knitting woes.....

I love knitting and crocheting. I love making things for other people. But people have made it not very fun for me. Why is it that when someone learns that you can do this craft assumes that you have the time, money or even the wish to make them something??? At my mom's birthday party, a Friend of my mother saw a scarf that I had made and told her 11 year old daughter, Stephanie knows how to knit, she can make you a hat. What? I see you less than once a year and you are volunteering me to make your kid a hat? My aunt will find a pattern and email it to me wanting me to make it. I'm not made of money, you want to go buy the yarn. Then yesterday at a family dinner, I was giving my niece the scarf that I made her to match her hat and mittens, and my entire family started telling me the colors they wanted for scarves and mittens. Now, I don't mind making things for other people, in fact most things I make are for other people, I rarely make anything for myself. Every time someone asks/assumes I'll make them something, I have started quoting a price or telling them I'll teach them to knit. I told my family yesterday that I would charge $12 a pair of mittens, they all thought I was ridiculous. Well, handmade costs more, get over it. I will continue to knit for others, just what and when I want to!!!

Great weekend!!!

Here's Paige in her baby surprise sweater I made for her!! She was so snuggly in it!

Here's my mommy and my aunt at my mom's 50th birthday party yesterday!!! My mom is the one on the right, my aunt Kim is on the left, she's not too far behind!!

busy, busy, busy....

What a terrible blogger I am, I haven't posted in FOREVER!!! I just finished a baby surprise jacket for a teacher at school for her first grandchild. I didn't enjoy it and didn't have fun with it, however, I did try a ruffled cuff and I learned from that.

I am almost finished, like will be shortly after I finish this blog for my spoilee's handmade item. I'm about ready to send it with my owlie for delivery.

I can't stay long, I must go, my beloved college football team is playing the Division II national championship semifinals. GO BEARCATS!!!!

Pictures!!!!

Here is Brianna's birthday cake!!! She wanted a Wizard of Oz cake, namely the ruby slippers. I didn't think that I could carve the shoes, so my sister and I decided to make one with the slippers as the main focus point. I LURVE this cake so much, it's my favorite cake that I have made.

This is the layers before it was frosted, each layer was a different color of the rainbow, with the cupcakes each being layered within the cupcake pan!! It was so pretty when it was sliced, Brianna was so surprised with it. I'm so bummed that I didn't get a picture of the sliced cake.

And of course, I couldn't have a post and not have a picture of Paige. She is so beautiful and such a precious baby. I love to snuggle with her!!!

today, today!

Well, my sister and I created my niece Brianna's birthday cake today. As I am at my parents house, their internet sucks big time, so I cannot add pictures. I will add them when I make it home after her party tomorrow.

I also am ending the day smelling like baby formula puke/spit up. Those of you who have experience with infants know the smell I am talking about. I believe that part of the job description for AUNT is to be spit up on multiple times a day! Not that I'm complaining at all. Mommy just dropped her off with me and went on her merry way of checking horses!

Pictures of the weekend to come!

Pictures taken by a 6, almost 7, year old!

My niece Patty - 3 1/2 with my furry child, Bella! Me with Paige, trying to get her to stop crying so she doens't wake her very sick mommy.

My sister, reading to Patty about Monarch butterflies. The ice queens heart has melted!

Pictures as promised....

Here are the pictures that I have promised, I have tried to upload these several times this week! This is my baby niece, Paige, she is 11 days old here. She's now 6 1/2 weeks. I'm hoping to get more pictures tomorrow. She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces, 20 inches long. She got really sick right after she was born with extremely high bilirubin numbers, but she's all better now.

Here I am with Paige!

This is Paige's pinwheel sweater. The colors did not photograph well, but it's so pretty, it's blues and purples. I am now working on the sleeves. I am deviating from the pattern, I don't think the sleeves on the pattern are cohesive with the rest of the sweater.

And here's Bella, had to throw a picture of her in! She was rooting around under the blankets as I was trying to take pictures of the sweater!

Pinwheel Sweater...

I am currently in the process of knitting a pinwheel sweater for my new niece, Paige, who I need to post pictures of, maybe tomorrow!!! I have been searching for just the right yarn to make this sweater. I finally found the yarn that I wanted in Joann's on Wednesday. So, Thursday night I cast it on and today I made it to the i-cord bind off, I made it through 2 sections before I just couldn't work on it anymore, my eyes are about to close on their own! I am up way past my bedtime!!

I will post pictures of Paige and the sweater next week!

TTC Day 487

This week I had 2 dominant follicle scans. The first one on Monday and one follicle was 13 mm. I was told that I had to come back on Thursday for a second one. This time I the 13mm follicle had grown to 19mm and one that was 13mm. This is the first good news we have had in the last year and a half. The therapy is working. We are now in a wait and see pattern for the next 12 days. I praying for the best!

