After I Finish This Row

I love Jesus

but I hate Easter grass. 

   

Pat's family worked so hard with us to keep Kate on the diet.  They even emptied candy filled eggs and put coins and little toys in them!  They were so wonderful.  I think all the kids enjoyed the money eggs better!  I know my kids did, and the little ones didnt realize that having money in them was different.  Of course keeping the money out of their mouth was another problem.  But everyone was fine. 

She did get a special chocolate bunny from the Easter Bunny, and some of her chocolate lollipops.  We all ate so much healthier this year.  It was really nice to be supported and not having to worry about how my kid was going to behave. 

Happy Birthday Bryant!

Nine years ago today Bryant was born.  :)  He was born in the house Patrick and I built together.  After the midwife checked to make sure he didn't have a cord around his neck she got out of the way and Patrick and I delivered him.  I can still feel his body in my hands warm and soft.  It was the first birth I had ever been to and I still  remember the shock when he cried, it had been so quiet.  A sweet shock as I had missed it at Julia's birth since they had to knock me out.  We laid him on my chest and he immidately looked me in the eyes. 

His birth was the begining of me knowing I really could do anything.  It was the begining of my adulthood.  I had carried a feeling that I wasnt worth the same as other people and that I wasnt as good as other people.  But when I had him my self esteem went through the roof.  It helped me to repair what Julias csection had done to my ego.  I wasnt broken.  My intent was only to have a drugfree birth for me and my baby, I had no idea that it would be the ego boost that it was. 

Buzz, Woody, "Baby Beluga" and the red fire engine are all packed away.  Just tonight we put all his sandbox dinosaurs at the road for trash pick up tomorrow.  I must have asked him three times if he was ok with it.  This year has been the segeway into the next stage.   He is growing, Karate belts, trophies, car stuff, basketballs and his reading light being the center of his world now. 

I love that boy so much.  He is stubborn just like me, worries about relationships, has little tact, and he has some of my good qualities too, he is compassionate, yearns for order, and is lively.  Theres a lot more, but thats enough. 

The first thing I ever knitted was for him.  It was a garter stitch scarf, he was about 5 at the time and he wore it to Big Bend.  I casted off right before we got there.  I was so excited that he loved it so much.  There was dropped stitches and it was wider on one end then the other but he didnt care. 

   

Isn't she lovely

I'm crocheting some coasters for the kids rooms and after she squished the cotton skien Kate asked "Momma can you make mine out of wool." HA!  She knows her fiber.  Now I just need to teach her whats good for what. 

For those of you who knew about Bryant, he is doing good, its not a break it sounds like it is a bone bruise.  But it takes about the same amount of time to heal.  He is still in a lot of pain.  But managing.  Hes tough. 

Look who got her second set of braces!  :D  She looks so grown up all the sudden!  Recital is right around the corner and I am so excited!  Its gona be tricky as Kate will also be dancing the same night (same company).  But getting everyone ready and myself, eeee.  It'll be fun. 

Isn't She Lovely (One of the many songs I sang to Julia as a baby) By Stevie Wonder

Isn't she lovely Isn't she wonderfull Isn't she precious Less than one minute old I never thought through love we'd be Making one as lovely as she But isn't she lovely made from love Isn't she pretty Truly the angel's best Boy, I'm so happy We have been heaven blessed I can't believe what God has done through us he's given life to one But isn't she lovely made from love Isn't she lovely Life and love are the same Life is Aisha The meaning of her name Londie, it could have not been done Without you who conceived the one That's so very lovely made from love

Hope all my knitting friends are having a good weekend!  I'll get some pics of my birthday boy tommorrow (and the Mystical Creations Yarn Col sent me!!! The stuff is gorgeous I tell you, gorgeous.  Col, I so respect your taste in colors!  After you decorate your house you can come decorate mine.)  Night guys.  :) 

Kids say

Julia: Ok Katy, What is the smallest number you can think of?

Katy: Um, 2.

Julia: Ok,<Pause>, what is the largest number you can think of?

Katy: 16!

Julia:Try harder Katy, Whats the largest number you can think of? 

Katy: 18! 

Pray for Kate

Hey everyone,

I know most of us aren't back to normal yet after the holidays, myself included. But if your buzzing around here please send up a prayer for Kate.  We had some tests done today, they didnt come out so well.  Tomorrow she will be getting some more.  She is such a brave girl, a real trooper when it comes to medical tests.   Would you just please pray that we get a referal to a great Dr, and that she does well during her tests and that I will do what is best for our entire family during this. 

Today sitting in the Drs office she snuggled into me and said "Why do you smell so good Mommy."

Thanks, friends. 

40 degrees

Yep, break out the sweaters its cold outside baby.

It was actually sleeting here in South Texas today.  What a nice change. 

Kids say

In the past week Bryant and Kate have been dismantling toy cars and Polly Pocket houses with their screwdrivers.  Anything with screws is no longer safe, Julia and I have saved a thing or two from the two middles path. 

