It's beginning to smell alot like Christmas....

Now, I know that's not how the song goes, I really do. But this is one thing I've learned this year. I can decorate all I want, and believe me, I have this year. I went all out (for me....) I decided that if we weren't going to Idaho for Christmas, it was going to BE CHRISTMAS here! So we got our tree in record time, set up all the Christmas decorations I own, and decked the halls. It's been COLD here too! Even had to scrape the car the other morning. But it still didn't feel the same. not at all. Until I baked.

Ah yes, that intoxicating smell of Christmas goodies seeping out of the oven. It is good. and then it hit me. I smell Christmas. I can look at a fake tree all day, and admire how perfect it is, with it's prelit branches, and evenly spaced ornaments. But the smell of a real pine tree filling my living room, THAT is Christmas. The almond spritz cookies, topped with holiday sprinkles, those smell like Christmas. The peanut butter bon-bons, the smell of the chocolate melting on the stove, it fills me with cheer like nothing can. snickerdoodles, gingersnaps, muddy buddies, fudge.....


ok, I had better stop before I gain 15 pounds just from WRITING this!!


anyway, just wanted to share my super secret tip about Christmas.

Stop and smell the season.

Is it just me,

or has the Christmas shopping frenzie started WAY TOO EARLY?!?!?!? I can't go anywhere! The traffic is always horrid, and people are MEAN! I haven't even done any shopping for actual presents yet, but I feel like this started earlier than normal!

In fact, I'm trying really hard to not buy Christmas gifts this year. I think I'll have to, in one situation or another, but I'm really enjoying this non-materialistic year. Now, those of you that usually get a Christmas gift from me, worry not. All gifts are being MADE this year! yay! Now you get a personal touch, and the thought, that every time you wear/use/whatever the gift you will be getting from me, I have touched EVERY SINGE INCH OF THAT YARN! Maybe that doesn't really mean that much to you, maybe you'd rather have a Gift Card to Starbucks, maybe that creeps you out a little bit! ;-) But it means alot to me. It means I'm not forced to participate in the madness of the mall in December, and I don't have to get pissed at someone else that grabbed that last fondue pot off the shelf. Now, I did have to buy the yarn. Or the fiber to make the yarn. But not all of it. Some of it I recieved in a trade or a swap! Some of it is international yarn!! WOOT!

Now, all of this does depend on if I can reach my deadlines.....I really truly hope that none of you have to open up a box full of yarn, needles, and a picture of what you were supposed to get.....I'm going to try to not make that happen.

Now for something completely different.....

can you see the glee???

stuffing it all in....

to one post. Knitting stuff, that is. This isn't a knitting blog, but knitting, crocheting, spinning....it's all a part of me, so I'm going to do something my mom taught me. Stuff it all in to one place. That's what she used to do with My brother's new clothes at Christmas. I still remember the sighs Nick used to let out when he'd open that one giant overstuffed box of sweat suits, pajamas, pants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks and underwear. But mom knew that she'd only have to hear that sigh one time....if all the clothing related presents were in one box.

So here it is----what have been keeping my hands busy, and my brain working.

Some new yarn I dyed

some new yarn I spun

This spindle

And this fiber

became this yarn

Fiber I dyed

Felted Bags

More Handspun yarn

Emily's birthday purse (I almost kept it)

Now, at this point if you're thinking, "Crap, there's MORE????" the answer is yes. Feel free to take a potty break, get a new cup of coffee, grab a turkey leg, and sift through some more. Or go look at some of my favorite photos. Not mine. Not of yarn.

Some sewing and embroidery

Another bag

slippers for ME!!

A funky crocheted scarf

And pretty much everything else I'm working on is SUPER SECRET!!!! (aka Christmas goodies)

Alright. I got that out of my system. Starting after I've stuffed myself sufficiently with Turkey and mashed potatoes, I'll post something non-fibery.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Why I respect and admire my Husband.

Well, I haven't written much lately, and this idea for a post has been holding my heart hostage for a while. I think it's time to get it out.

Brent doesn't really read my blog, he's a busy man, and when he has down time on the computer, well, he likes to look at motorcycle stuff, and, well, I don't have that on my blog, so....I don't mind, though. I don't do this for him. I'm not really sure who I do this for, I mean, family and friends, but mostly I think I do it for myself. Sometimes I just feels good to get my brain out there, to have somewhere that my thoughts can live, even if it's the "web". So, anyway....

There are SO many reasons I respect my husband. I can't write about all of them, just a few. This isn't about why I LOVE him. I don't think I would ever be able to verbalize that in a way that would fully describe it. This is all about admiration and respect.

