Back To Blogging

I am seriously so excited! I now have a fun new little toy that will enable me to blog much more often and should make it much more convenient to do so! I am very excited about this. In case you can't figure it out, I just got a new computer. Be patient with me though as I am still trying to figure out the new bells and whistles! :)

So, you are probably wondering what has been going on? A lot of course! The kids are crazy and we are all super tired of this weather. Last week it snowed and iced and we couldn't really get out much. Then, to top it off, L had Strep. This was our first experience with the dreaded sickness. I really felt bad because apparently she had had it for a week and I wrote all her symptoms off as the stomach flu. But, she tested positive for it and we got her on anti-biotics and she is doing MUCH better now! Back to her normal self and eating us out of house and home. I swear the kid has a hollow leg!!!

J is doing OK. Speech therapy is going very well and she is doing great! I am trying to get the paperwork in order for her to get going with GLASS where she will actually go to Pre-school anywhere from 1 to 3 days a week for therapy. She really is speaking so much better though. The other night at dinner, she said a full prayer. I was so happy, I had tears coming out of my eyes.

Our Captain Stinky-pants, aka M, is getting so big. He is just a big bulldozer. I'd call him a bully, but he's so sweet about it I just can't. He gives these huge open mouthed smooches that are just adorable. He is starting to say many words too. He is saying "mama", "bye", "cracker", "tractor", and "boo". It is very cute. If you ask him where people are he will point to them. He loves to play with his basketball goal and throw everything like it is a ball.

Things in my life are OK. I have been trying to get back onto the weight loss track, but I just have no motivation. Actually, let me clarify that. In my mind, I have the motivation, but am having trouble making actual progress with it. I have decided to start my own Biggest Loser Contest on Facebook and hope that that will help with the motivation, since it did at this time last year.

I have been doing a lot of knitting. I hope I can get some pics up of things here shortly. I have had a lot of people ask me to make things for them. I just have trouble pricing myself. There is NO WAY to actually get paid for the actual work I put into them, but I would like to make a LITTLE money. I am trying to do some research to figure out how to better price myself. Anyone have any other advice?

I have been reading a lot this year. I need to fix my list at the right of the books that I finished in 2010. I also have a list to put up for 2011. It seems like I am reading a lot of Para-normal fiction recently. I just finished Kitty Goes To Washington by Carrie Vaughn. I did enjoy it. I like how the books take a different perspective on the genre. It seems that most of the para-normal fiction genre revolves around a main character vampire with werewolves in the background. Kitty in these books is a werewolf and the books are all about how she struggles to keep her human life in balance with the Wolf inside of her. I am currently reading Kitty Takes A Holiday and am enjoying it too!

What else? Well, I am super duper tired of this weather. I want spring. I know I live in the WAY wrong state for not liking cold weather, but I can't help it. Actually, I don't mind a little of the cold, but this is getting ridiculous! At least I have pretty and fun knitwear I can use!

Finally, just in case you were wondering, my grandfather is doing okay I guess. He fell earlier this week so that set him back a little bit. He is okay, just a little sore. We are hoping that he will be out of the hospital and home by the end of the month. Thanks for all of the prayers!

I hope that you all have a wonderful day! God Bless!
With Love,
Theresa

Randomness, Complete Randomness

Sorry for being MIA the past couple of days. The computer has been a real Pain In My Butt and keeps freezing up on me. It is getting SO frustrating! So, where was I?

I didn't miss much on Wednesday I guess. I didn't have a book finished. I do now, but I think I am going to make you wait until next Wednesday to hear about it. Sorry! :)

Fiber Therapy Thursday about broke my heart! I had been working on a log cabin baby blanket for J's Speech Therapist. Well, after thinking about it and being realistic, I decided there was NO way I would get it done in time. She is leaving at the end of August so I would have to have it done by then...I'm NOT that fast of a knitter! So, I went with a different plan and decided to make a baby sweater. I have always wanted to try the Baby Surprise Jacket designed by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Now, what is special about this jacket is that apparently you knit this random wonky somewhat rectangle and then fold it origami style into a sweater. I decided to go for it! All was working out fine, I was about half way done. Then I REALLY looked at it and saw that I had ROYALLY screwed it up. I mean BAD! So, instead of going insane, I mean trying to figure out my mistakes, I just ripped it all out. So, I am back to where I started. I cast it on again last night and can hopefully figure out what I did wrong last time. The problem for me is that Zimmermann's patterns are written more like stories and not like patterns. They are a little difficult to follow the first time. I am going to sit down I think and actually write the pattern out for myself, maybe that will help.

Random Friday stuff:

1. Still working on my 101 things in 1001 days. I would like to start this on August 1st, so I am trying to come up with my list. This is a lot more difficult than one would think it would be. I'm really having to think carefully. This isn't a life bucket list. There are several things that I would REALLY like to do in my life, like go to Alaska or Europe. But, in reality am I going to be able to do those things in 1001 days? In a word, NO. So, I have to think of things that are going to stretch me as a person, but are not out of the scope of reality. This is much more difficult than one would think it would be. Right now I am at 12. I've got a while to go, huh?

2. Watched Lady Gaga


on the Today show this morning. I've not really been a huge fan, but have respected her musical talent. I have to admit, she was pretty fabulous this morning. She has this really amazing low deep voice and as an alto I totally respect that! She plays the piano amazingly too. I just don't get the craziness. But, I guess it is really no different than what KISS did, is it? KISS wore crazy make-up and had insane show antics, and they are awesome. I guess I just find it a little sad that it seems her actual musical talent is overshadowed by all the craziness and theatrics!

