HO! HO! HO!

One of the on-line groups I belong to did a "secret santa" type gift exchange. I was lucky enough to have Cynthia for a "HO".





some yummy dark chocolate and blooming tea ( also yummy!)





laceweight baby merino in orchid and a copy of the Forrest Canopy Shoulder Shawl (by Susan)


Then this was hidden under the pattern:


LUCKY ME!!! I - of course- had to wind the wool immediately!


I'm not sure if Cynthia knows this about me - or if she is just a REALLY good gift-giver, but I am not a knitter that can handle having a "stash". really. I know most of you Knitters are quite perplexed, but I just cant have things like baby merino or 6 skeins of handspun baby alpaca in 3 colorways (thanks mom!!!) sitting around the house. They taunt me to me knitted (or crocheted). even the scraps of "good yarn" beg to be used up. The only exception is craft/novelty yarns. I am not opposed to using them. I buy them as projects require and toss the extras in my stash bin (20 gal tote only 1/3 full) to never be seen again.

so, even though I have a pair of mittens, a miter square shawl and a hat OTN, a pair of longies in need of finishing (yes Julia - those are for Cassidy) and another pair of mittens and a pair of Todd socks queued, I am swatching the shawl on my new knitpicks options (also from Mom!).

The Newest Karate Kid

A little over a year ago, soccer ended and I was looking for a way for Andy to get some exercise and social interaction. He got a flyer in his backpack for "Karate Club". It actually took some convincing to get Todd (who will be testing for his blue belt soon!) on board.

The first class, he REFUSED to participate. The second class wasnt' a whole lot better, but he did try. He continued to get better, but he stayed in a fog. I went to watch one week - 60 kids in Karate PLUS another 50 or so in the YMCA after school program. There was a LOT of noise - no wonder!

The instructor suggested we move him to the "Little Dragons" class at the community center near our house. Immediate improvement! He was now really learning. Not just karate, but also how to stand still and how to listen. Last year, Karate did more for him than any therapy the school provided.

Now, he is medicated and really starting to excel in everything- including martial arts. He is starting to get bored in the LD class. We talked to the instructor and decided it was time for him to move up to the Kids program.

Friday was a big day for Andy. He was supposed to be testing for his red/black belt. He got his camoflage belt. He was quite suprised! At first he was confused. Sabunim began his speech about the camo belt. Andy looked down at his belt - with the 3 stripes on it - and looked like he thought Sabunim forgot that he was testing. then, Sabunim said that his brother was in the class, his dad helps teach the class and mom even takes the self-defense class. the light went on- and he was excited!

He was SO proud of himself - and we are so proud of him too. He has come so far from the kindergartener who would not participate!

Christmas Gifts

Last week, I had intended on this weeks blog entried consisting of pics of Andy's belt test and the boys' Christmas haul - and I will get to that. First I need to share a story about what happened to me on Christmas Eve.

I had to drag the afore mentioned boys with me to the grocery store. I normally shop without kids and I almost never take more than one with me. Between the lack of sleep and the stress that comes along with making Christmas "perfect" for the kids I was NOT equipt to bring them shopping. I was in NO mood to handle the "gimmies" when we had already extended our tight budget to buy them all the goodies on their lists (well, almost, Ryan wanted a mororcyle. we decided hockey was safer.) My shopping trip sounded like this:

Kid: I want this!
Mom: It's not on our list.
Kid: But I want it.
Mom: It's not on our list.
Other Kid: Buy me that!
Mom: Not. on. the. list.
Toddler: (grabs whatever he can reach off of shelves)
Mom: (growls)
Toddler: GRRRRRR!
Kid: I want red apples!
Other Kid: NO! I hate red apples! I want green grannies!
Kid: GROSS! Red ones are yummier!

