Fun at the symphony

The Wee One & I went to the Columbus Symphony Orchestra's "kid's day" this afternoon to see their performance of Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead & to touch & play w/ the instruments.

She had a blast with the xylophone, cymbals, tambourine, marimba, piano, drums & violin. The violin was her favorite she says!

Still nothing on the knitting front. I'm going to frog my blanket & try it double stranded w/ larger needles & see if that helps my boredom!

1 week til Super Bowl!!! GO PATS!!!!

Where do lost toys go?

Does anyone know? The Wee One has had what my MIL refers to as her "posse" for almost 2 yrs now. It started w/ Little People. Sonya Lee was her favorite for a long time & it was common place to see her running around with 3 or 4 LP in her hands at all times.

Then it was Dora & Boots. The first lost toy was Dora's dog, Perrito. We lost Perrito on a walk around the duck pond. I've scoured the area & he's never been recovered.

Now that we're into the Disney Princess era we have these little DP dolls. Think Polly Pocket in terms of size. Actually, we have a few Polly's too! So in the hey day of the Little Mermaid doll in the fall we went out to play with Ariel & Flounder (her little fish). Well, somewhere near the tennis court (aka Puppy Bowl) we lost Flounder. Again, Mommy bent over looking for Flounder, Wee One crying how he's lost. Never to be recovered.

We've also lost Snow White (I did find her in the house about a month after she was lost) & now Jasmine (less than a week after she was purchased!) & a Polly Pocket doll ahve been lost outside. Believe me, I've looked. How can a bleached blonde doll w/ a fuschia dress go unnoticed in pine needles? I dont get it.

I'm convinced that there's an Island of Lost Toys---much like the Island of Misfit Toys only it's toys that kids have lost. It's probably next door to the Island of Lost Airline Luggage too.

I'm out of my 10 month funk---ty everyone for being so sweet. I talked to a friend yesterday whose husband spent almost a yr in Afghanistan while she was preg. w/ their daughter. When she tells me she doesn't know how Ive done so many deployments I tell her I dont know how she did a deployment while pregnant. That's got to be the hardest. We laughed at my hitting the wall & how you dont realize it until you're full on in the funk. I am out of hte funk & STILL waiting for Leslie to return my knitting mojo!

Is it rediculous of me to not want to make a baby blanket on size 6 needles? I keep looking at this blanket I'm working on & thinking "but size 11 needles would make it go by SO much faster!"

The Wall

No, not Pink Floyd, but the wall in the deployment where you realize you have had enough. I hit that wall on Tuesday although I suspect I may have been suppressing it since before the holidays.

The Wee One came home from school on Tuesday with a flyer announcing "Donuts with Dad" next month. If Dad can't make it then another adult male may go in his place.

1) Our Dad is deployed.

2) We have no male relatives who live nearby b/c well, we're military & not stationed near family.

The flyer says you may "share" another child's dad but honestly, there are only a few dad's at the school she knows & really, while they're nice guys, they're not men I'd be comfortable asking to let her tag along.

Those not participating can come into school a 1/2 hr later. I've started so many letters to the director (she's been incredibly supportive & sweet about our situation so I don't blame, nor do I hate her & I certainly don't want to tell her off, as has been suggested on a message board I'm on) in my head that I dont know if I should even whine about it. I love this school & if the Wee One doesn't make it into the school district's pre-K program (it's done by lottery) I'm planning on keeping her where she is b/c it IS that good of a school.

It just hit me like a ton of bricks when I read that flyer. And after I was done crying I was mad. I was mad that Hunter is gone yet again. I was mad that there are STILL soldiers (and we're talking senior NCO's!) who have NEVER been to either Iraq or Afghanistan. I was mad that I felt like such a whiney ninny.