My owl arrived!!!!

Bevin Rae Mooney's owl Keavy arrived on my stoop today!!!! I was going to post lots of pictures, but it wouldn't let me!!! Here is a picture of everything, including my personal Dark Arts detector, Blla, hard at work! There was a beautiful hand-painted box with my muggle initial on it, it's already been put to use holding all of my knitting notions on my table! A recipe box with cards, I definately need these! And a magnetic pad of matching paper. A cupcake rubber stamp, tags to attach to my knitted gifts, an owl, Sour Jelly Belly's and 4 patterns!! Oh, and stickers to place on my baked goodies for gifts and my own owl!!! Look at these beautiful yarns, the green is alpaca, I have so been wanting to get some! It's a beautiful hand dyed greens. And the lavendar is Malabrigo, I can't wait to cast on with it!!! What to make, what to make!

Here's my little tags, I love them!!!

And my new little friend, I will place him on my desk at school!

And here is Bella, giving her approval to the package!!!

Bevin has definately spoiled me!!! Thank you so much!

Camping trip with my girls!!!

So, last weekend I went camping with my brother, his on/off girlfriend and their respective daughters. I had a great time with the little girls, but my brother and his girldfriend not so much!

Here is a picture from our fishing spot. It was about 6:15 in the morning and still foggy. My favorite part of the day at the park!!!


Here is my niece, Brianna, swerious fisherwoman here! She has a whole wad of fishing gear!

Here is Patty, she is the only one of the five of us to catch a fish!! She was so scared of it, I'm suprised I got a picture!

And here are the girls just chillin!!! They sat here watching the park. I cheated and stayed in my parents camper this time. Normally I do camp in a tent, but it was the end of July and the only way that Brianna could have gone was if I went, so I said camper!

Baby shower surprises...

We had a baby shower for my brother's fiancee this weekend, here are all the goodies I made for her!

Baby Surprise Jacket w/ Horse buttons (mommy shows horses, we call them hayburners!)

Bibs

Hats, there were 14!!!

And the Hello Kitty Hat finished, it's my favorite!!! I just can't turn it!

Help me choose!!!

I need help choosing which hat to make for my new niece. She will be 2 months old when Thanksgiving comes around. I like both of these hats, but I just can't decide!!!

Summer Camp Game #3

My fear is snakes. Not like Ron with spiders, but I am afraid of them!! I have held snakes before, but if I see one in the wild, I turn the other direction!!! So I was in class the other day a snake appeared while we were practicing our bogarts. So I turned him into a big ball of yarn!!!!! Not afraid of that!!!!

Witch & Wizardly Wisecracks!

I got one!!!! Celestina Pettigrew sent me Mad Eye Moody's eye and some belongings to return to him.

Here is the whole package:



Here is my personal dark magic detector sniffing the package!:


Mad Eye's eye!:

Summer camp game #2

1. Chamber of Secrets
2. Harry Potter
3. Ron Weasley
4. Hermione Granger
5. Gryffindor
6. Dark Arts
7. Gilderoy Lockhart
8. Chamber of Secrets
9. House elf
10. Harry Potter
11. Moaning Myrtle
12. Harry Potter
13. Ron Weasley
14. Harry Potter
15. Voldemort
16. Horcrux
17. Ron Weasley
18. Ginny Weasley
19. Gilderoy Lockhart
20. Prisoner of Askaban

3 truths and a lie...

1. I have traveled to Europe.
2. I had 12 grandparents/great-grandparents when I was born.
3. I have a tattoo.
4. I played in the marching band in college.

Good luck!!!!!

Bibs.....

Here are a few of the projects that I have been working on this week. I have a niece that is coming in September, so I am working on hats, booties/socks and bibs that all match for each holiday/month. Of course, I am also making sure to include some of mommy and daddy's interests too!

Left bib - green and yellow, John Deere colors, daddy has a John Deere degree and works for JD. He was already given the hat that matches!!!

Middle bib - green and red, Christmas colors to match the Christmas tree hat and Elfin Socks.

Right bib - Blaze orange and camo, daddy is a hunter, I made a basic beanie hat that this one matches.

I am working on hat number 6 and bib number 4. When I get all the ends weaved in on everything, I will take pictures of each set and post them!!! (I am really bad about weaving in ends and clipping my threads!!! My mom always fusses at me for this!!!)

I have the best job!

