11:20 p.m.

Today has been an unusually frustrating day after an unusually smooth and enjoyable day. Mondays seem to most often drag on and on, but yesterday just sailed by. It was easy, the kids were happy, I felt revived and with it. Today was so bumpy I feel like I could be in a different life! I started my day by waking to the sound of Matt yelling, "Don't run down the hallway, you're getting poop everywhere!" Of course I immediately jumped out of bed to help...why I got up, I'll never know...

We've all been battling a bit of the stomach crud and Sam has been unable to "get to the potty in time"...those are his words. Shortly after the mess was cleaned and I was sweetly cuddling my boy on the couch watching the snow fall outside, the dog decided to puke on floor by my feet. Nice.

The morning progressed with our home school coop. It was a nice gathering, but Sam was not interested in participating, which is frustrating for me. After a rou

gh transition to leave, we made the drive across town to our home and Arlo fell asleep. I thought my day was getting better once we arrived and I was able to transfer him to his crib...until Sam "didn't make it to the potty in time" again. 

Just as Sam was dressed in fresh clothes and the mess cleaned up, I was settling in with a cup of tea and a phone conversation with my dear friend Sarah, Arlo woke! He was in a good mood, at least, and nursed and then played and then pooped. Yeah.

Our afternoon was not too bad, all in all. Then 4 o'clock hit and Arlo decided I had to carry him everywhere and I couldn't give in to just wearing him for fea

r he'd fall asleep and ruin an early bedtime....so instead I grumbled and carried him and tried to check my email....it didn't work and fortunately Matt came home a wee bit early to rescue me.

A fight with Sam at dinner about eating, a mess of spilled coffee grounds to clean up, and whoosh it was 9 o'clock and the boys were sleeping!

I showered and cuddled and talked with Matt....the day is ending nicely. Below you see me at 11:20 p.m. in bed online reading about home decorating. Another day under my belt and a new one to begin in less than eight hours....

Life From 40" by Sam

 

A Bump in the Knitting Road

Yes, the trials of knitting! Last night after completing about 2/3 of Andy's first sock, with detailed fair isle pattern and all....I pulled it out entirely and started all over.  I had the wise thought to try it on and it wouldn't even fit over my size 10 women's foot. I know it would never have fit Andy's size 10 man's foot! I do have a regained sense of excitement for the sock and will persevere to the end!

On a happier note, my sister finally emailed a photo of the felted bag I made for her!

 Here you see the one mistake I made...the attached the handles incorrectly! The bag is still functional, albeit a bit funky and definitely handmade!

Ho-hum-drum

I am not sure if it is the dreary weather. Or that the holidays are over and I am not going to see anyone in our family again soon. Or that everyday that passes is one closer to the one-year anniversary of my mom's death....but I just feel ho-hum-drum.

The snow melted and we've been having unseasonably warm weather in the upper 50's. Everything looks so mucky and yucky and the leaves are wet and stuck to everything. There are copious amounts of mud everywhere.

We're slowly getting back into the swing of things and at least we have our usual play groups and preschool meetings this week to keep us busy.

My moon returned last month and the hormonal changes have been very significant. 

Blah. Just blah.

I am trying to see the good in things. I am not crying all the time. I just can't seem to feel "up". Perhaps it will change as we gain ownership of our house on the 22nd and I have a new project to take on, new spaces to explore.

I can only hope.

Knitting Update and Christmas Loot

My latest knitting project is finally moving along...a pair of socks for my dear brother-in-law, Andy. I love choosing colors for a project while thinking of the person the project is intended for. The great brown and green combination really made me think of Andy's down-to-earth nature. Over the years he and I have become good friends and I really enjoy his company. I am happy to be knitting these for him. This is also my first attempt at a very basic fair isle pattern, of sorts...knitting with two colors at the same time. I am finally knitting the heel flap and socks seem to move along much faster after the turning of the heel. I also recently knit and felted a purse for my sister for Christmas. It was a great quick project and turned out fantastic. I'll have photos later, as I forgot to take some and she's supposed to do it for me soon, I hope! She loved the colors, which I picked out a few years ago and never got around to using. They suit her quite well and I am inspired to make another bag like it as it was SO easy.

On to my loot...mostly knitting loot! I must be thought of as a knitter, finally! This is the first year I have received multiple knitting gifts from multiple people! Matt gifted me a great basic pattern book a few years ago, The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, which I have used many times and love. Since then I have nto received any knitting gifts, so this year was special for me! My dear sister-in-law gave me two beautiful skeins of wool yarn by Manos del Uruguay, a great company devoted to helping artisan woman of Uruguay. This is first time I have been gifted yarn! It is such a fantastic gift to receive! Thank
you Presh!
Andy and my sister gifted me two fabulous knitting books, Super Stitches Knitting, and Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Super Stitches is a glossary of 300 stitches and cables! It is superb and fun to look at with great photographs. A creative knitters must have! Last Minute Gifts has great quick knitting patterns organized by how long it takes to knit the project. The length of time ranges from 2 hours to a weekend or a bit longer. I want to make every project and the photographs are fantastic!! I can't wait to get started on some new projects...maybe even a few gifts for my loved ones!
And last, but not least, my dad gifted me a pair of LL Bean Wellies...with moose on them! I asked for a pair of Wellington boots to help me with my yard work at the new house (or "farm" as Sam likes to call it) and he, with help from my sister, picked out these fantastic boots! I love them. Very comfortable and a bit funky...just my style! My mother-in-law also gave me some Sheepskin boots I love, a Sex and the City season from my sister...I was very blessed this holiday season. Thank you to all!

ER Averted

After having been to the ER with both boys a total of 5 times, I think Matt and I have finally learned a few things! Last night Sam was trying to climb from the couch to the coffee table (um, does this sound familiar?) and he fell on his eyebrow, splitting it open with blood everywhere! He cried and shook and I held him and remained mostly calm. Arlo just toddled around and was pretty oblivious. Matt ran to the pharmacy and bought some steri strips and bactine and we performed our own surgical procedure in the bathroom on the counter! A little Ibuprofen, some ice and cuddles and he doing just fine...whew! I am so glad the ER was averted after just receiving the bill from Arlo's mushroom ER visit in October...eeek!

Happy Holidays!

We've returned from a wonderful and strange holiday adventure in the Pittsburgh area. I will post more later with photos of our family and the loot!! Thanks to those of you who thought of me and my family as we remember this time last year. All in all I am doing well as is my sister and dad. We've made it this far together with family and friends and we'll continue to do so in the years to come.

On a brighter side, Matt heard from our transaction broker dealing with our new house. It looks like all is a go and we'll be closing on January 21 and can move in anytime after that! We'd thought the cleaning out of the house might take us into March, so we're thrilled to hear that it will very likely be much sooner AND we'll have time to make some cosmetic changes before we move in...whew!