And to add insult to injury my laptop died---yet again! I brought it to Geek Squad on Sunday only to find out on Monday that my hard drive is fried. Lovely. After using the beast that is known as the desk top & whining to Hunter (whining, not being a whiney ninny--there IS a difference!) about how it is inconvenient to use the desk top, I cant keep an eye on the wee one, let's fix the Dell & keep it for travel & photo storage, blah blah blah I got the go ahead to buy a new laptop. My new one is an HP special edition w/ a funky paisley type thingy on the cover. The touchpad & keyboard feel different than my Dell but I'm liking this one a lot. Even Vista isn't too hard to get used to! I was glad I asked the GS to recover my pictures & documents from my other one as I was sick to my stomach thinking that I was going to lose them. My New Year's resolution is to back up pictures!

Now that CHristmas & the travel madness is over I can go back to the gym. I went on Tuesday & my abs & arms are so sore! We have a gym where we live which is nice b/c it's free for residents. The downside is they have 3 treadmills & 2 ellipticals. Let's not even talk about the stair stepper--I dont use it! I used to do the recumbent bikes but found I like one of the ellipticals much better. The stinky thing is it's ALWAYS being used when I'm there. I dont want to join a gym but I may have to unless I can accept the fact that I must share MY elliptical (ha!)

On the Knitting front, I seem to have lost my mojo. I think it left to go to see Leslie! I picked up some pretty mohair before christmas & was going to make a scarf from it. So I CO in car line wating for the wee one last week. Nope, made it to the 2nd row, 2nd ROW people!! and realized I had CO too many stitches. Um, remedial math for knitters? Hi, I need a class! Then I started a baby blanket for my girlfriend who is due in June & having her 3rd girl. I dont even konw what happened there but I'm blaming my needles. It just didn't feel right. The yarn is adorable--pink, brown & white (neopolitan) & will be such a pretty blanket but for some reason it wasn't happening.

I need to climb this wall & get back to my plucky Army wife self & accept that people will use MY elliptical (grrrr), & hope that my knitting mojo comes back!

Thank you Shanda!!

Shanda was my December swap partner & b/c I was going out of town, was kind enough to hold off shipping so it would get here when I was home.

She sent me a cute santa hat pattern & the yarn & needles with which to make it. You can't tell but the white Lionbrand yarn is sparkly. The wee one loves it!

And from the hand in the photo you can see she loves the little bear! He's currently on my coffee table watching Mulan with her! Shanda also sent some Plymouth Fantasy Naturale (my fave!), a yooooge hershey's kiss, & some bath & bodyworks yummies in warm vanilla sugar & pink grapefruit. mmmmm

Thanks so much Shanda!!!

1st FO of the year

My Chevron scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts made w/ Koigu KPPPM. I started it for the director of the Wee One's preschool for Christmas & realized I wouldn't get it finished in time so it was going to be for me. Well, after MIL gave me a beautiful Noro scarf for Christmas I decided to give this one to my Mom.

I am TERRIBLE & am so sorry Shanda--I am going to get my pics of your fabulous swap package uploaded & posted tonight.

37 FO's for 2007

Not my highest # of FO's but that's okay.

Party Lace Scarf
Child's Stripe Mittens
Modified Tam
MDK Slipstitch Dishcloth (2)
MDK Baby Bib o' love
Baby Hat
Saartje's Bootees
Koigu Feather & Fan scarf
Yoda Baby Sweater
Fall Felted Bag Exchange bag
Kiddie Capelet (corinthian/red)
Kiddie Capelet (red/corinthian)
Kiddie Capelet (corinthian)
Fun to Stitch Dishcloth (Yahoo Monthly Dishcloth Group 3rd Quarter exchange)
2x2 Ribbed Baby Hat
MDK Baby Bib
ITE IV Bag
Taiga bag (modified)
Knitty's Monica
Diamonds Galore Dishcloth (Yahoo Monthly Dishcloth Group 2nd quarter exchange)
Argosy Dishcloth (sunshine ombre)
Argosy Dishcloth (denims)
Easy Triangle Shawl (cream)
Easy Triangle Shawl (black)
Basketweave dishcloth
MDK baby bib (multi colored)
Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono (turquoise)
Lacy Diamonds Dishcloth
Little Slip of A Thing Bag (ITE III )
Potato Chip Scarf (noro kochoran)
Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono (blue)
Slip Stitch Stripes Dishcloth (Yahoo Monthly Dishcloth Group 1st Quarter swap)
Potato Chip Scarf
Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono (yellow)
crystal palace felted hat (iceland-squiggle)
Odessa hat

Home again, home again!

