Finished Beauties From 2005-2006

Christmas Morning Jammie Pants

CeCe Sweater

Manly Polka Dot Jammie Pants

Froggy Jammie Pants

Skinny Minni Scarf

Cabled Gloves

E's Bathrobe

Pedicure socks part deux

E's Thanksgiving vest

Pedicure socks

Suess Designs mohair wrap coat

E's Easter sweater

Moo's Sweater Dress

Moo's Baby Doll

Odd Little Guy

Manly Girl Socks

Valentine Wrist Warmers

Ruby Red Irish Hiking Scarf

Spork Along

Crocodile Mittens for E

Irish Hiking Scarf

Ribbi Cardi in charcoal & ruby

Opal Christmas morning socks

Pretty Little Felty Purse

Martha at Giverney socks

Baseball Sweater

Fall Fluff Sweater

Bombshell Quilt

Magic Stripes socks

Fabu Wrappy Wrap

E's Zippy Cardi

christmas day

Christmas morning is always very special in our house. This year all of the adults were up early, drinking coffee and waiting for E to wake up. We'd been up late at the big Christmas Eve party so he slept and slept. We all jumped up as soon as we heard his voice upstairs. I ran into his room and said, "Santa's been here!" E yelled, "Oh, boy!" and scrambled at breakneck speed downstairs.

E checked out the half-eaten cookies and one leftover carrot from Santa - he liked the evidence that Santa had been to our house. Santa brough him a puppet theater and lots of puppets as well as Lincoln Logs. We got a puppet show before Christmas dinner which pretty much consisted of E announcing, "It's time for the show," a couple of puppets popping through the stage and E jumping out to take a bow. We need to work on plot a bit.

In my six months of Christmas shopping I bought Tall House, Double Cup the same poker book twice. I even wrapped them seperately and never caught the mistake. So THDC got double the Johnny Chan.

We had mimosas and lovely fruit salad with unbelieveably plump raspberries and blackberries, bacon from Wisconsin (the best) and THDC made abelskivers - yum. It was everything we could want in a morning at home.

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: