Monday, August 28, 2006

So Thankful

So very, very thankful. We've been so worried about Steve's father going in for Quadruple Bypass (which ended up being a Quintuple Bypass) that I'm very thankful to report that he's doing quite well, all things considered. Now we can only pray for a speedy recovery.

We love you, Grandpa/Dad! And we hope you're feeling better soon!

Of course, I'm thankful for my family. What would I do without them? I really should make it a point to tell them more often. In fact, I came up with a little "game" we play at night with the kids. We each have to tell each other a little "sweet thing" about why we love each other. Sometimes we don't always know what to say beyond, "I love you so much," but it really is the thought that counts.

I am not, however, very thankful about work. Having a job is good - yes. But being constantly stressed and interrogated about what you did six months ago is not a good thing. I could just scream. I'm hoping that things will start looking up. They can't truly get worse, can they? At least that's what I keep telling myself. Yes, I should be thankful for my job . . . .

I am very thankful for my knitting. So great at relieving stress. Just mindless enough to get me to relax but challenging enough to keep me from brooding.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Casting On a Noni

Got a chance to cast on for Luan's Noni bag today. The kids helped me wind the hanks into skeins this morning.


Gotta love the colors she chose! (Forgive the photography. The burgundy color is really a deep burgundy brown.)



Plus, it's pretty awesome how quickly it knits up since the pattern calls for a double strand of Cascade 220. Again I'm still in awe at how soft it is! It's almost tempting me to use it for a sweater, but sadly it's just an "almost." Since KnitPicks' Merino Style makes me itch, and it's just a little bit softer, I cannot let the Cascade 220 lull me into thinking that I can wear it as a sweater, although a cardigan might be an option, especially since you can't beat the sheer amount of colors it comes in. Hmmm . . . .

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Socks Complete!

I finished my first pair of socks! Of course, they're not perfect - a little too big for Clark's foot, especially the heel, which I made too wide. But they're finished. And Clark likes them. That's all that counts! :)


I got a little bored with the stockinette at the end. I think it's because I was expecting them to be done "so quickly" that each inch felt like a yard. Plus, I still need to learn how to do a more shaped toe. But they're finished. And Clark likes them. And that's all that counts! :)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Clark's MRI

Luan stuck around until today to be with us at Clark's MRI. We had to be at Children's Hospital by 9:30, since he was supposed to have anesthesia for the procedure. However, after they looked at him, they decided to give it a try without anesthesia. Luckily, he did very well and held still at all the right times. It helped that he could watch a Jimmy Neutron movie during the process, and he wasn't bothered by the tight space of the machine. Therefore, we were in and out of the hospital in about 45 minutes.

We walked downtown for a while, and then we had lunch at a small Mexican cafe. Clark enjoyed spending time with all of us, and he liked getting to take a day off of school. Of course, his favorite part of the afternoon was spending some time at ESPN Zone playing a few race car games.


We all liked this mock Coors Field made entirely out of Coors Original and Coors Light paraphenalia. Pretty creative!


The doctor's office later with his results, and I am happy to say that everything came back normal. Now we have only the appointment with the neurologist to find out what we do from now own regarding his "Benign Rolandic Epilepsy."

Awwww moment. Clark made a Lego house for Shea's fairy, which was a present from Auntie. The columns supporting the plastic bowls were for bathing and showering. The yellow "throne" is the potty, and the room in the background is the kitchen, I believe. The fairy even gets her own go kart. Sometimes it is nice to have a big brother.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

New LYS Find

Found a new LYS today with Luan - Colorful Yarns in Centennial. They have Cascade 220 on sale this month, and I had to check it out since I was in desparate need for some yarn therapy. What a fabulous shop! Such a terrific selection and some awesome prices, too. I had some doubts about Cascade 220, since it's 100% wool, which I can tend to find rather scratchy, but it is wonderfully soft. Maybe not soft enough for a sweater but more than adequate for the Noni bag I plan to knit for my sister (early birthday present). Great sis (and Auntie) that she is, she even purchased me an adorable Lantern Moon sheep tape measure, which I am just too cheap to purchase for myself. I got a white one and she got a natural colored one, although we both admired the black sheep. Shea came along with us and enjoyed modeling all of the silky scarves. Happily, I think that I may have converted Luan into a knitter, since she's working on her first knit scarf out of Fun Fur, and she purchased another lovely scarf kit from Colorful Yarns. :D

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Happy Birthday, Clark!

My sweet boy turned 7 today! Can't believe yet! Yes, I still remember when he was just a wee baby not even 6 pounds. He's such a big boy now. So grown up. And all too quickly.

Of course, we couldn't have a quiet birthday. No, shortly before the time we were to pick up my sister (Auntie) from the airport, Clark and Lilo (the Golden Retriever) decided to have a tussle with Clark's foot connecting with Lilo's face. This was at such an impact that Lilo's tooth poked through her lip and Clark had a somewhat deep gash across the top of his foot. Poor Lilo. She wouldn't let Steve or anyone help her, and finally managed to pull her tooth out of her lip. Steve promptly took her to the vet. Of course, I was worried about "the Boy" and took him to the doctor. He didn't need stitches, but the doctor did use surgical strips to help bind his wound together, since it was just deep enough that a normal band-aid probably wouldn't suffice. Although I think that Steve still believes I overreacted about the boy a bit, the dog only needed some antibiotics, so I think he overreacted about the dog a bit. Auntie got picked up a little late, but everything turned out OK in the end.

We were mostly worried that Clark wouldn't be able to bowl at his birthday party, but as you can see he was none the worse for wear. It was pretty cool because it was Cosmic Bowling at Brunswick with many of the lights turned off.


Monday, August 14, 2006

Clark's Birthday Week

I fully admit that sometimes we spoil our kids, but what are birthdays for? Clark will be turning 7 on Saturday. He begged to open a few of the presents he received, including his big present from us. Of course, we caved and let him open them. (I thought it both clever and funny that he told us we would get tired of his constant nagging, if we didn't let him open his gifts.)

We spent much of the afternoon putting together his Lego Sponge Bob from his grandparents. I love that he built most of it himself!













And if you've ever wanted to know what the inside of Bob's head looks like, here it is:

Not much going on - eh? ;)





I won't publish what we gave him for his birthday, since I know we spoiled him (although hopefully not too much)! Suffice to say it was small and and useful for video games. He's very lucky to have techno-geeky parents, who love gadgets easily as much as he does.

In knitting news I have come to the realization that Clark's socks are far too small. They're even a little too small for Shea, and I don't think I'll have enough yarn to make two pairs of socks. So back to the frog pond I go, continuing my string of bad luck knitting. I think I'll be able to quickly recover on the socks though, since I'm understanding how they're constructed now.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

I Can't Believe It!

I'm knitting socks! Yes, socks! I swore I'd never knit socks, but since there aren't a lot of things to knit for little boys during the summertime, I finally broke down and started my first pair. And two at a time on two circs, too! ;) (My favorite tutorial is Sheron's.)

My progress so far:


Unfortunately, I'm using an acrylic yarn, and I think they may be a little too small for Clark's foot, but he is able to squeeze into them. I was afraid they might get too saggy being acrylic and all, if I didn't make them a little snug. I'm crossing my fingers that they won't be too snug.

Of course, now I have to eat all my sock snubbing and admit how truly addictive they are - knitting them in a pair is especially cool, since I was very worried that I'd have Second Sock Syndrome.

Me thinks this may be an excellent way to use up some of my scrap yarn.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Renaissance Festival

Since we had such fun at the Renaissance Festival last year, we decided to attend it again this year. It's a little spendy but a lot of fun. Unfortunately, we forgot to let Shea wear one of her many princess costumes. We lucked out on the weather though, as it was one of the coolest yet this summer, although I still managed to get sunburned. (When you live at altitude, it's really important to wear sunscreen no matter how long you think you might be out in the sun. Silly me for forgetting this! All of my worst sunburns have been from Colorado.) Anyway, I digress.

We ate turkey legs in true Renaissance style.


We shot arrows. Clark has really enjoyed archery, since trying it out at Cub Scout camp.


Of course, this meant we had to get Clark his own bow and arrows set. (Had to get a shot of him with his name. ;))



We even watched some jousting this time.



