Knitting Change of Plans

Well, all of you who are wondering how the Owls Sweater is going...it's not. I did a few gauge swatches. Couldn't get the gauge that I wanted (too many stitches per inch, too few rows per inch). I then played with the pattern numbers a bit and decided to put it on hold until I knit this. It's a star tree topper from the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2009 issue. I added a few more beads and used solid vs. variegated yarn and here is what the front looks like:


I have the front and back done and now need to crochet the two sides together. Unfortunately, I left the magazine in Virginia so I'll have to wing the rest of it included the i-cord to hold it on the tree. Wish me luck.

The Owls Sweater was going to be my next project. I even took my yarn, pattern and needles to Virginia with me for our Thanksgiving trip, but... while I was there my mom showed me the little dress she decided to knit for her three granddaughters for Christmas dresses. It is an adorable pattern and I can see why she decided to knit them but...she was only partway through the two smaller ones and hadn't even started the third so I volunteered to knit the third one. Unfortunately, the dress is 288 stitches per round with DK yarn and the first 8 rows are a picot pattern that I screwed up repeatedly. I even managed to knit 12 rounds before realizing I had joined the first round with a twist and had to frog the whole thing. I'm now doing much better, but still have TONS of knitting to do and this needs to be done in time to mail to Virginia and be worn for Christmas. What have I volunteered for? I'm sure it will all work out, but I MUST go knit now.

If You Decorate...It will Come

Yesterday I started decorating for Christmas. It's the only holiday I decorate for and I LOVE it. Each decoration is a memory from the past and a new memory to be made. It was a rough day for decorating as I broke two ornaments and J broke a snow globe just in unpacking the decorations. Oh well. It was still glorious.

We pulled out the nativity scenes (J's favorites!):

The fiber-optic snowman (N was entranced):
A ribbon wreath I made a few years ago went on the door (my favorite feather wreath did not survive the move very well--too smooshed!):

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care:


And decorations were spread throughout the house like these adorable alligator salt and pepper shakers:
And my favorite Santa-- I bought him at 7-11 ten years ago (my first year in my own place for Christmas):
So we decorated our house and we created Christmas magic. This morning...



it snowed! In Texas, it SNOWED! It's hard to see her, but that's Pepper in the snow. She seemed confused.

We decorated for Christmas and a miracle occurred...snow in Texas. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

I am SO thankful...

I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family. B, the boys and I had a lovely week spent with my family in Virginia for Thanksgiving. We got to spend lots of time with my parents, my siblings, and my nieces and nephews. It was glorious! I am SO thankful!

The Thanksgiving Spread:

My brother's triplets:

The rest of the kids:

J, 3 years old.

N, 18 months old, on my dad's motorcycle.

My nephew, Michael, 6 years old.

My niece, Lizzie, 4 years old.
My nephew, Joe, 4 years old.
My nephew, Reed, 2 years old.
My niece, Mary, 2 years old.
My niece, Madeline, 2 years old.
Me, my good friend Emily, and my sister Cat
A little beauty in nature (my mom's cherry tree that blooms in the fall and spring):

I am SO thankful!

Movie Monday: Happy Thanksgiving Edition

My little Indian performs:



Just had to share. This will be a crazy week for us so I'm going to go ahead and say "Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!"

This morning in the car on the way to school

Me: J, have you been talking about what you're thankful for at school?

J: Yes. I'm thankful for all the houses. (As we drive through our neighborhood)

Me: Okay. I'm thankful for the house we live in.

J: I'm thankful for the windows and trees and truck. (As we drive past some trees and a truck)

Me: I'm thankful that I have two such wonderful boys.

J: I'm thankful for the bushes. (As we drive past some bushes)

Me: I'm thankful for Pepper who is such a good dog to us.

J: I'm thankful for the Christmas trees. (As we drive past a field of evergreen trees)

Me: I'm thankful for Mooma and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa who all love us so much.

J: I'm thankful for the cows and horses and farm animals and the dinosaurs at the zoo. I'm thankful for the zoo. (As we drive past some cows)

Me: I'm thankful for your daddy because he loves me and is so good to me.

J: Airplanes live at the airport.


You've just got to love three year-olds! I'm so thankful I have one!

Crafty-Goodness

I finally forced myself to take a break from knitting to finish some baby gifts. I have lots of friends who have had babies recently (well, some not so recently now) and I just hadn't stopped knitting long enough to finish their baby gifts. So the last week has been dedicated to crafty goodness.

I made two little square loveys for two precious baby boys.


Three little stuffed heart toys complete with jingle bells and fun ribbon taggies for three baby girls.
And, my favorites, these precious little lovey dolls for two more baby girls.

While I was crafting, I decided to go ahead and make N's stocking. I still need to add his name, but it is otherwise complete. I did a transportation theme since N loves planes. I got my inspiration from these adorable backpacks I found on etsy. Go here to see the rest of our stockings.


And since I found a fire truck amongst my inspiration, I decided to make this ornament for J:

And then I had to make this plane ornament for N:

I know I made them, but aren't they just adorable?

And now I'm ready to knit again. Next on the list, this Owls Sweater. Unfortunately, my gauge is off so I have to do some math first.

I guess you had to be there

Tonight we went to Movie in the Park night in our neighborhood. I was telling J about our plans for the night. When I told him the name of the movie, Monsters vs. Aliens, he said, "Just like at school." I was confused and was trying to figure out what they had been doing at school when J clarified by saying, "Oh, no, that's Pilgrims and Indians." Anyway, for some reason this really cracked me up so I thought I'd share. It's not nearly as funny when writing it down. Oh well. I guess you had to be there.