Coming along...

Still working on the afghan.  Like everything else anymore it seems that it has fallen by the wayside, only to be picked up when I get bored with something else... I just can't concentrate on any one thing around here... UGH!  Here she is...

I love the color combination.  It will look so pretty in my living room when it is finished... I can't wait... Maybe I should go pick 'er up right now and get to work...

Other than that we are getting ready for all of the boys' birthday parties!!  Still trying to figure out where to have them and what date... Since they are all March babies we can at least combine the younger two into one and then HMac will hopefully get to do something with a small group of his friends... Maybe paintball???  We are still discussing it...

Have a great rest of the week!!

Phew...

I finally finished the cabled scarf for my one of my friends...  It was a doozy.  Not that it was hard it was only time consuming... It ended up measuring over 5 feet long and was actually quite pretty.  She picked a cranberry red and the sheen on the scarf and the huge cable running down the center will be so pretty peeking out from behind a winter coat.  

If I could just figure out how to keep the edges from curling without having to crochet around the thing I would be 100% satisfied with how it turned out... Anyone have any suggestions?

Although my prayer is that we will be able to put away our winter coats very very soon.... I love snow but I am soooo ready for spring... 

I have almost decided that I like to crochet more.  It just seems more soothing to me.  Now that I have taught myself the basics of both crafts I just seem to gravitate towards the crocheting more so than the knitting.  I do like to knit, don't get me wrong, it just seems that mistakes are harder to fix and it takes quite a lot more time to finish something if I am knitting it.  I tend to lose interest in anything that takes longer than a week's time.  I love the look of a knit, the finished product always looks more polished to me.  But I do love, love the vintage-ness look that crocheting gives you.  I associate crocheting with my grandmother as she is the first one to expose me to the craft.  I assume that is why I feel a tie to it in a way I do not knitting.  

Anyway, here is a quick look at my next project already underway... I picked up this quick square from a blog I frequent every.single.day.  If you have a chance you should stop by and check out Ms. Lucy @ Attic 24.  Her house is full of very gorgeous, delicious, colorful wonderfulness... Catch my drift.  She does things with colors that I wish I were brave enough to do... I love going over there it brings a little sunshine to my day.  All of that said I took her tutorial for the Summer Garden Granny Square as the center and am making it into one giant square for a quick afghan.  

As you can see the second square (on the left) turned out a little better than the first try (on the right)

I bought the yarn on sale at Michael's a while back and wanted to do something quick with it... So here we go on this adventure... I started the afghan yesterday and it seems to be coming together nicely (and rather quickly).  I think I have the basic color repetition figured out so I am diving headfirst into this thing.

And here it is this morning... She has grown quite considerably...

Wish me luck....   

Dino Day...

The boys and I took the opportunity to go to St. Louis Science Center one day last week to visit the dinosaur exibit - Disnosaurs Unearthed. Below is an excerpt borrowed from St. Louis Science Center's website:

"Dinosaurs Unearthed combines life-like sculptures and rare, feathered fossils to create an exhibition that sends you back in time to walk among the dinosaurs in their natural habitats. This is the North American debut tour for many of the exhibition's artificats.

 

• See the world's first full-size, feather covered dinosaur models
• Examine a replica of an actual dig site in Zigong, China
• Hear the sounds and see the movements of several animatronic dinosaur models
• Take in five life-size skeletons from the Mesozoic Era, including an impressive 62-foot long Omeisaurus"

We had fun reading all of the plaques about the various dinos.  Playing in the "dig" area and becoming real palentologists.  Little W actually found some "real" bones in the "dirt."  He was super excited!!  Most of the dinos were on motion sensors so as you walked by them they came to life.  The boys were quick to spot the motion sensors and had fun trying to scare the other people as they rounded the corners.  And there were a few dinos that had actual "controls" that the boys could press a body part specific button and the dinos would respond with that body part.  The exhibit was fantastic... Of course my boys love dinosaurs more than most... Seeing as we sleep with them, carry small ones in our pockets, dress up like them for Halloween... I think you get the picture.  We made dinos to take home at the Dino themed build a bear located in the Science Center.  Just so you know Petey and Chompers have taken up permanent residence in the boys beds... All in all it was great we had a blast and for a small fee the boys were enthralled for a few hours..

Check out the website for more information and if you have little guys you have to go and check it out.

 

Yesterday...

... we celebrated what would have been Shane's 34th birthday.  We went out with some of our closest friends for dinner... We shared some food, memories and lots of laughter.  When we got home we enjoyed the birthday cake that the boys and I had made earlier in the day.  We also played with the balloons that Shane's aunt had sent for the boys.  We all went around the table after singing daddy happy birthday and shared one of our most favorite memories about him.  We had fun.  It was our second daddy birthday party where the guest of honor could not make it.  But we had fun nonetheless.  And we hope he had fun watching us too!!

Happy 34th birthday daddy!!!  We love you and miss you and it still isn't the same without you!!

Taking a snow day...

...things have been super lazy around here lately.  Little W and I have been feeling under the weather and HMac and RT have been outside most of the time working on a good dose of frost bite.  After getting 4" of snow and temps that are colder than we have had in the past ten years, we took some snow days around here.  Add in one case of ultimate cabin fever and well we are all going just a little stir crazy.  I am hoping to begin pulling up carpet and/or painting as soon as I/we are feeling better and back into a routine.  We are just in a little bit of an all around funk.  So since there is nothing up around here I thought I would share some pics of the fun the boys have been having... Hang tight, we will be back very soon...

love the face in this one... pure joy!

oh, well hello there, Mr. GQ...

