What is a friend?

A friend is someone who:

1. Is always there for you no matter how crazy/insane you may act or feel
2. Never tells you that you are crazy, but instead reminds you that she is sometimes crazy herself and we can be crazy together
3. Jumps when you mentiones the words “get together” and “crafting”
4. Joins you in the 1,0001 conversation about getting back to shape and eating right
5. Reminds you of all the wonderful things in life on the days that you are most down
6. Offers “the other side of the coin” when you are trying to make a decision about something
7. Never judges you on the decisions you make or the reactions you have to sad events in your life(eventhough you tend to be judgemental sometimes)
8. Is always there for you to get you out of a jam
9. To go to a cookout with you so that you may actually enjoy yourself instead of spending your time being worried about being in the same vacinity as an old friend who you would rather not see.
10. Most of all – someone who actually changes not one – but TWO poopie diapers during the above said cookout when your son decides to poop about 5 times while at the cookout….and just OFFERS to change him! 

Sharon babe – you rock girl.  I love ya.

Rotation FO: Nottingham Hat for Nick

I finally finished Nottingham the other night and got it blocked last night. A very fun and easy knit. I hope little Nick will enjoy wearing it during our cold winters here in MA. I hope to be shipping it off to his Mommy this weekend. Thanks Emily and Nick!

Last night, seeing it is the middle of the week and Rotation projects resume on Mondays, I had my choice of other things to work on so I picked up Christian’s baby book and started writing in more of the pages. Last night I worked on the “Baby Shower” page. Hopefully tonight I can work on it a bit more of even get some pictures in there. Kinda bummed that I won’t be able to do a 12×12 scrapbook of Christian like he deserves – but I just don’t have the time or energy to do it, so his baby book, which I do love, and goes up until his 5th birthday I think, will do.

Ok – back to getting ready for work. Christian got up at 4:30 this morning and was not a happy boy. Thankfully Daddy got up with him until 6 and then I took over letting Daddy go back to sleep for an hour. I fed Christian and I held him while he slept – that is the best feeling ever. “Notting Hill” was on with yummy Hugh Grant so I had some company. Babe is still sleeping, but now in his crib while we get ready for work. Very tired though…very tired.

Rotation Week #5, 6, 7: Nottingham

Yep – that’s right. 3 weeks (it’s been 3 right?) I have been working on Nottingham. A normal knitter could finish this in a weekend…but I am not a normal knitter.

I will post a finished picture eventually. Dad is taking my camera to Alaska so it won’t be for a week ot two.

I really do love this pattern and it is fun to do. A quick knit (assuming you actually work on it). A great one-skein hat.

Christian turned 7 months this weekend – almost 5 teeth now! He is growin up so fast. I bet he may fit into that baby sweater I made for him – if only the fall could come quicker.

All of this rain has made things explode in the yard. My tomatoes are doing great and so are most of my perenials.

That is about it for now. I’m exhausted and need to get to bed. I got a smidge of knitting done tonight but only about 5 rows on the hat and then I was ready to sleep.

Sorry for the delay

The Rotation for week 5, is it? Is the NOTTINGHAM hat.

I have been working on it for 2 weeks and now entering the 3rd week. I am almost done. My stupid restless less syndrome has kicked into full gear which means limited time on the couch in the evening.

Last night as I attempted to knit, I had to get up and go to bed and Cesar said, “why”

And I said, “Because if I don’t I am going to saw my right foot off”

That’s how irritating this feeling is.

I promise you a picture before my dad takes my camera off to Alaska.

I also have new pics of my tomatos and my garden…

Man, I am so boring today. Apologies.

Check back this week for a picture post!

Happy Father’s Day

Another fantastic, but busy weekend.

Friday, Erin and Peter had us over for a fantastic dinner outside.  It was great to see everyone and have them visit with little Christian.  We had a great time and Christian even zonked out on his own. 

Saturday, SHaron came over and we did the seating cards for her wedding – almost here!  I think they came out great!

