Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Tomorrow, I'm taking off on my first trip by myself in 21 years.  It's a solemn occasion, but I'm looking forward to seeing family that I haven't seen in decades.  And, lucky for me, I'm meeting some new ones.

I'm stopping in Philadelphia first.   The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are on my agenda. My fingers are crossed that I can get there before I leave.

Then, I'm off to New York with my Father and Ollie.  It's a full day of family togetherness, and I'll probably plop into bed at the end of the day - blissfully exhausted.

I'll be home before the kids are out of school on Monday.  It's going to be a great weekend with lots of pictures.  New York is so beautiful in the Fall.

Happy first day of Autumn!

I'm Back into the Groove

Many things have happened since my last post.  Some good - some bad.  Some that has pushed me in a different direction, and some that can't be undone or repaired.  Big changes are coming my way...

Meanwhile, a few things that's happened...

1. Michelle exited 7th grade, and is now the big "man" on campus with all the other 8th graders
2. Isabelle has learned to talk in full sentences, "I didn't do that mommy."
3. Arielle is almost a junior in college with a 3.7 gpa
4. I have faithfully speed walked three miles 5 times a week for four months. And gone to the gym about three times a week. Thinking about joining the local tri-athalon club. I would love to finish one.
5. We took a much anticipated trip to Yellowstone with Linda, Bob and Miranda.  (But without Robbin and Arielle - felt a little strange.)
6. We took a trip up Highway 1 to Big Sur, and took a John Steinbeck tour through Monterey
7. My Jeep had a complete overhaul, so now the brakes actually work and it has air conditioning.
8. My Grandmother passed away at 91-years-old

Here are a few photos I've taken over the past months (I'll add some slide shows later of my Yellowstone and Big Sur trips):

Isabelle's Birthday present

Michelle petting a bat ray at Sea World

Miranda, Michelle and Isabelle in Yellowstone

Isabelle at Pebble Beach

Isabelle's 2nd Birthday Present

It's Official - They are the same height

Michelle talked Arielle into going on this ride with her.
They are in the back

Isabelle, Michelle and Arielle at Ragged Point

Michelle dressed up for Comic Con

Michelle keeping Temp warm in San Simeon

Some Belated Motherly Bragging

I have great kids. I've always known this, but every once in a while other people recognize it too.

Arielle has done the impossible...she has earned a 4.0 in her first semester of college.  She has been working her bum off. This semester she's taking Japanese and Fencing (among other classes of course). She is, in short, amazing.

Michelle has become an honor student at her middle school, and was awarded with a trip to Legoland.  She hung out all day with her best buddy Ian and his awesome mom Connie.   She is the Student of the Month for April.  Here she is accepting her award from her principal.

Isabelle has always been very smart.  She's talking in five word sentences now and knows colors and recognizes some words like Disney.  Her cutest quote this month:  "Shut up Temp. Baby Ryder is sleeping."  Temp was barking and our neighbor's baby was taking a nap.  At barely 2-years-old,  it's amazing that she links all of these things together.

A little bit more gushing - then I promise to stop (for a while anyway). 

I'm so lucky to have these wonderful daughters!

I found my camera cord (obviously), so here is Isabelle passed out in her high chair...

This is a picture I took at the zoo a few days ago.  That lion lazily turned its head and stared right through me.  I seriously had the instinct to run, even though a really thick piece of glass was between us. I smudged the background a bit because it was a chained fence that took away from the picture a bit.  It was eerie.

Grossly Unorganized

I can't find anything in this house!!  It is so time for some seriously spring cleaning!  I did manage to clean out a shelf in my linen closet where I found 15 bottles of lotion - which is weird. 

Anyway, back to not finding stuff...  I cannot find my camera cord that connects my camera to the computer, so I don't have any pictures to share. 

It's good because no one can see how behind I am in my birthday socks and shawl making.  But, bad because I can't share an adorable picture of  Isabelle passed out in her high chair after an adventurous day consisting 10 minutes of coloring fun with a red sharpie pen and then getting her potty chair seat stuck on her head.  Poor thing still has vaseline on the back of her hair and red scribbles on her shins.

Doug took Isabelle to Sea World today because I have the flu (usual for me this time of year) and he wanted to give me some time to myself.  I had three hours of quiet before I had to pick up Michelle from school.   I was a little lost at first, but I made myself a cup of coffee and spent an hour with a pile of magazines.  It was heavenly!  And, then I cleaned the house and caught up the laundry. That had it's rewards too.

Hopefully, I'll find that slippery camera cord and share some pictures soon.

Waving the White Flag

I madly knitted my shawl through the opening ceremonies, and that was about it except for a few rows here and there when I could.  It's difficult to knit from a graph because you constantly have to look at it, and then your kntiting to make sure you aren't messing up.   I left it on the sideboard most of the time, since I walk by it so often.  I'd grab it and do a few rows while I was standing there, then go on to do whatever I was on my way to do.  Sometimes, I could knit after Isabelle went to sleep, but not often. Here it is...

It's pretty, and the lace looks really nice when it's stretched out, but it's not the required 70".

Michelle is only done with the body, but not the arms, legs or head of her dog.  Here she is knitting away...

