Thankful Thursday

Duder - 1 year

I've been kind of a cranky pants with the kids lately - so much fighting and bickering and whining! - so I think it's time for a Thankful Thursday post to keep me grounded (and sane).

Munchie - 2 months

1 - I'm thankful for 4 very fat and healthy little boys. After having preemies and being so sick when I was pregnant with the twins, the health thing is really something we hang onto - and fat is so much nicer than super skinny little things.

The twins - Almost 4

2 - I'm thankful for Ben having a full time job, even when the hours suck. He works so hard for us, and tries to have the best attitude he can about the crazy schedules. We've gotten so much accomplished because of him.

Bowling!

3 - I'm thankful for quiet time, rare as it is. The little bits I get in the afternoon when it's nap time (or supposed to be nap time) keep me going - even if it's only 30 minutes before the baby wakes up.

Duder - Potato sleds are awesome

4 - I'm thankful that Ben encourages me to do things like my designing and selling my knitting, and keeps me going when I want to give up (like working out). It has been a real joy to do this P90x thing with him (well ok my body wouldn't use the word "joy"), and he tells me that I don't get to do "just the fun parts" when I say I'll just do yoga and abs. He's good for me, always has been.

March 2011 - Readin' books

5 - I'm thankful for always having food to feed those 4 hungry little boys. They're only 5 and 3 and it already feels like they're eating the house. But we've never wanted for anything.

Punkin' Hats - 2011

6 - I'm thankful for happy babies. My babies have always been happy and bright and cheerful. I've heard horror stories about terribly fussy and grumpy babies, but mine have always been so sweet. (And then they turn old enough to get opinions, but that's a different story...)

This month - Duder had just run off to do something else

7 - I am thankful for my hands. I know that sounds silly, but these hands hold those happy babies, and make meals for my family, and bring me happiness and peace through the creation of knitting.

Happy Thursday,
Meg

Random On Monday

Today seems like a good day to be random dontcha think?

Before, but cleaned out. Just picture a ton of crap in here all strewn about.

I've talked before of how, when Munchie is old enough, we'll be moving him into the bedroom with Duder, and the boys will be moving from that room into the now-office. And our office will be moving into our walk in closet. This required some form of cabinetry to accommodate Ben's computer and all our officey paraphernalia, as well as our clothes and normal closet things. 

It just so happens that my dad owns a cabinetry business, so a phone call, a visit,  a hand off of some plans I had come up with, and two days of installation got us this:

TADA! Isn't it purdy? I wish I could take better pictures to fully show the amazing organizing wonder that it has become, but it's hard to take good pics in such a small space.

It did close up the space quite a bit, but it is SO MUCH MORE storage space than we had before. The back wall is the desk where the computer will go, and on the right side where the cabinet sticks out is a dresser with shelves on top. The cubbies surround the room. I LOVE it. It's better than I had thought. Now we begin the slow process of moving everything around.

The downside, is we have realized just how much junk we have. A couple of trips to Goodwill are in order.

I feel kind of funny about posting this next part, because I wonder if it's egotistical and boastful, but I will share anyways because I think it's really, really cool.

The Foliage Mitts pattern has exploded! So much so that...

It made it the NUMBER 1 position of the Hot Right Now list on Ravelry.

Dudes. That's huge! It was number 9 last night, which I was totally stoked about, but it hit first position sometime early this morning and as of 12:45, it's still holding out.

This is a very big honor for me. I've always viewed that list as something that only the Really Awesome Designers get onto, so for me to not only be up there with those wonderful designers at all, but to make number one.... It makes me woozy!

The cabled scarf is about half way done. I think I might need to take a break and do the second pair of mitts in the order. I see white cables all over the place! Haha. I can't wait to get this pattern up though, I'm super excited about it.

We have now completed a full week of P90X and hey! I survived. All last week my legs were sore, and today my arms and shoulders were sore and really, I just want to forgo the workout tonight and eat ice cream... But I keep reminding myself "Company Christmas party. Bridesmaid in March..." I can do this. I hope. It is good Ben is doing it, he keeps me going and won't let me quit.

Time to fold laundry!

Happy Monday!
Meg

New Pattern: Foliage Mitts

The pattern for the Foliage Mitts is now live! You can find it via both Etsy & Ravelry for $3.00.

Happy Knitting!
Meg

Knitting!

I got a large order at the end of last month and the packages of yarn showed up at the end of last week. I LOVE getting yarn in the mail, and getting more than one package of yarn is even better. So much fun to open it and feel the softness against my skin.

One of the items is going to be made from a merino/cashmere blend and I have to tell you, the yarn is scrumptious.

The above picture is a cabled scarf design for this order that I'm working on, and will be putting the pattern out later when it's finished. 

This is a pair of Emilies for the order, in an orange angora/merino blend. I needed a break from the scarf for a bit, so I started these Sunday and got them finished last night. So excited for this order!

My 7 Colorwork Christmas Ornaments pattern is being used for a class at a lovely little yarn shop in Whitefish, MT called the Knit 'n Needle Yarn Shoppe. They are also making my pattern available on their shop site, which you can find at www.polkadotsheep.com. I'm so excited for this opportunity and Aimee and the other girls at the shop are just wonderful!

I've been posting all these knitting things over on the Little Bit of Knittery Facebook Page. I seem to be posting a bit more often over there about what I'm up to fiber-wise, so if you want to keep up, a "like" would be awesome!

Photo by Rachel Christine Wolf

 I am so exhausted I'm feeling a little delusional. Munchie absolutely refuses to sleep through the night (or at least that's my best guess), and in cases like last night... was up every hour. Ugh. My brain feels so fuzzy and I'm dragging.

I need to get some energy in me, but I hate turning to caffeine. Maybe if I'm lucky I can get a quick nap this afternoon. Ben and I started P90x yesterday, so I need some sort of energy to get through that tonight. I have 3 months til the company Christmas party to lose my baby fluff - and P90x takes 3 months to finish. We'll see if I make it, haha.

My abs are on fire,
Meg

Finished Knit: Babylove in Pink

The blanket is finished! And hey, I got it done a week before the recipients due date! Ben was a little worried that I wouldn't get it done and would curse the poor new mama to being late (because babies don't come until the presents are finished). But now it is done, and she can have her baby on time! Hehe.

I think I've mentioned before how much I love this yarn for baby blankets. It blooms beautifully and is so soft. Not to mention washable! Which is very important because us mamas... we don't hand wash so much once we have a wee babe to care for. 

Pattern: Babylove Blanket

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Sport in "Dogwood Heather" - 7.5 balls

Needles: US 4/3.5mm Susan Bates Circs

Knitline: August 11th - September 4th

Happy Knitting,

Meg