Annie showing off her Birthday gift...

and seems to be a happy woman!

Guatamalan worry dolls...

Kade found this craft on activity tv.



We didn't have the trash bag ties (can you say Ginger's too hippy?) but we did have pipe cleaners. This makes them a tad bigger than they were on the show...but still well worth the effort.


These two were made by Kade's hand. After he finished these, he was done and asked if I wouldn't finish his 'family' for him. He wanted two more. A girl and a Mama. Here's how they turned out.





I did a few for myself and hope to get back to them soon.




I also finished gifts for Annie...she is wearing the belt of bells, so I didn't manage to get a picture of that. I did, however, get to take a picture of her new hat! I made it out of cotton. The colors look weird on the camera - it really is raspberry and lime. Too cool. I may have to make one for me!





Annie is officially 21! I'm so happy for her!

Maybe it's a great time for those worry dolls, after all! Life is so big and full. The kids grow up so fast. Now it's time to meditate and try and keep up!

My Auntie has given me a task.

Chet and Dorrie Shelden. Taken sometime in the mid 1980s.

The memories of these fine people who I miss so terribly makes it bittersweet. What an honor it is to have known them, been loved by them and be a part of a family who is so loving - in part because of them.

The task is to recreate the pattern for these :













It will be great to actually make some stockings in this pattern to help keep them in our hearts and minds. Now if I could just stop crying long enough to actually see the stitches...

We've been doing things...honestly!

I don't remember exactly when this was taken, but it hasn't been too long. It is well worth posting. Kai wanted me to take a video of this move from his favorite game : Dragon Ball Z. The camera isn't great at taking video when it is bright, so it is hard to see. Still, I thought it worth posting here...he is pretty cool.


Kai showing a move from Dragon Ball Z from Beachbum on Vimeo.


Mainly, though, we have been getting well. After Annie moved in, Kade got sick. It was that nasty head cold that had been going around. A few days later, Kai started showing symptoms. Now, I don't like it when the kids are sick. However, it is nice to be home for a solid 2 weeks and not go very far. It's amazing all the things you can do in that time!




I was able to get to this huge pile of mending/sewing that had been 'hiding' in plain sight behind the computer. Now it is done, folded, pictured and put away.




It was nice to get this baby out and take it for a spin. I do hope to someday get a *real* sewing machine. Right now I am only able to do straight stitch - and can think a lot about changing the tension, but can't touch the knobs or the machine freaks out. Still, this crazy machine did a great job of putting all these things together and we are wearing them I type. Kai now has pants for the first time this winter...as they were all too long to fit. So cool and he is happy with them!

Needless to say, I did get this cold, too, so the time at home was pretty much my down time too. Annie was the only person who managed to stay healthy through our last few weeks. Yeah!

Annie has been making friends, so has been away for part of the weekends. We haven't been sitting home and moping, though. (Sorry, girl!) So, last weekend we hit the beach. Here's the fun:



Beach day 18Jan09 part one from Beachbum on Vimeo.


Beach day 18Jan09 part two from Beachbum on Vimeo.


Beach day 18Jan09 part 3 from Beachbum on Vimeo.


This past week still found me out of commish, so the boys went stir crazy till Annie or Jeff came home. Jeff took them out a few times, they went swimming once and Annie definitely connected with them.

This weekend Kade got this:




The boys took their bikes out for a spin. Kade came back in after a bit, but Kai and Jeff rode all the way to downtown Carlsbad on the path and loved it. Now, the kids and I are hangin' at home. Annie and Kai are playing battleship. Kade is bouncing from watching 6Teen on demand and going in to check on their progress. Jeff is working and missing us. This evening looks like we will get to snuggle and be a family together. Life is definitely awesome.

As Kade has been known to say quite often : "I LOVE MY LIFE !!!!!!!!!"


OOOOOOOooooooo and now that the world isn't spinning anymore for me...I can get back to knitting! Yes!

Current knitting project

...keep an eye out for the finished product, which could be awhile!

The last few days...

This post is divided into 3 parts. Three separate happenings, thankfully. The middles section is a bit over the edge of propriety, so read on if you wish. You have been forewarned.

