Goals for 2011

It seems as though this will be a never ending list, but here is what I have come up with so far in no particular order. I like to call them "goals" rather than resolutions. :)

• Knit a sweater

• Knit at least one pair of socks a month

• Blog at least 4 times a week

• Show my love for my girls

• Show my love for my husband

• Take time for myself

• Knit some hats for the Children’s Hospital and deliver them

• Spend more time reading books to the girls

• Lose some weight

• Try to exercise more

• Don't watch QVC as often

• Use as much yarn that I already have in my stash as I can (stash-busting)
  

·

Feeling the need to finish

So this has been bothering me a bit for the past few days...wondering what it is? I have two knitting projects going on right now 1) Citron shawlette 2) Jaywalker rainbow socks, and I have an urge to knit until they are done so that they don't go into the year 2011 unfinished.

I've been really working on the shawlette as I was hoping to have it blocked and ready to wear by 1/1/11. The socks aren't such an issue to finish, except that I'm starting a KAL (knit along) on the new Cookie A sock pattern book on 1/1/11 also. At least I'm already on my second sock, so I'm sure I'll be finished with this pair maybe in a week?

Anyways, my wrist is going numb when I work on the shawlette, so I hope it gets done! Blocking will take all day tomorrow, so my time is running out! I'm just going to curl up on the couch and try to stay warm since our low tonight is 0 degrees. :) Snow is still coming down, and I'm kinda glad we are finally having our first snow of the season.

Can I finally knit a sweater?

So I started and stopped a couple cardigan/sweater patterns because of frustration or just not being into it. One of my goals for 2011 (more on those goals in the coming week) is to knit my first sweater. I decided that the best thing for me to do is to start with something simple and cute...Lila's Cardigan. It's cute, lightweight, breathable (yarn is cotton), and I think it's something I can handle. The yarn has been ordered (I got more of a charcoal gray color) and the pattern has been purchased, so now I just wait to get the yarn, then I'm diving in!

Weekend's Best

Christmas Day

I am betting that everyone had an amazing Christmas! According to Brynn, this was the best Christmas ever! I'm hoping they will get better each year for her. :) She was very solemn this morning when she realized that Christmas was over. I told her that since it was Jesus' birthday, it only comes once a year, just like her birthday, and it would be back next year. McKenzie could care less and is just enjoying playing with her toys and bothering her sister while she tries to play her Nintendo DS.

I may have gone a bit overboard with toys this year, but I couldn't resist, I just kept seeing stuff I wanted for the girls! They did get lots of pillow pets this year! Brynn got one from Grandma and Grandpa and one from Sissy and David. Kenzie got one from Grandma and Grandpa and one from Papa and Nana, but they were all different, so all is well. (And now there are enough for Dan and I as well!) Grandma and Grandpa got to watch all the present opening via skype on Christmas morning, so it was a great way to have them here "with us" even though they were in Texas.

Our Christmas lunch was very yummy! We had spiral sliced ham, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, and cornbread dressing. Needless to say, we weren't very hungry for dinner, so it was kind of a pick your own dinner night.

That's all for now. Hoping to have more knitting posts in the upcoming days since I will have some ample time to knit. I'm working on a Citron shawl at the moment, that is a simple knit, but a lot of tedious stitches, so I'm hoping to have it finished before the end of the year (that's my goal at least, but we will see). I'm also working on a pair of Jaywalker socks and I'm only on the first sock, but should be finished with that soon.

Christmas Eve in pictures

Plan for the day

As I sit here to try and write this post, I have a 1 year old fussing that she wants to be held and is about to have a melt-down.

Instant update: She is now back in her crib and trying to fall back asleep. Don't think she slept long enough, and I think big sister has something to do with that.

Brynn is still awake and watching Christmas shows on TV, while I surf the internet, try and knit some on my Citron and do the girls laundry. Once Dan is up and we've all bathed or showered, we start the sugar cookie making process. Should be interesting, fun, and hopefully not too messy. :)

Then it will be lunch time soon after and hopefully the girls will take a short nap. The church service we are planning on attending is at 3 p.m. (they have 5 other time choices). We have never been to this church before, and it is huge, apparently over 4,000 members. It's a Lutheran church, so it's Dan's "kinda church", but the only thing I am worried about it the girl's behavior, mainly Kenzie. We'll see how it goes.

