Happy Birthday Baby!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Ryan! Happy Birthday to you!
A huge happy 2nd Birthday to my baby boy - I can't believe he's 2 already! Where has the time gone? We're having a little party for him this afternoon with just a few close friends. Now if I can only get him to nap beforehand!

Sick, Sick, Sick but Knitting, Knitting, Knitting

We have been struck with the germies here. I was scheduled to have my surgery the Thursday after Thanksgiving but ended up being out all that week with the flu - it was horrible - I was exhausted and had no voice. As soon as I started feeling good, Ryan got the stomach flu and was sick all weekend. This week I had the stomach flu for about 24 hours and right now Rob is down with it. We just can't get rid of all these germs.

I did get some knitting done in between my napping and then last Sunday when Ryan was sick, all he did was lay on the couch all day and watch Dora between naps- he was quite pathetic, but I got tons done.

I still have a lot to get done:
-mittens for my teaching partner
-hat for my dad
-dishcloth and bath mitt for our teacher's aide
-Ryan's stocking
-dishcloths for Ryan's godmother

I think that's it. I'm also making a list of things to work on after Christmas:
-scarf for me
-hat for me
-headband for me (see a pattern here? :)
-socks for someone - I just want to knit socks!

Christmas Gifts Galore

I have been knitting up a storm of gifts for Christmas - I'm quite pleased with myself. I finished a garter stitch scarf for my sister, a ruffled scarf for my Christmas around the world swap partner, a 1/2 dozen dishcloths for one sister for Christmas and a 1/2 dozen for another sister's wedding. I'm also working on a pair of mittens for a friend, a booga bag for me, a cell phone cozy for me and I want to work on a ball and a bear for Ryan. I have my surgery this Thursday and will be home alone on Friday, Saturday and Sunday so I'm hoping for some quality knitting time. I also have some little foam picture frames that I want to get glued together. Hopefully my resting my leg won't interfere with my knitting. :)

Ravelry, Christmas Exchange, Knitting Bags, Surgery, Oh My!

I haven't been on here much, but I have been keeping busy. Good news first...

My surgery is scheduled (finally) for November 29. It's a simple arthroscopic (sp?) surgery on a Thursday and I should be back to school on Monday - I'm relieved to finally be getting it done. I've been doing well without the crutches, but by the end of the day it's hard to walk.

I've finished a couple of books lately. I got into the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum books this summer and am still loving them - they're about a female bounty hunter from Jersey - they're hilarious and a good book from the heavy books my book club is reading.

I'm busy working on lots of Christmas projects - I finished a scarf for my Christmas exchange buddy. It's a ripple scarf and right before you bind off you end up with over 800 stitches on your needles - made it hard to knit and I won't make another but the finished product was really cute. I only hope she enjoys it. I'm also working on gathering other things for her. I need to work on Something for the Soul - I think I'm going to print out some knitting and quilting prayers for her on scrapbook paper and put them in a little booklet. I still need to get something for the taste - we have lots of different and unique places here so I want to get something local - I'll have to look.

I'm also cranking out tons of dishcloths - one sister is getting married next month so I thought I'd make her some as a shower present. Plus, I drew the name of another sister for Christmas and she wants some dishcloths and a Rachel Ray cookbook - I've ordered that now I just need to finish a few more cloths. I'm thinking a trip to the yarn store is in order as I don't have all the colors I want.

On one of my yahoo knit a long groups (which I've been horrible about doing) they were talking about a new site called Ravelry. I finally got my invitation and I am so inspired! There are so many wonderful patterns and projects that I now have a much longer list of things I want to knit. I really want to knit a bag for myself - I made a bag for my international tote exchange iv partner and liked it, but as I look at patterns on Ravelry, there are so many more that I'd love to do. I'm thinking about doing a booga bag or a sophie - they're both too cute! My current favorite yarn to knit with is patos soy wool stripes - it is so soft and I love the softness of the colors. Plus, right now it's on sale at Michaels - hmmm, might have to stop there after school and pick up a few skeins. I don't think I'll have time to use them until Christmas break, but we'll see. I also want to knit mittens for a friend of mine for Christmas - I made a pair for myself and they knit up really quickly, so we'll see. I just need to find a yarn and the time. Hmmm, maybe if I weren't on here? :)

Annoyed!

I have prepared, ok, overprepared for my subs and was ready to go. I have all this little foam picture frames I want to glue together for Ryan. I have books that I was going to read. I have knitting projects galore. I was ready to rest and recover for 2 weeks after surgery. I should have known!

Today my principal called me in and told me she got a call from workmen's comp and I better check because she got the feeling they were going to deny the claim. Lo and behold, I got home tonight and got the message. Grrrrr...........