Sunday was Father’s Day and a very special one at that for Cesar.  We spent the morning with his dad and we went to IHOP – that place is the bomb.  Then to a BBQ at my parents house.  Here is a pic:

As for gardening – I did not do too much this weekend. I did take a few pics though.

Notice the butterfly above? She was beautiful!

I’ll try to comment on rotation tomorrow with a picture.

I am off to bed now!

 

Rotation: Week 4 – Aran Poncho

Way back in the days of old, I told my friend Becky I wanted to make her a poncho for her Birthday. I had her pick out some yarn from KnitPicks and away I went. 16 rows later, and many months of it sitting in hiding – I saw that I started it on the wrong sized needles. DUH.

I decided to pick it up again and make it part of the rotation. I am happy to say I love the way it is coming out on the right sized needles. I am almost done with the first set of repeats. This one may take a long time for me to finish but it will be worth it and I know Becky will love it.

Size 8 US Circular Needles
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes – Glacier
Pattern: Aran Poncho in Canadian Living

Not sure what I will pick up tomorrow. I have a few things in mind.

Gardening
Wow – it was a hot one this weekend. I went over to Marianne’s bright and early on Saturday morning and helped he out in her gardens. We may have bit off more than we can chew in the “yard waste” category, but in the end the garden looks amazing compared to what it used too. Marianne just needs a few more bags of mulch and that should be it! I wish I could have stayed longer on Saturday but I was in bad shape by the time I left. The heat really got to this out of shape Momma and I took more breaks than I wanted too. Hopefully Marianne will have pictures to show soon!

Organizing
Well…I have come to the conclusion that other than Christians baby book – there wo;; be no scrapbooking of Christians life. I just can’t do it I don’t think. I got some wonderful photo albums as a gift and I decided to use them for the first year. I took out my trusty labeler that Cesar got me for Christmas a few years back and went to town. Unfortunately, the 0-3 Month book is full and I did not get back week 1 with Christian! We took WAY too many pictures! But they were all special to me so I guess I just need to get a suplimental album for the rest of them. This may be a “do a scrapbook when he is 5 years old” type of thing where I scrap events – who knows. ALl i know is that it is a ton of work, a ton of time, and I would rather knit.

Garden
Tomatoes are going ok. I started using Miracle Grow on them and they made great improvements this week. I still think are kinda short though.

Baby
My sweet baby boy – 6 months.

5 Year Wedding Anniversary

It really feels like way longer than that.  (in a good way)

We started dating again my senior year at Assumption, 1998…got engaged on Easter Sunday March 31, 2002 and married on Saturday May 31, 2003.

We have rented an apartment, got married, bought a house, survived a miscarriage and had a baby boy, Christian.  One more baby (eventually) and we will be on our way to surviving parenting and growing old together.

Our Wedding Day – May 31, 2003

Our 5 Year Anniversary

I surprised Cesar by taking him to Nicholas Michaels Spa for a 30 minute massage. It felt so good to be pampered and he loved it! When we came home, we packed up the baby and headed into Babies R Us to return a few things, purchase a car seat, stroller accessories and hang out a bit. When we got home, we prepped for our yard sale, then that evening, my sister babysat while Cesar and I went to the WILDWOOD in Marlboro for an anniversary dinner.

SO GOOD. Would definately go back there again on a special occasion.

Yep – thats a virgin drink, by the way. But still really yummy.

Happy Anniversary Honey – I love you more than you will ever know.

ROTATION:
Can’t really show a picture because it was a craft day girl gift. I only got half way done and I am not sure how well I like it. I will finish it and make ym decision then. I have an idea of what I want to do/make for everyone…so I may just have to buckle down and do the darn thing. I have not figuered out what I am going to put into the rotation tonight…check back next week to find out what it was!

Yard Sale Review:
After all was said and done: $95. Not bad! The last $16 was Cesar bringing some unwanted DVD’s to be bought back at Newbury Comics and they gave him pretty much what we were selling them for! Not bad for only 4 signs and no print advertising.