Then an older* woman comes by, puts a $20 bill in my hand and says "I've been there. Merry Christmas!" and walks away. I was touched and moved beyond words. I bought the red and the green apples. Her kindness is a Christmas gift I will never forget. It really isn't about the money. None of us would have gone hungry or cold yesterday without that $20, but the empathy, kindness and generosity showed me that the world still does care about one another - something we dont do enough anymore. Christmas is a time to show the world we care about eachother and thank the Lord for his Son. It isnt' about The latest electronics or the best sales.

*older only means older than me - NOT "old". This particular woman appeared to be about 70ish.

O Christmas Tree

I thought the boys had a bad case of the "Christmas Crazies" after Ryan's birthday and breakfast with Santa. OH NO! It has gotten exponentiaily worse now that the tree-trimming has begun!


We finally got our tree on Saturday. We usually go to the tree farm between our parents' houses. This year, I think we started a new tradition. We went accross town to a Catholic school that was selling trees as a fund raiser. Short drive. Good cause.

Since we waited so long to get our tree, they were pretty well picked over. There were a couple "passable" trees. Colin grabbed on to one and would NOT let go- so we bought it. I thought it was nice and full, though a few lower branches were a bit scragly.

The nice volunteers gave our tree a nice fresh cut and then 4 of them attempted to run it through the bailer. It didn't fit. They tied it to the roof. We drove home.

Todd took it off the roof and left on his errands leaving me to get the tree up (Don't get mad at him- it is better for our marriage that he just get the hell out of my way!). I dragged it in the fron door- barely fit. To get it into the living room- I pulled and the boys pushed. Once in the stand, I stood it up in the center of the room. It took up the ENTIRE room. Some quick work with the pruners on the sad little branches and I was able to push it up against the wall- with a few branches poking through the stairs.


I am so Impressed with our lovely tree that I wanted to make sure I got some good pictures.


I backed up as far as I could without going through the window and yet I could not capture its full girth.


Notice the tree skirt? It is about 6ft in diameter. It is also one of my favorite things about Christmas. A tradition I started the year Todd and I got married. I made the skirt that year- blue felt with white sparkly felt snow drifts and embroidered stars. I add an element every year.

• 1999- I made the skirt
• 2000- I added the house- which looks like ours because we moved in that year.
• 2001- I added the train (and I still need to buy more buttons to finish the wheels!) to represent Andy and his love of Thomas the Tank Engine.
• 2002- Ryan was born Thanksgiving weekend. I photocopied a snowman from one of his outfits and made the pattern for the snowman.
• 2003- The Christmas tree was added to represent our family growing stronger.
• 2004- The year of "the fire". I added the angel that was watching over our family that night.
• 2005- Is noticably (to me) absent. It was our first Christmas home after a long battle with the insurance company. We had high hopes and great expectations for that Christmas, but it turned out to be one that Todd can't even remember and I just want to forget. Looking back now, I think I am going to add a "Tree of Life" because life does go on.
• 2006- Gifts were added under the tree to represent Colin- a true gift from God.
• 2007 - I haven't added anything yet, and I'm still not sure what it'll be- maybe a penguin?

Shown here with toddler* for scale.


*Said toddler had his 15m check up yesterday. He is now around the 50th %ile for both height and weight!

Christmas Knitting - 8 days to go

• 6 2.5 hats
• 6 2 washcloths
• 3 2.5 pair mittens

I haven't even started my sewing:

• 1 quilted potholder
• 2 pair pajama pants
• 1 purse (satin - I'm avoiding it!)

and my hands are too cramped for a real blog entry.

First Snow

We've gotten a little snow here and there this winter. but this is the first "plowable" snow of the season - and people are acting like it's never snowed here before. We go through this every winter. Makes me crazy. What has happened in the last 9 months that makes people think it wouldn't snow this winter?

oh- and I get to work out in the field tomorrow. Joy.

I lied...

I told you to come back for non- knitting content today. I lied. I don't have anything for you. You just need to take up knitting. I'll distract you with pictures of Colin coloring for the first time. I don't know why I've never given him crayons before... maybe Santa needs to bring some toddler-friendly crayons and paper.

