Still Alive......Barely

Hello all, yes I know, I've slacked on my blogging, knitting, housework, EVERYTHING! It is due to a house full of germs!!!!!! I blame the germs!!!! It all started coming back from a great camping trip with a scratchy throat. Tim and I both had a little cold. Well of course, it spreads it's disgusting way through the house and reaches Ava first. She has been sick going on 2 weeks. I got better really fast. Tim had his for a week. NOW, I have it again! And poor little Emma does too. I'll tell you what, I'm SICK of being SICK!!!! I want these germs gone!!! They are NOT welcomed in my house. When I felt better for a couple days, I cleaned the whole house thinking that would get rid of the nasty things and refresh it all......NO, all it did was make me sick again...ridiculous!
We took a trip to the Dr. yesterday and got Ava on some antibiotics, since she has had it a long time, maybe that will help. I hope we all don't have to end up making that dreaded trip (crossing fingers).

I have started a child's sock. I'm winging it from the book, Sensational Knitted Socks, Peggy, so graciously let me borrow.....thanks Peggy :) I have made mistakes, I know, but I think I've finally gotten to the point that as long as it resembles a sock, then I'm fine with it. I'm still the Knitting Apprentice and can't frog it back to my mistake, or even notice my mistake until I've already knit 2-3 rows past it. I'm the kind of knitter that leaves it or frogs the whole thing, and I'm not about to frog this sock again, lol!
In other news, the other day Ava and I encountered a SNAKE in the backyard under the steps. I think I almost had a heart attack. I HATE SNAKES! Spiders I can handle, but NOT snakes, poisonous or not. I hate 'em! We ran back up the steps, literally dragging Jax by the neck with the leash. We were all freaked! I got a good look at it, from behind the glass door of course, once we went back inside. It looked like a brown snake or a garter snake , according to the internet, but I'm still not taking any chances. We haven't been in the backyard since. I really wish I had the guts to have gotten rid of it because it was gone by the time Tim got home. Emma said, "Mommy, I hope it doesn't get in the house like the one at Gammy's did." I had terrible dreams all night and have been checking corners of the house since.

Emma's school had their first Open House last night. Even though we were sick, we had to go. I wasn't about to miss seeing all the wonderful things she has been working so hard on. I forgot the camera, dang it, but at least got to see all of her drawings and such. She made a face that looked like her and brought in her favorite Princess T-shirt, that they put in her chair. It was very cute. Then she had a little "me" book she had made. It said what she liked, taking pictures with family...what she was scared of, sleeping in her room without the TV on, lol. Nope I can't leave it on just cause I feel sorry for her, people, she'd stay up all night. Her teacher's assistant, Mrs. Brown, said she had a wonderful personality and that she always has a cute story to tell her husband about something Emma said when she gets home. She said the other day, they were talking about swimming and Emma said, "Well, are we talking about one of those pools that are stuck to the ground or that you blow up?" We both had a good laugh. She seems to be doing great. I'm a very proud momma :)

Here are the nominees....

I have been nominated by Peggy (Knitting and Spinning with Ewe) for the Rockin' Girl Blogger! I hear this title holds a couple responsibilities. One, that you remain a Rockin' Girl Blogger once nominated, and the other, that you nominate more Rockin' Girl Blogger's! So, here are my nominees.....

1.) Sonya (In the Skein of Things) - She is a wonderful momma to three awesome children, a knitting goddess, a dog lover, and someone who cares for others like no one I've ever seen. She is someone that would be there for you no matter what and that is pretty big in my book.

2.) Lora (Lora's Keyhole) - She is a wonderful momma to two adorable, red-headed little boys, an incredible knitter, a beading queen, she sews, need I say more? You've gotta check out her blog and her Etsy shop. She is definitely Rockin' Girl Blogger material!

And finally.....

3.) Holly (Drive By Knitting) - This girl can KNIT and DYE and SPIN yarn like none I've ever met! You must check out her Kylan mittens she knit, yes I said her, she created the pattern! And they are amazing! She can also knit up a pair of socks in a matter of hours I think, lol. Her hand-dyed and spun yarn is gorgeous! I could go on for days about this Rockin' Girl Blogger nominee!

Well there they are! Now my rockin' girls, go post your Rockin' Girl button on your blogs and get to nominating some more rockin' chicks!

Pay IT Forward!

The IT is a secret in this lovely game! Here's how to play or pay.......This is the "Pay It Forward" exchange, based on the concept of the movie where acts of kindness are done without expecting anything in return...just passing it on, with the hope that the recipients of your kind acts will pass it along to someone else. Here's how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what the gift will be yet, and it won't be sent this month and maybe not next month either, but it will be sent within 6 months and that's a promise!
What you have to do in return then is "pay it forward" by making the same promise on your blog. Isn't this a great way to brighten someone's day! Let's play AND pay!!!!!!

Anyone Need More Time?

I don't know about you folks, but I cannot seem to find time lately for my knitting and spinning! Well for one, I never realized how much effort you have to put into Kindergarten. They have homework, a ton of papers you have to initial, you've got to make reading time, making lunches, mornings are crazy! I have, Ava, aimlessly running around without a care in the world, but trying to get my attention at the same time. I have Emma's daily routine, which isn't bad, but she just doesn't focus well with a 2 year old little sister wanting to play and have fun around her while she is trying to get ready. Then of course, Jax, who thinks every morning that something exciting is going on and he might miss it, so his nose is in everything. It's enough to drive ya nuts! And once we take Emma to school, you would think alright, now is time to get some things accomplished, but nooooooooo! I have to clean the house, usually do the never ending laundry, Ava is still tugging on my leg for attention, make food and fill a drink cup every 10 minutes, find time for a shower, find time for Ava's nap, then it's already time to pick up Emma and make supper! It just seems ridiculous that I can't work out a schedule and include some time for ME!


Here is how pathetic it is....I have only made a few dishcloths, barely started a baby blanket, frogged a sock for the girls 3 times cause I can't find a pattern, so I tried just making one myself, HA, what was I thinking? I did actually knit a cute change purse for my sister's b-day gift, but of course, didn't take a picture.



Does anyone have a pattern for a child's sock, age 3-5? I have this cute Tofutsie yarn and two girls wanting some socks knitted by their momma! Please help!