So, a few (hopefully only a few) more weeks on crutches and ibuprofen (my new best friend) and then I'll have some time. I'm hoping to tie this in to either Thanksgiving or Christmas break to save some sick days. We'll see. Tomorrow I start talking to my insurance company.

Surgery :(

I tore my miniscus and will be having surgery next Thursday 10/18. It's not that I mind the actual surgery so much, it's that I will miss 2 1/2 weeks of school and I am way overly possessive of my classroom and way too controlling with things - I know I just need to relax - I have great subs coming in, but it's me - I want to make sure the kids have a good routine and nothing is too out of the ordinary for them.

I also HATE going under! I don't like anesthesia - it makes me horribly nauseous. When I had Ryan (via c-section)and they brought him up to me to show him to me, my first thought was, "Oh, he's so cute. I hope I don't puke on him." Seriously! Poor kid! The drugs make me nasty sick and I am not looking forward to it. I am, however, looking forward to being able to walk without pain!

I'm getting everything done - classroom stuff first. I am also gathering things to do while I'm at home. During the summer I have Ry here so there's always something to do. For the most part, he'll be at Grandma's or daycare during the day so I'll be on my own - weird!!! I've got tons of knitting projects to work on. My secret pal project will hopefully get done while I'm at home. I also have things to make for my sister and for some friends at work.

I also got a bunch of books from the library- the first 4 Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. I've read 2 of her later ones but decided I better start at the beginning. They're hilarious and a great read. I also got our next 2 book club books. The first one is about Robert Hanssen - an American who spied for Russia, I think. It sounds interesting. I'm looking forward to the reading, knitting, and healing, but oh, not the anesthesia or the time off.

Cookies!!!

Ryan helped me bake cookies yesterday. I am so excited to bake with him and have him at an age where he loves to help. I want to do frosted sugar cookies with him but I'll probably save that for Christmas. For now, I made my mom's sugar cookies which when done mixing, you roll in a ball and then roll in sugar and then back without flattening. So, I dug out some of my colored sugar and put it in bowls and Ryan rolled them for me - he loved it! Of course, he had to sample it a bit when I wasn't looking. Here's an awesome picture of his great smile with just a little red sugar on his lips.

I changed my mind

I've changed my mind regarding Ryan's Christmas stocking - even though the stocking itself is done except for weaving in ends, I think I'm going to put it away until after the first of the year and work on it next year. We're hoping to have one more child, so I thought I'd go ahead and made one more stocking and then decorate them at the same time. Plus, I just don't have the time next year due to stretching myself a tad thin. I am still going to make Ryan's stocking - I'm going to get some sports material for the stocking and then a white material for the top and then sew sequins on for his name. I've got the pattern and idea, I just need to get the material now. I think he'll love it as anything even remotely round shaped is a 'ball'. He's very into sports and not yet 2 years old.

Ok, so what's stretching me a bit? My friend is getting married in May and I'm planning on making her a variety of different patterned dishcloths. I've started them, but now I think I'll need to put them away until after Christmas. I drew my sister's name for Christmas and guess what she wants? Dishcloths! So, I'm hunting for some cute ideas and will probably make her 10 in different patterns. Plus, I joined a Christmas knitting exchange and am working on what I will make for my pal. I had a great idea last night while trying to fall asleep, but I'm going to hold on to it and surprise my pal with it. I'll also join the next international tote exchange, but phew, they've put it off until after the holidays. So, I really need to quit typing and get knitting. But first, shower, laundry, trip to grandma's and maybe making some sugar cookies with Ryan. :)

Such a long time

It seems like such a long time since I've posted. I've been busy with school, reading, knitting and Ryan. They all keep me very busy. I just finished reading our book club book for next month: Water for Elephants. It kept me mesmerized. It's an interesting, sad, intriguing, wonderful read. If you're a huge animal lover, it might not be for you as it does get cruel, but the truth and the history of the story kept me going.

I finished the shell of Ryan's stocking. I still need to embellish, but figure I have about 2 months to do that. Most of it is simple i-cording, I have a few things I want to finish first but I'll get to it soon.

I'm working on knitting some dishcloths for a good friend who just got engaged. I am having more fun planning her shower and wedding gifts - I think she'll really enjoy and appreciate them. She also knits, but sticks to blankets, scarves, and granny dishcloths. I just sent her 2: one had a diamond ring pattern and the other had a heart on it. I'm waiting to hear how she liked them.

The Christmas swap I'm a part of starts soon- I'm so excited. I have so many great ideas and things that I'd like to send to my swap partner. I haven't started any kind of Christmas shopping yet - yikes! Usually I'm about done by now.