On to the needles!

I'm making a pile of washchloths.

Ryan and I made a batch of oatmeal scrub bars to go with them.

I got this in the mail the other day.

Pretty, no? It'll be socks for Todd when it grows up. For now, he is getting the yarn for Christmas. If I actually have time, I may cast on the toes - maybe.

When I got home last night and convinced my children that they actually do need to sleep, I was able to frog the mittens and start over.

That's better!

stupid stupid stupid

If you have no interest in knitting- come back tomorrow. For the rest of you:

What is the very FIRST thing you do when you knit a new pattern? Gauge swatch - of course! I decided with all of my christmas knitting that I don't have time for such trivial nonsense. (stupid!) I brought my needles (US 9s) and some WW Wool Ease (spiltty stuff, but soft and durable. Great for kid mittens) to work to start on them during lunch. I printed my pattern, highlighted the right size and began to cast on the appropriate # of stitches.

As I cast on and began to knit I was starting to think that maybe they were looking a bit big. Oh well - kids grow fast. They'll fit eventually, right? (stupid!) Kept on knitting.

Then I began to wonder if I should be using a smaller needle because the ribbing wasn't really cinching in the cuff. After all, I just grabbed the 9s because that is what I usually use for WW. I knit a few more rows. (stupid!) Then I decided to check the pattern. It calls for- ready for this? - US2. (STUPID!) Now, you would think I'd stop knitting at this point, rip it out and start over when I get home. nope. I finished the round! It is now sitting in my handy travel knit caddy on my desk and mocking me.

The moral of the story:

1. READ the pattern FIRST
2. KNIT the gage swatch!
3. STOP when you know you've screwed up beyond fixing.
4. Start Christmas knitting earlier - like January.

A Low Pressure System to the South...

Andy likes the weather. He has to watch Dr. Mel every morning. He is first in line to check out weather.com at school. He's trying to figure out what the numbers mean to him. (How cold is 28, Mom?) So, we've asked Santa to bring him a mini-weather station.

see how it shows him what to wear? it has indoor and outdoor temp, barometer, sunrise/sunset and other cool stuff. The kid is going to FLIP!

I had to scan this in to show you how this 6-year-old thinks.

This is a weather map of the US. See us in CT? he labeled it. That thng sticking out of the west coast is California. He even drew in Alaska, but he didn't have enough paper for Hawaii. Those boxes are states. The midwest is pretty square - so he says. Notice all the rain in the northwest and the cold air masses over Canada? Those "L"s are a low pressure system moving north. There is a frontal boundary in there too.

just for giggles, here is today's weather map (couldnt find yesterday's) from weather.com

he did his map strictly from memory...

Stupid Questions..

"How long will this cold weather last, Geoff?"
"Until Spring, Ted."

really... I can't stand the news anchors sometimes. Can they really be that moronic? At least the weather-guy is a complete wise-ass.

The Birthday Bash

The big 5 party continued Friday evening. Ryan got to open the rest of his gifts from Mom, Dad, Andy, Colin, my parents and my sister after Karate on Friday.



He unwrapped Colin's gift first. As he tore off the paper he exclaimed "Knitting Needles! COOL!" I really love that kid- and I really wish I got this on video instead of stills. As excited as he was about getting his own knitting needles, he was probably a bit more excited once he realized they they were NOT knitting needles, but drum sticks.





Andy got him a drum pad to practice on (we have real - and loud- drums already). Mommy & Daddy got him lessons!




Grandma got him a chef jacket and embroidered his name one it. she also got him some refrigerated cookie dough. We made cookies after his party on Saturday.



He had a blast at the party. I think all the kids did. They got to ride on the zip line





- like the Batman on his cake!


They learned some Martial Arts moves.



Played some games.





Did an obstacle course.












And some jousting.







And the coolest part? Colin took 2 steps at the party! FINALLY!

Happy Birhtday Ryan and a Stroll on the Green

First off - I need to wish my middle child a Happy 5th Birthday

He got to open his Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet

this morning, Daddy is reading to his class ("Poor Puppy" - the book is another gift.) and then we'll have cupcakes and some more gifts with the Grandparents after Little Dragons. The party is at the Martial Arts school tomorrow. More on that next week when I have party pictures to share.

I like working in a fairly large city - by CT standards. It has all the culture and charm of a big city, with a MUCH shorter commute. My office is very close to the New Haven green and surrounded by the Yale campus. This creates an interesting mix of people - ideal people watching conditions. Here are just a few things I witnessed on my stroll:

• A man proposing to a woman at a bus stop. Far more romantic than a park bench on the historic green.
• A wino proclaiming to be Jesus.
• Two elderly women protesting The War on the steps of the courthouse. Better watch out Pres. Bush, these ladies mean business... too bad reality isn't' as black and white as their sign was.
• Around 100 or so overweight, middle-aged, balding men in the exact same navy suit and red tie.
• High School girls break dancing with a man old enough to be their father grandfather.
• Yale students immersed in academia and completely unaware of the reality around them (I miss those days sometimes...)
• Construction workers arguing with hot dog vendors over baseball (the joys of living where Yankee and Red Sox territories clash! now you know why I am a Mets fan.).

Thou Shall Covet This Sweater

I'm killing two birds with one proverbial stone today (no actual birds were harmed in the making of this blog). A little knitting content and a little pimping too.

If you look in my sidebar, you'll see a link to Not Your Mama's Crochet by Amy Swenson. It is under my patterns because I am a contributor (S3). I am also a fan of her designs - and her blog - Indiknits. A while back, she posted an idea for a cabled sweater design. EXACTLY what I have been wanting to knit. I have been anxiously watching her blog for progress on the sweater and cured at my monitor when she posted about knitting something else - how dare she "cheat" on that sweater? But after much ripping and reworking, it is done! Now I REALLY need to knit this sweater! Hopefully, I will have wrapped up my WIPs - and Holiday knitting - by the time she publishes the pattern.

While you are at Amy's blog, check out her wedding pics - the scenery is gorgeous! As are the brides - of course!

Make room on the Bandwagon...

Although I haven't been blogging much about my knitting/crocheting lately (I'll get on that Cynthia - Promise!), I read a few knitting blogs. Okay. More than a few. I heard about Ravelry a while ago, but figured I'd wait since it is still in Beta. Now, I'm seeing blogs about all this cool stuff on there and I am feeling totally left out. So, I shook off the high school flashbacks and put my name on "the list". At last check, there are 9010 people ahead of me and 2 after me.

Mental Furball

You know how you mentally compose blogs while you are driving or in the shower or "listening" in on a conferance call? Doesn't it just SUCK when you get to the computer and you can't even recall the topic of the post - nevermind the actual content? Yeah, me too. So, in stead of enjoying my brilliant wit and insight on some yet to be rememebered topic - I'll pimp some more.

Crazy Aunt Purl

AKA Laurie is a 30-something divorced "Cat Lady". She knits. She writes. And ya'll - she's funny! She gets all self-help-y with a great deal of humor and southern charm. I admire her courage to put so much of herself out there in her blog and her book. Though I am not divorced (or planning on it!) and I only have 1 cat, there is so much I can really relate to on her blog - like her "non-diet". Go check her out. Laugh till you pee yourself. Tell her I sent you!

Random Monday

1. Baby Tad-

Ryan unearthed his and gave it to Colin - who is enthralled by this thing! "Six minutes till night-night" Yet another reason why I love leapfrog! The first being that they replaced all the toys that were burned, melted or otherwise ruined in "the fire". I just had to return the carcass to them and they sent a replacement. (So did Learning Curve and Fisher Price.)