9 1/2 years ago, Brent married me, and every day, he chooses to remain true to that commitment. I don't think it's a surprise to any of you that I am a handful. I know it's not a surprise to my mom. I'm pretty sure she was surprised that anyone would volunteer to deal with that for the rest of their lives! I'm full of drama, emotions, highs, lows, tears, screams, laziness, hyperactivity, unproductiveness, messiness, and craziness. Brent doesn't love me in spite of all that. He loves me because of all that. He knows that those things are WHO I am, and that, in and of itself, is worth admiring. Believe me. I'm a whole crockpot of crazy.

9 1/2 years ago, Brent promised to always provide for me, and whatever family we became. Every day, he does his best to do that. I admire nothing more than a man who will do whatever it takes to provide for his family. I think alot of people say that they will do whatever is needed to provide, but when it comes down to it, I think most people would rather have a glamorous job.

Brent always wanted to finish college, for himself. To get a degree, and do something that he loved. Brent has always wanted to be in full time ministry, to be able to serve the Lord full time as his job. But he knew that, more important than what he wanted for his life, was to take care of the family God has given him. College will come, it will always be there.

Many people focus on getting to their "dream job" or "have a job doing what you love". Sometimes I feel bad and a little bit to blame for Brent never reaching that goal. And then one day it hit me. Brent IS doing what he loves. He IS doing his dream job. He is a dad. He is a husband. And he takes care of our family. THAT is his dream. It's not glamorous. It's not always fun. But Brent is good at it. I don't think very many little boys want to grow up and operate heavy equipment, lay pipe, and work on the "business end of a shovel", or even be a host and bus boy at a restaurant. But when it comes down to it, a job is a job is a job. It's a means to an end. If you DO get to do what you love that is awesome! Keep doing it, and keep loving it. But always know that if that job falls through, or that job isn't helping you to take care of what God has given you to take care of, maybe it's time to remember what the real "dream job" is. Brent lives that out every day.

My dear friend Josh and I were talking today, and he affirmed this for me. He said that alot of guys like to say that if they had to, they'd be running the fryer at McD's to make ends meat, but when it came down to it, most of them wouldn't do it. Josh said that is something he's always admired in Brent, his family comes before his pride. I'd like to think that it would never come to that, but it might. And I know that my husband will always be there to take care of us. That's just the kind of man he is.

Someday, maybe Brent will get to get up and go to work every day doing an occupation that he loves and having a "dream job", but for now, I know that he is content just to be living the "dream life".

Future BMX star...

One day last month, Judah decided he wanted to try to ride his bike without training wheels. So we figured, why not try, right?

Brent was prepared for many falls and tears and scrapes.

But he did what all dads have to do....just let go, and hope for the best.

Holy Crap!! Is that our 4 year old son riding a bike?!?!?!?

He did amazing!!!

Jager decided Judah needed a little support from the sidelines.

A family affair

My BIG boy!

some photos....

In the interest of not boring y'all to tears, maybe I'll put up a few pictures a day until I feel caught up, That is if anyone besides my brother is reading. Hope you didn't give up on me.


Carving pumpkins. One of these days we'll get to do this with dad.


Judah really didn't want to stick his hands into the pumpkin. STILL! I thought at some point he would embrace the boyish dirtiness love, but not so much.


(He had just woken up from a nap...I swear, his hair doesn't usually look THAT bad!!)


About a month before Halloween, we got an ad in the mail from Party City with 15 bazillion costumes in it. Judah would sit down and look at that silly thing every day, and tell me all the things he wanted to be for Halloween.
This was the first year I let him choose his own costume...as in, I didn't try to sway it at all, and he chose...a skeleton.



No more pictures, please.

What??? Over a Month?

I should be shot. I realize that.

See, there is this vicious cycle that happens. First, I just go a week without a blog, no biggie, right? Then alot of stuff happens, and I think "well, that is going to take a few blogs to catch up on all that stuff," and so I don't do it b/c I'm lazy. Then MORE stuff keeps happening, and life goes on! (how dare it?!?!?!) And then I get so far behind on pictures, on stories, on cute little 4 year old sayings, that it scares me to even OPEN up my own blog, b/c I know there's no way I can catch everyone up on everything! GAH!!!!!

So, let me just preface this with: There is no way I can remember everything that has happened over the past five weeks.

Buuuuuuut, here is a small re-cap.

* Brent lost his second job delivering pastries for the bakery. They combined his route with one that leaves from Escondido, and laid him off.

* Brent got another second job at Applebees being (get this) a HOST (with the most). Brent has never worked in food service before, so it's fun to tease him about doing a teenagers job. But he really likes it, and his favorite part? bussing tables. Yes, he is weird.

