Finished Object

Lil'onE is still a work in progress, but her Offset Wraplan is finished.There are more details in my Ravelry projects page. The yarn is worsted weight Bamboo by Farmhouse Yarns, if I remember correctly. It is really nice to knit with, a little heavy though. I think that as time goes on I am becoming more and more the wool snob. I don't mean to be. I just am.

Either way, the yarn and accessories were a gift from my fabulous friend Mrs.H on the day that Lil'onE was born. I started the sweater in November and thought (rightly) that I better hurry up and finish knitting the size 9-12month sweater before it didn't fit! It is done. It fits. And I love it. My only gripe with the pattern is that it requires 8 buttons (the picture doesn't do them justice, they are super sparkly) and the sweater needs to be worn buttoned, otherwise it flops open weirdly. But that isn't the pattern as much as me not wanting to fiddle with 8 buttons on a wiggle-worm. l.a.z.y.

Gosh, she is cute.
Now I need to finish INBA's sweater. I may run out of UFOs! I wish!

Big Girl

9 months old.

It is going so fast!

But notice, still no teeth. Doesn't crawl... but last night was demonstrating why that one particular swim stroke is called "the crawl." With proper motivation she will swim and roll to get what she wants.

Eldest went to the eye doctor yesterday. His prescription changed 3/4 of a diopter over the last year. He is up to a -4 in each eye. We need to find him a specialist. Just to make sure that there isn't anything else going on.

So he and I went up to McKnight Road in the north hills (You don't realize what a big deal this is that we went 15 miles and through a tunnel and over 2 rivers to get somewhere in one afternoon if you aren't from Pittsburgh. We went to the moon by most accounts.) to go to Eyeglass World and get him 2 pairs of glasses for $60. And yes, you certainly get what you pay for. But I wasn't interested in paying $350 at the place that takes our vision insurance that isn't giving Eldest glasses this year. I can replace a lot of frames for that! Anyway, while we were waiting for his glasses to be made, we went to find Dyed in the Wool on Babcock Blvd. Happily, it was 3 minutes away! But tell me, isn't it a little weird that they don't put a price tag on anything? The Mister says, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." Which is probably true, but when has that stopped stash enhancement? I did buy some crazyfoot by mountain colors. They charged me $25 which is ok, but the bag that I thought they were giving me free (cheap little canvas tote) they charged me $3. So, unimpressed is to say the least.

On a bright note, Piecing it Together is right next door!
I have been trying to do more quilting and the boys have put new quilts on my to-do list. I don't know if I mentioned that around the same time that INBA requested his red sweater (which is not done, but I am on the second sleeve and feeling Valentine's Day approaching fast. But where is the real motivation when it is 50 degrees out in January?) INBA, of course, wants trains. Eldest said he wanted cars. Well, I enticed him to follow me into the quilt shop by saying that he might find a fat quarter or 2 that he would like for his quilt.

A number of things happened when we got into that store.

• First. Wow, they have a lot of WONDERFUL fabric.
• Second. They were very nice to us.
• Third. I realized that the lady helping us had attended South Hills Knit Guild for a while and we recognized each other. (Another Pittsburgh moment- small town and people are pretty much only nice to you if they know you. I think Bobbie would be an exception, she seems like she is nice without this requirement.)
• Fourth. Eldest totally got into planning his quilt. She talked him into a 'Turning Twenty' quilt.
• Fifth. Eldest walked out happily with his 20 fat quarters. He has very eclectic taste. They run from Marines to multicolored bubbles to Indy cars to crashing waves and astronauts. It should look pretty amazing.
• Sixth. Eldest is excited about doing his quilt together. I am going to let him help cut the fabric and teach him how to sew a straight line so that he can piece. It really will be his quilt! How cool is that?

And then...

There is a game shop almost directly across the street that we stopped to visit. They helped reassure us that we were playing backgammon correctly. And they carry the game series and expansion packs for Ticket to Ride, perhaps the best game ever. I bought a dice expansion for INBA that the guys are all playing as I type.

Needless to say, I am broke after my little trip into the North Hills and I didn't even go into the Ross Park Mall!

Most important accomplishment is that Eldest can see. That we had a great afternoon together, triple double bonus.