2. C'elle Revisited- I was telling Todd about it - and he asked if we could sell my C'elles. men....

3. Outlet Shopping- We packed the kids up in the SUV and headed to the outlets to get shoes for Thing 1 and Thing 2. We ended up getting Sketchers for them, Colin and me for only $130! (I would have paid that just for the Things' Airators at the local shoe store.) Then I found out that the Little Me outlet was closing... 2 Christmas outfits, PJs and argyle socks! Checked out the Gap outlet too (no WAY I am paying regular price in the Gap!) fleece pants for #2 and #3, PJ pants for #1 and 3 long sleeve Ts for #3. Why are long sleeve Ts SO hard to find without the snap crotch?

4. Fall yardwork - check. Now my shoulders and knees are killing me! Todd still needs to finish chopping fire wood and bagging the leaves.

5. my knee- I forgot to blog about my irritated patella. Three months of PT (exercises at home) should solve the problem. I tripped over the stupid baby gate and landed on said patella - which is no longer irritated - it's PISSED. sigh...

Back to the Pimpin'

Since Cynthia posted a comment on yesterday's post, she gets to be pimped today!

CygKnit

Cynthia shares two of my favorite passions- knitting and cloth diapers. Luckily, she has a VERY cute little model to show them both off! I also had the pleasure of meeting her and her lovely family recently at my Halloween Party. So, go check out her fluff, fibers adn family - and be sure to tell her I sent you!

C'ELLE NO!

Remember my post about my "Inner Diva"? (I still think it is the coolest thing E.V.E.R.) Go read it - I'll wait....

Deb commented: You might get me to cloth diaper with the next one. This thing is going to take some convincing. I don't even know why. You know me -- I'm NEVER at a loss for words!

Well Deb, this should make the Diva look a lot more attractive. (I still think you need to try it - or get knocked up again)

Appearantly, some (male) doctor/researcher figured out that menstrual blood contains stem cells. His research poses the hypotheses that these stem cells may be useful somewhere in the future. Of course, some brilliant company has taken his research and run with it. I saw an ad online for it and assumed it was a scam.

Last night I got a card in in the mail from C'ELLE - aka the nut jobs collecting the menstrual blood. The parent company is the one we've banked Ryan's cord blood with (my dad was diagnosed with cancer for a second time in 5 years around the time I found out I was expecting. we decided it was worth the price of storage.) SO, yeah.. they are actually legit!

Curiosity got the best of me. I had to check out their web site. OY! go read the FAQ... you need to use a cup - similar to the Diva. BUT then you have to put the sample in a test tube and store it in the fridge until you are ready to ship.

So, how's that cup sounding now?

More Pharmaceutical "Fun"...

At Andy's last eye doctor appointment, we learned that his eyes were responding to the drops and uncrossed. His depth perception improved. Now we are weaning him off of the drops.

Since it isn't nearly as common as drugs like Viagra and Lipitor, it needs to be ordered. Fine. We were running low, so I called it in several weeks ago (Oct 25 to be exact.). We are now out - and no call from the pharmacy to let us know they were in. I called them.

PHARM TECH: Pharmacy, can I help you?

ME: I hope so. I called in a refill for my son's prescription a while ago and I wanted to know if it came in yet. I know it needed to be special ordered.

(gave her the pertinent personal info to find said drugs - which are not a controlled substance like his patches.)
...............................waiting...................................
PT: Is it a perscription?

ME: uh, yeah.

PT: Oh, that isn't a special order then.

ME: Well the sticker on the bottle says it needed to be ordered.

PITA: let me see if it has been ordered.

..............................................waiting..................................................................................................
PITA: You don't have any refills left. We need to call the doctor.

ME: I'm looking at the label on the bottle. It says one refill left.

IDIOT: well, that isn't what my computer says.

ME: How it is it possible for them to be different?

JACKASS: it says you refilled it on 10/25.

ME: NO! THAT was when I called it in to be ordered!

MORON: Let me check the bin and see if it is in.

......................................more waiting - cooking dinner - changing diaper - wanting to reach through phone and smack that bitch! WHY didn't she look there first?.......................................................

DUMBASS: it;s not in. would you like me to order it for you?