I took the camera on our birthday celebration dinner. Kade had said it would please him to give Daddy a dinner at Chili's ~ so off to Chili's we went. We had a good time with Annie, Josh, Kai, Kade, Jeff and I. I started to take pictures, but everyone seemed to indicate that it was enough. So, here are the few I did manage.









============
Since Annie arrived, the boys have had fun putting the fake poop around her room for her to find. She was definitely disgusted the first time (much to her younger brothers' enjoyment) but quickly took part in the fun. Eventually the fake pile ended up in the main living area. Then into the kitchen. Well, we started thinking this would be a nice little present for Annie first thing in the morning...since she is the first to get to the kitchen. I like the chop stick idea.



Then we thought maybe on food would be nicer.



In the end we opted for this. The image it put in our minds was so nasty we ended up laughing till we all cried. Even more so when I mentioned : "Oh, if only our friends could see us now."



So, friends, we had to share! For those of you who don't have the benefit of living with boys, I do ask the bald man often if the behaviors I see are normal. He assures me most of the time that indeed, these are all normal boy behaviours.

============

I *love* these!



I finished the 2 at a time socks (yes, Maynord, two). I so enjoyed doing them both at the same time, too, and now only have a smidgen of yarn left, as you can see.



I had moccasins I loved, but that had a thick seam right along the top outside of the foot. I can't have pressure there, so decided to dismantle them and use the leather with the silicone bottoms and make a fresh pair of shoes I CAN wear out and about. Here is how they turned out. Not your average look, but definitely comfy for me - especially now in the 'cold' of winter. The tops are made with wool, so will help warm me. Also, since they are knitted, I can layer the socks if need be without getting too bound and tight inside (which is the problem with other shoes) Pretty cool, huh?!

I am grateful and happy to have these...

Progress in knitting

OK, so here's the update on the sock. I have gone past the heel and am now on the leg. This is what it looks like with one sock inside out so you can see both. I have un-tucked it many times making sure they aren't (and correcting the instances when they have been) knitted together. It's getting easier all the time. Turning the heel took some sight learning, but only because I was not able to focus very well. All in all, I can't wait to put them on the soles...which means I need to get back to them!

Knitting stuff

Well, I'm trying to restock my socks with actual *pairs* of socks. This means I have to finish 2 of the same thing. I have managed to do two pair, so far. I just finished these:




Now I'm onto these:



I'm attempting to knit both socks at the same time. One sock is tucked into the other. This means I have to work with two separate threads almost like double knitting.



It also means I'm going to have (potentially) the same sock, without having to write notes (which I don't ever do) to try and ensure they are the same looking sock. Thankfully the 'not quite identical' style is in, so I'm not really "strange" for wearing socks that are slightly different. However, it will be nice to have some that are. And, I am using the same ball of yarn, so can make the socks until I run out of yarn without having to worry about saving enough for the second half. Oh, the possibilities!



After this, more slipper socks. I'm waiting for the soft leather bottoms to get here - they are back ordered.

Making up for lost time

Now that I'm not worried about what happens in time for Christmas Day!!!!!! I am going to post all that I can.



I have knitted these socks and started others (2 pair, to be exact). The benefit is that this time, not only did I keep track of the rows, I also was good enough to hang in there and make 2! A complete pair! Of the same pattern sock! Even the same color!

Matching.



Here are some gifts for some special women in my life!
Ssshhhh...they don't have them yet.


Each one has the same materials, but the hemp is tied differently.

Knitting fun

Ok, so I knitted this.



Then I did this.



Which, in turn, became this.


Which soon shall be this again...



Oh the joys of not working with a pattern!

next hat...next colors

Here is a picture of the next hat I am going to help create...







I say help, for these colors are going to be knitted together in a similar design. This one will go to someone for Christmas!

pretty!

Here is the finished project! It looks so cool on...kinda like the one Tim Booth wore on the night we saw him in concert. Only this one has some color.

On to this.

Well, the yarn has been calling me!

This will be a cool hat for Kate. :)

These are done!

I have had the chance to do those last few stitches...and here is the end result. They will be on their way to NM!