No Pretending

I am not going to resolve to be better about blogging. I would like to be, but there are no promises to be made right now.

We had a family picture taken last week. Can you tell that Lil'onE is teething? She looks like a little ol'lady! I have been doing a little knitting. Mostly smallish stuff.

I made stockings, this one and one white with green stripes and red heel/toe. I have enough yarn left to make a green with red stripes, but I don't think that colorway will look as good. Eldest gave me permission to make him a green stocking with red heel/toe and I talked him into white snowflakes on it. It is on the list for this year.

I was super pleased with these mitten ornaments/gift card holders that I made for my niece and nephews. I felt bad just giving them $20 for Christmas, so I made these to hold it. Turns out, I could have just made the ornaments, they all loved them. But then, doesn't everyone like to see their name in print? I am making a mental note for next Christmas.
Mrs. Claus made flame hats for the boys. This is INBA's 'fire face.'

They were too happy to pull them down to show off the flame pattern.

I think Mrs. Claus used the flame on baby hat pattern in a chunky weight wool to make it big boy size. You can find it on Ravelry. They love to point out what a good knitter Mrs Claus is compared to me.

Mrs Claus II made the boys some amazingly awesome vests that I haven't taken a picture of, but I will, because MCII needs to be acknowledged for her AWESOMENESS, she really is a better knitter than I.

And in case you wondered what I have been doing the rest of the time...

I can't believe how 2009 flew by. 2010 is going to be another eventful year. Already the calendar is filling up with happy events for friends and family.

In my knitting bag is a sweater for INBA that he asked for 4 days before Christmas. He was cold and wanted a "warm, red wool, long sleeve sweater with cables... by Christmas. Ok, fine, by New Years. Well, at least by Valentine's Day, because it is red." I have created a monster!! I love it.

After that, I am going to make myself a vest. I am either burning up or freezing cold, so a little something to throw on is necessary.

I am in the midst of making Lil'onE a grocery cart cover. I will NEVER reccomend to any one to make one of their own. They are not expensive enough to bother. I bought the pattern for 99 cents and used fabric that was already in my stash, leftover from other projects, even. Otherwise, the 4 yards of fabric and 1 1/2 yards of batting would be more than buying one at the babies store. Of course, mine will be much nicer, but I wish I could justify not finishing it. UGH. But it will be nice to have and it is screaming orange fun. But seriously, don't ever get an idea to make one. Super huge and unwieldy and a HUGE pain in the tushy. I will show you when I am done. I will finish. I must. Where the heck could I stash the thing?

Eldest came home sick from school today with a fever. So he will be home tomorrow, too. Lil'onE has had a little something, but it could just be those 2 bottom teeth that refuse to break through. If Eldest is sick, she probably has both problems. Hopefully, INBA doesn't get it.

And now you know.

Swedish meatballs for dinner and a diaper to be changed.

Happy New Year to you. Health and prosperity for you and yours in 2010!

The Trick Is

Not to sit down. If I keep moving, well, I keep moving. That Newton guy knew what he was talking about. Trouble is, I have a baby that needs to be fed and cuddled. This involves sitting down periodically. Then, I have trouble getting started again.
I would show you all the knitting that I have done, but sekrit xmas stuff is going on here. Hopefully, I will remember to take pictures upon delivery.
So, that makes this entry preeeetty boring.
Kid updates- Eldest is having trouble delivering important papers to school, unless it involves him getting tickets for lunch.
INBA is still insisting that he cannot read and refuses to do so. But he can read, he just doesn't enjoy it as much as his brother does and has to work a little harder. How do I get it thru to him that he is not his brother and to expect himself to be his brother is not helping anyone?
Lil'onE is growing like a weed. She is very vocal, loves to make raspberries (wow, that girl has a lot of saliva) and likes to rub things between her finger and thumb.

Life is hectic... Happy Holidaze!

Frabel at the Phipps

wonderful and warm Sunday afternoon outing!

6 Months Already

It's All Fun and Games...