I better post this and get back to things. I have to tink the last row of the dishcloth as when I got to the end of the row I realized there was a mistake in the pattern. Not a biggie, but easier to do when Ryan isn't around. :)

Christmas Around the World Questionnaire

1. Are you religious? Yes, I’m Catholic.
2. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Knitting about 4 years. Intermediate
3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? I love to read, I scrapbook a little – mainly pictures of my son; I know how to cross-stitch and crochet, but don’t do much of either
4. Favorite color(s)? Favorite color is green; but I love blues and purples too
5. Do you collect anything? Magnets and willow tree figurines
6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? Highly allergic to cats
7. Do you have any pets? no
8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? I like all but prefer coffee or hot chocolate
9. Cookies or Sweets? I have an extremely intense sweet tooth, but don’t care for dark chocolate in the least
10. Do you knit socks? I’m working on my first pair of socks right now – we’ll see how they turn out
11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) I love to do dishcloths for gifts; I’ve also recently discovered mittens and love making them. I also love knitting scarves. I am very excited about knitting anything that I can felt.
12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? Yes! (fake)
13. Favorite holiday treats? Chocolate covered cherries, egg nog
14. Favorite holiday smells? Cinnamon & apples; I cannot tolerate the smell of evergreen – our tree has to be fake
15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. I would say we’re pretty traditional with tree, stockings, Santa, gifts, lights, etc.
16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? I love filling stockings and listening to carols; My parents got us a new ornament every year and I have continued that with my husband and son
17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” family togetherness
18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? They’re not really ornaments, but I’d be colorful, blinking Christmas lights.
19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? I’m a 2nd grade teacher so often get gifts at holiday time and I love the ones the kids make or have a part in. When I was teaching junior high, I had an 8th grader who told me she had spent her own money to buy my gift which was an adorable favorite teacher ornament – it meant the world to me and still hangs on my tree 13 years later.
20.When do you start your Christmas? I put up decorations the day after Thanksgiving
21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? Yes; I’ve made and bought them in the past. Now with my little one, we’re doing picture cards
22.What is your favorite Christmas dish? Not sure, I like most of them
23.Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Listen and enjoy
24.When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? We open one present on Christmas eve and the rest on Christmas day.
25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? both

Frustrated!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so frustrated. I worked long and hard yesterday on Ryan's stocking. I really want to get the stocking part done, then I want to work on a few other projects . I thought I'd take yarn with me everywhere and work on i-cords for the stocking decoration in the car, etc. Well, I was all proud of myself because I've never knit socks and I managed to do the heel and it was looking really good. Well, there were these 10 stitches that kept bugging me - they were between the 2 pieces of the heel and I was pretty sure that wasn't right but being a novice, I kept going. I was right! They didn't belong there. Earlier in the pattern it said to knit 17 and put on holder - it should have been 27!!! Grrrr.... So, today it's my mission to knit a dishcloth for my friend who just got engaged (I got one done yesterday) and then tink back to before all this nonsense. I hate doing that! It means I wasted hours yesterday when I first did all the knitting. Oh, well, I really want him to have a cute stocking and I've already invested way too much time and energy to give up. I'm off to shower and take Ryan swimming. Hopefully later I'll post the cute wedding ring dishcloth I made yesterday.

Ryan's Christmas Stocking

Ok, let's try this again. Here is a picture of the stocking I'm working on for Ryan. I've got the body of the sock done, and am just starting on the heel - yikes! This is a first for me. See the link in the last post for the author and pattern.

Time to Knit!

My poor baby boy has been sick the last few days so I'm off from work to stay with him until he's well. I came home from school on Tuesday all excited because Rob finally got the ok to go back to work after his hand surgery. I walked in the door and he said to go feel Ryan because he thought he seemed hot. Hot! That was an understatement! He had a fever of 103. So, we tylenoled and saw the dr. Wed. morning only to learn he has a very slight ear infection but that it was probably a virus causing the temp so we're to wait it out. If it lasts longer than 3-4 days we're to bring him back. Since Rob already told work he'd be back after 2 weeks off, I'm home with the babe. He's quite cranky but when the meds are working he's bearable and we're coloring and having fun. I gave him tylenol about 1 am to help him sleep but I'm waiting to give more to see if the fever is gone. Fingers crossed!

On a good note, since I'm home, I can KNIT!!! I finished the books that I really wanted to read. I still have 6 (ahh!) that people have loaned me that I need to read, I'm just not motivated right now. I really want to work more on Ryan's Christmas stocking. It's pretty long and I've been doing a few rows at a time. I'd like to get more done on the main sock. All the decorations are done in i-cord and sewn on. I'll see if I can post a picture of the pattern I'm using. I plan on changing it slightly - maybe not so many decorations.

