My Family

We had a wonderful Christmas. I am in love with my family and I know that I am blessed.

Joe is 18 years older than me, we've been together over 17 years. We tried, unsuccessfully, for 10 years to have a baby. In June of 1999 we went to Australia for our 10th anniversary, and 9 months later Noelle was born! So we are considered "older" parents, but I don't care!! Noey is truly the light of my life. She is spoiled rotten (I waited 10 years for her - of course I'm going to spoil her!) and I think she is the most spectacular creature on earth!!! I thank God for her every day.

My dad in his Watchman's Cap. My dad is 71 years young! He's an interesting, intelligent, and sometimes silly man! He started bicycling over 35 years ago, and still rides over 100 miles a week! I used to ride with him, before Noey was born. (and I could hardly keep up!) Every ride he would say "What a beautiful day for a ride" and when we were done he would say "That was a great ride".

My mom in her Keyhole Scarf. My mom will be 69 years old soon. She is incredibly active, always on the go. She goes to the gym three times a week! (in her cute little sweatsuits!) and she's always involved in some activity at our church. She loves her family fiercely! She's a fantastic quilter ( that's a quilt she made in the background), and we treasure the lovely quilts she's made for us.
Both of my parents are the kindest people I know. They have strong values and faith. They are happy and optimistic people, and are a pleasure to be with.

Joyeux Noelle!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Hope your holiday is full of joy and love!

My knitting is done, my shopping is done, Party On!

Our Gingerbread Decorating Party was a huge success, and a lot of fun (also a lot of work) Last night I put together the houses....that was.....fun. But made it so much easier today. We decorated and decorated and decorated those houses!
Here they are wearing their new hats! That's Monica, Nicole, Noey, and Hannah. Sophie was sick, and Debbie decided to leave crazy Ava at home!!

I didn't get a pic of Noey with her house, but here is Debbie with Hannah, and Nicole working on their houses.
We decided we would make this an annual tradition! It was just so much fun!

My dad's Watchmans/Seamans Cap. Modeled here by my ginormous snow globe. Made from Cascade 220, it's very warm and toasty.....funny because it was 95 degrees here at our house today! (we had to turn on the air conditioner for the party!)
and now I can get back to knitting for me, me, me! I have so many works in progress, but I want to make all the stuff I made for other people too. Also I joined the Cover Your Ankles KAL. Don't know if I'd even wear legwarmers (especially in this weather!) but I think they're so cute.

My mom's Keyhole Scarf. It turned out really nice, I love it and will probably make myself one soon. It's hard to get a good pic when it's not on someone. My model was not in the mood.

Another day, another project started!

What? Am I crazy? I started another project......one week before Christmas! Still, I am strangely calm about the whole thing. I am sure (or delusional) that I will get everything done in time!!

I had a scarf from my "scarf stash" in mind for my mom, but then I stumbled across Alison's keyhole scarf, and here we go! It's an easy 2x2 rib so it's going pretty fast.
This is an unidentified yarn I found in my stash.....super soft and cozy! My mom is a "blue" person, so this should be perfect for her.

Noey is sick. The school called me at work yesterday and told me to come get her. Poor baby! She had a high fever last night, but after a dose of tylenol and a good night's sleep she's better this morning. The good news is I'm getting a lot of knitting time in. She bascially slept all afternoon yesterday, and today she's lying on the couch watching movies.

My dad's cap is coming along. I'm using Cascade 220 in a nice chocolate brown from my stash. I've finished the ribbing and am well into the stockinette. Should start decreasing soon.
It's a nice change from the roll brim hat, and speaking of the roll brim hat......

.....the seventh and final Easy Roll Brim Hat! I really like this colorway the best. I made a hat for each of Noey's best little friends. We're having them all over on Thursday for a Gingerbread House decorating party.

The Big Show

I left work early and got there by 1:00, thinking I had plenty of time because the show didn't start until 1:30. But already there was a huge line in front of the auditorium. So I patiently stood in line, and when the door opened I was almost trampled to death!! (I'm still not moving very fast because of my back) I didn't get the best seat, so this is the best close up I could get.
That's Noey in the middle with her hand raised. You may notice she's not wearing the hat and scarf I so diligently worked on this past week! The teacher decided that they wouldn't wear hats and scarves! Anyway, it was very cute. They sang Jingle Bell Rock, and all did a great job.