We've been gone almost 3 weeks & I can honestly say I am SO looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight!

I'm tired from the drive home (only 8 hours--go me!), unloading hte car & doing some unpacking & then remembering that we had no milk, bread, eggs, yogurt, blah blah blah. So after a trip to Publix, we came home & had dinner. She finally went down around 830 (SO late!) & I became one wiht the couch.

The pic is the Wee One & I in my parents back yard. She LOVED the snow. Loved. it. It was so much fun to watch her.

Off to shower & climb into bed. Will post FO pics of my chevron scarf tomorrow1

Bye bye 2007~

Greetings from snowy white Vermont!! The Wee One & I drove to the ILS in VA on the 20th after her school party. We hit horrific traffic at Concord Mills in NC which kept us at a standstill for a good hour. We spent 2 nights w/ the ILS & then drove to VT on the 22nd. We set a new record---12 hours 45 minutes! The roads were nice & clear which helped tremendously.

We've had a wonderful time in VT & have had 2 snow storms, including the one today which has dumped at least 3" at my parents house. I shoveled! For the first time in at least 3 or so years! Tomorrow there may be an amusing story called "Laurie meets the snowblower". I'll be sure to arm Mom with a camera!

The Wee One & I are going to play in the snow after lunch & I will have pictures of that.

On the yarn front I have visited all my favorite yarn stores---Suzanne's (a hat pattern for hte wee one), Backstitches (size 6 dpn's) & Yarn Theory (2 skeins Koigu KPPPM) in VA & Kaleidoscope yarns (1 skein Koigu KPPPM) & NEFAC ( some pretty Noro sock yarn!) in VT. My scarf is about 75% done & I'm going to start my Clapotis for the 3rd time when it's done. I need to practice my P F & B as for some reason I cannot wrap my brain around it.

Here are some of my friends who still live in VT. We had a girls night out on Saturday at Sweetwater's in Burlington followed by a mini-pub crawl in a desperate attempt to find a place to watch the Pats game. From L to R--Heather, Brenda, me & wendi. I hadn't seen Wendi in almost 10 years so it was great that she showed up!

Hope everyone has a safe & happy 2008. I know I'll be happy to see 2007 end as it means we're that much closer to Hunter coming home!

xooox

*sigh*

what is it about the holidays that they must be exhausting whether being home for them or travelling? Last year we were home & I swear, I had a list a mile & a half long everyday. Same this year. This week is by far the craziest. I sat down at 8 tonight & literally felt the weight of the day lifted.

My brothers socks have been frogged. No big deal, I'll start them again & they'll be a late Christmas present. I then started the Chevron scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts for the director of the Wee One's preschool only to realize that there was no way I'd get it done by Thurs. am. If I had a day where all I could do was knit maybe but not w/ my schedule. So I will keep it for me & got her a GC.

The Wee One & I made cookies today---she got to help put the sugar, flour, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg & sour cream into the bowl. She also had the honor of putting the sprinkles on the cookies! Now I'm debating whether to make chocolate dipped pretzels for the kids in her class as well. Because you know, cookies aren't enough! It's the holidays!! They (the nefarious "they") drum it into your head that no matter what you've made, bought, done it will NEVER be enough. There's a friend of mine who is still trying to find THE gift for her daughter (she's 3). She posts daily on our message board asking for ideas from people--what was their "WOW" gift for their wee ones, what are they getting their wee ones, what are the wee ones asking for. Because apparently what she's bought thus far isn't enough.

This year I am proud to say I didn't go overboard on the Wee One like last year. Honestly she's got so many toys & books & things that it borders on insane. THINGS are everywhere. Even toys she hasn't played with in a year are now going thru a resurgance in popularity. Her Little People house for example. She found it in her closet & somehow it made its way back into my living room! Never mind that she's got Dora's doll house AND castle & a small doll house for her little polly pocket dolls, now the Little People are threatening to invade again.