Amazingly, Shea did NOT want a princess costume from the festival. She was enamored by the somewhat scary looking gargoyle puppets, and she just had to have one.


I guess that every princess should have her very own peachy-pink gargoyle. ;)

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Clark's Update

I forgot to note earlier this weekend that we finally received an update on Clark's emergency. It seems he has Benign Rolandic Epilepsy. Unforutnately, we won't be able to get him in to see a neurologist until October, after all of his tests are complete. However, I guess we'll have all of our homework done by the time we meet with the neurologist.

Breaking the First Rule in Knitting

OK. I admit it. I'm completely frustrated about my knitting today. I broke the First Rule in Knitting:

Do NOT knit a gift for someone without first considering if the receiver would want such an item.

Shea does not at all like her Summer Swing Top. She says it's too long. Since when did 4 year old girls get to be so picky about their clothes?! Yet, Shea always had very strong feelings about what she likes and doesn't like - she loves super tight, extra long socks, for example. Clark and Steve think I should make her wear it anyway. I don't think I can because I also broke Rule No. 2 in knitting:

Do NOT purchase cheap yarn just because it is cheap. In the end it will just look cheap.

I finished the Summer Swing Top yesterday with the button hole details instead of the ties. The casting off and on gave me some fits, and I agonized over how long to make the straps. It's complete except for weaving in ends and sewing on buttons. However, I can't make Shea wear it because I think it screams handmade and out of cheap yarn, no less. :BIG sigh: At least it was a super quick knit. I'll try to get a photo up even though I'm disheartened.

Of course, now I really want to cast on for my next project. I held off going to my LYS yesterday because I thought I had enough stash items to work on my project list. However, now I'm realizing that I broke the Rule No. 3 in knitting:

Always buy MORE than the pattern calls for - at least one skein, if only for swatching.

For some silly reason I bought KP Andean Treasure to knit Tempting, but I only bought 5 skeins. This was a few months ago when I considered knitting something other than a scarf. Now I realize that I have completed underestimated my size. It would probably fit snugly, which is OK, but I think it will be too short. I just don't think I'll have enough yarn.

And I had purchased Rowan for Jenna Adorno's other sweater featured on Knitty Gritty and SnB Nation. Now, however, I don't think I want to wear it with the big bow - way too cutesy for work. (What was I thinking!?) Yet, since I purchased two different yarns to work with I think they will look strange together without the bow/belt dividing them. I guess I could try wearing it with a belt instead, but overall I'm just not as excited about knitting it now.

So now I have 5 balls of Andean Treasure, 2 balls Rowan Calmer, and 3 balls Rowan All Seasons Cotton. All are small yardages. I have absolutely no idea what to knit with them now. And of course, who knows if I'll ever be able to match the lots, since I purchased them so long ago.

I'm now off to find patterns based on yardage. Wish me luck!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Knitting Update

Still not interested in getting back to work on Mystery Stole 2006, but I have made great progress on Shea's Summer Swing Top. Hope to have it completed this weekend. I plan to redesign it to button at the top instead of tying. Haven't taken any photos though. I am a little concerned about knitting something in Caron's Simply Soft. It's an unbeatable price, but I think I have officially become a yarn snob. The acrylic just doesn't look quite right. I don't know if it's because it's just a little too bright or a little too shiny. I'm disappointed with my yarn choice now, but I'm so close to finishing and it's come together so quickly (only 1 week!) that I plan to go ahead and complete it.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

1st Day of School

Not only was it Clark's first day of Second Grade, but it was Shea's first day of Kindergarten, as well. They were both so excited!


Steve and I walked them both to school, although they ran ahead to the end of the block.


I couldn't believe it, but I didn't cry when Shea entered her Kindergarten Enrichment class. I think it was because she was so thrilled to be going. She didn't know too many kids in her class, since most of the children she knows are attending Kindergarten first and then Enrichment in the afternoon. Yet Shea is easy-going and she wasn't scared. I'm hopeful she'll make lots of friends.

Clark ran right to his second grade class. He has most of his best friends in his class, and he's enjoying being in the mobile unit, since both B track, second grade classes are the only classes in the trailer.

I can't believe how independent they've become!

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