Four Down, Seven To Go

Here's the afghan I completed this week (#2 for the primos, if you're keeping count):

If you think I'm counting incorrectly, there was a change (and a few additions). Afghan #1 went to the first primo; afghan #2 was kept by my mom for herself (her excuse was that it matched her bedroom perfectly); afghan #3 was for my sister; and this just-completed one is afghan #4 for the second primo. So although the original plan was to make seven afghans for the primos (cousins), somehow four more were added to the list (two for Mom, one each for my two sisters).

That makes the score: four down and seven to go. Sounds daunting, but on the upside, #5 is already started, and #6 is a repeat of #4 with a different color scheme (which went very quickly)!

These projects are all temporarily on hold while I complete a quick entry for the Etsy Texas Crafters February Design Challenge. Sneak peek -- I'm combining these two very different yarns:

Stay tuned for a pic of the finished project and a link to the Design Challenge!

The Winter Games

I just love the Olympics, but this year I really love the outfits the American team wore at the Opening Ceremonies, especially the moose hat:

J'adore!

And I absolutely love the cable knit sweater the athletes wore also (but I'll have to save up for that little beauty --$425 at ralphlauren.com!) Maybe I'll just learn how to knit....

Belated congratulations to the Jefferson Middle School theater arts group for their Superior (the highest possible) rating at the Middle School Theatre Festival! They did an awesome job!

And DS1 won a medal for All-Star cast! Here he is receiving his medal along with his classmate Justin (they are the two tall boys).

And a belated Valentines Day greeting to all -- we don't really celebrate Valentines Day (never have), but I brought home a heart-shaped balloon and that just made DS4's day!

That's love for you!

Finished One Project and Started Another....

I'm so glad I finally finished my sister's blanket! It turned out so nice:

And I started a new project right away, another blanket for the primos:

It's made of solid squares in aqua, ivory, and grey (a modern combination, to be sure). The squares are connected when you work the last row (no sewing! yay!). I love this pattern -- it works up so fast! After a week, I am about half-way done!

The pattern is free and available on redheart.com (search for the Square Upon Square Throw). I like this so much, I'm thinking of changing up the colors and making another one! (Turns out my other sister wants a blanket, too, so the second one just might end up being for her!)

Time to Get Blogging Again....

So much for New Year's resolutions: here it is, January 26, and I haven't blogged since Veterans Day. To describe my life is busy is an understatement.

To catch you up, Thanksgiving and Christmas were fun. My brother, sister-in-law and their three children came to visit. Adding their three with my four ratcheted up the activity/noise level by about 100 or so. But the cousins had so much fun playing and exploring at the ranch. Plus my nephew was happy to be with boy cousins for a change.

DS1 has been preoccupied with rehearsal for the one-act play. He has one of the lead roles. But he took time to head to the movies twice with friends during the holiday break. He used to be my anti-social child, so it's nice to see him hanging out with friends. Oh, and he won the spelling bee at his middle school! So it's off to the city bee for him!

DS2 just took the SAT as part of the Duke TIP program. It's a wonderful opportunity to get a sneak peek at the exam while he's a 7th grader, and it may lead to scholarship or other educational opportunities.

DS3 participated in the 3rd grade Christmas program at his school. They sang 5 songs, then for the last number, several of the children (including DS3) danced on stage. Oh my, it was hysterical. He is quite theatrical and obviously not shy at all!

DS4 is just a joy to watch grow up! His vocabulary is expanding daily. He told me the other day that flies "are disgusting." Big word for a little boy! Here he is swinging at the ranch:

Me? I've been trying to finish up some projects. I stayed up until 3am on Christmas Eve to complete DS4's stocking. The blanket for my sister is just about complete, just have to weave in the ends (ugh). I've already started two more blankets, one for the primos and one for my mom (and no, DS3's bookbag is not yet complete -- actually I can't find it right now, although I think I know where it might be.)

Oh, and my parents hosted an exchange student last year. Marina is from Germany, speaks 4 languages and is a sweet, engaging, and bright young lady. Sadly, she left to go home last week (she was afraid she would be behind in her senior year if she spent her entire junior year here). Plus, I'm sure she missed her family terribly. Here she is with the boys:



We miss her already, but now we are thinking of taking a summer trip to Germany to visit Marina and her family. That would be fun!

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our country! We live in freedom because of you! A special wish for a happy Veterans Day to my two favorite veterans, my father (USAF retired) and my DH (USN)! My thoughts and prayers go to the families in Fort Hood -- your loved ones are heroes!

So Many Projects, Not Enough Time

I can't believe how quickly 2009 has slipped by! And now we're about seven weeks from Christmas! The list of gifts I want to make keeps growing. For sure, I have to finish DS3's bookbag -- he asked about it today. Oh, did I feel horrible when I had to tell him it still wasn't complete. Worse than that, I haven't touched it for weeks. :(

So completing the bookbag is Number One on my list.

Number Two is completing DS4's Christmas stocking. Several years ago (before DS4 was born), I crocheted Christmas stockings for DS1, DS2, DS3, DH, and myself. I like to decorate in non-traditional holiday colors, so I made the stockings in shades of blue and purple.

When DS4 was born, I knew there would come a day when I would have to make a stocking for him. No problem -- I found the worn free pattern that I had used originally, picked some more Lion Brand Homespun yarn, and starting crocheting last winter. Unfortunately, Christmas came and went before I could finish the stocking (don't worry, he got goodies from Santa in another, not handmade, stocking). He didn't even notice that his stocking was different. But this year, he's a year smarter and much, much more observant, so I must finish it! Number Two.

Number Three is a blanket my mom asked me to make for my sister. (No peeking, M!) I'm about 3/4 of the way complete. I love the color combination (a pretty pink and chocolate brown) -- she's going to be lucky to get it from me -- it's definitely a keeper!

So those three are my "must finish" items! Time permitting I want to make a scarf for my mom, hats for DS3 and DS4, and something from the exchange student my parents are hosting. I also have an awesome pattern for a man's vest, that hopefully will be under the tree for DH.

A Handmade Halloween and First Monday Sale!

Here's DS3 and DS4 dressed up for Halloween:

(Note: I apologize for DS4's unfortunate hand gesture. The gloves were too big for his little hands. Also, he wouldn't let me draw a mustache or sideburns. Maybe next year...)

DS2 was Indiana Jones with my old leather jacket and a fedora, and DS1 was the Plague. Yes, the Plague. He had his rat minions crawling all over his shirt. Not real ones of course, because that's just gross and would freak me out.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

And a quick reminder that today is ETC's First Monday Sale! 99 shops are participating this month! Save 20% at The Lavender Ladybug, and Buy One Get One 50% Off *OR* Buy Two Get One Free at The Lavender Lizard! Have a great day!