adult ed stuff!!! So, I use the grass. I SLOWLY made my way to Gabby's classroom door--expecting the teacher to be waiting to talk to me. Um, no...she didn't get my e-mail from yesterday...so she has no idea what's been going on! Oh well...I tell her I'll resend it when I get home.

Drop Connor off & am met by Connor's mom...child number 3 (of 4) has SUDDENLY developed a 102+ fever, has a headache and can't move her head!! Possible meningitis...so Connor & 2 other sisters are being 'farmed out' to relatives for possible overnight stays...if said child ends up hospitalized!!

So, I add THAT information to the other stuff from yesterday's note to send to Mrs. M. Inform Steve...he calls ped & is told to keep the kids (ours) inside & monitor them for symptoms because they had been around the sick child for quite awhile on Monday & Tuesday!!! Oh great! Still have not heard from Mrs. M...don't know what the school policy is regarding possible exposure to meningitis! I'm just glad today is drippy & rainy...the kids don't want to go out. Tho that DOES mean we have some pinging off the walls & stuff...oh well!

Wonder what the incubation time is for meningitis...have to go look that up. Should I send a note to church, telling them we may not be there on Sunday? Should the kids go to school tomorrow? Hope I hear from Jenn soon and I SURE hope it's NOT meningitis!!!

Well, best go knit to take my mind off things...making a REALLY PRETTY scarf out of Katia Magic. I'll post a picture when I'm finished. I'll also add birthday party pictures & video soon....

Enjoy the day.
Blessings,
Laurel

Ready for School!

OK, this picture is day 2...but both kids are ready with backpacks on! Mornings for the 'school bus' (me) are busy...Mondays I will drop Duncan off at preschool at 8:50, then Gabby at 9:22. Pick Duncan up at 11:35 and get Gabby at 12: 14. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Gabby gets dropped of before 8:30 and Duncan goes in at 8:50; Then Duncan gets picked up at 11:35 and Gabby at 11:49...did I mention it's about 15-20 minutes to drive between their schools??! Fridays are liesurely...only Gabby goes to school from 8:35 to 11:49.


Thought I'd show you how Gabby's grown in the past year: Amazing....


<-----Yesterday 9/4/08















<---Last day of Developmental Kindergarten
June 11, 2008











<---------and begining Developmental Kindergarten last September...September 5, 2007










So far, both kids love their classes. Duncan enjoys singing...favorite song is "itsy bitsy spider"!!! He also likes playing with the monster truck. His teacher has actually gotten him to COLOR twice!!! AMAZING!! He favors scribbling yellow all over the page to qualify as coloring!

Gabby has the same teacher--and room--as last year: Mrs. Melnechuk. Gabby is THRILLED! I hope Gabby can keep up with the academics when they get going. But, so far, so good--only good reports from Mrs. Melnechuk the first 2 days. :o)

Knitting is going great guns...got a bunch of Christmas gifts done already and mailed off a box of baby items to Dana & Benji...Steve's cousin's daughter/son-in-law...who have a baby due in a couple weeks. Unfortunately, I was mean enough to not use very 'baby friendly' yarns! Some silk, some wool...hand wash/lay flat to dry...but it's all so PRETTY! Knitting a "princess dress" for Gabby right now and some socks for me. Been selling things on e-bay to help pay for my yarn addiction lately! Maybe one of these days I'll get my stash organized and put away...instead of having it all around my chair in the family room! But, I LOVE to look at all the pretty yarn!!

More later.....

First day of school!

Yep, this is the first day of regular kindergarten and World of Fours preschool. Since both kids get marched into class today, Steve & I are splitting forces & each taking a kid!

Went to WOF yesterday & sat next to a mom with another CARS crazy 4 year old boy, Connor. Turns out Connor, and his THREE sisters & mom & dad, live a block away...OK, a very CURVY block...but just a block from us. I think we'll be seeing more of Connor. Connor was nice--he can already write his name...Duncan scribbles when the mood strikes! Connor also didn't cry & whine when he was told he couldn't play with the toys around the room. Duncan did....Duncan is excited to go back & play with the Monster Truck today! Hope Mrs. DiPaola is prepared for Mr. Whiney!

Gabby gets the SAME TEACHER as last year! She is GEEKED! Saw Mrs. Melnechuk at 'Meet the Teacher' night last night...and discovered Kleandra is also in Gabby's class again. Oh happy day! Six girls this year...only 5 last year. What IS it with a gazillion boys and 5 or 6 girls????! Duncan gave Mrs. Melnechuk one HECK of a HUG! He was SOOO HAPPY to see her! He's back in love with her again! I'm still working on "older woman" and "already taken"!

Well, tis time for MY shower...I'll post again later with a school update. :o)

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......

Go ahead, guess what size Gabby's shorts are!! Just guess! I bet you're wrong!