Last night Pat told them the story of when his Aunt who was living in Germany.  She was a small child, it was in the late 40's.  She wanted to see the little people who certainly must be inside the radio.  So she took it apart.  Bryant asked "How old was she?" Thinking how funny it was.  Pat said probably 4.  Then Kate asked "What did they look like?"

Julia's in ballet the Nutcracker, so things are nutty this week.  I dropped all other responsibilities to make sure all went smoothe.  She is doing 4 performances over 4 days and enjoying it.  She is a very seious performer and has asked to move companies to be in one with more competition, and performances. I am so proud!  And scared that my 11 year old is asking and being so responsible for her path!  So cool people, cool. 

Things are going well without the Tv.  My kids are turning into good friends, better then before.  Still some rough spots with a certain child.  But hey, thats life right.  She is such an independent free thinker, poor child got a double dose from me and my husband.  But she is also maturing faster then I have expected.  She is teaching me.   Fortunately, I love to learn. 

Julia grew last night.  When I was doing her bun for ballet this morning I had to ask her to squat down!  It made me remember when she was an infant and I would wake to see her and notice she grew.  Bless her heart she is the tallest girl in her section and her dance teacher has told her she will have to go to the Mens dance shoes next as they dont make ladies in her size!  HA!  She loves it, doesnt have a problem with any of it.  Gotta love her spirit. 

Yes knitters, I am doing a tiny bit of knitting.  Mostly finishing some projects, which of course are baby related and adorable!  I also need to knit Grace a hat.  I'm still not doing color changing so I need to come up with something simple. Probably ust a plain hat in something I find around here. 

Be careful this holiday weekend!  And sorry I havent been visiting blogs much.  These kiddos are keeping me busy.  Miss yall! 

Mary Jane's and Bonnet

First the parenting saga.  Things are good.  Two days of very good behavior and one day of rotten seems to be the pattern.  Everyone else is behaving themselves.  :)  I am sticking to Supernanny as well as I can.  I know you think I have a lot of patience.  But patience is something you learn, and boy howdy I thought I was patient.  I've got a long way to go yet. 

The house is pretty clean these days, my office is a wreck! 

Knitting content!  Yes!  And not old knitting content.  Ok, the little blanket.  I started in Bernat Softee Chunky in Mid Sea Green on 10 1/2. I am using the front of a cabled sweater as the pattern.  It has a lot of cables and cable directions, which I need practice on. 

I am also finishing up some Mary Jane booties and another Lacy bonnet from Knitting for Two.  I changed the brim and just did it plain with a  little garter at the bind off.  Cashsoft Baby Dk.  The bootie pattern is from a little booklet I got at the Supermarket called "Knitting for Babies".  I cant find it online.  It has some really cute stuff.  They said 0-6 months but I think it turned out more like 0-3. 

Yellow Belt and Birthday Prep

Look at Bryant!  He got his yellow belt!  We are so proud of him!

Look what I found for $10!

I'm gona spruce it up a bit for Kate's birthday present.  I was thinking about some pot holders, a drying cloth, a little apron, a curtain under the range, and maybe a little lace edging on the shelves.  It looks as though at one time it had a microwave but now all that is left is a control panel from the microwave.  I'm not sure how I will cover that up.   A picture maybe?  Any other ideas on how to disguise it? 

Costumes and SWS :)

Hmm, I should really wait to tell ya. But I can't stand surprises I'll tell ya.  Julia is a pirate girl, Bryant is a ninja, Kate is a flower fairy (I want to be a flower fairy!)  And Grace is gonna be Raggedy Ann!  AH!  The little hat has yarn hair on it!  It's so cute.  The girls get to wear their costumes to dance.  So next week I should have pictures of them in their costumes. 

SWS is a new wool 70% soy 30% (I think) from Paton's.  It's very sloughy.  After knitting a bit you have a bit of wool in your hands.  Kate and I discussed it and we are making booga bags out of it.  It'll felt alot better then making a sweater that we have to shave every time she wears. Gonna be nice to have a  total non pattern like a booga to do for the next few weeks. 

Here's the SWS Sean.  Isn't it sweet?  They have some really nice color ways.  I still cant believe my almost four year old picked this one out!  She has a very sophisticated choice in yarn.  It reminds me of chocolate covered cherries but the actual name is "Natural Plum". 

After school today Julia and I are going to learn to crochet baby hats for the Caps to the Capitol.  We found this pattern. 

A few weeks ago I got all the kids blood typed.  Since the last three where born at home and have been extremely healthy I never knew their blood type.  So my midwife ordered kits and we pricked their fingers and what a shocker to find that all four of them have the four different types possible that me and my husband could produce.  An A+, A-,O+, and an O- in the order of their birth!  Isn't that wild. 

Last night when we were getting ready for bed Bryant asked "What was my blood type?"  And Kate answered "Um, Bryant it's red." 

We have a cold front coming in today. Eeeeee.  Hot cocoa and socks!