For dinner we will be enjoying some tamales and cheese dip! It won't be like being at home, but it will be close. I'm just looking forward to spending time with my little family. Something about Christmas makes you forget everything that worries you and allows you to focus on what you do have. After dinner, we'll get the girls dressed in their Christmas jammies, take some pictures, and let them open two presents (specific presents, that is). They are the ornaments from Great-Grandma Harpster. Then they can hang them on the tree, set out the milk and cookies for Santa, and sprinkle their reindeer treats outside so that Santa finds our house, then it's time for bed.

I will be giving strict rules that Brynn does not come downstairs until she has come to our room first. I was even thinking about sleeping downstairs so that we don't miss anything. :) Well, enough rambling...I'll let you go

Weekend's Best

Bright, sparkling lights...

Weekend Fun!

We had such a good weekend! Daddy came home on Friday, so we were all very glad to see him! Saturday we didn't do a whole lot in the morning, but in the afternoon, Brynn and I went to get a manicure! It was her first and she got her nails painted hot pink and had snowman and snowflake nail art. They looked great! I got a lighter colored pink with snowflake nail art. We had such a great time and she really enjoyed herself. Then later on that night, we met Mike, Shelly, and Jake at Zoo Lights. It was really cold, but we made it through the whole thing. We picked up some Burger King on the way home and had a very late dinner. :)

Sunday, we are mainly spending at home. I went grocery shopping this morning, but will be spending the rest of the day at home. :)

New Traditions

Now that our family is complete, I've been thinking a lot about traditions for Christmas. This year we welcomed the "Elf on the shelf" and Zig (the elf) has become a part of our every day lives. :)

I've been thinking about starting another tradition that is very close to my heart. I grew up spending a lot of time with my Grandma (mom's mom) and every Christmas she would buy me a new Hallmark ornament, so every year I looked forward to seeing what she got for me. My mom or I have been trying to get ornaments for Brynn and now McKenzie every year. This year as I was shopping for their ornaments, I tried to find just the right ones that would reflect this past year for them. When I got home to wrap them up and label them, I was thinking that maybe I should put "from:" from someone else other than me. I decided that I would make the ornaments from Great-Grandma. Even though Brynn only got to see her when she was just a baby and Grandma H. never got to meet McKenzie, I know that she watches over my girls daily. So Brynn may not understand it now, but I will try and explain to her and each year, the girls ornaments will be from Great-Grandma. :)

Self-Imposed Sock Club

If you've heard of the Yarn Harlot, you've probably heard of her self-imposed sock club. At the beginning of the year, she gathered 12 ziplock bags, 12 sock patterns, and 12 skeins of sock yarn. She then matched up the yarn to the pattern that she thought would work for it and then put it in a bag. She did this 12 times. Then each month she randomly pulls out a bag, and that's her sock project for the month...and she must finish it in that month.

I've decided that I am going to do the same thing in the year 2011. I think I probably have enough sock yarn, but I'll have to make sure. :) (It may require more sock yarn purchases). Anyways, I think it will be a great way to use up the sock yarn I already have and it will give me a goal to strive for. Hoping it works and that I stay on track!

Many projects

When I started knitting, I usually only had about one project going at a time. Once I finished that project, I started a new one. Within the last year or so, I've had multiple knitting projects going at once, usually about 1 to 2 different pairs of socks going, a larger project (like a blanket or a shawl), and maybe a hat or scarf here and there.

I just recently finished the shawl I've been working on for a while and I finished my sister's socks. So now I'm left with my Jaywalker socks and I just started a scarf. Feels very weird to not have more projects in the works, but it also feels kinda nice to know that if I did want to start another one, I'm not already overwhelmed with other WIP (works in progress, for all you non-knitters).

I would have already started on a new little shawl called Citron, but realized that I didn't have the right size needles! That's the most frustrating thing of all. I do have a lot of needles, but I have yet to collect all of the sizes and styles that I may need, so Dan suggested that maybe I get a new set with each paycheck. Good idea, but I think I'd be tempted to buy more than just one set. :)

I did try and start a sweater the other day...very easy pattern and I knew I could do it. However, every single time I cast on and would join the round, somehow my stitches would get twisted and I would have to frog and start all over again! I did this about 3 times and gave up. The yarn for the sweater is back up in my yarn storage bin and not in my active project bag. Some day I'll get back to it, since my goal is to do some sort of sweater or cardigan in the year 2011.

Enough of my knitting. I'm just trying to do something productive while I drink my coffee and wait for the girls to wake up to get them fed and ready for day care and school. Have an amazing day everyone....Christmas is only 11 days away!

Motherly Guilt

So this morning was one of those mornings that I really needed. Had to first get the grocery shopping out of the way so ran to Target and hurried back home since I had to leave soon after.