The answer: 0-3 MONTHS!!!! Yep, MONTHS! And, no, they are NOT made for "monster size" babies! They are Old Navy Vintage Baby brand! I got them on e-bay...thought I was getting 3T shorts, but I think this worked out better! Got another pair too...Gabby's THRILLED! She LOVES them! One of the new "hobbies" at our house is trying to balance on the exercise ball....
Or, Gabby's method....use it to launch into a handstand, cartwheel or walking on her hands! Gives the neighbors a GOOD LAUGH too when Steve or I try! No, I'm NOT posting pictures of me or Steve! Be happy....
Another new hobby is golf...Duncan is a leftie and very accurate...when he actually connects with the ball! He can hit the whiffle golf ball across the street from the middle of our front walk. Not bad for a leftie 4 year old with an astigmatism!
And, lastly, our new neighbor...Mama Mallard Duck! Goodness only knows WHY she chose the neighbor's garden to build her nest, but she did. Now she's egg warming. She is surprisingly calm when people are around! There's NO pond, pool or anything nearby, so we put out a pan of water today. The neighbors put out some bread.

OK...the funny story to go with Mrs. Mallard Duck:

Gabby's teacher is getting married tomorrow, April 25. The young man she is marrying has a last name of Melnechuk. Gabby, however, says, "Mallard-Chuck" making me think of a cross between a duck and a woodchuck!

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard Duck showed up on Monday. I say to the kids, "Hey, do you know what kind of ducks those are?" Silence... "They are Mallard Ducks." Duncan pipes up, "Mallard DUCKS?!! You mean like Mallard-Chuck?!" TOO FUNNY! I told the teacher...she thought it was amusing.......

Doing lots of knitting, but have not taken pictures lately. I made a pair of socks originally for Gabby's teacher, but I think I'll make her a pair in a different color. Besides, I REALLY like these socks! The pattern is called "Running With Scissors." I'll post a photo/link soon. Also just started a dress sock for Steve. He has NARROW feet and LONG legs...and he wants his dress socks to go TO his knees! Very difficult to find...so I thought I'd knit some & see how they turn out. Gotten LOTS of COOL yarns thru Ravelry--a WONDERFUL online knitting/crochet/spinning/yarn community. I just LOVE it!

That's about it...been enjoying the WARM weather and the basement is NEARLY done. YIPEE!!

Hi,
OOOOOOHHHH! Posts 2 days in a row! WOW!

Well, I finished Gabby's little tank top...and she HAD to wear it to school today! I took a picture, so you can see it:

Now I have to wash & block the little thing, so it doesn't curl up around the edges!

Another neat thing...they finished drywall in the basement, taped & mudded the walls. They won't be back till Thursday for sanding. Our new front storm door goes in on Wednesday. YIPEE! It should be pretty good...the screen rolls up into the top, like a shade; so I won't have to drag the big old screen or glass in & out of the garage.

The kids have had 3 lunches & 1 dinner outside since Saturday...today, Gabby was THRILLED to be able to go barefoot! OK, it was about 73 degrees...pretty warm by winter standards! It's supposed to cool down the rest of the week, but it's been a very nice few days. :o)

Oh, and the painting I "created" today:

http://www.createpaintings.com/result.php?id=12076126663073

OK, I'm just learning these things as I go along here....but I'm hoping these links will take you to the videos I've put on YouTube. I can't seem to figure out how to put them directly only Blogger themselves...I think the files are too big...our camera is "too good"!!





Anyway, first video is the BASEMENT...you'll want to try that one to see Gabby climb the pole. OK, she's slow...it usually only takes 15-20 seconds but takes nearly 1 minute on this! She was tired....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osxzI97HAgg


Second is Alex & Gabby riding the zipline at Christmas time:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9rztZ8QE-w


And last is Duncan on the zipline:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6siZZuboFM8





I'm still having troubles with my ears & pain...yuck. I've been on 2 different types of antibiotics for almost 2 weeks &, suddenly, yesterday I started getting zings of pain in BOTH ears. OUCH! My left ear is starting to plug now too. I'm tired of this....





Can't wait for tomorrow, the dumpster should be gone sometime tomorrow! YIPEE! The neighbors have been EXTREMELY NICE about the monstrosity...
Along with the lovely PODS container in the driveway!

Spring is coming...today should be in the low-mid 60's! I'm so happy...maybe I'll sit outside & knit to "bake" the pain out of my ears! I can't BEGIN to tell you how depressed I am about not hearing much anymore....

Knitting has been going well...working on my first toe-up sock. They are the Uzumaki Socks by Karen Harper: http://knitfrontandback.com/patterns/socks_uzumaki.pdf Turning out quite nice...and I LOVE the cast on! It leaves NO line or ridge! Very cool! Nearly finished with Gabby's tank top...she's itching for it! I'll post photos when I can.