 

Rotation Week 2: Boo Kitty Counted Cross Stitch

It has been many years since I have worked on this cute kitty counted cross stitch. I saw it finished and framed in a craft shop in Westboro and I just had to have it. Working on black adia cloth is not the easiest thing in the world to do – but I think the colors look vibrant on it and I think it is coming out nice. Marianne came over last Monday while I dug this beauty out of my needlepoint pile. Brushing the dust off my thread case, I got to it. Does not look like much – but it is actually quite a few hours of work I put into this during the week. I really enjoyed working on it this week and look forward to it working itself back into the rotation.

Other news:
Christian turned 6 months old on 5/21/08! Here are a few pics of the boy including a professional picture that was taken. Since he hit the 6 month mark, Christian started solid food and today I actually made my own baby food – sweet potato! It was a ton of fun and you can read more about it on my other blog: www.journeytothefirst.com.

I also made myself a signature that I have been using on my LAL message group and I think it came out cute!

Rotation

Rotation: a planned recurrent sequence

Last week I started a “rotation” of crafts. Not sure if I can remember to keep the rotation up, but I will try. Each week, I will work on 1 craft only. The the next week, I will change projects and work on something else. I have tried this one before AGES ago and it worked for a bit although it was more of I cast on something new every Sunday.

The first project in my rotation:

SNOWFLAKE SOCKS. Started back in March 2007 I think it was – and I only got 1 sock done that barely fit. I started the second sock on a trip to the Cape with Erin and Jen, but have not touched it since. So after a YEAR, I brought it out again and managed to do a few rows this week. I wish I could have worked on it more, but the boy decided to stay up until 9pm-ish on Weds – Fri, so no such luck. But I did work on it and thats all that matters. Next weekend, I’ll give you a peek on what my project that I continue on tomorrow it.

For now – welcome back Snowflake Socks…

Weekend in Review:
This weekend was fantastic – and the highlight was Sharon’s bachlorette party! A bunch of us girls went to SPARK in Cambridge and made meaded necklaces and then went to dinner at Cuchi Cuchi which was fantastic! Sharon looked like she had a great time and we are all so happy for her and can’t WAIT until the wedding in JUNE! As you wish, my dear Sharon!

Happy Mother’s Day!

I have to admit – this day felt different for me this year being the first Mother’s Day that I was a Mom to a living and breathing healthy, bouncing baby boy and it was beyond wonderful.

The weekend was a busy one but a good one. Friday was the usual, stay in, make dinner, crash early.

Saturday I managed to get out into the garden for a bit and put mulch down around a few trees in the front yard. That afternoon, I met up with blogless Jen and Bethe and we headed down to Pawtucket for a knitting event – Stitch & Pitch. SO. MUCH. FUN. It was kinda cold, but I kept warm with hot chocolate, fries, cheeseburger, etc…etc…oh yeah, and icecream (and I wonder why I am so fat) Anywho – We got some yummy free yarn at the grab bag they passed out for us knitters – I got a Debbie Bliss Cashmarino Aran in a beautiful blue. I worked on Joy’s sweater, chatted with a fellow Ralvery-er next to me about some Nancy Bush socks she was making with some yummy yarn from One Tree Hill??? I probally have the brand name wrong – but I am so getting some – it was in fall colors too. A night out with the girls was a blast and I can’t wait to do it again.

Mother’s Day rocked. Brunch was at Mom’s with my whole family and Cesar’s parents. All the men cooked for us and served us on the porch sit down style, and food was made to order. Just a few pics:

Mom’s beautiful table:

Menu Cards I made:

Men cooking for us Mom’s:

All of us Mom’s

Me and my boy – God, I love him so much.

Again – cause he is so cute!

Finally my Mother’s Day Gifts: New flag for the deck

Bird Bath for the Garden

A picture from Saturday – 5.5 Months – “look Ma, 2 teeth!”

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day! I will remember this one forever.