A very good Christmas!

Wow, I'm still recovering from all the Christmas Hoopla! We went to my In-Law's house on Christmas Eve. The boys got bikes and went on a Sea Plane ride with the neighbor, who was dressed up like Santa. My husband went with them - I refused to go, I hate little planes. Bradley had fun and Jake fell asleep before they even took off, I couldn't believe it!



Bradley and Jake on their new bikes.



View of my In-Law's subdivision from the plane.



Jake asleep on the plane.



Coming home finally (I was just a little worried!).


On Christmas day we opened presents with my mom and brother and his wife. I got my mom some Cath Kidston pillow cases and you would've thought I was giving her a diamond ring! She was so excited over those pillow cases, it was pretty funny. I got my magnifying Ott-Lite from my Mother-in-Law (I really didn't mean to blurt out that's what I wanted in front of her). :) I haven't really gotten a chance to try it out yet. I also got an iPod, which I absolutely love!



iPod with Grey's Anatomy downloaded on it.


The biggest thing I got was from my brother. He decided I needed a company car! I told him no, that it was too much, but he had made up his mind and there was no changing it. He told me what he was planning last week, and I was kind of in disbelief, and yesterday he called me and asked me to meet him at the car dealer. He had me test drive a minivan, and then told me I could go home and he'd take care of it. I came back when he was done and drove home with this...



Chrysler Town & Country minivan.


I love this car so much! It's so nice - all the doors open automatically, it's the coolest thing! And I can separate the kids - no more fighting in the car, it's wonderful! :) So anyway, I definitely can't quit my job anytime soon, there's no way I could give up that car! :) We all caught a little cold, and it's been dragging me down, so no stitching again tonight - I'm off to bed! Write later! :) Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Stitching Stash from the Golden Needle.
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I went to Stitch Night last Thursday at the Golden Needle. They had food and a gift exchange. It was a lot of fun. Only - I made a boo boo. Since it was my first time I didn't really know what to put in the exchange, so I put a little of everything. A little stitched piece in a tuck-a-way pillow, a little piece of fabric, threads, chocolates, etc. It was really cute. Only once everyone started opening their bags I realized I went overboard. They said they usually just do dollar store items. Oops! I'm so used to looking online at everyone's wonderful exchanges and that's pretty much what I went by. One lady was pretty upset that I did that, but I truly did not know. And the shop owner asked if I had read her email, but all I saw in the email was to bring a gift and it would be nice if it was stitched. I didn't do it to get something in return - I did it because I like giving - especially stitching gifts! Anyway, I'll know next time! Didn't mean to rock the boat!


Pictured is what I bought - I got the Whitman's Sampler tin at the grocery store. I haven't been stitching much at all this week. It's been filled with working, getting tire fixed (ran over a big piece of metal tues.), Christmas program at Bradley's school, Christmas shopping and wrapping presents. The only time I stitched was a little bit at stitch night. Maybe I can get a little more done tonight. I rented "Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest," so now that I've gotten pretty much everything done relating to Christmas I can relax and stitch! :) Write later!

I actually finished a sock!

One Finished sock and one WIP sock as of 12/17/06
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I got this sock finished Saturday night and cast on right away for the second one. I'm determined to get these finished! I knitted a lot yesterday on the way to see my MIL - just a little more and I'll be ready to start the heel.


Well, not much going on here. Just trying to get ready for Christmas! My dh is finishing up our shopping for his dad, brother, and grandpa. Matthew is fussing again, so I'd better go! Write later! :)

Sock as of 12/16/06

Sock as of 12/16/06
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

The sock is growing.... I have been knitting a little bit here and there on my sock. It's knitting up fairly fast. I'm anxious to get to the toe shaping! I have been thinking about getting some stitching done on Winter Wind or starting Jingle. I haven't decided yet. :)


I have been thinking about all the challenges everyone is committing themselves to. There is the 10/25/50 challenge where you don't buy any new stash until 10, 25, or 50 projects are completed and then there is the challenge not to buy any stash until a certain time period. I know I should do this, I really should, I just have a difficult time committing myself to one of these guidelines. I feel like if I do, then it will make me want stash even more! Instead of doing the impossible (for me) I think I'm going to really try to stick to a budget. I think $50/month is a fairly reasonable budget. I'm already giving up my Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks iced Lattes. I plan to only make them from home (or just get coffee at the gas station, which is a 1/3 to a 1/4 of the price. As much as I was going it was equaling to be over $50 a month! So I will give up some things to make room for my love of stash buying. I'm just too weak in this area. I love going to cross stitch shops and browsing and picking charts that I know I'll love along with the threads and fabric. I know I have more than I can possibly stitch in one or two or three lifetimes, but I love it. I love it and it makes me happy. So there, I'm not going to join a challenge, as much as I know I should, I just don't have it in me. But I am going to try very hard to stick to my budget.


