Current knitting project

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

Let's see

how well you can do at these. Jeff found the first one. The boys have been playing them, so it's been fun to see if we can do it all as a family!

First we'll start out with the basics (for those of us in the US). Go here and play - then come back to try the rest.

Or, if you are feeling braver and think you know your geography try THIS.

Then if you're brave, try to put all the capitals in the right place HERE.

OK, so now you know how well you remember the classes you took. Now let's really test your knowledge, but still be somewhat safe by doing THIS puzzle.

Then if you really want to see how the face of Africa has changed in your lifetime, try THIS. Kai just finished playing this as I type and was just 428 miles off.

OK, so it has been fun showing the kids how much we don't know! And it's been equally fun becoming more aware of it all.

Wish there were more of these puzzles and I honestly hope they make one for every continent. Maybe we can place penguins on Antartica!

On another note, Kai wanted to watch the History Channel with me tonight. We watched the show they have on the 2004 tsunami. I kept checking in with him, but he wanted to watch. If you don't already know, this type of disaster is one thing Kai and I end up talking about a lot. Really, a lot. Yet, he wants to have more information. He is definitely a 'more information is better' kind of guy. So I will, I'm sure, have many more opportunities to discuss this. Overall, it was really well done.

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.









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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.

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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...

the slideshow

In honor of Jeff and made with much love, here is a sample of the collage of pictures we made for Jeff. There are no naked baby pictures and have included many pictures I don't have elsewhere on this blog. This also has music, so put the side bar music on pause...


For Jeff : 7Jan09 from Beachbum on Vimeo.

I am continually blessed to be sharing my life with this wonderful man. Happy Birthday, Jeff!

Yesterday

I was on a birthday prep high as I prepared for the celebration of this guys special day. He had to work and all, but we managed to have a bit of a celebration! I will post more later when I have a few more minutes.

SO : significant other HB : Happy Birthday Sorry for all the confusion!

It's here

HB to my SO.

SHE'S HERE!!!!!!!!

But, how can I get back to those socks when I have so much to say!

Annie's here! And she's unpacked. It was an intense day yesterday with all the stuff coming in and ours getting compacted. There will be much massaging of where things go for a bit. Yet it is all worth it.

The *fact* remains: she is here!!!

So, while the boys are out using their gift cards to their favorite restaurants, I am getting things posted.

This has music, so once again, put the playlist on the side bar on pause. Also, this slideshow does have some "mature" content in the form of art, so watch at own "risk".

I took pictures not only of the room, but of the things she has chosen to have up - like pictures and drawings. It's amazing what she has chosen to keep, and it sends me down memory lane seeing all the things again. If one ever wonders if those stuffed animals will be kept forever, I'm here to say there is at least one still teenage girl who values them enough to do so. :)

Without further adieu, I give you Annie's room:


Annie's here! take 2 from Beachbum on Vimeo.

*** Music by Wailin' Jennies : Beautiful Dawn***

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!

Doings

I have been wanting to go visit friends. However, I come down to thinking of when I would drive and how the kids would handle the schedule change. And schedule change it has been. It started right before Christmas. The boys wanted to stay up (and asked me to, too). I don't know how it happened, but now we are up until 4:00ish and we sleep in until 1:00ish. Yes, you read right : 4am 'till 1pm for sleep time. Now I don't have a problem as long as I can : sleep (my body can't sometimes), have that sleep last for at least 6 hours, and spend time with the other member of our family here : Jeff. For now, it is working, but I'm not sure it's working well. I don't know how long it will last. The boys seem to keep themselves happy doing things they love to do. They bounce from tv, Wii, DS, computer, games and food. I try and interact with them as much as I feel I can and still keep myself present. At this time, me moving around much isn't always in the cards. Yet, we seem to stay busy. Kai has so far completed the game he got for his DS for Christmas *and* the DS game he purchased with his gift money. Kade has been playing cool games on the computer. One in particular requires the player to kind of create what happens. It's called the Powder Game from Dan-Ball. There are different things one can build with, such as cement and bricks. There's water and fire and wind and people and all sorts of things. Anyway, both boys have found themselves playing it. Kade is enjoying the Digital Arts and Crafts Studio he opened on Christmas Eve, too. So he has been creating tons of art.

I have been keeping myself busy by knitting the socks (I am now at the heal of them) and by getting the henna out again. It makes a ton of paste, and I still have yet to be smart enough to make less than a full batch! Anyway, it means I have much to work with ~ and I try to put it on as many people as will let me. This time, as has been explained before, I haven't been with very many people and have been home peacefully asleep when many people are out socializing. As an aside which should have been included in the previous paragraph, I am actually enjoying the quite of the night, I have to admit. OK, well, I put some henna on my hand first. I am hoping to henna a mama belly (with child that is) and this is one flower that may be an option.



I added the 'ring' next.





Then I did a design I took from an idea I found online. I'm still working on alignment and such, but feel I have a handle on how I will do it next time.



In the looking for design on the computer, I read about how henna traditionally has been done with an intent. With this in mind, I heated up the rice socks and braved a design on my foot. I focused on healing and acceptance. We shall see how successful it has been...eventually. I have to say it's tough to apply henna on oneself - especially on one's foot - past a certain age. One must be a pretzel and ambidextrous, of which I am neither. Still, much fun and worth it.

Soup

Well, Kade likes to create. So today he created for me a vegetable soup. He used every veggie we have in the fridge. So this soup has carrot, potato, beet, onion, garlic and rice. Cook for a bit and whatcha know...it's tasty. I added a touch of chili powder to add some heat and some salt and pepper. Kai and Jeff joined in the feast with me. Alas, Kade "hates" vegetables, so we were extra happy for his gift of love.