Until someone gets stitches.Monkeying around on the bus, of course. Although, it seems that he happened to be innocent of the Monkeying, this time. It is still a game that the boys play regularly on the bus home, poking each other. He was caught off guard and knocked off balance and the bus came to a stop, all at the same time. He fell and hit his head and ended up on the floor. 3 stitches. OUCH.

Love the MedExpress on 19 at Boyce Road!! In and out in about 50 minutes.

And a stocking for the Lil'onE. I have been working on Christmas gifts and fretting already that I am not going to get much done. Man, these kids put a crimp in my knitting time! That and those darn jewel games on facebook. hee-hee.

Photo-op

What can I say, boys at llbean...

Matchy Match

I finished my Lady Tulip to match the beautiful Tulip that Laurie made for Lil'OnE.
And I worry that she is going to be a peas-on-the-wall girl.
Ok, that doesn't sound good. But look at the arm going and the splatter on the face! We are getting a little better with the whole 'solid food' thing... but I have several damp towels close by at all times.

And I finally had a professional portrait taken of Lil'OnE... only took 5 months.

I must say, she is peaches. :)

The boys are busy with school. The Mister took them for the Cub Scout Fall Campout last weekend. in.the.rain. How's that for dedication?

Eldest has taken up Trombone for the school band. That is interesting. But only for about 20 minutes a day. heh.

I am hoping that the weather improves for the weekend. The Hickory Apple Festival is this weekend and I want to go.

How's that for a nutshell?

A Walk on History

The covered bridge featival is this weekend in Washngton and Greene counties. Excellent excuse to be out with the family.

Last of Summer

We went to the Heinz History Center to see the Lincoln exhibit. We stumbled upon these... as I stood there, mocking the long line of ooglers taking pictures of trophies that have absolutely nothing to do with their lives (it's called reflected glory,) I noticed that the Mister had that same look. I can deny him nothing. So, even I took a picture of him and his kids and the silly trophies. INBA is mad because he wanted to be by the most recent one on the other end. Sorry kid, must learn to express oneself in more coherent ways than a grunt and a stomp. I really wanted to get out of town at least once this summer. So we headed to Sandusky, Ohio where we found the aforementioned Cream Puff (which btw, the boys split and still only ate about half between the two of them. It was HUGE!) We also went to Cedar Point. I am really glad we went this year instead of waiting until next summer like I had promised the boys. Lil'OnE did awesome in the stroller and it would have been a nightmare if she was trying to walk around.
Here she is, chillin' in the stroller but still cozy on the Great Lake in her sweater from Julia.

INBA with his 'train face.' All I can do is giggle. He is so serious about trains and his future as an engineer. I hope it comes true for him. You know, Mr. Obama has no bigger supporter for high speed rail than our INBA.

In the stocks... check out INBA on the end!

The Mister and the boys stood in line for 45 minutes for an 18 second ride on this thing. Straight up at 120 miles per hour. No thank you. I will wait with the baby. (I had a sock to work on :)
I am a purist. I love the old wooden roller coasters. The Blue Streak was awesome.

And then, Back to School. 2nd grade and 4th grade. Big kids.

Little kid. Sweater by Laurie, blanket by all my Friday night knitterly friends.

We are spoiled.

And warm.

It was 48 degrees when we went down to the bus on August 31! It has been cool every day, since, too. Weird year.

I am renewing my resolve to post at least twice a week... I am on facebook, now, and it is a little distracting. lol.

who you callin' cream puff?

the mother of all cream puffs at dianna's deli and restaurant in Sandusky, OH.

Where Has the Summer Gone?

This is it... the last week of summer.

The boys go back to school on the 31st.

I feel so much pressure! Can the last week be memorable?

Does it need to be?

We had more cousins visiting this month.Poor Lil'onE. Look at what she is surrounded by! The Mister's 2nd sister's 3 boys and our two... poor thing. But in fairness, I did promise to take this picture if they gave us one 'nice' one. We all know the truth in this picture!

The Mister is a Virginia Tech alumnus. Of course Lil'onE is adorned appropriately!
Doesn't he look proud?

And then the 4th month was gone...
4 months old. And adorable in watermelons.
I want to be a baby. Everyone thinks her fleshy thighs are cute.

Oh, and about the llama. Filthy. Filthy. And I think I am allergic. It makes my eyes itch and my nose itch and sneezy and...
The Mister says I just need to wash it more. Perhaps. The problem is getting from one side of that to the other. Not really a journey I am looking to make.
It is truly unfortunate, too. The fiber is a beautiful silver and charcoal grey. It would blend beautifully with my fleece.

eeeewwww

I am washing the llama so that I can blend it with some of my wool. It is so filthy. I mean. I am seriously wondering what color it is, because the water is so brown and thick! I thought it was chocolate brown. Now I am not going to be surprised if it is almond colored!
I put it in for a second soapy bath, I cannot believe that the first one really got all the dirt out. I will let you know how it ends up.

I Can't Believe That I Forgot to Tell YOU!

I finished carding my fleece yesterday!!!!!! YES you heard right. Only one year later. I would have taken a picture but the baskets are empty! Now just to spin. Oh, and I want to blend some with the llama in the basement. Not a live animal, silly, just its shearing. Have I mentioned the llama? The school secretary's sister in Florida raises a llama and happily sent me its spring haircut. um, last spring. How cool is that? Yeah, I know.

Make It Special

I like Texas Sheet Cake. I mean, it is chocolate cake with chocolate icing. What's not to like. I have seen a couple recipes around. My MIL makes a version, she isn't always a reliable recipe giver, though. I have made Texas Sheet Cake twice now. This time, I believe I have found the secret.

Ready?

Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa.

Seriously.

Yum.

Here's the recipe.

1c butter (unsalted, land o lakes is worth the extra buck)

1 c water

4 tbs. Special Dark Cocoa

2 c sugar

2 c flour

1/2 t salt

1t baking soda

1 t vanilla

1 t cinnamon

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 c sour cream (breakstone reduced fat)

In a pot large enough to hold all the ingredients, bring to a boil the butter, water and cocoa. Remove from heat, stir in sugar, flour, salt, baking soda, vanilla and cinnamon. Beat in eggs and sour cream.

Pour batter into a greased 13x9 glass pan. Bake at 375 degrees fro 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. As soon as you remove the cake from the oven, spread with frosting.

Frosting

1/2 cup butter

4 tbs Special Dark Cocoa

1/3 c milk

4 cups powdered sugar

1 t vanilla

Melt butter and stir in cocoa, stir in milk. Remove from heat. Slowly stir in powder sugar and vanilla. Beat well. Spread hot icing over hot cake.

Try to control yourself until it cools a little. It will burn your tongue. Just sayin'. hee-hee.

I made this cake the other day. Grandma Lime Cake

The frosting didn't turn out right, I don't think. It was looking good until I added the lime juice. But who cares? It tasted awesome! I like lime. mmm-hmm.

Let's see, What Else?

My friend Mrs. H. has started writing a blog. It is a very good blog. Mrs. H. is a very interesting person, so I am not surprised. And she does indeed have good manners and rather polite children. Best part? She is my friend. Go look at her blog and tell her that I sent you. It might keep her my friend after hollywood buys the movie rights.

RoboWorld at the Carnegie Science Center is cool. The kids really liked it. Sam, the big cousin, beat the robot at air hockey. Grandma lost to the robot. She wasn't sad, though, she didn't lose as bad as she would have expected. lol.

Oh, look! Lil'onE is 3 1/2 months old!

Just so you don't think I only take pictures of my baby... INBA. He's 7 1/2.

But I have been taking more pictures of the baby. This one is inspired by a picture of my Nephew Aaron, who is a month younger than Lil'onE. Of course, his was a professional picture, Lil'onE is stuck with the Mommy version.

Happy Days

First, Happy Birthday to Laurie!! 29 with experience, I hear.
We had lunch at Mitchells and a walk around the Galleria on Saturday to celebrate.
by the by... The Mister wasn't impressed with my Gymboree bag, but INBA loved the dogs.
I didn't get her anything off her birthday list, but I think she feels appreciated anyway.
We agreed that it wasn't safe for me to be going to the movies with her, seeing how last year after a birthday celebration that included "Mama Mia," The Mister took advantage of my "no one's going to call me when I am old blues" and gave me a daughter...
Who is 3 months old today!
super trooper....hmm mm hmmmhmm.