It's her first time knitting with double pointed needles - which means she's using 5 needles and knitting in a circle.  I'm proud of her for trying.

Michelle and I are going to knit through the closing ceremonies tonight and know we tried our best.  We didn't come close to the Gold Medal.  All we do now is "train" until the next olympics.  The Yarn Harlot faired much better in her knitting, but even she doesn't look like she's going to medal this time around.  We are in good company. 

Top 10 Things I Wish Isabelle Would Understand

1. PJ's are not called bathing suits and should not be used that way
2. It's not safe (for many reasons) to pull the knitting needles out of my lace project and run down the hallway - laughing
3. The television has more than one channel
4. Blankets do keep you warm
5. Rain is made from water - not acid.  The screaming is unnecessary.
6. The toilet brush is not a tool to clean the couch with
7. Batteries don't make everything light up
8. Closing the door so I can't see, doesn't mean I don't know what you're doing.  I'm on to you.
9. Hanging from the ceiling fan only looks fun
10. The sound the cat makes when you step on his tail is not laughter

Knitting Olympics

Michelle and I are entered in the Knitting Olympics at the Yarn Harlot.  Michelle is knitting the dog in this pattern and I'm knitting this shawl.  We have to cast on during the Winter Olympic's opening ceremony and we have to be done before the torch goes out in Vancouver.   It's going to be fun and a challenge to see if we finish on time.  There are only Gold Medals awarded for knitting - meaning you finished, and prizes to randomly picked Knitting Gold Medalists. 

It's going to be challenging for me because I have this project going...

Doug's Birthday Socks, and this one...

Dad Shearer's birthday socks, and this one...

A baby sweater for Doug's Boss's Boss.  He had a baby in September...

I'm a little behind :)  I also just started another pair of birthday socks ( for she that cannot be named - yet ).  I'm hoping the knitting fairies will help at night while I'm sleeping.

On a side note, I have been searching for the perfect Cinnamon Roll recipe to go with the Shearer Spanish Rice.  The two go together, it's weird, but true.  After five years, I have found it!! It's right here.  It has cream cheese inside the dough, which makes it really rich.  The recipe says it makes eight, but I make it into 12. It's just too filling to have any room left over for the Shearer Spanish Rice.

The Opening Ceremonies start in a few hours.  I have a little bit of time to load up on some coffee and do some cleaning so I can sit down and knit like crazy.  Dinner's easy tonight- waffles:)

Lame-ness and Whales

As usual, when I planned Christmas projects to give away, I didn't allow for a realistic timeline.  I'm not sure why I always do this. Maybe I need a distraction from all the Christmas excitement or maybe I think I'm faster than I am.  Either way, there is always one late present.

This year it happened to Arielle.  I crocheted this all the way to Tempe when we picked her up.  I had it hidden in a Trader Joes cooler bag.  She never suspected.  I crocheted furiously whenever she wasn't around, but since I haven't seen my gorgeous girl for awhile, I made sure she was around most of the time.

After Christmas, I pulled it out and told her that it was hers.  I just needed to "finish it up."  On the way back to Tempe, I madly crocheted in the car.  When we dropped her off, it still wasn't finished.

A few weeks later.....ta da.   Finally done!  I sent it to her and she loves it.  I kept waiting for "Mom that was lame,"  but it never came.  It's still lame that it didn't get done by Christmas.

Here it is....

 

Sea World

We bought Sea World tickets.  They were having this wonderful sale; buy for one day and get the rest of the year for free.  We are going back today because we can, but I'm not taking the camera.  It's hard enough wrangling a toddler, a stroller, a purse, a camera and a cup of coffee.  Better to leave the purse and camera at home.  Here are a few pictures of our first trip to Sea World this year...

The artic penquins

Is it a seal or sea lion?  Anyone know the difference?

Michelle at the Shark tank.  I don't know why the camera couldn't capture the fish.

Isabelle at the Shamu show

These dolphins were so funny.  They kept jumping up and looking over the rocks.  The dolphins in the next tank were getting fed.

Please think happy thoughts for our wonderful Charlie.  He ran out of the garage tonight, and has not been seen since.  He's done this before, but it always makes us nervous.  With any luck, he'll saunter home.  It's a bit chilly outside.

New Year's Resolution

I don't know about you, but I always try to avoid making resolutions because only about half of my resolutions are ever accomplished, but I guess it's better to have half than none.

So, this year I sat down and wrote down 10 resolutions.  They all started with two words...

Do more crafting with Michelle
Do more knitting
Do more reading
Do more playing outside the house
Do more blogging

Okay those are the fun ones, and probably the 50% that I'll actually do.  But...

Do more cleaning out (a feng shui master would have a field day with my closets)
Do more exercise
Do more doctor's appointments for myself
Do more repair work
Do more yoga

And hopefully while I'm doing more, I'll find 10 more hours in my day.

I don't have a picture for this blog entry, but here are a few pictures from Christmas...

Isabelle in her Yoda hat Arielle gave her

Arielle and Michelle making "gingerbread houses" out of graham crackers and Isabelle painting

She's wearing a dress her Grandma Fink gave her for Christmas