So here I sit, watching the Nutcracker on OvationTV (really, Ovation TV. I think I'm obligated to stand up at the end of the show, clap wildly & shout BRAVO. Oh wait, that's another network!). I had debated bringing the Wee One to the Nutcracker this year but decided Disney on Ice was more her speed. She'll be old enough to go to the ballet before too long & I hope she will have an appreciation of it. I remember being pregnant with her & putting headphones on my belly & one of the CD I played was the Nutcracker (it was Christmas obviously!) & she would kick & move during the Trepak & the Dance of the Mirliton. (The year my dance school did the Nutcracker my class' number was the Dance of the Mirlitons! ) She also loved Bobby McFerrin & YoYo Ma's version of Flight of the Butterfly.

So here ends my babble as Clara's dreaming & the Christmas tree is growing. Soon we'll see the Nutcracker Prince!

Knitting? What's that?

I haven't picked up knitting needles in a week & I swear I can hear them crying in their needle rolls! I need to get to work on my brother's socks as they are part of his Christmas present!

Speaking of Christmas, I have 1 present left to buy---a gift card for my other brother & his wife. Woo Hoo!

One of my friends from Ravelry posted this on the Patriots forum. It is too funny!


In order to address the complaints and hurt feelings of the rest of the NFL, the commissioner has adopted 10 new "Special Rules" for all New England Patriots games. They take effect immediately, and are as follows:

1) In the course of an NFL game, if the Patriots go up by more than 31 points, they are not allowed to play offense until the opposing team draws to within one score. (Pats will kick-off after an opposing team's touchdown or FG). Once the team is within one score, the Pats offense may play, but Tom Brady may not, unless: the Pats play with 8 players (including Tom), or the Pats play with 9 players, but 1 player for the Patriots is chosen by the opposing team from the stands. No Patriots linebacker is allowed to play offense, unless that LB is inserted at quarterback. However, Mike Vrabel cannot be quart erback.

2) If an opposing player states "It's like were playing 7-on-5s" (7 offense, 5 defense during practice), such as indicated by Justin Smith, DE, Cincinnati Bengels 10/1/07, the Patriots must take a time out and serve ice cold lemonade or hot tea (weather dependent) to the opposing team. Scones are optional.

3) Once the 31 point rule is in effect, Patriots may challenge any play, but the opposing team gets veto power over the referee.

4) Once the Pats offense is allowed back onto the field (7 pts), for any forward pass the Pats QB must point to the receiver and call out his number BEFORE passing. If Tom Brady is quarterbacking at the time, he must do that, plus turn the opposing team's water cooler into wine BEFORE passing.

5) Belichick must diagram any Patriots play to the opposing defense and ensure they understand exactly how to disrupt the play. This all must be done within the play clock. If this process is not complete prior to the play clock expiring, the Patriots will be assessed a delay of game and double unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

6) Randy Moss must play with 10lb ankle weights on each ankle. An additional pound will be added for each TD this season.

7) Wes Welker is not allowed to have "that crazy look" in his eyes. 10 yd, "crazy eyes" penalty assessed.

8) Tom Brady must immediately stop dating supermodels as he will not be allowed to date anyone that is more attractive then the least attractive significant other of an opposing team member (including coaches). He also must start doing commercials for every product imaginable, especially ones where he chants "cut that meat!"or refers to himself "as a 6'5" quarterback with a laser-rocket arm".

9) Bill Belichick is n ot allowed to be within 100 yds of any infant, for fear that his evil supergenius powers would assimilate such a defenseless creature into the Patriots System. We have already seen this effect on an inordinate amount of chipmunks, squirrels, and 'possum that commit suicide while crossing Rte 1 to reach Gillette Stadium.

10) Patriots must respect all opposing players feelings and apologize for every first down. Touchdowns must be followed by a written a pology and a fruit basket presented with a hug.