Mixing of Emotions

Here's a little ditty that a friend sent me the link to... they don't allow this one to be embeded, but it is worth a click. Of course, my friend thinks she is funny.

My emotions are jumbly because my friend Shizuko from Long Beach, CA is coming to visit for a couple of days on her way West. She and her family have been on a cross country road trip and are coming up Pittsburgh way to visit us.
Shizuko is one of those friends that you meet (at a park near our house, one random afternoon) and start talking because the boys are playing so well together. I didn't think that we would have anything to say or in common because we come from very different backgrounds. But then, we are instant friends. We laugh, we are quite alike with much to share from our different experiences, and it feels like we had been friends forever almost from the beginning. It is wonderful, because even if we don't speak for any amount of time, we take right back up as if it were yesterday. She is really a blessing to me. And she was one of a gajillion reasons that I didn't want to leave California.
So, I am jumbly because I know that I am going to be really sad when she leaves. I am sad just thinking about how happy I am that I will get to see her tomorrow.
Pretty messed up.

I'll blame it on postpartum hormones.

Old and New

I need to figure out how to blog from my new phone (the enV Touch. Which I love and may have just learned a couple things about by watching that link.)

I mean, I can still do the text message thing, but I want to figure out how to navigate to something other than facebook. But I am old (not 16 anymore.)

Check out the new legs (not 3 months, yet.)

The legwarmers were found by Laurie, right under my nose. I had misplaced them just before she was born until 2 weeks ago.They are a modification of the legwarmer pattern in The Expectant Knitter.

I don't have the book in front of me, I think she used sport or dk weight. I used Julia's sock yarn. I have a pair of socks from the rest of the hank.

Anyway, I just converted the row gauge of the pattern to inches to knit. That is she said knit 8 rows and that really meant knit an inch- I am making up the numbers but you see what I mean? Either way, we ended up with legwarmers.
How about a cheer for unseasonably cool summer days?

Don't you just love Laurie's Cardi? It is Noro, Silk Garden Lite? Best part, sparkly heart buttons. Priceless. The friend and the cardigan.

Happy 4th of July We enjoyed a the weekend. It warmed up enough for the boys to spend some time at MIL's pool.
When did they get so big? *sigh*
They celebrated independence day by playing with Diet Coke and Mentos. INBA told me today that it was the best 4th of July he ever had. *aww* The Mister walked the boys up to the corner (about 1/2 mile) to watch the township fireworks. Lil'one and I watched the fireworks in DC and then the recap of the ones downtown.

Plenty of activity around here to keep us cruising thru our days.
I am still struggling to find balance between all 3 and me.
I really got used to having a little down time to myself and I am afraid that stealing that anymore means aggravating the sleep deprivation. But, when you need a couple hours of quiet creative time, you need it.
I'll sleep when I'm dead.
Dead tired.
That may be tomorrow...

10 weeks-ish

At least, I think it has been about that long...

So, let's just get the baby pictures out of the way.

I took these last Thursday (maybe-who knows what day it is?)

My mother will appreciate the first one. (I think if you click it gets big) And then a giggle.

*sigh*

Up Hill All the Way.
I walked the boys to summer playground this morning at the Middle School that is near our house. OMG, it was all up hill. I knew my road was, but I didn't realize that the crossroad was, too! Thank goodness it was only 64 degrees this morning. I had Lil'one in the bjorn and was feeling every pound on my postpartum body.
I guess if you aren't from Pittsburgh (not that I am, either, let's be clear) you don't realize that the "up hill, both ways, in the snow," is talking about the 'burgh and the goat paths they paved to make roads in terrain that no one in their right mind would have thought would be a good place to build a city. I guess, to be fair, the triangle is pretty flat. But Mt. Washington is on other side of the river! Duh.
Anyway, I sweat.

Back on the Ranch
I want to card some fleece.
Just to card some fleece, it isn't like I have time to do anything else with it.
So I cleaned the bathroom and swept the family room and tried to dust. The blue handle has gone missing for the swiffer duster. So, that was a little hard.
Now, my penance is done, and Lil'one took a big poo and wants to eat.
I shoulda played first.