Yes, I changed the name of my blog. Already. Yes, I still have a wonderful life. The problem is that (please don't flame me for this, it's only my opinion) I really dislike the movie It's a Wonderful Life. It's just too sappy for my taste. And every time I looked at my blog I thought about the movie.
So I've gone back to my original idea for a title. It's something I have had to say every time I am asked for my name, and I like that my name is spelled with a K. I think it suits me.
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Wow, so much to catch up on.....
I haven’t been blogging, what with the kids out of school, Joe home for the week on vacation, and Christmas festivities. Sorry! We are such slugs, sleeping in way too late.
I’m glad we didn’t depend on the Trail of Lights for our Christmas photo – we went on what must have been THE most crowded night! An editing note on the Christmas photo in the previous blog…the original I posted was the icky version before Target’s cleanup job. My friend Jackie took it, cleaned it up for me with her amazing software, and sent it back to me. Thanks Jackie for letting everyone enjoy a much nicer photo of my kids!
We had a great repeat of our Christmas Eve tradition: attending evening church, then to dinner with other families from church. Previous years found us at Kerbey Lane Café, then at IHOP, but this year we tried out the Village Inn. It’s much closer to all of our homes, and the food is good. They were so nice about taking in a party of 30 (yes, of course, we warned them days ahead!). Because we had some time between the end of the church service and dinner time, we drove through an area of Austin my parents used to live in, to look at the Christmas light displays. With no snow, they really do up the yards and houses here. It’s so pretty, and the yards are outlined in white lights with a number of painted plywood figures in the yards. The cul-de-sac with the geese is always my favorite.
Sadly, I didn’t take any photos this year on Christmas Day! Again! I just get to enjoying the time with family, that I forget. We had my sister and parents here for Christmas Day; we opened presents and had lasagna for dinner. So nice and easy because I can make it a day ahead, and just threw it in the oven while we opened gifts! I did start a Flickr account (linked in the sidebar) for photos. I’ll add photos of completed knits as I remember to take the photos.
One of my favorite gifts this year was this from Joe. Last year he gave me the tool case and I loved it…it was hard to wait for this case! I’m making socks like crazy now, and to have a beautiful case made from vintage fabrics…that’s just icing on the cake.
The most meaningful gift(s) I received were 2 items from my Mom…she handwrote a Grandmother Remembers book for my kids, which included photos and stories of her growing up years. An absolute treasure. The other is a binder she is working on that is the history of her side of the family, which I don’t think has ever been recorded: her mother came over to the US at age 14, alone, speaking no English, to meet up with her own parents who had emigrated earlier. There are stories and photos I’ve not heard or seen before. Thankfully she is planning to continue to gather information and photos as the years progress. Again, a treasure.
Speaking of icing, my sister and I went shopping once school let out (she’s a teacher), and at Bed, Bath and Beyond we found a cookie cutter kit that was in a metal lunchbox…it made cookies shaped like Rudolph, the Bumble, Sam the Snowman and Hermie the Elf! And even better, the cookies were 2-3 parts and were assembled to make 3D standup cookies! I used the leftover royal icing from when my parents were over doing Gingerbread Houses with the kids and Grace’s friend. It was part of my Christmas gift from her and I love them! Oh, and they were tasty, too!
On the health front, I realize I forgot to let you all (both of you?) that the biopsy on the lump by my nose was normal tissue! That’s good for me…we have to keep an eye on my face, as the basal cell carcinoma I made before wasn’t typical in appearance. Why do I always want to say “bobopsy” like Aunt Voula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Love that movie. Bundt cake.
We’ll continue another tradition for New Year’s Eve: we are on about year 8 for hosting a New Year’s Eve party for friends from church…nearly the same group as from Christmas Eve! We started doing this when the kiddos were little, and none of us could afford either dinner out or a sitter, much less both. So these kids have grown up with this party, and move from watching movies in one room, to video games in another, to playing Trivial Pursuit with the ‘grown ups.’ Another fun tradition I’d miss terribly if it ever ended!