Bad Back = Finished Objects

All I've done for the past three days is sit.....and knit. My back is much better, but I'm still not "back" to normal ( pun intended!) I was planning to go to work today anyway, but Noey had a tummy ache, so we both decided to stay home. She's laying on the couch watching DVD's, and I'm knitting!

First up I finished Noey's scarf to go with her hat. It's a really cute set. She'll be wearing it Wednesday for the Kindergarten Winter Program, so hopefully I can get a picture of it in action

and I finished the ornaments for the Ornamental Exchange. After 4 knitted attempts, and 2 purchased ornaments, I finally came upon a knitted version I like. I finished one last night and one this morning. (I kinda like this not going to work thing!) I'm going to make two more for my ornament exchange at work.

I also started my 7th and final hat for one of Noey's friends. Then I need to make a watchman's cap for my Dad, and then........I think I'm done!

I'm listing

to the left! My back went out yesterday (when I told Noey this she asked "Where did it go?") I cannot straighten up for anything. I've tried ice packs, hot packs, hot showers, and about a dozen ibuprofen, but I'm still bent over! I had to go to work yesterday and that didn't help.
Sad thing is our Christmas party is tonight and I can't go! I bought this cute, sparkly blouse and cute, sparkly purse.....I'm bummed!

So pretty much all I can do is sit.....and knit! Really....that's all I can do! So I've been working on these two scarves. The red one is to match Noey's Santa hat. She's singing in the Kindergarten Winter program on Wednesday, and they're all supposed to wear hats, scarves, and mittens. I couldn't let her go in store bought items, so I knitting as fast as I can!
The other scarf is for me!! I was going to make it for my niece, and I could rationalize that it's not her colors, or she wouldn't wear it (she's from Miami after all) but really.....I just want it!

My Beautiful Baby!

Noey's school had a Family Portrait fundraiser last month. This picture just takes my breath away! I know I'm more than biased, but I just think this is the most beautiful child!!
It's been a very busy week (what else is new?) and although I am knitting, I haven't had any FO's lately. I'm working really hard on the Circle Afghan, but I don't think it will be done by Christmas.

I revealed myself to my Secret Pal last week. I really enjoyed spoiling Maureen, and I'm kind of sad that the whole thing is over. It was a lot of fun picking out goodies and sending them off!

Happy Birthday! Yesterday was my good friend, Sheri's birthday. We celebrated at work with an all pink theme!! (she's a very girlie girl!) We had a Barbie cake, and all the gifts were pink too! Here she is wearing the Potato Chip scarf I made for her. It looks great on her....she's one of those people that everything looks good on.

Barbie says "Happy Birthday Sheri!"

Baaaa! Baaaa!

We kicked off the season with the first Christmas Pageant rehearsal. Noey is a sheep this year, hence the costume.
It made me cry to watch Noey singing "Away in the Manger"! It was so sweet.

One of our annual Christmas traditions is to go to the Torrance Memorial Festival of Trees with Grandma and Grandpa. We went today, and enjoyed looking at all the beautifully decorated trees, and listening to the Torrance Civic Chorale. (one tree was auctioned for $12000.00!!) I think it's a worthy cause since Noey was born at Torrance Memorial!

I got bored with hats and washcloths, so I started this scarf. The pattern is from the November 2005 Creative Knitting Magazine. I'm using Moda Dea Sassy Stripes yarn, which I love! I started out with every intention of making this for my niece, Megan. But the more I knit the more I want it for myself.
The yarn and the stitch pattern make it really interesting.

And now for a moment of silence.......my beloved alma mater, UCLA, was killed by our evil rivals, USC!!! 66 to 19 for crying out loud!

Countdown to Christmas!

Noey brought home a "Countdown to Christmas" paper chain yesterday.

23 days until Christmas.

22 days until Noey's Gingerbread House Decorating party

16 days until the Christmas Pageant

13 days until the Church Staff luncheon

8 days until the Preschool Christmas Party

8 days until my mom's Quilting Club Christmas party

which all means I have very little time left to finish the afghan, the washclothes, the ornaments, and the hats!!

I think I can, I think I can!
I did finish another hat. The one in the lower left corner is the newest addition to the collection. Noey has added another friend to the list, and then I'll start one for my dad.