Did you miss this face?

I promise, I'm on my way to blog land again. It's time I got off my arse and posted something.

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.