Then came the fun part. I met my friend, Maria, at YaYa's Bistro for Sunday Brunch. I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never been there before, but she had and she said it was so good! Boy was she right! They had crab legs, steak, desserts, and all the breakfast staples (plus mimosas) and it was amazing! Definitely needed the food and the girl time.

I did feel a bit guilty leaving Dan alone with the girls, but realized that I need my alone time too and I've been needing a couple hours by myself for awhile now. Sounds like they had a great time with watching movies and playing games.

Tis the Season

The decorations are up, the shopping is almost done, the Elf on the shelf is watching, and Christmas parties are upon us. Tis the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus! :)

Feels so good to be finally finished!

I started my first shawl back in April of this year and I worked on it for a bit, then it hibernated for a long time, and then I finally started working on it again in the past month or two and I finally finished it! I made many mistakes, but hopefully they aren't too noticeable.

I just need to block it before I can take any pictures, but it just feels so good to finally be done with it...and it also means I can start on another big/long project!! :)

5 years

So now is the time for me to tell you about my amazing husband. I know there are many times where I don't tell him enough how much I love him and how much I appreciate all of the things he does for our family. It's amazing how much he puts up with and stays calm (most of the time). He plays such an active part in his daughter's lives and he is so proud of what they have already accomplished even though they are so young.

Can't wait to see what the next 5, and even 50 years will bring. :) Love you hun!

It's only Sunday

This was a tough post as I was waiting to have some kind of picture to show you, as I know I love reading blogs that have pictures! I realized that I don't necessarily have to have a picture, and that I can just write if I want to. Doesn't matter if you really don't want to read it, just matters that I felt like typing it and it's made me feel better that I have a blog post! :) Anyways, woke up this morning thinking that it was Monday and that I had woken up late, I sat up in bed and realized that it was Sunday (felt much better than Monday), so I laid back down to try and go back to sleep. But then I listened....didn't hear the the girls rustling about in their rooms, so I thought, "I must get downstairs and get my coffee and some knitting done before anyone wakes up!".

So I did! Coffee is ready, QVC is on, my knitting is sitting in front of me. As soon as I'm done posting this and doing a bit of surfing on the web, my knitting will be in my hands. And I'm sure as soon as it's in my hands, McKenzie will start crying. :)

Have a blessed Sunday!

Not so Traditional Thanksgiving

Our plans for Thanksgiving this year was to meet Mike and his girlfriend Shelly at Golden Corral. When we arrived at 12:30, the parking lot was full (we had to park in a field) and when we got up to the entry door the line was pretty long. So last minute, we decided to call Buca di Beppo to see about getting a table there, and they had room! The food was so much better and we even got a full turkey dinner, complete with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. We topped it off with pumpkin cannoli for dessert. It was so yummy and way better than we had expected for an Italian place. The dressing was to die for the the mashed potatoes were so creamy!

Weekend's Best

Forgot to do my Weekend's Best yesterday, so here it is today!

From the mouths of babes

Thought I'd catch you up on some of the words our baby girl is saying...

• Uh-oh
• Wow
• wa-wa (water)
• bebe (baby)
• Hi
• ba (bear or bottle)
• Da (daddy)
• Mamamamama (mommy)

These are a few of my favorite things...

I've been thinking about posting some of my favorite things that I use daily or at least weekly.

One of those things is my Aveda Air Control hairspray. First of all, the salon I go to is an Aveda salon, so they sell all of their products. In turn, all the products I use in my hair and some of my lotions are Aveda. I also have Dan using Aveda (may not be his choice), but haven't gotten the girls on Aveda stuff yet. WAIT! Take that back, we use the "be curly" cream for Kenzie's hair and it's AWESOME for curly hair. Anyways, back to my favorite. I love their Air Control hairspray! It's a flexible hold hair spray and it smells as yummy as hair spray can smell. I actually don't mind spraying it! I've used it for years now and can't imagine switching to anything else!

Weekend's Best

One of my favorite blogger-knitter friends started the "Weekend's Best" on her blog every Monday. You basically post a picture that encompasses your weekend!

Big Weekend

This weekend was full of fun events! Brynn's first Taekwondo tournament was on Saturday morning, then it was running around and getting the final things for Kenzie's party done. Brynn did great at the tournament. It was more of a way to get the Tiny Tigers used to competing. She was a bit floppy as she did her form and she didn't seem very interested, but later on she told us it was because she was shy. Then it was Kenzie's birthday party at Gymboree Play and Music! All her friends had such a blast and Kenzie really enjoyed herself. I think she was overwhelmed with everything that she could do! The party was a success and I'm really glad we decided to have it there!