christmas eve

Christmas Eve was a great party again this year at Aunt CeCe's and Uncle Mike's beautiful party house. Cocktails, cousins, and even Santa! E was quite shy and warmed up eventually but definitely held a reserve the whole night.



One of the best parts of the night is when everyone takes a turn around the table(s) saying what the highlight of their year was. E said, "I learned to drive a four-wheeler and shoot a bow and arrow." It's such a positive way to hear where everyone is in their life.




He was thrilled with his Buzz Lightyear watch from Santa and got tons of cool pirate stuff.







How gorgeous are these kids? And they are all so talented and articulate. I love to see E with his cousins!

E's birthday cake

E helped me design, bake and decorate his birthday cake. He knew he wanted it to be Peter Pan green and definitely chocolate. We threw the sprinkles on at the last minute because who can resist them? E is still a bit nervous about cracking eggs but he's learned to run the kitchenaid mixer like a pro.

E's birthday

Happy Birthday E! E had his sleepover birthday party on Saturday night. He was game on the sleepover but not game on just having four friends- he was still inviting people on Friday afternoon -" sure, come to my party tomorrow!". But four was definitely all we could handle. The execution of four preschools all going the bathroom, washing their hands, and putting their jammies on was enough to make both Tall House, Double Cup and I grateful for having our kids spaced apart by four years.
We did have a lot of fun - the kids were so good. E was the only drama when 20 minutes into his Peter Pan party decided it should be a Star Wars Jedi party. He couldn't get the other kids to give up being pirates in order to join his Jedi Academy and was soon sobbing in the corner. I think he was so worked up with excitement. He hardly ever has a melt down - but this was a classic. His mood was soon fixed by pizza and cake and then a popcorn movie party showing . . . . Peter Pan, of course.
All of the boys slept on two twin mattresses we put on the his floor and Moo slept with us. We've renamed her the "flying Walenda!" Even though Moo is two years younger than the boys, she totally held her own. She went along with everything they were doing and stole a lot of kisses from E.
In the morning THDC made pancakes and the kids got some more playtime in. Parents picked up their kids at 10am and we spent the rest of the day playing rocket ship and outerspace doctor. To finish off E's actual birthday, we had his grandparents over and went to the Oregon Zoo Lights. It was a great celebration. Just one more brithday celebration tonight when my parents get to town and then we can get on with this business of being 4.

knitting update

Knitting update - where I come to terms with a failed project, sideline another and celebrate one that's going swell.

Starting with the swell - E's chocolately cabled sweater. I've finished the front and have nearly half of the back done. I am doubling up on the yummy cotton - it's really lovely -Cascade Yarn's Sienna - which I got at Abundant Yarn with a giftcard from Marci (thanks!). It's knitting up so fast and looks so rich. Marci's daughter said, "It looks like she's knitting with chocolate." I love that!













Sideline project. I have to admit it - I really don't like the color choices for Wild Stripes Blankie from Knitty. There are glaring transitions from dull colors to bright and ultrabrights that my eye can't take. I did get some positive feedback from co-workers which makes me think I should finish it and save it for a special baby gift. It is one of those very easy projects to work on at the movies . . .

Project desertion. It is time to say goodbye to the Flowery Jumper - it's just not working out. I have serious problems with intarsia and need to take a class to really understand how to do it without it bunching up. I spent months on this sweater so it's especially hard to admit, but it just isn't working. The hat came out great so I am fashioning a little matching purse for Moo. Maybe the sweater front and back can be an odd shaped pillow for her bed. I am still in love with the pattern and the colors, but I am going to nee d a professional to really understand how intarsia works.
Goodbye jumper!

Shamrock Sweater success

I actually finished one of my projects this week! I had intended for this to be E's St. Patrick's Day sweater but it turned out so perfect I might bump it up to Christmas Day . . . . It's super warm and my typically inadequate finishing techniques look fine. Yeah!
Knit Picks Shamrock in Dougherty - my own "pattern."


E has been difficult to catch on film lately. I had to promise to take a picture of him as "Bowie the dog" in order to get these other shots. Bowie is actually quite a sweet, lovely pup despite E's tough face.

gingerbread house

E and I made a gingerbread house last week - it was actually the first one I've ever made. We used a kit - partly because I am terrible at baking "smooth" cookies - and partly to save time from gathering all the yummies together. E didn't know the difference but he had lots of opinions on where to place the decorations and on the amount he should get to sample. It turned out to be a really fun project and one I hope to do every year with him - maybe we'll get crazy some year and make it from sratch. or maybe not.

tuba christmas

We went to the Tuba Christmas concert downtown yesterday - 200 tubas and a sing-along! We rode the train to the square which in itself was the highlight for E. Marfie, Brooke, Sam and Moo met us and we traded snacks, sang songs and felt very cheery. Moo is still the kissing bandit and Sam is the most content snuggler!

christmas card picture angst

I've taken dozens of pictures of E -trying to get just the right picture to include in our Christmas card. I think some of you will appreciate the outtakes.