* I tried to get a job before Brent, and he beat me to it. I'd like to work a little, outside of the home to stave of madness.

* I'm going to be teaching a series of knitting classes at a local yarn shop here in Murrieta starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving! WOOT!

* Moose is doing fantastically better! He even ate dry food yesterday for the first time in months!!!!

* Judah is giant. his hair is long and surfer-ish. I love it, and so does he.

* Judah is riding his bike without training wheels. He can even start and stop all by himself, and rides up and down the sidewalk when Brent and I are outside.

* I'm still spinning, and knitting, and dyeing, and all that rot. I still like it, even though I'm in the crunch for the Holidays.

Pretty much all I can think of right now.. I'll update with pictures when we get back from the beach....(I know, woe is me.....)

"You spin me right round, baby, right round...

...like a record baby, right round round round."

Or like a spindle baby!!!


Just a little something I've been teaching myself lately. It's satisfyingly mindless, and I love the outcome.

Right now I'm working on making something a little more manageable instead of this bulky yarn. I, myself, love a good bulky yarn, but the yardage is short, and I can't think of anything to make out of them. So now I'm working on some amazing olive green merino (which is as soft as a babies rear...softer) and trying my best to make it thinner!!

And by the way, by making my own yarn, I'm saving lots of money!! Not that I'll never buy yarn again, but a decent sized hank of handpun yarn goes for $30 easily on ETSY. Not that I'll ever get good enough at this to sell mine, but it does mean that I won't be spending $30 on handspun yarn!

this is my very first attempt, and very uneven, but pretty nonetheless. It's not finished though, it's hanging out, wrapped around a paper towel roll....because I'm ghetto like that, and haven't bought a real spool.


This stuff came out really pretty, just not my colors. But it's my first spun and plied FINISHED yarn, so I'm keeping it, and making something out of it FOR MYSELF! But I probably won't get around to it until after Knitting Christmastravaganza. yeah, you read that right.




Alright, and now for some answers to questions....

The birthday monster!! I'm glad some of y'all liked it so much!! It's a free pattern on Ravelry, but since I didn't make it up myself, it won't be going in the ETSY store, for legal reasons. But if you really want one, I can make one for you, just e-mail me, and we can work out the details!!

Moose is doing ok...I'm still pretty worried about him, and headed back to the Dr. today for more fluids and food. I've found a cat food that he actually is eating on his own, only problem is, it will be about $3 a day....yikes. I just hope that after this is all over he's not a picky kitty, 'cause that's a 'spensive diet!!

Oh, and just so you know, I don't know who you are when you leave comments in you leave your name out of it!! I really appreciate the well wishes for Moose, Anonymous, and I'd like to know who you are!!!

Oh, and some pics from the dog beach. Polly and Jäger had a blast!


We're angels, see?



Such a poser...



Hey, Jäger! Stop posing and go play like a normal dog!!



J meets some ridgebacks....I love the ridgebacks.


See ya!

UGH.

you know when you don't do something long enough that it becomes an un-habit? That's where I am with alot of things right now. Most obviously THE BLOG. I do apologize...

There's just been alot getting in the way of computer time.

Moose is sick, has been for a while, but was diagnosed with liver disease about 2 weeks ago. And I've been doing force feedings multiple times a day, and fluids once a day, and antibiotics etc etc etc.....It's tiring, but just tell me you wouldn't do it for this face...



So, everyone send Moose all the positive healing thoughts you can muster right now. He could use it. And I could use a good night of sleep not worrying if he's going to keep it down or throw up tonight, worrying if he's going to make it to the litter box b/c of all the extra fluids, worrying if he's going to be there, waiting to cuddle when I wake up in the morning.

I also haven't been to the gym. in. a. long. time. ugh. Getting back this week, no excuses, k? Hold me to it, blog land.

What else....let's see. maybe some more pictures?

Judah's birthday cake!

Having the first whack at the pinata.

One of the funniest pictures. ever. My friends little boy, and the anger overflowing!!!

opening gifts, I made Judah a birthday monster....


Grandma and Judah finally at Disneyland!!!

Headed to ToonTown for the first RollerCoaster experiment.

The birthday boy

Saying Hi to Tigger

My little man....

Judah wanted to go on this so bad, but it was closed by the time we finally got around to it. Maybe next time....oh yes, there will be a next time!

Getting all pooped out

The Carousel at night.

At the beach with Grandma, mom and dad!

Local Surfers

Eating lunch with Grandma at the airport

Saying goodbye. Thanks for a fun visit Grandma!!!

So, if I haven't crashed your computer with all these pictures, or it hasn't frozen, then feel lucky!

Have a great week all!