ME: Are you serious? Why do think I called? YES- order it already!

STUPID: let me check with the Pharmacist.

..............................yep... on hold again.... read a story to Ryan..........................

LOSER: OK- he is ordering it now. It should be in on Wednesday or Thursday.

ME: It better be. I'll be in on Wednesday and every day until I get his drops.

It really toasts my cookies that other peoples incompetence/idiocy are affecting my kid's health. I know it isn't brain surgery, but c'mon folks! losing prescriptions and not ordering/filling them is just plain unacceptable! Good thing I'm not Super Nanny - they'd be in the Naughty Chair for a Looooooooong time! The most disturbing part of all this is that these were TWO DIFFERENT pharmacies. Not even the same chain.

Level Twelve and Bureaucratic BS

During spring vacation, just before Andy turned 4, he started reading – really reading. He figured out that there was a secret code in those letters and began unlocking it. I told his teacher and asked that she reinforce that skill in school. I was told, “That is a Kindergarten skill.” And? It was clear we’d get no help at this point, so we had him read a lot at home. Remember, he was a “special needs” student in an “integrated” pre-k class - appearantly you can't be smart AND have a speech delay. Kindergarten rolled around and the teacher sent us a note saying “Andy knows all of his letters!” I responded with “Andy knows how to read.” Once the children were FINALLY assessed for reading groups in January (almost a YEAR after he began reading), he was at “Level 4”. The goal for the end of Kindergarten was “Level 4” – he was at “Level 6” by that point. I’m not sure where he was assessed in September, but the teacher told us at “Back to School Night” that none of the children lost a level and almost all had gained over the summer. Friday was Report Card Day. In the comments section the teacher wrote, “Andy is expected to be reading at Level 6. He is reading at Level 12.” Level 12! HOLY CRAP! I mean, I know he reads a lot and he is getting better… but damn! Level 12?! The child amazes me! Now if we could get him to settle down and focus in music… he loves it, but I think he is over stimulated – and I don’t know that the music teacher is aware of his ADD diagnosis. I’ll have to ask her to join us for P/T conferences.

Ryan’s report card was pretty good as well – about what we expected. He is holding his own academically, but he would be doing a LOT better if he could learn to mind his business and follow directions…

My Mom got them both Webkinz - their first Webkinz - for their good report cards. So, we spent the day yesterday with the two of them fighting over Gram’s laptop. Joy.

Once we reached a truce in the Webkins War (round one of many I am sure). We headed for home – with a planned stop to pick up Andy’s patches at the pharmacy (he’d worn his last one that day). We spent an HOUR at the pharmacy. Todd went in and I waited in the car with Colin (was sleeping – woke up with a blood curdling scream), Ryan (trying desperately to sleep) and Andy (annoying the hell out of Ryan). Todd came out empty handed. WTF? We called around before we dropped it off to make sure they had it (Since it is a controlled substance, the pharmacies are limited in their stock.). Turns out that even though they had entered the information into their computer, they lost the hard copy and they wanted us to go and get a new one today… before they would fill it. Um - NO! YOU lost it YOU deal with it! Finally, I went back in (Todd was losing patience) and spoke to the manager. He tried looking for it – again. I don’t think he found it, but he did end up filling it. What a freaking pain!

Go see the Doctor

well.. the Doc isnt' in today.. she is taking the Boards...

Vegan Heart Doc
Heather is one of the most brilliant people I have ever met. yep- I actually know her IRL. we did our undergrad together. Of course, by the time we got our BSs - she was already half way through med school! She isn't just freakishly brilliant though.. she is a lot of fun! I am happy to call her my friend and (sorority) sister.

Her blog centers around being healthy. She is a vegan, an interventional cardiologist and an aspiring tri-athlete. He blog offers tips on being a good patient, taking your meds, eating/cooking healthy, tri info - and the occasional pic of her ADORABLE (and vegetarian) niece!

So, drop by and wish her some luck on her recertification today!