So, here’s to wishing you a Happy, Happy New Year, that is full of health, happiness, fun, family and faith!
Knitting content, especially regarding yarn and pattern (socks – what else?) opinions to come in a future entry.
I’m glad we didn’t depend on the Trail of Lights for our Christmas photo – we went on what must have been THE most crowded night! An editing note on the Christmas photo in the previous blog…the original I posted was the icky version before Target’s cleanup job. My friend Jackie took it, cleaned it up for me with her amazing software, and sent it back to me. Thanks Jackie for letting everyone enjoy a much nicer photo of my kids!
We had a great repeat of our Christmas Eve tradition: attending evening church, then to dinner with other families from church. Previous years found us at Kerbey Lane Café, then at IHOP, but this year we tried out the Village Inn. It’s much closer to all of our homes, and the food is good. They were so nice about taking in a party of 30 (yes, of course, we warned them days ahead!). Because we had some time between the end of the church service and dinner time, we drove through an area of Austin my parents used to live in, to look at the Christmas light displays. With no snow, they really do up the yards and houses here. It’s so pretty, and the yards are outlined in white lights with a number of painted plywood figures in the yards. The cul-de-sac with the geese is always my favorite.
Sadly, I didn’t take any photos this year on Christmas Day! Again! I just get to enjoying the time with family, that I forget. We had my sister and parents here for Christmas Day; we opened presents and had lasagna for dinner. So nice and easy because I can make it a day ahead, and just threw it in the oven while we opened gifts! I did start a Flickr account (linked in the sidebar) for photos. I’ll add photos of completed knits as I remember to take the photos.
One of my favorite gifts this year was this from Joe. Last year he gave me the tool case and I loved it…it was hard to wait for this case! I’m making socks like crazy now, and to have a beautiful case made from vintage fabrics…that’s just icing on the cake.
The most meaningful gift(s) I received were 2 items from my Mom…she handwrote a Grandmother Remembers book for my kids, which included photos and stories of her growing up years. An absolute treasure. The other is a binder she is working on that is the history of her side of the family, which I don’t think has ever been recorded: her mother came over to the US at age 14, alone, speaking no English, to meet up with her own parents who had emigrated earlier. There are stories and photos I’ve not heard or seen before. Thankfully she is planning to continue to gather information and photos as the years progress. Again, a treasure.
Speaking of icing, my sister and I went shopping once school let out (she’s a teacher), and at Bed, Bath and Beyond we found a cookie cutter kit that was in a metal lunchbox…it made cookies shaped like Rudolph, the Bumble, Sam the Snowman and Hermie the Elf! And even better, the cookies were 2-3 parts and were assembled to make 3D standup cookies! I used the leftover royal icing from when my parents were over doing Gingerbread Houses with the kids and Grace’s friend. It was part of my Christmas gift from her and I love them! Oh, and they were tasty, too!
On the health front, I realize I forgot to let you all (both of you?) that the biopsy on the lump by my nose was normal tissue! That’s good for me…we have to keep an eye on my face, as the basal cell carcinoma I made before wasn’t typical in appearance. Why do I always want to say “bobopsy” like Aunt Voula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Love that movie. Bundt cake.
We’ll continue another tradition for New Year’s Eve: we are on about year 8 for hosting a New Year’s Eve party for friends from church…nearly the same group as from Christmas Eve! We started doing this when the kiddos were little, and none of us could afford either dinner out or a sitter, much less both. So these kids have grown up with this party, and move from watching movies in one room, to video games in another, to playing Trivial Pursuit with the ‘grown ups.’ Another fun tradition I’d miss terribly if it ever ended!
So, here’s to wishing you a Happy, Happy New Year, that is full of health, happiness, fun, family and faith!
Knitting content, especially regarding yarn and pattern (socks – what else?) opinions to come in a future entry.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
My babies are growing up...sigh....