I especially like the last picture on the right - it sort of expresses all of E's feelings about having his picture taken.

Finally . . . . the winner:

getting motivated or not

I haven't been very motivated to post over the past few weeks. I think this little baby is zapping my resolve to accomplish much beyond the imperative. I had an ultrasound yesterday and Trigger (e's name for the baby) is in constant motion - totally different from any pictures we had of E before he was born. People keep saying this means it's a girl. I think it just means I could be up a lot at night this summer with a newborn.

Here are a few more pictures from Thanksgiving. E totally got into shooting his bow and arrow - he was a natural at it and I think it made him feel very grown up. I was just glad the tips were round. The guys are in hunter orange because my parents live out in the middle of the woods and people are hunting the whole week - not very motivating to get out for a walk.

wisconsin thanksgiving

E was in utter heaven all week as we played in Wisconsin at Nana and Jonesie's house out in the country. He rode on the four-wheeler every day ("I think I need to go check for mail") and even got his own bow and arrow! I missed getting pictures of him with it but Jonesie will send them on soon.
We went for a 12 foot boat ride on my parents' semi-frozen pond. It didn't matter that we didn't get anywhere - just being on a boat is enough when you are 3.

Nana had the prettiest Thanksgiving tree - full of animals and nature ornaments. We did just a bit of shopping - our annual holiday haul at Target on Friday. My cousin Kallie and I always do a big purchase for her wardrobe. I didn't even get to the Christmas section before we all had to leave for the movies.

Thanksgiving Day was lovely - there were ten of us - a perfect number for chatting and playing cards. I made two pumpkin pies and one pecan. And everthing else was delicious. I allowed myself two inches of champagne - I don't think the baby minded.
We tried and tried for the perfect Christmas card shot - that deserves a photoblog of it's own. I couldn't get just the right combination of pose, expression and framing. Finally, we ended Thanksgiving with our traditional fireworks show at the pond. We sat a little too CLOSE and ended up screaming and defending ourselves from sparks - which was exciting and silly and a perfect way to celebrate being together.

christmas jammies

I found two jammie tops at the Hanna Andersson outlet several years ago for just $3 - I thought I'd be able to find matching bottoms eventually. Fast forward two years and the tops fit E but no bottoms had been found. So on Fri. E and I spent the day together - out for breakfast, indoor play gym and . . . . . . . . sewing!
E and I made the sweetest Christmas jammie bottoms- candy cane stripe flannel and polka dot ribbon down the sides. Admire the front view.

And the side view:




And a close-up. These will definitely be worn for Christmas morning.

previewing Martha Stewart Christmas at Kmart

I HATE Kmart - truly and deeply. The aisles are narrow, the staff is slow, and there are never more than two checkers working when I go - and I never seem to go unless I am on my way to something else and need to get this damm line moving. Regardless of this deep dispassion for the Big K - I can't stay away because of Martha.
I like the Everday Martha Stewart home products but I LOVE it when her Christmas stuff hits the store! It arrived before Halloween and I made an early pilgrimage to check it out. As always, the wrapping paper is the best part. There are several new patterns this year including a lovely bird and branch theme and very pretty blue and silver dimonds.


The ornaments this year look much like last year. I did get E two new ornaments from the "sugarplum dreams" collection - a bike and a wagon. I actually use them on his dresser top rather than a tree. I also got a wooden caroling girl - mostly because she looks like me.
Even though these fake gumdrop garlands are hideous in person, I really sort of long for them in a deep, dark part of my heart. E has the spangles on the right in his room when we decorate for Christmas.









I didn't grab a picture of them but the Martha Christmas cards were charming and I actually scrapped my plans for an ophoto picture card and grabbed two boxes of gumdrop ornament cards - things get a bit heady in martha christmas land. Quick decision making is a must.

happy halloweenie

We had a great time on Halloween - it wasn't a crazy night but rather just enough fun for a school night and a pregnant, sleepy mama.
Peter Pan was in full force. He lost his perfect dagger somewhere in the house so out came the pirate sword instead. We visited a few neighbors on our street and then headed up to Moo's.













Tinkerbell and Peter Pan watched kids come to the door and then did a bit of trick or treating. Moo was scared of anyone in a mask so we parted ways to go to the super spooky house in the neighborhood that has a cast of teenage boys acting as mummies, grave diggers and living dead. E said, "I'm not really that scared" but held my hand the whole time.
It was SO cold - felt like a Wisconsin Halloween instead of a pdx night. E has layers upon layers on under his costume.









One more picture of E and Moo at the Farmer's Market. They were in the Halloween Parade and wowed the crowd. Moo waved her magic wand and said, "Hello, my people" while E cheered "Onto Neverland." They win my blue ribbon!