I'm not sure if knitting is for me

These little leg warmers were intended to be finished by the end of our road trip last Sept. I then hoped to at least have them completed and wrapped up for Christmas, but it wasn't until this week of redbox DVDs and resting that this very simple project came to a close.

I like the final project but I'm wondering if I actually enjoyed the process.  It may be because I only knit when I'm not feeling well or when I'm forced to sit, something that is hard for me to do.  Maybe it was the size 2 double point needles and the 1x1 rib that was completed in such a small circle that made this project hard to finish.  But I did it and I even started another pair.  The next pair will be for Maryanna and is out of the same yarn, 70% superfine alpaca/30% angora, but in an avocado green.  I'm trying out a 2x2 rib pattern and added 8 extra stitches for ease in working in the round and also just in case I don't finish them until next Christmas.  

I also found a size 12 month hooded cardigan that was intended for Maryanna but still unfinished; it has since passed up Clara as well.  I am glad I invested in a camel color yarn (merino/microfiber/cashmere) because if I finish it, Henry just may be able to pull it off.  

Maybe it is just frustrating that my kids are growing faster than I can knit, maybe I never sit down anymore, or when I am sitting I'm already multi-tasking (reading to a child and feeding a baby), I'm wondering how Soulemama  does it, and also wondering if I should give knitting another chance in 2009.

      

Sewing Therapy

Maybe I should be spending what little energy I have on something more productive but for me sewing is relaxing.

This apron is a gift for a friend and was super quick.  I just traced one of my favorite aprons onto a $.50 garage sale piece of fabric and then finished it with bias tape.  Now I kind of feel like making a new one for myself because this one turned out way cuter than the one I already have.

And Clara's dress is Maryanna's dress from Peter.  She never did grow to like it.  Instead Maryanna said, "it's too small give it to Clara".  

Recovery Week

There's not much to blog about because I haven't been doing much besides resting, reading, and watching movies.  Sunday morning I ended up in the ER because I was experiencing a miscarriage.  I was weak and passed out from loss of blood then rushed to the OR for a D&C.  All is well now and I hope to be back to full strength in just another week.

For now though, life feels a bit out of sync.  But there's no reason for me to gripe or complain about scattered toys, piled up laundry, and activities that we are missing because those don't really matter.  I am just grateful to be surrounded by good friends and family who have taken care of my children and also brought in delicious meals.

I had to blog about it because doing so just may help me heal.  It was hard enough to hold back about all the nausea and fatigue I was feeling over the holidays and I don't think I could post anything this week without writing what really was going on.

So what is really going on here?  I'm back to my Leather Leaf List

This is what it may say for tomorrow:
-I need to fold one load of laundry

-I need to get the girls ready to spend the day with my sister

-I need to read books in bed with Peter during quiet time

-I need to write a few thank you notes

-I want Paul to pick up another redbox DVD

-I want to trace one pattern from  this Japanese pattern book

-Don't forget to thank the older boys for all their help with Henry

-Don't forget to take an iron supplement 

Missing Piece

I woke up to this sign posted on my door.  There were also 5 more posted throughout the house in the bathroom, the stairwell, kitchen cabinet, above the fire place, and by the front door.  We haven't found the bionicole arm yet but I'm ready to start my 2009 E.E.E. plan  and I may find it then.  A few of the boys may be willing to help because they are excited for the $0.25 reward "in change". 

The Castle/Lego Party

It was a great success. William was assigned as president of the 2009 birthday party planning committee and carefully wrote up both a schedule of activities and a task list to complete before the party started.  James and him led the party along with ease.

The Cake

3 boxes of cherry chip cake mix, 8 sticks of butter, 2 bags of powdered sugar, 2 tubes of decorative frosting, 5 curly candles, 5 sugar cones, and 4 Schleich knight figures.  In the time it took to change one diaper however, the cooling castle had suffered its first attack.  But all was repaired with help from my very talented sister Cathy (the one who use to decorate cakes for Kroger).  She advised freezing what remained of the cake and rebuilding it with a lot of frosting.  It worked but the excess frosting left a sloppy uneven surface.  So, I just dumped coconut and more powdered sugar on top to make it a snow castle cake.  Good thing I did because the second attack occurred before I woke up and I was able to hide the injuries under a pile of coconut.  The kids said it looked way better than it tasted; I agreed as I gagged on the first bite of excess frosting.

 

The Pinata

A dragon full of Legos was slain with foam swords.  The Legos were dropped off by a kind neighbor and there were plenty to share.  It was also a very nice alternative to candy.  I sewed a little bag for each child to collect their pieces and there was an eerie silence that followed the frantic gathering of pieces.  All fifteen party guests were so quiet and  engrossed in their building that we passed on two of the planned activities.  Paul came home at that point and couldn't understand how our home could be quieter with 5x the amount of children.  I'm just happy we pulled it off.  The other boys are now busy planning their own parties and with 10 & 11 months of planning time they are sure to be as much of a success.   

William's resolution

William's resolution to have better birthdays really caught me off guard; it also made me feel kind of guilty.  So the next day I dragged James to the fabric store (the boys have developed very low tolerance for that place).  He was helpful in picking out all the colors for our banner and stayed up to 10:30 cutting out the letters and ironing them on with wonder-under.  We had it ready just in time for Peter's birthday and will pull it out for each of our birthdays throughout the year.

We also have a castle/knight party planned for the end of this week.  I am busy sewing little favor bags, we have a dragon pinata filled with Legos, a treasure box filled with gold and silver (hershey kisses & rolo's), crowns to decorate, foam swords, and games planned such as "capture the king", and "keep the balloon out of the moat".

Any other ideas?  There will be 15 boys between the ages of 3 and 9 so it promises to be chaotic. Any other birthday traditions our family could adopt?    

Happy 2009!

2009 already seems to be moving quickly for us. We've been busy cleaning up, showing our house, and managing the stomach flu.

On New Year's Day we each traced our hands and wrote 5 resolution, one on each finger. Here they are:

Mommy's
-Meal plan
-Memorize one scripture a week
-Word of the day
-Sew something for myself
-Get more fresh air

James'
-Record dreams
-Be grateful
-Set a record
-Beat Daddy in a game
-Have fun

William's
-Try new foods
-Learn to type
-Learn cursive
-Do fun Birthday parties
-Record my dreams

Peter's
-Read the Book of Mormon
-Prepare for my baptism
-Be more reverent at Church
-Cook new foods
-Ride a two wheeler

Maryanna's
-Dance and sing more
-Play more
-Clean up my toys
-Be reverent for scriptures
-Do more cutting and coloring

Clara's
-Do scriptures
-Do coloring
-Watch shows
-Do dancing
-Go potty

So far so good. I've been especially entertained with the dreams. William often wakes me up early by saying,"Mommy, how do you spell ....." and then proceeds to read me his dream. Maryanna has already colored on the walls, Peter was very reverent in Church yesterday, and Clara decided to wear big girl panties today.

I am busy trying to pull a birthday party together. I don't think I would have if it wasn't it for William's request. We haven't done birthday parties for a few years because to be honest, everyday feels like a birthday party at our house. But there's already a birthday this week and William promised to help me pull off a "home-style" party. We will blog about that later. Meanwhile, I hoping for some free time to start drafting something for myself to sew.