Just a quick little post to share our holiday photo. Yes, I fixed it up quite nicely at Target before printing the photo cards. Our living room walls, a buttery yellow, are not the best for photography backrounds, but I sure do like them. By the way, am I the ONLY one who can't get the photocard envelopes from Target to stick shut?? We had to use tape again this year. Scotch of course. Go 3M.
We were thinking we'd get a nice photo at the Trail of Lights this year, but I liked this one from the night we decorated the tree, so it's the winner.
Later, gators.....
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
I love it when Christmas comes early...
Always a work in progress, that is my little workroom. My little piece of heaven. My haven of scrapbooking. "Mom's room."
I got a number of the cubes for storage the first time Target carried them; I read about them on Two Peas and knew they'd be perfect for me and my room. If you saw them the first time around, you'll remember how we all went nuts buying them up, and they were discontinued, only to be brought back again recently with additional pieces.
They are a great size and about half the price of the Store in Style cubes.
The problem I had was trying to get them off the floor, and to a height that was more ergonomic for me. The solution: call Dad.
My dad is doing some really beautiful woodworking lately. All I really needed was shelving, but I thought I could at least ask! So it's my early Christmas present. I love how they look in my room! Here's a photo of the three shelf units (I gave him the dimensions of the Target cubes, so he made them to the size of 2 side by side) and my tall shelves, before I added the 6 foot table back into the room.
So can you tell the theme of the room is 'pink', with touches of green, brown and black? I have been having fun finding things that are inexpensive for the top displays. Everything from Tupperware, to Heidi Swapp, including some pink bubble wrap I put in a frame!
I love my room. Now I just need to actually get some work done....
Monday, December 18, 2006
Dear Santa letter, from Mom
This was boldly and shamelessly stolen from Scrapshare:
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my child on demand and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your sister," becausemy voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning,or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my child to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayonback.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
And clean up any mess that you may make.
Yours Always, MOM...!
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my child on demand and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your sister," becausemy voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning,or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my child to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayonback.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
And clean up any mess that you may make.
Yours Always, MOM...!
Friday, December 15, 2006
It's all fun until the novacain wears off...
So this morning I went for a slightly overdue skin check at the dermatologist's office. Two years ago I had some basal cell carcinoma removed from the area between my lip and nose, and since then I've been getting skin checks every 6 months, and all kinds of things frozen off my face. This morning we decided to remove a bit via punch for a biopsy, just in case. Only one stitch, and a few more areas frozen. All fine and well, off I went to finish off the Christmas shopping.
I got it all done, or so I thought, until I realized I still need one more thing (that's easy to pick up) and stocking stuffers. Feeling quite good about that, I realized that the biopsy site was starting to hurt. A lot.
And my tummy is still weird. Ew.
So instead of running out for the one more thing, I am getting that later on, maybe Monday. I am relegating myself to the couch again, loaded with ibuprofen for face pain (I didn't know it took those muscles to talk!), with the two schnauzers keeping me company.
Might check out Knitterly Things tonight for Vesper Yarn colors I think I need.
Send good vibes! Later, dudes.....
I got it all done, or so I thought, until I realized I still need one more thing (that's easy to pick up) and stocking stuffers. Feeling quite good about that, I realized that the biopsy site was starting to hurt. A lot.
And my tummy is still weird. Ew.
So instead of running out for the one more thing, I am getting that later on, maybe Monday. I am relegating myself to the couch again, loaded with ibuprofen for face pain (I didn't know it took those muscles to talk!), with the two schnauzers keeping me company.
Might check out Knitterly Things tonight for Vesper Yarn colors I think I need.
Send good vibes! Later, dudes.....
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Ugh.....the Ick.....
