Family Time

We felt great need for family time. Dad was on his way to Sioux Falls, SD. Who the heck goes there? Right? Anyway... We decided to go bowling. We had a great time! Lilli darn near beat us all. The computerized scoring and bumpers are way too cool. This in something we need to fit in a little bit more.


 

Oh yea...

about the ice skating? Kendall is officially convinced that we have all lost our minds! 

Trying something new

Our end of the year homeschool party this year was at a skating rink. What a fun thing to do with a group of Florida kids! They thought that I was crazy when I told them they needed to take coats with them. It's the middle of May in Florida. Very quickly the were assured of my sanity. Thankfully, their mom hasn't always lived way down south and soon became the official skate lacer. (got to get those ankles tight!) There was a lot of wall hugging going on, but everyone was ready to try it again soon.
 

Our Musical Stars

Yup, it was that time again. Time for the Kickstart Musical. I'm so thankful that Ms. LeeAnn takes this on. The musical was the "Amazing Jerusalem Makeover" The kids did a great job and we were all very proud of them and their hard work.
 

A 13th to remember...

Can't believe it was 13 years ago that my sweet first born came along. Where did the years go. I guess I blinked. We celebrated this monumentous occasion by a trip to Daytona Beach. It was a great time. Here she is in all her glory, the birthday girl.

Kendall enjoyed the cake. I'm sure she'll be 13 all too fast too.













What a way to enjoy the view.












Here's the gang doing a little shopping and eating at Johnny Rocket's.


It was a fabulous weekend that we will all remember and tresure. 

Invaded!

By Mumaws that is. These are relatives that we don't often get to see. How to explain? My grandma's (in the center) brother's children and grandchildren and spouses. Ohhh.... You got it now, right? It was great to see them and all the kids. It was a short, but fun visit. 

Bible Driller Extrordinaire!

That's our Parker. He went to the big Bible Drill and went all the way to Super Drill and made a perfect score. How great is he?! We are proud of all the hard work he has done.

 

Sniff.. Sniff...

They're getting so big and grown up. Here they are all polished and spit shined for Easter. Parker is complete with blue hair gel. What's not to love about these great kids? 

Baby from the hood...

See what happens when you let at 13yo, 11yo, and 6yo play with a 1yo? Please don't call the fashion police on me!
 

Awwwwww....

How good is this? A sweet one snuggled up with a hand knit. Say it with me... Awwwwww... 

This is the life.

We were blessed to get to spend a long weekend at a terrific resort in Daytona Beach. Here I am with Kendall and a prayer shawl that I have frogged at least 6 times. Despite the look on my face, it really isn't that hard to knit with a wee one on your lap. In the background is my new Lantern Moon knitting basket that I love, love, love. I'm gonna get me some of those gorgeous Lantern Moon needles one day.

In true Yarn Harlot fashion... Here is my current sock on the needles with an ocean view. This my friends is knitting in paradise!
 

Prayer Shawl

I am very blessed to belong to a group of women who meets once a week to study the Bible and pray. They are a great group of women and I treasure each of them.

I had been reading about prayer shawls. One of the gals in the group was going through a little bumpy patch and I really felt she need a boost. I made this very easy shawl. It is scrumptious rayon boucle yarn, garter stitches with sz 15 needles. you start with 40 stitches and increase at the beginning and end of every row. Knit until you run out of yarn or can't stand it anymore. While you knit you begin to pray for the recipient. The idea is that the shawl becomes a symbol of love and prayer, more than a fashion statement.

Our group had a girls night out, where I passed the shawl around to each woman who spoke a blessing/prayer for the recipient. I have done another one with mohair for my friend Pam and am sure there are more of these in my future.

 

First pair of socks...

When I started these socks I thought I had temporarily lost my sanity. I had just mastered the basics and then it felt like I was trying to knit with dental floss and 5 tooth picks. In fact, when I was working on these, people would ask me who they were for. I would reply, "the first one-legged person I can find!". I couldn't imagine making another sock! But I learned the magic of the heel flap, and the heel turn, and the whole gusset thing. I admit it. It's all magic and I love it. And wearing these socks (yes I kept them just for me!) are pure joy. My dd Katelyn is modeling them and the ribbing is a little big on her! 

Second FO and..

The one that almost wasn't. Gotta admit, this one got a little long and boring. It was a free pattern from Lion's Brand Yarn made with their Thick and Quick Chenille. It took six skeins and I survived it! I'm sure you can't really tell from the pictures, but it is a throw. There is a slighly large-ish hole from dropped stitch. Note to self: Take Barbara's "Help I dropped a stitch" class FAST!

 

How Cute is this?

My friend Pam made felted Easter baskets for her 3 boys. Fun fur and great colors. You can only see one in this pic, but enough to get the idea. Look out! I know what I'm doing next year! 

It all started so innocently...

I've watched my friend Pam knit for almost a year. I stamp and scrap and she knits, stamps and scraps. This had never been problem for our friendship. But then I started noticing all the cool stuff she was knitting. Purses! That alone was enough to suck me right in. This was not my Grandma's knitting. So one day out of the blue, I decided I'd had enough of being left out of the club. Pam took me to one of my now favorite places on the planet. Sip 'n Knit. A local yarn shop. I went to a general help session and learned the knit stitch and casting on from quite possibly the best knitting teacher ever. Barbara. She's so patient and believes that everything is doable. Me a new knitter, try socks? Sure, she says. And you know what? I believe it. As far as knitting is concerned, I believe everything she says.

So I begin by garter stitching some squares and call them dishclothes. Sorry no pictures. I made about 20 of them and gave every single one away for Easter.

So I quickly got bored with those and moved on to these:



The top is Katelyn's Easter purse (green), the pink one is Lilli's and the itty bitty pink striped one is Kendall's. It just fits a paci.

And so it starts. The knit stitch, the purl stitch, casting on, binding off. It's a journey and I'm off.