Enjoy spring!

Sorry, I just HAD to start with that photo....not only do the kittens remind me of Malibu, the cat I picked out as a teeny-tiny 3 week old kitten & ended up leaving with my parents when we got married...and died on the same day as my mom last summer; but also, that's about how I feel these days...since my right ear isn't hearing these days!!!
Yesterday, at noon, NO flowers were out...at 3:45, we found a bunch! This was the prettiest. Yes, I plant flowers in my lawn...I love to be surprised by the spots of color there. To see more, visit my Tabblo at: http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/shared/24574/yawtpbg2jelcx3u
It's really pretty. So, I consider that my birthday gift from God...yep, today's my 46th birthday. Gabby's the only one who remembered...she came & snuggled this morning and "made" me a cake from buttons & shiny stones! :o)
This is how the basement is doing...there are actually some walls up now too. If you click on the small photo in the upper/lower right on my Tabblo, you can see the progress....
And, being sick has inspired a bunch of knitting...here's Gabby's soon-to-be ruffly tank top. The ruffles will be the opposite colors--so she can wear either side to the front. It's cotton with a bit of elastic--so it's stretchy too. Hope it turns out well. Also working on more socks for me & made a hat for Steve.

Tank top: http://www.knitty.com/issuespring07/PATTmonica.html
Steve's hat: http://www.royea.net/twistedrib.htm

Hope everyone enjoys the day....time to get Gabby from school.....

EASTER EGGS!

Yes, the new, lower area of the island is REALLY good for dying Easter eggs and not having to worry if the kids will fall off the stools! The eggs were especially bright this year because we put 2 tablets in each cup...plus the kids would let them sit in the dye till they looked good! They ARE getting small amounts of patience!!

Gabby's eggs came out REALLY pretty....

Oh, FINISHED my socks! These are the blueberry Waffle pattern socks from Knitlist.com made with Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn (wool/mohair blend) in the color called Sweet Pea. They are nice & cooshy! Think I'll wear them tomorrow when we go out with Steve's mom. Since Gabby's off school, she invited us out to Great Lakes Crossing...should be fun. Also, it will be nice to get out and NOT go to the doctor! Both kids had double ear infections last week. Steve has bronchitis/walking pneumonia (coughing and coughing....) and I also had a double ear infection & popped my right eardrum! UGH! It is SOOOO GROSS as it's draining! I keep walking around with a wad of tissue in my ear so it doesn't drip all over the place. YUCK!!! DISGUSTING!!! And PAIN????!!! Oh, MAN, the PAIN is UNREAL! The pain pills are sort-of working. I'm on 6 meds...got an additional one yesterday from the ENT doctor the regular doctor sent me to when Steve told them there was blood coming from my ear. Right now, I have 50% hearing loss. :o( The ENT will not commit to say if the hearing will come back. Most people who have had this happen say, Yes...hearing will return & probably about like it was before. That would be nice! I can hardly hear the kids, unless they are yelling at each other! I'm getting used to reading the TV...since I can't hear all of it.


Oh, on top of all the illness...we've been redoing the basement. Here's a picture of the wall that will have the 100" screen on it in our new home theater! Yesterday the plumber got water going to the right places in the bathroom and today we're getting a "multi-zone" heating/cooling system...so we can heat/cool specific areas of the house...bedrooms, family room, basement, etc. Tomorrow the guys will be wiring the home theater.

Anyway, we're all just sitting here, trying to get HEALTHY again!!! I hope this is my AWFUL illness to cover the next 15 years!! Actually, the last time I was SO sick & in about as much pain was about 20 years ago...when I visited a friend & her family in South Carolina. The daughter gave me a NASTY cold that KILLED my vocal cords! Not that I was a GREAT singer before, but it really was BAD in the vocal cords...couldn't talk for 2 weeks!

Spring IS coming...Gabby & I saw daffodil & Greecian Windflower leaves poking up thru the dead leaves in the front garden! :o) Plus, there was some snow falling earlier...Michigan...spring, yeah, snow, rain, whatever.....

LOTS of stuff going on.....

Duncan got new glasses! And, amazingly, he WANTS to wear them! Guess he really needed them. He's also in love with Gabby's kindergarten teacher and wanted his picture taken with her the day he got the glasses! She was (is) a sweetie and let us take a couple pictures.








I was also able to finish the first of Gabby's waffle socks. I LOVE this pattern! Here's the link for it: http://www.knitlist.com/98gift/blueberrysocks.htm

Oh, one other "little" thing we're doing--we emptied the basement into the PODS container and are demolishing EVERYTHING in it...and building in a new (NICE!!) bathroom, home theater, storage room and play/homework room!! Just a SLIGHT changed from the 1970's burnt orange carpet and nasty old paneling and a yucky old "dry" bar that only worked for storage and the cats' litter boxes!


