Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Too Much to DO


Everyone knows the most efficient way to completion, is to have a "to do" list. Just reading mine at the moment is enough to make me want to check in at the local looney bin. It is currently 5 pages long (school notebook paper) and growing.

The kids are always saying, "Mom! Just make a list!" so I did. Joe recently said something about "If you want things done, make a list". I wish you could have seen his face when he read it. To be honest, he glanced at the 5 pages and walked away quickly. That means no more excuses from the family. The list is published!

Yardwork, (and more yardwork), painting, fixing and more fixing. It seems there has been a lot let go over the past couple years and it is all really starting to bug me. Since I am not much use with physical labor, this puts me in the role of the Slave Driver. Joe and Andy spent the weekend digging fence posts out and trimming trees, Catie raking and helping haul brush. Catie's room is empty and waiting for paint. I went to Walmart to pick out color chips. Sounds fair to me.

With Andy's Open House coming quickly, it is a motivation to get everything crossed off. I cannot imagine what a relaxing summer it could be if "The List" was empty. Does it ever get empty?

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Belated Birthday Fun

Anyone who knows me, knows that when I get into a hobby, I get INTO it! I have been knitting for about 5 years, but in the past 2 I knit every day. I watched as many of my knitting friends dyed their own yarn and wondered why. It just sounded like a lot of work. Then I began to knit "The Blankie".



The Blankie is knit from leftover sock yarn, which means it is very fine yarn. The idea behind this pattern was to use up leftovers, but it turns out NOBODY has this much leftover yarn. So, instead I joined a club of sorts that met weekly to trade yarn, work on the blanket and also to buy small bits of different colors. Then I decided I wanted to try to dye my own, in order to come up with unique colors.

Cat surprised me with a gift of a dye kit that was ordered through Threadbear. I got my kit and immediately wanted to play with it. It was SO much fun! Just like a new set of crayons with a new coloring book. My Blankie is only half done and the second half is going to be filled with my new creations.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Josie is in Heaven


Valli had an extra doggy pack and wondered if Joe would use it. Are you kidding me? Josie is in HEAVEN! She will be riding around for the rest of her life this way!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Thank God It's April!


April has always been my favorite month of the year. It started when I was small and I could look forward to my birthday. I ALWAYS got spring clothes for my birthday and didn't even think it was a rip off. That is probably because my Mom wasn't a clothes freak and bought things regularly: Christmas, Birthday and School Clothes.

Somehow it just wasn't the same as the extensive Wish List I got from Catie today for her Spring wardrobe from Aeropostle. Andy has already informed me it's time for spring clothing and Joe and Mike went shopping tonight. I had a lot of fun growing up, but wasn't what you would call well-dressed.

Not much difference today either, I noticed as I looked through my closet. I had lots of suits and dresses, suitable for work or church, but the "Stay-At-Home Mom" outfits are sorely lacking. I need to rediscover my sense of style, since I used to think that a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt would suffice for the few hours I had at home. Maybe some spring shopping in my future?

It is time to dig up the yard, plant some pretty things and enjoy the spring weather. Now we won't mention the few snow flurries we have seen this week, but focus on the spring rain. Better days are coming.......SOON!