Just like Donna, I have the 'ick.' Curled up on the couch, afraid to eat or drink anything....I figure nothing in, nothing out! Must feel better by tomorrow, as I need to finish the shopping this week. I am buying on behalf of my inlaws for the kiddos, and I help the big guy in the red suit, too!
Send good tummy thoughts my way, please! Oy!
Send good tummy thoughts my way, please! Oy!
Monday, December 11, 2006
A Challenge from Stacy.....
A challenge from Stacy, borrowed off the Scrapshare forums:
1. My current favorite song is:
Current? Christmas, I guess. The Peace of Christmas Day, by John Denver and the Muppets.
2. The last book I read was:
The Big Picture. I'm way behind on recreational fiction reading.
3. The last book I bought was:
Beautiful Basics by Simple Scrapbooks.
4. The last cd I bought was:
Long time ago....maybe the Barry Manilow songs of the Fifties.
5. Another CD I wanted but didn't buy is:
Barry's newest, Songs of the Sixties I think. And a Carpenters Christmas one....I can't believe I don't have one!
6. Right now, I'm wearing:
Truly comfortable, unmatching pajamas.
7. The last gift I bought was:
Ornaments for goddaughters. Bought today.
8. The last time I laughed heartily and loudly:
tonight, at the Simpsons. Dang. Too funny.
9. My favorite holiday ornament is:
The last gold bell blown glass ornament from my parents' first tree. It's the last of the 12.
10. My house smells like:
three kids, three dogs and laundry. With remnants of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
11. The first thing on my to-do list tomorrow is:
coffee with the girls!
12. If I could sit on Santa's lap and believe that he'd bring me whatever toy I wished for, I'd ask for:
A toy? Hmmmm.....maybe the gear I would need to videoconference with friends while we scrap!
13. If I could holiday shop in ONE store, all expenses paid, I'd shop at: Target. All the way.
14. If an angel alighted on my doorstep today and said, "I'm here to grant a Christmas wish," I'd wish for:
That's a toughie....world peace? Salvation for all? The end of acne?
15. When I see a bell ringer while out shopping, I:
Always dig out change for them. My mom started it....and now my kids give the change. I just don't like it when they CAN'T ring their bell.
1. My current favorite song is:
Current? Christmas, I guess. The Peace of Christmas Day, by John Denver and the Muppets.
2. The last book I read was:
The Big Picture. I'm way behind on recreational fiction reading.
3. The last book I bought was:
Beautiful Basics by Simple Scrapbooks.
4. The last cd I bought was:
Long time ago....maybe the Barry Manilow songs of the Fifties.
5. Another CD I wanted but didn't buy is:
Barry's newest, Songs of the Sixties I think. And a Carpenters Christmas one....I can't believe I don't have one!
6. Right now, I'm wearing:
Truly comfortable, unmatching pajamas.
7. The last gift I bought was:
Ornaments for goddaughters. Bought today.
8. The last time I laughed heartily and loudly:
tonight, at the Simpsons. Dang. Too funny.
9. My favorite holiday ornament is:
The last gold bell blown glass ornament from my parents' first tree. It's the last of the 12.
10. My house smells like:
three kids, three dogs and laundry. With remnants of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
11. The first thing on my to-do list tomorrow is:
coffee with the girls!
12. If I could sit on Santa's lap and believe that he'd bring me whatever toy I wished for, I'd ask for:
A toy? Hmmmm.....maybe the gear I would need to videoconference with friends while we scrap!
13. If I could holiday shop in ONE store, all expenses paid, I'd shop at: Target. All the way.
14. If an angel alighted on my doorstep today and said, "I'm here to grant a Christmas wish," I'd wish for:
That's a toughie....world peace? Salvation for all? The end of acne?
15. When I see a bell ringer while out shopping, I:
Always dig out change for them. My mom started it....and now my kids give the change. I just don't like it when they CAN'T ring their bell.
We're off and running.....
So after reading other's blogs for so long, I decided to start one. What a great way to keep up with friends and family...loving the internet!