I think we are the "rejects" of the neighborhood at the moment...there's now a 25 foot dumpster in front of the house as well as this PODS thing.....yeah, REAL attractive for Easter!

Not sure how Easter will go this year--everyone's sick! Both kids have double ear infections, Steve's been working on demolition while coughing, wheezing, sneezing & blowing his nose; I have terrible vertigo...so I have been NO help whatsoever. Stairs are quite a hazard!

Well, the old carpet is coming up the stairs...should go take some more empty basement pictures. :o) Here's were to see updates: http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/shared/24334/kdtc6q7bzp29fv4

STUNNINGLY, I've finished more knitting!

However, I don't have pictures of it to post right now...sorry! I've made 5 dishcloths as well as finishing my first pair of socks...and a pair for Gabby. I also got some great wool felting yarn from Ravelry--so I'll be making Steve a pair of slippers/moccasins...just in time for SUMMER! :o)

We got a new CD on Friday--New & Used by Apologetix. http://www.apologetix.com
They do some GREAT parody songs--Narrow Way to Heaven (Stairway to Heaven), Micah number 5 (Mambo #5), Livin' What Jesus Spoke Of (Livin La Vida Loca) and the kids' FAVORITE, Baa Baa, We're Lambs (Barbara Ann). That song comes on & Gabby can't stop LAUGHING or JUMPING!!! Duncan does slam dancing against the couch--to the floor! And wonders why he gets jumped on! When I get the video uploaded, I'll post it here.

Actually got out 3 times last week without the kids...FRUA mom's night out on Tuesday, lunch with Donna...then to the doctor's office to see how I was doing on Celebrex and Thursday night to a Tastefully Simple party!! With Steve occasionally working from home, it's GREAT being able to leave 1 kid home!

Went down to City Mission again on Friday. Gabby was SOOOO HAPPY! She met up with her little buddies Emily and Quianna. Duncan ate & played with Edward. We all (the whole school~35 kids) went outside to play on their 2 swingsets & empty lots...lots of fun running, slipping, sliding & throwing snow around. Then Gabby did quiet time with the kindergarteners while Duncan played quietly in the lunch room. Going back in 2 weeks...gonna stay longer & see if we can visit again the following week. Gabby & Duncan want to use their piggy bank money to buy some easter toys for the CM kids...how sweet. That was their own idea...NOT mine! But I think it's great that they want to share.

Time to get Gabby from school soon. Bye....

I'm almost finished with sock #2...really, I am! A couple more toe rows and then binding off...should get it done this evening.

Of course, I procrastinate & read Ravelry posts...and other peoples' blogs! Which is where I found this cool site:

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

I got to word level 42...donated 1700 grains of rice!

The kitchen is coming along quite well--tho I am getting extremely tired of washing dishes in the bathtub....

Today we are getting electricity back...yeah!! I get to use the microwave again!! WOO-HOO!! And plug things in in the kitchen...not just the bathroom or dining room! To see the progress, go to http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/shared/23444/yutkao8h6f0mv1c . This is day one...click on the small picture in the upper/lower right to see the next days.

Both kids had strep last week...Gabby's temp soared over 104! But, by the time we got her to the doctor's office, it was back down to 100.?? Oh well.... Now Steve has some terrible creeping crud. He actually stayed home from work Friday, Monday & today! I should be coming down with something for the weekend......

OK, back to my sock....

I FINISHED MY FIRST SOCK!!!!!!!!!

Here it is...one sock! Knit on one size 1 circular needle. I got a bit of a ladder "dimple" on each side of the sock...it's not bad, but I'd like to eliminate it all together. I've already cast-on the next sock and gotten a couple rounds done. Of course, having a 5 year old who decides she doesn't "need" quiet time makes for very little knitting! (I'm the one who NEEDS the quiet time! And, no matter what she said, Gabby DID need QT today...the wind had all of us up most of the night!)
Well, Duncan likes the sock too...now he wants some for himself! (wait in line...Daddy asked for some too!)

I really like how the purple stuck itself right there on the heel! The toe is all orange. They are very happy socks!

Oh no, I forgot to turn Gabby's picture...Oh well! She went to school today looking very "sofisticated"!! Don't know how long it lasted, but I sent her off down the hall with it twirled up like that. Also BUNDLED...with HOWLING winds at 40-50 mph and a dropping temperature from 45 yesterday to 9 this morning, it was very "CHILLY" outside! The car doors were iced closed! The "accurate" (HA!!!) Detroit weather forcasters say we'll get a snow storm tomorrow night & Friday. SIX INCHES!! That's not a snow STORM! One to two FEET is a snow storm, 6 inches is a nice snow!

Time to get dinner on the table...or actually, on the plates...since the table is FILLED with kitchen stuff...rip-apart starts tomorrow! :o)