I was at graduation tonight for the high school where I teach. It hit me. I was there, making a real impact on a child's life. I was watching these kids walk down the aisle for the processional and it was like watching my own child. I even teared up a bit, this is big because I don't cry (drives the hubs nuts too!). I felt proud at that moment to be a part of this evening for my kids. I have built amazing relationships with some of these kids that will go beyond the classroom.

Like the senior who had a baby in February, she graduated in the top 10% of her class and recieved many scholarships for college. All this while working full time and taking care of her baby. She came to me in tears, she didn't want to leave!! She has done an amazing job with her baby so far and will be an exception to the teenage mother statistics, she will go far.

Out of a class of 268, I may have had about 10% of them. Every one of them came and gave me a great big hug!!! I knew that my job would be rewarding when I decided to begin teaching, but tonight was nothing short of amazing. Thank you GSHS Class of 2009!!!

the joys of teaching...

So, I was sitting in class yesterday and a student came up to me holding out her hand. She was holding it like something was wrong with it. She had apparently just sneezed in it. This was our conversation:

Student: Excuse me, do you have any hand sanitizer?

Me: No, why? (the bathroom is just next door to my room!)

Student: I just sneezed in my hand and you know, with the swine flu going around I don't want to catch it.

Me: Speechless. This doesn't happen very often, especially at school. Yes, kids really do say the darnedest things!

Very surreal...

Ok, so my parents and I work for the same school district. This morning about 5:30 from my dad, I get a call that went about like this:

Dad: Whatcha doin? (this is his normal greeting!)

Me: Sleeping. (Duh, it's 5:30, this is what normal people are doing)

Dad: Well, you might have to take me home from school today.

Me: Ok, why?

Dad: Greg died.

Me: (still in the stupor of sleep) Greg? Greg who? Uncle Greg?

Dad: Yes.

My 39-year-old uncle (ten years older than I am) passed away about 3:00 this morning. He had a seizure, went into cardiac arrest and then died. He has been married about 5 1/2 years, has a 4 year-old son, and a 17 year-old stepdaughter. This is not how I expected my morning to start. I wasn't that close to him, but it's a huge shock.

New stash!

This is the newest yarn to enter my stash. This is a Koigu KPPPM in Bobbi Jo Color way. This is my first Koigu. I can't wait to cast on with it!!!

Quidditch

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?
b. Lupin

2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?
c. McGonagall

3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?
Nicholas Flamel

4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?
c. Viktor

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?
b. Patil

6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?
a. Maurice Sendak - I love this book!!!!!

7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?
d. The Geminio Curse

8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?
c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand

9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s
parents, not children).
a. James was older

10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?
d. Grimp’s Law of Fundamental Transfiguration

George
McGonagall
Patil
Where the Wild Things Are

I got it!!!!!!!!!! Hermione Bagnold is amazing!!!!

My kit came today!!! Hermione Bagnold is amazing!!! Here's Bella checking it out for me! She gave me the okay to open each little package!

So here's all my little packages, all wrapped up in Harry wrapping paper!! And Bella's ear on the side, she had just turned away and that floppy ear made it into the picture.

Here's my whole kit with Bella in the way, she's such photo hog!!!! There is 2 skeins of Knit Picks Essential Kettle Hand-Dyed in Wine and Gold, a set of Knit Picks Harmony size 2 circulars, a set of Australian animal stitch markers, coffee!, a gryffindor statue, Bella got a stuffed owl and some bones which she promptly swiped!!!

And the most amazing bag!!! I couldn't get the color to come out right. It's a deep royal purple and has Knit Picks Harmony needles at the top of the bag. I wouldn't want to have given it up either!!! It is already filled with all of my belongings!!!!

Oh, and this didn't make it into the picture, uh, because I was wearing it!!!! It also didn't photograph well, it is red venetian glass beads with little flowers on it! This is definately going to be on my wrist everyday!!!!

Thanks Hermione!!! I love it!!!!

A difference of 2 days....

So on Saturday, we received 5-6 inches of snow. It was coming so fast, that many of the stores in the strip center where I work part-time, closed about 3 hours early! This picture was today on my way home from school. No snow, beautiful sunny weather close to 70 degrees!!!

Rain, Freezing Rain, Ice then Snow, lots of snow...

Who would have thought that it was really spring?!?!?!? It's March 28 and it is still snowing here!!

bridal shower....

Here is a picture of the latest cupcakes that I made. I decorated these in a hotel room in Omaha on Friday night. The wedding colors are red and black, two colors of frosting that I refuse to make becuase the food coloring makes the frosting taste disgusting. I made white frosting and then sprayed them with a red food coloring spray, not sure I really like the effect that it gives. I made 24 roses and 24 swirled cupcakes.

We also had a chocolate fountain with appropriate dippers. And I have leftovers! YUM!!!! The shower itself was ok. I was not in charge of it, I just did the food.

