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.