Hope you have had a great couple of snow days too... Off to enjoy some hot chocolate...

xoxo

What 2009 taught me...

This past year was a doozy, that is for sure.  The previous year, 2008, was such a great and horrible year for my family that 2009 could only be better.  2008 saw the death of my husband and my children's father. I was left a 30 year old widow with a teenager, a preschooler and a toddler.  I was in a strange state with few friends, 9 hours away from my family, 7 hours away from my in-laws, and no where near any other kind of support system.  I was left.  I was left in the middle of nowhere.  I lived in the middle of nowhere alone with my children for 7 months.  ALONE.  I continued with my job.  A job that had me commuting a total of 2 and a half hours a day.  A job that I spent 9 hours at a day.  I lost my husband and barely saw my children and I lost me.  

I decided to keep my job and stay in a foreign place to make sure that "I" could do it.  That I could support my family while working a demanding job with crazy hours and a crazy commute all while losing THE most important person to all of my family.  I did it so that I had the knowledge for myself that if everyone else in the world that could help me was gone, that I could do this on my own.  And I did, I kept it all together and made life for my children as "normal" as possible.  And they are so well rounded and well adjusted that darn it, I deserve a pat on the back.  

In those 7 months I visited the top three places I thought I "may" want to live, to relocate my family.  I took so long in choosing because I wanted it to be right, I wanted it to be what I wanted and what Shane would have wanted for the kids.  I chose St. Louis because he loved it and I loved it and I knew the kids would have opportunities here that they wouldn't in the other 2 places.  I knew the kids would also have tons of "dads" here in Shane's friends, and so far that has proven more than true.  The men here are surely some of the most stand up men I have ever encountered in my life and for them I am so very thankful!!  

So as a recap, for me more than anyone else, here are the things I accomplished in 2009:

- My family can have a great holiday season in the worst of circumstances.

- I purchased a home for the first time, in another state. 

- I can pack up a household and move it 2 states away on my own.

- I purchased a car on my own, for the first time.

- I can successfully raise 3 boys on my own.

- I can keep a household running on my own.

- I can kill a mouse, spider and other creepy things on my own.

- I can grill dinner outside on my own.

- I learned how to invest money.

- I can still live in different states than my parents and in-laws (albeit closer) and still be ok.

- I value life in a way I never have before.

- I tell everyone that is important to me, just how important they are, because they may be gone tomorrow.

- I thank God everyday for giving me a chance to meet, get to know, marry and have children with someone as special as my husband.

- I also thank God for letting me know what it is like on the other side of the hurt.

- I thank God for my husband for making sure we were taken care of "just in case."

- I met with countless numbers of lawyers and made sure my kids were taken care of "just in case."

- I am so thankful for my family and friends for understanding and helping me through one of the hardest things I will ever go through, and fully expect to face more tough times throughout my life and will need them again.

I hope that I will not forget the lessons I learned and the things I accomplished in 2009 for no other reason than to know that I can rise above the hardships and the pain.  To know that life is life and crappy things happen, things that we have NO control over.  To know that hopefully I can help someone else, pay it forward, because my debt is so huge.  And more than anything else that I can still smile and laugh and have a great fulfilling life.  

I hope 2010 brings you health and happiness and everything else you wish for.  Always smile at everyone you see because you do not know what they are going through and that smile might just be what brightens their day.  Talk to the haggard looking mom in line behind you at the grocery, maybe they haven't talked to another adult all day and need to just say hello.  People are much nicer and helpful than we give them credit for and are more than willing to help if just asked.  Here comes another great decade, I can't wait to see what it holds for us all.  I think it is going to be great!!!! 

Random...

Well we survived yet another Christmas.  The boys got more than ever, and I was happier and more content than ever.  My parents made it up and over here around lunchtime Christmas day and Shane's parents were here early the very next day.  We had the pleasure of spending time with both sets of parents for two whole days!!!!!!!!  Thank goodness for a larger house that can hold all of us (plus some if needed)!!  I am so thankful and so very blessed!! 

We missed our daddy terribly this year as we will every year, but I am so happy to know he is in a much better place and with no worries.  Somehow I sleep better at night knowing he doesn't have to worry about everyday silliness anymore.  I am getting better and better at dealing with the holiday's and keeping it as normal as possible for the boys.  I hope that I can do MY job and raise them having the most normal and fulfilling life as I can.  Sure I mess up along the way but who doesn't.  People always say how well adjusted they are and that makes me feel like I am doing the best possible job as a mom!!  Yay for me, go me, go me!!! 

Anyway, with my mom in town we are enjoying ourselves and hitting up the thrift stores EVERY.SINGLE.DAY while the kids nap...  Thanks dad for staying behind!  I just wanted to show my two new most favorite things ever that I thrifted today!

First up:

Um, yeah those are pink boots!!  They are balloon brand boots. I googled it and can't find any information on them, but I lurve them.  I am sure I will get tons of crazy stares but who cares.  As long as I love them!!  And I do.

Second up:

Oh, what's in the case?  Are you sure you want to know?

Oh my, it is a vintage Sterling Smith Corona typewriter!!  And I lurve this even more than the pink boots!! 

Sorry for the crappy photo quality.  Ugh, I am working with what I have here...

Mom also brought up her old sewing machine.  I see a lot of curtain making in my future as I learn how to use the darn thing.  And she brought up a fancy gold mirror for my front room!  I can't wait to get moving on decorating this spot in my home!!  Lots of fun ideas!!  I will be back tomorrow with more pictures of the neat things we have found while thrifting this week!  Yes there is more... See you soon!