Brianna's Kitty Sweater

Here it is!! Brianna's Kitty Sweater. This is a pattern that I received after my grandmother passed away, she had made one for my aunt when she was about 6. So, my niece is 6, so it was time to make her one. It's a bit too late for this year, but she'll still be able to wear it next year. All I need is to add the buttons, but I have to go find them first!

So here is a picture of the sweater back and the pattern:


The front:


And a close-up of the back:

Quidditch Round Two

1. On which day did the Order of the Phoenix come to get Harry?
c. Saturday

2. During all this chaos with voldemort and the Death Eaters, people still had lives to live and Ron's oldest brother, Bill decided to marry Fleur Delacour? Who were the uninvited guests at Bill and Fleur's wedding?
b. Death Eaters

3. Voldemort had seven Horcruxes hidden in different places. Six of them were hidden at the Gaunt shack, Hogwarts, a cave, inside Harry, inside his snake, Nagini and Tom Riddles Diary. Did Voldemort hide the last Horcrux inside the Malfoy's vault at Gringotts?
b. No (the Lestrange' Vault)

4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow?
c. The father went to Azkaban

5. Harry and Hermione read a part of "Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore," written by Rita Skeeter. Then they met Dumbledore's brother Abeforth and he told them the same story, just with a few details changed. Which of the following did Aberforth and Rita Skeeter agree on about Dumbdore's past?
b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while.

6. When Harry and Hermione visit Godric's Hollow, they visit the graveyard to see Harry's parent's graves. Harry walks by a tombstone that we later learn belong to tone of "The Three Broother'. The brother buried there once owned what?
b. The cloak

7. The Trio finds out that Luna had been kidnapped by the Death Eaters , and that they won't give her back until they got Harry Potter. Why did they kidnap Luna?
a. Her father sided with Harry and Dumbledore

8. After Voldemort killed Snape, he left the room and Harry came out from under the cloak. Snape gave Harry some of his memories all the way from when he was a child to just months before. Harry dived into the Pensieve and which of the following did he not see?
c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class

9. On the search of the Lost Diadem, Harry finally gets to takl to the Gray Lady. Who was the Gray Lady when she was alive?
c. Helena Ravenclaw.

10. Which of these is not one of Harry or Ron's children?
d. Victoria



Picture Scavenger Hunt
These pictures must either be posted to your blog or linked to from your blog.

Lily

Ron

Snape

Luna

Godric's Hollow

itchiness and basketball...

Well, I have had an interesting last day or two. I came home from work on Thursday and was getting ready to work my shift at my part time job. I started itching. I looked and I had hives on my upper chest, my shoulders and my arms. I took a couple of benadryl and went on to work. They cleared up and I thought I was fine. Then I get home eat dinner, and take a quick shower and go to bed. I wake up about an hour and a half later with hives from my head to my waist solid. I have never had hives on my body, usually only in my mouth. There were hives in my ears! The hubs took me to the ER, where they gave me more benadryl, an anti-inflammatory and another anti-histamine. They went mostly away. I went to school yesterday, then chaperoned a busload of kids to the state semi-final basket ball game where our boys were playing! At the game the hives started coming back. I woke up this morning and now I have them all over again. Not as bad as yesterday morning, but definately coverd in them. Now, nothing in my diet or anything has changed. I don't know what's causing them. And it's really starting to annoy me.

This afternoon I am again chaperoning a busload of kids to the state basketball game where our boys are playing for the state title!! We are so excited. I am so excited to be a part of this experience.

It's finally finished!!!

My first major attempt to crochet!! This baby afghan was started by my great-grandmother. My great-grandmother crocheted my older brother a baby afghan for his daughter when she was born. My sister and I asked her to make us each a baby afghan for our future children, knowing that she probably wouldn't be around when it was time for us to have kids. For Christmas several years ago, my great-grandmother gave my sister and I a baby afghan. It is one of my most precious possessions. When she passed away, my grandfather called and said that he had a "bag of knittin stuff that was grandma's." When I picked it up, he said that it was something that she was working on for my younger brother. I opened it up and there was the majority of a baby afghan. It's not perfect, it is really uneven and not square. You can see where she began losing her ability to keep an even tension. But it is perfect. It was something that we know she put her heart into. If you noticed the pink bow of yarn on the top picture, you can see where I began. I was working the border around the edges. I ended up putting about 3 inches of a border around it. The best part is, my brother doesn't know that I have it or that she even had started one for him. So now that he is having a baby, I thought it was time to finish this blanket. I have never been so proud of soemthing that I have finished. I can't wait to give this to him and his fiance'.