I am sure that it will evolve over time, but right now I thought I'd start by sharing a little about myself. I'll probably get into what I'm knitting, scrapbooking, and what's going on in our wonderful life here in Texas.
(Oh, and yeah, I'll get going on changing the links in the sidebar. Really I will.)
For today, here is Me in Threes:
Three Things That Scare Me
Heights
Falling (from said heights)
Anyone I love being hurt
Three People That Make Me Laugh
My hubby Joe can always make me laugh, even when I'm really mad
Clever writing (either in prose on on TV...clever is funny!)
Babies with the hiccups
Three Things I Love
The Lord
My family
A really well-made french vanilla latte from Starbucks
Three Things I Don't Like
Hurtful or negative people
Tomatoes (raw...love them cooked! Go figure)
Impatient people
Three Things I'm Doing Right Now
Trying to blog for the first time
Watching Judge Alex in the afternoon
Realizing I am thirsty!
Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die
Become a Grandma
See salvation in loved ones
Tour Europe and see Germany again
Three Things I Can Do Well
Write backwards and upside down
I make rockingly good Toll House cookies
Parallel park my Suburban
Ways To Describe My Personality
Positive
Thoughtful
Centered
Three Things I Can't Do
Speak Spanish (wish I could!)
Golf
Whistle
Three Things I Think You Should Listen To
The voice of God
A baby's laughter
The Christmas album, John Denver and the Muppets
Three Things I Don't Think You Should Listen To, Ever
The voice of evil
Gossip
Kids Bop
Three Of My Absolute Favorite Foods
Shrimp Scampi, Ceasar salad and Italian Chocolate Cake from Johnny Carrino's
Chuychanga with Deluxe Tomatillo sauce from Chuy's
Thanksgiving dinner
Three Beverages I Drink Daily
Water
Coffee
A Diet Coke with Lime, if I can get one
Three Shows I Watched When I Was A Kid
The Love Boat
Fantasy Island
The Brady Bunch
I am sure that it will evolve over time, but right now I thought I'd start by sharing a little about myself. I'll probably get into what I'm knitting, scrapbooking, and what's going on in our wonderful life here in Texas.
(Oh, and yeah, I'll get going on changing the links in the sidebar. Really I will.)
For today, here is Me in Threes:
Three Things That Scare Me
Heights
Falling (from said heights)
Anyone I love being hurt
Three People That Make Me Laugh
My hubby Joe can always make me laugh, even when I'm really mad
Clever writing (either in prose on on TV...clever is funny!)
Babies with the hiccups
Three Things I Love
The Lord
My family
A really well-made french vanilla latte from Starbucks
Three Things I Don't Like
Hurtful or negative people
Tomatoes (raw...love them cooked! Go figure)
Impatient people
Three Things I'm Doing Right Now
Trying to blog for the first time
Watching Judge Alex in the afternoon
Realizing I am thirsty!
Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die
Become a Grandma
See salvation in loved ones
Tour Europe and see Germany again
Three Things I Can Do Well
Write backwards and upside down
I make rockingly good Toll House cookies
Parallel park my Suburban
Ways To Describe My Personality
Positive
Thoughtful
Centered
Three Things I Can't Do
Speak Spanish (wish I could!)
Golf
Whistle
Three Things I Think You Should Listen To
The voice of God
A baby's laughter
The Christmas album, John Denver and the Muppets
Three Things I Don't Think You Should Listen To, Ever
The voice of evil
Gossip
Kids Bop
Three Of My Absolute Favorite Foods
Shrimp Scampi, Ceasar salad and Italian Chocolate Cake from Johnny Carrino's
Chuychanga with Deluxe Tomatillo sauce from Chuy's
Thanksgiving dinner
Three Beverages I Drink Daily
Water
Coffee
A Diet Coke with Lime, if I can get one
Three Shows I Watched When I Was A Kid
The Love Boat
Fantasy Island
The Brady Bunch
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