In other news Matthew has taken THREE naps today! I'm so happy he's getting out of that fussy phase (knocking on wood). My SIL came over today. I think she drives my mom crazy. My mom has been short with the kids (telling Bradley to sit nice on a chair that her dog tramples 20 times a day), so I'm staying out of her way and I told the kids to stay in my room or their room. I can't wait to get my own place where the kids can sit however they want on their furniture. OK, enough ranting for now! Deep breaths, deep breaths! Write later!!! :)

The hidden stash...

Ooh, I forgot to post about the stash I got while visiting my MIL last Saturday. I found a new LNS called Nantz Needlework in Holiday, FL. When I walked in there was several ladies stitching and they were all talking at once! They seemed like a very friendly group. I'd love to go back and stitch with them sometime. Anyway, I picked up a few charts while I was there...



Nantz Needlework Stash.


I got Blackbird Designs Loose Feather #10 "Autumn Silhouette", LHN "ABC123" and "Pinetop Lodge," and Drawn Thread "12 Houses Sampler." It was a cute little shop and the owner was very friendly. I also got my "Jingle" kit from Elegant Stitch today - it's so cute! I'm seriously thinking of stitching this before Christmas...



Shepherd's Bush "Jingle".


I can't wait to get my Brightneedle class project! I think it's going to be a fun project. And I think I know one of my presents from my MIL that will help with the over one. One day I was looking at a Jo-Ann's add at her house and saw an Ott-lite magnifier lamp and said I'd like that for Christmas (not to her - I was basically just thinking out loud). I didn't mean for her to get it, but I think she did because when I was over there last time I saw a box with my name on it that looked like the right size. So even though I didn't mean for her to get it I'm still excited! I'm such a child! :)


Speaking of child - my child, my six year old, picked out Charlotte's Web today at the book store. It almost brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes. I remember when I was a little older than him and my mom let me pick out Charlotte's Web at a bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember how excited I was to have that book. It was so sweet hearing him read it to himself in a little whispery voice. I let him get the hardcover. I just think that's a book worth getting in the hardcover - it will hopefully last him a lifetime.


Ok, this is a very long post - and I guess I'm typing because I'm not in a stitching or knitting mood right now. Matthew is still fussy, although sleeping right now, I really hope it's just a phase he's going through!

More Sock!

Lorna's Laces sock as of 12/15/06
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I've turned the heel and now I'm on the home stretch - just straight knitting until I get to the toes. I think I may actually finish a sock! I didn't make it very long, it's just four inches.


My mom put up her tree the other day. It's very pretty, and very white! I was giving her a hard time about everything being so white in her house! I think it's pretty, but it's not my style - I like color.








And here's a picture of the kid's christmas tree because Bradley really wanted colored lights!!





Well, matthew is fussing, so I'd better go! Write later! :)

Knitting...

Lorna's Laces sock in "Georgetown" colorway
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I was in a knitting mood yesterday, so I started a sock! I don't dare say a pair of socks because it's been quite awhile since I've finished one sock much less a pair! :) I bought this yarn a looong time ago - it's Lorna's Laces, and wow is is it nice to work with! So soft and I love the colors!


Well, I had another rough night with Matthew - I don't know if it's the shots or the teething, but he did not want to take a nap today. I finally got him to go to sleep about 7:30 pm. I gave him a bottle and he fell asleep in my arms - so sweet. Makes it all worth it. Well, I think I'm going to knit a little more on my sock! Write later! :)

A little more progress...

Winter Wind progress as of 12/12/06.
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

After I wrote that post last night Matthew finally went to sleep! I didn't think it would ever happen! He was fussy again today - I'm sure getting shots earlier didn't help either! He fell asleep early tonight though - about 5:30 pm, so we'll see how long he sleeps! Jake just fell asleep in my bed with the cat curled up next to him. Too cute. I don't have the energy, or the heart to move him right now.


Well, I'm off to watch the very last episode of Grey's Anatomy from the 2nd season. Man, don't know what I'm going to watch at night now! :)

Calgon take me away!

Matthew teething!
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

Matthew has been so fussy for the past few days. I think he's teething. I hate teething. I hate fussy. I like nice, sweet, babies who take good naps. He has only been taking like one nap a day. I'm ready to pull my hair out! I have to get through this somehow? Somehow!


I haven't really gotten any stitching done. I got a little done Saturday at my MIL's house and little today while waiting for ds to get out of school.


Prairie Schooler Winter Wind progress as of today.


You'll have to excuse the half stitched row, that's all I could finish before Matthew started crying! :) Well, I'm going to have some chocolate and rock the baby some - while taking deep breaths! Write later!

Prairie Schooler Winter Wind

Prairie Schooler Winter Wind
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I got a small start on Winter Wind. That border is the thing that takes forever. The counting and recounting to make sure it will all match up. I'm enjoying it so far! Now if I could just get the baby to take a nap I could work on it some more! :)


Speaking of babies I had a dream I had another boy and I delivered him myself! It was so crazy. And then the boy ended up being twin boys. I woke up thinking I need to get my tubes tied! LOL! :) Well, not much else going on. Just glad it's Friday - we're going to my MIL's house tomorrow - I may sneak out for a little bit and to do some Christmas shopping. Write later!