Apparently He Does Know Better

For Christmas we got Davis socks and sleepers. Oh, and we got him a cool sponge that has the soap IN IT. We didn't get him any toys and fun stuff because he is only 18 months old and wouldn't really care . . . .

Note for next year, he cares.  

Davis spent Christmas morning stealing the other kid's gifts. 

He successfully acquired a Yo Gabba Gabba hat, a John Deere lunch box, and a granola bar among other things.

His look of rejection will forever haunt me.  Well, at least for a week or two.

Spreading Neighborly Love

Michael took charge of the neighbor gifts this year. He bought a couple of 2x4s and made what the guys at his work call "Ho Blocks." He cut them, the kids helped him paint them, and I got the pleasure of sanding them because the sander is mine and I'm very possessive of it.

Today I made the boy go with me to deliver a set to one of his primary teachers.

Boy: Are we giving Ho Blocks to Sister Ha----?
Me: Yep.
Boy: What about Sister Heid--? Does she get Ho Blocks?
Me: We'll deliever hers tomorrow.
Boy: Okay, I just wanted to make sure she was on the Ho List.

The Beginning of the End

My children will start Christmas break at 12:30 today.  From this point on I will be hiding in my house trying to figure out how to finish the Christmas presents I was supposed to finish weeks ago with out them seeing.  

I will also be writing a list of reasons they still need to go to bed at 8:30 even though they don't have school tomorrow.  "Because I'm out of Dr. Pepper" is at the top of the list.  Every time I buy one the boy says, "Uh Uh Uh Uh Mom!  That's not healthy . . . ."  He's so cute when he's concerned.

I will also be hording the treat plates we receive from the neighbors so I can binge on sugar after the kids go to bed.  If they're going to keep me from having a Dr. Pepper, I should at least get to eat the majority of the candy.

I Don't Know Why I Try

He Can Be Bought

C: Monica? You have a tractor?

M: Yes I do! I have a big tractor.

C: Monica? You adopt me? I be nice!

The Glare

The glare has almost reached perfection.

Perhaps just a touch more dissapointment and frustration.

But he's close.  Very close.

Decorating Help

Wednesday I told my mom I would buy her lunch if she would help me decorate my mantel.  She does a much better job than I do.  I would have taken a picture of my attempts with out her help, but it was too embarrassing, so I'm just going to show you a picture of the final product.

Just try to imagine it with the black bead board up.  We're uh . . . still working on that.

 

After a long hard day of taking decorating advice I left the kids and went out for a night on the town with Michael.  Unfortunately, when we got home something looked a little off.  

I took a closer look.

Maybe  just a little closer . . . 

 

Oh.  Of course!  A  dirty sock.  I was lucky enough to find three of them hidden on my mantel.  Nothing says Christmas like dirty socks.  In fact I think I'm going to use them as the kids stockings this year.  They'll be a lot easier to fill.

For My Friends Who Just Had Babies

It's Official . . .

We have an obsession.

I give you Chase's Christmas list

Pattern for the Ruffled Scarf

I love this scarf and it was really easy to make so I decided to post my pattern. The ruffles in the scarf are made by using the Gathered Stitch found in Interweave Press's book Knit and Purl.

As you see from my list of materials I used Moda Dea Cartwheel yarn. It is a medium weight yarn and 100% wool. Honestly I got a ton of this yarn super cheap. There aren't many projects I would use this yarn for, but oddly enough, it turned out to be a fabulous choice for this scarf.

Also I don't list a guage because its a scarf for heavens sake!

Here is the pattern:

Ruffled Scarf

Materials:

Size 8 needles

4 skeins (aprx. 308 yards) medium weight yarn - I used ModaDea Cartwheel in Misty

Stitch Abbreviations:

kfb: Knit into the front and back

k2tog: Knit 2 together

Pattern:

Cast on 25 stitches

Row 1: Knit

Start Ruffle Pattern (14 rows)

rows 2 to 6: Knit

row 7: kfb of each stitch

row 8, 10, and 12: Purl

row 9 and 11: Knit

row 13: k2tog to end

knit the 13 row ruffle pattern two more times (for a total of three ruffles)

continue in garter stitch (knit right side and wrong side rows) until you reached your desired length

starting on the right side knit rows 7 to 13 of the ruffle pattern

repeat the entire ruffle pattern 2 more times (for a total of three ruffles)

knit 5 more rows

bind off

weave in your ends and enjoy!


To download this pattern as a free PDF click here

Caution at the Crosswalk

If I knit this scarf for the crossing guard at my kid's school do you think he'd wear it?

Better Late Than Never

Five Things For Which I Am Grateful 

Meat

Without which I might have to eat tofu.

4 Inch Platforms

Without which I might never have known my father-in-law had a bald spot.

Knitting

Without which I might never be sane.

Toddlers

Without which I might have to find a dog to dress up like a turkey.

Scissors

Without which I might never have known that under all that hair was a glare to rival that of Grandma Jan's.