3. I'm tired of picking up toys! Seriously, I have picked up toy after toy in this house, even after having the girls pick up toys. It is getting ridiculous! I think we are in for a good toy clean out!

4. Am majorly annoyed at people thinking a Stay At Home Mom doesn't work all day. Even more annoyed at the fact that sometimes it is previous SAHM's that seem to think this.

5. SO excited about FINALLY getting to go see Eclipse next Wednesday!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! Did I mention that I am excited about this?!?! :)


OK, well, that's all for today. Have a great day everyone!
With Love,
Theresa

Thursday Five

I have been participating in this meme over at MannLand5. Check out my answers and then go check out Keely's. Then, go ahead, do them on your own blog. Make sure you let me know about it! :)



Things today that have made me feel...

1. HAPPY...having a great cook-out lunch at my hubby's work. It was with a bunch of contractors, but still a lot of fun!

2. DELIGHTED...to have M's eyes still be clear this morning. Seriously, it is so great to see his pretty eyes...did you know they were blue? Huh. Weird.

3. GRATEFUL...to have family and friends that I love so much, that love me and support me. You know who you are.

4. TOTALLY STOKED...that I got to watch Jimmy Kimmel's Twilight: Total Eclipse of the Heart special today after DVR'ing it last night. I was afraid the storm would interfere with the signal, it only did a little at the end so I got to watch most of it. I can't wait for Eclipse to come out...I am such a nerd!

5. THANKFUL...that my friend Jen is doing better and will hopefully come home from the hospital soon!

Oh, and how about a little Fiber Therapy today?

I just finished these up last night...



They are a surprise for someone...SSHHHHHH!!!! Tigger is DIGGIN' his new hat...and Gary the giraffe? Well, I promise he is there, I didn't behead him!

I finally got the ends woven in on this shawl last night too. I have to block it tonight so that I can wear it Saturday night to a wedding.




This is the start of the log cabin blanket for J's speech therapist. They are Chicago Bears fans and are NOT finding out the baby's sex, so I am going with Blue, Orange, and White. I have 9 of these to do and this one isn't finished...Lord help me!



This is my mom's scarf. Want to know how much I love her? Well, around 8 feet of 1x1 ribbing should tell you! For you non-knitters, this is a LOT of back and forth and back and forth. It guess it is better than 2x2 rib though, that you actually have to pay attention too!



Sorry for the crappy pictures...for some reason, my computer is not recognizing my actual camera so I am taking pics with my phone. If I can get the real camera to work, I'll take better pics!

Have a great day!
With Love,
Theresa

The Year Of Accomplishments!

Happy 2009! I can hardly believe that it is 2009. As I watched the Rose Bowl yesterday, I couldn't help but reminisce about my trip there in 2000/2001 to watch Purdue play. That was such a great time. With the exception of Eric and the girls, probably one of my most memorable events (Eric wanted to know how he was an event when I told him this, but y'all know what I mean!). Walking down Hollywood Blvd, almost getting shot on Sunset Blvd., seeing places like Whiskey A Go Go and the Viper Room, spending NYE at Hollywood Park and Casino in the Brown Sugar Club, just AWESOME experiences, things I will never forget!

But, it is a new year, time for new things and to think about in which direction I want my life to head. Of course that usually means RESOLUTIONS, (AAUUGGHH!!). I have decided instead to make OPPORTUNITIES for the year 2009. Not just short term goals, but ideas that will better my life for the long run. I turn 30 this year and I want my life to have more direction than just wife and mother. As much as I love being a wife and mother, I want more, so here goes:

1) I want to get fit again. I would like to be the fittest I can possibly be by the time my birthday hits in August. I've been saying that I want to be the fittest I have ever been, but considering I was in really great shape in high school, that was over 10 years ago, and I have had 2 children since then, that may be reaching to do in 8 months. So, I want to be as fit as possible. I plan on working out A LOT and eating right. I am not going to set a number that I want to weigh, I think that is my downfall. I get to obsessing about that and forget to just enjoy life. So, no numbers, just fitness. I figure if I work out right and eat right, the numbers will follow. :)

2) I want to knit a sweater for myself. I know that doesn't probably sound like a big deal to you non-knitters, but it is. A sweater is quite the undertaking, especially your FIRST sweater. I have the yarn and it will be more of a cardigan than a sweater with cap sleeves so I can wear it over other shirts throughout the year, but it will be a sweater non the less.

3) Finish my book. A couple years ago, I started writing a book. I think that I have a great idea and started out great. Then life got in the way and I haven't gotten very far since. So, this year I want to finish it. Of course, after that I would love to get it published, but we will cross that bridge when it gets here. For right now, let's just work on getting it finished!

4) I would like to read more classic novels and reread the books I read when I was younger. I LOVE to read, but often read a lot of junk. Yeah, it makes me happy to read Chic Lit, but it probably doesn't do much to expand my brain, so I plan on reading some more classic things like Of Men and Mice and Wuthering Heights (did I spell that right?). I also read a lot when I was younger and would LOVE to revisit those books, like A Wrinkle In Time or The Yearling. Finally I want to reread books that I read in high school and college that I didn't really appreciate, but read because I had to, like To Kill A Mockingbird and A Farewell To Arms. If you have any other suggestions, please pass them on, I'd love to hear them!

Well, I think those are great opportunities for me. Not only to expand my mind, but help my body and make me a better person. Wish me luck in my pursuit of them and stay tuned as I will update you as I go along!

I also hope to blog a lot more about what is going on in my life. Often it is just diapers and grossness, but sometimes things get interesting.
Until then, God Bless,
Love,
Theresa