Here's the link: http://web.archive.org/web/20041010215459/http://www.thesmartyarns.com/patterns/aug02/xmasstocking.html
and here is the picture: it's not working right now - I'll publish it later.

Motivation

Right now I lack motivation. To do anything. Sad. I think the first week of school is kicking me in the pants - I come home and at least it's not like Monday or Tuesday when I was completely exhausted, but today I feel good, yet I don't feel like doing a darn thing. Rob's in bed, Ryan's in bed, I'm doing nothing. I don't want to read. I don't want to knit. I don't want to clean. I don't want to do laundry. I don't want to do school work. I hate feeling like this but can't seem to motivate myself to do anything. Hopefully this is just temporary because I have a whole lot of things on my TO DO LIST!!! I'm thinking once this first week is over and things settle down a bit, I'll get some motivation back and can get some things done.

I'm Learning!

This blogging stuff is all new to me, fun, but new. I finally figured out how to add a couple of things. Now if I could just figure out how to add links. I also want to add buttons that you can click and go to the exchanges I participate in. I also want to add percentage thingys to my knitting to show how far I am on each project. Off to explore blogger and see what more I can learn tonight. :)

It's the Weekend - Woo Hoo!

I am so happy that Friday is here and I have 2 full days of freedom. Tonight I'm going to do a bit of reading and then tomorrow it's on to some of my knitting. I want to try to get another 20 rows done on Ryan's stocking - I figure a little bit at a time. I also found out about another exchange today and am debating if I should join or not. I LOVE these exchanges - it's so much fun to make something for someone who truly appreciates yarn and what you can create with it. My hubby doesn't get it; neither do most family/friends. I have a friend whom I made a shawl for and she loves it and wears it often during the winter - I always get a happy smile on my face when I see her wearing it as it was my first one and I'm very proud of it. I just need to decide if I have the time to do 2 exchanges this fall. The one I've already signed up for is a Christmas exchange and I know what I'm doing for it - I just need to get everything together. Might need to start working on that this weekend and then decide on the other. I'll post some pictures of my knitting later on.

No Time

I have no time for my favorite things right now. We started inservice yesterday so I've been at school all day and when I get home I'm just beat. Tonight I actually had a burst of energy and Ryan and I had some fun and then read a book together before bedtime. It was great! I really have a lot of knitting I want to get done: Ryan's other mitten, Ryan's hat, my scarf, my hat, Ryan's Christmas stocking, and dishcloths for my sister. Yikes! Hopefully things will settle down and once I get into the swing of things I'll have a bit more energy and get knitting again.

I also have a bunch of books that I need to read. A friend has lent me 5 books (yikes!) - 2 need to be returned so I need to get those read. Another friend loaned me a book that I need to read and return. I have until September 13 to finish my book for book club - it's a book that sounded stupid to me, but I guess I have to go with the flow and read it. After 1 page I am not impressed so it should be fun to get through. I also have a book I had on reserve from the library and am anxious to get reading. Oh, and there's the book our principal asked us to read during the summer which of course, I didn't get through (it didn't catch my interest right away). Too much to do. Too much to do. Hopefully time will be my friend again soon.

Back to School

On Tuesday I have to go back to school. Last year I had a class that was, well, hard. Individually they were wonderful kids, but as a group, yikes! I was counting down the days left before Christmas break - sad! This summer I have really relaxed, enjoyed, done stuff for me, as well as stuff for Rob & Ryan. I feel ready to go back to school because I know I'll have a good class this year. I just get such anxiety at the beginning of every school year. I literally make myself sick. Yech! My biggest thing this year is leaving Ryan. During the summer he went to daycare 2 days a week - it was really nice for him because he gets a bit shy and really needs the interaction with other kids. Plus, he loves it there, so he had a great time. It was also nice for me for dr. appointments, cleaning, and me time. It was a good thing for both of us. But he was my main focus this summer - he grew so much and I loved being here to see it. I'm so sad to have to leave him every day now. I'm going to miss him so much!!!

Knitting, Knitting, Knitting

This summer has been so wonderful. I have had tons of fun with my son, Ryan. We went swimming, to gymnastics, read, played, slept :) - it was great. I also had tons of time to knit. I've made a tote for an exchange, a few dishcloths, 3 little over the shoulder bags, a pair of mittens, a hat, and I'm currently working on a pair of mittens and hat for Ryan. I'm hoping to have them done before I go back to work next week. We'll see.

First Post

I've decided to take the plunge into the world of blogging. I'll ramble about my beautiful son, what I'm currently reading, and my knitting. Maybe a bit more as well. Enjoy.